Bridget Mary (Carlton) McGrath (1823 - 1884)

Born 1823 in Renfrewshire, Scotland [uncertain]

Wife of James J McGrath — married 1838 in Boxside Chapel, Armagh, County Armagh, Ireland

Descendants

Died 25 Jan 1884 at about age 61 in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Tristan Viscarra Rossel [send private message]

Biography

Bridget Mary Carlton was likely born in Renfrewshire, in 1823, the daughter of Scottish-born Anthony and Ann Carlton. Her father was a farmer. She moved to Ederney, Ireland, with her family when she was young.

Bridget married James J McGrath on 28 May 1838 at Ederney. Their first child Anne was born on 22 April 1839 in Fermanagh. They had 8 children in 18 years; the rest were born in the Colony of New South Wales.

The McGraths migrated to Sydney on the ship "Percy", along with James and Ellen Carlton, Bridget's brother and sister-in-law. They arrived on 28 August 1841, when Bridget was 18. Bridget's name was recorded as 'Magrath'.^[1] Bridget and James's sister Ellen also migrated to Australia at some stage.

James and Bridget took up employment on the Hardwicke Estate, in the North Yass region, which had been purchased by Cornelius O'Brien in 1841. Their son Hugh Anthony Joseph McGrath was born at Hardwicke (and later operated a general store at Gundaroo).^[2]

Bridget's siblings went in different directions. The Carltons settled on the Williams River north of Sydney, eventually building 'Pine Brush' cottage at Brookfield near Dungog. James became a wealthy landowner in NSW.^[3] Bridget's younger sister Ellen married Michael McKee. She died in about 1912 at Hamilton, north of Sydney.

Bridget testified as a witness in the Yass local court in 1869.^[4]

In January 1877, Bridget received facial injuries after a fall during a stable fire one night behind the McGrath's Telegraph Inn on Bowning Road.^[5][6] In May that same year, the Telegraph Inn was advertised to let, along with the 60-acre farm.^[7]

Bridget Mary McGrath died in Wagga Wagga in January 1884.^[8] Her wake was held in the home of her daughter, Anne O'Hehir, who lived in the Newtown section of Wagga.^[9] She is buried in the Wagga Wagga Monumental Cemetery.^[10]

Bridget's husband James died in 1875, and is buried in Wagga Wagga.^[11]

Bridget (Carlton) McGrath was a Bounty Immigrant to New South Wales.

Sources

1. ↑ State Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood New South Wales, Australia; Persons on bounty ships (Agent's Immigrant Lists); Series: 5316; Reel: 2134; Item: [4/4788]
2. ↑ Moore, Peter (n.d.), 'Hugh McGrath', https://www.gundaroo.info/genealogy/other/mcgrath.htm, accessed 30 July 2022
3. ↑ The Story of James & Ellen Carlton of "Pine Brush" Dungog & their Descendants by David Crossin
4. ↑ 1869 'LOCAL AND GENERAL.', The Yass Courier (NSW : 1857 - 1929), 8 October, p. 2. , viewed 28 Jan 2024, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article263995624
5. ↑ 1877 'GUNDAROO.', The Yass Courier (NSW : 1857 - 1929), 26 January, p. 2. , viewed 28 Jan 2024, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article263987559
6. ↑ 1877 'Another Destructive Fire.', Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931), 30 January, p. 2. , viewed 28 Jan 2024, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108185032
7. ↑ 1877 'Advertising', The Yass Courier (NSW : 1857 - 1929), 11 May, p. 3. , viewed 28 Jan 2024, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article263979557
8. ↑ MCGRATH BRIDGET M 11425/1884 ANTHONY C BRIDGET C WAGGA WAGGA
9. ↑ 1884 'Advertising', Wagga Wagga Advertiser (NSW : 1875 - 1910), 26 January, p. 3. , viewed 28 Jan 2024, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article101928911
10. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/219759134/bridget-mary-mcgrath: accessed 28 January 2024), memorial page for Bridget Mary Carlton McGrath (1823–25 Jan 1884), Find a Grave Memorial ID 219759134, citing Wagga Wagga Monumental Cemetery, Wagga Wagga, Wagga Wagga City, New South Wales, Australia; Maintained by Lucas (contributor 50499237).
11. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/219759216/james-j-mcgrath: accessed 28 January 2024), memorial page for James J McGrath (1815–1875), Find a Grave Memorial ID 219759216, citing Wagga Wagga Monumental Cemetery, Wagga Wagga, Wagga Wagga City, New South Wales, Australia; Maintained by Lucas (contributor 50499237).

• McGrath Jacobum 22/?/1838 Brigidam Carlton Jacobus McNeely & Joannis McGrath

Research notes

Bridget's mother is recorded as Bridget and not Anne on her NSW death certificate. == NAME: Bridget Magrath BIRTH YEAR: 1823 AGE: 18 GENDER: Female ARRIVAL DATE: 28/08/1841 VESSEL NAME: Percy CHILDREN'S NAMES: Anne State Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood New South Wales, Australia; Persons on bounty ships (Agent's Immigrant Lists); Series: 5316; Reel: 2134; Item: [4/4788] == Name: Ellen McGrath Gender: Female Baptism Date: 28 Nov 1854 Baptism Place: Yass, Murray, Australia Residence Place: New South Wales, Australia Father: James McGrath Mother: Bridget Carlton FHL Film Number: 993980 Source Information Ancestry.com. Australia, Births and Baptisms, 1792-1981 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.