References
| Australia |
Cornelius married Honorah Quillinan in London in 1854 (24th June 1855) where they heard that people were picking up lumps of gold in Australia. Honorah's eight brothers had gone to America, but Australia sounded more promising. Shipping lists show that they arrived in Sydney on separate ships, Cornelius on "Herald of the Morning" in 1858, and Honorah on "Winifred" in 1856.
Family Historian, John Gralton (son of Robert) tells us that Cornelius and Honorah lived in a tent on the Domain in Sydney for some weeks before acquiring some cheap land at Belmore River in the Kempsey region. There they farmed corn, potatoes and lucerne while rearing their large family. The oldest daughter, Ann, met a tragic death at the age of 12 while tending the clothes in the outside copper. She died of burns and was buried on the family property. Mary died at the age of 10 months. The third daughter, Alice, was a founding member of the Order of the Good Samaritan in Australia, and became Sister Blandina. Little is known of Francis, the third son who was sent to Ireland to study for the priesthood, returned to Australia, then enlisted for the Boer War.
Catherine had married Thomas Marshall at Christmas Creek, Macleay River in 1851, after arriving in 1848 aboard the ship "Lady Peel".
Ann arrived aboard the ship "Aloe" in 1857 her aged was stated as 18 years, and she married John Marshall, an Irishman, in Sydney in the same year.
The oldest son Henry also married in London (30th November 1850), to Margaret Dobbyns (Dobbins), and together with their four children, James, John, Henry and Catherine were passengers aboard the ship "Castilian" which arrived in Sydney on June 13, 1858.
The family lived at Frederickton for a couple of years before moving to Queensland. While at Frederickton, Henry Gralton was one of a group of patrons elected to manage the first school in July 1861 with an enrolment of 46. Eight more children were born in Queensland, Elias, Paul, Alfred, Louise, Josephine, Margaret-Anne, Austin and Winifred. (See note)
Some nine years later, in 1877, Francis Gralton aged 17 years and son of Michael and Mary (Cullen) Gralton, arrived from Roscommon aboard the ship, "Pericles" with his sister Cecily (16 years), his brother Phillip having died at sea. An older brother James had arrived on the "Earl Dalhousie" in 1876. James changed his name to Grant, apparently due to prejudice against the Irish. Francis came to Hunters Hill to relatives, the O'Donnell family. He boarded with Mrs. Quirk in Madeline Street where he met Kate Broderick who worked for Judge Manning at "Merilibah" in Alexandra Street. Francis' sister Cecily married James Donovan and they had four children - James, Mary, Michael and Francis, all living in Brisbane. Francis and Kate Gralton lived in the Villa Maria Parish until their deaths, Francis in 1919 and Kate in 1940. They are buried in the Field of Mars Cemetery. We have no proof at this stage, of any relationship to this family of Graltons, but I think we can safely assume that they were related to us. One interesting similarity is that the marriage certificate states Grant as the surname of Cornelius and Honorah.
