Details Page

Participant Info

First Name

Mary [Mary Ann]

Surname

McDermott

Native Place

Bleak [Belleek], Donegal

Age On Arrival

16

Parents

John & Biddy (both dead)

Religion

Roman Catholic

Ship Name

Inchinnan (Sydney 13 Feb 1849)

Details

Shipping: house servant, read & write, no relatives in the colony-note Sarah also per Inchinnan has same parents. Ballyshannon Union; married Matthew Lester [alias William Thompson], Maitland 10 Feb 1851; 10 ch 1852-1872, half lived to maturity; Matthew appeared before the courts on numerous occasions for being drunkenness or abusive language; about 1875 he deserted the family for a time forcing Mary Ann to sell furniture; he returned, demanded furniture back (court appearance with Mary Ann & the man who bought the furniture) with unpleasant results-Matthew charged Mary Ann with ‘threatening to knock his block off’; Matthew disappeared; one son also in court for uncontrollable behaviour with threat of being sent to boys home but allowed to stay at home; Mary Ann started drinking & appeared before the magistrate on a few occasions; she died 18 Dec 1909 at her son’s home in Maitland.

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