Sicilia (Naghten) Maguire (bef.1808-aft.1870)

Sicilia (Sisley) "Sissy, Cicily, Cecily, Celia" Maguire formerly Naghten aka Naughton, Naughlin, Harkin

Born before 3 Aug 1808 in Athleague, County Roscommon and Galway, Ireland

Daughter of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]

[sibling(s) unknown]

Wife of Jeremiah Harkin — married 1830 in County Galway, Ireland

Wife of James Maguire — married 17 Jul 1843 (to 1866) in Parramatta Female Factory (Common Law)

Descendants

Mother of Male Harkin, Mary (Harkin) Naughton, Bridgit (Harkin) Naughton and Matilda (Maguire) Rose

Died after 9 Mar 1870 after age 61 in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

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Profile last modified 9 Feb 2024 | Created 28 Mar 2016

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Sisley (Naghten) Maguire was born in Ireland.

Biography

Sisley (Naghten) Maguire was a convict after the Third Fleet transported to New South Wales

False maiden name of Connell provided by her on James's Death Certificate was a common attempt to deny convict past and other marriage details are fictional. <GR>

Prior to convictions married in Ireland with 3 children, of whom the 2 girls accompanied her to Australia on the Whitby.

Convicted 12 April 1838 - Stealing Linen in Mayo. Sentence- 7 years.^[1] Arrived Sydney aboard "Whitby" 1839 from Kingstown, Dublin. Assigned to the Parramatta Female Factory as having children made her "unsuitable" to be a domestic servant. ^[2]

Note: Many inconsistencies between Sisley's Dublin departure and Sydney arrival records.<GR>
1838 Before transportation in Ireland she was stated to be 32yo. Children have surname Harkin
1839 After transportation to Parramatta Indent stated 45yo. Children have surname Naughton and husband George Naughton.
Did she benefit from this subterfuge?
How old did James think she was when he chose her in 1843?

1839 Children were taken at weaning age to the Parramatta Orphanage, where they mostly died from neglect.
This would have happened to Mary (Harkin) Naughton immediately & then Bridget (Harkin) Naughton when she reached weaning age.
1841 Scarlet Fever (Scarletina) Epidemics were reported in Sydney only waxing and waning over the decades following. ^[3]There are no records to indicate their survival.

Link to “Riot Day“ Parramatta Female Factory visit 26th October 2018

July 1842 saw the maximum number of women in the Factory - 1203. ^[4]

Ticket Of Leave 24th April 1843 originally restricted to Campbelltown (childless). Alteration 17th July 1843 allowed travel to Goulburn with James. The fact that she served her whole sentence in the PFF is an indication of her being unsuitable for the usual assignment to a settler. This may have been because of;

Motherhood.
Skill as a washerwoman, made her commercially valuable.
Age.
Appearance.^[5]

1846 Matilda was born in Tumut, NSW when Sisley was 38 yo. not 50 yo.

Why would a Catholic couple who had an unexpected child, late in life call that child Matilda? <GR>

1850 James & Sisley in Wagga district at "Eunonyhareenyha" by this time. McGUIRE, Cecily. Quarrelled with Elizabeth Davis cook at "Eunonyhareenyha" in 1850 (WWBB).

1854 James purchased a home at Baylis St, Wagga and a small acreage "Elm Farm" at North Wagga adjacent to Council Common. (Where did this money come from? <GR>)

1859 Mrs MAGUIRE contributed one pound, ten shillings towards the construction of St Michael's Catholic Church, Wagga Wagga,

1866 At death of James, his will is not read, Celia/Sisley assumed ownership.

Wagga Wagga Advertiser, December 9, 1868

Wagga Wagga Police Court TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8th, 1868 (Before H. Baylis, Esq., P. M., G. Mair, and F. A. Tompson, Esq.’s, J.P.) ASSAULT – Matilda Maguire appeared on summons to answer the complaint of her mother Celia Maguire, that she had at North Wagga Wagga on the first of December assaulted and beaten her with a stick, and pleaded not guilty. Complainant stated that she had told defendant to send away a man {Englishman James Rose} with whom she was cohabiting, when defendant ran and got a big waddy {aboriginal war club} (produced in court) and struck her with it on many parts of her body. (Witness exhibited several marks caused by the blows.) The evidence of complainant was corroborated by that of other witnesses, and the defendant was adjudged guilty, and sentenced to be imprisoned in Wagga Wagga Gaol for three calendar months.

Then while Matilda is in gaol Celia/Sisley took the opportunity to use the courts to remove hated Englishman James Rose from the scene.

Wagga Wagga Advertiser, January 16, 1869

POLICE COURT FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, (Before the Police Magistrate and F. S. Tompson, Esq., J.P.) CHARGE OF CATTLE STEALING – James Rose appeared on summons, charged with stealing a bullock the property of Celia Maguire. Prosecutor is the widow of the late James Maguire, who has left a will which has never been administered to. The evidence showed, (and the will itself was produced in corroboration thereof) that the testator left all his property, including cattle, to his daughter Matilda who appears to be cohabiting with Rose, who sold one of the bullocks to John Hart for and on account of Matilda Maguire as her agent. The Bench considered that defendant, in dealing with the beast in question, did so, believing he had a bona fide right, and without felonious intent, and dismissed the case.

After above Celia/Sisley was now homeless.

Wagga Wagga Advertiser and Riverine Reporter NSW Wed 15 Dec 1869 Page 2

WAGGA WAGGA POLICE COURT - STEALING.
Cecilia M'Guire was charged with stealing a £1-note and 5s.-piece from the purse of John Segilki, at North Wagga Wagga. Senior-constable McElligot deposed to the arrest of prisoner, who denied the charge.-John Segilki deposed that he was a goldminer ; was stopping at Angus Manaka's, at North Wagga Wagga ; on the 6th December, was at Bartlett's bakery, when prisoner came in and asked him to shout for cakes ; witness did so, and left his purse on the counter, when prisoner at once snatched it up and made off. Ellen Kelly deposed that she was in the shop when Segilki and prisoner were there ; did not see prisoner take the purse, but heard Segilki accuse her of having done so. Prisoner was committed for trial at the next Quarter Sessions. Bail allowed, herself in £40, and two sureties in £20 each.

New South Wales Police Gazette 22nd December 1869

Cecilia Maguire, charged with stealing £1/16s (not recovered), the property of John Segilki, a gold miner, at Bartlett's Bakery, has been arrested by Snr-constable McElligot, Wagga Wagga. Committed for trial-Discharged on own recognizance to appear when called upon.

New South Wales Police Gazette 9th March 1870

Cecilia McGuin, charged with stealing £1/16s (not recovered), the property of John Segelki. Discharged again on own recognizance to appear when called upon.

(Celia is ~ 61 at this time. She was not mentioned in the following court report 14th July 1870) In May 1870 Wagga Wagga experienced a devastating flood. North Wagga was even more affected. A homeless woman could easily disappear without trace. <GR>

Sources

↑ Ireland-Australia transportation database
Last name: NAUGHLIN
First name: SISLEY OR SISSEY
Full name: SISLEY OR SISSEY NAUGHLIN
Sex: F
Age: 32
Trial place: Co. Mayo
Trial date: 12/04/1838
Crime desc: Larceny
Sentence: Transportation 7 yrs
Document ref1: TR 2, p 87 (F)
↑ Parramatta Female Factory by Gay Hendriksen
↑ The Australian Sydney, NSW Sat 8 May 1841 Page 2 Scarletina
↑ Michaela Ann Cameron, “Parramatta Female Factory: Australia’s First Purpose-Built Female Factory,” Female Factory Online (2016)
↑ Information supplied by Beth Matthews PFF

Unable to separate these two births although 1st is most likely based on father's name given to son James. Both towns are within a few kms of the marriage location of Ballygar.