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Hello!

I am descended from James Baird and Martha Brownell. They both immigrated to Australia in 1841 aboard the Joseph Cunard. Travelling in their party was Alice Borwnell, Martha's younger sister. On the voyage Martha gave birth to a baby girl, Elizabeth. I can only assume she died shortly after arriving as they had a second daughter and named her Elizabeth too.

I know about the Brownell family from extensive research conducted by my distant cousin, the late Frederick Brownell. Though the connection where Martha and Alice fits in to the bigger Brownell tree is still a little vague.

What I am most interested in is James and his family. I do not know what became of James after his wife died in 1867. Perhapse he returned to Ireland with his son Edward.

Here's what I do know and of course some of the information is conflicting. If it was smooth sailing it wouldn't be as fun though :)

According to the immigration papers, both James and Martha were natives of Stackallen, Co. Meath. I presume this means they were born there. James' parents were dead and listed as John and Eliza. James was a house servant and groom. James was 26 on embarkation and his religon was Episcopalian. Shortly after arriving James spent some time in Gaol. I do not know why. The information I have from the Gaol Entrance and Description Books states his birth place as Co. Louth in 1816.

James had at least one brother. His name was John and he placed an ad in a Sydney newspaper on the 4th Sept 1858 asking James to contact him. The ad mentions "...James Baird, who left Colonel Filgate's, Lisrenny, Ireland, in 1840..."

On John's death certificate his parents are listed as James Baird, Military Sargeant and Jane Martin. However, on the church marriage record for John's marriage to Mary Culkin at Athboy on 8th of March, 1855 his father is listed as John Baird. His mother is not recorded.

I have found two military records that match the two names for the father. The first is for a Sejeant John Bairde who joined the Royal Meath Militia in 1793. He was 38. He served for 21 years and was discharded at the age of 59 on 1st August 1814. Of the 21 years he served, 15 of those were as Serjeant, 4 as a Corporal and two as a Private. He was paid xxx(cannot decipher) to get him to Dublin, Ireland. His place of birth is listed as Inniskeen (Enniskeen ?), Meath. I reckon his year of birth to be 1755.

The second record is for a James Baird who joined the 50th Regiment for 4 1/2 years then the 65th Regiment. He served for 7 1/2 years before being discharged with scurvey at the age of 29.

If anyone can help it would be greatly appreciate.

Kind regards,

Melissa

Melissa

Monday 17th Feb 2020, 11:45AM

Message Board Replies

  • Can't really help but of interest my greats were also on board S.S. Joseph Cunard so they would have known each other although mine were R.C.   Andrew Niland and his wife Mary Pendergast and 3 children with another born off Sydney in 1841.There is a pic of S S JOseph Cunard online for your records.  Andrew was bought out by Aspinall Brown and Co.  Perhaps this may be a lead? He was a cooper ( brewery) from Dublin 

    fergcanb

    Thursday 20th Feb 2020, 01:43AM

  • I just saw your note on the Irish geneology site Baird Family.

    I do know of a Brownell family from Stackallen near Slane in County Meath. There were two brothers that I know of one of them was Tom Brownell and was a vet in Oldcastle Co. Meath. the other brothers name was Eddie. They had a sister called Mary.. 

    Tom was married and had I think two daughters they would be now in their fifties. Tom died about 20 years ago. If you look up the Meath chronicle I am sure they will have a record of Tom or Eddies death notice.

    I hope this is of some help to you.

    Regards

    T.

     

    tommyl

    Monday 13th Apr 2020, 02:43PM

  • Hi fergcanb and Tommyl,

    Thanks for stopping by and offering suggestions. Much appreciated.

    fergcanb...My ancestors were also brought out by Aspinall Brown and Co.. They went to work for George Brown in Dapto. Not for long though, it looks like they just served the required amount of time then left. By 1844 they were in Goulburn then Sydney by 1846. James became a cab driver and shortly after Martha's death in1867 he disappears from the records. So does his son Edward. Even in death members of this family have disappeared. Martha's was presumably dug up to make way for Sydney's central station but there is no record of where her remains ended up. The remains of her two children who died whilst they were at Cook's River have also been removed to make way for the road there now. Where their remains ended up is a mystery.

    Alice Brownell, Martha's sister, went to Liverpool after arriving in Sydney.

     

    Stay safe and healthy!

    Melissa

    Thursday 16th Apr 2020, 04:27AM

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