Phillips orphan girls
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 11:48 pm
In July 1851, three Phillips orphans Catherine 26, Biddy 21 and Mary 20 from the Killadysert workhouse were among 150 Clare workhouse girls taken to Tasmania on board the Calcutta. See the full story by Michael MacMahon at
http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclar ... rticle.htm
In a short note in The Other Clare, vol 27, 2003, Leon Hugh O'Donnell has drawn attention to the fact that upon arrival in Tasmania Biddy Phillips was taken into the employ of Bryan Bennett, a former transportee who had become a prominent citizen of the New Norfolk area of Tasmania. One of Bryan Bennett's daughters married Thomas Francis Meagher, one of the Young Ireland Group.
I have been trying to make contact with Leon to see if he may have since uncovered any further information about Biddy Phillips.
I have an interest here because my grandmother Bridget Agnes Phillips came from a family located at Caherea, near Lissycasey. Her father, Patrick was about the same age as Biddy Phillips, and he subsequently died at the Killadysert Workhouse in 1908.
It would seem almost certain that the three Phillips orphans were sisters from the same family group. Phillips is not a common name in County Clare - there were only a handful of Phillips families in Clare at any point during the 19th Century.
It may be difficult to establish what connection if any, Biddy and her sisters had to the Caherea Phillips family. Their stated ages suggest that Catherine, Biddy and Mary were born around 1825, 1830 and 1831 respectively. The baptism register for the Kildysart Parish commences in July 1829, so there is a possibility that the two younger ones at least may appear in that register, and so their parents would be identified.
If there is someone who has ready access to these records I would be hugely grateful if they could check this for me.
http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclar ... rticle.htm
In a short note in The Other Clare, vol 27, 2003, Leon Hugh O'Donnell has drawn attention to the fact that upon arrival in Tasmania Biddy Phillips was taken into the employ of Bryan Bennett, a former transportee who had become a prominent citizen of the New Norfolk area of Tasmania. One of Bryan Bennett's daughters married Thomas Francis Meagher, one of the Young Ireland Group.
I have been trying to make contact with Leon to see if he may have since uncovered any further information about Biddy Phillips.
I have an interest here because my grandmother Bridget Agnes Phillips came from a family located at Caherea, near Lissycasey. Her father, Patrick was about the same age as Biddy Phillips, and he subsequently died at the Killadysert Workhouse in 1908.
It would seem almost certain that the three Phillips orphans were sisters from the same family group. Phillips is not a common name in County Clare - there were only a handful of Phillips families in Clare at any point during the 19th Century.
It may be difficult to establish what connection if any, Biddy and her sisters had to the Caherea Phillips family. Their stated ages suggest that Catherine, Biddy and Mary were born around 1825, 1830 and 1831 respectively. The baptism register for the Kildysart Parish commences in July 1829, so there is a possibility that the two younger ones at least may appear in that register, and so their parents would be identified.
If there is someone who has ready access to these records I would be hugely grateful if they could check this for me.