Edmund Elliott dancing master and convict

My apologies for the very late response. I have passed this to our Shanagolden Volunteer ​

Best wishes

Clare Doyle

Genealogy Support 

Ireland XO

Hello Poke Family Member,

If you could provide some dates, that would help me do some checking for you.

When was your 3rd great grandfather born? Where? When was he living in Ballyhahill? Do you know what years his children were born? (If you don't know, you might find them in the newly released parish registers at http://registers.nli.ie/

As soon as I receive this info, I will see what I can find for you.

Best wishes,

Patti Hacht

Shanagolden & Kildolman Parish Liaison

Thanks for your response.  Edmund (Edward) Elliott

B:1772 Ballyhahill Limerick - D: 9 12 1838 Fairy Meadow Wollongong NSW.

Son of James Elliot (1709-1809 ?) and Johanna Byrne (-1786)

Married Mary Shaughnessy (1783-1858) in St Mary's Cathedral Limerick 28 July 1806.  Mary changed her name back to O'Shaughnessy on arrival in Australia.  She applied for permission to join her husband and sailed with her two younger children Joanna (Johanna) 1809-1887 and Edward 1813-1885 on the "City of Edinburgh" on12 November 1828.

Edmund was convicted at the Kerry Assize in 1822 for Administering oaths and sentenced to life.  Of his sentence the British chief justice said he was able to travel the countryside in his guise as an Irish dancing master, signing up farmers to the rebel cause.  He travelled to Australia on the Brampton which left Cork on 8 December 1822 and arrived in Port Jackson 22 April 1823.  There were 40 Irish rebels on the ship and he, as a senior rebel (aged 59) was protected by the younger men who somehow had him pronounced dead (according to the report of the ship's surgeon).  On arrival, Edmund took his place with the others on the docks ( sort of an Irish Lazarus).

His behaviour as a convict did not endear him to the British.  First gig was as a servant and he was swiftly dismissed as Lazy and ended up building roads where he was given a term on a kind of step machine (Obviously, they didn't factor in his high level of fitness).  He was eventually released in shackles to the custody of his wife.

As I said I am planning a trip to Ireland and hoped to visit several places.  Tipperary, Clare, Monaghan, Cork and find information on Patrick Lysaght another rebel from Limerick who married Edmund's daughter.  I am particulary interested in the education of the Elliott children who were able to read and write and went on to prosper in the new country.

Hello Poke,

What are you looking for in Ireland? It seems this family has been traced extensively in Australia. Are you aware that there are several family trees for this family online at Ancestry.com?

I don't know of any records that will help you with info about James and Mary's children's education.

I searched the 1901 and 1911 Census rcds for these surnames and found none in Ballyhahill.

If I can get some idea of what you're trying to find, I can ask the Shanagolden team to do some digging.

Best wishes,

Patti Hacht

Kilcolman & Shanagolden Parish Liaison