Ancestor Timothy Mannix arrived from Cork (Ireland) in Sydney as a steerage passenger on-board the "Blenheim" in November 1834.
His father, Patrick (1766-1863) was a rope-maker who was convicted of cow stealing and sentenced for 7 years for his crime. He was transported to Australia on the "Earl St Vincent" in 1818. Patrick's wife Mary petitioned to join her husband and in 1834 travelled via the "Andromeda" arriving in September 1834. Patrick and Mary had about eleven children, but Mary was only accompanied by daughter Margaret on the voyage. Two months later Timothy apparently aged about 16 years, arrived. His occupation was listed as servant. A number of other young men, sons of convicts also arrived on this voyage.
His arrival was recorded in the Shipping Intelligence of the newspaper of the day, The Australian which is accessible on Trove.
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| The Australian 18 November 1834 p. 2 |
Timothy Mannix married Bridget Tunney, daughter of Patrick Tunney and Sarah Pendergast, on 10 February 1841 at St. John's Church, Maitland. The couple made their home in Wollombi and had a large family.
Several years later, Timothy appeared once more in the newspapers. Timothy Mannix was held up by bushrangers at a "place called Deadman's Creek, on the Wollombi road" one afternoon in June 1843. "Two men armed with pistols stopped a man named Timothy Mannix...who was coming with a dray to Maitland, and robbed him of £2 18s in money, and a part of his rations; they then made off again into the bush. On reaching Maitland the man gave information of the robbery, and the police were immediately despatched in search of the robbers."
Timothy died on 28 June 1887 at Wollombi and is buried in the local cemetery alongside his wife, Bridget.
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| Grave of Timothy and Bridget Mannix, Wollombi Cemetery Photo: M. Nichols 2016 |
Note there is a discrepancy with Timothy's year of birth ranging from 1803 to 1818. His death certificate and headstone give his age as 84 however this information was supplied by others.
