Edward and Margaret left Ireland for Scotland 6 Sept, 1843. They sailed from Greenock, Scotland 10 October, 1843. Arrived Sydney on "Herald" 10 Jan, 1844. They were Bounty immigrants - the New South Wales government paid seventeen guineas for each adult for their passage. Both were Episcopalian. The ages given in the ships papers were Edward 30 years, Margaret 20 years, John James 5 months at time of sailing. Margaret was a dressmaker and Edward described himself as a Agriculture Labourer. On John James baptismal certificate Edward is described as a Revenue man.
When Edward and Margaret arrived in Sydney they entered into an agreement with Robert Fitzgerald of Windsor. Edward was to serve Robert Fitzgerald as a shepherd and Margaret a hut keeper and to be generally useful for the term of twelve calendar months. They were paid fifteen pounds per annum and provided with rations weekly: Beef or mutton 20 lbs, Flour 20lbs, Sugar 3 lbs and Tea 1/2 lb. They then went to Fitzgerald's property near Rylstone, NSW. Children - William, Edward, Elizabeth, Mary, twins Isaac and Rebecca, and Margaret were born in Rylstone. It appears that the children were named in the Irish manner, except when it came to the twins. Isaac was my great grandfather. Edward and Margaret died in Rylstone and buried in the Rylstone cemetery. Many descendants of this couple still live in the area.
