Bourke, Margaret

DESCRIPTION

NameBourke, MargaretConvictTransported 1939 'Minerva' for stealing a cloak - 7 yearsBiographyMargaret Bourke was the third member of her family to be transported.

Her brother Thomas, stole a pig and was sent to New South Wales in 1837. Her mother Catherine (nee Sheehan) stole a coat, and was sent in February 1839.

Margaret was 14 years old and alone in Limerick, Ireland. Strange that she too stole a coat so quickly after her mother was transported. Perhaps it was in the hope of being sent to Australia and seeing her family again.

Margaret was tried in March 1839 and arrived in December. She would have been taken to the Parramatta Female Factory for distribution.

Her Ticket of Leave from 1844 stated she was ‘allowed to remain in the service of Mr Ash, Sydney’. Mr Ash was William Ash, who had married her mother Catherine Bourke the same year. So, it seems Margaret was reunited with her mother.

In 1842, Margaret had married fellow convict, Michael Boylan. They were living in Sussex Street, the same street her mother and stepfather lived in. They may have even lived in the same house.

Margaret and Michael had four children in Sydney before Margaret received her Certificate of Freedom in 1847. They were now able to leave Sydney, and moved to the Illawarra where Michael had settled on receiving his Ticket of Leave in 1833.

The family lived at Jamberoo before moving to Macquarie River (Albion Park), where they had another eight children. Three died in infancy; John, Elizabeth and Henry.

In the 1870's they moved to Addison Street, Shellharbour, where they owned and operated a store.

Margaret and Michael supplemented the income they made at the store, by working for Shellharbour Municipal Council. Margaret cleaned the Council Chambers in Addison Street, and Michael carried out repair and maintenance work.

Margaret died in 1889 age 64 was buried in the Roman Catholic Cemetery at Albion Park.

Her death notice placed in the newspaper by her daughter Maggie Rogan, reads -

‘Pale death could scarcely find another
So kind a heart, so fond a mother;
In all her actions she was kind,
And left her loved ones far behind’.

Illawarra Mercury 18 June 1889

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CollectionPeopleConvictsFamilyBoylanPersonBoylan, Michael

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Bourke, Margaret