Bridget Daly
Bridget Daly > Winifred Seery > Catherine Wilson > Catherine Withers
Bridget Daly was my great-great-great-grandmother. She was the wife of Michael Seery, one of my convict ancestors. Bridget was not a convict herself but followed her husband to New South Wales, along with their daughter, Winifred, who was four years old when they arrived.
Bridget was born in about 1808 in King's County, Ireland (now County Offaly), the daughter of Michael Daly (possibly 1782-1874, Tullamore, Offaly) and Ann Fierty [1]. In 1827, she married Michael Seery, a farm worker, in King's County and their daughter, Winifred, was born in about 1829, also in King's County. Note that County Offaly and County Westmeath, where Michael Seery was born, are adjoining counties.
In 1832, Michael was tried at King's County and sentenced to transportation to New South Wales for life. He arrived in Port Jackson from Cork on 5 February 1833 aboard the Roslin Castle.
With her husband in New South Wales, it seems that Bridget applied to immigrate and was granted permission, though no record of her application survives [2].
Bridget and Winifred left Dublin aboard the Duchess of Northumberland on 19 October 1834.
Bridget was born in about 1808 in King's County, Ireland (now County Offaly), the daughter of Michael Daly (possibly 1782-1874, Tullamore, Offaly) and Ann Fierty [1]. In 1827, she married Michael Seery, a farm worker, in King's County and their daughter, Winifred, was born in about 1829, also in King's County. Note that County Offaly and County Westmeath, where Michael Seery was born, are adjoining counties.
In 1832, Michael was tried at King's County and sentenced to transportation to New South Wales for life. He arrived in Port Jackson from Cork on 5 February 1833 aboard the Roslin Castle.
With her husband in New South Wales, it seems that Bridget applied to immigrate and was granted permission, though no record of her application survives [2].
Bridget and Winifred left Dublin aboard the Duchess of Northumberland on 19 October 1834.
The Voyage of the Duchess of Northumberland
Two books by Elizabeth Rushen - Single & Free and Colonial Duchesses - tell the stories of the women who emigrated from Ireland to Australia during the period 1833-1837 when the British government was actively encouraging single women to emigrate. Colonial Duchesses tells the story of the 1834/35 voyage of the Duchess of Northumberland and Bridget Seery is mentioned several times.
The 226 Irish immigrants on the Duchess of Northumberland were all female and most were single and intended to provide wives and servants for the mostly-male population of the new colony. The women had responded to advertisements published by the London Emigration Committee (an offshoot of the Refuge For The Destitute, a London-based charity) and were approved by local, British-based committees.
When the ship arrived in Sydney, Governor Bourke identified four women who travelled on the ship as the wives of convicts and complained to the Secretary of State in the United Kingdom in his despatch dated 8 May 1835:
“This, I presume, could not have been intended and that some imposition must have been practised to obtain a passage for these persons. … great distress is often occasioned to the wives of convicts arriving here before the Law allows of such Indulgence to their husbands as will enable them to support a family … ” [3]
The 226 Irish immigrants on the Duchess of Northumberland were all female and most were single and intended to provide wives and servants for the mostly-male population of the new colony. The women had responded to advertisements published by the London Emigration Committee (an offshoot of the Refuge For The Destitute, a London-based charity) and were approved by local, British-based committees.
When the ship arrived in Sydney, Governor Bourke identified four women who travelled on the ship as the wives of convicts and complained to the Secretary of State in the United Kingdom in his despatch dated 8 May 1835:
“This, I presume, could not have been intended and that some imposition must have been practised to obtain a passage for these persons. … great distress is often occasioned to the wives of convicts arriving here before the Law allows of such Indulgence to their husbands as will enable them to support a family … ” [3]
Wives Emigrating to Join Convict Husbands
From 1824, convicts could apply for permission to bring their wives and families to New South Wales as it was thought that the women would be a stabilising influence on colonial society. However, those charged with governing the new colony were concerned about the impact on the colony's finances if the government was expected to support the immigrants and were not happy that several convict wives had been permitted to travel on the Duchess of Northumberland [4].
To apply to have family members brought out, a convict needed to show in his application that he could support his family after they arrived and that they would not be a financial burden on the colony. Generally, this meant that the convict must have received his Ticket of Leave and thus be eligible to work for himself and support his family. Michael Seery had only arrived in NSW in 1833, had been given a life sentence and did not receive his Ticket of Leave until 1841 which meant he would not have been eligible in 1834 to apply for his wife to be brought out by the NSW Colonial government [5]. It is interesting to note that Bridget was nevertheless successful in obtaining a passage for herself and her daughter.
Bridget and Winifred were among the last passengers to board the ship in Dublin and it is possible that the authorities in Ireland may have accepted them to replace one of a number of female passengers who changed their minds about emigrating at the point of embarkation. This last-minute refusal to travel had become a problem because the idea of female immigration was disturbing to some sectors of society at the time and stories were being deliberately circulated in the press about the unfavourable conditions endured by the young women in order to discourage them.
At the same time, there was pressure for the ships to maximise the number of passengers they carried. The Duchess of Northumberland was equipped to carry 300 passengers and James Denham Pinnock, the Agent General for Immigration from Ireland, noted that "for every female short of 300, a loss will ensue of £17". Pinnock noted that twelve women left the ship immediately prior to its departure and the ship left with only 226 women on board. These last-minute changes meant that he was unable to supply his superiors at the Colonial Office with a correct passenger list and he promised to supply this as soon as he could [6].
There is no mention of Bridget having a husband on the List of Immigrants for Duchess of Northumberland (see file below), though it is mentioned in the Colonial Secretary's Return of Emigrants dated 7 May 1835. The last-minute changes may be responsible for this omission or it may simply have been an oversight. There were four different passenger lists drawn up for each of the passenger ships but not all lists have survived and it is rare for the ones that do survive to agree with each other [7].
To apply to have family members brought out, a convict needed to show in his application that he could support his family after they arrived and that they would not be a financial burden on the colony. Generally, this meant that the convict must have received his Ticket of Leave and thus be eligible to work for himself and support his family. Michael Seery had only arrived in NSW in 1833, had been given a life sentence and did not receive his Ticket of Leave until 1841 which meant he would not have been eligible in 1834 to apply for his wife to be brought out by the NSW Colonial government [5]. It is interesting to note that Bridget was nevertheless successful in obtaining a passage for herself and her daughter.
Bridget and Winifred were among the last passengers to board the ship in Dublin and it is possible that the authorities in Ireland may have accepted them to replace one of a number of female passengers who changed their minds about emigrating at the point of embarkation. This last-minute refusal to travel had become a problem because the idea of female immigration was disturbing to some sectors of society at the time and stories were being deliberately circulated in the press about the unfavourable conditions endured by the young women in order to discourage them.
At the same time, there was pressure for the ships to maximise the number of passengers they carried. The Duchess of Northumberland was equipped to carry 300 passengers and James Denham Pinnock, the Agent General for Immigration from Ireland, noted that "for every female short of 300, a loss will ensue of £17". Pinnock noted that twelve women left the ship immediately prior to its departure and the ship left with only 226 women on board. These last-minute changes meant that he was unable to supply his superiors at the Colonial Office with a correct passenger list and he promised to supply this as soon as he could [6].
There is no mention of Bridget having a husband on the List of Immigrants for Duchess of Northumberland (see file below), though it is mentioned in the Colonial Secretary's Return of Emigrants dated 7 May 1835. The last-minute changes may be responsible for this omission or it may simply have been an oversight. There were four different passenger lists drawn up for each of the passenger ships but not all lists have survived and it is rare for the ones that do survive to agree with each other [7].
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Arriving in Sydney in 1835
Bridget and Winifred arrived in Sydney aboard the Duchess of Northumberland on 27 February 1835.
By 24 March 1835, the Colonial Secretary C D Riddell was able to report to Governor Bourke, that "about 200 of the females who arrived by the Duchess of Northumberland have been provided for in the colony".
On 7 May 1835, government despatches to England included a Return of Emigrants from Ireland to New South Wales, by the ship "Duchess of Northumberland" which gave details of each woman's employment. The note next to Bridget's name states "her husband an assigned servant to F. M'Arthur, esq; Goulburn" [8].
By 24 March 1835, the Colonial Secretary C D Riddell was able to report to Governor Bourke, that "about 200 of the females who arrived by the Duchess of Northumberland have been provided for in the colony".
On 7 May 1835, government despatches to England included a Return of Emigrants from Ireland to New South Wales, by the ship "Duchess of Northumberland" which gave details of each woman's employment. The note next to Bridget's name states "her husband an assigned servant to F. M'Arthur, esq; Goulburn" [8].
Two passengers called Elizabeth (Betty) Daly and Mary Daly boarded the ship in Cork and I initially thought they may be related to Bridget. It seems, however, that this is unlikely to be the case [9].
Interestingly, Elizabeth Daly (born about 1811) married Richard Lynam on 29 June 1835, about four months after arriving in the colony. Richard was an assigned servant at the same property - Norwood, near Goulburn - where Michael Seery was an assigned servant to Frances McArthur.
Interestingly, Elizabeth Daly (born about 1811) married Richard Lynam on 29 June 1835, about four months after arriving in the colony. Richard was an assigned servant at the same property - Norwood, near Goulburn - where Michael Seery was an assigned servant to Frances McArthur.
Life in New South Wales
I don't know much about Bridget's life on arrival in New South Wales however I assume she travelled more-or-less immediately to Goulburn where her husband was assigned as a servant to Francis McArthur at a property called Norwood near Goulburn. It is likely that Bridget also worked for Francis McArthur as she gave birth to their first son, John, sixteen months after arriving in the colony.
Norwood is still standing and is located on Middle Arm Road, off the road between Goulburn and Tarlo and about 10 kilometres from Goulburn itself. The property was subdivided in the late 1880s and part of it became 'Kingsdale' which is now in ruins [reference needed]. It was sold in 2015 to a Bowral couple (neurologist Roger Tuck and wife Leigh) who plan to restore it.
Norwood is still standing and is located on Middle Arm Road, off the road between Goulburn and Tarlo and about 10 kilometres from Goulburn itself. The property was subdivided in the late 1880s and part of it became 'Kingsdale' which is now in ruins [reference needed]. It was sold in 2015 to a Bowral couple (neurologist Roger Tuck and wife Leigh) who plan to restore it.
Children
When they arrived in New South Wales, Bridget and Michael already had a daughter, Winifred, who had been born in Ireland.
In New South Wales, they went on to have the following children together:
John William, born 16 June 1836, probably at Norwood. Married Eliza Jane Warn, Goulburn, 1854;
Catherine, born 25 September 1838, probably at Norwood. Married Peter Gray, Goulburn, 1857;
Michael, born 24 April 1841, probably at Norwood. Married Mary Gray, Goulburn, 1859;
Patrick, born 11 February 1844, probably at Norwood. Married Anne Gray, Goulburn, 1866;
James, born 1845 in Grabben Gullen. Norec any marriage. Died 1912 in Sydney;
Hugh Francis (twin), born 1849 in Yass. Norec any marriage. Died 1902 in Queensland;
Bridget (twin), born 1849 in Yass. Married John Sullivan, Goulburn, 1871;
In New South Wales, they went on to have the following children together:
John William, born 16 June 1836, probably at Norwood. Married Eliza Jane Warn, Goulburn, 1854;
Catherine, born 25 September 1838, probably at Norwood. Married Peter Gray, Goulburn, 1857;
Michael, born 24 April 1841, probably at Norwood. Married Mary Gray, Goulburn, 1859;
Patrick, born 11 February 1844, probably at Norwood. Married Anne Gray, Goulburn, 1866;
James, born 1845 in Grabben Gullen. Norec any marriage. Died 1912 in Sydney;
Hugh Francis (twin), born 1849 in Yass. Norec any marriage. Died 1902 in Queensland;
Bridget (twin), born 1849 in Yass. Married John Sullivan, Goulburn, 1871;
Life in New South Wales
Michael received his Ticket of Leave on 30 April 1841 which stated that he was "allowed to remain in the District of Goulburn". A Ticket of Leave allowed convicts to work for themselves but the Seery family appears to have continued working for Francis McArthur at Norwood until at least 1842 or 1843.
Sometime between 1842 and 1844 Michael was charged with committing "Highway Robbery" and his Ticket of Leave was cancelled. Another one was granted on 3 April 1844 which allowed Michael to remain in the Yass area so it seems that the family was living around Yass at the time. Throughout the early 1800s, there were clusters of Irish settlers around Pejar, Gunning and Goulburn in the Yass-Goulburn area and the presence of familiar faces and voices and of people who shared their experiences no doubt helped Bridget and Winifred to feel settled in their new country [10].
Michael received a Conditional Pardon on 9 June 1849 and on 1 June 1853, he purchased 30 acres of land at a place called Native Dog Flat which was located at the head of Wheeo Creek. It seems that the family lived on their small farm from 1853 until at least 1869 because we know that, in September 1869, Bridget Slaven who, with her husband, operated a small farm of 40 acres at (Grabben) Gullen, was found guilty of the theft of several head of cattle belonging to Michael Seery [11].
Sometime between 1842 and 1844 Michael was charged with committing "Highway Robbery" and his Ticket of Leave was cancelled. Another one was granted on 3 April 1844 which allowed Michael to remain in the Yass area so it seems that the family was living around Yass at the time. Throughout the early 1800s, there were clusters of Irish settlers around Pejar, Gunning and Goulburn in the Yass-Goulburn area and the presence of familiar faces and voices and of people who shared their experiences no doubt helped Bridget and Winifred to feel settled in their new country [10].
Michael received a Conditional Pardon on 9 June 1849 and on 1 June 1853, he purchased 30 acres of land at a place called Native Dog Flat which was located at the head of Wheeo Creek. It seems that the family lived on their small farm from 1853 until at least 1869 because we know that, in September 1869, Bridget Slaven who, with her husband, operated a small farm of 40 acres at (Grabben) Gullen, was found guilty of the theft of several head of cattle belonging to Michael Seery [11].
Death and Burial
Bridget died on 22 March 1873 at the age of 65. Her death certificate states that she died of "old age" and that she had not been seen by a medical attendant. Her husband and five of her eight children survived her [12].
Bridget was buried on 24 March 1873 in the Catholic section of the Old Goulburn Cemetery in Mortis Street, Goulburn. The inscription on her headstone reads:
Gloria in Excelsis Deo. Pray for the soul of Bridget, wife of Michael Seery, who died March 22nd 1873 aged 65 years. Requiescat in pace.
Note that her husband, Michael, who died nearly twenty years later, is buried in Crookwell Cemetery and has no headstone.
Sadly, there are no known photos of Bridget.
Bridget was buried on 24 March 1873 in the Catholic section of the Old Goulburn Cemetery in Mortis Street, Goulburn. The inscription on her headstone reads:
Gloria in Excelsis Deo. Pray for the soul of Bridget, wife of Michael Seery, who died March 22nd 1873 aged 65 years. Requiescat in pace.
Note that her husband, Michael, who died nearly twenty years later, is buried in Crookwell Cemetery and has no headstone.
Sadly, there are no known photos of Bridget.
References
[1] Death Certificate, NSW BDM 1873/004210 (copy on file);
[2] Jennifer Sloggett at NSW State Archives (email dated 3/1/2020) checked the Index to the applications for free passages for wives and children of convicts, 1824-1842, available on NSW State Archives Microfilm Reels 1250-1251, but there was no reference to Bridget Seery/Ceres. Jennifer also checked the Joan Reese Index to Colonial Secretary’s letters, 1826 to 1895. There is no reference to Bridget Seery/Ceres;
[3] Extract of a despatch from Major-General Sir Richard Bourke to the Secretary of State for the Colonies:
http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/duchessofnorth1835.shtml
[4] Rushen, E. (2014). Colonial Duchesses. Page 34;
[5] email dated 3 January 2020 from Jennifer Sloggett, NSW State Archives;
[6] Rushen, E. (2014). Colonial Duchesses. Pages 53, 57;
[7] Rushen, E. (2014). Colonial Duchesses. Page 15;
[8] Extract of a despatch from Major-General Sir Richard Bourke to the Secretary of State for the Colonies:
http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/duchessofnorth1835.shtml
[9] Liz Rushen (email dated 17/5/2020);
[10] Rushen, E. (2014). Colonial Duchesses. Page 158;
[11] Rushen, E. (2014). Colonial Duchesses. Page 162;
[12] Death Certificate, NSW BDM 1873/004210 (copy on file);
[2] Jennifer Sloggett at NSW State Archives (email dated 3/1/2020) checked the Index to the applications for free passages for wives and children of convicts, 1824-1842, available on NSW State Archives Microfilm Reels 1250-1251, but there was no reference to Bridget Seery/Ceres. Jennifer also checked the Joan Reese Index to Colonial Secretary’s letters, 1826 to 1895. There is no reference to Bridget Seery/Ceres;
[3] Extract of a despatch from Major-General Sir Richard Bourke to the Secretary of State for the Colonies:
http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/duchessofnorth1835.shtml
[4] Rushen, E. (2014). Colonial Duchesses. Page 34;
[5] email dated 3 January 2020 from Jennifer Sloggett, NSW State Archives;
[6] Rushen, E. (2014). Colonial Duchesses. Pages 53, 57;
[7] Rushen, E. (2014). Colonial Duchesses. Page 15;
[8] Extract of a despatch from Major-General Sir Richard Bourke to the Secretary of State for the Colonies:
http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/duchessofnorth1835.shtml
[9] Liz Rushen (email dated 17/5/2020);
[10] Rushen, E. (2014). Colonial Duchesses. Page 158;
[11] Rushen, E. (2014). Colonial Duchesses. Page 162;
[12] Death Certificate, NSW BDM 1873/004210 (copy on file);