Martin Breheny : Short Biography

Comments

Hello,

I am researching my gg grandmother Catherine "Kitty" McHugo who was born around 1826 - I believe in Parish of Leitrim, Co Galway. She was transported to Hobart with her brother, Thomas and another lady Ann (or Anne) Kinavon in early 1850's for stealing two sheep from a Mr Nugent. They were convicted in the Portumna courthouse on 27 Dec 1848, along with another brother, John McHugo and all were sentenced to transportation. However, John subsequnetly died in Kilmainham jail, Dublin waiting to be transported with his brother Thomas.

We know from convict records that their mother's christian name was "Mary" and that they had a sister called "Biddy"

The reason for this note is that I have found 3 baptism records for a Catherine, Thomas and Bridget "Biddy" McHugo from parish of Leitrim in Co Galway of about right timeframe and with consistent parents - Thomas McHugo and Mary Brehheny. I just noticed your Martin Breheny, born around 1800 and wondered whether they could be from same family - perhaps the mother of my group (Mary Brehenny) might be a sister or cousin of your Martin?

Would be very happy to share infomration to see if we can confirm any links - by the way I am in Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia

Regards,

Peter McKenna

 

pmmacca

Tuesday 6th August 2019 02:03AM

Hello Peter,

Just a bit of history of what I know of my ancestral family which may be oy interest to you.

The name "BREHENY" in its many forms can be traced back to the Middle Ages where it appears as "MAC AN BHREITHEAMHNAIGH", (translated as "Son of Brehon" or "Son of the Judge".  Since that time it has appeared as Breiteaman, Breiteamnaigh, Breitim, M'Abreham, M'Ebrehowne, M'Evrehune, M'Evrehoona, M'Eurehon, M'Brehuna, M'Brehon, M'Urehoune, Brohoon, Brahony, Brehony, Brehany, Branhey, and Breheney. Persons with the surname "Judge" & "Browne" also connected.

Other spellings, which have appeared in Australian records, include Braney, Breeney, Braheny and Breheany.

Most of the information contained herein has been gleaned from the Birth, Death and Marriage Indices of the Victorian Registry Office and whilst every effort has been made to confirm the accuracy of these details, some inaccuracies must be expected. The surname is spelt in many and varied ways and without personal knowledge, one can only take a guess and hope that somewhere, at some time, somebody will be able to verify.

Martin Breheny was born in County Galway in 1800 (probably at Woodford) and married Bridget Halnan in Co. Galway in about 1832.  He, his wife and family sailed from Plymouth on 22nd November 1853 aboard the "BLENHEIM" and arrived in Melbourne, Victoria, on 28th February 1854.

The microfiche "Assisted Passenger" lists maintained by the Public Records Office shows Martin's occupation as Shepherd" and that on arrival he was engaged by "The Corporation of Melbourne" on 10 March at a wage of 136 Pounds (per annum, I presume). The list gives his age as 43 and travelling with him were, Bridget aged 42, Bridget 20, John 15, Michael 13, Martin 11, Patrick 9 and William 6. Also on board were, Mary 18, Judy 16 and Catherine 16, Jane 13, a total of 12. The Death Certificates of both Martin and Bridget confirm that they had six children.

Mary was a cousin of Martin's (the daughter of his brother Patrick and Bridget Mulvihill) and that in 1866 she married John Wall. It is interesting to note that a son of this union, Thomas Patrick, married Bridget, the daughter of John and Ellen Breheny in 1907.  Mary Wall died in March 1905 aged 70.

Question?  What connection are Jane, Judy and Catherine?

The Death Certificates show that Martin died at Little Hampton on 24 May 1890 aged 90 and was buried at Glenlyon Cemetery on 26 May.  Bridget died at Glenlyon on 5th Jun 1893, aged 93 and was also buried at Glenlyon Cemetery on 6 June.

You can see that our Mary was a free settlor.  On her arrival in Melbourne, she made immediate plans to go to her parents in Sydney, in Woodford,there are 2 distinct Breheny clans in Victoria, one originates in Tynagh, and mine in Woodford.  You parish of Leitrim is in close proximity to both.

Interesting that I have a nephew, Peter McKenna.

Please get back to me at <john_say@bigpond.com>

 

 

Regards

 

John S

 

 

Brehon

Friday 9th August 2019 05:32AM