Ellen (Brennan) Hamilton (abt. 1822 - 1895)

Born about 1822 in Digbeth, Warwickshire, England [uncertain]

Wife of John Hamilton — married 28 Jan 1850 in Yulgilbar, Clarence River district, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 9 Sep 1895 at about age 73 in Yulgilbar, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Margaret Yard [send private message] and Christine Harris [send private message]

Biography

Ellen was born about 1822. She passed away in 1895. ^[1]

30 Aug 1838 Ellen married James Shanley, a butcher, at the parish church of St Martin, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, by licence. Ellen's residence was given as Digbeth, Birmingham and her father was Patrick Brennan, servant. James Shanley was a butcher, residence Achonry, Ireland, father James Shanley, grocer. James signed the register, Ellen made a mark. Witnesses were Thomas and Martha Steele, ^[2]

James and Ellen Shanley were assisted (Bounty) immigrants on the ship 'Champion': James Shanley 27 groom (native place Tubbercurry Sligo ireland) (Tubbercurry or Tobercurry is not far from Achonry, his 'residence' when they married), and his wife Ellen Shanley 20 housekeeper (native place Birmingham), both RC, both can read and write. It sailed from Liverpool on May 8th 1840 with 308 immigrants, The ship arrived at Port Jackson on Oct 5th 1840 but was held in quarantine with fever on board until Oct 24th 1840.

The Immigration lists give the names of their parents: Ellen's parents were P'k Brennan a farmer and Ellen Griffin. James's parents were Joseph Shanley a butcher and Catherine Burke.

After arriving in Sydney, James and Ellen went to Newcastle where their first two children were born:

• Anastasia (born 1841)
• Sylvester (born 1844).
• Helen "Ellen", their third child, was born 1846 Tumomumbee, Clarence River, NSW

They were taken by ship to Grafton at a cost of 4 pounds and 8 shillings by Commissioner Fry who had applied for three men for the Border Police for Clarence River. [Hunt - what is original source?]

Joseph and Ellen went to Yulgilbar station to work for Edward Ogilvie. [Hunt]

Ellen's 1st husband Joseph "James" Shanley was reportedly speared by aborigines about 1846 while working as a shepherd on Yulgilbar Station. [Hunt - what is original source?]

His widow Ellen then married John Hamilton, 28 Jan 1850 at Yulgilbar Station.^[3]

They had children:

• John b.1851 accidently killed when a horse rolled on him in the first race at Malera Flats race course in 1864.
• William 1852-1939
• Mary 1854-1821
• Jane 1856-1928
• Matilda 1859-1937
• Richard 1860-1934
• Ann 1862-abt 1862
• Emily 1864
• John 1866 (to confirm)

.... Clarence and Richmond Examiner (Grafton, NSW : 1889 - 1915), Saturday 28 September 1895, page 4:

IN MEMORIAM.

HAMILTON-In loving momory of my dear mother, Mrs. ELLEN HAMILTON, who departed this life September 9th, 1895; aged 73 years.

How we miss thee, dearest mother, None but loving hearts can tell.

Sleep, mother dear, thy task is o'er,

Thy loving hands shall toil no more. No more thy gentle eyes shall weep ; ::Sleep, mother dearest, gently sleep.

Inserted by her loving daughter-Ellen Rea, Mann River.

.... Clarence and Richmond Examiner (Grafton, NSW : 1889 - 1915), Tuesday 24 September 1895, page 4:

IN MEMORIAM.

In loving remembrance of my dear mother, Mrs. ELLEN HAMILTON, who departed this life at her residence, Yulgilbar, on September 9th, 1895 (R.I.P.)

Dearest mother how we miss you,

None but loving hearts can tell.

Earth has lost you-Heaven has found thee,

Dearest mother, fare thee well.

Inserted by her loving daughter, Mary Rogan, South River.

.... Family and pioneer cemeteries, Clarence Valley Council website has the following:

YULGILBAR HAMILTON GRAVES, Lionsville Road, Yulgilbar NSW 2460

'The graves of John and Ellen Hamilton are located on the Lionsville Road Yulgilbar NSW Australia on the Clarence River just beyond the old Lionsville Solferino Road river crossing. Three graves are marked with three similar cast iron headstones.'

This website gives thee inscriptions on the cast iron headstones:

• Ellen Hamilton 'died Sep 1889 age 73 years' (is the gravestone incorrect or is it a misreading as she died 1895)
• John Hamilton died 3.3.1893 age 82 years
• Theodore Christian George Frank Melemann died 5 Jan 1903 age 53 years

Research Notes

One of the profiles merged into this indicated possible birth in Dublin, Ireland. However this is unsourced and seems unlikely given marriage in England. This note is to preserve this detail should further research be required.

Sources

1. ↑ Unsourced family tree handed down to Margaret Yard.
2. ↑ Scan of the marriage record is in Ancestry.com, Birmingham, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1937, Birmingham, St Martin
3. ↑ Marriage certificate NSW BDM: 603/1850 Vol 36B HAMILTON JOHN SHANLEY ELLEN NI reel 5011: 'married at the usual place of public worship at Yulgilbar Clarence River' by Coles Child, Church of England minister. John signed, Ellen marked. Witnesses were Henry Booth, Jane Curry, James R Elliott.

• "Australia Births and Baptisms, 1792-1981," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTDD-B5Z : 19 April 2018), Ellen Brennan in entry for William James Hamilton, 09 May 1853; citing New South Wales, Australia; FHL microfilm 993,980.
• Celebrating 100 Years of Family History, https://www.pressreader.com/australia/the-daily-examiner/20121006/281835755923413
• The Ancestry.com tree 'philip family tree' by margretjoyhunt
• New South Wales, Australia, Assisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1828-1896 scanned on Ancestry.com
• http://lesmah46.blogspot.com/2012/10/john-hamilton-ellen-brennan-ireland.html
• Family and pioneer cemeteries, Clarence Valley Council https://www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/cp_themes/metro/page.asp?p=DOC-VAE-72-66-47
• 1895 'Family Notices', Clarence and Richmond Examiner (Grafton, NSW : 1889 - 1915), 28 September, p. 4. , viewed 21 Dec 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article61273599
• 1895 'Family Notices', Clarence and Richmond Examiner (Grafton, NSW : 1889 - 1915), 24 September, p. 4. , viewed 21 Dec 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article61273540
• Birth registrations of children:

SHANLY ANASTASIA M 677/1841 V1841677 162A JAMES ELLEN

SHANLY ELLEN 2138/1846 V18462138 68 JAMES ELLEN

HAMILTON WILLIAM J 2633/1852 V18522633 70 JOHN ELLEN

HAMILTON JANE 7786/1856 JOHN ELLEN TABULAM

HAMILTON MATILDA 12641/1859 JOHN ELLEN TABULAM

HAMILTON RICHARD 12465/1860 JOHN ELLEN TABULAM

HAMILTON ANN 13214/1862 JOHN ELLEN TABULAM

• Death registration of Ellen: 8522/1895 HAMILTON HELEN, PATRICK HELEN GRAFTON

James Shanley (Spouse) 1817 - ​ marriage license 1838 St Martin, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom 30 August 1838 Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom