This page examines the evidence we have that William Charles O'Neill, born in Killorglin, Ireland, Co Kerry in 1835, belongs to our family.

Killorglin, Dromavalla, Sunhill and Tullig/Tullig More are towns/areas in County Kerry where we believe our convict forebear William O'Neill and his family lived in. Dromavalla is the red location pin in the Google map below and is about 30km south of Tralee. Sunhill is less than 2km from Killorgan towards Dromavalla; Tullig More is 2km from Tullig and 4km from Killorglin. These locations all appear in the O'Neill records below.

The 1820 marriage certificate for William O'Neill & Johanna Flaherty has catholics of Ballyroe (in Latin). There are a number of Flaherty families in the Ballyroe area, a small agricultural hamlet about 5 km north west of Tralee and about half way to Ardfert, so the reference on the certificate may well apply only to the bride. Alternatively, William may have lived in the area leading up to his marriage. He was described as a ploughman in the convict records.

Recently a descendant, Helen Johnson (née O'Neill) was travelling in Co Kerry with her husband Gary and they uncovered a link in the Irish genealogy site that indicates that our William O'Neill had (at least) one sister named Ellen. Her surname in the register is listed as Neil, however it seems Neil, Neill and O'Neill are used fairly interchangeably. This is the entry (record KY-RC-BA-339833) relating to Ellen Neil's baptism; Dromvalla is a village in Co Kerry about 4km north of Tullig More or about 5km north-west of Killorglin (which is the parish Ellen's baptism is registered in):

Martin O'Neill and Catherine Barry were our convict William O'Neill's parents. Martin Neil has an entry in The Tithe Applotment Books, 1823-37: it appears that he leased 125 Irish acres at Tullig More, 4km west of Killorglin. The page is faint but can be read more easily by magnifying the image.

We know that William Charles O'Neill arrived as a assisted passenger in Sydney on board the Lady Milton in 1862; on page 10:

He is listed as an unmarried man in the ship's manifest; a farmer born in Killorglin, Co Kerry; a Roman Catholic who could both read and write. It seems he paid £5 towards his fare to Australia. He gave his age as 23, making his birth year 1839.

When William Charles O'Neill died on 24 Apr 1910 his parents were listed as Cornelius O'Neill and Ellen Neill:

On board the Lady Milton in 1862 was an Ellen O'Neill, her name situated in the list of Wives and Families of Persons resident in Colony, aged 48. On page 4 of the manifest:

This is most likely coincidental. The Ellen above gives her birth location as County Clare. In addition, William is listed in the ship's manifest among the Single Males not being members of families. Were the two related you would expect to find them in the families section.

On the death certificate William's age in 1910 is given as 75; along with the statement that he had been 44 years in New South Wales it would seem he was born in the first four months of 1835 and that he arrived in Sydney in 1866. However, he married Catherine White in Clarence Town on 25 Jul 1866 (record 2398/1866): 44 years is more likely an estimate given by his daughter when registering his death. The only William O'Neill we could find who was born in County Kerry and who arrived in Sydney a year or two earlier than 1866 was the one on the Lady Milton in 1862. He gave his age as 23, so a birth year of 1839 (the ship having arrived in May of 1862).

The most telling evidence that William Charles O'Neill is related to our family is this: the two witnesses at his wedding were William White, the brother of the bride, and Mary Agnes O'Neill, one of William O'Neill and Johanna Flaherty's children. In fact William White and Mary Agnes O'Neill were themselves married at her parents' property in Clarence Town on 07 Aug 1866, just two weeks later. These are two close families.

So in summary, we believe that Killorglin, Co Kerry, was the birtplace of our O'Neill forebears. William Charles is most likely our William's nephew who arrived in Clarence Town in 1862 and was married within a few years, witnessed by Mary Agnes who (we believe) is his first cousin.

There is some evidence of this. His parents were Cornelius O'Neill & Ellen Neil. On 6 February 1827 an Ellen Neil of Killorglin married Cornelius Neil of Sunhill (record KY-RC-MA-63226). Unfortunately no parent is listed for either party so we cannot be certain that this Ellen is convict William's sister: in 1839 she would have been 38 or 39. Six of Ellen & Cornelius's children appear in the database between 1827 and 1841 (John 1827, Martin 1830, Gerald 1832, Mary 1835, Cornelius 1838 and Jeremiah 1841) - but no William.

However, a Martin O'Neill arrived in Sydney on board the Ocean Express in 1863, aged 28, born in Killorglin, Co Kerry and sponsored by a William O'Neill. The age doesn't exactly match (maybe Martin lowered his age by 5 years), but the coincidences are strong. We have not yet traced Martin's movements after his arrival.

If anyone can provide more information please email mick@oneillfamily.id.au.

Catherine O'Neill (née White) passed away on 20 Feb 1929 (The Catholic Press, Thursday 28 February 1929):

Mrs. Catherine O'Neill.

A good old Catholic lady, in the person of Mrs. Catherine O'Neill, widow of the late William Charles O'Neill, of Innisfail, Bulahdelah, who predeceased her by about 20 years, passed away at the residence of her daughter (Mrs. N. Souter), Wilberforce-avenue, Rose Bay, on the 20th inst. Mrs. O'Neill, who was a cousin of Archpriest Therry, the pioneer priest of Australia, was born in Kilrush, County Clare, Ireland, and at the age of 14 years came to Australia with her parents. During her last illness she had the unremitting attention of Rev. Father R. J. O'Regan, P.P., who administered the last rites of the Church. She is survived by a family of one son and six daughters — Mr. John O'Neill (Chief Inspector, Railway Department), Mrs. M. J. Considine (Raymond Terrace), Mrs. N. Souter (Rose Bay), Mrs. J. McDonald (Bellevue Hill), Mrs. B. Gillin (Randwick), and Misses Sadie and Kitty O'Neill (Rose Bay). The funeral took place on the 21st inst., from St. Mary Magdalen's Church, Rose Bay, to South Head Cemetery, where the interment, which was private, was made. Father O'Regan reciting the last prayers in the presence of the sorrowing relatives.

The family relationship with Fr John Therry is interesting because he was the person to whom Johanny Flaherty and her son John O'Neill were entrusted on their disembarkation from the City of Edinburgh on 12 Nov 1828; he conducted them to rejoin William O'Neill in Brookfield.

William Charles O'Neill and Catherine White had nine children:

01. Mary Ann (b. 02 Jul 1868, d. 20 Jun 1939) died at home in Eagleton near Raymond Terrace

02. Isabella Nuala (b. 1870, d. 08 Aug 1890 in Sydney Hospital) buried in Raymond Terrace

03. Cornelius (b. 1872, d. 1897 in Bourke)

04. Sarah (b. 1873, d. 1947) death record 6860, did not marry

05. Ellen (b. 18 Jul 1875 Crawford River near Bulahdelah, d. 1952 in Sydney)

06. John Patrick (b. 1877, d. 13 Jul 1940)

07. Catherine (b. 26 May 1879 Crawford River near Bulahdelah, d. ?)

08. Alice (b. 1881, d. ?)

09. Cicely (b. 1883, d. 1958 in Sydney)

01. Mary Ann O'Neill married Michael Joseph Considine (record 251)in Sydney in 1904. They had 4 children (the NSW record number before date), all in Sydney:

01. Clement Michael (b. 10009/1905, d. 108991/1984)

02. Keith W (b. 20402/1907, d. ?)

03. Dominic J (b. 10950/1909, d. ?)

04. a daughter, became Mrs Foggarty and lived in Goulburn (see the obituary of Mrs. M. J. Considine below).

Mary Ann died suddenly at home on 20 or 27 Jun 1939, her obituary appearing in the Raymond Terrace Examiner and Lower Hunter and Port Stephens Advertiser on Thursday 29 June 1939:

OBITUARY

MRS. M. J. CONSIDINE

A great shock was occasioned to Mr. M. J. Considine and his family on Tuesday afternoon last, wheen Mrs. Considine died suddenly at her home at Eagleton. Iit was likewise a great shock to all who knew her and deep regret was at once expressed by her many friends. Mrs. Considine had not been ill to any extent that would cause her husband or family any anxiety, and not for a moment was such a sudden calamity anticipated. The deceased lady was worthily respected and esteemed for her many kindly characteristics and her passing removes one who was a loving mother, a dutiful wife and an abliging and useful neigbour. She had suffered from failing eye-sight to some extent, but her general health had been fairly well maintained. Death was due to heart failure, the attack coming on while Mrs. Considine was sitting in the sun on the verandah, of her home on Tueday. The Dr. was summoned at once but death had occurred before he arrived. She leaves her husband and three sons Messrs Dominic, Keith and Clem., who are residing at home at Eagleton, and one daughter Mrs. Foggarty, of Goulburn.

The funeral on Wednesday to the Raymond Terrace Catholic cemetery was a very large one, considering the brief notice and was an evidence of the great respect for deceased and the sympathy for the family. The Rev. Father Quinn officiated at the church and graveside. Mrs. Considine was aged 71.

We are not sure whether any of their sons married. The only possibility we uncovered was the wedding of a Dominic John Considine to Olive Jessie Courtney in 1948 (record 15487).

03. Cornelius O'Neill. It's unlikely that Cornelius married. We know he died in Bourke in 1897 (record 657). He was a member of the local police and passed away on 04 Mar when he succumbed to typhoid (The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser, Saturday 13 March 1897). His family published a return thanks in The Sydney Morning Herald on Monday 15 March 1897:

The PARENTS BROTHERS and SISTERS of lately deceased CORNELIUS O'NEILL desire to return sincere THANKS for the kind expressions of Sympathy received from kind friends of Bourke and Sydney during their most sad bereavement.

04. Sarah O'Neill did not marry. She died in 1947 at Rose Bay in Sydney. A notice of probate was published in The Sydney Morning Herald on Thursday 26 June 1947; her sister Ellen Souter was her Executrix. In her brother's funeral notice she was called Sadie.

05. Ellen O'Neill married Henry Norman Souter in Sydney in 1909 (record 552). Henry was the son of William Henry Souter and Elizabeth Wellington, his parents having married at Bombala in 1865. Henry entered the NSW police force. He passed away on 17 May 1927. Ellen is known as Eleanor at the time of his death.

From the Evening News on Tuesday 17 May 1927,

DEATHS.
SOUTER.—May 15, 1927, at his residence, 73 Amhurst-street, North Sydney, Henry Norman Souter, Inspector of Police No. 6 Division, and beloved husband of Eleanor (Nance) Souter and father of Norman, aged 55 years.

From the National Advocate Tuesday 17 May 1927:

After an illness of six months Inspector Henry Norman Souter, officer in charge of police in the North Sydney division, died at 11.45 p.m. on Sunday. One of the most popular oflicers in the force, his death will be greatly regretted. He joined the New South Wales Police Force in 1889. His aptitude for detective work soon earned for him the position of detective at Headquarters. For many years he was stationed at Headquarters. Several years ago he was promoted to the rank of inspector at North Sydney. Last year he was made an inspector first class. Inspector Souter was off duty on sick leave at the time of his death. He was fifty six years of age, and is survived by a widow and one son. Deceased was a native of Bathurst and a son of Mrs. Souter of Lambert Street.

Two days later:

The funeral of the late Mr. Henry Norman Souter, Inspector of Police, at North Sydney, took place yesterday, and was largely attended, 130 of deceased's police comrades walked in front of the hearse to the cemetery, headed by the police band, which played the Dead March enroute. Superintendent Mitchel represented the Commissioner of Police (Mr. Mitchell). Other officers present were Inspectors Gallagher, Woodrow, Hawkins, Irvin, and Devlin, and ex-Superintendents Fullerton and Roche. The remains were encased in a silver mounted polished coffin, the coffin and pallbearers being all officers of the policeforce. The interment was made in the Church of England portion of the Northern Suburbs general cemetery. The Rev. G. Mashman road the burial service. The chief mourners were Mrs. Eleanor Souter (widow), Norman Souter (son), Mrs. Elizabeth Souter (mother), Mrs. Sadie O'Neill and Miss Lily Souter (sisters), Messrs. McDonald, Gillings, and O'Neill (brothers-in-law).

Ellen O'Neill and Henry Norman Souter had the one son:

01. Norman Allan (b. 40860/1914, d. 6226/1970 in Sydney)

Norman Allan Souter married Josephine Loretta Renshaw in Sydney in 1947. They had at least one child, a son, Norman John Souter who also passed away in 1970 (record 45216).

06. John Patrick O'Neill married Elsie May Nesbitt in St Paul's church at Camden on 30 Apr 1912. Elsie was born in Camden in 1884 (record 15410) to Richard Johnson Wyatt Nesbitt and Ada Harriett Galvin who had married in 1882 (record 2611). From his funeral notices we know that John was a civil engineer working for NSW railways and specialising in timber. Notice also in his obituary reference to Tralee being the birthplace of his parents. This actually refers to his afther William (Tralee being the largest town close to Killorglin). His mother Catherine White was actually born in Kilnish, Co. Clare. From The Raymond Terrace Examiner and Lower Hunter and Port Stephens Advertiser published an obituary of John on Thursday 1 August 1940:

MR. JOHN P. O'NEILL

The death occurred on Saturday last July, 13th of Mr. John P. O'Neill, at his home "St. Anne's" Elderslie, Camden after a lengthy illness, (says the Camden Advertiser.

The deceased was a native of the Bullahdelah district and was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. William O'Neill, who were born in Tralee, Ireland, and came early in life to the colony and settled in the Myall River District. Deceased was a brother of the late Mrs. M. J. Considine of (Eagleton and was well known and esteemed in the Myall and Raymond Terrace districts in his younger days. He was a civil engineer by profession and was attached to the N. S. W. railways for many years. The funeral was held in the Camden Catholic cemetery, where the Rev. Father John McGovern, a family friend officiated, assisted by the Rev. Michael O'Dea, P.P. He is survived by Mrs. O'Neill, Mr. John O'Neill, (son), and Miss Jill O'Neill, (daughter). His sisters alive are Mrs. M. A. McDonald, Bellvue Hill; Miss S. O'Neill, Rose Bay, and Miss Kitty O'Neill, Bellvue Hill.

Among the mourners were Messrs. M. J. Considine of Eagleton, Bertie Nesbitt and J. Gillin, brothers-in-law.

St. John's College, (Sydney University) where deceased's son - Mr. J. O'Neill is a medical student - was represented by Dr. F. Byrnes, Mr. P. Courtney, and other students. Messrs Colonel Fewtrell Beaver, Bennett and Thorpe attended from the Railways Engineering Branch.

Also from the Sydney Morning Herald on Sat 20 Jul 1940:

O'NEILL.—July 13, 1940, at Camden, John Patrick O'Neill, (chief railway timber expert), only surviving son of the late William and Mrs. O'Neill, of Bullahdelah, much loved brother of Mary (Mrs. M. Considine, deceased), Mrs. N. Souter (Rose Bay), Alice (Mrs. Macdonald), Cecily (Mrs. B. Gillin), Sadie, and Kitty. Privately interred at Camden 14th instant.

01. Patricia M (b. 37343/1915, d. ?)

02. John Galvin (b. 2756/23 Jan 1913, d. 1864/1981)

John Galvin O'Neill studied medicine at the University of Sydney. While a student he was president of the Junior Medical Society (The Sun, 01 May 1936). In 1947 he was a GP in Botany, Sydney (The Sun on 29 Dec 1947, in a report on the death of a baby in a plane about to take off for Brisbane). He was in the 2nd AIF during WWII.

John Galvin O'Neill married Maisie Goonery (although marriage record 20558/1944 spells her surname Goonrey) at Camden in 1944. From The Catholic Weekly Thursday 21 December 1944:

Camden History Recalled

Masses of orange blossom from Galvin Park, near Camden, the old family homestead of the groom, decorated the chapel of St. John's College, Sydney University, for the recent marriage of Miss Maisie Goonery and Dr. John Galvin O'Neill. The bride, an ex-trainee of St. Vincent's, is the oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. T. Goonery, of Wilcannia and Bondi, and the groom is a son of the late J. P. O'Neill and Mrs. E. M. O'Neill, of Camden. His great grandfather, John Galvin, received the grant of land, now Galvin Park, (it is still in the hands of the family), from Governor Macquarie in 1812. History says that at Galvin Park, Father Therry celebrated one of the first Masses outside Sydney.The Rev, Father B. Jordan came from Wilcannia to officiate and celebrate the Nuptial Mass. He was assisted by the Rev. Father J. J. McGovern, P. P. (relative of the groom), and the Very Rev. Father J. C. Thompson, C. M. (Rector, St. John's College).

Captain Morgan Windsor, AAMC, AIF, served the Mass, and Messrs. K. V. Swain and C. T. Lorenz were ushers. The bride (whose lovely, veil was loaned by Mrs. Tom Bateman) was attended by her sisters, Patricia and Kathleen, while Captain Tom Bateman, AAMC, and Surgeon-Lieutenant Ted Freshney, RANVR, were best man and groomsman. Margaret Doolan and Tony O'Connor were flower-girl and page, respectively.

John Galvin O'Neill and Maisie Goonery had at least one child.

08. Alice O'Neill possibly married Thomas J O'Neill in Bathurst in 1928 (record 1875). In Henry Norman Souter's funeral notice there was a Mr. O'Neill present who was described as his brother-in-law, so this marriage record is possibly correct. However the obituaries are not consistent. They all mention a Mrs McDonald (née O'Neill) - one with initial J., another with M. A. and one with no initials. To date we haven't located a marriage in NSW of any combination of O'Neill/McDonald (with spelling variations).

09. Cicely O'Neill married Bernard Joseph Gillin (b. 1877) in Sydney in 1917 (record 6632), died in 1958 (record 26048). Ellen's obituary above has the spelling as Gillings. Her death record (# 26049/1958) spells her first name as Cecily. The couple had at least on child, a daughter (The Sydney Morning Herald Saturday 31 July 1920). Bernard died in Sydney in 1958. Bernard's parents were Bernard Gillin and (coincidentally) Ellen O'Neil of Berkeley (which we assume is the suburb near Wollongong). His father's obituray appeared in The Catholic Press on 19 Apr 1902 and his mother's in The Sydney Morning Herald on 26 Oct 1925.