Maria Campbell/Rolwright or Degan?  - (My g-g-grandmother)

Date of Birth	Location of Birth & Baptism if known
1830 - 1835?	?
Date of Death	Location of Death & Burial if known
8 Dec 1914	Paddington, Sydney, NSW's, Australia.

PARENTS

Father	Mother
Unknown?	Unknown?

SPOUSE & MARRIAGE DETAILS

Date of Marriage	Spouse	Location of Marriage
15 Jul 1847	Edward Killalea (*Convict*)	Jamberoo, Illawarra, NSW's, Australia

CHILDREN

Thomas Killalea	Thomas KILLALEA (Edward1) was born 22-Dec-1847 in Wollongong, NSW, and died 30-Apr-1931 - Waverley, Sydney, NSW. He married Emily Isabella Ada SNODDEN 06-Mar-1884 in Tumut Plains, NSW - Rites Church of England, daughter of Henry SNODDEN and Emily LOCKYER. She was born 05-Apr-1869 in Green Flat, near Tumut, NSW, and died 21-May-1945  - 15 Woodville Street, Hurstville, Sydney, NSW. Children of Thomas KILLALEA and Emily SNODDEN are: i. Henry Thomas KILLALEA, born 31-Jul-1884 in Tumut Plains, NSW; died 12-Aug-1957 - Umina, NSW. ii. Carrington KILLALEA, born 01-Sep-1886 in Tumut Plains, NSW; died Bet. 22 - 25-Jul-1916 - WW1, France. iii. Sidney Thomas KILLALEA, born 26-Aug-1888 in Tumut Plains, NSW; died 05-Jan-1962 - Seskinore Private Hospital, Glen Iris, Melbourne, VIC. He married Margarietta HULL. iv. Mary Alberta Victoria Malviva KILLALEA, born 06-Dec-1890 in Tumut Plains, NSW; died 08-Nov-1984 - Waverley, Sydney, NSW. She married John (G) PEEL. v. Conway Stanley KILLALEA, born 31-Mar-1893 in Tumut, NSW; died 16-Mar-1981 in - Wagga, NSW. He married Gladys Mary WARD. vi. Olive Rose KILLALEA, born 27-Oct-1895 in Bombowlee, near Tumut, NSW; died Bet. 1977 - 1982 in Rockdale Psychiatric Hospital, Sydney, NSW ???. vii. Myles D KILLALEA, born 27-Jun-1899 in Bombowlee, near Tumut, NSW; died 06-Apr-1918 - WW1, France. viii. Margaret May Jersey KILLALEA, born 20-May-1902 in ?; died 18-Sep-1977 - place unknown. She married (1) Francis Maurice FAHY, (2) Ernest H W CADDY. ix. Stella Venice Martha KILLALEA, born 27-May-1905 in Bombowlee, near Tumut, NSW; died 10-Jan-1982. She married Leslie William HODGSON. x. Ila Beatrice KILLALEA, born 1909 in Bombowlee, near Tumut, NSW; died 08-Feb-1959 in ?. She married (2) John James GILES.
John Killalea	John KILLALEA (Edward1) was born 07-Oct-1848 in Shellharbour, NSW, and died 03-Nov-1887 in 39 years - Cleveland, near Dapto, NSW. He married Ann SEYMOUR 10-Jan-1873 in St. Peters Roman Catholic Church, Kiama, NSW, daughter of James SEYMOUR and Sarah HOARE. She was born 21-Aug-1849 in Shellharbour, NSW, and died 23-Apr-1888 - Keira Vale, NSW. Children of John KILLALEA and Ann SEYMOUR are: i. James Edward KILLALEA, born 14-Jan-1874 in Shellharbour, NSW; died 26-Jun-1943 - Canterbury District Memorial Hospital, Campsie, Sydney, NSW. He married Louisa HURKETT. ii. William KILLALEA, born 01-Aug-1875 in Shellharbour, NSW; died 19-May-1959 - Coffs Harbour, NSW. iii. John KILLALEA, born 29-Nov-1877 in Shellharbour, NSW; died 10-Mar-1938. He married Doris Georgina DUFFIN. iv. Andrew KILLALEA, born 02-Jun-1880 in Shellharbour, NSW; died 01-Dec-1945 - Memorial Hospital, Kyogle, NSW. v. Sarah Ann KILLALEA, born 29-Jun-1883 in Shellharbour, NSW; died 30-Sep-1956 - Coffs Harbour, NSW. She married Henry STANDING. vi. Joseph KILLALEA (aka Joseph Patrick HORE), born 16-Nov-1887 in Dapto, NSW; died 31-Dec-1957 - Gippsland Base Hospital, Sale, VIC. He married Maude Blanche FARLEY 09-Jan-1915 in Presbyterian Church, 11 Victoria Pde, Collingwood, Melbourne, VIC; born 29-Dec-1890 in Rosedale, Gippsland, VIC; died 05-Jun-1963 - Sale, VIC.
Edward Killalea *** Possibly known as Edward Thompson/Edward Thomson or Edward Thomas	Edward KILLALEA (Edward1) was born 21-Aug-1851 in Shellharbour, NSW, and died Unknown in ?. He married Unknown. + He is a mystery but was supposedly still alive at the time of his mother's death in 1914?  Between 1881-1886 he was in the Tumut/Adelong area and his occupation was Gold Miner otherwise he is a total mystery.
Bridget Killalea	Bridget KILLALEA (Edward1) was born Abt. 1853 in Shellharbour, NSW - no birth certificate, and died Unknown in ?. She married William BENTLEY 07-Jun-1873 in St. Peters Roman Catholic Church, Kiama, NSW, son of John BENTLEY and Sarah/Mary UNKNOWN. He was born Abt. 1851 in Melbourne, VIC, and died Unknown in ?. Children of Bridget KILLALEA and William BENTLEY are: i. Mary Theresa BENTLEY, born 09-Oct-1874 in Shellharbour, NSW; died 24-Jun-1956 - St. Vincents Hospital, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW. She married (1) Edmund LORD, (2) George Wallace LUPSON. ii. Female BENTLEY, born Bet. 1875 - 1878 in ?; died Unknown in ?. iii. James BENTLEY, born 26-Jun-1879 in Bega, NSW; died Unknown in ?.
Catherine Killalea	Catherine KILLALEA (Edward1) was born 06-Aug-1855 in Shellharbour, NSW, and died 29-Nov-1921 - Footscray, Melbourne, VIC. She married Robert James KING 07-Mar-1876 in Wesleyan Church, Adelong, NSW, son of William KING and Maria LAIDLOW. He was born 19-Apr-1851 in Belfast near Warrnambool, VIC, and died 14-Mar-1926 - 71 Droop Street, Footscray, Melbourne, VIC. Children of Catherine KILLALEA and Robert KING are: i. Albert Edward KING, born 25-Nov-1877 in Adelong, NSW; died 1964 - Cottesloe, Perth, WA. He married Louisa Ellen HAMPTON. ii. Walter KING, born 07-Dec-1879 in Adelong, NSW; died 19-Jun-1963 - Newport, Melbourne, VIC. He married Eliza Jane SHAW. iii. Maria KING, born 27-Jan-1882 in Adelong, NSW; died 17-Jan-1968 in 85 years 11 months - ?. She married Henry HENDERSON. iv. William KING, born 25-Feb-1887 in Ballarat, VIC; died 03-Apr-1978 - Hampton, Melbourne, VIC. He married Amanda Mary POULSON. v. Bertie KING, born 20-Jul-1890 in Gippsland, VIC (most probably Walhalla); died Apr-1892 in 1 year 9 months - Walhalla, VIC. vi. Thomas Henry KING, born 25-Dec-1893 in Bairnsdale, VIC; died 21-Dec-1970 - Kew, Melbourne, VIC. He married Nellie BAMFORD. vii. Victoria KING, born 18-Feb-1895 in Eldorado, VIC; died 22-Sep-1977 - ?. She married (1) Frank LEE, (2) Herbert LEWIS.
Mary Killalea	Mary KILLALEA (Edward1) was born 15-May-1857 in Shellharbour, NSW - Registry No. 7460 - Female Killalee, and died 12-Sep-1949 - Albury, NSW. She married John ROWE 25-Mar-1873 in Adelong, NSW, son of James ROWE and Mary NICHOLAS. He was born 16-Jul-1846 in St. Just, Cornwall, England, and died 09-Dec-1887 - Adelong, NSW. Children of Mary KILLALEA and John ROWE are: i. Richard James ROWE, born 15-Mar-1874 in Adelong, NSW; died 25-May-1962 - Prince Henry Hospital, Little Bay, Sydney, NSW. He married Martha May ANDERSON. ii. Mary Elizabeth ROWE, born 21-Mar-1875 in Adelong, NSW; died Feb-1906 - Melbourne, VIC. She married William John RUMBLE. iii. Lucy Ann ROWE, born 15-Jul-1877 in Adelong, NSW; died 30-Oct-1918 - Tumut, NSW. She married Frederick DARBY. iv. John Brockshire ROWE, born 06-Jan-1880 in Adelong, NSW; died 16-Aug-1970 - Albury Base Hospital, Albury, NSW. He married Jessie Joan Herbert HARRIS. v. Robert Nicholas ROWE, born 22-Nov-1881 in Adelong, NSW; died 23-Jul-1882 - Adelong, NSW.
Michael Patrick Killalea	Michael Patrick KILLALEA (Edward1) was born 24-Jan-1859 in Shellharbour, NSW - no birth certificate, and died Bet. 1947 - 1949 in Nambour, QLD. He married Bridget ROSS 20-Oct-1896 in St. Pauls Roman Catholic Church, Albion Park, NSW, daughter of James ROSS and Mary DRAIN. She was born 15-Jan-1875 in Airdrie, Scotland, and died Feb-1954 in Brisbane, QLD. Children of Michael KILLALEA and Bridget ROSS are: i. James Edward KILLALEA, born 15-Aug-1897 in Shellharbour, NSW; died 20-Aug-1986 in Redcliffe, Brisbane, QLD. He married (1) Violet Stella ELLIOTT, (2) Martha DAU. ii. John KILLALEA, born 05-Aug-1899 in Long Point, Shellharbour, NSW; died 23-Jul-1968 in Townsville, QLD. He married Rosina MOFFITT. iii. Michael Patrick KILLALEA, born 30-May-1901 in Shellharbour, NSW; died 27-Aug-1966 in ?. He married (1) Eva M BRIDGER, (2) Lillian Violet ROBINSON, (3) Nola MAXWELL, (4) Edna GOURLAY. iv. Mary Anne Aileen KILLALEA, born 04-Jun-1903 in Shellharbour, NSW. She married Robert STARLING 1940 in Waverley, Sydney, NSW; born Unknown in ?. v. Kathleen Elizabeth KILLALEA, born 15-Mar-1906 in Long Point Quarry, Long Point, Shellharbour, NSW; died 19-Nov-1992 in Nambour, QLD. She married Lionel Russell HOGUE. vi. Alice Maria KILLALEA, born 13-Jan-1909 in Shellharbour, NSW; died Jun-1994 in ?. She married Patrick Francis BURLEY. vii. Bernard R KILLALEA, born 1914 in Kiama, NSW; died 1916 in Kiama, NSW. viii. David Benedict KILLALEA, born 11-Jun-1916 in Kiama, NSW; died Abt. 1935. ix. Patrick Thomas KILLALEA, born 06-Nov-1918 in Mullumbimby, NSW; died 07-Mar-1994 in Nambour, QLD. He married Lorraine May JOHNS.
Patrick Killalea	Patrick KILLALEA (Edward1) was born 12-Nov-1860 in Shellharbour, NSW, and died Unknown in ?. Thought to have been a bachelor? It has been suggested that Patrick was Professor Cobbett’s secretary at Hobart, Tasmania.
Peter Joseph Killalea	Peter Joseph KILLALEA (Edward1) was born 17-Apr-1863 in Shellharbour, NSW, and died 08-Dec-1939 - Hobart, TAS. Never Married? Peter was thought to have been the Valet/Butler of Professor Pitt Cobbett of Hobart, Tasmania.
James Killalea *** Possibly known as James Thompson/ James Thomson or James Thomas	James KILLALEA (Edward1) was born 02-Mar-1866 in Shellharbour, NSW, and died Unknown in ?. + He is a mystery but was supposedly still alive at the time of his mother's death in 1914?
Ann Jane Killalea	Ann Jane KILLALEA (Edward1) was born 25-Aug-1869 in Shellharbour, NSW, and died 29-Mar-1898 in 28 years - Sydney, NSW. She married Thomas Robert KENNEDY 20-Jan-1889 in St. James Roman Catholic Church, Adelong, NSW, son of John KENNEDY and Elizabeth DOYLE. He was born 07-May-1862 in Adelong, NSW and died 19-Jan-1901 - Adelong, NSW. Children of Ann KILLALEA and Thomas KENNEDY are: i. Norman Thomas KENNEDY, born 05-Aug-1889 in Adelong, NSW; died 18-Dec-1937 in Canterbury Hospital, Campsie, Sydney, NSW. He married May MILNES. ii. Kerion KENNEDY, born 25-Dec-1891 in Glebe, Sydney, NSW; died 29-May-1915 in Dardanelles - killed in action WW1.
Agnes Killalea	Agnes KILLALEA (Edward1) was born 14-Mar-1871 in Shellharbour, NSW, and died 27-Dec-1963 - Randwick Nursing Home, Randwick, Sydney, NSW. She married (1) Edward Clifford MELSON 14-Jun-1899 in Independent Presbyterian Church, 471 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW, son of Edward MELSON and Elizabeth BAMFIELD. He was born Abt. 1869 in London, England, and died Abt. 1906 - America - earthquake. She married (2) Henry STREET 1908 in Sydney, NSW. He died 19-Apr-1919. Children of Agnes KILLALEA and Edward MELSON are: i. Aileen Josephine MELSON, born 05-Oct-1896 in Sydney, NSW; died 20-Feb-1965 - St. Vincents Hospital, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW. She married John Wilfred CAIN. ii. Muriel MELSON, born 1900 in Sydney, NSW; died 10-Oct-1946 in 46 years - place unknown. She married Hercules Alfred DAVIS.

+ Rumour within the family suggests that one or maybe both these boys may have used the surname Thompson/Thomson or possibly Thomas and been in the Victorian goldfields.

*** *** ***

OTHER KNOWN INFORMATION OR COMMENTS:- Maria frustrated Leanne Kellalea who was our main researcher for over 30 years and below are some interesting facts and thoughts presented by Leanne about Maria Campbell before she sadly passed away in 2010.

The following will show what problems researchers can have an how frustrating it can become but any assistance with Maria would be greatly appreciated.   The following are interesting items taken from Leanne's notes:-

Maria Killalea, my Great Great Great Grandmother, a woman shrouded in mystery. To this day, after 20 years of research, I am still not sure who she really was and where she originally came from. She is a very complex woman - her background I have not been able to fully solve. It seems that every which way I turn or any new lead that is obtained, more problems are created.

When Maria met Edward Killalea is not known. Research to date suggests that Maria and her family - "James and Mary Campbell" - were from Lot 11 on the Towns Estate at Shellharbour. I have often wondered whether Edward could have been working for the Campbell family during his Ticket of Leave term.

I will come back to James and Mary Campbell later as I have only known of them for a few years, and they also, like Maria, are a mysterious couple, and I question their true relationship to her.

In the first instant, Maria was quite confusing as on the various certificates in relation to her children there was much conflicting information with regards to her age and place of birth, and much to my dismay her maiden name. Some certificates say she was born in Dublin, whilst others say England, and I believe that she was born sometime between 1830 - 1835. Her death certificate claims she was born as early as 1820.

The first problems arose with Edward and Maria’s marriage and from as early as 1847 it has been a never ending struggle with conflicting and misleading information. The marriage certificate states:

• I, Edward Killelae do hereby declare that I am a Member of, or hold Communion with the Roman Catholic Church and I, Maria Molright do hereby declare that I am a Member of, or hold Communion with the Roman Catholic Church and I, Peter Young of Wollongong, Minister of the Illawarra Roman Catholic Church do hereby certify that Edward Killelae of Shellharbour and Maria Molright of Shellharbour were joined together in wedlock by me, on the 15th day of July, 1847 at Jamberoo in the presence of John Daly and Mary Daly.

Jamberoo is a few miles west of Shellharbour. Unfortunately there is no provision on the marriage certificate for their respective ages or names of parents. Edward had already received his Ticket of Leave by this time and was free to marry, however he still had to obtain permission as he was still classified a convict and had not yet been pardoned. What was actually found was a refusal of their application to marry. Information on this document at first looked very promising, but on close investigation the mystery had just begun.

• Edward Killalea aged 31 years who had arrived on board "Captain Cook 3" and was sentenced to life and in receipt of his Ticket of Leave was refused to marry Mary Rolwright aged 17 years who had arrived on board "Alex’r Kerr" as a free person. The reason given for the refusal was "consent of guardian required". The refusal was dated September, 1847 by P. Young, Clergyman of Wollongong.

How very strange as Maria had infact already married Edward Killalea on 15th July, 1847 at Jamberoo by the very same Peter Young who was refusing this request.

A check of New South Wales and finally Victorian and Tasmanian shipping records failed to find a ship by the name Alex'r Kerr. Of course at this time I had no idea who Maria lived with or who her guardian was - I might add this is something I still do not know today. I do however know that she was a resident of Shellharbour as stated on the marriage certificate. About the only thing I learnt from this document was that Maria (who also called herself Mary) was 17 years of age in 1847 and most probably born c1830. Then I looked at Molright and Rolwright. The marriage certificate is typed and not a photocopy of the original entry. On inquiring at the Registry in Sydney they informed me that all early church records (pre 1856) are typed, as the information obtained from the church parishes are written in large books, they were never able to photocopy them and have been transcribed by hand. I believe somebody has misinterpreted Rolright for Molright and to this day I have never seen Molright recorded again.

Twelve children were born to Edward and Maria and it is from a combination of their children’s baptism; birth; marriage and death certificates that the mystery of Maria deepens.

Edward’s death certificate 17.8.1872 claims that he married Maria Campbell, yet the marriage certificate states he married Maria Molright.

Maria’s death certificate 8.12.1914 claims she was 94 years old and born in England. No parents are recorded. It is stated that she married Edward Killalea when she was 14 years old and married on arrival. The informant is a friend. I find it very interesting that the informant claims that Maria married on arrival, how would a person know such a thing unless they had been told. However I feel uneasy about this prospect as you will see, as the story of Maria unfolds.

Three of her children have conflicting information recorded on other certificates:

Mary claims on her marriage certificate and John’s death certificate claim that their mother was Maria Campbell, their respective baptism and birth recording Rolwright and Roltright.

The certificate that intrigues me the most is Agnes’ marriage certificate. Agnes claims that her mother was Maria Rollwright, yet her birth certificate says Campbell. I take this information from Agnes’ marriage certificate very seriously. Edward died when Agnes was a baby thereby leaving Maria to raise Agnes by herself and I have no doubt the two of them had a close and special relationship - they did live together in adulthood for some time and Agnes was the one to receive many of her mothers belongings when she died. What did Agnes know about the name Rolright, a surname that her mother used many years before she was born?

One very special item that is the possession of Agnes’ descendants is a prayer book from the Ursuline Convent in Cork, Ireland. The story handed down through the generations is that this Prayer book belonged to Agnes’s mother Maria and she brought it with her when she came to Australia. If I thought I had problems with Maria up to this point I was not prepared for what was to follow. Through a combination of correspondence and a visit to the Ursuline Convent by family members on a trip to Ireland some years ago the following was unearthed.

The Convent have authentic record lists from 1837 onwards and there is no surname of Rolright or Molright or any variation of this to be found.

Sister Ursula Clarke from the Convent found an entry for 2 girls, obviously sisters, on the list of those who paid School Entrance Fees:-

• From January 1846 - January 1847 From January 1847 - January 1848

• 2 - "M. Campbell's" 1st year and  -  2 'M. Campbell's" 2nd year.

• That is the end of each entry and there is no other entry after 1847. Sister Ursula Clarke presumes that M. = Misses.

She then checked the Register of the Sodality of the Children of Mary and found as follows:-

• Received into the Sodality, March 31, 1847

• M. Campbell and E. Campbell.

Under E. Campbell somebody had written in at a later date:-

"Ursuline Nun. Ellen Campbell, in religion Sr. Evangelist daughter of John Campbell and Maria Grace was born and baptised in the Parish of Clontarf, November 5, 1830. Entered the Noviciate June 30th, 1853 and took the holy habit of religion February 23rd, 1854 and made Profession March 2nd, 1856 in the Church of this Monastery of St. Ursula, Blackrock, Cork". Departed this life September 20, 1909. Ellen Campbell is buried in the Convent Cemetery at Blackrock.

I am led to believe that the Parish of Clontarf is in Dublin. Do we presume that M. Campbell is Maria or is this just pure coincidence? - Maria had to have had some sort of association with the Convent - why else would she have one of their prayer books. When this information was received from the Ursuline Convent I felt that at last we were getting somewhere - but - as with everything else to do with Maria I was left with many questions.

• 1. School entrance fees paid January 1846 - January 1847.

• 2. School entrance fees paid January 1847 - January 1848.

• 3. Surname Campbell - no record of Rolright or Molright found.

• 4. Received in Sodality - 31.3.1847.

Taking into account the above dates, how could Maria have had time to sail to Australia, meet Edward, marry in the July and have her first child born in the December.

If Maria did leave the Convent soon after she was Received in Sodality in March, 1847 she would only have barely enough time to arrive in Australia in the July of 1847, where she married Edward Killalea on the 15th of that month. On her death certificate it does state she married on arrival. Why did she leave Ireland at such a young age and who brought her here, and why the different surnames?

And then another problem - could Maria have already been pregnant - could this be the reason for leaving the Convent.

Maria did marry on 15th July, 1847, and if she did in fact marry on her arrival in Australia, there is only a 5 month time span until the birth of her first child Thomas, who was born on 22nd of December 1847. It seems highly improbable that a child would survive birth only 5 months into the pregnancy. Even with today’s medical advancements, the chances of survival would be pretty slim let alone what it would have been like back in 1847 where woman gave birth at home with minimal or no assistance. However from March to December, 1847 is surprisingly 9 months!!

Is Thomas, her first child, really Edward's child? This idea I do not like to entertain as I descend from Thomas' branch !!

I decided to leave her at this point and did not continue with any research on Maria for many years. Considering my jumbled lot of information on her, I was quite apprehensive about what might turn up next. But sure enough, turn up it did - in the form of James and Mary Campbell. They were found by complete accident and I shall briefly explain how this came about.

I was contacted in September, 1995 by Sonia Bianchetto from Southern Skills Training Company regarding a project that they were about to begin, which was to research the European history of Killalea State Recreation Area. Sonia also is a Trust member of Killalea State Recreation Area and because of this she had a knowledge of my research into Edward Killalea. She invited me to come up to Shellharbour with the prospect of furthering my own research and also helping her with the information already found connected with Edward Killalea. This was an opportunity too good to refuse and in early January, 1996 I travelled to Shellharbour, staying for 3 days. A lot of ground was covered during this brief but very worthwhile visit.

In the following months, in preparation for the book they were to publish, this project team of 10 students headed by Sonia unearthed an abundance of information about this parcel of land. A great deal of their knowledge was gained through reading the old newspapers of the area. From this I received 2 wonderful letters that Edward had written to the editor of the paper amongst other vital information about his endeavours to enter local Council well before he eventually did. But the most wonderful newspaper articles found, were the editorials on the death of James Campbell and the administration of his estate, which made mention to Maria Killalea, his lawful daughter and next of kin. I have included these as they make very interesting reading. You feel as if you could have been there.

Well you can imagine how I felt about this - this was a major breakthrough - at long last Maria belonged to someone!!! Well at least I thought so for a while, little did I realise this encounter was to disappoint once again.

James Campbell accidentally died on the evening of Friday 19th May, 1865. He was killed in tragic circumstances when the dray he was driving overturned, after apparently one of it’s wheels hit a hole in the road. An inquest into his death was held the following day at the Steam Packet Inn at Shellharbour, whereby the verdict of accidental death was returned. He was buried at Shellharbour the next day, Sunday 21st May where a large gathering had attended his funeral.

Eight months elapsed before an advert appeared in the "Kiama Independent" to the effect that Maria Killalea, his lawful daughter and next of kin was to make application to the Supreme Court of New South Wales - but it was not until some 10 months later that the estate of James Campbell was finally settled in favour of Maria Killalea on the 8th October, 1866.

Having James Campbell’s date of death I applied for his death certificate and could hardly wait for its return. The receipt of his death certificate was very disappointing and the following information was obtained:

James Campbell was 60 years old when he died on 19th May, 1865 at Shellharbour. The death certificate states he was born in Scotland and had been in the colony of New South Wales for 30 years. James Campbell’s parents are unknown. He married Mary Degan (deceased). The date and place of marriage are not recorded. There are no children listed for the marriage. His cause of death was accidental by upsetting of a dray. His occupation listed as Labourer. James Campbell was buried at Shellharbour on 21st May, 1865. Robert B. Fry the Coroner of Kiama was the informant on the death certificate.

Although the Coroner is the informant for his death certificate, somebody still had to give him the personal information that was recorded - this could only have been Maria as his wife was already deceased. Why did Maria not list herself as his child? As James Campbell’s death certificate showed his wife was already deceased, I went in search of Mary Campbell’s year of death. With the absence of Maria on James Campbell’s death certificate I hoped that I would find Maria on Mary’s death certificate and just maybe find the name Rolright. Maybe, I thought, James Campbell had married Mrs. Mary Degan and her maiden name was Rolright, and that Maria was her child from a previous relationship. It would appear no such luck, only 1 marriage is recorded.

Mary Campbell was 60 years old when she died on 17th August, 1861 at Shellharbour. The death certificate states she was born in Kings County, Ireland (this is now known as County Offaly) and had been in the colony of New South Wales for 20 years. Mary Campbell’s parents are unknown. She married James Campbell at Dublin, but the year is not recorded. There are no children from the marriage. Her cause of death is unknown but she had been unwell for 12 months. Mary Campbell was buried at Shellharbour on 19th August, 1861. Her husband, James Campbell of Shellharbour was the informant on the death certificate.

Although both their death certificates state they did not have any children, I firmly believe that Maria Killalea has some close relationship to them, considering the fact that Maria is the beneficiary of James Campbell’s estate and described as his lawful daughter and next of kin and his obituary refers to his daughter, Mrs Killalea.

So what was the relationship between James and Mary Campbell and Maria?. Were they a couple who, not having any children of their own, adopted Maria or were they relatives. What ever the answer may be it appears they were not her biological parents.

Is it coincidence that Maria used the surname of Campbell on various certificates from the time of James Campbell’s death in 1865, although she did use Campbell on her 3rd child’s baptism in 1851. I must not dismiss the other maiden name - Rolright. It was used far to often.

Was she English or Irish? - Another question that I am confronted with. I am probably more inclined to believe that Maria was Irish for a couple of reasons. Toward the end of her life, Maria lived with one of her sons, Michael. The eldest child of this family, James (now deceased) told me of his memories of his grandmother when she was living with them. He was quite adamant that she was Irish and remembers her stories to his brothers and sisters of "the little people" which sounds very Irish to me. I must also not discount the prayer book from the Convent in Cork - although I am not sure what part it plays in the life of Maria.

And what of her "parents"? From James Campbell’s death notice it is recorded that "deceased was a very old resident of Shellharbour, he was a leaseholder under Captain Towns for many years". Fortunately a very old, but not dated map is in existence and shows the Towns Estate with its various allotments and on Lot 11 lived a Campbell family. This incidentally is across the paddock from where Edward and Maria were to eventually settle on the Darley Estate. This may have been how Edward and Maria met one another. But when did the Campbell family come to Shellharbour.

It is recorded that Captain Robert Towns brought out 14 Scottish families for Dunmore Lang in 1837 and many more Scottish families migrated to the area between 1838 and 1841 or could they have been settled by Caroline Chisholm in 1843 on the ‘Towns Estate’.

Many issues have not been resolved about Maria’s life before she came to Australia. It is still unclear when and where she was born and the year of her arrival. The true identity of her parents is also yet to be determined.

We can really only speculate on what Maria’s life may have been like. Women endured enormous hardship on the land as I’m sure Maria did in her 84 years of life.

Women were expected to produce many children thus providing more hands to work the farm and accordingly women followed one pregnancy with another, as was the case with Maria. All the children would have been born at home on the farm with Maria receiving minimum assistance for each birth. She was only about 17 years of age when she began her family and over the next 24 years she was to give birth to 12 children being 41 years old when she completed her family.

Apart from nursing her babies and caring for sick children, she no doubt played a big part in the daily routine chores of the farm.

Their days would have started before sunrise and not finishing until after sunset. The milking of the cattle took place twice a day, this was then churned by hand to make the butter for which they sold. There was the feeding of their dairy stock, young cattle, working bullocks, horses, pigs, cultivating the land, planting and gathering of their crops, fences to be maintained, cooking, the washing of clothes with scrub boards and home made soap.

And, although as the children grew older they would have helped with these tasks, the first years of their marriage would have been a difficult and uncompromising time. Their livelihood was also threatened time and time again with natural disasters of droughts, floods and fires. If all of this was not enough to experience, Maria also had to contend with her husbands drinking and somehow manage the farm after Edward’s death.

Maria was about 42 years of age when she was widowed and during the next 42 years of her life there were born 41 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren and sadly she was predeceased by 2 of her children and 3 of her grandchildren.

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