Mary Anne Gosper

  General Notes:

Sources: - The Pragmatic Pionees Page 124

MARY ANN 1827-1893

Mary Ann, the third child of John and Hannah, was born in 1827 at Upper Colo. She married Thomas Byrne on 12th April 1847; the marriage entry appears in the St.Albans Register Newcastle, as is usual for Colo River marriages of this period. (This next sentence has been hand written “Mother was Elizabeth Caffrey Thomas born 1824?”)


Thomas Byrne is almost certainly the son of Patrick Byrne of Portland Head who arrived on the Rollo in 1803, and who should not be confused with a second Patrick Byrne who also arrived on the Rollo, and who lived at Cornwallis. To differentiate between the two, the Portland Head Patrick was referred to as the Elder and the Cornwallis one as the Younger. Patrick Byrne was quite an astute farmer and businessman, who died possessing quite extensive land holdings including Grace Farm, Owen Cavanaugh’s Colo property. Thomas Byrne died in 1892, but unfortunately it seems that his death was not recorded with the Registrar General, although his Will went to Probate. Mary Ann and Thomas did not have any children, so there is no known record in existence that positively proves who Thomas’ parents were, or when he was born.

Thomas and Mary Ann Byrne went to live near Molong; it is not known when. Thomas made out his Will in 1885, and in it he states that he is of Brymedura Station near Molong. His estate was sworn at eighty-four Pounds when he died in 1892. Thomas and Mary Ann apparently fostered Eliza Cox, the illegitimate daughter of Mary Ann’s brother John Thomas Gosper and Louisa Cox. When Eliza married James Bligh Turnbull as Eliza Gosper at Mandagery Creek in 1878. Permission for the marriage was given by Thomas and Mary Ann Byrne, as Eliza was under age. Eliza also is known to have stated in later life, that she was lucky to have been brought up by the Byrnes, as they taught me to read and write.

Thomas Byrne died on 11th July 1892, and was probably buried in an unmarked grave in the Meranburn Cemetery. Mary Ann died in Molong Hospital on 26th February 1893, and
is buried in the Meranburn Cemetery in an unmarked grave.

Mary married Thomas Byrne, son of Patrick Byrne and Elizabeth Caffey, on 12 Apr 1847 in St Albans Registry, Newcastle, NSW Australia. (Thomas Byrne was born in 1824 in NSW Australia, died on 11 Jul 1892 in NSW Australia and was buried in 1892 in Meranburn Cemetery, NSW Australia.)