I am looking for more information on Rose Rourke who I believe arrived in Australia 13 Dec 1848 aboard the "Lady Kennaway" aged 16. She is likely to have been part of the Pauper/Orphan Emigration Program.
I have conflicting information: emigration information has her Native Place as Tuam, Galway and her Australian marriage certificate and childrens records have her place of birth as County Sligo.
I have no record of her parents.
She married William Whittaker (1831-1870) on 25 Aug 1853 in Kilmore, Victoria, Australia and gave birth to atleast 6 children. Four of her children were George (1861-1924) my Great Grandfather, James (1864-), Emma (1867-) and William (1853-1916). Rose died on 24 Oct 1900 at Whiteheads Creek, Seymour, Victoria.
I would really appreciate any information on Rose's ancestry.
Friday 5th Sep 2014, 06:42AM
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Dear Sandi
Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!
I had a look on rootsireland.ie but the only baptism record in Co. Galway is for a 'Rose O'Rork' in 1793. Roman Catholic records for Tuam parish begin in 1790 but that isn't to say that Rose wasn't born in a neighbouring parish where records start later.
There is a possibility that you could find out more about Rose from the Outdoor Relief Records and/or Minute Books of the Workhouse. I see that you know the name of the ship that Rose traveled on; it may be a long shot but I would try to research some the accounts from newspapers of the time to see if there is any general mention of the trip and the conditions.
Irish Newspaper Archive:
http://www.irishnewsarchive.com/British Newspaper Archive:
http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/Galway County Council Archives for Workhouse records:
http://www.galway.ie/en/Services/ArchivesService/OurCollections/#Poor Law UnionIt would be a good idea to do this for Sligo also
Best wishes
Clare Doyle
Genealogy Support