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A Few Incidents from the Life of Thomas Quirke (born 1835 - died 1908)
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The following is a partial transcript of Thomas Quirke's reminiscences on his life and family and was recorded and typed in 1896. I have only included relevant parts of what Thomas wrote as it the majority of it focuses on his work, marriage and children upon his arrival.
The full transcript was provided by a cousin (a great grandson of Nicholas Quirke brother to Thomas) in 2005.
My paternal grandfather was James Quirke, originally from County Tipperary Ireland, and my maternal Grandmother named Alice Reid from County Tipperary also. They left County Tipperary about the year 1796 about or soon after marriage. They went to reside at Mount Nugent House near St Johns Well County Kilkenny. My Grandfather acted as agent for the landlord named Millet who resided at St Johns-town County Tipperary.
My father Peter Quirke who was the oldest of ten sons and two daughters was born at Mount Nugent House in June 1798, and resided with my grand-parents until 1823 when he married Catherine Ryan my step-mother by whom there were four children born, named James the oldest, Nicholas who died in childhood, Margaret and Michael. My step-mother died in 1832 and my father married my mother in early 1834. Mothers name was Mary Connon. My maternal grandfather was Thomas Connon and grandmother Mary Walsh were both born and reared in County Kilkenny. I do not know the date of my birth, but, understand that I was baptised on 12th April, 1835.
During my childhood my parents and family resided on part of Mount Nugent Estate and carried on farming and dairying. On account of leaving Ireland when young and having to work for a living in New South Wales I had only a poor opportunity for education, a circumstance that I very much regret.
I am the oldest of seven children. Six boys and one girl. Myself, John, Nicholas, Peter. Patrik, died in Ireland, Mary and Patrick born and died in Sydney.
I spent many happy days with my brothers and school mates in our youthful haunts. Our principal games were wrestling, jumping, hurdling, football etc. I was frequently kept from school for the purpose of weeding potatoes, minding cattle and various other purposes.
After my grandfathers death my uncle John was appointed Agent for our Landlord and held the position until he was accidentally killed by being crushed between a gatepost and a vehicle. My paternal Uncles and Aunts were all well educated. Some died young, and others emigrated to America. One was a Master Tailor in Liverpool England, and another a grocers assistant in Kilkenny. The other an officer in the army.
I heard my father say that grandfather, grandmother, and ten sons and daughters all attended Mass together one Christmas morning.
My stepbrother and stepsister James and Margaret emigrated to New South Wales in 1849 by the ship Victoria, leaving Plymouth on 12th May and arriving in Sydney on 3rd September having as shipmates the late Mr J P Garvin and other members of his family, and Patrick Stanley of Surry Hills.
After my Uncle John's death my father was appointed Agent to our Landlord and held that position until he left Ireland.
Shortly after James and Margaret arrived in Sydney the goldfields were discovered, and they wrote us encouraging accounts of New South Wales and requested my brother Michael and myself to come on to Sydney as soon as we could make it convenient to do so. My mother would not bear of my leaving Ireland and after a great amount of consideration it was agreed that my father, mother and the whole family would come to Sydney together. With this view my father sold his interest in our farm to my Uncle Nicholas and turned that, and remainder of his property into cash and arranged to leave dear old Ireland as soon as possible.
We left Mount Nugent on the morning of 16th September 1851, drove to Carlow twelve miles, and thence by Rail to Dublin, thence by steamer to Plymouth, where we arrived on the 19th. We remained in the Emigration Depot at that place until the 22nd on which day we went on board the Emigration ship Neptune 644 tons in the Bay of Plymouth commanded by Captain John Handerson.
We sailed from Plymouth on 26th September and had about 350 emigrants on board including Revd. John Meayher, his father, and a large family from Tipperary.
On arrival in Sydney we were met by my sister Margaret who informed us that my brother James was on the “Turow” gold fields and that he desired my brother Michael join him there as soon as convenient. My sister Margaret had a cottage rented for us on arrival in Pitt St south near Liverpool St where my parents with the younger members of the family resided for some years.
About a fortnight after arrival my brothers John, Nicholas and Peter commenced to go to school to St Mary's. The teachers at this time were Casey, Dwyer and Dolman. It was arranged by my parents that I should commence to make a living on my own account.
I was married at St Mary's Cathedral Sydney on 17th June 1856 by Revd J.O. Gorbulien a French Priest to Catherine youngest daughter of the late Richard and Mary Doyle of Kilderry County Kilkenny Ireland. I knew my wife in Ireland. We were children together. She came to New South Wales about three years after I did.
My late father's first wife was Catherine Ryan who was my wife's Aunt. So that my wife is first cousin to my step-brothers and step-sister. After marriage we lived in a cottage in Pitt St South Sydney, near Bathurst St. After furnishing our residence comfortably. I had 500 pounds in Savings Bank and kept on working for Mr Blair until January 1857. Not being well I was advised by a doctor to leave the mill for a time.
I purchased one acre of land in Orange. Corner of Lord and Sales Streets July 1873 costing 42 pounds. The last time I had the pleasure of seeing my father was on 1st March 1862. in Sussex St Sydney between Bathurst and Liverpool streets near Barkers Mills. He died on Tuesday 6th October in his 66th year. He was attended in his illness by Rev J J Therry. The Mails only came to Calenla twice a week on account of which I did not hear of his death until after he was buried. I was on my way to Sydney to see him when I learned in Orange by telegram of his burial.
___________________________________________________________
The following is a partial transcript of Thomas Quirke's reminiscences on his life and family and was recorded and typed in 1896. I have only included relevant parts of what Thomas wrote as it the majority of it focuses on his work, marriage and children upon his arrival.
The full transcript was provided by a cousin (a great grandson of Nicholas Quirke brother to Thomas) in 2005.
My paternal grandfather was James Quirke, originally from County Tipperary Ireland, and my maternal Grandmother named Alice Reid from County Tipperary also. They left County Tipperary about the year 1796 about or soon after marriage. They went to reside at Mount Nugent House near St Johns Well County Kilkenny. My Grandfather acted as agent for the landlord named Millet who resided at St Johns-town County Tipperary.
My father Peter Quirke who was the oldest of ten sons and two daughters was born at Mount Nugent House in June 1798, and resided with my grand-parents until 1823 when he married Catherine Ryan my step-mother by whom there were four children born, named James the oldest, Nicholas who died in childhood, Margaret and Michael. My step-mother died in 1832 and my father married my mother in early 1834. Mothers name was Mary Connon. My maternal grandfather was Thomas Connon and grandmother Mary Walsh were both born and reared in County Kilkenny. I do not know the date of my birth, but, understand that I was baptised on 12th April, 1835.
During my childhood my parents and family resided on part of Mount Nugent Estate and carried on farming and dairying. On account of leaving Ireland when young and having to work for a living in New South Wales I had only a poor opportunity for education, a circumstance that I very much regret.
I am the oldest of seven children. Six boys and one girl. Myself, John, Nicholas, Peter. Patrik, died in Ireland, Mary and Patrick born and died in Sydney.
I spent many happy days with my brothers and school mates in our youthful haunts. Our principal games were wrestling, jumping, hurdling, football etc. I was frequently kept from school for the purpose of weeding potatoes, minding cattle and various other purposes.
After my grandfathers death my uncle John was appointed Agent for our Landlord and held the position until he was accidentally killed by being crushed between a gatepost and a vehicle. My paternal Uncles and Aunts were all well educated. Some died young, and others emigrated to America. One was a Master Tailor in Liverpool England, and another a grocers assistant in Kilkenny. The other an officer in the army.
I heard my father say that grandfather, grandmother, and ten sons and daughters all attended Mass together one Christmas morning.
My stepbrother and stepsister James and Margaret emigrated to New South Wales in 1849 by the ship Victoria, leaving Plymouth on 12th May and arriving in Sydney on 3rd September having as shipmates the late Mr J P Garvin and other members of his family, and Patrick Stanley of Surry Hills.
After my Uncle John's death my father was appointed Agent to our Landlord and held that position until he left Ireland.
Shortly after James and Margaret arrived in Sydney the goldfields were discovered, and they wrote us encouraging accounts of New South Wales and requested my brother Michael and myself to come on to Sydney as soon as we could make it convenient to do so. My mother would not bear of my leaving Ireland and after a great amount of consideration it was agreed that my father, mother and the whole family would come to Sydney together. With this view my father sold his interest in our farm to my Uncle Nicholas and turned that, and remainder of his property into cash and arranged to leave dear old Ireland as soon as possible.
We left Mount Nugent on the morning of 16th September 1851, drove to Carlow twelve miles, and thence by Rail to Dublin, thence by steamer to Plymouth, where we arrived on the 19th. We remained in the Emigration Depot at that place until the 22nd on which day we went on board the Emigration ship Neptune 644 tons in the Bay of Plymouth commanded by Captain John Handerson.
We sailed from Plymouth on 26th September and had about 350 emigrants on board including Revd. John Meayher, his father, and a large family from Tipperary.
On arrival in Sydney we were met by my sister Margaret who informed us that my brother James was on the “Turow” gold fields and that he desired my brother Michael join him there as soon as convenient. My sister Margaret had a cottage rented for us on arrival in Pitt St south near Liverpool St where my parents with the younger members of the family resided for some years.
About a fortnight after arrival my brothers John, Nicholas and Peter commenced to go to school to St Mary's. The teachers at this time were Casey, Dwyer and Dolman. It was arranged by my parents that I should commence to make a living on my own account.
I was married at St Mary's Cathedral Sydney on 17th June 1856 by Revd J.O. Gorbulien a French Priest to Catherine youngest daughter of the late Richard and Mary Doyle of Kilderry County Kilkenny Ireland. I knew my wife in Ireland. We were children together. She came to New South Wales about three years after I did.
My late father's first wife was Catherine Ryan who was my wife's Aunt. So that my wife is first cousin to my step-brothers and step-sister. After marriage we lived in a cottage in Pitt St South Sydney, near Bathurst St. After furnishing our residence comfortably. I had 500 pounds in Savings Bank and kept on working for Mr Blair until January 1857. Not being well I was advised by a doctor to leave the mill for a time.
I purchased one acre of land in Orange. Corner of Lord and Sales Streets July 1873 costing 42 pounds. The last time I had the pleasure of seeing my father was on 1st March 1862. in Sussex St Sydney between Bathurst and Liverpool streets near Barkers Mills. He died on Tuesday 6th October in his 66th year. He was attended in his illness by Rev J J Therry. The Mails only came to Calenla twice a week on account of which I did not hear of his death until after he was buried. I was on my way to Sydney to see him when I learned in Orange by telegram of his burial.
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