My first Australian Fogarty - Michael

My great, great grandfather, Michael Fogarty was born in the Parish of Burgess, near Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, Ireland around 1799 the son of James Fogarty (a farmer) and Judith (nee Ryan). It appears that Michael may have been the grandson of Michael Fogarty born c1720 in Ireland. We do not have a record of Michael having siblings (but it is likely he did). He lived in Burgess until was convicted of the crime of Coining at Clare on the 12th March, 1828 and given a life sentence. (His prisoner number was 29/867). It is interesting to note that Burgess is located near Silversmith, a mining area, on the road to Limerick. Maybe he obtained the metal from the nearby mines. He was then transported on the Governor Ready as a convict from Cork, Ireland on the 21st September, 1828.

Michael was 5 feet 7 inches with a ruddy pockpitted complexion, brown hair and dark hazel eyes. It is reported that he ahd a scar on his right eyebrow and anpother on the front part of his right leg.

MICHAEL FOGARTY IN IRELAND

TIPPERARY AROUND 1828

MICHAEL FOGARTY IN AUSTRALIA
Michael arrived at Port Jackson, Sydney, Australia on 16th January, 1829. He was assigned after arrival to a Mr. John Dickson. We do not know what Michael did for John Dickson but it is likley he worked a a labourer in his steam mill.

PRISON WITHOUT BARS - SYDNEY 1829

On the 20 June 1836 Michael lodged an application to bring four (unnamed) of his children from Ireland to Australia. It appears that he beieved his first wife (Judith Ryan) in Ireland was dead by this date.

Also by 1836, Michael was residing in the Goulburn District of NSW. He applied for his Ticket of Leave in October 1836 and was granted Ticket of Leave (No. 37/189) on the 23 February, 1837. He was allowed to remain in the District of Goulburn.

On the 11th February, 1842 (on the recommendation of the Goulburn Bench), Michael was granted a "Ticket of Leave Passport" (No. 42/229 dated 2nd February 1842). It is reported that he was allowed to remain in the service of Mr. J. O'Sullivan of the Lachlan District of NSW. John O'Sullivan lived in Goulburn but had at least three pastoral properties in the Lachlan District. It would appear that afyer 1842 Michael may have worked on one or more of the O'Sullivan properties in the area between the Lachan and Murumbidgee Rivers in south western NSW.

On the 14 March, 1845 Michael wrote to to the NSW Treasurer seeking approval to rent land in Yass, NSW.

Michael was granted a Conditional Pardon on 25 June, 1845.

On the 13 August, 1845 he married Margaret Spencer at Snugs, Boorowa. Witnesses were Michael and Judith O'Brien. The priest was Father Charles Lovat of Yass.

Michael died at Phils Creek, NSW on the 4 October 1866. His death certificate gives his age as 76 years (that would suggest that he was born in 1790). Cause of death was Congestion of the Lungs.

He was interred on the 6 October, 1866 (Priest Patrick Hogan. Witness Robert Gooley). At the time of his death it was reported that he had been in Australia for 38 years. He was survived by his Australian wife Margaret (nee Spencer) and eight living children (five males, 3 females and one child deceased).

Probate was granted on 14 October 1881.

MICHAEL FOGARTY'S CHILDREN:

By unknown Irish wife:
Four children in Ireland.

By Margaret Spencer:
James - Joanna Berry
Bridget - James Slavin
May (Mary)- John Patrick Francis
Michael - Eliza Jane Sheehan
Patrick - Margaret Coves
Phillip - Johanna Berry
Male (Deceased pre 1866)
Johanna - Timothy Berry
John Thomas

My great grandfather was Michael Fogarty the younger who married Eliza Jane Sheehan.

FOGARTY CONVICTS

Preface

For many years I attempted to deduct my Fogarty family history from my Uncle Peter's Family Trees. Historical and geographical information in the Family Tree is scant. As a Historian and Geographer, I would often think about the times and places where my ancestors lived.

I started researching and eventually self-published my research in a small booklet 'From Nenagh to Nowhere' (c) 1994.

Whilst undertaking my research I visited many of the places (both in Ireland and Australia) that my ancestors 'touched'.

Online family tree

I am experimenting with an online family tree

Fogarty.org

Early 19th century Tipperary

Before 1830 in most of Ireland many areas had 'surplus' populations. The population increased 100% between 1770 and 1841. Earning from farming, wages or relief was sufficient only to sustain life (in good times). The condition of many of the rural workers was grave.

Irish rural life was dominated for the peasants by an obsession for securing and hanging on to a piece of land.

Incipient 'warfare' existed between the poor, Catholic, Irish peasant tenants and their richer, protestant, English landlords.


North Tipperary was a predominantly rural area. There was significant rural unrest throughout the region in the period 1750-1850.

"There was a move towards growing grain due to the increasing grain prices brought about by the Napoleonic Wars. These high grain prices were an incentive to conversion to tillage, and to early marriage due to rural prosperity. In 1815, The end of the wars brought a fall in grain prices, and many small farmers were ruined."

Also, the potato crop in Ireland failed in 1825.

The peasants lived on potatoes and if lucky a pig and a little milk.

Is this perchance the fate that befell Michael Fogarty? Could this have been the cause of him being apprehended on a criminal charge?

One defining aspect of early 19th century Tipperary was the Act of Union (with the United Kingdom) in 1800. This led to the formation (by Daniel O'Connell of the Repeal Association. The Association was active in North Tipperary prior to the 1832 general election in Britain. O'Connell has also formed the Catholic Association to agitate for Catholic Emancipation. O'Connell was actively campaigning in the area during the 1820s.

Was Michael politically active? Could this have led him to engage in subversive or illegal acts?

Peasants had to pay an alien church tithes that were collected in a most inefficient and provocative manner. Graziers (larger landowners) were exempt.

Is it little wonder the peasant was, from time to time, driven to resistance and 'crime' as self-protection and to provide for the family?