My wife is a direct descendant of Henry Gillett born in Queenstown,(Cobh?) Cork 1801 who left Ireland for Australia aboard the immigrant ship "Hibernia" with his young family in 1833. His wife (Maiden Name M Hales) and three young children (John, Mary Ann and Margaret) perished along with hundreds of others when the ship caught fire 60 days out from port. Henry survived and went on to begin a new life as a prominent citizen and ship builder in New South Wales, particularly in the Tweed Heads and Grafton areas. A book "The Gillett Line" was published in 1983 which describes his extensive Australian family and I'd be happy to provide details from this if anyone is interested. He died in 1880 and is buried at Ulmarra, New South Wales, Australia.
In 1840 he remarried Bridget E Carroll (who was born in Tipperary in 1818) at St Patricks Roman Catholic Church in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia.
I am particularly keen to learn more of his life and of his ancestors in Ireland much of which I understand was in Youghal, County Cork. I think his Great Grandfather was Alderman Edward John Gillett 1670-1745), a goldsmith who served for some years as a Councillor in Youghal and as Mayor in 1721. I think in 1740 he had a property lease in Windmill Lane
I think his father was Edward Gillett born 1751 in Youghal and died 1832 in Queenstown (Cobh?). I think his mother was Margaret Smyth born 1762 in Kildare and died in 1846 in Queenstown (Cobh?). I think they were married on 10th March 1782 in Clonmel. I think Henry had three brothers Thomas, Richard and William?
I'd really appreciate it if anyone was able to help me confirm any details and fill in the gaps and/or recommend helpful sources or references which I can pursue..
gissingp
Tuesday 11th Jun 2024, 07:30AMMessage Board Replies
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Hi,
Yes, Cobh is Queenstown. The pdf you sent is incorrect in associating Queenstown with Clonmel. Clonmel is in County Tipperary, not County Cork.
There is a birth record (on the paysite rootsireland.ie) in Cobh for Margaret Gillett born to Henry Gillett and Mary Hales in 1831, but I couldn't find a record (on the same site) for the marriage or the other children.
Margaret is listed as Roman Catholic, but many of the earlier records for Gillett family members in Youghal are Church of Ireland. On rootsireland.ie, Youghal is listed in County Waterford, although it is in County Cork. Church of Ireland records for Youghal, including Vestry minute books and birth, marriage and burial records, are available from 1666. These are only available at the Representative Church Body library in Dublin. I suspect that whoever prepared the pdf has looked at these records.
Best wishes, Kieran
Kieran Jordan, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
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Thanks Kieran,
Appreciate your help.
Peter
gissingp