THOMAS AND BRIDGET JENNINGS

Thomas and Bridget (nee Conroy) JENNINGS  were born in ARBUT GALWAY Ireland and travelled to Australia arriving on 28 January 1864 as Assisted Immigrants on board the ship Siroco.  Thomas was 24 and Bridget was 22. The couple had married when Bridget was 16 and Thomas 20.  With them on the journey were three of their sons - Jeremiah, (4) William (3) and John(7 months)  Thomas had a sister in the Colony who resided in Newcastle - Bridget.  It was Bridget who assisted the passage by sponsoring  the family to come to the colony. Bridget arrived in the Colony in 1855 aboard the HILTON.  In 1860 she married Joseph TIERNAN (a sea captain)

On the voyage of the Sirocca the ship’s captain was Lewis Arthur Berriman. The ship was 152 tons and sailed from Liverpool to Sydney.  The  family would have made their way to Liverpool from Ireland in preparation for the voyage.  There were 31 married couples on board; 143 single males and 136 single females. 29 male children and 25 female children aged 9-12 and 10 infants.

By 1865 convicts were not being transported to Australia so the colony was experiencing a labour shortage.  There had been an influx of immigrants during the 1850s when gold had been discovered and the lure of making a fortune led to many making the decision to make the voyage to Australia. The journey to Australia was an arduous one taking up to four months or more. Because of poor hygiene and cramped living conditions the death rate was high.  One in 10 adults and one in 5 children were known to perish.  Storms presented a particular problem and when the crew “battened down the hatches” it meant that the passengers were confined to their quarters.  For those in cabins this was bad enough for those in steerage it would have been intolerable.  They were confined to their quarters with all the other passengers, in total darkness,  with no ventilation and limited toilet facilities.  Seasickness was rife at these times because of the boat pitching in the storm.  

After a short period of quarantine the family would have been “released” into the care of Bridget Teirnan.  At this time it is understood that the family lived in Pitt Row in Newcastle with Bridget.  At some time later they moved to Adamstown.

Thomas and Bridget went on to have a further four children when they arrived in Australia.

Thomas was arrested and charged and sentenced to serve time (lengths of the sentence varied between one and seven days) at least 8 times between 1873 and 1893. He served his sentences in Maitland gaol. The gaol admission register state that he was 5ft 8ins, with dark hair and grey eyes.  His physique  is described as strong, and that he could read and write, his religion was Roman Catholic and he had various scars.  The records also state that both his little fingers had been amputated.  His occupations were variously listed as labourer, miner, stone breaker.  It  appears that despite his convictions Thomas was always able to hold down a job.

 One of his arrest that I find particularly interesting and coincidental was on 16 January 1900 Thomas was arrested for of wantonly throwing stones to the danger of people passing by on Broadmeadow Road, Hamilton.  When he appeared in court he stated that larrikins were throwing stones at him so he had cause to retaliate.  Witnesses however saw no larrikins interfering with the accused.  Thomas was fined 5 shillings or in default 24 hours gaol.  The interesting coincidence in this story is that the arresting officer, Constable Mullane, is the great, great grandfather of my friend Catherine. 

In April 1895 Thomas was employed as a stone breaker and on his way to work at Hexham he was knocked down and gored by a bull.  He managed to startle the bull after it had attacked him a couple of times by taking his tea bottle from his back and striking the bull.  He wandered around in a semiconscious state until he was picked up by a milkman who took him home to Adamstown where he was put to bed and attended by the doctor.

Bridget Jennings died on 24 October 1908 and is buried at Sandgate Cemetery. Her obituary published in the Newcastle Herald states she was 71 years of age and that she was a well respected member of the community.  Her death certificate states her cause of death was senilis.  Her address is given as Popran Road Adamstown, her occupation is listed as domestic duties, and her parents as William Conney and Mary Mahon.

Thomas Jennings died on 22 January 1917 and is buried at Sandgate with Bridget.  His obituary states that he was 81 years of age and until recently he could hold his own in a days work with the best of men.  At the time of his death it is reported he leaves four sons (John had passed away by this time) 29 grandchildren and 35 great grandchildren.  Mr M Jennings is reported to have said the large attendance at his funeral was testament to the respect his father was held in the community. 

Thomas and Bridget’s five surviving sons all made valuable contributions to life in Australia and I will provide further information about this in future posts

NAME	DOB	MARRIAGE	DOD	COMMENTS
JEREMIAH	1859	HAMILTON: Elizabeth M   1877	1944	served as a counsellor and Lord mayor of Adamstown
WILLIAM	1860	DONNERLY, Elizabeth   1881	1931	on the board of Kurri Kurri Hospital for many years
JOHN	1863	HICKENS; Casina E       1889	1911	curator of the Sydney Cricket Ground predeceased his father
THOMAS	1865		1866
PATRICK	1867	McNamarra, Annie 1892	1940	active in mining circles
MARY	1869		1869
MICHAEL	1870	MURPHY: Ellen 1892	1943	active in mining circles