O'BYRNE ROUNDABOUT
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O'BYRNE ROUNDABOUT!
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Our family is fairly new to Australia , after an absence of a 100 years. We came from New Zealand eight years ago, and are thoroughly enjoying the people and climate.
Email me at:
briancurly1@bigpond.com
EIRE 1852 Clifden, Connemara ?
Father Michael O'BERNE Sisters Mary &
THOMAS - JOHN - PATRICK
LORD DALHOUSIE
TASMANIA , AUSTRALIA 14 August 1852
GO FORTH AND MULTIPLY
THOMAS & ELLEN 11 CHILDREN 16 GRANDCHILDREN 27 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN
JOHN & BRIDGET 8 CHILDREN 21 GRANDCHILDREN 20 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN
PATRICK & CATHERINE 11 CHILDREN 21 GRANDCHILDREN 18 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN
Thomas & Ellen's son, "'Thomas'", fell off the end of Tasmania, and his fall was only broken by the Long White Clouds of New Zealand, where the All Blacks, Maoris, 30 million sheep & 3 million people now reside. Thomas jr & Annie beget Bill & 3 daughters
Bill & Vera beget Brian (me) 2 sons & 1 daughter
Banking was my business, but as we couldn't bank on the weather in good old Invercargill we retired to Queensland with 2 children; 3 children in Sydney; 1 in New Zealand; in Guernsey two grandsons. Over 30 years have, with the help of others, pieced together most of the descendants of the three brothers, Thomas, John , and Patrick who arrived in Australia in 1852. Any inquiries from relatives , or interested persons, will be welcome.
O’BYRNE Spirit in Australia/NZ
“ What have we got here me lads’ said the Guarda. Have you found an unwanted sheep almost ready for the pot?’
The O’Byrne boyos looked up with a real tremble for they knew they were in real trouble. ‘Its just an old ewe that’s fallen in the ditch and passed away’ said Patrick the eldest. ‘Oh! If that’s all farmer O’Brien should be able to put it to rights. Now off home and don’t be straying from the village until I’ve sorted this out.
The four O’Byrnes climbed up to the road, and headed to their parents tumble down cottage in Clifden, Connemara.
‘ What in Gods name are we going to tell Pa said Tom the second eldest?’ We can only wait for the Guarda and take it from there.
A miserable peat fire was the only warmth, and the rest of the family, namely the father Michael and their two sisters Mary and Margaret. No sign of any food on the table as the famine had been raging for 4 years, and the only food the family received were hand outs, and these were few . Thus the boys had been giving close attention to the sheep.
Next day was Sunday and they all trouped off to church, and Father McCarthy was in fine form exhorting the parishioners not to fall into the sins of greed or theft even though times were hard. Like most of the priests in the area he did not appear to suffer from want.
Sunday afternoon and the Guardas at the door. He told the father he had bad news and he had better gather the family. The Guarda said that farmer O’Brien had said that none of his sheep had been out of sorts, and that the blood on the fleece was fresh and plentiful. The Garda said the four boys would have to go for trial in Galway on 22 June 1849.
The lads were tried by William Deane Merriman, found guilty, and sentenced to 7 years transportation. In the meantime they were sent to a prison at Spike Island, near Cork. They were kept here until April 1852, when they were shipped in the vessel Lord Dalhousie to Van Diemens Land (Tasmania), arriving on 14 August 1852. The departure from Ireland was particularly sad as the youngest lad Martin died on the very day. The Irish Civil War of 1922 saw the near total destruction of the Public Record Office of Ireland.
IM
They were involved in various projects as guests of the government, until they were given a conditional pardon on 19 December 1854. It seems that Patrick did not receive his pardon until 5 June 1855, as he spent some time in a public house without authority. However, in later years this could have stood him in good stead, as his sons became well known Hoteliers in the Launceston area.
It is of some interest to note that when they arrived in Tasmania the following was recorded:-
Thomas 20, 5’6”, Dark brown hair,Blue eyes, Large nose, read a little:
Patrick, 27, 5’5”, Dark Brown hair, Dark eyes, Large nose, No reading:
John 19, 5’6”, Dark Brown hair, Blue eyes, Medium nose, Read little:
The current generation are much given to blue eyes, but have heights
ranging between 6’ and 6’6”.
It is interesting to note, that at the time of sentencing the boys were only aged
14, 21, 13, 10?.
After receiving the pardon the boys worked on various projects around Hobart. Mainly timber milling and farm labouring. The pay was quite good ranging from 5/- to a Pound. They decided around 1855 to move on to Launceston, with a view to finding some farmland for themselves. A lot of the land in north/east Tasmania was being opened up by the Van Diemen Land Co which sold or leased blocks in reasonable sized acreage’s.
The Government decreed that the boys, amongst others, were to be considered as Pioneer Settlers, but they did not receive the free 100 acres given to 100 retired soldiers living in Westbury.
Patrick I (the eldest) married Catherine Killalea Moore in 1856 at Westbury just out of Launceston. John I married Bridget ‘Anne’ Maloney in 1861, and Thomas I married Ellen Esther Ryan in 1864. Catherine Killalea had traveled with her mother and sister to Melbourne, and then on to Westbury where her brothers Patrick and John were farming.
In the early records their surname was given as O’Berne, and Thomas and Ellen were registered in this name, but there does not seem to be little doubt that the current spelling of O’Byrne goes back to their heritage in Ireland.
Westbury was founded in1828. The military pensioners were granted 5 acres, a well and a supply of wood. By 1850 there was a population of 544, and the town had 7 hotels, flour mills, stores, churches and military barracks. In the early 1850s thousands left Tasmania for Victorian gold fields, which meant those who stayed behind could ask for generous rates for their labor.
Not long after moving to Launceston they moved, some 20km to the small farming town of Westbury where there was plenty of work, and excellent farming land. Some of the records show the Quamby Bend-Westbury O’Byrne Farms was near Rydal Park where John and Patrick owned land, and in 1865 John and Patrick owned 200 acres near Quamby Brook. In 1875 Patrick leased 339acres at Selbourne. Full details of and:-
O’BYRNE FARM LAND
1
AT
QUAMBY BEND, WESTBURY, TASMANIA
1858
The three O’Byrne brothers were living on land at Meander River.
300 acres owned by W.T.Ashburner of Sillwood.
1866
John O’Berne living at Looseleigh
Patrick O’Byrne on 150 acres at Selbourne
Owned by Mrs Ashburner of England.
1875 & 1876
Patrick O’Byrne on 339 acres rated at 65pd at Selbourne.
Owned by Mrs Ashburner of Europe.
9 John O’Berne at Looseleigh.
Owned by Ex of the late Mrs?
Thomas O’Byrne 40 acres rated at 13 pd.
Thomas O’Berne 100 acres near Cluan.
Owned by James Keen of Springbanks
180
Thomas O’Byrne, Pine Road, Penguin
Owner T.J. Brown
1895
Thomas O’Berne on 2 acres at King Street, Westbury.
Owned by Mary Griffin
John & Patrick O’Byrne owned 200 acres at Quamby Bend.
Bridget O’Byrne, widow of John, owned 166 acres at Quamby Bend.
1896
Ellen Esther O’Byrne, Pine Road, Penguin.
Owner T.J. Brown
1915
Bridget O’Byrne, widow, owned 199 acres at Quamby Bend
John & Patrick O’Byrne owned 149.5 acres at Quamby Bend.
1923
John O’Byrne owned 149 acres at Quamby Bend.
Patrick was residing on Mrs Bridget O’Byrnes 199 acres.
The above information was provided by Mrs Thelma Grunnell of the Launceston
Genealogical Society. 21 July 2000. grunnell@hotmail.com
The O’Byrnes fitted well into the Westbury community, and there are many headstones in the Catholic portion of the cemetery, alongside those of their good friends the Killaleas.
It would seem that almost all the children of the three families lived in the general area of Westbury and its surrounds. In addition to farming and timber as well as roading, there was extensive mining especially in tin.
There were eleven surviving children of PATRICK and CATHERINE , five of whom married, and four couples who had issue.
There were eleven surviving children of THOMAS and ELLEN, ten of whom married, and seven couples who had issue.
There were eight surviving children of JOHN and BRIDGET (ANNE), eight of whom married, and five couples had issue.
Towards the end of the century Patrick took over the hotel, in ,and remained there virtually to his death in 1903. Catherine died in 1909, like her husband in Westbury.
Thomas and his wife continued to farm around Westbury, but moved to Penguin in retirement. Thomas died in 1895, and Ellen in 1908. They are buried together in the Ulverstone Cemetery
John continued farming in the Westbury area until his death in 1888. He is believed to have been killed in a cart accident when his horse bolted in Launceston.
Engraved on his head stone is:- John O’Byrne, died 31 Dec 1888, age 53, Of County
Galway, Ireland.
Westbury was and still is a tranquil area of green rolling pastures, surrounded by hills. The brothers first housing was either canvas, or smallish houses made with mud bricks, or split timber. The rooves would be thatched, with the chimneys built on the outside to avoid setting the roof alight.
The climate in winter could be very cold, and frequent falls of snow. The stock still had to be tended to and fed even in the worst weather. Clothing was as heavy as possible, with old sacks used for extra protection. The house cow was a must, and gave great supplies of fresh milk and cream, and butter.
When family members started going to school, their attendance was often irregular, as the first priority was to the home, and up until the 1880s many finished their studies between 10 and 12 years of age. As soon as possible the children obtained work in the area to help the home, and it wasn’t long before they ventured further, working in tin or coal mines.
Whilst the winters could be hard the summers generally made up for it, with warm cloudless days, and the large variety of native birds and flowers.
Some of the lads became hoteliers, which has carried down to modern days.
P.A. O’Beirne had the Club Tavern in Hobart; Thomas James O’Byrne had the Crown and also the Criterion hotels in Launceston; Michael J. O’Byrne had the Maine in Hobart; Thomas J O’Byrne also had the City Hotel at Launceston
At least one, Thomas Francis O’Byrne (son of Thomas I), decided to chance his arm further afield, when work became scarce in the late 1800s. He set sail for New Zealand, and arrived in Southland in 1893. He worked on farms, and then leased a small property at Wooded, and married Johanna O’Brien in 1894.
Having learned to drive bullocks on his fathers farm, he did well at the sawmill as a driver,earning a steady income. Concerned for his fellows who often had poor pay and conditions, he became a founding member of the Southland Timber Works’ Union in 1900. He was President from 1903-05. In 1906 he was appointed the paid secretary of the Union, and began a life of travelling around mills, often having to walk to remote areas.
It was his pride that he was able to avoid strikes by arbitration and negotiation. His “touch of blarney” made him a tactful and skilled negotiator. In 1911 he also became secretary of the Otago and Southland Cheese Factory Managers Union, and later the Dairy Assistants Union. In 1923 he travelled over 7,000 miles campaigning to improve safety in the bush tramways.
He was a member of the Invercargill City Council through the years 1912-17; 1927-31 and 1933-35. He was appointed to the Legislative Council (Senate) from 1933 to 1950.
Tall and immensely strong Tom’s commanding appearance helped earn the respect of the bushmen. An accomplished axeman, he helped organise the annual axemens and also the Athletics Ass carnivals.
After 44 years-continuous service as Secretary of the Southland Timber Workers Union Tom retired from the job, in 1950. His wife Johanna had predeceased him in 1942, and Tom passed on in 1952.
Being a foundation member of the Labor Party, Tom provided an open house to all politicians in the first NZ Labor Government. Figures like Premier Savage; Fin Min
Walter Nash, and international Leaders such as Keir-Hardy were made welcome.
Justin O’Byrne (grandson of Patrick I) was also to be called to parliamentary service. Justin started work at the Cunnamulla sheep station, as a drover, bullock driver and fencer becoming overseer . It was here he joined the union and became interested in the conditions of the working man. He learned to fly at the Warrego school.
Not long after he was a flight lieutenant and flew spitfires all over europe in the famous 452 squadron. He was shot down at 17,000 feet over France and spent nearly 4 years as a prisoner of war, in the infamous Stalag Luft III. He shared a ward with Douglas Bader, who had his artificial legs confiscated be the Germans, so Justin was Baders legs for quite some time.
Justin became politically involved after the war, and was elected as a Labor Senator for Tasmania in 1946. Justin was elevated to President of the Senate in 1974
A younger brother of Justins was Tom (also a grandson of Patrick I ), who was a keen all round sportsman, and captained the NSW Australian Rules Football team in 1949. Tom saw service with the Royal Australian Navy during World War II, ending his tour as a Lieutenant-commander. Back in Launceston he took a keen interest in charity work, but it was his years in a wine and spirit business which saw his name assume a high profile.
When Justin was elected President of the Senate, Tom sent several celebration crates of champagne, but Canberra returned them on the grounds of security.
Carrying on the political banner is Michelle O’Byrne, who is the Federal Member of Bass, Tasmania. Michelle is a great, great grand daughter of Patrick I.
What in the hell am I doing here, up to my neck in ice covered water, with machine gun fire and whiz-bangs overhead. Bill (grandson of Thomas I), had fought with New Zealand expeditionary force through all the major battles of France in World War I (the war to end all wars). However this time he had been wounded twice within an hour, and provided the medics got to him it was the end of his war.
On his return he took off to Newcastle, in Aust. Did the mining thing, and learnt to be an electrician.
Returning to his hometown in Invercargill, NZ, he married Veronica Lyons, and raised a family of 3 boys and 1 girl. He had a great tenor voice, which was compared to Caruso, and many a fine afternoon, he serenaded the neighbour hood from his prized vegetable garden. Bill went on to be Chief Electrical Inspector for Southland.
Bill’s sisters May and Eileen were noted piano teachers, with May being decorated by the Queen. Sister Myrtle helped raise thousands of pounds for the WWII, by leading regular community sings, most of which were broadcast.
The trauma of being taken from your family at such young ages, imprisoned for three years about as far from their home as could be, was enough to break the toughest spirits. The last straw in Ireland was to have their youngest brother die in prison, before they were shipped to an unknown land.
Three more years in prison on Tasmania saw them at last being pardoned and able to start on a ‘normal’ life. Those next years would be challenging, but there was noway they would want to change, as they were all prospering, and their families were growing up in a healthy environment.
O’BYRNE MOTTO:- Certavi et vici.
I have fought and conquered.
Compiled:- Brian P. O’Byrne, Noosa, Qld, Australia. 1 December 2004.
Email:- briancurly1@bigpond.com
Curly
Email:
briancurly1@bigpond.com
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