Elizabeth Maher, Ireland to Australia, 1800's
Thank you for the opportunity to make contact via Genforum.
My great-grandparents were Elizabeth Maher from Rathvilly, Carlow and Thomas West from Dublin.
The parents of Elizabeth and Patrick Maher, brother and sister, were Edward Maher and Ann or Annie Doyle. Elizabeth was born in Rathvilly, Carlow as was her brother, Patrick.
The following are details of my particular branch of the family. It has taken a long time to get thus far.
According to the New South Wales, Australia, Immigrants Records,Elizabeth Maher (born Rathvilly, Carlow, Ireland in 1833) and her brother, Patrick Maher, and a relative, Margaret Maher came to Sydney, NSW aboard the ship 'Bee' in 1856.
Through records via the Internet, about the Tipperary immigrants to Australia, there was a Margaret Maher who came in 1856 on the 'Bee'. Her parents are stated as William Maher and Bridget. The father had died and her mother was alive, but there were no relatives in the colony. Margaret's native place was stated as Cashel, Tipperary.
Elizabeth Maher, my great-grandmother, married Thomas West, a Dubliner, in 1861, Yass and had a daughter, Maria Florence West in 1862 in North Yass,New South Wales, Australia. They eventually settled in Wagga Wagga, NSW and had three sons - Thomas Henry, William Edward and Edward.
The West family eventually settled in Wagga Wagga, NSW, and were both well-known and respected within this community.
Maria Florence West married Robert Law Smithsend Phelps and had an only child and son, Robert Valentine who is my father. Dad was orphaned at 15, Maria died in 1916 and Robert Law in 1917. Dad travelled by foot and eventually settled with his mother's brother, William West, and his wife, Kate in Malvern, Victoria. Dad changed his surname from Phelps to West out of respect to his uncle, William West.
I am not aware of any possible brothers and/or other children of Edward and Annie Maher as yet! Their son, Patrick Maher was born about 1832, one would think that Edward may have been born in the early 1800's. I know little of my Irish background and have found difficulties trying to locate the Mahers in Rathvilly and/or Carlow.
If there any connections, I look forward to hearing from you, and wish you well in your ongoing searches.
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Victoria, Australia