Hello, I am new to contributing to the list and have the following enquiry which may seem familiar to some as I placed it on other mailing lists last year, but not Pt Jackson Convicts. I would like to hear from anybody with any information on John Michael Heffernan (my great grandfather). I know from various newspaper articles John lived in Richmond NSW from at least 1876 until late 1881, when he and de facto wife Eliza Greenhalgh nee Kennedy left, possibly for inner Sydney (Redfern/Waterloo area). Eliza was born at Nepean approx. 1839/40 to Donald Kennedy, son of convict Donald Kennedy arr 1792 on Royal Admiral and Cecilia Frazer, daughter of convict James Frazer arr 1809 on Hindostan. While in Richmond John and Eliza had 3 children: John Michael (my grandfather 1876-1933), Johanna (1877-1966 married name Henley), Robert Emanuel (1880-1903). These 3 births were registered as Greenhalgh but at some point the children all started using the Heffernan name. Prior to taking up with John Michael Heffernan, Eliza married William Greenhalgh at Castlereagh in 1861. Their children were: Mary, Robert, Donald, Sarah and Sydney. Eliza died 1911 in Newington Asylum. Little is known of John senior, other than occupations labourer and railway work (from children's B D & M certs). Thanks, Kerry.

Hi Kerry and Laraine, Laraine, I had a look back through the emails from you which I have saved to my computer. They were in reference to Harris, Heffernan, Comerford,, Fowler, Walsh/Welsh and Hare families. I am connected to Kath's Connor family. I have been researching Comerford as I have a Comerford connection to a Richardson family I am researching (of which J G Richardson was a member). I have researched the family of Felix Hare who was a Sydney Postmaster (first one?), and if I remember correctly he had partner named Bridget Walsh /Welsh. I have Ellen Walsh / Welsh marrying Stephen Allen 1840 Sydney. I have the wife of my Benjamin Allen arriving in 1841 under potection of John Hare and his wife Ellen Hempenstall. My Diggins family connection is from Taunton Somerset. My Diggins family lived at Kurrajong Heights. I have a Hanlon family with an orchard at Bilpin possibly connected to my Hanlons. William Allen convict of the Princess Royal 1823 is possibly the father of my Benjamin Allen. William was originally assigned to Gorge Panton, Postmaster, Sydney Kerry, I have a connection to convict Joseph Greenhalgh, who married free immigrant Caroline Panting / Panton circa 1840. I think Joseph was from the Liverpool England area and may have been a brother to convict Thomas Greenhalgh. Do you know the name of your William Greenhalgh's father? I note that Liz Walker has a connection to the Bilpin area as well (with Powells?), and she also has a Kennedy connection. Perhaps her Catherine Kennedy also had a connection to Donald Kennedy. I hope you can find something in the above information to allow a connection. Kind regards, Warren -----Original Message----- From: Kerry <k4.history@gmail.com> To: aus-pt-jackson-convicts <aus-pt-jackson-convicts@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sun, 23 Jun 2013 13:13 Subject: [PJ] Fwd: (PJ) Convicts Hello, I am new to contributing to the list and have the following enquiry which may seem familiar to some as I placed it on other mailing lists last year, but not Pt Jackson Convicts. I would like to hear from anybody with any information on John Michael Heffernan (my great grandfather). I know from various newspaper articles John lived in Richmond NSW from at least 1876 until late 1881, when he and de facto wife Eliza Greenhalgh nee Kennedy left, possibly for inner Sydney (Redfern/Waterloo area). Eliza was born at Nepean approx. 1839/40 to Donald Kennedy, son of convict Donald Kennedy arr 1792 on Royal Admiral and Cecilia Frazer, daughter of convict James Frazer arr 1809 on Hindostan. While in Richmond John and Eliza had 3 children: John Michael (my grandfather 1876-1933), Johanna (1877-1966 married name Henley), Robert Emanuel (1880-1903). These 3 births were registered as Greenhalgh but at some point the children all started using the Heffernan name. Prior to taking up with John Michael Heffernan, Eliza married William Greenhalgh at Castlereagh in 1861. Their children were: Mary, Robert, Donald, Sarah and Sydney. Eliza died 1911 in Newington Asylum. Little is known of John senior, other than occupations labourer and railway work (from children's B D & M certs). Thanks, Kerry.

Hi Warren, Yes I am a Comerford, Fowler,Heffernan, Walsh/Welsh on my paternal side I did not know Felix was a Postmaster that's new thank you.. also the J G Richardson is new to me. How can I help you can contact me off list if you like. Laraine

Hi Warren, Great to hear from you, thanks. I haven't researched a lot about William Greenhalgh as he is not my ancestor so don't know much other than he was born in England in 1840 and his parents were James and Susannah. He died 4 November 1888 in Bourke NSW. William came as a free man to Australia in 1859. Re the Kennedys - I don't know of any connection with the Bilpin area, however there is quite a lot of info on Donald Kennedy senior who came in 1792. He was a pioneer of the Penrith NSW area after receiving a land grant on the Nepean River. Thanks and regards, Kerry. From: <wdiggins@aol.com> Date: 23 June 2013 14:25 Subject: Re: [PJ] Heffernan and Harris To: aus-pt-jackson-convicts@rootsweb.com Hi Kerry and Laraine, Laraine, I had a look back through the emails from you which I have saved to my computer. They were in reference to Harris, Heffernan, Comerford,, Fowler, Walsh/Welsh and Hare families. I am connected to Kath's Connor family. I have been researching Comerford as I have a Comerford connection to a Richardson family I am researching (of which J G Richardson was a member). I have researched the family of Felix Hare who was a Sydney Postmaster (first one?), and if I remember correctly he had partner named Bridget Walsh /Welsh. I have Ellen Walsh / Welsh marrying Stephen Allen 1840 Sydney. I have the wife of my Benjamin Allen arriving in 1841 under potection of John Hare and his wife Ellen Hempenstall. My Diggins family connection is from Taunton Somerset. My Diggins family lived at Kurrajong Heights. I have a Hanlon family with an orchard at Bilpin possibly connected to my Hanlons. William Allen convict of the Princess Royal 1823 is possibly the father of my Benjamin Allen. William was originally assigned to Gorge Panton, Postmaster, Sydney Kerry, I have a connection to convict Joseph Greenhalgh, who married free immigrant Caroline Panting / Panton circa 1840. I think Joseph was from the Liverpool England area and may have been a brother to convict Thomas Greenhalgh. Do you know the name of your William Greenhalgh's father? I note that Liz Walker has a connection to the Bilpin area as well (with Powells?), and she also has a Kennedy connection. Perhaps her Catherine Kennedy also had a connection to Donald Kennedy. I hope you can find something in the above information to allow a connection. Kind regards, Warren

Hi Glenda, I will try and find William Greenhalgh's shipping to see if his native place was Liverpool, as his father James may have been related to either Joseph or Thomas Greenhalgh I will also have a look at the descendants of Donald Kennedy of the Penrith area to see if there might be a connection to Liz's Catherine Kennedy. I am still trying to determine whether the John Harris who married Rachel Skinn, daughter of convict William Skinn, is related to James Harris of Prospect, or Dr Harris of Kissing Point area. Kind regards, Warren -----Original Message----- From: Kerry <k4.history@gmail.com> To: aus-pt-jackson-convicts <aus-pt-jackson-convicts@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sun, 23 Jun 2013 15:47 Subject: [PJ] Fwd: Heffernan and Harris Hi Warren, Great to hear from you, thanks. I haven't researched a lot about William Greenhalgh as he is not my ancestor so don't know much other than he was born in England in 1840 and his parents were James and Susannah. He died 4 November 1888 in Bourke NSW. William came as a free man to Australia in 1859. Re the Kennedys - I don't know of any connection with the Bilpin area, however there is quite a lot of info on Donald Kennedy senior who came in 1792. He was a pioneer of the Penrith NSW area after receiving a land grant on the Nepean River. Thanks and regards, Kerry.