John A Merrin
James Merrin > John Merrin > Charles Merrin > Noreen Merrin
John A Merrin was my great-great-grandfather.
John was born in Saltmills, County Wexford in Ireland in 1837, the son of James Merrin and Mary Anne Larkin [1]. He was baptised on 30 July 1837, in the Catholic parish of St James & Templetown, his sponsors being Michael Larkin and Catherine Caulfield [2]. His baptismal record does not give the date of his birth.
John lived with his family in Saltmills, a small village located in the south-west of County Wexford, close to the border with Waterford County. The village takes its name from the renowned Iron Age salt mills that existed nearby. The village of Saltmills was built across the stream from the 12th-century Tintern Abbey is a 10-minute walk from the village.
Saltmills is near Fethard-on-Sea, a village which today has a population of about 890. In the past, Fethard was a place of some importance. It was a site of Norman landings during the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century and the remains of Norman-era earthworks and fortifications can be seen at Baginbun Bay. Today Fethard's main industries are fishing and tourism.
John was born in Saltmills, County Wexford in Ireland in 1837, the son of James Merrin and Mary Anne Larkin [1]. He was baptised on 30 July 1837, in the Catholic parish of St James & Templetown, his sponsors being Michael Larkin and Catherine Caulfield [2]. His baptismal record does not give the date of his birth.
John lived with his family in Saltmills, a small village located in the south-west of County Wexford, close to the border with Waterford County. The village takes its name from the renowned Iron Age salt mills that existed nearby. The village of Saltmills was built across the stream from the 12th-century Tintern Abbey is a 10-minute walk from the village.
Saltmills is near Fethard-on-Sea, a village which today has a population of about 890. In the past, Fethard was a place of some importance. It was a site of Norman landings during the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century and the remains of Norman-era earthworks and fortifications can be seen at Baginbun Bay. Today Fethard's main industries are fishing and tourism.
Family
John's father, James Merrin, was a farmer [1]. According to the Griffith Valuation of 1853 [3], James Merrin was a tenant at a property in Saltmills as follows:
County: Wexford
Barony: Shelburne
(Poor Law) Union: New Ross
(Catholic and Civil) Parish: Tintern (Fethard is an adjoining parish)
Diocese: Ferns
Townland: Saltmills
Place Name: Saltmills
Note that there was also a John Merrin living in Saltmills at this time and that he was married to Catherine Larkin. It is likely that John was James Merrin's brother and that the two brothers married two sisters by the name of Larkin.
John Merrin was Catholic and had at least two siblings: Eliza and Michael. There were probably more children in the family but I know of these two because they followed their older brother, John, to New South Wales, arriving in Sydney on 21 October 1858 aboard Golconda. The Immigration Deposit Journal noted that Eliza was 17 years old, could read and write and was a farm servant [4].
Note that Anastasia Merrin travelled to New South Wales with Eliza and Michael and may have been their sister. I believe, however, that she was most likely their cousin, rather than their sister.
County: Wexford
Barony: Shelburne
(Poor Law) Union: New Ross
(Catholic and Civil) Parish: Tintern (Fethard is an adjoining parish)
Diocese: Ferns
Townland: Saltmills
Place Name: Saltmills
Note that there was also a John Merrin living in Saltmills at this time and that he was married to Catherine Larkin. It is likely that John was James Merrin's brother and that the two brothers married two sisters by the name of Larkin.
John Merrin was Catholic and had at least two siblings: Eliza and Michael. There were probably more children in the family but I know of these two because they followed their older brother, John, to New South Wales, arriving in Sydney on 21 October 1858 aboard Golconda. The Immigration Deposit Journal noted that Eliza was 17 years old, could read and write and was a farm servant [4].
Note that Anastasia Merrin travelled to New South Wales with Eliza and Michael and may have been their sister. I believe, however, that she was most likely their cousin, rather than their sister.
Emigrating to New South Wales
On 26 September 1856 [6], John Merrin left Ireland as an assisted migrant aboard the Kate, bound for the colony of New South Wales. He was 18 years old.
In 1851, gold had been found in New South Wales and people from all over the world had flooded into the colony and on to the goldfields. Initially there were no police on the goldfields and 'Diggers' Justice' was used to settle disputes. The Sydney Foot Police had been established in 1790 and there were various other colonial police forces but they operated as separate entities and by 1851 there was a clear need to establish a single police force for New South Wales.
However, there were not enough suitable men in the colony who were willing to become policemen so the Police Recruiting Act, 1853 was passed in an attempt to solve this problem. The Act allowed men to be recruited from England, Scotland, Wales & Ireland to become police men in New South Wales, offering them free passage in exchange for a minimum of three years service. The first recruits arrived in 1855 [5]. In 1856, John Merrin arrived to join them aboard the Kate [7].
The opportunity of a job in New South Wales must have seemed to John Merrin like a golden chance to carve a life for himself, albeit on the other side of the world. His family seems to have been poor and his future, had he stayed in Ireland, is likely to have seemed at best fairly bleak and uninteresting. He had lived through the Great Famine as a child, a period of mass starvation, disease and emigration which took place in Ireland between 1845 and 1852 and which resulted in the deaths of approximately one million people. Another one million people emigrated from Ireland during this six-year period, mostly to Australia and America, so John's decision to leave Ireland to make a better life for himself in Australia was not an unusual one.
The information about John that appears on the list of immigrants aboard the Kate, as inspected by the immigration board, states that he:
John's immigration record further states that the £5 deposit required for immigration was paid by Patrick Larkin who acted as John's guarantor. Patrick was John's maternal uncle, brother to his mother, Mary Ann (nee Larkin) [7]. There are apparently still Larkins living in Bathurst [8].
In 1851, gold had been found in New South Wales and people from all over the world had flooded into the colony and on to the goldfields. Initially there were no police on the goldfields and 'Diggers' Justice' was used to settle disputes. The Sydney Foot Police had been established in 1790 and there were various other colonial police forces but they operated as separate entities and by 1851 there was a clear need to establish a single police force for New South Wales.
However, there were not enough suitable men in the colony who were willing to become policemen so the Police Recruiting Act, 1853 was passed in an attempt to solve this problem. The Act allowed men to be recruited from England, Scotland, Wales & Ireland to become police men in New South Wales, offering them free passage in exchange for a minimum of three years service. The first recruits arrived in 1855 [5]. In 1856, John Merrin arrived to join them aboard the Kate [7].
The opportunity of a job in New South Wales must have seemed to John Merrin like a golden chance to carve a life for himself, albeit on the other side of the world. His family seems to have been poor and his future, had he stayed in Ireland, is likely to have seemed at best fairly bleak and uninteresting. He had lived through the Great Famine as a child, a period of mass starvation, disease and emigration which took place in Ireland between 1845 and 1852 and which resulted in the deaths of approximately one million people. Another one million people emigrated from Ireland during this six-year period, mostly to Australia and America, so John's decision to leave Ireland to make a better life for himself in Australia was not an unusual one.
The information about John that appears on the list of immigrants aboard the Kate, as inspected by the immigration board, states that he:
- could read and write;
- was a gardener;
- had relations in colony (an uncle, Patrick Larkin, living in Bathurst);
- enjoyed good health;
- was a Roman Catholic;
John's immigration record further states that the £5 deposit required for immigration was paid by Patrick Larkin who acted as John's guarantor. Patrick was John's maternal uncle, brother to his mother, Mary Ann (nee Larkin) [7]. There are apparently still Larkins living in Bathurst [8].
Life and Career in New South Wales
John arrived in Sydney on 23 December 1856 and was appointed a constable on 2 April 1857.
His recruitment record states that he was 5ft 7.5 inches with a fresh complexion, dark brown hair and hazel eyes. It also states that he was a gardener, Catholic and of 'smart' appearance [9]. The record also notes that he was married but we know that this is not correct since we have a record of his marriage in 1860.
John was appointed to the Western District which comprised the Police Districts of: Bathurst (including Carcoar), Mudgee, Rylstone, Wellington, Dubbo, Orange (including Molong) and Hartley [10]. From 1857 until his retirement in 1881, at the age of 44, he lived and worked in a number of different towns in the area, including Cowra, Hartley and Gulgong.
This picture of John comes from The Sun, Sunday 11 August 1912 (Page 12). Note, however, that he was actually 75 when he died, not 82.
His recruitment record states that he was 5ft 7.5 inches with a fresh complexion, dark brown hair and hazel eyes. It also states that he was a gardener, Catholic and of 'smart' appearance [9]. The record also notes that he was married but we know that this is not correct since we have a record of his marriage in 1860.
John was appointed to the Western District which comprised the Police Districts of: Bathurst (including Carcoar), Mudgee, Rylstone, Wellington, Dubbo, Orange (including Molong) and Hartley [10]. From 1857 until his retirement in 1881, at the age of 44, he lived and worked in a number of different towns in the area, including Cowra, Hartley and Gulgong.
This picture of John comes from The Sun, Sunday 11 August 1912 (Page 12). Note, however, that he was actually 75 when he died, not 82.
Marriage
On 9 February 1860, John Merrin married Catherine Cavanagh in Bathurst at the Church of St Michael's.
I'm not sure when Catherine arrived in New South Wales however the details on her death certificate suggest that she arrived in 1859 or 1860.
Catherine was born in County Wexford in Ireland so I think she and John knew one another in Ireland and had planned before John left Ireland to marry. This would tie in with their marriage in Bathurst in February 1860. Their daughter, Mary Ann, was born later that year, also in Bathurst.
I haven't been able to find a record of Catherine's arrival in NSW.
I'm not sure when Catherine arrived in New South Wales however the details on her death certificate suggest that she arrived in 1859 or 1860.
Catherine was born in County Wexford in Ireland so I think she and John knew one another in Ireland and had planned before John left Ireland to marry. This would tie in with their marriage in Bathurst in February 1860. Their daughter, Mary Ann, was born later that year, also in Bathurst.
I haven't been able to find a record of Catherine's arrival in NSW.
Police Postings & Promotions: 1856-1881
Police records show the area of NSW to which police officers were assigned but not the specific towns where they were based and lived. From the records, I know that between 1860 and 1862 John lived and worked in the Bathurst area.
We know from newspaper articles that appeared when he died that one of the areas John looked after as a police constable was Hartley, a town which these days is about an hour's drive from Bathurst.
In 2023, Hartley is basically a well-preserved historical monument which is bypassed by the Great Western Highway but it was once the administrative centre of the region so John's post was an important one. John and his family probably lived in Hartley for about three years.
Hartley: early 1860s (from John's obituaries).
Bathurst: Lived in Morrisset Street in February 1862, according to daughter, Carrie's, birth certificate;
Effective 1 August 1863, John was promoted from Senior Constable to Sergeant, Second Class;
Carcoar: approximately 1863 - April/May 1872 (9 years, from newspaper article and children's birth records). The Australian Almanac 1872, shows Sergeant John Merrin as the Gold Receiver in Carcoar in 1872. The mention in the newspaper article below indicates that John was well-regarded in Carcoar. In 1863, Carcoar had a population of 374
We know from newspaper articles that appeared when he died that one of the areas John looked after as a police constable was Hartley, a town which these days is about an hour's drive from Bathurst.
In 2023, Hartley is basically a well-preserved historical monument which is bypassed by the Great Western Highway but it was once the administrative centre of the region so John's post was an important one. John and his family probably lived in Hartley for about three years.
Hartley: early 1860s (from John's obituaries).
Bathurst: Lived in Morrisset Street in February 1862, according to daughter, Carrie's, birth certificate;
Effective 1 August 1863, John was promoted from Senior Constable to Sergeant, Second Class;
Carcoar: approximately 1863 - April/May 1872 (9 years, from newspaper article and children's birth records). The Australian Almanac 1872, shows Sergeant John Merrin as the Gold Receiver in Carcoar in 1872. The mention in the newspaper article below indicates that John was well-regarded in Carcoar. In 1863, Carcoar had a population of 374
Molong: April/May 1872 (from the newspaper article above).
Cowra: 1873-1875 (from children's birth records). Click here to read more about Cowra during this period.
Gulgong: 1875-1881 (from children's birth records and newspaper article quoted below).
In December 1875, John was stationed in Gulgong. In January 1876, "Sergeant John Merrin, late of Carcoar and Cowra", officially took over from Senior Sergeant O'Donnell at Gulgong [11]. I'm guessing that made him Senior Sergeant.
Cowra: 1873-1875 (from children's birth records). Click here to read more about Cowra during this period.
Gulgong: 1875-1881 (from children's birth records and newspaper article quoted below).
In December 1875, John was stationed in Gulgong. In January 1876, "Sergeant John Merrin, late of Carcoar and Cowra", officially took over from Senior Sergeant O'Donnell at Gulgong [11]. I'm guessing that made him Senior Sergeant.
Children
John and Catherine Merrin had the following 11 children together:
1. Mary Ann (Minnie) - born 1860 in Bathurst. Married Hugh Bridson (1883, Sydney) and lived in Port Macquarie. Had six children. Died in 1920 in Port Macquarie.
2. Caroline (Carrie) Winifred - born 1862 in Bathurst. Never married. Had an illegitimate son, John (1898-1927). Died in 1921 in Sydney of cancer. Descendants: none known.
3. John George - born 1863 in Carcoar. Married Eliese Clark (1894, Carcoar) and lived in Bondi. Had five children. Died in 1927 in Sydney.
4. Catherine Helena - born 1865 in Carcoar, died 14 May 1866 (aged 11 months) in Carcoar. Descendants: none.
5. James - born 1867 in Carcoar. Married Matilda Lonsdale (1897, Sydney; divorced 1906) and lived in Mudgee, Newcastle, Braidwood, Trangie, Sydney and Queensland. Had two sons. Died in Brisbane in 1931.
6. (Peter) Arthur - born 1869 in Carcoar. Married Florence Fitzpatrick (a twin) (1900, Sydney) and lived in Newcastle, Sydney and Mudgee. Had five children, including twins (one died in infancy). Died in 1938 in Newcastle.
7. Catherine Helena (Lena) - born 1871 in Carcoar. Married George E Roberts (1899, Sydney) and lived in Sydney. Died in 1899 in Sydney, possibly in childbirth (burial does not record infant). Buried at Rookwood (brother Charlie is in the same grave) as Lena Catherine Roberts. Descendants: none.
8. Mary Gertrude - born 1873 in Cowra. Married John Gunnell (1899, Sydney) as Gertrude Mary and lived in Sydney. Had three children. Died in 1912 in Sydney. Descendants: Megan Dunkin.
9. William Joseph - born 1875 in Cowra. Married Florence Randell (1901, Mudgee; divorced 1912) and lived in Mudgee. Had one child. Also married Lily C Robinson (1913, Paddington) and lived in Sydney. Had at least three children. Died in 1953 in Ryde.
10. Charles Michael Andrew - born 1877 in Gulgong. Married Lavinia Laws (1905, Sydney) and lived in Sydney. Had one child. Died in 1909 in Sydney. Descendants: Felicity Bent.
11. Amelia/Emily May/May - born in 1881 in Gulgong. Married Myles Lynch (1914, Sydney) and lived in Sydney and Narooma. Had one child. Died in 1919 in Narooma. Descendants: Maggie Walker.
1. Mary Ann (Minnie) - born 1860 in Bathurst. Married Hugh Bridson (1883, Sydney) and lived in Port Macquarie. Had six children. Died in 1920 in Port Macquarie.
2. Caroline (Carrie) Winifred - born 1862 in Bathurst. Never married. Had an illegitimate son, John (1898-1927). Died in 1921 in Sydney of cancer. Descendants: none known.
3. John George - born 1863 in Carcoar. Married Eliese Clark (1894, Carcoar) and lived in Bondi. Had five children. Died in 1927 in Sydney.
4. Catherine Helena - born 1865 in Carcoar, died 14 May 1866 (aged 11 months) in Carcoar. Descendants: none.
5. James - born 1867 in Carcoar. Married Matilda Lonsdale (1897, Sydney; divorced 1906) and lived in Mudgee, Newcastle, Braidwood, Trangie, Sydney and Queensland. Had two sons. Died in Brisbane in 1931.
6. (Peter) Arthur - born 1869 in Carcoar. Married Florence Fitzpatrick (a twin) (1900, Sydney) and lived in Newcastle, Sydney and Mudgee. Had five children, including twins (one died in infancy). Died in 1938 in Newcastle.
7. Catherine Helena (Lena) - born 1871 in Carcoar. Married George E Roberts (1899, Sydney) and lived in Sydney. Died in 1899 in Sydney, possibly in childbirth (burial does not record infant). Buried at Rookwood (brother Charlie is in the same grave) as Lena Catherine Roberts. Descendants: none.
8. Mary Gertrude - born 1873 in Cowra. Married John Gunnell (1899, Sydney) as Gertrude Mary and lived in Sydney. Had three children. Died in 1912 in Sydney. Descendants: Megan Dunkin.
9. William Joseph - born 1875 in Cowra. Married Florence Randell (1901, Mudgee; divorced 1912) and lived in Mudgee. Had one child. Also married Lily C Robinson (1913, Paddington) and lived in Sydney. Had at least three children. Died in 1953 in Ryde.
10. Charles Michael Andrew - born 1877 in Gulgong. Married Lavinia Laws (1905, Sydney) and lived in Sydney. Had one child. Died in 1909 in Sydney. Descendants: Felicity Bent.
11. Amelia/Emily May/May - born in 1881 in Gulgong. Married Myles Lynch (1914, Sydney) and lived in Sydney and Narooma. Had one child. Died in 1919 in Narooma. Descendants: Maggie Walker.
Retirement: 1881
John left the police force on 19 October 1881 at the age of 44 and was paid a gratuity in appreciation for his service to the community. The family subsequently moved to Mudgee where they lived for some years. On 24 August 1896 John was working as "acting warder" at Mudgee gaol [reference needed] and was a well-regarded member of the Mudgee community.
Life in Sydney 1900-1912
John, Catherine and their younger children, Charlie (aged 23) and May (aged 19), moved from Mudgee to Sydney in March 1900. John was aged 63 at the time of the move.
By 1900 John and Catherine's older children were all married and living in either Sydney or in Port Macquarie and I imagine this is the reason they decided to move to Sydney.
By 1900 John and Catherine's older children were all married and living in either Sydney or in Port Macquarie and I imagine this is the reason they decided to move to Sydney.
John seems to have suffered from dementia in the years before his death. His wife, Catherine, had died in 1903 and in 1910 John was aged about 73 and living at 138 Glenmore Road, Paddington when the NSW Police Gazette of 29 June 1910 noted that he had been missing from his home since 5 June. He was described as being "68 years old, 5 feet 10, grey hair, whiskers, moustache. Dark suit, fawn overcoat, grey felt hat, an ex Sgt. Police."
Death and Burial
John Merrin died on 3 August 1912 at his home, 16 Womerah Avenue, Darlinghurst, at the age of 75. His death certificate states that he died of "senile decay and chronic arthritis". He was buried on 5 August 1912 at Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney (grave reference: M2*E*950).
I visited John's grave on Saturday 23 April 2016 with Julie Rusten who volunteers with the Friends of Rookwood. I would not have been able to find the grave without Julie's help as the headstone is missing and the number which would have been carved into the sandstone surround of the grave has long since worn away. My photos of the grave are below.
I visited John's grave on Saturday 23 April 2016 with Julie Rusten who volunteers with the Friends of Rookwood. I would not have been able to find the grave without Julie's help as the headstone is missing and the number which would have been carved into the sandstone surround of the grave has long since worn away. My photos of the grave are below.
See this link for copies of primary sources.
Driving distances:
Dublin to Saltmills: 1 hour 20 mins
Wexford to Saltmills: 35 mins
Wexford to Fethard: 40 mins
Fethard to Saltmills: 10 ms
Tintern to Fethard: 12 mins
Tintern to Saltmills: 6 mins
Still to be researched:
Wexford County Library Resources:
http://www.wexford.ie/wex/Departments/Library/Services/LocalStudies/Access/
http://www.wexford.ie/wex/Departments/Library/Services/LocalStudies/History/
County Wexford Genealogy Page:
http://igp-web.com/Wexford/index.htm
Account of the Irish Famine:
https://www.amazon.com/Annals-Famine-Ireland-Aesnath-Nicholson-ebook/dp/B00APDTPYO/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1462620227&sr=1-1&keywords=Annals+of+the+Famine+in+Ireland
Info about Irish Records:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,442233.0.html
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=532575.0
Info about the police in Gulgong
https://dibley-history.blogspot.com/2021/04/gulgong-police.html
References:
[1] From John's marriage certificate (copy on file);
[2] Baptism record: https://branchesofmyfamilytree.weebly.com/john-merrin-sources.html
[3] http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation
[4] Immigration Deposit Journal, 1858 (copy on file);
[5] http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/about_us/history
[6] Voyage of the Immigrant Ship Kate, 1856: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Kate
[7] Assisted Immigrants Passenger List;
[8] Greg Tracey's post: http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=637709.18
[9] NSW Registers of Police Employment, 1847-1885 (copy on file);
[10] The Australian Almanac, 1863;
[11] Baldwin, B. & Boyd-Davis, R. (2001). Diary of a Goldfield. Bathurst: Central Commercial Printers.
Note that there was another John Merrin in NSW, a convict who arrived in 1829.
Driving distances:
Dublin to Saltmills: 1 hour 20 mins
Wexford to Saltmills: 35 mins
Wexford to Fethard: 40 mins
Fethard to Saltmills: 10 ms
Tintern to Fethard: 12 mins
Tintern to Saltmills: 6 mins
Still to be researched:
- info about the voyage of the Kate
- picture of the Kate (State Library of NSW)
- Electoral roll and SANDS directories for info about where John lived, especially in Sydney
- info about 138 Glenmore Road Paddington where John lived in 1910. Was this one of his children's homes?
- how and when Catherine Kavanagh/Cavanagh arrived in NSW (sponsored by John Merrin?)
- burial locations for Merrin family in Saltmills: parish of St. James and Templetown? (per rootschat.com)
- what happened to Eliza Merrin? Norec marriage or death in NSW
Wexford County Library Resources:
http://www.wexford.ie/wex/Departments/Library/Services/LocalStudies/Access/
http://www.wexford.ie/wex/Departments/Library/Services/LocalStudies/History/
County Wexford Genealogy Page:
http://igp-web.com/Wexford/index.htm
Account of the Irish Famine:
https://www.amazon.com/Annals-Famine-Ireland-Aesnath-Nicholson-ebook/dp/B00APDTPYO/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1462620227&sr=1-1&keywords=Annals+of+the+Famine+in+Ireland
Info about Irish Records:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,442233.0.html
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=532575.0
Info about the police in Gulgong
https://dibley-history.blogspot.com/2021/04/gulgong-police.html
References:
[1] From John's marriage certificate (copy on file);
[2] Baptism record: https://branchesofmyfamilytree.weebly.com/john-merrin-sources.html
[3] http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation
[4] Immigration Deposit Journal, 1858 (copy on file);
[5] http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/about_us/history
[6] Voyage of the Immigrant Ship Kate, 1856: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Kate
[7] Assisted Immigrants Passenger List;
[8] Greg Tracey's post: http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=637709.18
[9] NSW Registers of Police Employment, 1847-1885 (copy on file);
[10] The Australian Almanac, 1863;
[11] Baldwin, B. & Boyd-Davis, R. (2001). Diary of a Goldfield. Bathurst: Central Commercial Printers.
Note that there was another John Merrin in NSW, a convict who arrived in 1829.