Donegal to Australia: GALLAGHER and FERRY – Part of the Donegal Relief Fund story by Colleen Wright.
The Ferry’s and Gallagher’s came out to Australia from Donegal with the Donegal Relief Fund. There were hundreds of young people, from 15 to about 25 years of age, who came out on five ships to make a new life in Australia. The inhabitants of townland Falcarragh, Parish Tullaghobegley and the Catholic district of Gweedore in Donegal all spoke fluent Gaelic, then, as they still do today.
Hugh Gallagher and the “Sapphire” (1859)
Hugh Gallagher was 18 years old when he boarded the Sapphire in Liverpool on 3 February 1859. The Sapphire arrived in Sydney Harbour on 24 May 1859.
His shipping record lists his parents as Hugh Gallagher and Hannah Boyle, both living in Gweedore. It is believed Hugh was from the coastal townland of Bunbeg. He could read and write, and his occupation was recorded as labourer.
At this stage, no other Gallagher shipping records have been found showing the same parents.
The Ferry Siblings on the “Sapphire”
Also on board the Sapphire were two Ferry siblings:
- Patrick (“Paddy”) Ferry, aged 17
Parents: Patrick Ferry and Anne Mitchell (Falcarragh)
Literacy: Could read and write
Occupation: Farmer - Catherine (“Kate”) Ferry, aged 20
Parents: Patrick Ferry and Anne Mitchell (Falcarragh)
Literacy: Could not read or write
Occupation: House servant
The “Lady Elina Bruce” (1859)
Sailing from Liverpool on 7 April 1859 was the Lady Elina Bruce. On board were:
- John Ferry, aged 23
- His wife Martha, aged 24
- Two infant sons: Patrick (4) and John (2)
John recorded his parents as Patrick and Nancy of Falcarragh. He could read and write, and worked as a labourer. John stated that his brother Patrick and sister Catherine were on board the Sapphire.
The Lady Elina Bruce arrived in Sydney Harbour on 14 July 1859.
Settlement in Maitland
On arrival in Australia, the families went to the Maitland area for work.
John and Martha settled there and had eight more children born in Maitland. Patrick and Catherine were godparents to two children born in East Maitland.
John worked as a labourer at Glenarvon. When he died in 1910, he was living at Melbourne Street, East Maitland. Family addresses also included Villa Street, Lawes Street, and Day Street.
They attended St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in East Maitland. Many family members are buried in the East Maitland RC cemetery, with and without headstones.
Politics and Community Life
Politics strongly drew the Irish Catholic family.
Many descendants of John and Martha entered local politics and served on councils, including:
- Maitland City Council
- Mayor of Dungog
- Deputy Mayor of Sydney City Council
- Old Morpeth Council
- Kogarah City Council
One Ferry was known as a speaker in the Sydney Domain. Walter Ferry, a blind councilor for Maitland, was assisted by his sister Emma, who read council papers to him; he then transcribed them into braille.
Many Ferry and Gallagher family members were associated with the Australian Labor Party as generations grew.
Mary Ferry and the “Nile” (1861)
Mary Ferry traveled to Australia alone on the Nile, departing Plymouth on 29 January 1861.
- Age: 16
- Literacy: Could not read or write
- Occupation: Nursery maid
She arrived in Sydney on 4 May 1861 and joined her brothers and sister in Maitland.
Patrick Ferry in Sydney
Patrick Ferry moved to Sydney and married in 1867 to Margaret Riley (Kiley). Their children were:
- Mary Ann
- Bridget
- Patrick (died 1873)
Margaret died in 1878. Patrick remarried in 1882 to Joanna Byrnes (no children).
Patrick lived in Arthur Street, Surry Hills and is buried at Waverley Cemetery with his eldest daughter Mary Ann. Their graves overlook the ocean — a scene reminiscent of Falcarragh.
Bridget married William Schutema. They lived with Patrick before moving to Randwick, near Randwick Racecourse. The family became closely linked with the racing industry, including one son who worked as a bookmaker.
Catherine Ferry: Victoria, “Leonard/Lenehan,” and Missing Records
Family stories suggest Catherine Ferry moved to Victoria and married a William Leonard. However, records have not been found for births or marriage in NSW, Victoria, or South Australia.
A daughter Mary married John Waters in Victoria in 1896, giving her birthplace as Adelaide (Victorian Marriage Index). Descendants of the Waters family have visited the Ferrys in Maitland, and Patrick Ferry’s descendants in Sydney have visited family in Melbourne.
Catherine died in 1907 at Hamilton, Victoria. Her parents were recorded as Patrick Ferry and Anne Middle, and her death record states she married in Sydney at age 26 (1864).
The only Catherine Ferry marriage found in the NSW index is to William Lenehan, on 4 January 1864 at St Mary’s Cathedral. The cathedral register is clear and legible, and lists her parents as Patrick Ferry and Anne Middle.
A daughter Bridget was born on 17 August 1864, and then the family disappears from NSW records. It remains possible the family moved to South Australia and, for unknown reasons, adopted the surname Leonard.
Hugh Gallagher and Mary Ferry: Marriage and Family
On 14 August 1865, Hugh Gallagher and Mary Ferry married at St John’s Church, West Maitland. Mary signed the certificate with a cross.
Mary’s marriage certificate lists her parents as Patrick Ferry and Anne Mitchell, while her death certificate lists Patrick Ferry and Nancy Mitchell. Across records, the mother’s name varies between Anne and Nancy.
Hugh and Mary had thirteen children:
- The first ten were born in towns along the rail route in the Blue Mountains
- The last three were registered in Sydney
Family Memories: Railways, Gold, and the 1890s Crash
Family tradition holds that Hugh wore a top hat to work and was collected by a buggy drawn by four horses. It has been said he may have worked as a railway surveyor. Another family account states he worked on the Hawkesbury Rail Bridge, and that the children played in caves near the riverbanks.
The story goes that he was paid in sovereigns and gold, and may have found gold while working in the Blue Mountains.
During the bank crashes of the 1890s, Hugh lost a large sum of money. Mary did not want him to use banks, and fortunately not all money had been deposited.
As the daughters grew up, they worked along the railway route in the Blue Mountains, supplying meals to railway men. When camps moved, they moved with the workers.
Surry Hills and Guildford
Hugh and Mary eventually settled at 27 Miles Street, Surry Hills. The home was located behind St Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, Devonshire Street.
Hugh died on 19 July 1900, working as a night watchman. He is buried at Rookwood Mortuary I with baby son Joseph, and Charles, who was re-interred there in January 1904. There is an impressive headstone.
Around 1913, the family moved to 43 Taralga Road, Guildford, a property of about 10 acres with a low house and verandahs all around. It is not known who purchased the property — some say the eldest son Hughie, but no one is certain.
Mary died there on 2 September 1917 and is buried at Rookwood Mortuary II. Her headstone bears the inscription “Our Mother.” She is remembered as a short, plump woman who always smiled.
Vince Blackburn: Champion Boxer
Mary Ferry’s second-eldest grandson, Vince Blackburn, was one of the greatest bantamweight boxers Australia has produced.
- Won the Bantam Title Championship in 1916
- Held the title until defeated in 1920
- Won the Feather Title Championship
- Held the title of Bantam Champion of the Orient in the Philippines
- Fought in London and America
- Retired from boxing in 1923
- Became a successful hotel publican and businessman
- He was a quietly spoken and humble man who was a non-drinker.
- He owned several properties and lived out his days at Bondi.
The Gallagher descendants also became involved in politics, with many associated with the Australian Labor Party.
Children of Hugh Gallagher and Mary Ferry
The children were as follows:
- Hugh (1867, Penrith) — “Hughie”; died 31 July 1945 (Burwood)
- Patrick (1868, Hartley) — died 1869 (Hartley)
- Hannah (1869, Sodwalls / Hartley) — “Jesse”; married Henry Gleeson, 27 Dec 1910, St Mary’s Cathedral; one child Alice; died 2 Jan 1953 (Sutherland); buried Thirlmere
- Elizabeth (1870, Hartley) — “Lizzie”; died 16 Dec 1943 (Guildford)
- Margaret (3 Oct 1872, Macquarie Plains / Bathurst) — “Maggie”; married Arthur Samuel Blackburn, 24 Jan 1893 (Waterloo); children Harold, Vincent, Agnes, Dorothy, Madge, Julie, Charles, Eileen; died 23 Aug 1918 (Penrith)
- Ann (1874, Bathurst) — “Annie”; married William Young, 1 Jan 1901 (Balmain); children May, William, Thomas; died 21 Apr 1958 (Sydney)
- Agnes (1875, Bathurst) — “Aggie”; married James Mepstead, 1 Jun 1912 (Surry Hills); one child Charles John; died 14 Dec 1919 (Sydney)
- Kate (1877, Orange) — “Kittie”; died 4 Aug 1962 (Brisbane)
- Mary (1878, Orange) — “Minnie”; died 6 Oct 1957 (Guildford)
- Bridget (1880, Tamworth; birth not registered) — “Lil”; married Cornelius Wallace, 24 Apr 1912 (Surry Hills); children Molly, Con, John; died 19 Aug 1953 (Guildford)
- Joseph (7 Jul 1882, Sydney) — died 19 Jul 1882 (Sydney)
- John Charles (1883, Petersham) — “Charles”; died 11 Nov 1903 (near Bathurst); re-interred 16 Jan 1904 (Rookwood)
- Alice (1885, Ryde) — married Alexander Joseph McKenzie, 18 Mar 1916 (Guildford); one child Nancy Joan; died 17 May 1961 (Earlwood)
Family Notes and Later Generations
Hughie the eldest was a very clever man. He read a great deal and had a very large collection of books. He apparently used to stand in front of homes and quote Shakespeare. Also he drank a fair bit and after his evenings at the local his horse used to bring him home. He was heavily involved with the union movement.
Lizzie ran a boarding house at Valley Heights at the foot of the Blue Mountains for railway workers. The years she was here are not sure but it could have been around 1890 to 1920. Maggie and Bridget’s children spent many school holidays with Lizzie at Valley Heights.
Maggie was the first to marry when she eloped in 1893 to marry Arthur Samuel Blackburn at the registry office at Waterloo. There were 8 children all born at Balmain. Maggie contracted, in 1918, the flu that the soldiers brought back from WWI. Arthur sent her to Lizzie at Valley Heights to be nursed back to health. Unfortunately Maggie did not recover and died at the Nepean Cottage Hospital at Penrith. The children remembered saying goodbye to their mother at Central Railway Station.
Annie was the next to marry. She married William Young on the 1 January 1901 at the Presbyterian Manse at Balmain. William was a gardener and apparently his workmanship in gardens was always very beautiful. They had three children. May was born in 1901 and died in 1928 with appendicitis. William was born in 1903 and had a deformed back. His grandmother Mary reared him in his early years until her death in 1917. William died in 1942. Thomas John the third child was born in 1904 and it is not sure if he married. William Snr. owned a second hand furniture business at Rose Bay.
Jesse married Henry Gleeson on the 18 December 1910 at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Alice was born in 1913 at Helensburgh. They lived at Bargo for many years and worked on the railways. Jesse was an avid Labor supporter.
Lil married Cornelius Wallace on the 24 April 1912 at St. Peters Surry Hills. Cornelius was a Federal member for West Sydney in the WWI years. He died at 40 years of age in 1921. They had 3 children Mary Elizabeth (Molly) born in 1913, Cornelius Carr (Con) born in 1916, and John Mitchell born in 1918. Con was a City Councilor with the Sydney City Council and his name is on the Domain Bar. Bridget’s (Lil) birth was not registered but she thought she was born in Tamworth in 1880.
Aggie married James Mepstead on the 1 June 1912 at St. Peters Surry Hills. Aunty Madge remembers attending this wedding. Agnes Blackburn was flower girl. James Mepstead was arrested on his wedding night and spent about three years in Jail. He died in suspicious circumstances in August 1916. It was thought he might have been pushed from the building site where he was working. When he was released from jail Annie and William obtained a home at Rose Bay for their residence. Charles was born here in 1915. After James death Aggie lived in Riley Street Surry Hills. Here in December 1919 she had an accident knocking over a kerosene lamp. She received severe burns and neighbours rescued Charlie. Aggie never recovered. His aunts reared Charlie at Guildford.
Charlie Mepstead was taught to drive by Albert Reid, Madges husband. While learning to drive he stayed at Rockdale with the Reids and Blackburns. The Gallagher’s bought a car and Alb escorted Charlie back to Guildford with the car. This was before the war. Charlie went away with the Air Force during WWII. During his absence Lizzie died in 1943 and Hughie in 1945. Real estate sharks were after the Guildford land and it appears wrong decisions were made, and bits were sold off and payment was never received. Kittie and Minnie were the only ones left living at Guildford. Charlie Mepstead married in Brisbane and lived in Sydney for a few years, then settled in Brisbane.
Alice was the only other child to marry. She married at St. Patrick’s Guildford on the 18 March 1916. Her husband, Alexander Joseph McKenzie was a Presbyterian. He changed his religion too catholic and his family disowned him. Alice and Alexander had one daughter, Nancy Joan, born in 1916 at Granville. Nancy was born with a heart problem. Alice’s husband died in 1931. Nancy married Francis Bede O’Connor in 1943. Alice lived with Nancy and Frank until her death in 1961. Nancy and Frank adopted a son Paul and he died in 1992. Alice had a block of land at Granville on the main road to Parramatta. She did not pay the rates and the council repossessed the land after she died. Nancy worked at the races after the war. During this time they were unable to obtain a telephone connection. She ran into John Lang the Labour Party leader in NSW and spoke to him about the telephone problem and within days the telephone was connected. Nancy died in 1964 and Frank remarried.
The Gallagher’s at Guildford appeared to live like recluses. They were apparently very strict with the rearing of Charlie Mepstead. He grew into a fine young man and they were proud of him. Minnie worked in the Herald Office. Kittie worked at Sargent’s and she also went to work in a hotel at Maitland. The hotel was supposed to belong to a Ferry or some person connected to the family. This still has to be researched.
Charles Gallagher worked at a property at Bathmapton and was thrown from a horse on the 11 November 1903 and was killed. He was buried at Bathurst but on the 16 January 1904 he was re-interned at Rookwood Mortuary I to be with his father and baby brother Joseph.
When the Gallagher’s died there were no wills, and there were problems with the estate. After Minnie died in 1957 and Kittie in 1962, solicitors managed to eat away at the estate. It was eventually given to the Public Trust to sort out. Descendants of the original children received a share. After Minnie died Charlie Mepstead brought Kittie to Brisbane to live with his family.
Patrick and Joseph died as infants. All the family is buried at Rookwood except for Patrick at Hartley, Hannah at Thirlmere and Kittie in Brisbane.
Burials (Summary)
All of the family are buried at Rookwood, except:
- Patrick (Hartley)
- Hannah (Thirlmere)
- Kittie (Brisbane)
End
Colleen Wright is the granddaughter of Margaret Gallagher (Maggie), (Hugh Gallagher and Mary Ferry’s 5th child) and Arthur Samuel Blackburn.
See also Australia_Donegal_relief_fund and Australia_Donegal_A_Return_Journey