The Killion, Quinn and Hand Families of Port Macquarie and Kempsey and their Feeney Family

In our last post, we left John Killion in 1834 when he was assigned to John Dillon of Sydney after his arrival.  From the attached newspaper article, it seems that between 1834 and 1837, John Dillion relocated from Sydney to Port Macquarie. NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS. (1837, November 9).  The Sydney Herald (NSW : 1831 - 1842) , p. 2. Retrieved August 2, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12856337 As there's no record of John Killion's reassignment, we're assuming that he moved with John Dillon to Port Macquarie between 1834 and 1837.  The area was expanding during the 1830s with free settlers permitted to move to the region.  The 1841 New South Wales Census shows John Dillon of Port Macquarie has 3 male bonded males who are "in private assignment".  We're confident that John Killion was one of these men. https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/searchhits_nocopy?id=18&surname=dillon&firstname=john&residence=macquarie Unlike so man

John Killion is the patriarch of the Killion branch of the family - the descendants of Edward John (Jack) Killion, Rose Porter (nee Killion), Thomas Killion, Mary Jane Newton (nee Killion) and Margaret Gersbach (nee Killion). Few details remain about John's life. We're looking for more information to enrich John's story including his birth family and early life in Ireland. What follows is based on the research of Martyn Killion, our family historian.   John was born about 1806 in Athlone, County Westmeath, Ireland. Athlone is in central Ireland on the River Shannon about 120 kms west of Dublin.  Athlone between Dublin and Galway Althone Castle and River Shannon The only things familiar to John when he left Althone in 1883 On 01 March 1833 in the Assize (County Court) at Mullingar, Westmeath, John was found guilty of "assault on the habitation of Jas. (James) Scanlon" and convicted to transportation for life. Mullingar Courthou

On 11 August 1907, our many times great grandmother, Jane Moran (nee Feeny) died in West Kempsey. Jane was survived by Charles Moran, her third husband, and eight of her ten children - Edward John (56), Rosanna (54), Mary Jane (52), Thomas (50), Margaret (48), William (43), Annie (31) and Matilda (30). Her twins, James and Richard, had died in as infants in 1873.  The following day, 12 August 1907, Jane was buried at the Church of England Cemetery, West Kempsey. Jane's headstone in West Kempsey Cemetery  Local and General News. (1907, August 15). The Macleay Chronicle (Kempsey, NSW : 1899 - 1952), p. 4. Retrieved August 10, 2017, from  http://nla.gov.au/ nla.news-article18150976 Family Notices (1908, August 11). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 6. Retrieved August 10, 2017, from  http://nla.gov.au/ nla.news-article15017038

In our last post, we followed Jane from the South Dublin workhouse to Port Macquarie staying at Hyde Park Barracks in Sydney after she disembarked from the Digby in 1849. If you're ever in Macquarie Street with a few hours to spare, a visit to Hyde Park Barracks is highly recommended. You'll find Jane's name inscribed on the Australian Monument to the Great Irish Famine. In the Museum, there's a wonderful display on the Irish girls includ ing the story of a girl who also arrived aboard the Digby. You can read more information about the Irish orphan girls  here. The 18th Annual Commemoration at the Great Irish Famine Monument will take place on Sunday 27 August 2017 at 12pm. At a small cost, you can attend the event and visit the Museum. You can get the  information  here.