Dorrough

DESCRIPTION

NameDorroughAlternative NameDarrahDescriptionMatthew Dorrough was born 1803, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, to John and Elizabeth Dorrough (nee Donahay).

In 1828, Matthew married Martha Jane Bogle. 14 Years later in 1842, arrived in Australia aboard ‘Broom’ with their children;

Matilda Jane b.1829 (married Edward Thompson)
John (married Margaret Elliott, died 1903, Lismore)
Elizabeth b.1833 (married Joseph Knight and Robert Young Arthur, died 1902, Dorroughby)
Margaret b.1836 (married William Alcorn, died 1926, Bowral)
James b.1840 (married Mary Ann Alcorn - daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth nee Warnock - died 1931, Lismore)

Matthew and Martha Dorrough and their family came to Shellharbour with the Emigrant's Friend, Caroline Chisholm in 1843, as part of a settlement scheme. Chisholm had arranged with land owner Robert Towns, to settle families on his land at Shellharbour (then known as the Peterborough Estate).

On arriving at Shellharbour, the 23 families that came with Chisholm, were off- loaded on the beach in the afternoon, and spent their first night under the stars, with the children huddled up under the roots of a large fig tree at the edge of the beach. Next morning, they and their belongings were picked up by bullock dray and transported to the site of their proposed farm.

The Dorrough's settled on a clearing lease in the area we know as Shell Cove today.

Matthew’s house was adjacent to the beach, and he was delegated the job of retaining and issuing the stores to the other settlers on the Estate. He was an experienced farmer and their crops were good, and with the help of his eldest children and wife Martha, the family prospered.

The property farmed by the Dorrough's was later farmed by the McKinnery family 'Sunnyvale', and was eventually purchased by ICI who charged people entry to the paddocks to access the beach at Killalea. For this reason, in the 1960's this property and the beach, gained the local name 'The Farm'.

External LinkImportant Unreserved Sale West Dapto 1858Caution James Couch 1858Notice To Let 1858Death Dorrough 1869Death of an Old Colonist 1897Golden Wedding 1907Diamond Wedding 1917Alcorn Photo Album - Colin Macdonald

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Matthew Dorrough and daughter Margaret. Margaret married William Alcorn.

Photo courtesy of Colin McDonald.

CONNECTIONS

CollectionFamiliesFamilyMcKinneryKnightLocalityShell CovePersonChisholm, CarolineAlcorn, William (married Dorrough)Alcorn, RobertPlaceKillalea State ParkPeterborough Estate

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Dorrough