Ireland XO
Back to Message Board

Searching for relatives of convict John Walsh sent to Australia 1829

Good morning, we are searching for relatives of John Walsh (born Co Armagh) tried in Dublin Assizes in 1829 for stealing (Larceny), sent on The Guildford to Australia at 17 years of age. He was 18 when he arrived. We believe his parents are John and Mary (Fitzgerald) Walsh - no middle names for these Walshes. He is my husband Kenny's great-great grandfather. We have strong genealogical facts about John when he was transported, freed after 7 years, married to Catherine O'Meara(O'Mara/Mara/Maher) from Rathdowny Co Laois. Her parents were Michael and Mary O'Meara. Michael was transported on The Asia for life after an ambush during the troubles in Rathdowny area.Catherine travelled to Australia with her mother and siblings to follow her father as a young girl. She married John Walsh in Jamberoo NSW in 1836. Kenny and I are travelling to Ireland from 2 September 2026. We will stay in Dublin from 2 - 7 Sept, then Kilkenny from 7 - 9 Sept, Cork from 10 - 13 Sept and then Galway from 14 - 20 Sept. We plan to visit the Irish national Archives whilst in Dublin, go to Rathdowny and surrounding areas with the hope to trace the lcoation of John Walsh parents' graves, O'Meara graves or descendents from both. We are not travelling to Northern Ireland on this trip. John Walsh is listed in Ancestry as having John of Rathdown Walsh as his father, which I think is near Dublin, despite John Walsh convict being born in Co Armagh. We appreciate any help you can offer. Kind regards,

Katrina Walsh

...

Katwalsh

2 replies

Katrina,

Walsh is a very common Irish surname. In the 1901 Irish census there were 3034 named John Walsh or which 12 lived in Co Armagh. Not your John obviously but the name would have been equally common in the early 1800s. It may be very hard to identify the right family.

A further hurdle you have to deal with is that your John was born around 1812. I assume he was RC. Very few parishes in Co Armagh have baptism records that early. There may not be any record of his time in Co Armagh to find.

Possibly DNA testing may be a way of matching with others who have additional information about where the family originate. Family Tree DNA reportedly has more people with Ulster roots than any other company. That obviously increases the chances of finding a match. You might want to try them or, if you have already tested, you can transfer your results for no fee.

The North of Ireland Family History Society is running an Ulster DNA project and can offer FTDNA testing kits at a reduced price.  http://www.nifhs.org (Go to DNA project on the website).

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Katrina,

Do you know that John's parents went to Rathdowney? Just checking, as it's not cIear why you wouId Iook for their graves there and not in Armagh.

The record in Ancestry showing John's father was from "Rathdown"...have you checked the source?  Sometimes PubIic Trees on Ancestry have incorrect info.  Again, just checking.

glanvil3@aol.com

Reply

Reply
One image file up to 2 MB.