Coughlan

Family names associated with the Coughlan Family

Kershaw - Whiteman -Lloyd - Irwin - Pye - McManus - Parr - Dwyer - Fletcher -Waddington - Grimshaw- Sullivan - Wooden - Collins

First Coughlan in my family to come to Australia was Michael Coughlan b. 1810, place of birth uncertain, possibly London.

He came as a convict. At the tender age of 17 years he was convicted of picking pockets and was tried in London on 12^th July 1827.

Copy of his Trial.

His sentence was transportation for life to the penal Colony of New South Wales, Australia. He arrived in Sydney in 1828 on the "Florentia". His description on his records say 'he was five feet tall, ruddy completion, small scar over right eye, light born hair and hazel eyes." This family characteristics of appearance can be found in many of his descendants.

He was assigned to a William Bucknell, on the Hunter River on the east coast of NSW. His occupation being that of a shoemaker.He obtained his 'ticket of leave' on 28^th February, 1837 and Conditional Pardon on 14^th June, 1884. He married Anne Kershaw, the daughter of another convict Thomas Kershaw, 11^th September 1839 in Singleton, NSW.

They had ten children but Michael died when their youngest child, (my g.grandfather) was only a year old. Thus leaving Ann with then children the eldest still only fourteen year old. Quite a hardship for the young family. Even so the family prospered and so from Michael and Anne sprang my family line of Coughlan.

All places in Coughlan Family Tree are in New South Wales, Australia unless otherwise mentioned.

Michael Coughlan, b. 1810 London U.K., d. 1854 Singleton…m….Anne Kershaw 1839 in Singleton.

2…Alice C. b. 1840 Wollombi, .. m…William Whiteman 1860.

2….Thomas Kershaw C. b. 1842 Wollombi, d. 1909 in Singleton… m. Caroline Lucy Lloyd 1864 in Singleton.

2….Samuel John C. b.1843 d. 1899. m…Elizabeth Irwin in 1866 Singleton.

2….Mary AnnC. b. 1845 Wollombi,. D. 1856 Singleton.

2….James C. b. 1856 d. 1856 Singleton.

2…..George Brown C. b. 1847 d, 1847 Singleton

2……Elizabeth C. b. 1848 d. 1854 Singleton

2……Cornelius C. b. 1850 d. 1951 Singleton

2….Michael Albert C. b. 1852 Singleton, d. 1874 Singleton, ….m. Ada Mary Pye 1874 Singleton.

2….William Arthur C. b. 1853 Wollombi, m…..Sarah McManus 1874 Murrurundi. Worked for the New South Wales Railway as a bricklayer, then became a gold prospector in Torrington, Emmaville in NSW, eventually mining in the district.

3….William Kershaw C. b. 1875 Murrurundi, d. 1950 Sydney, m….Elizabeth Parr 1899 in Emmaville. Taken to the gold fields at an early age by his father. Became a miner and Bandmaster in Emmaville, then worked as a clerk for the Glen Innes Council as well being Bandmaster for the Glen Innes Silver Brass Band for many years. The family moved to Sydney in 1923 where the boys all followed a musical career in brass band and dance band music.

4...William Charles C. b. 1876 Emmaville, ..m Coralie Anne Dwyer b. 8 March 1909, Mandurama NSW in 1933 in Sydney. Worked in the Newcastle Mining area, went to World War 1 serving as ? Involved in the Brass Band Movement of Newcastle and Sydney.

4….Arthur Harold C.b. 1901 Emmaville, d. 1973 Sydney, m……Doris Fletcher in 1927 Melbourne, Victoria, Aust. Musician/dental surgeon. Played in theatre orchestras and dance bands in Sydney and Melbourne. Became a dentist in 1939, served in the Medical Unit of the Army in World War 2. Had his own dental surgery in Sydney where he specialised in denture work for wind instrument players.

4….Francis James C. b. 1904 Emmaville, d. 1979 Sydney.….m. 1^st wife -Agnes Helen Waddington - 1927 Sydney. 2^nd wife - Margaret Grimshaw in 1939, Sydney. Became on of Australia's foremost jazz trombonists in the 1920/30's and Dance Band Leader of the Sydney Trocadero from 1936 to 1970. (See separate page for his career.) TROC

4….Thomas Edmund C. b. 1905 Emmaville, d. 1953 Sydney,- m….Peggy Sullivan 1927 Sydney. Jazz trumpet player involved in music in Sydney with his brother Frank.

4….John (Jack) George C. b. 1912 Glen Innes, d. 1960 Sydney…..m…Patricia May Wooden 1940 Sydney. A comedian, pianist and entertainer in the Bondi, Woolahra areas of Sydney. Served in the Middle East with his brother Tom, in the Second World War, in the Australian Entertainment Unit.

3….Beatrice C. b.1876 Murrurundi, - m…..John Edward Collins 1905 Hamilton.

MICHAEL COUGHLAN'S TRIAL TRANSCRIPT

1377. William Richards and Michael Coughlan were indicted for stealing on the 5th of June, 1 handkerchief, value 3s., the goods of William Giles, from his person.

WILLIAM GILES: .... I live at Mitcham and am private secretary to Mr. Hoare, the banker. On the 5th June about the middle of the day, I was going up Fetter-lane, near Rolls buildings; I did not miss my handkerchief, but the witness Reeve told me it was gone. I had used it an hour before. I then felt in my pocket and missed it. I returned with him into his mother's shop. He said he had sent the shopman after the thieves and in five minutes both the prisoners were brought in. My handkerchief was not found. It was worth 3s.

CHARLES POLLETT.... I am shopman to Mrs Reeve, No. 118 Fetter-lane. On the 5th June I was dining in the parlour. My young master called me out, took me to the corner of Rolls buildings and pointed out the two prisoners. They turned a corner into White's Alley. I followed and turned round. Coughlan was going up a place which is no thoroughfare. I collared him and called "Stop Thief!" after the other. I dragged him after me and caught hold of Richards, who was about ten yards off. They were both close together before. I charged them with picking a pocket. They said they were innocent, that they were both looking for work, and were strangers to each other. They were running close together when I first saw them.

PRISONER: COUGHLAN:…..Q. Was not I looking into a window, reading a bill?

A. He just turned his head round towards a window, whether there was a bill in it I do not know.

WILLIAM THOMAS REEVE.....I am fourteen years old and live with my parents in Fetter-lane. They keep an oil and Italian warehouse. On the 5th of June I saw Mr. Giles at the corner of Rolls buildings; the prisoners were close to him. I saw them draw a pocket handkerchief out of his pocket. Coughlan was the one who drew it out. He put into his breast pocket. I was four or five yards off. They turned down Rolls buildings. I went into the parlour and called out Pollett. I then went and told Mr. Giles what I had seen. I did not pursue. I afterwards saw them in Pollett's custody and was quite sure of them. They were taken in four or five minutes.

PRISONER - RICHARDS.... He said at first that I was not with Coughlan.

WITNESS:... No, I said there was a third one behind them.

THOMAS TOOVEY:... I am a constable. The prisoners were delivered into my custody on this charge. I took them to Hatton Garden.

COUGHLAN'S DEFENCE:... I was coming up Fetter-lane and on turning down Rolls buildings it came on very wet - I ran. A man came and pursued me. I stopped at a window to look at a bill and he said I had picked a gentleman's pocket. I said I was innocent. They searched me three times but could not find the handkerchief. I never saw the other prisoner before in my life.

RICHARD'S DEFENCE:... I heard a gentleman halloo "Stop Thief!" I immediately stopped. He took Coughlan towards me and said it was for picking a pocket.

RICHARDS - GUILTY. Aged 17

COUGHLAN - GUILTY. Aged 18

Transported for life.

Links to similar homepages

Coughlan - An Irish Family

Any comments or information please

Last Updated June 1999

Back to Family History Page

FastCounter by LinkExchange