Hi all I have found more information on Michael FARRELL and Catherine AHERN, but as always this raises more questions: I searched the pre-1856 Sydney parish registers on microfilm at the Mitchell Library and found Michael and catherine's marriage entry from the St Mary's Parish Registers, as well as their daughter Catherine's baptism record from 1841. The latter is a find, because it is not included in the NSW BDM index (I only knew her year of birth from her own marriage certificate). However, extra information given on both records has created some confusion. Michael is noted as having arrived on the Mariner, which along with the 1828 census (which places him on Norfolk Island) would induicate that he was a convict. The Mariner made 3 voyages (in 1816,1825 and 1827), but there are no records of a Michael Farrell on the lists from Mariner (1) and Mariner (3) and Mariner (2) carried only female convicts. Catherine Farrell turns out to be a bounty immigrant who arrived on the REd Rover in 1832. Now , in 1837 another Bounty immigrant named Catherine FARRELL arrives on the Alfred, and her record has the note "Sister married to Michl Farrell, Carpenter, Sydney" Now, Catherine FARRELL's baptism record in 1841 gives Michael and Catherine's address as Elizabeth St, while Alicia's in 1842 gives it as Sussex St. The former would match the 1841 census record of a Michael FARRELL of Elizabeth St, Alexandria, except that the census record states that the all members of the household either arrived free or were born in the colony, and the ages and sexes of the children do not match those of Michael and Catherine's children (3 sons born in 1834, 1835 and 1836, and 2 daughters born 1839 and 1841). This is complicated further by the fact that the convict Michael FARRELL that arrived on the Surry in 1816 is noted on the 1828 census as "carpenter of George St, Sydney" Any ideas of where to go from here? i get the feeling that there might some mistakes or gaps in the records that render this puzzle unsolveable. Regards Malcolm > Their marriage certificate gives Catherine's DOB as > c.1840, her father's > name as Michael Farrell, master builder and her mother's > name as Catherine > AHERN. Her place of birth is given as Sydney but there > are no records that > match these details in the NSW BDM index. Have you had chance to check in the original NSW birth/baptism indexes ?? ( pub 1982 on fiche) >There is a record of a marriage > between a Michael FARRELL and Catherine AHERN at St > Mary's Cathedral, Sydney in 1833. Have you sighted this record ?? In the Bounty Assisted Immigrants Listings there is a 25 year-old > Catherine Ahern who arrived in NSW in 1837 on the > Alfred. Her occupation is > listed as glovemaker, but what is interesting is that > the records state that > her sister was married to Michael Farrell, carpenter of > Sydney!! > Unlikely that sister would have the same first name ?? > John and Catherine HOWARD had a son John Thomas HOWARD, > born 1872 at > Wentworth. Catherine Howard died when her son was 2 in > 1874 at Wentworth and is buried in Wentworth Cemetery. That record in the deaths gives parents names of John & Catherine > > There are many Michael Farrells on the passenger lists > (including > convicts)to NSW from 1788 to 1840's, but as yet I have > no information that > would help me to narrow down the number of likely > candidates. Any > help/information on Michael FARRELL, Catherine AHERN or > Catherine FARRELL Have you had a look at NSW film # 1286 to see if any more info on the actual passenger list ?? In the 1834 PO Dir for Sydney there is a Michael FARRELL , carpenter, Kent st " 1835 " only one at the Welsh Harp Hotel , George Street In the 1857 " is an Michael FARRELL, Farriers Arms George St In the on line indexes of the 1841 Colony of NSW census there a Michael FARRELL , Elizabeth St ( www.records.nsw.gov.au) And a Michael FARRELL , licensed victualler , Sussex St ,went bankrupt in 1843 ...see on line indexes A Michael & Catherine FARRELL had children baptised in the 1830's Richard 1834, Michael in 1836, Edward in 1835 and Alicia 1842 all RC An Edward FARRELL m Jane COBCROFT 1867 , Bathurst ?? Films of the pre 1857BDM church records of Colony of NSW are in many libraries so you can look up for just cost of your time . Pretty sure the SLQ would have While there records dont give much info could well have fathers occupation and street of residence . So would help sort wood from the chaff ! HTH Bye MargM Sydney List Admin -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.407 / Virus Database: 268.13.0/464 - Release Date: 5/10/06 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.407 / Virus Database: 268.13.0/464 - Release Date: 5/10/06