APPENDIX
Patrick Downey
Patrick Downey was born in March, 1826 in Clonmel, Tipperary, son of John Downey, a Commercial traveller, and Alice Downey, nee Ryan. Of his early life we know only a little. His obituary, published in “Catholic Press”, 8th March, 1917, tells us in part
“…..as a boy the late Mr Downey studied in one of the Catholic Colleges of France, later taking on surveying, and with his brother was connected with the laying of the famous old Lancashire railway. Coming to Australia at an early age, he settled in Ballarat (Victoria), where he took a keen interest in mining, and is now supposed to be the last of the old Eureka Stockade defenders. Later he came to New South Wales, where he entered the Department of Public Instruction; He was one oF the teachers in the denominational schools, which were absorbed into the Department through the operation of Sir Henry Parkes’ Public Education Act. He retired from professional life about 30 years ago……he died (on the lst March 1917) after a prolonged illness the advanced age of 91 years…fortified by the last rites of Holy Church, of which he was ever an ardent and devoted member….”
Downey probably came out to Australia around 1848, the time of the infamous “Potato Famine“ in Ireland, and would have been about 22 years of age on arrival here. His whereabouts for eleven years following the Eureka Stockade (December, 1854) are not known. The first record we have of Downey’s teaching career is that he was in charge of the DSB Catholic school at Spring Valley, in 1865. while at Spring Valley, Downey apparently worked in association with Fr. Eugene Luckie, who was stationed not Far away, at Bungonia, From 1863 to at least 1867. Patrick Downey resigned From Spring Valley on 31st August, 1866.
Downey’s next appointment was at Ulladulla, and it seems possible his association with Fr. Eugene Luckie could have had some influence on this move. After all, Fr. Luckie had strong links with the Shoalhaven, for he had been in charge of Kiama— Shoalhaven in 1850-1852. However, this is only speculation. There was some connection between Agnes Downey (nee Berry), and the McMahon family of Milton. One of Agnes’ sisters, Emmeline Berry, had married Michael McMahon, a grocer of 460 George Street, Sydney, at St. Mary’s Cathedral, in June, 1856. Michael, who was born in Co. Monaghan in 1831, was apparently a younger brother of Francis McMahon, the successful Sydney businessman, who sold out and brought his wife (Catherine Mary) and children to Milton around 1557. In making this move, he was persuaded by his wife’s sister Elizabeth Clare, who had married Charles Murray Jnr., of “Avondale“, Ulladulla, in 1856. (Other members of the Murray Family are mentioned in the present history).
After playing a very prominent role in Milton/Ulladulla for many years Francis McMahon retired to Sydney in 1887, and lived in Annandale, nearby to Michael and Emmeline McMahon until his death in 1897. Patrick Downey transferred to Petersham in January, 1873, and was promoted from IIIA to IIB by examination, on1 May, 1881, when he was also appointed School Attendance and Payments officer. Downey apparently retired from teaching about 1877.
Patrick and Agnes Downey had 4 sons and 3 daughters. All the Downeys, with the exception of John Francis, who ended his life in New Zealand, are buried in Rookwood R.C. Cemetery, Sydney.
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- “The Catholic Church in the Illawarra 150 Years, 1838 – 1988”. lllawarra Catholic Sesquicentenary Committee, 1989.
- “The Catholic Church in the Shoalhaven“, 1877 – 1977, Fr P.J. Faherty, (Shoalhaven Commercial Printers Pty. Ltd. 1977.)
- Letters to Denominational Schools Board: May – November, 1866; (Archives Shelf 1/322)
- Letters to Council of Education:
Year / Volume/ Archives Shelf No.
1867/ 21 / 1/755
1868 / 58/ 1/792
1868 / 98/ 1/832
1869/ 92/ 1/826
1870 / 123 / 1/855
1870 / 124/ 1/856
1871/ 154 / 1/886
1872/ 190 / 1/922
1873/ 226 / 1/954.
1874 / 251/ 1/979
1875/ 285 / 1/1013
- Ulladulla School Files; Archives Ref. 5/17928 X 2.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to thank to the following people, For their kind assistance to me in various ways, in my research:
Fr. P.J.Faherty, P.P., Albion Park; Fr. B. Maher, Diocesan Historical Committee, Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn; Fr. L. Blake, P.P., Goulburn; John Cummins, Archdiocesan Archivist, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney; Mrs Kath Drury, Milton- Ulladulla Genealogical Society; Mrs Joan Dawes, great grand daughter of Chas. Murray Jr., of Ulladulla; the Staff of the Search Room at Archives Office oF N.S.W.
Their friendly help is greatly appreciated.
Dr. Keith McLaren.
April, 1991.