COFFEYs from County Down - in Australia?

Could the place Morne actually be Mourne?

Re your question about why the brothers came to Australia: The ultimate boys adventure, most likely.  It was between the gold rushes, so they may have come to make their fortune.  As you suggest they may have come to visit other family members who went south. 

I am no longer a member of Ancestry (too expensive) but they have 943 entries for  unassisted passengers (they paid their own way) between 1826 and 1922 into Sydney, New South Wales.  There are also 183 Assisted passengers between 1828-1896.  (I only looked at Coffey, not other spelling variations.  If you don't have access to Ancestry I am willing to try our library's edition of Ancestry.

George Coffey married Martha England in 1882 Reg No 125 in Sydney, New South Wales. 

Martha England was born in New South Wales. Registration details are 3046/1855 V18553046 56.*Church Baptism record.

Her parents were John England and Sarah Hillard who married at St James' Church of England, Sydney in 1849.  Their registration details are 59/1849 V184959 34C.* Church Marriage record.

Registration was not compulsory until about 1856, so unless the parents baptised the child there will not be a record although convicts and former convicts were encouraged to do so to show they had turned away from their bad ways.

I also have the birth and death details of Martha's siblings if you wish to go that direction further.

I know its not much. I am very disappointed in the New South Wales Archives online services.  I am sure there used to be a lot more available before they changed their website but now you know they were in NSW prior to 1882.

You may be interested in this Co Down page of surnames (if you are not already aware of it).BMDs  http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rosdavies/SURNAMES/C/CoaCol.htm

BMDs for NSW Australia

From 1834 to 1966 there were 348 marriages in NSW for COFFEY grooms.

From 1837 to 1966 there were 349 marriages in NSW for COFFEY brides.

From 1800 to 1916 there were 436 births in NSW for COFFEY.

From 1813 to 1986 there were 605 deaths in NSW for COFFEY.

1845 to 1966 there were 94 marriages in NSW for McNEILLY grooms.

1848 to 1966 there were 69 marriages in NSW for McNEILLY brides.

1843 to 1916 there were 113 births in NSW for McNEILLY.

1856 to 1986 there were 134 deaths in NSW for McNEILLY.

Please contact me if I can assist further. 

Kathy

Kathy

Thank you so much for the info' you provided - much appreciated. My apologies for delay in responding.

Donna