1817-1856
Father
Mother
Honora/Hannah Nagle
Siblings
Joanna, Dennis, Catherine, Ellen, Bridget, Cornelius, Margaet, Patrick, Honora
Married
Children
Elizabeth, Maria, Harriet, Ann Mary (Annie), Mary Agatha, Elinor Mary Angela (Ellen), Thomas Henry, William Patrick, Honora Mary (Nora)
Mary’s Life
Mary was born around 1817 in County Cork, Ireland to Patrick Murphy and Honora Nagle. She was the third child and second daughter of 11 children. Patrick was a Ploughman.
Patrick was charged with uttering forged notes, attended the County Limerick Lent Assizes and was sentenced to 14 years and transportation to Australia. He was described as 5ft 6inches tall, with a ruddy complexion, brown hair and grey eyes, with various scarring on his face and hands.
He arrived on the ‘Brampton’ in 1823 and eventually assigned to Captain McLeod at Bringelly.
Patrick solicited and was granted the favour of the Governor, along with others, to have their wives and families bought out to them as free passengers. Honora and their seven children arrived on the on the ‘Currency Lass’ in October 1828.
In December 1828 Patrick applied for exemption from government work and was able to reside with his family. The family settled into life at South Creek in the Penrith District and had three more children.
Patrick was granted his Certificate of Freedom in April 1836 at the age of 61.
In 1835 Mary married Henry York at South Creek. Mary was 18 and Henry, 36.
They had nine children, seven girls and two boys. Their first child was born at Emu Plains in 1836 but subsequent children were born at Adaminaby. Mary is thought to be the first white woman in the district.
The Yorks settled vast areas of land and built their livestock numbers and became affluent pastoralists.
The youngest child was only twelve months old when Mary was accidently killed in a fire in 1856.
Little more is known of Mary; she can be best remembered as a true pioneering woman of Australia.
Written by Leah Burnheim in collaboration with Dianne Pells
Mary Murphy was my/our 3x Great Grandmother. She was a true pioneering woman in the colony of New South Wales, and has many descendants in Australia. I have pieced together this story in collaboration with other descendants, (Thank you Dianne Pells). If you would like to discuss Mary’s story, I would certainly welcome a conversation with you.