Summaries of the Lives of Four Convicts in Australia
Mary Hurley, John Copas, William Guthrick, and, Mary Carey
Information from the History Services NSW Databases contained in the following genealogical summaries of the
four convicts and their immediate families is shown in italics.

Mary Hurley

and Denis Francis Driscoll (free settler)

Denis Francis Driscoll was born in Ireland in approximately 1809 to Cornelius and
Mary Driscoll. His father, Cornelius was a weaver, an occupation that Denis was later
to follow in his earlier years. In later years his occupation was to be stated as a labourer
and a miner.

After arriving in Australia on the `Jupiter' on 22 February 1829 aged about 20 years,
it is possible that Denis may have spent some time in Sydney. Upon arrival in the colony
it is believed that Denis was in the employ of a well to do free settler or aristocrat, as
family legend indicates he came as a Batman or valet to a lord. This aristocrat may have
been Joseph Montefore, Esq. who arrived with Denis on the `Jupiter'. The Sydney Mail
of 24 February 1828 carried the following report on the arrival of the `Jupiter':
  
`On Sunday last arrived from London and Rio de Janeiro, the ship `Jupiter', captain
Heldy. She left London on the 22 August 1828 and Rio on the 24 November 1829 and
brings a valuable cargo of merchandise. Passengers; Joseph Montefiore, Esq.;
Mrs Montefiore, and 2 children; Mr. David Fatado and Mrs. Fatado; Mr. George Mucatto,
Captain Clements; Mrs. Clements, and 2 children; Mr. Thomas Foreman; Mr. Edmund
Green; and 15 steerage passengers'.

Joseph Barrow Montefiore was a wealthy merchant and financier who has been written
about in a number of historical publications including the Australian Dictionary of
Biography. The Historical Records of Australia [Volume 14; 27 June 1828] records the
Application that Montefiore sent to the colonial authorities before he left London which
sought the grant of a large portion of land in the colony. In his Application Montefiore
wrote:

`I respectively solicit a grant of five thousand acres of land, which if accorded, I shall forthwith proceed to the colony with my wife, child, brother and three domestics, taking with me a capital of ten thousand pounds, exclusively of which I have funded property here in trust to the amount of eight thousand pounds, and as the expense of proceeding thither will cost about seven hundred pounds I presume it will appear my means are entirely adequate'.

 

It is possible that Denis Driscoll was one of the domestics referred to in the above
application.
    
On 11 June 1833 Denis Driscoll (aged 24 years) married Mary Hurley (aged 20 years).
As Mary was still a convict under bond, Government approval for the marriage was
required. Rev. William Ullathorne, a Roman Catholic Chaplain in Sydney officiated.

Mary Hurley was a convict who arrived in the colony on the `Hooghly' on 27 September
1831 in company with her sister, Honora (Norah). The `Hooghly' sailed directly from
Cork to Australia in 95 days.

The following information is contained in the ship’s Indent of the `Hooghly' on Mary
Hurley:

Age: 19 Education: Reads Religion: Catholic Status: Single Native Place: Limerick Calling: House Maid Offence: Shop Lifting Where Tried: City of Limerick When Tried: October 1830 Sentence: 7 years Former Convictions: 6 Months Height: Five Feet One and Three Quarters Inches Complexion: Ruddy Face Colour of Hair: Brown Colour of Eyes: Hazel How Disposed Of (on arrival): S. J. Brown Note: Diagonal scar at top of forehead and small one on right side.

   
After her arrival in the Colony, Mary was assigned to a person with the name of
Brown.
 
The `1837 General Return of convicts in NSW' states the master of Mary Hurley to be
D. Driscoll [surname spelt Harley]. Mary Hurley received her Certificate of Freedom
in 1837 [NSW Government Gazette 15 November 1837] after completing her 7 year
sentence. Her sister, Honora, was sent to the colony to serve a 7 year sentence for
stealing clothes. Mary Hurley appears to have led an orderly life whilst a convict as
no adverse information was recorded against her by the colonial administrators. The
same cannot be said for her sister who is recorded as having escaped from her husband,
Richard Cornwall since 3 May 1834 [NSW Government Gazette 18 June 1834]. Honora
had been given permission to marry Richard Cornwall in the Bathurst area in 1833. Like
her sister, Honora received a Certificate of Freedom in 1837.

After their marriage it appears Denis and Mary moved to the West Maitland area, where
it believed Denis carried out labouring and mining type activities. He was recorded as a
labourer when his son John Joseph was born in 1839. During their life together, it is
believed that Denis and Mary had 11 children.

From the baptism records of several of their children it can be ascertained that the
Driscolls resided in the West Maitland area at least from 1835. By 1856 it appears that
the Driscoll's had moved to Ophir, probably following the gold rush, for it was at Ophir
in 1856 that the Driscoll's eldest son, Cornelius married Mary McConnell. Gold had
only been discovered at Ophir five years earlier by Hargreaves in 1851. It appears that,
prior to moving to Ophir, Denis and family had resided at Orange.

According to the Electoral Roll, Denis and his family had moved to Two Mile Flat,
which is located between Gulgong and Goolma, presumably in the search for gold, by
1869. By 1871, the Driscoll family had again moved to the nearby town of Gulgong.
In 1872 Denis Driscoll (senior) while residing at Gulgong, purchased 100 shares, each
valued at 10 Shillings, in the Sandhurst Quartz Mining Company Limited. This company
was formed in 1872 in order to undertake mining activities at Back Creek, near
Gulgong [NSW Government Gazette].

While at Gulgong, the Driscoll family became well established in the town’s affairs
as the following examples illustrate:

*Denis was appointed by the Bench of Magistrates at Gulgong to be a Poundkeeper,
following establishment of a public pound in Gulgong. This would involve Denis in
holding movable property that was taken from a wrongdoers and stray cattle [NSW
Government Gazette].

The Government Gazette of 1 October1872 states that Denis Driscoll resigned as
Poundkeeper and Edward Charles Robinson was appointed in his place. The Government
Gazette further reveals that Denis was elected a member of the committee of the
Gulgong School of Arts in July 1873.

*A Driscoll (probably Denis) was one of a number of persons appointed to collect
subscriptions for the Gulgong General Cemetery Fencing Committee [Gulgong
Mercantile Advertiser - April / May 1873].

* It is believed that the Driscoll in the following article refers to Denis [Gulgong
Mercantile Advertiser – 31 July 1871]:

`The Rev. Dr. Quinn     On Saturday morning last the Rev. Dr. Quinn, Lord Bishop of Bathurst arrived at Gulgong escorted by about 100 persons in buggies and horseback, most of whom met him at Home Rule. On arrival he proceeded to the church, where an address, beautifully printed on satin was read and presented to him by Mr. J. P. Sweeney, to which his lordship made a suitable reply, after which he drove to his lodgings at Driscoll's Hotel receiving visitors.     On Monday morning a deputation consisting of Messrs. Driscoll, Kelleker, McDonough and P. O'Neil on behalf of the Roman Catholics of Gulgong presented him a purse of fifty sovereigns. The Bishop replied in a very feeling manner at this proof of kindness and immediately devoted the money to the use of the seminary at Bathurst'.

 

* In an advertisement printed in the Town and Country Journal of 15 March 1873,
D. Driscoll is shown as one of 7 stewards for the Gulgong Turf Club annual races of 1873.

* Another example of community involvement which relates to Denis occurred in the
Gulgong Mercantile Advertiser of 31 July 1873:

'School Of Arts     The half yearly meeting of the subscribers was held at the Institute on Tuesday evening last. The meeting then proceeded to the election of officers for the ensuing half-year, when the following gentlemen were duly elected: T. A. Browne, Esq., President; L. S. Donaldson and C. B. Cairnes, Esqs., Vice Presidents; A. P. Stewart Esq., Treasurer; Mr. J. MacDonald, Secretary and Librarian; Committee of Management - Messrs. H. Tebbutt, J. F. Plunkett, P. B. Cooke, D. Driscoll, Golden, Arrowsmith and Boyne'.

 

Denis Driscoll must have been associated with the School of Arts for a number of years.
The Town and Country Journal of 20 March 1875 states that C. (Christopher Reid) Young
and D. Driscoll were elected as office bearers. Similarly the Town and Country Journal of
20 March1877 states that D. Driscoll was elected to the committee for a six month period.

* In an article dealing with the Gulgong Debating Society, the Town and Country Journal
of 16 August 1873 reported that Denis Driscoll was voted to the chair in the absence of
Mr. W. M. Boyne.

* The Gulgong Argus of 15 August 1874 reports that:

`At Tallewang, Denis Driscoll, senior, has given notice of his intention to apply for the privilege of having a reservoir to cover an area of 50 yards'.

* The NSW Government Gazette of 6/10/1873 included Denis Driscoll in a list of persons
who signed a petition for the formation of a Gulgong Municipality. His son-in-law, James
Redmond and son, Cornelius, also supported the petition.

It appears that Denis may have practised his fathers' trade of weaving at some time during
his life in Australia, as this was given as his occupation on his death certificate. Denis died
on 21 March 1876 at Gulgong, at the age of 69 years. The Rev. J. O'Donovan, the Catholic
Priest of Gulgong officiated at the burial on 24 March 1876.
  
The impressive tomb at Gulgong cemetery reads:

`To the memory of Denis Driscoll who departed this life, 21 March 1876. Aged 70 years. Requiescat in Pace'.

 

The final tribute to this much respected pioneer appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald on 1 April 1876. The Gulgong representative reported that:

`On Friday last, the remains of Mr. Denis Driscoll, and old and much respected townsman, was conveyed to its last resting place on the shoulders of his six sons. The funeral cortege was a very long one, composed of all sects of the community. At the grave after the usual burial service of the dead, the Rev. J. O'Donovan addressed a few well chosen remarks. He said the deceased had been a good citizen, a good husband, kind and affectionate parent, and a thorough Christian. His demise was regretted by all, he had nearly reached the patriarchal age, being 69 and 10 months old'.

 

The Gulgong Argus of 29 March 1876 carried the following correction to the Obituary:

Errata - Two errors occur in the report of the remarks made by the Rev. J. O'Donovan at the funeral of the late Mr. Driscoll. The words "repository of the Holy Ghost", should read "repository of the temple of the Holy Ghost". The fifth sentence should read as follows, in lieu of that printed, " How exemplary is it not to find that the tie which bound parent and children so closely together during life has not been severed by death - and this is as it ought to be".

 

After Denis died it appears that Mary Driscoll [Hurley] would have been cared for by her
eldest son, Cornelius and his wife, Mary. The will of Cornelius contained a condition that
his wife was to care for his mother Mary out of the proceeds of his estate.

It is believed that Mary Driscoll, her son Cornelius and family left Gulgong by 1878.
Cornelius signed and dated his will at Gulgong during November 1877, but died while
residing at the residence of his brother James at Mary Street, Surry Hills during January
1878. Mary Driscoll and the widow of Cornelius presumably would have continued to
live with James in Sydney after 1878.

Mary Driscoll died at 84 Mary St., Surry Hills on 16 May 1883. The cemetery burial
register simply stated the cause of death as old age. A death certificate appeared in the
Newcastle Morning Herald on 21 May 1883:

`Driscoll - Mary. Death of mother of D. Driscoll of Newcastle and James Driscoll of Surry Hills, Sydney, aged 70 years'.

 

Mary was buried at the Petersham Cemetery on 18 May 1883. The Sydney Morning
Herald of 18 May 1883 carried the following funeral notices for Mary:

`The friends of the late Mrs. Mary Driscoll are respectively invited to attend her funeral to move from her late residence, No. 84 Mary Street, off Foveaux Street, Surry Hills, this Friday, a quarter before 3 o'clock for the Catholic cemetery, Petersham. J. & G. Shying & Co., Undertakers'. `The friends of Mr. James Driscoll are respectively invited to attend the funeral of his late beloved mother, Mary Driscoll, to move from his residence, No. 84 Mary Street, off Foveaux Street, Surry Hills, this Friday at a quarter before 3 o'clock for the Catholic cemetery, Petersham'.    `The friends of Mr. D. Driscoll are respectively invited to attend the funeral of his late beloved mother, Mary Driscoll, to move from his residence, No. 84 Mary Street, off Foveaux Street, Surry Hills, this Friday at a quarter before 3 o'clock for the Catholic cemetery, Petersham'.

 

Whilst at Gulgong Denis Driscoll and his sons were all very active in mining activities.
The following extracts from articles published in the Town and Country Journal from
1872 through to 1874 illustrate how the Driscolls' introduced a boring machine onto
their amalgamated claim on the Britannia Lead at Home Rule, near Gulgong. The
boring machine allowed the Driscolls' to test the quality of an ore body before
commencing underground mining operations. Whilst the Driscolls' had the latest
machine available to them, their inability to keep water out of their mine, eventually
led to failure.

2 November 1872- `By the use of Driscolls boring apparatus, payable prospects were yesterday obtained at a depth of 214 feet in the Britannia claim.........This is the only machine on the gold fields, and no doubt after the present success a number of others will be introduced'. 1 February 1873- `The amalgamated claims Nos. 7 and 8 are still sinking, Driscoll and party being determined to stick at work in right good earnest, until the claims are bottomed, allowing no obstacles to impede their progress; one shaft is already down 145 feet, and a great deal of water has to be contended with'. 22 February 1873- `At the Edward Gee's machines, Driscoll and party washed 348 loads from No. 18'. `The Britannia Lead - In despite of all difficulties Driscoll and party are determined to ascertain whether this lead will turn out payable or not. Their amalgamated claims No. 7 and 8 when bottomed will decide the fate of all the claims and relieve the anxiety of many who have been holding out in expectancy for some months. These two claims have been tested by a boring machine and gold obtained at a depth of 216 feet. One of the shafts is already down 148 feet, and the slabbing up was completed on Saturday and is expected that in about 3 weeks one of the shafts will be bottomed'. 22 March 1873- `Messrs Driscoll and party are still persevering in putting a shaft down where the ground was tested by the boring machine. In about a fortnight it will be known whether this Lead will turn out payable or otherwise'. 7 June1873- `Messrs James Driscoll and party have applied for a lease of 4 acres of abandoned alluvial ground on the Nil Desperandum. Under an improved method of working they have every prospect of doing well out the ground, as it was very good in the first instance'. `At the Britannia, work in the claims of Driscoll and party is still being proceeded with'. 14 June 1873- `At the Britannia Lead work for the present is stopped, but only for a day or two as the proprietors of the prospecting claims propose calling a meeting of others interested in this Lead for the purposes of discussing as to the advisability of putting it into a company'. 18 October 1873- `Work at the Britannia I am informed will shortly be resumed again at the prospectors claim, which Driscoll and party some time back discontinued working, having obtained from the Commissioner an exemption for 3 months. Experienced miners feel convinced that the Britannia will yet turn out a good Lead, but it requires only capital, but time and patience to develop it'. 1 November 1873- `The old Gulgong Reef, leased by Samper and party, and the ground close to, leased by Driscoll and party, is not being worked, and the same may be said of dozens of other leases in the immediate locality'. 8 November 1873- `At the Britannia, Driscoll and party expended in sinking a shaft of about 210 feet, one thousand pounds, and although seven more feet more would have found the bottom, it had to be abandoned in consequence of being unable to keep the water reduced. there is no doubt about this ground turning out right is successfully worked. According to the test of the boring machine it went 2 grains to the bore'. 9 May 1874- A large number of miners have recently left the district for Currajong and a number of disappointed ones have returned from the endeavours, amongst who I noticed the Driscoll brothers who strove so hard to strike gold in the supposed Britannia, but had to succumb to water impediments'. 26 June 1874- `The news from the Tallawang rush continues good, and the fever, although slightly abated, yet prevails. Messrs Driscoll and party, on the fall of the hill near the Prospectors, are obtaining fine surface washings, and good nuggets, many others are also raising the coveted metal'.

 

A stained glass window above the altar of the Gulgong Catholic Church stands as memorial to Denis and Mary Driscoll. It is inscribed `In memory of Denis Driscoll and Mary Driscoll'.

Memorial window in Gulgong Catholic Church

The final tribute to the Driscoll family lies in the naming of a street in Gulgong as `Driscoll Street'. It cannot be determined after which Driscoll this street was named, however it serves as an everlasting tribute to the role played by the whole Driscoll [and Mary Hurley] family in the history of Gulgong.

[Source: History Services NSW Convict Database, Gold Mining Companies and Investors Database ].

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