Our McEvoy Family, South Australia
This page: The immigrants, Dennis McEvoy and Ann Jane Carson arrived 1840
OTHER FAMILY WEB PAGES: 
2nd generation Catherine, John, William Andrew, Dennis Matthew McEvoy, and families;
2nd generation Joseph and family;
3rd generation Fred and family;
List of Family Members in these pages
Dennis McEvoy
Dennis (Denis) McEvoy, an agricultural labourer, embarkation no, 7111, aged 28 years, came out to Australia from Blackrock in Dublin, Ireland, arriving at Pt Adelaide on 17th June, 1840 aboard the Charles Kerr, accompanied by his sister Catherine McEvoy, a dairymaid aged 20, embarkation no. 4264. Their agent was RJ Lang, Esq. Rumour has it that another sister was set to accompany Dennis but changed her mind and Catherine took her place. It is thought they were half English on their mother's side and half Irish. The Charles Kerr left London on March 6th, 1840 and travelled via Gravesend. There were 216 passengers with Captain Harford Arnold.We know nothing about the life of Denis and Catherine before they came to Australia or even where they came from, though it is assumed it was County Laois, then called Queen's County. It is unbelievable that this information isn't recorded somewhere, either here or in Ireland. Would a son and daughter/brother and sister just head off into the blue and no one mention it?
Catherine McEvoy Henry
Catherine McEvoy, (pictured at right), born 1820 married another Irish immigrant, Thomas Henry, son of John Henry and Ann Murphy born in County Meath, Ireland in 1812, on 6-7-1841, only a year after she arrived in Australia, and in March, 1842, moved to New Zealand. The Henry family bible states that Catherine was the daughter of Patrick McEvoy and Mary Bowes (best guess-this surname is almost unreadable) of Queen's County, Ireland. Catherine and Thomas were married in Adelaide by William Benson, the same priest who later married Dennis and Ann. They had 7 children: Mary Henry, John Henry, Thomas Henry, Catherine Henry, Ann Henry, Margaret Henry, James Francis Henry. Thomas died 9-9-1890 and Catherine on 9-10-1895.
Here is a letter supplied by Keith Sloane of New Zealand, written to Catherine McEvoy Henry. Some words in this letter are not decipherable.
There are no paragraphs and some errors in punctuation and spelling but I thought it best to reproduce the letter as faithfully as possible.
It is beautifully written and most evocative of life lived closely in the shadow of death. The picture shows the 1902 wedding of Mary Neville,
to Henry Sloane, grandson of Catherine and Thomas Henry in New Zealand. Mary Henry married James Sloane in 1865 and both are seated at
front on the right.
Athy County Kildare Ireland
January 3rd, 1858.
My dear Sister,
I have received your most welcome letter and was rejoiced to hear of you and all your family being in the
enjoyment of good health. My own health has been very delicate for some time past, and indeed I cannot say I am improving; but
Catherine is getting on well after recovering from a tedious and lingering illness, which I thought would prove fatal, but happily
she is now in a fair way of recovery, and I trust will soon be quite well again. The other children are all well. But Bryan you would
not know him now, if you saw him, he is no longer the strong healthy man that you knew him; he is very much changed and very
delicate. Mary and her family are well, also Anne and family, and send their love to you. I have had a letter from Denis, a day or
two after I received yours, himself and family were quite well at that time. And he also asked me most particularly to send him your
address. He said he thought you must have changed your place of residence as he wrote to you several times and received no answer. I
have not heard from G... this long time indeed I'm beginning to think I shall never hear from him again I don't know his address.
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I now beg to return you my sincere thanks, for my sisters as well as for myself, for your kind present, which was one we neither
expected, nor deserved, and which you were kind enough to leave at my disposal. But you may rest assured my dear sister that I will
dispose of it in such a manner, as I think you would approve of, and my poor Mother would wish if she lived. Bryan desired me most
particularly to present to you and to Mr. Henry, his sincere thanks for your great kindness, which he says he never can or never
will forget...Indeed we can never thank you sufficiently, and particularly Mr. Henry, who never saw us nor never knew us. This country
is in a sad state at present, no business doing, the shop-keepers and trades-men are perfectly idle walking through the streets,
banks failing and bringing ruin on hundreds of poor families, the most respectable houses failing in business; all these things
have occured so frequently of late that people cease to wonder at them. The tide of emigration has (started) again there are great numbers
going to Australia. During the last three or four years this country improved very much, and commerce was in a most flourishing state.
So that I'm entirely at a loss to know how to account for the recent dullness. Doubtless the war with India has contributed to it in a great
measure.
It gave me great pleasure to read Mary's letter for I judge from it that she must be a sensible, good-natured child and I'm sure it
must
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be a great pleasure and blessing to you to possess such a child. And it is to me a great consolation to know that we have
children, who though living so far apart will still correspond with each other when perhaps we no longer exist. Aunt Bridget and all
the family send their love to you, they are all quite well. I'm sure you must think it great neglect on my part for not answering your
letter sooner, but at the time I received your letter, Bryan was lying dangerously ill of inflamation of the bowls, this was
the third attack of it that he has had; his life was dispaired of by Doctors Hereen(?) and Kinsey, and he received the last rites of
the church and was prepared for death; but thank God he is recovering and able to be up though he still continues very delicate.
And that was the reason I delayed not wishing to write untill he would be better, myself and the children were round him while
he continued bad expecting every breath he drew to be his last. Denis mentioned in his letter that he purchased a new farm,
for which he gave 3 hundred pounds and he is getting on very well, he has 7 children. I wrote to him this week and sent him
your address his address is, Port Gawler Adeliade South Australia. Bryan and the children join me in love to you Mr H. and the children.
your affectionate sister
Margaret Kilbride.
The Carsons
Ann Jane Carson born 17-4-1824, Ireland, died 22-8-1920, arrived in Australia on 1st October, 1840, aboard
the Mary Dugdale with her family. She was the
daughter of John Carson and Mary (Wells) Carson and was one of 4 children including
Matilda Carson born 1826 died 16 Jan, 1908, Robert Johnson Carson born c. 1828 died 11-11-1913 and Johnson Carson born c.1833
died c.1897. The family is said to have come from Milecross Newtownards in Northern Ireland, near Belfast.
Mary Carson was born Mary Wells c.1789. Her death notice appeared in the
South Australian Advertiser on Monday, January 29, 1883:
CARSON.-On the 23rd January, at Native Point,
district of Port Gawler, Mary, the wife of John Carson, sen, aged 94. Arrived in the colony in 1840. She is buried at Two Wells Cemetery under the name Mary Carsons. John Carson born c. 1789 was a
wheelwright and a farmer in Australia and died aged 96 or 98 years on 28-3-1887 at Pinery Point, District of Gawler and is buried at Two Wells
The Carson Family Tree.
To get an idea of life at this time, you can browse online newspapers and magazines from the National Library of Australia
Dennis and Jane
Dennis married
Ann Jane Carson, usually known as Jane, pictured at left in later life as "Grandma Plunkett," born 17-4-1824, Ireland,
on 25th April, 1843 in Adelaide. They were employed by Mr Angus McLean at first but bought land at Dry Creek, 20 miles from Adelaide.
Some details (not necessarily correct) of their early life were given in an obituary about their daughter Catherine, on her death.
The first six children were born at Dry Creek but they then moved to the hundred of Port Gawler to live near the Gawler River at Lewiston close to Two Wells in 1854. They paid 300 pounds for the property. The last two children were born at Port Gawler.
Dennis McEvoy and 4 other men, including Johnson Carson, are mentioned as
members of a committee to prepare plans and costs for the erection of a building for educational purposes in March 1855
on Page 136 Life around the Light and in Two Wells Then and Now by Bet Williams.
At right is a plaque for the Lewiston
School. The Adelaide Almanack, (on micro fiche) Town and Country Directory, Guide to SA for 1863 and 1865 by Josiah Boothby, lists
Dennis "McIvoy" as a farmer, Section 163, Reeves Plains.
The following article comes from The Adelaide Chronicle, April 26th, 1919 on page 36, columns D and E.
Mrs Plunkett, who completed her 95th year on April 17, came to South Australia in the Mary Dugdale in 1840 with her parents (the late Mr and Mrs John Carson).
She was born in Ireland on Easter Sunday morning, April 17, 1824. She was married to Mr Dennis McEvoy by Father Benson at North Adelaide in 1843, and settled on a small piece of land at Dry Creek. There were few horses or cattle here then, and the cultivation even of a few acres was difficult. She bought two cows from the South Australian Company and often she walked across Gilles Plains with her butter to Adelaide.
Her husband secured a team of bullocks and carted ore from Burra to Port Adelaide. There were
many natives about, but she stayed alone, as they were friendly and harmless.
It took nine days to do the trip via Port Adelaide to Burra . There was a camping ground where
Salisbury stands and she would always tell when her husband would be home by the
notes of his bullock bell.
They moved from Dry Creek to Gawler River, then named Lewiston, in 1854. The land
was hard to break up and not very good. Mr McEvoy met with an accident which caused his
death in 1865, and his widow was left with a young family.
This was the first red rust year in the state, and many crops were valueless.
She married Mr Luke Plunkett some years later, and he died in 1901. She says the day of the wooden plough and sickle were the happiest days. She has 43 grandchildren, 72 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. The youngest and oldest of the five generations are living. Mrs Plunkett, who lives in Balaklava, can still thread a needle and do a little sewing.
The Advertiser June 25, 1901, page 4
PLUNKETT:On the 19th June, at Gawler Plains, Luke Plunkett, aged 74 years. R.I.P.
The Adelaide Chronicle September 4, 1920, page 27
PLUNKETT: On the 22nd August, at North Adelaide, Ann Jane, the beloved wife of the late Luke Plunkett,
aged 96 years. A colonist of 80 years. Dearly beloved and highly respected by a
large circle of friends. R.I.P.
Dennis senior died in a tragic accident on 25-7-1865 at Pt Gawler aged 60 years according to
the certificates but aged 53 years if he really was 28 years old when he arrived in Australia. We presume he was
actually 35 years old when he came to Australia-perhaps younger migrants were being sought? Cause of death was
an injury to the spine. A death notice in The Register for Friday, August 4th, 1865 said, McEVOY:On the 25th
July, Denis McEvoy, Port Gawler, aged 60 years-a colonist of 25 years' standing, and regretted by a large circle
of friends. 
A news story about him in The South Australian Advertiser left, from Monday, August 7th, 1865 gives the sad circumstances of his death and says that he was buried in Gawler. The Supplement to The South Australian Weekly Chronicle of August 5th, 1865, on Page 328 (microfilm) contains exactly the same article.
Another similar article about the death appeared in The Register, right, on Monday, August 7th, 1865. The same article also appeared in The Observer of about the same date.
Unfortunately, editions of the Gawler Bunyip for late July and August 1865 are missing from the Adelaide Library. A search of the Bunyip for these times at the Gawler office also failed to provide any information about Dennis. So far we have been unable to find any record of Dennis McEvoy being buried in Gawler. He is not listed on the Pioneer Park memorial.
Pat Sheehan of Gawler, kindly consulted the parish register of St Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Gawler, and in February 1863 the Catholic priest from Gawler, Father Roe, left and after that the district was without a resident priest but attended by Adelaide clergy until 1866. Records of burials were not kept during this time although a note does say that all burials were in the existing council cemetery, which would be Pioneer Park. The town council also seems to have been in disarray at the time. The investigation continues. Here is Dennis McEvoy's will
The Children of Dennis and Jane McEvoy
There were nine children, one daughter and 8 sons. Edward and Robert McEvoy, did not marry. Daniel McEvoy had 5 children but there seem to be no descendants from that family-2 children died young and 3 daughters appear not to have married. Francis had 4 children, one of whom, Harrold, died at Gallipoli but the other children also appear to have had no issue. This means that of Dennis and Ann Jane Carson's 9 children, only the first 5, Catherine, John Peter, William, Joseph and Dennis (twins) have current descendants.Three of the McEvoy boys, 1.3 William Andrew McEvoy,1.5 Joseph Michael McEvoy and 1.4 Dennis Matthew McEvoy, married 3 Case daughters, Catherine Lucy Case (Mahony), Eliza Anne Case and Ellen Jane Case, who were the children of Emanual and Jane Case (nee Starr/s). 1.1.1 Mary Jane Quinn, daughter of 1.1 Catherine McEvoy, their sister, married a Case, Emanuel William, known as William Case, while 1.1.7 Patrick Dennis Quinn, Catherine's 7th child, married another Ellen Jane Case.
Emanual migrated to SA in 1838 aboard the Canton, 2 years earlier than the
McEvoys and Carsons. Emanual Case was born around 13-11-1815, the son of John and Hester Case. They lived in
Corscombe, Dorset, England. There was one other son, Nathaniel who died on 15-1-1829 aged 14 years. In the 1841
census of South Australia Emanuel was listed as living in district B south of Adelaide. He was married on
6-11-1844 by Father Michael Ryan who had arrived in South Australia just that day, and died 1-8-1898 at Coonatto,
SA, aged 82 years and is buried at Hammond.
Jane Starr was the daughter of Peter and Catherine Starr of Little Para who arrived aboard the Dauntless on 10-7-1840 together with brother Francis and sisters Ann, Catherine and Ellen, sailing from Greenock, Scotland. Jane was born 1821-1823 at Fintona, County Tyrone, Ireland. She died at her residence 'Coonatoo', SA on 25-5-1893 and is also believed to be buried at Hammond.
According to The McPharlin Family history, Matilda Carson, sister of Ann Carson married John McPharlin. Their son, John, had a house, Lysander, built "by two local lads both under 30 years of age named McEvoy." These lads were obviously also nephews of Matilda living in the same area near Two Wells. In fact, there is now a McPharlin Road very near the area where the McEvoy family lived.
The Directory of SA, 1876, lists the McEvoy brothers as farmers, Broughton Extension and Dennis McEvoy as a farmer, Grace Plains. The directory of 1881 lists the McEvoy brothers as farmers at Booleroo, Dennis as still at Grace Plains and Joseph as a farmer at Tarcowie.
1.1 Catherine Mary (Kitty) McEvoy born 1844 at Dry Creek, attended Ardtornish School, died 19-8-1928 buried Jamestown Cemetery married James Francis Quinn born c.1842 in County Clare, Ireland, died 9-6-1929 Pt Pirie, buried Jamestown, on 20-2-1865 at St Patrick's Church, Adelaide. A check of the passenger lists shows 6 Quinns arriving aboard the Nugget on April 3rd, 1858- Daniel 26 of Clare, and the rest from Galway, John aged 26, Thomas aged 24 and James aged 17, labourers, and Bridget 19 and Mary 21, both listed as servants. There is a belief in the family that Jim Quinn was related to Ned Kelly's mother, a Quinn, and that Ned Kelly spent some time on the run from the police in a hut near Jamestown. Jim met Catherine at Pt Gawler. Later they moved to Mannanarie and to Booleroo Centre and then to Hammond where they farmed successfully until a big drought in 1897. They moved to Wirrabarra and finally to Jamestown, 9 surviving children:
- 1.1.1 Mary Jane Quinn (Case) born 11-11-1865 died 4-8-1948
- 1.1.2 Susan Frances Quinn (Gregory) born 12-10-1867 died 25-12-1914
- 1.1.3 Catherine Alice Quinn (McQuillan) born 1-11-1869 died 13-6-1956
- 1.1.4 *John Quinn born 5-2-1872 died 12-2-1936
- 1.1.5 *Thomas Joseph Quinn born 5-2-1872 died 10-8-1949
- 1.1.6 James Francis Quinn born 20-7-1873 died 26-7-1968
- 1.1.7 Patrick Dennis Quinn born 1879 died 1-7-1948
- 1.1.8 Ellen Bridget Quinn (Phillis) born 1-1-1882 died 17-6-1932
- 1.1.9 Robert Edward Quinn born 8-12-1886 died 16-4-1971
MRS. QUINN
Mrs. Quinn, wife of Mr.
James Quinn, died on Sunday, August 26, aged 85 years.
Mrs. Quinn claimed to be one of the oldest living residents born in this state. She was born at Dry
Creek in 1843, and was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. McAvoy. Her father arrived from Ireland in
1839, and her mother in 1840, by the sailing ship Mary Dagdale. Mrs. Quinn's parents were employed
by Mr. Angus McLean, and were married in Adelaide in 1842. After their marriage they secured a
small holding about a mile and a half from where the stockyards now stand, where Mrs. Quinn was
born. When of school-going age she attended Artormish school. When she was 13 years of age her
parents left Dry Creek and went to live near Gawler River, afterwards called Lewiston, where she
finished her education she married Mr. James Quinn in 1864, and lived in the Port Gawler district
for a few years, and then went to the Light River. Later they moved to Mannanarie, but, having
only a small holding, they secured land in the hundred of Booleroo.
This land was heavy and difficult to work with limited capital, so they moved to Hammond and farmed
with success for a few years until the big drought from 1892 to 1896 forced them to leave.
They went to Belalie, then to Wirrabara, and finally settled in Jamestown. There was a family of
four daughters and five sons. A daughter (Mrs. Gregory) and a son (Mr. John Quinn) died.
The husband (Mr. James Quinn) is still alive and has reached the age of 89 years. The surviving
family are Mrs. W. Case, Peterborough; Mrs. H. McQuillan, Jamestown; Mrs. L. R. Phillis, Port Pirie;
Messrs. Thomas Quinn, Malpas; James Quinn, Oodnadatta; Patrick Quinn, Yongala; and Robert Quinn,
Wirrabara. There are 32 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
In the previous edition of The Adelaide Chonicle of September 1, 1928, page 20, there was also a small obituary about Catherine Quinn:
MRS. QUINN
Mrs Quinn, wife of Mr. James Quinn, who died recently at Jamestown, at the age of 85, was one
of the oldest native born South Australians. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dennis McAvoy, who
migrated from Ireland, and were married in Adelaide in 1842. Mrs Quinn was married in 1864. Mr Quinn
survives at the age of 89 with the following family Mesdames W. Case, Peterborough; H. McQuillan,
Jamestown; L. R. Phillis, Port Pirie; and Messrs. Thomas Quinn, Malpas; James Quinn, Oodnadatta;
Patrick Quinn, Yongala; and Robert Quinn, Wirrabara.
The Adelaide Chronicle, June 20, 1929, page 53
MR. JAMES QUINN
A well-known resident of Jamestown, Mr. James Quinn, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. R. L. Phillis, of Port Pirie, last week, after a short illness. He was born in County Clare, Ireland, in 1840, and with three brothers and four sisters, of whom he was the youngest, came to this State in the ship Nugget in 1854. At an early age he went to work on Inchequin station near Clare, for Mr. John Gleeson, and was later employed in the Port Gawler district, where he was married to Miss Catherine Dennis (they meant McEvoy) in 1864. After a few years he went to the Light River district. Later Mr. Quinn moved to Mannanarie, taking up a small holding, and then to Hammond, where he farmed with success for a few years. He was forced to leave during the big drought of 1892 to 1896. He then went to Wirrabara and finally settled in Jamestown. In 1887 Mr Quinn joined in the gold rush to the Teetulpa fields. There was a family of five sons and four daughters, but one daughter, (Mrs. Gregory) and a son (Mr. John Quinn) died. Mrs. Quinnn died last August. The surviving members of the family are:- Mrs. W. Case, Peterborough, Mrs. H. McQuillan (Jamestown), Mrs. L. R. Phillis (Port Pirie), Messrs. T. Quinn (Malpas), James Quinn (Oodnadatta), Patrick Quinn (Yongala), and R. Quinn (Wirrabara).
1.2 John (Peter) McEvoy born 1-4-1845 at Dry Creek died 30-6-1898 married Mary Anne Hallion born c.1840, at St
Peter and Paul Cathedral, Gawler on 23-4-1866. According to the Marriage Registry, John was the eldest son of the
late Dennis McEvoy of Port Gawler and Mary was the youngest daughter of the late Mr John Hallion, formerly of
Kildare, Ireland. John and Mary lived at Lower Wakefield, Alma Plains, Salter Springs and Clare, 10 children:
1.3 William Andrew McEvoy born 4-8-1847 at Dry Creek died 20-7-1921 buried Burra, married Catherine Lucy
Mahony nee Case (father Emanuel Case) born 6-5-1849, died 6-6-1934, buried Sevenhills, a widow, at the Catholic
Church, Kadina on 1-12-1876 1.4 Dennis Matthew McEvoy born 31-1-1850 at Dry Creek died 26-1-1935 married Ellen Jane Case (father Emanuel Case) born
23-2-1862 at Gawler Hills, died 18-7-1934, on 6-1-1884 at St Raphael Church, Carrieton, farmed at Bute (listed in the 1903 PO directory in the alphabetical directory as a farmer, Bute),
Balaklava 1.6 Edward (Ted, Ned) McEvoy, born 30-6-1852 Dry Creek, god parents were James Sullivan and Anne Plunkett
died 4-7-1939, not married. "A wanderer but respectable." Buried in an unmarked grave at Sevenhill Cemetery.
1.7 Robert McEvoy, born 8-3-1855 at Dry Creek, died 6-10-1931 Jamestown, not married.
Farmed at Bute with brothers Frank, Daniel and Dennis but after the death of Luke Plunkett, his mother's second husband, he moved to
Balaklava and worked as a mason until his mother died in 1920, when he returned to Jamestown. He is buried at Jamestown.
William was a stone mason and taught his sons to build, 8 children:
8 children:
1.5 Joseph Michael (twin to 1.4
Dennis Matthew) born 31-1-1850 died 29-7-1930 married Eliza Ann Bridget Case on 21-8-1877 at St Martin's Church,
Redhill. Their information is found in more detail on this page, 8 surviving children:
born 2-12-1880 died 25-1-1962
On left: Some of the descendants of Joseph Michael McEvoy at Jan 6th, 2008 Reunion
On right: The school house at Muttabee near Hammond
where some of Joseph's children began school. Sadly deteriorating.
It is interesting to note that Edward and Robert had no descendants, but neither did the remaining 2 brothers, Daniel and Francis, whose 9 children
either died young or did not marry.
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1.8 Daniel Mathias McEvoy (pictured left)
born 19-6-1859 Gawler, occupation blacksmith and stonemason, res Gawler, died 9-2-1947 in Jeffcott Street, North
Adelaide married Louisa Cormack born 13-4-1860 in High Street, MacDuff, Scotland died 31-5-1945, on
29-12-1878 at St Aloysius Church, Sevenhill. Daniel is listed in 1903 PO directory as a blacksmith of Penwortham (near Clare and Sevenhill).
Both buried at St Aloysius Cemetery, Sevenhill. 5 children but it seems there are no descendants:
Louisa's sister, Mary Cormack, married Martin Dobell and they now have family in Canada who
are researching the family tree. Louisa Cormack came out to SA on the Atalanta
.gif)
1.9 Francis McEvoy born 18-6-1862 in Lewiston, SA, occupation mason, builder, farm labourer, died
14-6-1910 buried Balaklava, married Johanna Louise Zilm (Also shown as Hanna Louise, Louise, Louisa, Luise Hanna) born 12-10-1864 Nain SA,
daughter of Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Zilm and Johanne Luise Urbasch, at Willochra on 8-11-84. Res, Wiltunga nr Bute, Carrieton, Balaklava.
The family moved to Carrieton in about 1890 and Frank worked there as a builder. Information about the family may be found in The Zilms at Nain.
There were 4 children but no descendants:
After Frank McEvoy died suddenly, possibly of appendicitis, Louise married Patrick Sullivan born 1873, died 1915, on 29-12-1912 at the
Lutheran parsonage, Wakefield St, Adelaide. She was 48 and he was 39. Louise died on 27-1-1940.
Frank and Johanna are buried at Balaklava.
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Many thanks to John Kilmartin (sadly missed, died October, 2009) for researching most of the family information. I have also added details from 'A Wee Deoch and Doris, The Family of Doris Amy Munro nee McEvoy' by Robert J. Munro (with thanks), some from the internet taken on trust and from a sheet of information I have which was written in 1976 by Allan McEvoy, born 1902. Please email me with details of any mistakes you find.
Updated 23-12-2011