Sexton family who emigrated to Australia in 1854

Dear Mia:

Many thanks for your query to the message board.  Have you looked at the Clare Library website?  They may have a lot of useful information for you with regard to your family research as there is a lot of donated material on the website and there is also transcriptions of passenger ships, some parish registers, and other material.  It may take a while to get through all the various items, but it is well worth it and you will find that new information is being added to the site all the time.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

All the best to you in your family research.

Kind regards,

Jane.

Hello Mia,

I am descended from Michael Sexton, who arrived in 1854 on the Blenheim with his parents Patrick & Catherine.

Other info I have found -

Victorian Shipping Records - Patrick Sexton was engaged by Mr Francis of St Kilda for 6 months, from 11/3/1854.  Wages were 65 pounds. He doesn't appear to have stayed the 6 months, as he was in Adelaide by 29/7/1854.

Children baptised at Kapunda - Thomas  7/1/1855,  Andrew 19/1/1857.     

Son Peter died aboard the Blenheim 18/12/1853.

Patrick Sexton died 1866, informant was Michael Ronan of Kapunda.  

Patrick & Catherine Sexton were witnesses at the marriage of Patrick Ronan & Mary Collins, on 29/7/1854 at St Patrick's Church in Adelaide.

I believe Patrick and Michael Ronan were Catherine's brothers.

I don't have any information on where they came from in Co Clare, and haven't had any success finding a marriage in about 1840 between Patrick Sexton & Catherine Ronan.

Would love to exchange information - contact is ccav@westnet.com.au.

Christine

PS Also researching Quigley family from Kilfenora, Clare - Thomas born c1817, Samuel c1824, Bridget c1820 married Michael Canny, John c1820 - siblings who all lived in Kapunda. 

Hi Christine,

thanks for getting in touch! I haven't had time to get back to my records, but I've put some of my records online (unfortunately some of the sources don't seem to have transferred across, but I do have a photo of the microfilm of the PROV's shipping record) at http://www.miaridge.com/projects/webtrees/index.php?ctype=gedcom&ged=Mi… I'd love to exchange information, I'll drop you a line.

And thank you Jane, I didn't looked at the Clare Library in detail as I've found it difficult to be sure about names without more information about the family's location and parish.

Best regards, Mia

Hello,

I think I am a descendant of the same Mary Sexton as you. I am really confused though as I have been making a family tree and there are so many Meaneys that I think I have some families in the wrong place.

If anyone could help it would be greatly appreciated. So far the details I am sure on is that my great-grandmother was Mary Elizabeth Meaney 1869-1944. She married George Armstrong McNeil. Her parents were Mary Sexton 1841-1918 and Patrick Meaney 1836-1923.

After that it becomes confusing. On my tree that I have expanded from other people's trees, I have Mary Sexton as having the following siblings; Bridget, Nora, Nelly, Michael, John and Patrick. This doesn't seem right. I also have her parents as Patrick Sexton and Catherine Commane. I have read here and other places that her mother was actually Catherine Ronan and her siblings are Michael, Andrew, Anne and Thomas. Can someone please help me onto the right path, I have spent countless hours scouring the internet for any information but I am stuck. I went to the Kapunda Cemetery yesterday but it didn't help too much.

Thanks,

Ally

Hi Everyone:

Glad to see that you are all making connections via the message board!!   I can't offer any assistance, but I will say again, that if you have the time to try to scroll through some of the online resources through the Clare Library website, you may be able to pick a few extra pieces to your family jigsaw. 

The very best of luck to all of you!

Kind regards,

Jane.

Hi Ally,

I've done most of my research through newspapers (via Trove) - I haven't written off for certificates yet as I'm a bit short on time at the moment but my records for Mary Sexton (Meany) show her siblings as Anne, Michael, Peter and T (not sure of the full name): http://www.miaridge.com/projects/webtrees/individual.php?pid=I0080&ged=…

Kapunda seems to have drawn in cousins or extended family for various surnames I've been looking at, and of course names are repeated between generations so it's easy to get confused. Have you tried the Kapunda Historical Society? I'll be in Australia at Christmas so I might try ringing them then.

Cheers, Mia

Hi Jane,

I'll be based in Dublin for a few months later this year, do you think I'd have more luck finding information if I actually visited the Clare Library or is everything online? I figure I can do a few weekend research trips while I'm in Ireland.

If anyone interested in the Sexton/Meany families has information requests I can also see if I can manage them while I'm there.

Cheers, Mia

Hi Mia,

I have used Trove too. It's quite interesting. I haven't tried the Kapunda Historical Society but I will look into it. It is very confusing. Not only do some people have the same first and second names, but their wives even have the same name sometimes.

I wish I had asked more questions from family when I still had them.

Thanks,

Ally