Family History
From "Anchor Under the Southern Cross"
© Copyright S. L. O'Loughlin, Adelaide South. Australia
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A VERY BRIEF HISTORY OF IRELAND
THE INTERNATIONAL CLAN GATHERING
Cornelius O’Loughlin (our immigrant ancestor)
Ann Barry (who married Cornelius) and her family
Cornelius and Ann O’Loughlin Pioneers Together
Number of Descendants of Cornelius and Ann O’Loughlin as at June 1997
JOHN O’LOUGHLIN - brother of Cornelius who remained in colony of Victoria
ELLEN O’LOUGHLIN - sister of Cornelius (we think) who came to south Australia
Acknowledgements of assistance and resources.
Two decades have passed since the first O’Loughlin booklet was printed and released at the first O’Loughlin family reunion on 28 August 1977. Ten years ago the booklet was updated for the second reunion on 11 October 1987.
In the past 20 years a large portion of a well-loved generation has passed on and a new generation has emerged. In fact in that time 218 descendants of Cornelius and Ann O’Loughlin have been added to the family tree.
Time has moved on and in a generation much has happened.
The families of Cornelius O‘Loughlin and John O’Loughlin have regained contact 143 years after the two brothers, their sister Ellen and John’s wife Mary left Ireland in 1841.
For this we are indebted to our family cousin Eileen Jones of East Burwood in Melbourne who found us, traded family information and who is a wonderful lady and dearly respected by the family of Cornelius.
We were greatly assisted by Sharon Steinberg who provided some missing details about Ann O’Loughlin’s family, the Barrys.
The first international gathering of the O’Lochlainn Clan took place in Co. Clare, Ireland in 1995 following the restoration of Newtown Castle which was an O’Loughlin castle. Several of our family members from Australia were there. It is wonderful to hear of the splendid warmth and Irish hospitality extended to the visitors from here.
Connections have been established between the wider family of O’Loughlins whose ancestors all originated from County Clare and who live in Australia. Jim O’Connor of Port Macquarie NSW has written a splendid book about a particular family of O’Loughlins but also speaks interestingly of other O’Loughlins in Australia.
Family history gathering has become particularly popular during the past 20 or so years. The recording of family history and lineage is very important so that present and future generations are aware of the past and better able to appreciate the heritage that is theirs. Our O’Loughlin history has been reasonably well recorded. It is hoped that future generations will continue the work.
The arrival of personal computers and efficient computer printers has made the collection and presentation of our family history somewhat easier. Also the Genealogical and Heraldry Society of South Australia is a rich source of historical and genealogical information. Already galloping advances in technology and communication such as INTERNET and CD-ROM will further proliferate the availability of this type of information.
Every effort and care has been made with this booklet to accurately record the particulars of the Cornelius and Ann O’Loughlin genealogy. Importance has been placed on the correct spelling of names, inclusion of second names and accuracy of birth and death dates. A decision was taken to identify deceased family members with a cross "+". Marriages recognized by law, have been denoted by the letter "m" preceding a spouses name. Unmarried long term partners are included in the genealogy, particularly in deference to children. Children adopted or fostered long term are of course family.
If there have been any errors or omissions in this booklet, we sincerely apologize. If anyone feels any offence with the recording of genealogical information, for any reason, please be assured it is not intended.
To those who have assisted in providing information for the booklet; thank you all. To those who helped obtain the information for this and the previous two publications; sincere thanks. Whilst it is not possible to singly mention everyone , I express sincere thanks to Catherine Henningsen (nee O’Loughlin) for her energetic input and support.
It is appropriate for the release of this booklet, and for a family reunion to be held on the centenary date of the death of Cornelius. The 15th June 1997 is the 100 years to the day since his death.
Our first family reunion was held on 28 August 1977. That year was the centenary of Ann’s death.
We are a family who can be grateful to the lives of these marvellous people, the battlers who laid the foundations of faith, family and country - our heritage. Hopefully these will remain strong and may Cornelius and Ann especially enjoy eternal happiness.
This booklet is a tribute to both of them from all of their descendants.
Finally it is hoped that information in this book will be a treasure to those who read it and that it will give some insight into the growth of a pioneer family, and be a handy reference. You may wish, from time to time, to update the section containing your own branch or immediate family.
With every good wish.
Stanley L. O’Loughlin
June 1997
Adelaide South Australia
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A VERY BRIEF HISTORY OF IRELAND
St. Patrick, himself not an Irishman, but champion of the Irish, introduced Christianity to Ireland in 432 A.D. It is only from that era that Irish history has been recorded and it is a very rich and complex history.
Prehistoric Ireland was, at a time, joined to the rest of Europe. The Ice Age harshly shaped some parts of the land. When the ice melted, the Irish Sea formed and there was a land of lakes, of green hills and vales and rugged cliffs and beauty. Anthropologists, however, are able to show the existence of people in Ireland as early as 6000 to 8000 years B.C. The first of these occupants may have hunted the Great Irish Elk which then existed and also reindeer. Around 3000 B.C. it seems that others came who tilled the earth and raised animals. However, apparently there are differing opinions amongst anthropologists. There are many Stone Age and Bronze Age remnants and traces of human occupancy in Ireland from thousands of years B.C. In many parts there are rock formations and ordered stones. Burial chambers often referred to as dolmens are in evidence today. These were apparently from people known as Druids.
The Celts came to Ireland around 200-500B.C. There is a traditional belief that the Celts were from Spain, arriving during the late Bronze Age or early Iron Age. They are often described as a tall red headed people of fair complexion with well developed weapons made of iron. They were regarded as strong warriors. They assumed control over the existing inhabitants and were the dominant force. Not much is known about the previous inhabitants, including their language, before the arrival of the Celts. In fact, not a lot is known about the Celts either, but from this base there developed strong foundations for the future Ireland.
One of the subsequent Irish High Kings, (Niall, High King of Tara) made raiding attacks on Britain. It was on one of these forays that he captured a young Roman boy called Patrick and brought him back to Ireland where he was sold as a slave. After several years Patrick escaped and returned to the continent where he became a priest, and then a bishop, returning to Ireland with intense zeal to make Christians of the Irish. He succeeded.
During the 8th, 9th and 10th centuries, Ireland became subject to plundering raids from Norsemen, Vikings and Danes. Despite the intermittent long-term sieges from these outsiders, Ireland was not dominated by them. Irish chieftains were not always unified. Brian Boru, from County Clare became the Irish High King in 1002 and led the chieftains to defeat the Vikings at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014.
For about 150 years there was no outside interference until a Norman invasion in 1169. Accompanying these Normans was one Dermot MacMurrough who had been previously driven out of Ireland after having cleared out with another king’s wife. He had also originally killed the previous King of Leinster to gain power. Following this and seemingly complicated politics and intrigue, the Normans who with the Saxons became known as the English, subjected the Irish to several centuries of oppression.
Henry VII and subsequent British rulers declared themselves to be Kings of Ireland. For centuries the Irish rebelled against them. They were sorely oppressed. In Ulster, the Northern Province, a "plantation policy" was pursued under Oliver Cromwell. English and Scots, were planted. Irish lands were taken over.
Irish nobles sided with French King Louis XIV against William III of Orange at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. William III won and after this came the savage Penal Laws in 1695.
The British carried out the most vicious laws of religious persecution against Catholics.
Amongst these laws - education was denied, arms were banned, there were no voting rights; a Catholic owning a horse worth more than 5 pounds could have it compulsorily acquired by a Protestant. These are but some of those cruel debasements. The Penal Laws were abolished in 1793.
The Irish had been kept in poverty and suffering.
The 1840’s came and they suffered more. The potato crops failed and potatoes were the staple diet of the people.
Ireland’s population was severely reduced in a few years. Large numbers of people emigrated. Others starved and died from hunger or fever.
In 1921, after much agitation over the centuries (and an unsuccessful rebellion in 1916), Britain released 26 of Ireland’s 32 counties allowing home rule. It is now the Republic of Ireland.
The British retained control of the 6 counties of Ulster in the North of Ireland. (The Ulster population is predominantly Protestant. It is politically, and also probably economically, loyal to Britain) - the present situation resulting from Cromwell’s plantation policy. Peace has only been enjoyed for a relatively short time since 1968. Perhaps there will be peace initiatives following the recent election of a new Government in England.
Despite the hardships and suffering endured by the Irish, they have remained a people of genial character and admirable wit. Irish people are foremost in the arts of song dance and theatre - of literature, poetry, story telling and scholarship. Like St. Patrick many Irish men and women have left their home to spread the Good News.
It is not known exactly why the O’Loughlins and Barrys came to Australia. No doubt the Barrys would have felt the effects of the potato famine by the time they left in 1850. It is small wonder so many people left Ireland because of impoverishment of Ireland and lack of opportunity, even before the potato blight.
A modern Irish song referring to people of Ireland leaving for other countries says "Our best asset is our best export too." Amen to that.
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The home of the O'Lochlainn clan is County Clare in the Irish Province of Munster. Ireland consists of four provinces. There are 32 counties in Ireland. The Province of Ulster is still under the power of the British. County Clare is on the West coast of Ireland between Galway Bay and the Shannon River, just in a bit to the East of the Aran Islands. A clan is a grouping of families.
A Short History of the O'Lochlainn Clan1 by An Brathair M.F. O'Conchuir agus Eamonn O'Lochlainn produced in 1995 comprehensively details the history of the Clan - its origin, connections and changing fortunes. According to the publication, all Irish clans are able to trace their origin/s to Milesius, the first Celtic Chief to come to the shores of Ireland. The clans of Burren and Corcomroe in the North of Clare are Rudricians, distinct from Dalcassians in the other parts of Clare, because of a King called Ruairi being amongst our ancestors.
About 950 A.D. the two sons of Maelseachlainn, Conchur and Lochlainn decided to share the kingdom between them. (what is now known as Burren and Corcomroe). Around that time surnames came into fashion, thus giving rise to the surnames O'Connor and O'Lochlainn.
The above publication indicates that the name Lochlainn is of Norse origin, Lochlainn meaning 'The Land of the Lakes'.
A genealogical listing of the O’Lochlainn clan (not a family tree but a list of successive princes) is as follows:-
Lochlainn + 983 A.D.
Maoilseachlainn
Lochlainn
Maoilseachlainn + 1149
Amhalghaidh
Maoilseachlainn
Amhalghaidh
Conghalach
Donnchadh
Annadh Bacach
Donnchadh
Annadh
Rudhruidhe
Maoilseachlainn
Uaithne + 1590
Maoilseachlainn
Uaithne
This was written down by Mac Bruaideadha in 1594 A.D.
The O’Lochlainns and the O’Connors were of kinship and formed a strong alliance lasting centuries.
It appears that generally speaking, O’Lochlainns ruled the Burren in the North-West of Clare and O’Connors, ruled Corcomroe adjacent in the North East. At times there was battle between O’Brien’s and the allied O’Lochlainns and O’Connors. To times of modern history the head of the O’Lochlains was known locally as The King of the Burren".
On 9 June 1591, the O’Lochlainns ceded their property and castles to Donogh O’Brien, The Earl of Thomond, the representative of Queen Elizabeth I. The O’Lochlainns did this in anticipation of Clan territory being seized as part of measures by the English invaders to bring the Irish under subjection. In doing so they believed this may afford them some protection for the time being from the oppressors.
The O’Brien Earls of Thomond had their eyes on North West Clare as early as the 13th century.
Trying to determine when the spelling came about of the name O’Loughlin, by which we are known, is confusing.
The prefixes of O or Mac were apparently added at about the time of High King Brian Boru to names of leading families - "Mac" meaning son and "O" meaning grandson. It has been expressed that O’ may be an abbreviation of the Gaelic word "Oghre". Some names were Anglicised during the course of history. From material available it seems O’Loughlin was not of those.
According to Dr. Edward McLysaght, in his book "Irish Families, Their Names And Origins", and quoted by Antoinette O’Brien of The Clare Heritage Centre, some scarce Gaelic names were converted to more well known name of a similar sound. Thus O’Loughnan in some places has become O’Loughlin. The O’Loughlin name was quite strong in Clare last century, with the Master Index of Baptisms recording just over 700 families with the name.
Several spelling variations of O’Loughlin, fit under the Clan name O’Lochlainn which, might be regarded as generic. Perhaps some of the variations resulted from illiteracy forced onto the Irish by their oppressive rulers from outside. It is interesting to note that if we examine the name O’Loughlin, that Lough in Gaelic means "lake" and linn means "pool".
1. Re "A Short History of the O’Lochlainn Clan" by An Brathair M.F. O’Conchuir agus Eamonn O’Lochlainn produced in 1995. This is a very comprehensive and informative booklet. Our congratulations to them on its production. It should be acknowledged as a valuable summary of our clan history. We express thanks for its availability as a resource for our booklet.
Copies of the booklet are available from Eamon O’Lochlainn, Loch Rasc, Ballyvaughan Co. Clare, Ireland. (cost at time of this publication not known)
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THE INTERNATIONAL CLAN GATHERING
written by Catherine Henningsen (nee O’Loughlin
At the end of January 1995, I was fortunate to receive an invitation to the first International O’Lochlainn Clan gathering to be held at Ballyvaughan, County Clare, Ireland. After much deliberation I decided to attend. I was joined by my sister Margaret Billing and her daughter Nuala.
We made up a group of ten South Aussies, all descendants of Cornelius & Ann O’Loughlin. One of my second cousins, Carmel O’Loughlin took her mother, daughter and grand daughter. It certainly made an impression to have four generations from one family attending.
The gathering started Friday 29th September evening with registration, then the unveiling of a commemorative stone at the newly restored Newtown Castle. The castle was built in the early seventeenth century by the local chieftain; the O’Loughlin was a landowner and shipowner. After inspecting the castle which stands at the edge of Ballyvaughan Valley, I wandered through the round stone tower trying hard to imagine my ancestors living here when they were once Kings or Princes of the Burren. After this we moved to the Highlands Hotel for a very informative, but rather long introduction to the Burren and its prehistory by Etienne Rynne, Professor of Archaeology at University College Galway and then around midnight we enjoyed a Ceili Mor -- a wonderful selection of Irish Music.
O'Loughlin Castle
On Saturday 30th September, the program included three more talks, "A glimpse of Social History of County Clare", by Ciaran O’Murchadha of St. Flannans College, Ennis, Co. Clare, "An Introduction to Genealogy" by Antoinette O’Bryen, Director of the Clare Heritage Centre, Corofin, and then by far, the most interesting to me a history of the O’Loughlin Clan by Brathair M.F. O’Conchuir (Br. O’Connor). His story took us back to about 950 AD when two sons of Maelseachlain Conchuir and Lochlainn decided to share the kingdom between them, and so began the clans of O’Connor and O’Loughlin. At times each stayed in his own territory, but sometimes an O’Loughlin ruled both parts, and at other times an O’Connor did so. At one time an O’Brien was in power, but usually the O’Briens were enemies of the O’Loughlins and the O’Connors; and so we learnt the history of our clan, and Br. O’Connor assured us that weekend that we were all first cousins
After lunch we were taken on a guided heritage tour of the Burren with Professor Etienne Rynne and Martin O’Loghlen as our tour guides. Romantic stories of the castle ruins kept us captivated as did visiting dolmens, the ancient tombs which date back to the stone age.
Driving through the Burren with its rocky landscapes one can’t help but wonder how our ancestors survived in this tiny part of the world.
Saturday evening - and we enjoyed the Clan Banquet and the guest speaker Bridin Twist nee O’Loughlin, President of the Irish Country Women’s Association telling us how the Irish people must try to hold on to their old traditions and not lose them to progress----she had just returned from the 4th UN Conference on Women in Beijing and was very interesting. After this we were entertained with more Irish music by Dordan.
Sunday October 1st and we went to Mass at Ballyvaughan in the new church built in 1866 using money collected by Fr. Francis Forde during his visit here; the Irish still talk about the generosity of the Australian People. After Mass and another talk, "The O’Lochlainn Literary Patronage" by Liam P. O’Murchu.
Then on to a Commemorative Service at Corcomroe Abbey where a brief history of the Abbey was given by Fr. Flann Hogan. On this very memorable occasion, we were all thrilled when the newest member of the O’Lochlainn Clan was brought forward to join God’s Clan, and he was baptised Cillian Colm O’Loghlen. This Cistercian Abbey of Corcomroe is titled St. Mary’s of the Fertile Rock and its history is fascinating and was built by the O’Briens in about 1195 on O’Loughlin land. Sunday afternoon and evening was spent socializing with our Irish, American, Canadian and Australian Clan members, and it was incredible how many of the Irish O’Loughlins reminded us of family back home. It was an exhausting weekend, but one I will never forget, and it was over all too soon.
We said Goodbye to Ballyvaughan on Monday morning, then spent a memorable day in Co. Clare ---- we drove to Ennistymon and as I walked through the graveyard there, looking at so many O’Loughlin graves, I’m sure I was walking on the same paths as my ancestors did so long ago. I had no luck in making family connections, but as I talked to Donagh O’L in his woollen shop, there, or Monica O’L of Lisdoonvarna, I don’t need proof to tell me these people are my kinfolk.
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Our Founding Father
Cornelius O’Loughlin was born near Ennistymon in County Clare Ireland in about 1818. He was the third son of Laurence O’Loughlin and Mary Conlan. That he was born near Ennistymon, was stated in "The Clare Journal" on 5 May 1913, in an article relating to the visit of Cornelius’s son, The Hon. Laurence O’Loughlin.
Information received from the Genealogical Office in Dublin, 20 years ago, showed that a Laurance O’Loughlin owned 15.5 acres of land at Ballingaddy West & Commolagh near Ennystymon. That was listed in the Tithe Applotment Book, Kilmanaheen 1826. Laurence, however, was a common name and this would be very tenuous evidence to link Cornelius and his parents with that exact origin. Subsequent queries made at the Clare Heritage Centre by Catherine Henningsen during her visit to Ireland failed to show any specific trace of Cornelius’s origin.
With his brother John, sister Ellen 21, John’s wife Mary (nee Barry), 24 and infant son Patrick of six months. Cornelius arrived in Port Phillip in the Colony of Victoria on 17 February 1842 aboard the ship "Thetis", having left Cork, Ireland on 9 November 1841.
The O’Loughlins on "Thetis" were bounty immigrants and had contributed to their fare (19 Pounds for the adults).
Cornelius was then aged 24 and although the exact time of his coming to South Australia is unknown for certain, it was possibly 1844 (pg. 617, Vol.2 Aldine History of SA).
Ellen also came to South Australia, presumably at the same time and later married Martin McGowan. John and his family remained in Victoria. (See separate heading for John & Mary).
It should perhaps be noted here that some of Cornelius’s grand-children, now deceased, thought that some siblings of Cornelius may have emigrated from Ireland to America or Canada.
In his first years in the Colony of South Australia, Cornelius was recorded as carrying on the road between Burra and other places and also there have been reports that he may have been initially engaged in some farm work in the Morphett Vale area and fencing at Mount Barker and Macclesfield.
Cornelius did well in his early years in South Australia. He conducted a land transaction mortgage 12.5.1851 after receiving a Land Grant 30.4.1851, to purchase for 80 pounds Section 4032 in the Hundred of Munno Para consisting of 80 acres. This was located in the area which is now the Defence Science and Technology Organisation. His address and occupation given in those documents was simply "Cornelius O’Loughlin, North Road, Farmer" This may have been what is now Main North Road. In 1853, the year of his marriage to Ann Barry, he took up more land at Virginia to bring his holding there to 228 acres. The land he owned at Virginia, although not purchased initially in the one parcel, consisted of 3 blocks; sections numbered 7551 (72 acres), 7553 (63 acres, ) and 7555 (93 acres) in the Hundred of Port Adelaide, County of Adelaide. These blocks are now in the City of Playford Council district and used as market gardens. We do not know the exact locations of the home or homes lived in by Cornelius before and after marriage. (On Baptism certificates of the children, there are mentions of Salisbury, Peachy Belt and Virginia - although apparently all these locations were in the Salisbury Parish). It is difficult to envisage nowadays how anyone especially with a large family could have made a satisfactory living from such small property holdings. Times have certainly changed however, with changed values, priorities and demands.
This land, he continued to farm until 1871 (or was it 1872?- he conducted a transaction relating to the Virginia property on 22.4.1872 - Catherine was born in March 1872 in the Gawler River/Virginia Area) when he and his still growing family (and others) moved to Caltowie where Cornelius took up 640 acres more land. (640 acres according to The Aldine History of SA published 1890).It is speculated that the land taken up then was probably less than 640 acres but later grew to that when he purchased sections numbered 200 (253 acres) and 103 (176 acres) in the Hundred of Caltowie, County of Victoria for the sum of £630 in 1877. He was predeceased by his wife Ann that year who had left him a family of six sons and six daughters.
He was a successful farmer which enabled all of his sons to take up land and commence farming. Sadly, most information about the personal Cornelius has been lost with the passing of time but he is said to have been well thought of and affectionately known as "Connor" O’Loughlin. He was reputed to be good with figures - to the extent of calculating the price of a load of wheat, almost to the nearest farthing before he delivered it and this was despite being deprived of a proper schooling.
Cornelius was obviously a man who worked hard and was enterprising - a pioneer of this country and an early settler who helped lay the foundations of South Australia.
There are unfortunately no known photographs of him.
He died on Tuesday 15th June 1897 aged 79 1 and is buried with his wife Ann and daughter in Caltowie Cemetery.
1. Cornelius’s burial records say he was 84 at time of death, which if so, would put his birth at circa 1813, - his age on the Thetis shipping list says he was 24 in 1841/42. In another age discrepancy, his age was shown as 33 when he married Ann Barry in 1853).
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and her Family
Ann Barry was born in County Clare Ireland. She and her family came from Kilkee on the South-West coast of Clare. They departed London on the ship "Ascendant" on 2 October 1850 and arrived at Port Adelaide on 15 January 1851. Their fare was 14 Pounds (it was suggested this was in total). The oldest of the children, Mary did not accompany her parents and sisters and brother, but instead arrived at Port Adelaide aboard the "Prince Regent" on 5 March 1851 with her husband John O’Loughlin whom she had married the previous year. {Note: It is not known if there was any relationship between these O’Loughlins and John O’Loughlin and Mary O’Loughlin (nee Barry) who arrived on Thetis in 1842}.
Upon arrival in Australia the family consisted of:-
David and Honorah Barry Parents (ages still not known)
Mary 18
Bridget (Biddy) 16 Dairy-maid Died on way to Australia. Buried at sea.
Ann 13
Honorah 11
Ellen 9
Patrick 7
Susan 4
It is unknown whether there were any other children in the family who had not survived. The family would have known suffering associated with the potato famine in Ireland.
Not many details are known about the Barry family, however some of David’s land transactions are on record. He purchased 80 acres of land on 8 July 1853, for £180 - Lot 3077 at Munno Para (now part of the RAAF Air Base Edinburgh) which he sold 3 years later for £465. On 3 May 1854 he leased a section of land for £18 (probably per annum) and the agreement was that he purchase the land during the latter part of the lease. On 29.12.1857, David purchased from the Crown (as a land grant), Section 635 in the Hundred of Alma, County of Gawler at Stockport in South Australia’s Mid-North.
Mary, after the death of her husband John, married Patrick McMahon of Stockport. (Mary and John had at least 1 child, Patrick at Black Forest who was either born or baptised 3.5.1851).
Honorah married John Farrelly who died a few months after they were married. (He was aged 19 and was buried at Salisbury). She later married Michael Haws of Stockport.
Ellen married James O’Dea of Virginia ( O’Deas later moved to Caltowie - probably 1871 when O’Loughlins moved. At Caltowie the O’Dea property was about a mile from the adjoining farm and homestead of Ann and Cornelius O’Loughlin. Ellen is buried adjacent to them in Caltowie Cemetery).
Susan married Edward Greer of Stockport.
Patrick did not marry and apparently died as a young man.
David Barry died on 3 February 1869.
After the death of David, Honorah lived with Ellen and James O’Dea at Caltowie until her death. She is buried in the O’Dea plot in the Caltowie Cemetery.
Ann married Cornelius O’Loughlin on April 16 1853. It is sad that we know so little about her, although we can visualise the courage that she as a pioneer wife would have had.
Her children were born at home with no doctor or qualified mid-wife present. One can hardly begin to imagine the difficulties of rearing a large family without today’s modern conveniences, although in some ways there would have been many simple compensations and joys.
Ann was a small woman with red hair so typical of many Irish. She was a hard worker and reputed to have been best of the family at tying sheaves of hay. String was not used in those days - straw instead. Doubtless, Ann was a woman of faith and warmth to have mothered such a fine family. She died at the early age of 42, on 3 April 1877 and is buried in the Caltowie Cemetery.
There is an unanswered curiosity evident from the Marriage Certificate of Cornelius and Ann.
i.e., Cornelius is shown as a widower (on this and another marriage document), yet there was no mention of this in family tradition, and this matter is still open to speculation. Some have questioned whether Ellen O’Loughlin who arrived on the Thetis may have been the first wife of Cornelius. That theory is not supported by family tradition or documentation. (see special heading for Ellen O’Loughlin).
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Pioneers Together
Cornelius and Ann were married on 16 April 1853 and settled at the , Salisbury/ Peachy Belt and Virginia areas until 1871 or 1872 . (Maybe Salisbury first then Virginia - there is some uncertainty about homestead location- see land owned by Cornelius under his heading).
Farming in these times was a very strenuous task compared with today’s methods. A memoir of Laurence recalls: "I can just remember my father and mother harvesting. Father reaping with a sickle and my mother binding. Then carted onto a threshing floor and threshed with a flail and later on with a threshing roller or treaded out with bullocks. Six bullocks with a single plough without wheels was first in vogue. Some genius invented a scheme to clamp a small wheel on the plough which was a great improvement. All sowing of grain was performed by hand and harrowed in".
"Looking back I often wonder how the farmers carried on and kept going with such primitive methods. By sheer hard work and plain living, they struggled through, many of them rearing large families".
In 1867 Cornelius decided he could afford to send Laurence (and it is believed also John and Cornelius) to Sevenhill College. Laurence wrote "Unfortunately for him, and my education, that year the wheat crop was a total failure through red rust".
Cornelius and Ann moved to Caltowie in 1871(or 1872) with a large family of 10 children if in 1871 or 11 if in 1872, the youngest being only 14 months. This trip took 3 weeks by wagon in the company of some other families.
Laurence and Michael went ahead and prepared a substantial dwelling. The homestead was exactly 4 miles from Caltowie.
On settling at Caltowie, additions were later made to the homestead. More arduous toil had to be engaged in by the pioneer settlers of the land. Fencing materials were expensive and difficult to procure. (Fencing posts were £5 per hundred, obtainable at Bundaleer Hills or Wirrabara).
By today's standards, living was not easy, to say the least. There was no telephone; radio was not invented and there was no means of fast communication. Any vehicles were horse or bullock driven.
Medicine was nowhere as advanced as now - no antibiotics then. Life threatening disease epidemics were always a possibility. Perhaps we can envisage the many difficulties facing them as early settlers.
Ann’s sister Ellen and brother-in-law James farmed on the property adjacent to O’Loughlins at Caltowie. Ann’s mother lived with the O’Deas (following the death of Ann’s father in 1869).
The support of family and neighbours must have been a great strength in surviving in those days.
Ann died in 1877. The older children assisted Cornelius in caring for younger family members.
In his later years, Cornelius, with his two horses and buggy would travel to visit his married children.
The 15th of June 1897, brought Cornelius’s life to a close in his adopted country at the age of 79.
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Number of Descendants of Cornelius and Ann O’Loughlin as at June 1997
MAY 1997 AUGUST 1977 GENERATION Children 12 12 First Grandchildren 46 46 Second Great-grandchildren 66 65 Third Great-great-grandchildren 189 178 Fourth Great-great-great grandchildren 239 52 Fifth Great-great-great-great grandchildren 19 NIL Sixth Click to return to index at top of Page
It had always been known that Cornelius O’Loughlin and his sister Ellen came to South Australia and that they had a brother who remained in Victoria. Perhaps contact had been lost between Cornelius and John because of their inability to read and write.
In the beginning of 1984, Eileen Jones from East Burwood in Melbourne made contact with us in South Australia. Eileen is a great-great grand-daughter of John and Mary O’Loughlin. Thus after so long, contact was eventually made between the families of the two brothers who had left their homeland 143 years before.
Eileen has provided us with a good deal of information about John and Mary and their descendants. This has been well researched and supported with many documents. We have been very grateful for this information and thrilled to meet her and other "new" cousins.
John was married to Mary Barry in Ireland. Mary was the daughter of William and Margaret Barry nee Foley. John & Mary’s oldest child Patrick was born in Ireland and was listed on the Passenger List of immigrants arriving on the "Thetis" (17 February 1842) as being aged 6 months.
John and Mary had three more children. Details of the family are further shown below. When they first arrived, John leased land at Irishtown, now the Geelong suburb of South Geelong. His name appears on the electoral rolls for 1845 and 1849. Church records of the children’s baptisms show their abode as Point Henry, a few miles from Irishtown. John purchased 180 acres of land at Kensington on 17th February 1853 (11th anniversary of arriving in Australia). The name Kensington was later changed to Leopold. The property was on a hill 7 miles from Geelong and is now a flourishing suburb.
John died at his residence, Drysdale Road, Near Union Hotel, Curlewis on 24 October 1892. He is buried in the Eastern Cemetery at Geelong. His age is shown on the death certificate as 83.1
Mary died on 8 January 1902 at Maldron. Her illness had confined her to bed for the previous 9 years. The age listed on her death certificate was 88.2 She is buried in the Maldron Cemetery.
1 Note Regarding Ages:- Discrepancies often appear in source material when tracing family history. John’s death certificate gives his age as 83. It shows he was married to Mary Barry at the age of 28. Since his death occurred in 1892 , 50 years after arriving in Australia , some of the sums don’t add up.
2 As with the above note:- Mary’ death certificate in 1902 lists her age as 88, that she had lived in Australia for 56 years and had married John O’Loughlin when she was aged 19. The list of Bounty Immigrants arriving on Thetis in 1842, shows her age then as 24. On her death certificate in 1902 her son Patrick was shown as being aged 63 . His age on the Thetis list was 6 months in 1842.
Because of the above discrepancies, it is not possible to accurately assess years of birth and marriage, or to properly confirm age listings on the material available at this time.
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Ellen O'Loughlin, O'Loughlin, who arrived on the "Thetis" with John, Mary and Patrick was shown on the shipping list to be aged 21 years. Family tradition has it that was the sister of Cornelius and John O’Loughlin.
There is no direct evidence to indicate she was other than a sister of Cornelius and John - - nor has there been any documentary proof yet located that she was. The shipping list identified her as a housekeeper (so were a large number of the other women on the ship). Older family members now deceased knew of Ellen and thought she was the sister of Cornelius and that she had married a Martin McGowan. Research so far has not revealed copies of either death or marriage certificates at the South Australian Genealogical and Heraldry Society.
Travers, Mason and Bagshaw families always laid claim to being linked to O’Loughlins and vice versa. Trace was made through the Travers, Mason and Bagshaw families and it appears the McGowan was Martin McGowan.
The number of children born to Ellen and Martin McGowan has not been established. They had a daughter Annie who married John McCormack on 28.2.1876, and some of their descendants were traced down to 1977. The family tree for Ellen's descendants has not been updated for the purposes of this booklet.
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Sincere thanks is extended to persons and organizations who have provided assistance with information used in compiling our family history.
Many Family Members
Eileen Jones, East Burwood Victoria
Catherine Henningsen, Findon SA
Sharon Steinberg, Valley View SA
City of Playford
SA Genealogical & Heraldry Society
SA Catholic Archives
Clare Heritage Society
Genealogical Office, Dublin
Mortlock Library (State Library of South Australia)
Dept. Of Housing & Urban Development (West Tce. Cemetery)
Universal Press for permission to reproduce the UBD map.
Land Titles Office
Publications Consulted
Acknowledgement is made and thanks given for the knowledge and information drawn from the following authoritative sources which has been useful in compiling our family history.
A Short History of the O’Loughlin Clan - An Brathair M.F. O’Conchuir agus Eamonn O’Lochlainn - 1995
The Aldine History of South Australia - 1890
The Cyclopedia of South Australia - Edited by H. T. Burgess 1907, 1909.
The History of Adelaide and Vicinity - Edited by J. J. Pascoe 1901
Ireland - Arnold Dobrin 1970 ( Published by Thomas Nelson Inc, Camden N.J. USA)
The Irish in Ireland - Constantine FitzGibbon - 1983 ( Book Club Associates, London)
History and Topography of County Clare - James Frost 1891
© Copyright S. L. O'Loughlin
Adelaide South. Australia
Last Updated: 3 January 2001
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