Deportation of Famine Orphans from Omagh, Gortin & Strabane, Co. Tyrone Workhouses to Melbourne, Australia, October 1848

Transcribed, Compiled and Submitted by
Len Swindley, Melbourne, Australia
len_swindley[at]hotmail.com

A little-known consequence of the devastation caused by the Great Famine (1845-50) was the large numbers of young orphans admitted to workhouses across Ireland and a scheme of emigration to the Australian colonies devised in Westminster to alleviate overcrowding: approximately 5,000 female pauper orphans emigrated 1848-50. Passages were paid by the colonials who were in great need of house servants, farm servants and dairy maids and potential brides for the many emancipated transported convicts desperate to marry. The girls disembarked in the ports of Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Moreton Bay (Brisbane).

Many of the girls had a living parent, but being unable to provide food and shelter, had no other recourse than to seek admittance to a workhouse.

Extracted from the Tyrone Constitution, October 5, 1849

 

OMAGH & GORTIN WORKHOUSE

Surname	Firstname	Age	Residence/Workhouse	Religion
ABRAHAMS	Eliza	16	Barnscourt, Tyrone	C of E
ADY	Eliza	14	Drumgorman, Tyrone	C of E
BLACK	Sarah Anne	16	Tyrone	C of E
CALDWELL	Margaret	18	Omagh, Tyrone	C of E
COWLEY	Margaret	16	Duffley, Tyrone	Presb
DEVELIN	Margaret	17	Glenoch, Tyrone	RC
FOREMAN	Catherine	17	Omagh, Tyrone	RC
GEATINS	Isabella	15	Milecras, Tyrone	RC
GIVINS	Jane	16	Omagh, Tyrone	RC
GWYN	Jane	16	Omagh, Tyrone	Presb
HALLADAY	Catherine	18	Tyrone	C of E
JOHNSTON	Catherine	16	Cooke Town, Derry & Cookstown, Tyrone	RC
KEAN	Catherine	17	Crosly, Tyrone	RC
KEAN	Mary	18	Tyrone	RC
MARSHALL	Eliza	17	Tyrone	Presb/ C of E
MAYNES	Margaret	18	Omagh, Tyrone	RC
McCONWAY/ McCONONNONY	Isabella	16	Drumraw/ Drumrain, Tyrone	RC
McELHILL	Jane	16	Omagh, Tyrone	RC
McGAWLICH	Catherine	16	Omagh, Tyrone	RC
McKOWN	Jane	18	Omagh, Tyrone	RC
McLOUGHLIN	Elizabeth	17	Tyrone	RC
McNALLY	Margaret	15	Crosk [Crosh?], Tyrone	RC
MULGREEN	Catherine	17	Asbon, Tyrone	RC
MURDOCK	Martha	16	Tyrone	Presb
QUINN	Jane	14	Addstow [Ardstraw?], Tyrone	RC
QUINN	Mary	17	Tullymuch, Tyrone	RC
SHARKEY	Elizabeth	17	Omagh, Tyrone	RC
TAYLOR	Elizabeth	17	Creevin, Tyrone	Presb
THOMSON	Mary	15	Glenargh, Tyrone	C of E

(State Records and Archives New South Wales 4/4817, Reel 2145)

 

A fortnight later, the Strabane, Co. Tyrone, workhouse was cleared of a number of girls who arrived in Melbourne, February 25, 1850 on the Derwent

STRABANE WORKHOUSE

Surname	Firstname	Age	Occupation,Residence/Workhouse	Religion
ARBUCKLE	Ann	18	Houseservant, Tyrone [Strabane]. Taken home by her brother-in-law George Hunter of Flinders Lane [Melbourne]	Presb
ARBUCKLE	Mary	23	Housemaid, Tyrone. Taken home by her brother-in-law George Hunter of Flinders Lane [Melbourne]	Presb
ARBUCKLE	Sarah	16	Never in service, Tyrone [Strabane]. Taken home by her brother-in-law George Hunter of Flinders Lane [Melbourne]	Presb
GORMELY	Helena	18	Houseservant, Strabane Tyrone	RC
PATTERSON	Mary	16	Houseservant, Tyrone	Presb
SHARKEY	Sarah J.	17	Houseservant, Strabane, Tyrone	RC
TAYLOR	Isabella	16	Houseservant, Newtownstewart, Tyrone	C of E
TAYLOR	Mary Jane	19	Houseservant, Tyrone	C of E
WASON	Jane	16	Farmservant, Barnscourt, Tyrone	RC
WOOLAGHAN OR OULAGHAN	Elizabeth	17	Houseservant, Strabane, Tyrone	Presb/ C of E
WOOLAGHAN OR OULAGHAN	Martha	20	Houseservant, Strabane, Tyrone	C of E/ Presb

(State Records and Archives New South Wales 4/4817, Reel 2145)

There has been much research undertaken in Australia regarding the origins and circumstances of each orphan, especially by Dr. Trevor McClaughlin. His seminal publication, Barefoot and Pregnant? Irish Famine Orphans in Australia (Genealogical Society of Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) was published in 2001, containing a complete register, but has regrettably been out of print for many years.

NOTE: This submission is an abridged version of my article submitted to the 2017 Directory of Family History Research (Ulster Genealogical and Historical Guild, Belfast) where the complete text may be consulted.