Bridget Lynch & Pat Egan

Patrick (aka Patt or Pat or Paddy), may have been born between 1800-1815.  There is  no certainty with records or my references as traced to date;.

He was probably of the Catholic faith, as was his wife Bridget, and his sons occupations were recorded on arrival in Australia as farm labourers, so we may assume Patrick lived in a farming community and would have been affected by famine, epidemics and pestilence together with the reform decisions of England's administration in overseeing that difficult period in Irish History. 

Patrick may have left Ireland in the 1850s, perhaps emmigrating or as a soldier in the wars of the English, however it is known Patrick died before 1859, for his widow Bridget and six of their nine children left Ireland for Australia. We have no decisive information to date of the family of Bridget and Patrick during the famine and exodus (1845-1851). There are some records stated below which may be links to this family.

Bridget (Brigittam)[ii] Lynch was born in Newport, North Tipperary, Ireland between 1810 - 1811, 

the daughter of Daniel Lynch and Hannah[iii] and according to ship recor Lynchs both parents were deceased by 1859.  It is possible one or both of them had emigrated before this. The hand written ship's record could refer to Bridget as daughter of Daniel and Hannah Lynch however, the death certificate of Michael Egan confirms his mother's surname was Lynch. 

Their arrival in Australia was on 20th September 1859 was aboard the ship "Abyssinian" which docked in both Botany Bay and later Newcastle.  Ships passenger lists show Bridget Egan aged 39, occupation housekeeper and illiterate, travelled under an assisted immigration scheme under the category of widow, together with six of her children, aged between 7 to 20 years. The family was sponsored by the listed depositor, referenced also as her daughter ~ Maria Egan. After clearances, they probably travelled on to the home of Maria Pollock nee Eagan who arrived in Australia about 1855 and married Mr. A.Pollock (in both Sydney and Brisbane). It is assumed to be Alexander Pollock[i]of Cambell Town, (now Cambelltown, NSW) and Brisbane.

Bridget Egan (nee Lynch) stated her age was 39, probably because age was a consideration in eligibility for assisted passage. Bridget may have been older as people did alter their age to be acceptable for immigration. If Bridget's age of 39 years was correct, then it implies their elder children born 1831-1833, may have been from a previous marriage of Patricks, or part of an extended family, who may have members already emigrated to Australia or remained in Ireland. 

Bridget died and was buried in Murrumburrah, New South Wales in 1888 aged 77 years. This would make her 1o years older than recorded on arrival in Australia, thereby, her birth was circa 1811. Her death certificate also listed 3 male and 3 female children living and 1 male and 2 female children deceased  ~Freeman's Journal (Sydney, Nsw) - July 28 1888 "On Wednesday night <18 July 1888> Mrs Bridget Egan, mother of Mr. M. Egan, of Demondrille, passed away at the age of 78. Deceased had been an old resident of Penrith and Emu, where she was well known and greatly respected." ~ Cause of death: Paralysis for 2 months;Buried Murrumburrah/Demondrille, New South Wales, Australia

Six children accompanied Bridget and all noted their father Patrick was deceased. Children of agrarian emigrants were versed in labour and quickly set about establishing their lives in the new place. The NSW southern rail line was extended to Campbelltown in 1858, leading to better access and opportunities by opening up development in the district. Michael began employment as a labourer and was soon with the government railways as an employees working on building The Main North line and Great Western Extension of the New South Wales railway sections under construction (1857 -1872) at the time.

Shipping records:

• • The "Abyssinian" arrived in New South Wales in 1859, and shows Patrick was deceased before the voyage, and presumably after 1852, the year their youngest child Bridget was registered and baptised. The ship Abyssinian passenger records show the children were born in Collace, a parish in Perthshire, Scotland, lying 8 miles north-east of Perth, in the Carse of Gowrie district. 

    • Collace is in a parish boundary includes the neighbouring villages of Kinrossie and Saucher. The traditional industries of the area are farming, quarrying (sandstone) and weaving, but the latter is now gone.

• During the 1840s to 1850s, I had first believed the six children were recorded as born and resided in the village of Broadford, district of ArdsKeagh, parish of Kilseily, County Clare. 

• Patrick was the stated husband[i] of Bridget Lynch of Newport, North Tipperary, Ireland. 

• Bridget was the daughter of Hannah of Newport, Tipperary, Ireland and her father's name was Daniel (maybe) Lynch. 

• Thomas Lynch (27) and wife Margaret (26) arrived via the ship "Northern Lights" on 9 May 1858 and notes under relative, his sister  "Hannah" of Campbelltown, NSW.  Noted: A person of the name Hannah Lynch died in 1857, Braidwood NSW. Could this be Bridget's relative also.

Catholic Parish Registers

The following records may refer to him although both the name Patrick (Pat, Patt) Bridget (Biddy), were quite common in the district records and leaves relationships uncertain.

birth: "B - August 1852 - Bridget of Pat Egan and Bridget Lynch resident of ArdsKeigh. sponsors: Jn. Egan and Mary Dolye resident of ArdsKeigh? (1). (Refer NLI)

This suggests there maybe some relationship between John and Patrick, and their names also appear to witness other baptism, including:

Marriage: "Mar 8 1859 - Michael Egan and Bridget Lynch both res Broadford wit. John Egan and Bridget Lynch both res Barbane?"

This may also suggest a relationship between one John and a Michael in 1859, however,  there was a Bridget Lynch of Newtown (?) and Michael Egan, married in Broadford in 1859 and bearing children in 1861, which is beyond the date of arrival in Australia of our Bridget.

Noted also :

• M. Jul 22 1858 John Healy and Margaret Connors both res Clonghakeen wit Pat Connors and Bridget Lynch both res Kilbane.

• B. Bet Feb 14 and 23 1846 Patt of Michael Neil and Hannah Lynch sponsors Michael Walsh and Honora Lorpy (?).

Children of Patrick (Pat) Egan and Bridget Lynch

1. Maria Egan, B: abt. 1831 in Tipperary, Ireland, possibly the daughter of John Eagan and Bridget or Patrick and Margaret who emigrated in 1855.

2. Catherine Egan, B: about 1833, d: 12 July 1923 

3. Another unknown female child (possibly Bridget) born in Ireland, and believed deceased[iv]   

Of nine (9) children, only six (6) arrived in Australia aboard the “Abyssinian” namely: 

1. John Egan age 20, B: 1839 native place Broadford, Co. Clare / Tipperary, Ireland. Died in railway locomotive accident Emu Plains BDM Registration number 8995/1878 ~ Father's Given Name(s) PATRICK…Mother's Given Name(s) BRIDGET…District PENRITH

2. Patrick Egan, aged 18, B: 1841, native place Broadford, Co. Clare / Tipperary, Ireland.

3. Daniel Egan, aged 16, B: 1843 native place Broadford, Co. Clare / Tipperary, Ireland.

4. Michael Egan, aged 12, B: 1847 native place Broadford, Co. Clare / Tipperary, Ireland

5. Ann Egan, aged 9, B: 1850, native place Broadford, Co. Clare / Tipperary, Ireland

6. Bridget Egan, aged 7, B: 1851/52, native place Broadford, Co. Clare / Tipperary, Ireland. Note: B: 1851. reference: Film #979694 Broadford, County Clare, Ireland, parochial registers 1844-1880 

   • - page 42 - Microfilm 02476 / 04, Broadford - Catholic Parish Registers at NLI.  27 July 1851 :- Baptisms: B. 1851 name ? child of Pat Egan and Bridget Lynch, residents of ArdsKeagh, Tipperary, Ireland.  Sponsors:  John (Jn) Egan and Mary Doyle residents of ArdsKeigh 

     • assumed to be ArdsKeagh, Co Clare, Ireland /(rather than ArdsKeagh, Tipperary, Ireland).

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Footnotes

[i]  More information is available in parochial registers 1844-1880 for Broadford, County Clare, Ireland,  / source Lane R. Ellis Derbyshire Genealogy - reference micro-Film #979694. This appears to be the same source as is available through the Catholic Parish Registers at the National Library of Ireland - Broadford 02476/04  < http://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0767 >

Possible links in BDM NSW Deaths: all with parents Patrick and Bridget

1)      John Egan B: 1839 died 1878, Penrith. (BDM 1878 8995/1878 Egan John _ Patrick Bridget Penrith).

2)      Patrick Egan B: 1841 died either 1878 Menindie or 1930 Moruya.

3)      Daniel Egan B: 1843 death unknown. 

4)      Michael Egan B: 1847 died 1925 Murrumburrah.

5)      Ann Egan B: 1850 death unknown. Possible marriage Daniel O’Connor 1869 Penrith.

6)      Bridget Egan B: 1851 - Probable marriage to John Conway 1873, Penrith and died 1887 aged 38 in Sydney.

Correspondence / collaboration ~05 June 2022 ~ KB /   gg granddaughter of Alexander and Maria

• 1865 5539/1865 Egan Bridget _  John Bridget Penrith

• 1869 5655/1869 Egan Mary A _ John Bridget Penrith

• 1878 9016/1878 Egan Mary _ John Bridget Penrith

• also <http://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000634667#page/42/mode/1up>. No record has been found to date in Irish records, although an unlikely candidates for this marriage was located on ancestry.com in US – Patrick Eagan and Bridget Lynch were married in St.Louis, Missouri and is also registered in the early US French Catholic Church records (Drouin Collection 1695-1954)

[ii]  Other Irish alternative spellings include Bridgida, Bridgidam, Biddy.

[iii] There is record of burial for a Hannah Lynch aged 73, Romanist, abode Workhouse   of 16th. January1854, at Liverpool, St Martin-in-the Fields, Lancashire, England. 

• There is also a death of Hannah Lynch recorded BDM NSW 2340/1857  - LYNCH, HANNAH, 23  years. Died BRAIDWOOD, (NSW) which was prior to the arrival of the "Abyssinian"

[iv] Two young women Bridget (24) and Maria (25) Egan arrived at Moreton Bay aboard the “Simonds” on April 1855. The ships record lists Maria as child of William and Anne (deceased) of Kilbeggan, Co. Westmeath, Ireland.

• Bridget’s origin was Rathkeale, Co Limerick, the daughter of Patrick (deceased.) and Margaret who were then still living in Rathkeale.

[v] Noted: Another Maria Egan, B: abt. 1831 in Tipperary, Ireland, daughter of Patrick and Margaret arrived at age 24, aboard the “SIMONDS” in 1855 and was accompanied by one Bridget Egan of similar age.  Speculation follows.

• Patrick the spouse of Bridget could have been married twice, firstly to Margaret and Maria was elder sibling to Bridget's children who arrived in 1859.

  • It is improbable there were two marriages of a Maria Egan to Alexander Pollock[i] in Moreton Bay (Brisbane) and another in Campbelltown (NSW) so this could be Bridget's step daughter - a match to Maria aboard the Simmonds in 1855. 

References:

1. The children were born about 20 km east of Newport at Broadford, County Clare.  

2. Griffith valuation records refers to Epan, however it may be a misprint so is included here: - birth: "B Jun 9 1846 - Bridget of Patt Epan/(Ryan?) and Bridget Lynch / sponsors Michael Mullins (?) and Mary Ryan." This document is online and I would consider Patt's surname might have been Egan rather than Epan, Although there were people of the surname Epan recorded as going to America.

3. nLi for Killaloe 1844-1880 baptisms and marriages. 

   1. Bridget - Baptised 7 June 1846. Daughter of Patt Egan and Bridget Lynch. Sp. Michl. Mullins and Mary Ryan.

   2. Bridget - Baptised 1851. Daughter of Patt Egan and Bridget Lynch. Sp. Jn. Egan and Mary Doyle

4. Newport - Noted ~ formerly Tulach Sheasta, North Tipperary, Ireland. It is in the barony of Owney and Arra and part of the parish of Newport, Bridhill and Toor, in the Catholic Arch-diocese of Cashel and Emly. 

5. The Perfect Holocaust..... by Chris Fogarty.

6. https://tlio.org.uk/land/land-rights-history/irish-holocaust-the-mass-graves-of-ireland/

Relationship

Patrick Egan and Bridget Lynch are our 2nd great grandparents

Michael Egan (1847 - 1925) Son of Patrick

Patrick Egan (1872 - 1963) Son of Michael

Allan Ernest Egan (1917 - 1998) Son of Patrick.