Hullo List My great grandmother Mary Phelan was born in Castletown, Queens County circa 1834. She arrived in Sydney as an "Irish Orphan" in 1849. Her parents were Patrick Phelan and Sarah Gaffney. She could read and write, so she obviously received some education. Are there any records still in existence of orphanages or workhouses where she may have resided. I have not been able to find the deaths of her parents, nor her birth, although once she arrived here, she is well documented. I would be grateful for any information Ros Phillips Canberra Australia

Ros Phillips <ros.phillips@homemail.com.au> wrote: : My great grandmother Mary Phelan was born in Castletown, Queens County circa : 1834. She arrived in Sydney as an "Irish Orphan" in 1849. Her parents were : Patrick Phelan and Sarah Gaffney. She could read and write, so she : obviously received some education. : Are there any records still in existence of orphanages or workhouses where : she may have resided. I have not been able to find the deaths of her : parents, nor her birth, although once she arrived here, she is well : documented. See http://users.ox.ac.uk/~peter/workhouse/Abbeyleix/Abbeyleix.html for information on the Abbeyleix, Co. Leix (Laois, Queen's County) workhouse. -dja