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Hello from Australia, 

I know very little of my Great Grandmother Mary Griffin. In her obituary here in Australia it said that she came from Galway, Ireland 70 yrs prior to her death in 1943. She died aged 87 yrs. This has her immigrating to Australia in about 1878 and making her date of birth about 1856. 

She married my Great Grandfather James Collins on the 23 Dec 1879 in Dalby, Queensland, Australia. 

A search of ships arriving in Australia has revealed a Mary Griffin aged 22yrs arriving in Maryborough, Queensland, Australia on the 2 Dec 1878. Single, travelling with no other family members that I can see on the passenger list of the 'Highflyer'. She was travelling as a 'free' passenger. I believe with the dates and ages that this could be my Mary.

Other than this I have no other records to assist in my search. Ancestry has a few families with different information on parents of Mary but with no vital documents to back up their reasoning. 

I know this isn't much to go on but I would be grateful for any assistance that may lead me in the right direction. 

Some information in our New South Wales Pioneer index indicates the parents of Mrs. Mary Collins nee Griffin are Thomas & Mary/Margaret. 

Kind Regards,

Debbie Smart

Debbie S

Sunday 24th Dec 2023, 04:02AM

Message Board Replies

  • There are 5 other Mary Griffin that year, yours and the other 4 were stated as going to Brisbane.
    You say parents were Thomas and Marg/Mary.
    This is one that I found with Parents Thos and Margt nee Collins. 

    02437/08, Rahoon - Catholic Parish Registers at the NLI
    The address looks like Braw ? Lodge. I have looked for it but no results sorry. 

    This is Rahoon today.  (Lovely area)
    Rahoon Townland, Co. Galway (townlands.ie)

    This is the nearest I found.
    Margot

    Margot

    Sunday 24th Dec 2023, 09:26AM

  • Debbie,

    Based on Margot's info I checked birth record on RootIreland (subscription). Record shows Straw Lodge, Rahoon. It is mentioned on the link below, page 45.

    https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/assets.ria.ie/ihta/ihta-digital/angl…

    Regards- Mary

     

    MaryTV

    Sunday 24th Dec 2023, 07:26PM

  • Thank you Mary,

    I am hoping this is the right track as I am not totally certain of my Mary's parents. 

    Am I correct in understanding that Straw Lodge would have been a workhouse at that time.

    On the baptismal record am I reading it correctly as Thos & Mary/Marg Collins. (Funny coincidence that she married a Collins when she came to Australia).

    I have been exploring IrelandXO but have got a little lost navigating my way around the site.

    I gather I should now join the Rahoon Parish to continue gathering further info on my ancestors. 

    Thanks again Mary

    Cheers, Debbie from Aus

    Debbie S

    Tuesday 26th Dec 2023, 01:29AM

  • Debbie,

    Per Margot's research, this might be your Mary Griffin and yes you might want to post to Rahoon Parish.

    RootsIreland

    Name:Mary GriffinDate of Birth:

      Date of Baptism:10-Dec-1854

    Address:Straw LodgeParish/District:RAHOON

    Gender:FemaleCountyCo. Galway

    Denomination:Roman Catholic

    Father:Thomas GriffinMother:Margaret Collins

    Occupation:

    Sponsor 1 /
    Informant 1:Francis Egan
    Sponsor 2 /
    Informant 2:Bridget Holleran

    Regards- Mary

    MaryTV

    Tuesday 26th Dec 2023, 07:07PM

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