Thomas Abberton (abt. 1830 - 1901)

Born about 1830 in Rossmore, Co. Galway, Ireland

Husband of Mary Ann (Torpy) Abberton — married 22 Jul 1854 (to 1901) in Goulburn, NSW

Descendants

Died 20 Nov 1901 at about age 71 in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Thomas Abberton was born in Ireland.

Birth (ca. 1830)

Thomas ABBERTON was born in Ballinakill, Co Galway, Ireland ca. 1830. His parents were Thomas Abberton and his wife Bridget Halloran.

The Potato Famine struck Ireland from 1845 to 1852 and roughly 1 million people died and more than 1 million fled the country.^[1]

Emigration (1852)

Thomas emigrated to Australia in 1852, arriving in Sydney, New South Wales as a single male on board the Joseph Somes on 3 Feb 1852. He was recorded as being 22 years of age, a farm labourer and able to both read and write. He was accompanied on the journey by his sister Anne, aged 16 and Margaret HICKEY who was, for some reason, traveling as his sister under the name Catherine ABBERTON. Perhaps a ticket had been purchased in her name and she decided at the last minute to postpone her journey. The real Catherine, aged 24, arrived 2 years later with her brother James, aged 26, on the “Caroline” on 13 October 1854.^[2]

Thomas and Anne's brother Patrick had already emigrated to Australia and was supposed to have gone to the Victorian goldfields. Thomas left behind his mother Bridget in Ballinakill. His father had already died.^[3]

Marriage (1854)

Thomas ABBERTON and Mary Ann TORPY were married in Goulburn at the Roman Catholic Church on 22 Jul 1854.^[4]

The family went on to settle in Mummel, New South Wales, where Thomas and Mary had 15 children.

Death (1901)

Thomas passed away in Goulburn, aged 71 in 1901.

Research Notes

Thomas was not married twice:

A previous researcher had created a profile for a Mary Ann O'Callaghan and suggested that she was a second wife of Thomas Abberton. This was erroneous. Investigation has shown that these two profiles refer to the same person: Mary Ann TORPY. Thomas was only married once and the erroneous O'Callaghan profile was merged into this profile on 6 Mar 2022.

Obituary for Thomas Abberton:

Death of Mr. Thomas Abberton.

MR. THOMAS ABBERTON of Mummel died on Wednesday night. For the last couple of years deceased had been in failing health, and his death was due to senile decay. Mr. Abberton, who arrived in this colony in 1851, proceeded to Mummel two years afterwards and resided there ever since. He had reached the good age of 71. Well-known throughout the district he was held in the highest esteem by the large circle of his acquaintances. He is survived by Mrs. Abberton and following sons and daughters :— Mesdames Gillett (Picton), Hain (Cooma), Carroll (Manly), Furney (Cootamundra), Pell (N.Z.), W. T. Daniel (Goulburn), Tunks (Bourke), and McLaughlin (Sydney), and Messrs. Michael, T., J. J., Mathew, and W. Abberton. The funeral which was largely attended, took place yesterday, the remains being interred at Kenmore Cemetery.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ Wikipedia - The Great Famine
2. ↑ New South Wales, Australia, Assisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1828-1896, accessed on Ancestry.com regarding: Catherine & Anne Abberton, 1852, February, Joseph Somes, scanpage 23 of 29 – researched by Matt. Lohmeyer on 09 Jul 2023.
3. ↑ New South Wales, Australia, Assisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1828-1896, accessed on Ancestry.com regarding: Thomas Abberton, 1852, February, Joseph Somes, scanpage 26 of 29 – researched by Matt. Lohmeyer on 09 Jul 2023.
4. ↑ Marriage Index (NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages) : Registration No: 359/1854 V1854359 100 – Groom: THOMAS ABBERTON, Bride: MARY TORPY, Year: 1854, District: LO (Goulburn, Roman Catholic) – researched by Matt. Lohmeyer on 09 Jul 2023.
5. ↑ Obituary, Werriwa Times and Goulburn District News (NSW), Friday 22 November 1901