Open/Close Toolbox
Item Type: Family
Linked To
CollectionFamilyLocalityPlaceRelated ItemFamily
Map
no geotags or polygons yet
Cronan
DESCRIPTION
NameCronanAlternative NameCroninCroneanDescriptionJohn Cronan (Cronin) was born in Mallow County Cork, Ireland c.1784. He was transported in 1821 per ‘Prince Regent 2’ for seven years for sheep stealing. John was 25 years old, 5’4, florid complexion, with brown hair and hazel eyes. He worked for the government under Mr. David Johnston at Rooty Hill.
John applied to be married on several occasions; to Eleanor Rourke in 1823, Ann Carroll in 1824, and Mary Connor (Brady).
John received his Certificate of Freedom 16 April 1827. He was appointed a Constable at Parramatta in 1829.
John married Mary Connor/Brady 22 April 1830 at Parramatta NSW. He was 31 years old and Mary 24.
Mary Connor/Brady arrived in Australia aboard the ‘Asia’ in 1830. Her convict indent stated she was Mary Connor with the comment ‘or Brady’ added. Mary was c.24 years old and from County Westmeath Ireland, 5’1, ruddy and freckled, with light brown hair and grey eyes. She was sentenced to seven years for stealing clothes. On arrival she was assigned to Mr. Joseph Willis.
Just a few months after Mary's arrival, she married John Cronin. Joseph Willis gave his permission, and he and his wife Rosetta were witnesses to their marriage in April 1830. Joseph and Rosetta had also arrived as convicts. All four signed the marriage register with a cross.
Mary received her Certificate of Freedom 8 October 1835.
Two years later, in 1837, John was charged with the murder of 63 years old former convict, Richard Hall at Rooty Hill. Coroner, Charles Sims described it as being ‘one of the most cold blooded murders I have ever met with’. (The Sydney Monitor 26 May 1837). John was discharged.
By 1841. Mary and John lived at Jamberoo, moving to Tullimbar, Macquarie River in the 1850's, and Shellharbour in the 1860's.
John and Mary had nine children;
Michael 1831
John 1832 (married Mary Ann Mundy, died 1893, Casino))
Thomas Sylvester 1836 (married Catherine Raftery, died 1911, Kiama)
Mary Jane 1840 (married John Brownlee, died 1911, Albion Park)
William 1841
Ellen 1842 (married William Swan, died 1925, Burrawang)
Margaret 1843 (died 1843)
Daniel 1845 (died 1845)
James 1848 (married Caroline Amelia Prior, died 1892, Robertson)
John Cronan died from inflammation of the brain 4 November 1880 aged 96 years.
Mary died 25 August 1887 aged 92 years (as stated on her death certificate, though probably more like 82 years old).
A year before her death, when she was about 80 years old, she was taken to court at the instigation of the Randwick Asylum, for illtreating a female apprentice. Sarah Burrows, an orphan 16 years old in the employ of Mrs Cronan since 1884, tried to commit suicide by drowning herself in the Macquarie Rivulet to end her miserable treatment. She was rescued by Constable Sale. She was beaten, whipped, and cursed, given no underclothes or shoes that fit, and was not given her wages. The Constable described her state when found as deplorable, dirty and ragged.
Mary stated she did not know the rules as she could not read. She was obliged to pay a fine of 25 pounds 5 shillings, or go to gaol for a month. Mary said she would be obliged to go to gaol, however the find was paid the next day. The Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser Tuesday 9 March 1886.
Mary's obituary in the the Illawarra Mercury 3 September 1887 sates she was ‘warm hearted, generous, and hospitable.’
Both John and Mary were buried at St Paul’s Roman Catholic Cemetery, Albion Park.
John and Mary’s headstone was found in a creek at Albion Park and now lies in the Pioneer Cemetery in Russell Street.
Descendants of Mary and John Cronan include the members of the Swan, Prior, Brownlee and Nunan families.
Sources
Ancestry.com convict records
Convict Applications for the Publication of Banns 1828-1830 St John Church Parramatta 18 March 1830
New South Wales, Australia, Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930 - John Cronan 447.
New South Wales, Australia, Criminal Court Records, 1830-1945 - John Cronan 53
Trove
The Old Bailey - Richard Hall trial 20 May 1801.
External LinkJohn Cronan Committed on Charge of Murder22 May 1837John Cronan Manslaughter 23 May 1837Letter to the Editor by Coroner Charles Sims 26 May 1837John Cronan Constable at Parramatta 1829Mr Fitzgerald's First Quarterly Ball 1856Court of Petty Sessions 1856Maria Kenny Absconded 1858Mary Cronin vs Charles McCaffrey 1861Impounding Law and Free Selection 1863Sale By Auction Shellharbour 1869Burning of Mr Weston's Hayshed 1878Queen vs Cronan 1878Obituary John Cronan 1880Advertisement to James Cronan from John Green 1881Mrs Cronan Theft of Money 1883Police Magistrate Theft 1883Attempted Suicide 1886Illtreating a Female Apprentice 1886Mrs Cronan Death 1887Obituary Mary Jane Brownlee 1911Mary Jane Cronan 1924Catherine Maude Cronin 1933Mr PT Cronin 1941
John applied to be married on several occasions; to Eleanor Rourke in 1823, Ann Carroll in 1824, and Mary Connor (Brady).
John received his Certificate of Freedom 16 April 1827. He was appointed a Constable at Parramatta in 1829.
John married Mary Connor/Brady 22 April 1830 at Parramatta NSW. He was 31 years old and Mary 24.
Mary Connor/Brady arrived in Australia aboard the ‘Asia’ in 1830. Her convict indent stated she was Mary Connor with the comment ‘or Brady’ added. Mary was c.24 years old and from County Westmeath Ireland, 5’1, ruddy and freckled, with light brown hair and grey eyes. She was sentenced to seven years for stealing clothes. On arrival she was assigned to Mr. Joseph Willis.
Just a few months after Mary's arrival, she married John Cronin. Joseph Willis gave his permission, and he and his wife Rosetta were witnesses to their marriage in April 1830. Joseph and Rosetta had also arrived as convicts. All four signed the marriage register with a cross.
Mary received her Certificate of Freedom 8 October 1835.
Two years later, in 1837, John was charged with the murder of 63 years old former convict, Richard Hall at Rooty Hill. Coroner, Charles Sims described it as being ‘one of the most cold blooded murders I have ever met with’. (The Sydney Monitor 26 May 1837). John was discharged.
By 1841. Mary and John lived at Jamberoo, moving to Tullimbar, Macquarie River in the 1850's, and Shellharbour in the 1860's.
John and Mary had nine children;
Michael 1831
John 1832 (married Mary Ann Mundy, died 1893, Casino))
Thomas Sylvester 1836 (married Catherine Raftery, died 1911, Kiama)
Mary Jane 1840 (married John Brownlee, died 1911, Albion Park)
William 1841
Ellen 1842 (married William Swan, died 1925, Burrawang)
Margaret 1843 (died 1843)
Daniel 1845 (died 1845)
James 1848 (married Caroline Amelia Prior, died 1892, Robertson)
John Cronan died from inflammation of the brain 4 November 1880 aged 96 years.
Mary died 25 August 1887 aged 92 years (as stated on her death certificate, though probably more like 82 years old).
A year before her death, when she was about 80 years old, she was taken to court at the instigation of the Randwick Asylum, for illtreating a female apprentice. Sarah Burrows, an orphan 16 years old in the employ of Mrs Cronan since 1884, tried to commit suicide by drowning herself in the Macquarie Rivulet to end her miserable treatment. She was rescued by Constable Sale. She was beaten, whipped, and cursed, given no underclothes or shoes that fit, and was not given her wages. The Constable described her state when found as deplorable, dirty and ragged.
Mary stated she did not know the rules as she could not read. She was obliged to pay a fine of 25 pounds 5 shillings, or go to gaol for a month. Mary said she would be obliged to go to gaol, however the find was paid the next day. The Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser Tuesday 9 March 1886.
Mary's obituary in the the Illawarra Mercury 3 September 1887 sates she was ‘warm hearted, generous, and hospitable.’
Both John and Mary were buried at St Paul’s Roman Catholic Cemetery, Albion Park.
John and Mary’s headstone was found in a creek at Albion Park and now lies in the Pioneer Cemetery in Russell Street.
Descendants of Mary and John Cronan include the members of the Swan, Prior, Brownlee and Nunan families.
Sources
Ancestry.com convict records
Convict Applications for the Publication of Banns 1828-1830 St John Church Parramatta 18 March 1830
New South Wales, Australia, Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930 - John Cronan 447.
New South Wales, Australia, Criminal Court Records, 1830-1945 - John Cronan 53
Trove
The Old Bailey - Richard Hall trial 20 May 1801.
External LinkJohn Cronan Committed on Charge of Murder22 May 1837John Cronan Manslaughter 23 May 1837Letter to the Editor by Coroner Charles Sims 26 May 1837John Cronan Constable at Parramatta 1829Mr Fitzgerald's First Quarterly Ball 1856Court of Petty Sessions 1856Maria Kenny Absconded 1858Mary Cronin vs Charles McCaffrey 1861Impounding Law and Free Selection 1863Sale By Auction Shellharbour 1869Burning of Mr Weston's Hayshed 1878Queen vs Cronan 1878Obituary John Cronan 1880Advertisement to James Cronan from John Green 1881Mrs Cronan Theft of Money 1883Police Magistrate Theft 1883Attempted Suicide 1886Illtreating a Female Apprentice 1886Mrs Cronan Death 1887Obituary Mary Jane Brownlee 1911Mary Jane Cronan 1924Catherine Maude Cronin 1933Mr PT Cronin 1941
Headstone's include that of John Cronin and Mary Boylan.
CONNECTIONS
CollectionFamiliesFamilySwanPriorBrownleeO'GormanLocalityAlbion ParkShellharbour VillageJamberooPlaceAlbion Park Pioneer CemeteryRelated ItemCatholic headstones at Albion Park Pioneer Cemetery 1983
Cronan. Shellharbour City Council, accessed 05/08/2026, https://discover.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/676