Michael O'Connell, Irish immigrant
Image: Lynette Heasly
FatherMaurice O'Connell
MotherCatherine 'Kate' Butler1 b. c 1785, d. 3 Jun 1870
Pedigree

Birth, Death, Marriage

Michael O'Connell was born circa 1830 in Ireland.2 
He married Ellen O'Halloran, daughter of Patrick O'Halloran and Catherine Higgins, on 1 August 1859 in Adelaide, South Australia.3,4,5,2 
He died on 28 October 1912 in Kyneton, Victoria.6,5,7 

Family

Ellen O'Halloran b. c 1839, d. 1 Jun 1896
Children
ChartsO'Connell, Annie, pedigree chart
O'Connell, Michael, descendant chart

Story

Michael was born in County Clare in Ireland, but the year is unknown.

His death registration indicates he was born about 1816. His marriage registration indicates about 1830. Son William's birth registration indicates about 1832.

Family researchers have estimates for Michael's year of birth between 1810 and 1835.

The majority of records indicate Michael was born in County Clare, but son James's birth registration states 'Limerick, Ireland'. Perhaps he was born in the city of Limerick on the border of County Clare and County Limerick, where the border changed slightly sometime after 1794.5,8,6,2,9,10,11
 
Michael was a farm labourer.8,12,6
 
Michael most likely arrived in Australia in 1858. In December of that year, a 23 year old Michael O'Connell, farm labourer from County Clare, arrived on the Melbourne at Port Adelaide. This would make his year of birth about 1835.5,9,13
 
Michael O'Connell, Irish immigrant
Image: Lynette Heasly
Marriage and Family
Ellen O'Halloran and Michael O'Connell were married at St Patrick's church in Adelaide on 1 August 1859. They had eleven children between 1860 and 1878, with five early deaths plus one as a teenager.

Neither could sign their name. Witnesses were Patrick and Mary Connolly, most likely friends who travelled to Australia with Ellen's brother Patrick Halloran and his wife Bridget the previous year.

The couple soon moved to Victoria, initially near Castlemaine in the Campbell's Creek gold mining district, then later to near Trentham about 30-40 km away.2,5,13,14
 
East Trentham Land
On 27 August 1866, Michael Connell, labourer of Castlemaine applied for a license to occupy crown lands in the parish of Trentham. His brothers John and James applied for land on the same day.

Michael's land consisted of two adjacent 20 acre lots and became allotment 103T at the corner of (now) Oconnells Rd and Gleeds Ln. The boundary changed with the construction of Firth Rd, which was originally a track on the property that Michael was required to keep open.15
Michael Connell (O'Connell) land, Trentham, 1866
Image: Christopher Knott
Michael, John & James Connell (O'Connell) land, Trentham, 1866
Image: Christopher Knott
Michael Connell (O'Connell) land, Trentham, 2020
Image: Christopher Knott
John Connell was allocated allotments 72C and 72A (above allotment 103T). James Connell was allocated allotment 103B (to the left of allotment 103T).

On 21 May 1868 Michael wrote to the Department noting that he had been unable to make improvements to the land due to accidents and trouble over the last two years - his house was burnt leaving him with five shillings and their clothes. He is presently on the land and commencing some improvements; as he is a very poor man with a family he hopes for some [leeway].

In May 1875 Michael was granted title for the land, so rather than being a licensee he was now the owner. Title was approved on payment by £4/2/6, after allowing for the value of improvements he had made. The improvements consisted of a bark hut, outbuilding, 40 chains of dogleg fence, 1/8 acre garden, and 12 acres fully cleared and ploughed and sown. The buildings were described by the surveyor as not substantial.

In 1888 Michael purchased allotment 103B, originally been held by James Connell, for £350. In 1891 Michael purchased allotments 72A and 72C, originally held by John Connell, for £1188.

In June 1898 'for natural love and affection', i.e. without payment of money, Michael transferred all of his landholdings (allotments 103T, 103B, 72A and 72C) to three of his sons: Daniel, Michael (jnr) and Malachy. At that time a Saving Bank mortgage remained, with a balance of £1649 owing.15
 
Michael transferred his land two years after the death of his wife Ellen.14
 
Michael O'Connell died of arterio sclerosis and senility at Kyneton hospital at 11 pm on 28 October 1912, with his age given as 96. He was buried at Tylden cemetery on 30 October.6
Tylden cemetery
Image: Carol's Headstone Photos

Citations

  1. [S519] Descendant chart for Maurice O'Connell, family tree, April 2019.
  2. [S71] Michael O'Connell and Ellen O'Halloran, marriage registration no. 39/123, 1 August 1859.
  3. [S99] Biographical Index of South Australians 1836-1885, South Australian Genealogy and Heraldry Society Inc., May 1986.
  4. [S368] Genealogy SA online database search, index, Michael O'Connell and Ellen O'Halloran entry, marriage registration no. 39/123, 1859.
  5. [S56] Margaret O'Leary, personal communication, 9 July 1996.
  6. [S70] Michael O'Connell, death registration no. 14891, 28 October 1912.
  7. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, 'Michl OConnell' entry, death registration no. 14891, 1912.
  8. [S63] William Connell (O'Connell), birth registration no. 7190, 30 August 1865.
  9. [S364] South Australia, passenger lists 1847-1886, 'Michael O'Connel' entry, Melbourne, 1858.
  10. [S513] James Connell, birth registration no. 16047, 12 June 1860.
  11. [S2] 'File:1794 Rocque Wall Map of Ireland - Geographicus - Ireland2-rocque-1794.jpg', Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository, 3 January 2019, viewed 26 May 2020 https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php
  12. [S64] William Patrick O'Connell and Mary Elizabeth Millovitch, marriage registration no. 800, 25 January 1893.
  13. [S512] Christopher Knott, personal communication, 25 February 2019.
  14. [S69] Ellen O'Connell, death registration no. 5734, 1 June 1896.
  15. [S580] Michael Connell (O'Connell) landholdings, research report, 27 May 2020.