Bridget Mary Devery

Bridget Devery was born in Kings County in 1842. Her specific birthplace is most probably Clonlyon in the parish of Clonmacnoise which has been recorded perhaps incorrectly as Clanloyne. Together with her parents Patrick Devery and Bridget (Biddy) Devery and their family of five other children she left for Tasmania Australia. The ship Duke of Northumberland left Plymouth on 10 August 1854 and arrived 6 December. The passenger list gives names and ages as follows Patrick (agricultural labourer) 41, Biddy 39, Maria 21, Thomas 19, Catherine 17, Bridget 15, Ann 14 and John an infant. Another child Margaret was born in Hobart in 1860. Bridget Devery married James Edward McKelvey a drummer in the 40th Regiment in Hobart in 1863. When husband James McKelvey (born in County Cork) returned from the New Zealand Land wars in 1866 the couple moved to Swansea Tasmania where James became a Police Constable. Three of their four sons were born in Tasmania before moving to Dunedin New Zealand where James was a Police Constable, Prison Warder, Commission Agent and Accountant. After her husband's death in 1896 Mary was active in the local Catholic Church in South Dunedin until her death on 15 May 1926.