Bridget Elizabeth (O'Farrell) O'Connell (abt. 1863 - 1938)

Born about 1863 in County Limerick, Ireland

Wife of Christopher O'Connell — married 11 Feb 1885 in Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia

Descendants

Died 10 Jun 1938 at about age 75 in Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia

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Biography

Bridget Elizabeth O'Farrell was born about 1863 in Limerick, Ireland.^[1] Her parents were Michael O'Farrell and Johanna.

Bridget with her parents and siblings emigrated to Australia from Ireland arriving in Brisbane 17 November 1886 aboard the Jumna. ^[2]

Table from ship log image for Jumna.

The arrival of the Jumna with many details of the ship and the journey were reported in The Brisbane Courier, Thursday 18 November 1886.

The Jumna, the latest addition to the already large and splendid fleet of the British India Company, is by far the largest steamer that has ever visited Queensland, and is the largest but one of the numerous steamers that trade to any of the Australian colonies. She is a splendid specimen of marine architecture, built on very graceful lines, with a straight stem and elliptical stern. Her principal dimensions are -Length between perpendiculars, 410ft, breadth (moulded), 48ft, and depth (moulded), 32ft. This gives her a gross tonnage of 5500 tons, and 3376 tons net.

There are three decks, the upper and main being plated with steel throughout their entire length, and the main deck has bulb angle beams on every frame. The Jumna has been constructed to meet Admiralty requirements for purposes of war, and is capable of carrying 1000 troops. The Jumna has capacity for 6500 tons of cargo, which she carries on a draught of 25ft. 7in. The ship is subdivided into eight water-tight compartments, all the water-tight doors being closed with hydraulic or hand gear.

The passenger accommodation on board the Jumna is of a highly superior description, no pains or expense having been spared in this direction. The first class saloon is amidships and has berths for 87 passengers. The sides of the companion house are beautifully panelled with tastefully polished hardwoods, the various colours forming a very pleasing contrast. The saloon itself is a fine, lofty, and spacious compartment, the space from floor to celling being 8ft., while there is a space of 30ft. between tho two rows of state rooms, which are situated on either side of the ship.

Separate bathrooms, in which either hot or cold water can bo turned on at will, are situated on the starboard side of the vessol for the use of the male passengers. At the after end of the engine casing, on the citadel deck, is a smoking-room of unusually large dimensions lighted by a teak saddl-back skylight on the roof, and by square sliding windows in the sides, and beautifully arranged inside.

Saloon passengers on the Jumna have also the advantage of a splendid promenade deck, which is covered by an awning, and around which many comfortable seats and lounges are distributed.

The second class accommodation, which is aft under the poop, has berths for thirty passengers, and is constructed on exactly the same principle as the first-class quarters. The only difference is that the embellishments are not so elaborate, but they are nevertheless neat, and show signs of exceedingly good taste.

The Jumna ia fitted throughout with the electric light (Swan's incandescent). There are in all about 220 lights throughout the ship, in addition to two largo lamps used for working cargo. Each cabin ia supplied with a separate switch, so that the occupant can up to a certain hour at night control the light. On the voyage out, sixteen special lights were burned in the 'tween decks for tho benefit of the immigrants. One of Haslem's refrigerators for a chamber of 2000 cubic feet is supplied for the ship's own use, but was never got into proper working order during the voyage.

The R.M.S. Jumna is under the command of Captain W. A. Burkitt, who is by no means a stranger to the port.

• She left Gravesend early in the morning of the 22nd September,
• arrived at Malta at 5.45 am on the 30th, and left at 3.15pm same date,
• arrived at Port Said at 5.00 am and entered the Suez Canal at 11.00 am on the 4th October; passed through the Canal, and arrived at Suez at 6.45 pm on the 5th ; left at 11.15 pm , and
• arrived at Aden at 6.15 am on the 11th, leaving at 10.15 am
• on the 13th ; arrived at Colombo on the 20th at 6.40 pm, and left at 1.45 pm on the 23rd ;
• Batavia was reached at 10.00 am on the 29th, and left at 1.00 pm on the 30th ;
• arrived at Thursday Island at 12.15 am on the 7th November ; left at 1.40 pm on the 8th,
• arrived at Cooktown at 5.50 am on the 10th , left at 2.50 pm same date, and
• arrived in Cleveland Bay on the following day at 12.13 am; left at 9 am. on the 13th,
• arrived at Bowen at 7.00 pm same date, and left at 9.30 pm,
• arriving off Flat-top Island at 6.30 am on the 14th; left at 9.40 am same date,
• arriving in Keppel Bay at 3.00 am on the 15th ; left at 10.30 pm same date, and
• anchored in the Brisbane roadstead at 9.20 am yesterday.

The weather in the Channel was rather chilly, but as the ship approached the Mediterranean the weather gradually became warmer. A few days after leaving London the first birth, that of a girl, occurred, and it was announced that she was to be christened Jumnetta, in honour of the ship. The weather in the Red Sea was intensely hot for the season of the year, the thermometor registering 94 degrees. All more or less suffered from the heat, and an adult immigrant succumbed to the effects of heat apoplexy. After leaving the Red Sea until reaching the Queensland coast the weather became fine and pleasant, with the exception of a few showersa. A deal of wet weather was met with in coming down the coast.

The immigrants were under the able supervision of Dr. Woodward, surgeon-superintendent, and Mrs. Mc'Keddie, matron. The general health was very good, but many felt the effects of the extreme heat in the passage through tho Red Sea. Amusements of various kinds were freely indulged in during the voyage. Several Christy Minstral entertainments, in which the Doctor took a prominent part, were given, and proved a source of great enjoyment. Concerts, in which the saloon passangers assisted, were given twice a week, and Mr. Walker, of Bundaberg, an old Queenslander, returning to the colony, treated those on board to several lectures on Queensland, which were listened to with great attention, and were much appreciated.

Seven persons died on the voyage, including six infants and children, and there were four births. It should be mentioned that religious services were held on board every Sunday. Six immigrants were landed at Cooktown, 51 at Townsville, 3 at Bowen, 28 at Mackay, and 14 in Rockhampton, leaving 514 for this port, in addition to 56 passengers. ^[3]

There is no present indication where Bridget and her family disembarked the Jumna. The family lived north of Brisbane around Bundaberg.

R M S Jumna

Bridget (21) married Christopher O'Connell (26) (born about 1858 in Lissawarra, Greenagh, Cork, Ireland) on February 11, 1885 in Bundaberg, Qld..^[4]

Their daughter was Bridget Elizabeth O'Connell (1891–1968).

Bridgett died on June 10, 1938 in Bundaberg, Qld., aged about 74.^[5]

Bridget was mentioned on a memorial in Bundaberg Catholic Cemetery, Bundaberg, Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia with a death date of 10 June 1938.^[6]

Bridget & Christopher O'Connell grave marker

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Reference: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #176586409 (accessed 27 August 2023)
   Memorial page for Bridget Elizabeth O'Farrell O'Connell (1863-10 Jun 1938), citing Bundaberg Catholic Cemetery, Bundaberg, Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia (plot: Block 6 - P274); Maintained by Glenn Nelson (contributor 48778404).
2. ↑ Immigration: Queensland State Archives. Assisted immigration 1848 to 1912. Last Name: O'Farrell. Given Names: Bridget. Notes: NS. Age: 15. Ship: Jumna. Date: 1886/11/17. Year: 1886. Page: 387. Item ID: ITM18483. Digital Image ID: DR38672. Microfilm 1: Z1963. Microfilm 2: M1701/M1702. Series ID: S13086. CSV Download for letter O
3. ↑ 1886 Newspaper: "Trove, National Library of Australia"
   The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Thu 18 Nov 1886, Page 5 : THE R.M.S. JUMNA
   Trove Article (accessed 6 January 2024)
4. ↑ Marriage: Queensland Government, Births, Deaths, Marriages. Christopher O'Connell & Bridget Elizabeth O'Farrell. Marriage. Date: 11 Feb 1885. Registration number: 1885/C/78. [Elizabeth O'Farrell Marriage Index
5. ↑ Death: Queensland Government, Births, Deaths, Marriages. Bridget Elizabeth O'Connell. Death. Date: 10 Jun 1938. Registration number: Mother: Anne Rogers. Father: Patrick O'Farrell. Bridget Elizabeth O'Connell Death Index
6. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #176586409 (accessed 27 August 2023)
   Memorial page for Bridget Elizabeth O'Farrell O'Connell (1863-10 Jun 1938), citing Bundaberg Catholic Cemetery, Bundaberg, Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia (plot: Block 6 - P274); Maintained by Glenn Nelson (contributor 48778404).

• Also: Bridgett Elizabeth O'Farrell - FamilySearch tree