James McGREAVY & Margaret TYNAN
married c1815, ?Waterford

James McGreavy (c1790-1846)

Notes from (Great-great-great-grandson)

James McGreavy (c1790-1846) aka McGreevy, McGravy, McGrady, McGready, McGreery, McGeary, Greevy
(The letter �v� in the original documents has sometimes apparently been misread as an �r� and in two instances closely resembles the Greek delta, popular in the period for the letter �d�)

5�4� tall, swarthy / dark, ruddy, black hair, eyes hazel / grey, lost front tooth upper jaw (when?) (Ticket / leave 33/46 AO 4/4087) (Edward MacLysaght, More Irish Families, Dublin, 1982,pp..117,238) Protestant (1828 Census, burial, Christ Church Newcastle). Illiterate (Note signing of the Last Will with a �X�)

1784 born, Roscommon (fair concentration of McGreavys in Lecarrow area, off Lough Ree, north of Athlone). (Ticket/leave 33/46; Ship�s lists, �Chapman�; etc.)

Brothers : John, Patrick, (Last Will � Supreme Court of NSW Probate Index No.1774) � refers to a son of each of his brothers intending to migrate to Australia, with intention to give each of them �twenty head of cattle and one horse� : Query : Where did James run such a large number of livestock ? Was it on the land later known as �Whyte�s Paddock' (and, from 1871, the suburb of Wickham) ?

? Donald : A William McGreevy, son of Donald & Mary, was licensee of �The Star & Garter�, Newcastle, dying there on 19.5.1892. Possibly James�s nephew. 1909 Electoral roll has a John Walter McGreavy, wife Martha, labourer, 35 Perkins St Newcastle.

Early 1800s served 7 years in Leitrim Militia. Occupations : soldier, servant, dealer (clothing)(Calendars of Prisoners� Petitions 1776-1836, PRO Dublin. 1.4.1816, Carton VI/19/1 No.1378)

1815 m. Margaret Tynan, Waterford (maiden name �Ward� on death certificate). Daughter Mary Anne born.

1816 Kilkenny City Goal : �burglary & felony�- stolen clothes � Wife alleges same�were bought in Waterford City� (ref. above Calendars of Prisoners� Petitions�) Sentence, Aug. : 7 years. Transported from Cork on �Chapman�. (Various references, incl. McLelland, Convict Ship Lists, 1817 �McGrady!)

1818, November Joined by wife and daughter. Before 1820, family living in a house in or near Castlereagh St.

1820, 18 Dec. House searched, stolen property (clothing, fabrics, etc.) discovered- stolen by Ann Kennedy, servant in employ of Henry Marr. (Testimony of Henry Marr, 22.12.1820)

1820s : Three sons born � apparently died young (Margaret�s death certificate) Also, trauma with rape of child Mary Anne (Reel 6067, 4/1808 pp.367-382) (A Nation of Rogues ? ed.David Phillips, Suzanne Davies)

1821, 25 July Sydney Criminal Court � sentenced 14 yrs, sent to Newcastle.

1822 Muster Govt employ, Newcastle � McGreary (Margaret as �McGravy�!)

1823, Feb To Port Macquarie

1828 Census : MO 712 � McGreery Corrigenda and addenda � McGreavy. Wife listed as �McGready� ! MO 711), daughter Mary Anne (Corr. & Add.) � McGreavy

1829 Accused Chief Constable John Walsh of seducing Margaret � Walsh dismissed for �disgraceful connection with her�, Margaret confined to Female Factory. Walsh continued to see her � gaoler dismissed for being �privy to further illicit intercourse� � Margaret �long been notorious for infamous conduct involving constables and others in disgrace� ! Well !

1830 Gives consent to 15 yr old daughter�s marrying 41 yr old John Nixon Brunker. (See notes on Mary Anne McGreavy for drama involving opposition to the marriage by Jamaican William Wright)

1833, 24 Jan. Petition of James McGreevy to Gov. Bourke for permission to join Margaret and Mary Anne in Newcastle. (Mary Anne�s husband by now �a free overseer� in government employ at the Newcastle Gaol. Mary Anne had successfully applied to have Margaret assigned to her. 11 Jul.,1832. Col.Secretary�s Letters, 5679 / 32 / 8454) Petition supported by Benj.Sullivan, District Magistate :

�� does not appear to have anything against him save �sleeping � while nightwatchman, April.1825� and �in July, 1829, absent from work in going for a fowl for his wife.�� (Police Office, Port Macquarie, 4.12.32) Also supported by W.Wilson, Supt of Convicts : � � for nine years during which period his conduct has been universally good.� (3.12.1832)

1830s Trading as a grocer ; properties in Watt St (heart of modern Newcastle�s CBD � worth millions today!)

1833. James and Margaret McGreavy Witnesses at marriage of John Lee (Asia 1833) aged 37 and Elizabeth Broom. Newcastle Register Book of Christ Church Cathedral, Newcastle. Marriages p7

Jen Willetts

c.1838 Gave 500 pounds to Mary Anne for purchase of an allotment for the building of the two houses. Later (c.1841) James paid for the building of five smaller weatherboard houses (one room each) to rent out.

1839 Licensee, �The Victoria Inn�, Watt St Licence No.159

1840 � 1846 �The Queen Victoria� (Lic. Nos 82, 157, 333, 103, 100, 187)

1840,11 May Travelling near Newcastle, captured a runaway assigned servant intent on bushranging.

1841 Census James McGreevy, Watt St :
3 males, aged 45-60 1 female 14-21 1 female 46-60
1 male, married 2 males, single 1 female, married 1 female, single
2 males, free 1 male, T/L 1 female, arr.free 1female, free
3 domestic servants 2 other persons
Stone / brick house � finished & inhabited.

1842, 25 Aug Refutes report in the �Australian Chronicle� re alleged marriage of Mary Anne to �a person named Cunningham�. Signed �J.McGreevy� (Letter to Editor, SMH).

1842 Supplies delicacies for the Bachelors� Ball, held at the new Courthouse. Victoria Inn robbed.

1843 Member of committee sponsoring election of Major Wentworth to represent Northumberland in the Legislative council.; public meeting held in front of his house.

1844 At meeting at �Ship Inn� to adopt proper means for giving testimonial to Rev.Lang.

1844, Spt.13 James called to give evidence in the Supreme Court of NSW re �the insolvent estate of Mary Ann (sic) Brunker� (bankrupted in the 1840s depression).

1845 Meeting at courthouse to proposea Benevolent Asylum for Newcastle.

1846,Sept.21 James�s death. Burial in the grounds of Christ Church Cathedral. The cemetery adjoining the cathedral has been converted to parkland. A number of headstones have been re erected along the eastern perimeter, with two tablets for (1) James & Margaret and (2) their granddaughters Mary Anne and Margaret at the very top of the slope (2011 � lettering barely decipherable, possibly due in part to Newcastle�s earthquake). Incidentally, the very legible headstone for Mary Anne (McGreavy / Brunker) Whyte and husband William Henry Whyte is to be found towards the bottom of the slope.

I am grateful for the use of material gleaned from the excellent research of Brunker descendant Margaret Taylor (Melbourne). Superb Website http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~mtaylor/p09brunkermcgreavy.htm Or just Google �Brunker McGreavy Whyte�.
And that of Brunker descendant, the late Margot Pye (Perth), of Whyte descendant Ruth Butterworth (Newcastle) and Pat Brunker (Petersham, Sydney)

Other references include : �Push from the Bush� �1838 No 2, Nov., 1978 �Convict Families� � course notes, Australian History (?), University of New England (N.B. replication may possibly infringe copyright�)

�Place of Banishment�, Iaen McLachlan, ISBN 0 86806 316 9 pp. 104, 109

Many references : Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General advertiser(MM); Newcastle Chronicle, Newcastle Morning Herald.

NSW BDM IGI Census, 1828 Census,1841

Joe Fulton (great-great-great-grandson), Chullora. 22.2.2011
[email protected]

?James McGreal

26 Feb 1806
Castlebar Gaol, Co.Mayo

Hue & Cry Index 1797-1810
Vol 257, Page 1, Col C5

?James McGreavy

8 Nov 1807
Native of Mayo

Hue & Cry Index 1797-1810
Vol 298, Page 1, Col C4

?James McGreavy

8 Nov 1807
Native of Mayo

Hue & Cry Index 1797-1810
Vol 299, Page 1, Col C3

James McGreavy

Certificate of freedom 1835
Newcastle



courtesy of Joe

James McGreavy

Ticket of leave 1835
Newcastle



courtesy of Joe

Brunker/McGreavy grave
Christ Church old cemetery, Newcastle, NSW





photographer unknown
date unknown, after 1869

Inscription on Brunker/McGreavy grave (near side)

To the memory of John N Brunker died XXIV Feb MDCCCXXXVII (1837) age XLII (42) years
To the memory of Henry John Brunker died XXIV Oct MDCCCLIV (1854) age II (2) years and VII months
Also John Gustaff Brunker 5th son of James N Brunker of East Maitland died 14th June 1869 age 8 years

Other side (not visible)
James McGreavy died 22nd Sep XDCCCXLVI (1846) age LXII (62) years
also Margaret McGreavy wife of above died 9th Dec 1865? Age 68 years
Henry Herbert Brunker died April 5th /15th? 1875 age 8 years
Edgar Alfred Brunker Dec 5th 1875 age 6 years

Will of James McGreavy

died Newcastle NSW 21 Sep 1846, probate granted 19 Feb 1847

page 1	First my will and desire is that my wife Margaret McGreavy shall continue to carry on the business now carried on by me in the Inn in which I now reside, conjointly with my daughter Mary Ann Brunker for their joint and mutual profit and support so long as they shall mutually agree and for that purpose that they the said Margaret McGreavy and Mary Ann Brunker shall be at liberty to reside in the said Inn rent free and to have the use of the Furniture , stock in Trade and other things in the said Inn for their joint use and benefit for so long as they shall jointly carry on the said business, but my will further is and I do hereby direct that in case, my said wife and daughter cannot agree that it shall and any be lawful for my said daughter an any time (as my executrix) to take the whole of the business together with all the furniture stock in Trade and other things as aforesaid into her own hands and under her own sole control upon her allowing my said wife an annuity of Fifty pounds per annum chargeable upon the whole of my freehold property situate in Watt Street Newcastle aforesaid with powers of entry and distress as if the same had been secured by a lease for years' the same annuity to be. payable only in the Event of her discontinuing to carry on the said business Conjointly with in my said daughter and of her sharing the profits of the said business and to be in lieu of all dower and thirds. And subject to such annuity I hereby give devise and bequeath all my freehold property situate in Watt Street Newcastle aforesaid unto and To the Use of my said daughter Mary Ann Brunker and her assigns for and during the Term of her natural life (the same not to be subject to the debts control or engagements of any future husband of the said Mary Ann Brunker ) and from and immediately after her decease I give devise and bequeath (subject to such annuity as aforesaid) All that Messuage or Tenement and Inn in which I now reside and the scite thereof And all outbuildings and appurtenances thereunto belonging unto and To the Use of my Granddaughter Margaret Brunker her Heirs and assigns forever and in case the said Margaret Brunker shall happen to die before she shall attain the age of twentyone years without leaving lawful [issue) living at her decease then I give devise and bequeath the said property James McGreavy X his mark This is the paper writing referred to in the affidavit of Mary Ann Brunker sworn before me at Newcastle this sixth day of February, 1847 J ?Bull ?commission of Supreme Court
page 2	hereinbefore devised to her to my Granddaughter Mary Ann Brunker her Heirs and assigns forever. And subject to such annuity of fifty pounds as aforesaid I do hereby give devise and bequeath all those six cottages situate adjoining the said devised premises and the respective scites thereof with the appurtenances (immediately after the decease of my said daughter) unto my said Granddaughter Mary Ann Brunker her Heirs and assigns forever and in case the said Mary Ann Brunker shall happen to die before she shall attain the age. of twentyone years without leaving lawful issue living at her decease l hereby give devise and bequeath the said, last mentioned property hereinbefore devised to her unto and to the Use of the said Margaret Brunker her Heirs and assigns forever, And in case both the said Margaret Brunker and Mary Ann Brunker shall happen to die under the age of twenty one years without leaving lawful issue living at their decease then I give devise and bequeath all the property hereinbefore devised to them respectively unto and To the Use of my Grandson James Nixon Brunker his Heirs and assigns forever and I do hereby declare that the property devised to my Granddaughters as aforesaid shall not in any case be subject to the debts control or engagements of any husband with whom they may respectively intermarry. And whereas a son of each of my Brothers John and Patrick McGreavy are expected to arrive in the Colony I do hereby give each of them on their arrival in the Colony twenty head of cattle and one horse and in case of their not arriving and until their respective arrival I hereby give and bequeath the same as well as all the rest and remainder of my cattle and Horses to my said Grandson James Nixon McGreavy (sic] to and for his own use and benefit.And I do hereby appoint my said daughter Mary Ann Brunker and my friend Mr John Little of Sydney Licensed Victualler Executrix and Executor of this my will. And hereby revoking all former wills by me at any time heretofore made I do declare this only to be my last will and Testament In witness whereof I have to this my will contained in two sheets of paper set my hand and seal (to wit) my hand to the bottom of the first sheet and my hand and sea] to this second and last sheet this seventeenth day of September in the year of our Lord One thousand eight Hundred and forty six. James McGreavy X his mark Signed sealed published and declared by the said James McGreavy the Testator and as for his last will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at this request and in the presence of each other (the same having been carefully read over to him in our presence) have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto William Croasdill ?J Stacey

?Margaret Tynan (c1796-1865)




unknown photographer
Glass with hand colouring ?ambrotype
?c1855

?Margaret Tynan (c1796-1865)
?with Mary Ann Brunker (1836-1857)



A Tronier, 410 George St, Sydney
Carte de visite
c1873-77

"This image to me appears to be older than it possibly is. It may be a copy of an earlier photos. Or the photographer could have been very poor quality when he started out in business. Best guess - as close to the 1873 as possible". Sandy Barrie, Sydney, 1991

Belts with bow and long streamers fashionable 1855-60
"Costume 1066-1966" John Peacock

Other dress elements in keeping with fashions of this date

Note: Who was responsible for having the photo copied?
Possibly this was Mary Ann McGreavy (d1877) as Margaret Brunker died 1869, William Philips died 1872, and James Philips was only 13 in 1873

Margaret McGreavy

Certificate of freedom 1835
Newcastle



courtesy of Joe

Margaret McGreavy

died 9 Dec 1865
Newcastle

Margaret Tynan (c.1795-1865) (Mrs Margaret McGreavy)

Notes from (Great-great-great-grandson)

Born c.1795, Waterford parents James Tynan (17 - ), Mary Ann Thompson (17 - )
Margot Pye has recorded that Mary Ann Thompson was formerly Mary Ann Ward... query: second marriage involved? Long shot: Does �ward� = �foster child�?

1815 m. James McGreevy. Daughter Mary Anne born.

1816 James convicted, Kilkenny City: possession of stolen cloth (e) s - Transportation 7 years. Margaret filed a petition, 1.4.1816, pleading for mitigation of the sentence to a gaol-term in Ireland on the grounds that loss of her husband would mean that she and their child would starve. She even asked to be allowed to �go with petitioner�s husband to Botany Bay during his exile from this country�. Claimed the �stolen cloths� were in fact purchased by her in Waterford. Asked that her husband�s �seven years� service in the Leitrim Militia� be taken into account. (PPC 1378, National Archives, Dublin)

1817, August Sentenced Cork City to 7 years transportation, for larceny from a house. Occupation: housekeeper. Age: 22

1818 Arrived �Elizabeth� with daughter Mary Anne. Rather surprisingly, by 1820 reunited with James and in residence in reasonably substantial dwelling, in or fairly close to Castlereagh St.
Intriguing; as convicts, they would normally (a) be engaged in government works OR (b) be assigned to work for private individuals... What was their source of income for rent etc.?

1820, December 18 their house raided by police to retrieve a large amount of stolen property, mainly clothing (�lately imported on the Surry�). It was discovered in all parts and corners of the house and some was found even� in the sacking of the bedstead�. The large number of items (60+) led to its being compared to �an auctioneer�s catalogue� with the addendum �such an extensive robbery, so concerted and so executed was never before (we believe) perpetrated in the colony�. James had �evinced every readiness in dwelling up the ill-gotten spoil, and even directed his wife, who was somewhat reluctant to immediately render up all to the peace officers�. James appears to have been quite innocent but implicated because of the assumption in law that a married woman acted in such situations under the control of her husband.
(Note Margaret�s admonitions to another accomplice, Mary Brown, �not to let Mr McGreevy see them for my life for that he would murder her...� Poor long-suffering James! (Read on: it gets better at Port Macquarie!).

1821, 26 July The McGreevys on trial, Court of Criminal Jurisdiction in Sydney: sentence increased to 14 years, transportation to Port Macquarie (initially, however, to Newcastle)

1821, Aug.2 Transported to Newcastle on Mermaid. (Reel 6008 4/3504 p.255) a fortnight after James �McGrady� (Elizabeth Henrietta, 9 Aug. Reel 6068 4/3504 p.213) September 1822 muster shows �James McGreary� and �Margaret McGravy� in Government employment in Newcastle. (4/3864 p.27)

1822, Nov.9 Gave evidence re alleged rape of daughter (Reel 6067, 4/1808 pp.367-382)(A Nature of Rouges ?, ed. David Phillips, Suzanne Davies) 1823, Feb.23 Transported to Port Macquarie per Mermaid. (Reel 6019 4/3864 pp.394-395) Place of Banishment, p.104, cites Margaret as among the first female convicts to be received at Port Macquarie (on 15 March).

1820s Margaret appears to have borne three sons, all of whom died young (detail supplied by daughter Mary Anne on Margaret�s death certificate).

1828 Census, as initially transcribed by Sainty & Johnson, has �Margaret McGready�: The Corrigenda 8 Addenda has respelling �McGreavy� (M0711)

1829 �James McGreevy accused Chief Constable John Walsh of seducing his wife, Margaret. Walsh was subsequently dismissed for ...�a disgraceful connection with her�. After the incident, Margaret McGreevy was confined to the (Female) Factory but Walsh continued to see her. The gaoler was then removed after having been �privy to further illicit intercourse�. Captain Smyth�s report said the woman had long been notorious for infamous conduct, �involving constables and others in disgrace�. (Place of Banishment, p.109. Well! Poor James � yet again!)

1830 Great drama for the McGreavys: convict William Wright, a black Jamaican, contested the banns prior to the marriage of Mary Anne to John Nixon Brunker (which took place at St Thomas�s Church, 22 Sept.). Wright was found guilty of fraud etc., his sentence being extended, including working in irons for six months. (Journal of Public Transactions at Port Macquarie, 1803-33 Reel 4/5644) (Port Macquarie Bench Book, 1830-32 Reel 4/5637).

1832, July 11 With her husband again a free man, in government employ at the gaol in Newcastle, Mary Anne applied for her mother �to be assigned to her for the remainder of her sentence� (Colonial Secretary�s Letters Received : 4/2160 5679 with 32/8454) Margaret�s Ticket of Leave granted (33/668 � 10 Sept., 1833. See also 35/863 � 10 Aug., 1835). James joined them in 1833, having obtained his Ticket of Leave in March. (33/46)

1835, Aug. In court, Margaret testified to the irresponsible behaviour of Mary Anne�s assigned servant, Elizabeth Deuchan, for three incidents where baby Margaret brunker suffered burns. Deuchan was sentenced to fourteen days in the cells. (Newcastle bench Books, 28 Aug.,1835 4/5608)

1837, Apr. 25 In court, Margaret testified to her own assigned servant Mary Smith�s returning home drunk after being required to take one of the Brunker children for a walk. (Newc.Bench Books, 25 April, 1837 4/5607)

1846, 21 Sept. James�s death: his will: �... my wife Margaret McGreavy shall continue to carry on the business now carried on by me in the Inn in which I now reside, conjointly with my daughter Mary Ann (sic) Brunker for their joint and mutual profit and support so long as they shall mutually agree ... but my will further is ... that in case my said wife and daughter cannot agree that it shall and may be lawful for my said daughter .. to take the whole of the business ...� the wording suggests that James knew his feisty wife only too well. In the event, Margaret lasted as innkeeper until her own death. In this period, references to the hotel in the papers (e.g. auctions conducted by Mary Anne�s second husband, William Henry Whyte; the funeral of Margaret�s granddaughter, Mary Ann Bond) cite both �Queen Victoria Hotel� and �Victoria Hotel�.

1847, April Margaret was startled to find a burglar, Stephen Jervis, in her bedroom. Her servant, Sarah Hill, �a bouncing, good-tempered Irish girl� heard Margaret �screech� and grabbed hold of Jervis and stuck to him �tooth and nail�. Jervis was later sentenced to 12 months in irons.

1865, 9 Dec. Margaret�s death (bronchitis � Death certificate ) She had also been suffering from liver and heart trouble. She was buried with James in the grounds of Christ Church Cathedral. With recycling of the cemetery to parkland, a substantial number of headstones have been re-erected on the eastern perimeter. First in line, at the top of the sloping ground and lying flat, is the tabletop tablet for James and Margaret. The lettering is now almost indecipherable: the full text can be found on Margaret Taylor�s website and at ncc.gov.au. Under �Hunter Photo Bank� at the same site there are two quite legible inscriptions from the adjoining tablet commemorating the two granddaughters of Margaret & James: Margaret & Mary Ann (Nos 130 000652, 103 000651), obviously taken some time back in the original position. (No.103 000651 is a photo of the headstone for William Henry & Mary Anne � inaccurately transcribed �Anne�)

Some references: Margaret Taylor, marvellous website: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~mtaylor/p09brunkermcgreavy.htm OR just Google �Brunker McGreavy Whyte�.

Material from the late Margot Pye (Perth), Ruth Butterwork (Newcastle), Pat Brunker (Petersham) Iaen McLachlan, Placement of Banishment, 1988 ISBN 0 8608 316 9 (ed) David Phillips, Susanne Davies, A Nation of Rogues? (Re rape of Mary Anne, aged 7, including extraordinary observation by Newcastle magistrate).

Push from the Bush... 1838, No 2, Nov.1978.

Convict Families (Course notes, University of New England).

Free Settler or Felon? � just Google �jenwilletts� and check out �Victoria Inn� under �Newcastle�.

NSW BDM Census, 1828 webpage ncc.gov.au

PPC (Petitions re prisoners) National Archives, Dublin.

Joe Fulton (great-great-great-grandson), Chullora. Jun 2011
[email protected]