Jeremiah (Bergin) Berrigan (bef. 1804 - 1891)

Born before 4 Dec 1804 in Ballynakill, Queen's County, Ireland

Husband of Mary Ann (Callinan) Berigan — married 13 Dec 1839 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 5 Mar 1891 after age 86 in Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia

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Biography

Names

It is known from government records that Jeremiah Bergin could not read or write therefore it is unsurprising that over his lifetime his name was spelt a number of different ways depending on how the scribe at the time choose to hear it. No doubt Jeremiah spoke with a Irish accent and English may not, at least originally, been his native tongue.

At birth in 1804 his name was transcribed as Bergin.

At conviction and transportation (1827 - 1838) and throughout his convict years he was always referred to as Bergin alias Kennedy.

During the 1828 NSW Census his name was transcribed as Barrigan.

At the birth of his first child Bridget, in Melbourne in 1840, the spelling Berigan makes its first known appearance.

As a witness at the wedding of his sister in law, Bridget Callinan, to John McGrath at Little Plains, Manoro, his name is spelt Beregan.

At the birth of his third child Mary, born in the Monaro district in 1846, the spelling is Beregan.

At the birth of his fourth child James, born in Sydney in 1848, the spelling is Beragan.

At the birth of fifth child Margaret, at Tarrawingee in 1864, the spelling was Berigan.

At Jeremiah's death in 1891 his family names is spelt Berrigan.

Ireland

Jeremiah Bergin was born on, or before, 4 December 1804. This was the date he was baptised at Ballynakill, Queens County, Ireland. His parents were James Bergin and Bridget Hyland. Sponsors were Jer[ermiah] Bergin and Elizabeth Hyland. The place name "Island" is given which may be a Townland. ^[1]

Jeremiah Bergin, alias Kennedy, was sentenced to 7 years transportation at the County Galway Assizes on 17 August 1827. His crime was cattle stealing.^[2]

Convict Years

Jeremiah was transported to the Colony of New South Wales, Australia on the convict transport 'Borodino' arriving at Sydney Cove on 14 July 1828. On arrival he was assigned to John Palmer, Hambledon, and given the convict number 28/994.^[3]

Ancestry Free Image - Borodino Convict Indents

On arrival the convict idents provided a description of Jeremiah. Age: 23 Convicted 17 Aug 1827 for cattle stealing. Two prior convictions, sentence 7 years, 5' 4", ruddy much freckled. Both little fingers crooked. From Kings Co, occupation shepherd/ploughboy. Indented to John Palmer^[4]. The convict ident for Jeremiah is cross referenced with the Certificate of Freedom number, 38/726, issued some ten years later.

John Palmer had recently received a grant in the Limestone Plains known as Jerrabombera,^[5] and the 1828 NSW Census records Jeremiah Bergin, identified as G. Barrigan, from the Borodino, as being at Limestone Plains assigned to John Palmer.^[6]

Jeremiah did not receive his Certificate of Freedom until 9 August 1838, indicating he served 11 years of a 7 year sentence. It is assumed therefore that Jeremiah must have incurred additional sentences whilst a convict in Australia. No records have been found to confirm this.

Free from servitude

Jeremiah Bergin received his Certificate of Freedom, number 38/726, on 9 August 1838.^[7]

Ancestry Free Image - Jeremiah Bergin Certificate of Freedom

Jeremiah Bergin married Mary Calenan on 13 December 1839 at St Mary's Roman Catholic Church Sydney.^[8]The date of the marriage is taken from the birth registration of daughter Margaret, born 4 May 1864.

In 1840 the birth of Jeremiah and Mary's first child, Belinda, is recorded as being baptised in the then Port Phillip District (present day State of Victoria, Australia), of the Colony of New South Wales. Mary's brother John Callinan is a sponsor at this baptism. The overland route to Port Phillip from Sydney was only newly developed and it is presumed that Jeremiah, having worked as a shepherd for John Palmer in the Monaro district, worked his way to Melbourne taking his new wife and brother in law along.^[9]

Second child, son John is born in 1844, but no birth registration has been located. On his own child James' birth registration John gives his birthplace as Delegate Station, Colony of New South Wales

Third child Mary, born 1846, is recorded as born Monaro district, Colony of New South Wales^[10].

Fourth child James, born 1848, is recorded to have been born Sydney, Colony of New South Wales^[11].

Last child Margaret, born 1864, is born at Tarrawingee, Colony of Victoria^[12].

On 30 June 1850, the General Post Office Sydney, advertises for unclaimed letters including one for "Berrigan, Zermiha, Care of Donald Ross Esq, Wunaroo."^[13] Donald Ross is recorded as being the overseer of Delegate Station^[14] for "Robert Campbell".^[15] This would match up with the reported birth place of second son James.

Locations prior to Tarrawingee

On 3 March 1855, a newspaper article names Jeremiah Berrigan as a defendant in a matter with a John Chisholm plaintiff. There is also referenced a second court matter where John Chisholm is the defendant. The upshot appears to be that the County Court Beechworth is selling the holdings of John Chisholm, identified as the 'Public House, situate, lying and being near the Junction, Buckland River, known by the sign of the 'Miners' Arms,'^[16].

On 16 April 1855, Jeremiah Berigan, of the 'Buckland' is fined for non attendance at the Beechworth General Sessions Court juror's callover^[17]. The Buckland was an area of gold mining activity around the Buckland River and this address reflects Jeremiah's ongoing involvement in gold mining^[18].

Tarrawingee

In the Victorian Government Gazette of 20 May 1856 Jeremiah's children, (Belinda Teresa and Mary Ann Berigan of Beechworth 88 acres lot 31, and John and James Berigan of Beechworth 101 acres lot 30), are shown to be forfeiting lands selected at Tarrawingee on 19 April 1855 due to failure to pay the required funds. As these lands, lots 31 and 30, did end up in Berrigan hands they must have paid for the land after this announcement. It is thought the children were proxy buyers for their father Jeremiah as the eldest, Belinda, was only 16 years of age.^[19]

On 26 August 1856 deeds were prepared for the two purchases listed above - on payment of the 'established fees'.^[20]

On 7 March 1857, and advertisement for the Woolshed Annual Races to be held 10, 11 and 12th March 1857, states the 'first nights entrance to be held at Mr Berigan's Miner's Arms'.^[21]

In April 1857, J. H. Berigan as proprietor of the Miner's Arms Hotel, Middle Woolshed advertises in the Beechworth newspaper a 'Ball and Supper' for Easter Sunday.^[22].

On 8 August 1857, Jeremiah Berigan, late of the Woolshed, was empannelled as a juror at the trial of the Buckand Rioters^[23], (this is an infamous event in Australia's racial history where white miners rioted to drive out Chinese miners from the Buckland Goldfield.) After the trial the jury 'immediately returned a verdict of not guilty. The announcement was received with cheers outside'^[24].

On 11 August 1857 it is reported that the daughter [Belinda] of 'J.H. Berigan of Tarrawingee' has married^[25].

Jeremiah's business interests got him into financial trouble on at least on instance. On 1 March 1862, it was reported in the Beechworth newspaper that

"IN RE J. H. BERIGAN. -A meeting of the creditors of Mr J. H. Berigan was held on Tuesday afternoon at the Victoria Hotel, High street. Several of the creditors were present, and a list of debts amounting to about £400 was produced by Mrs Berigan on the part of her husband. Subsequently, an offer of five shillings in the pound to be paid forthwith, was accepted, the creditors present representing more than four-filths of the total amout of the debts."^[26]

On 26 April 1862, Jeremiah Berigan was taken to court for debts by his mother-in-law Bridget Callinan.

"Bridget Callinan v J. Berigan.- A claim for £130 12s 9d. Mr .Clark for plaintiff, Mr. Parry for defendant. This was an action brought by the mother of defendant's wife, against her son-in-law, a farmer, at Tarrawingee. A set off to the amount of £226 4s was put in. After hearing the evidence of two witnesses, the case was closed to allow time for both parties to amend their bills of particulars. Plaintiff non-suited."^[27]

On 21 January 1864, Jeremiah Berigan appeared as defendant to face a charge of larceny at the Wangaratta Courts^[28]. Whilst no reference to this event can be located a family historian relative stated the following,

"On another occasion in 1864 Jeremiah was cashing a cheque for eighty pounds at the bank in Wangaratta. The clerk handed over some bundles of notes as well as some coins, then Jeremiah stated that one bundle of notes was missing. The clerk searched both sides of the counter then accused Jeremiah of pocketing the money, which he denied. The police were called but before they arrived Jeremiah had "discovered" the missing money in his pocket and declared that he had made a mistake. He was arrested and charged with larceny, but the police court found there was no case to answer and he was not prosecuted."^[29]

On 28 March 1874 it was reported

"Transfer of License. — Joseph Stevens obtained a transfer of Jeremiah Berigan's license for the Railway Hotel, Newtown."^[30]

Joseph Stevens was the son in law of Jeremiah. He married Jeremiah's daughter Mary.

On 8 December 1874, a report of the meeting of the Tarrawingee Land Board recorded,

"Jeremiah Berrigan, 99a 0r 35p, south of E. B. Shoebridge's selection. Recommended."^[31]

Kiandra Gold Discovery

In 1859/1860 Jeremiah Bergin, with three others, Robert Swirl, William Russell, and George Blackie, claimed to be the discoverers of the Kiandra gold field, Colony of New South Wales, Australia. The Pollock brothers are generally given credit for this find. Details of this claim are discussed in this newspaper article [1860 'KIANDRA GOLD-FIELDS.', Goulburn Herald (NSW : 1860 - 1864), 28 March, p. 2. , viewed 08 Oct 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article103400682]

Death

Jeremiah Berrigan died on 5 March 1891 at the residence of his son-in-law, Joseph Stevens, Ryley Street Wangaratta, Victoria.^[32] He was buried at the Tarrawingee Cemetery on 7 March 1891^[33].

Death registration of Jeremiah Berrigan

Sources

1. ↑ Catholic Parish Registers, The National Library of Ireland; Dublin, Ireland; Microfilm Number: Microfilm 04200 / 01, Image located at https://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000634394#page/71/mode/1up
2. ↑ Connaught Journal pg 3 23 Aug 1827. Copied at Galway County Library 19 Sep 2002. Headline 'Co. Galway Assizes - Convictions at Summer Assiges'
3. ↑ State Archives NSW; Series: NRS 12188; Title: Bound manuscript indents, 1788-1842; Item: [4/4013]; Microfiche: 669
4. ↑ New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents, 1788-1842, State Archives NSW; Series: NRS 12188; Item: [4/4013]; Microfiche: 669
5. ↑ Margaret Steven, 'Palmer, John (1760–1833)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/palmer-john-2533/text3437, published first in hardcopy 1967, accessed online 29 September 2019.
6. ↑ 1828 New South Wales, Australia Census (Australian Copy)
7. ↑ State Archives NSW; Series: NRS 12210; Item: 4/4343; Roll: 1001, Permalink - https://records-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/f/1e5kcq1/INDEX304268
8. ↑ New South Wales Government, Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, Search historical indexes, https://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/Pages/family-history-research/family-history-research-nsw.aspx, NSW Marriage Registration V1839505 90/1839,

   505/1839 V1839505 90

   BERGIN JEREMIAH

   CALENAN MARY

   LD = Roman Catholic, Sydney, St Mary's.

9. ↑ Victorian Government, Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Search historical indexes, https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history,

   Event: births

   Registration number: 35919 / 1840

   Family name: BERIGAN

   Given name(s) Bridget

   Place of event: MELBOURNE, Australia

   Mother's name: Mary

   Mother's family name at birth: CALLINAN

   Father's Name: BERIGAN Jeremiah

10. ↑ New South Wales Government, Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, Search historical indexes, https://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/Pages/family-history-research/family-history-research-nsw.aspx,

    Name: BEREGAN MARY

    Registration Number A352/1846 V1846352 63

    Father's Given Name(s) JEREMIAH

    Mother's Given Name(s) MARY

    District Unknown

11. ↑ New South Wales Government, Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, Search historical indexes, https://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/Pages/family-history-research/family-history-research-nsw.aspx,

    Name BERAGAN JAMES

    Registration Number 268/1848 V1848268 65

    Father's Given Name(s) JEREMIAH

    Mother's Given Name(s) MARY

    District Unavailable

12. ↑ Victorian Government, Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Search historical indexes, https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history,

    Event: births

    Registration number 12017 / 1864

    Family name: BERIGAN

    Given name(s): Margaret

    Place of event:TARR[AWINGEE], Australia

    Mother's name: Mary

    Mother's family name at birth: CALINAN

    Father's Name: Jeremiah

13. ↑ State Library of Victoria, Victorian Government Gazette Online Archive 1836-1997, http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/vic_gazette/, New South Wales Government Gazette, No 88, (19 July 1850), page 1079, http://www8.austlii.edu.au/au/other/vic_gazette/1850_nsw/88.html
14. ↑ National Library of Australia, TROVE, Historical Gazettes Online, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/230150001/14255307, 1848 'CLAIMS TO LEASES OF CROWN LAND', New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900), 30 September, p. 1386. , viewed 28 Feb 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230150001
15. ↑ Monaro Pioneers Website, http://www.monaropioneers.com/properties/index.htm
16. ↑ National Library of Australia, TROVE, Historical Newspapers Online, 1855 'Advertising', Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic. : 1855 - 1918), 3 March, p. 6. , viewed 28 Feb 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113013160
17. ↑ National Library of Australia, TROVE, Historical Newspapers Online, 1855 'GENERAL SESSIONS.', Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic. : 1855 - 1918), 21 April, p. 4. , viewed 28 Feb 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113013345
18. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckland_River_(Victoria)
19. ↑ State Library of Victoria, http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/vic_gazette/, Victorian Government Gazette, No 56, (20 May 1856), pages 864 and 865
20. ↑ State Library of Victoria, http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/vic_gazette/, Victorian Government Gazette, No 120, (26 September 1856), page 1616
21. ↑ National Library of Australia, TROVE, Historical Newspapers Online, 1857 'Advertising', Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic. : 1855 - 1918), 7 March, p. 3. , viewed 28 Feb 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113014351
22. ↑ National Library of Australia, TROVE, Historical Newspapers Online, 1857 'Advertising', Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic. : 1855 - 1918), 11 April, p. 3. , viewed 28 Feb 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113014852
23. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckland_riot
24. ↑ National Library of Australia, TROVE, Historical Newspapers Online, 1857 'TRIAL OF THE BUCKLAND RIOTERS.', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 12 August, p. 6. , viewed 28 Feb 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article7136892
25. ↑ National Library of Australia, TROVE, HIstorical Newspapers Online, 1857 'Family Notices', The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), 11 August, p. 4. , viewed 28 Feb 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154834450
26. ↑ National Library of Australia, TROVE, Historical Newspapers Online, 1862 'Local Intelligence.', Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic. : 1855 - 1918), 1 March, p. 2. , viewed 28 Feb 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article112900102
27. ↑ National Library of Australia, TROVE, Historical Newspapers Online, 1862 'WNAGARATTA COUNTY COURT.', Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic. : 1855 - 1918), 26 April, p. 2. , viewed 28 Feb 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article112900443
28. ↑ "Australia, Victoria, Petty Sessions Registers, 1858-1985", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6CYH-M2SF : 12 January 2021), Jeremiah Berigan, 1 Oct 1863-ca. 30 Apr 1866.
    • Event Type Legal
    • Name Jeremiah Berigan
    • Event Date 21 Jan 1864
    • Event Place Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia
    • Event Place (Original) Wangaratta Courts, Victoria, Australia
    • Court Wangaratta Courts
    • Offense Larceny
    • Source Collection Title Victoria Petty Sessions Registers
    • Reference 1504/P0/Vol 3
29. ↑ Swanson Family History prepared by Margaret Justice - family document
30. ↑ National Library of Australia, TROVE, Historical Newspapers Online, 1874 'BEECHWORTH POLICE COURT.', Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic. : 1855 - 1918), 28 March, p. 7. , viewed 28 Feb 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article197054573
31. ↑ National Library of Australia, TROVE, Historical Newspapers Online, 1874 'TARRAWINGEE LAND BOARD.', Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic. : 1855 - 1918), 8 December, p. 1. , viewed 27 Nov 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article197295814
32. ↑ Victorian Government, Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Search historical indexes, https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history, Registration Number 4282/1891
33. ↑ "Australia, Victoria, Tombstone Transcriptions from Various Cemeteries, 1850-1988," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP7G-HB48 : 31 May 2018), Jeramiah Berrigan, Mar 1891; citing Burial, Tarrawingee, Victoria, Australia, Wangaratta Family History Centres, Australia.