Mary Ann Grace Dwyer

Grace Genealogy from : The rebel of Glenmalure : a history of Michael Dwyer / by George Cargeeg. Victoria Park : Hesperian Press, 1988. p27 and p29.

From "The rebel of Glenmalure" p18

Mary Ann Dwyer was born in 1799 in the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland where her mother sought refuge in the aftermath of the 1798 United Irishmen rebellion. The British soldiers were hunting for her father, who had been one of the leaders of the rebellion in County Wicklow, and who would undoubtedly have liked to capture her mother and her child as hostages. History mentions that Mary Dwyer was hidden in isolated mountain cottages and caves by faithful friends. Mary Ann would have been four years of age when her father surrendered to the British, and the family, which included her two younger brothers John and Peter, went to live in Kilmainham goal. A fourth child, Esther was born there in 1804. When their parents were exiled to New South Wales the four children remained in Ireland with their Dwyer grandparents until 1828 when they arrived in Australia. A proven fact despite marginal notes.

Mary Ann was married in Ireland circa 1827 to William Hughes who died before she left Ireland with their infant child William on the ship "Sir Joseph Banks", arriving on 7 October 1828. She does not appear on the 1828 Census of New South Wales, though other passengers who arrived on the "Sir Joseph Banks" in 1828 appear.

Mary Ann's second marriage was to Patrick Grace in a ceremony that took place at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney, with John Dwyer as a witness.

New South Wales Marriage registration index record for Mary A Dwyer marrying Patrick Grace, registered Sydney NSW, Vol V, 1835.

Mary Ann and Patrick Grace took up land in the Lachlan River district next to that of Thomas and Anne Shaughnessy, [the surname was changed to O'Shaughnessy in 1853 with the birth of their third son] who were to become lifelong friends as well as relations of the Dwyer clan. [Patrick and Mary Ann's sons James and John married Sarah and Mary, daughters of Thomas and Anne O'Shaughnessy].

Around 1846/47, Patrick and neighbour Thomas had finished shearing their sheep and calculated that it would cost more to transport their wool to Sydney than what they would be able to sell it for, so they decided to burn the wool and relocate to South Australia, where conditions appeared to be better for farming, particularly growing wheat. The O’Shaughnessy’s left about three weeks before the Graces, loading belongings into carts and droving the stock to South Australia, following the route of the great inland river systems. The Lauchlan river joins the Murrumbidgee river which joins the Murray river. From the Murray river they headed to a locality called Shea Oak Log, north of Adelaide, where they established a farm.

South Australian Death registration index record for Mary Ann Grace, died Shea-Oak Log, on 28 September 1869, aged 72. Registered Barossa, page 158, volume 36, 1869.

Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA), Friday 8 October 1869, page 2; South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA), Friday 8 October 1869, page 2; Adelaide Observer (SA), Saturday 9 October 1869, page 2; South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA), Tuesday 12 October 1869, page 4

GRACE.—On the 28th September at her residence, near the Sheaoak Log, Mrs. Mary Ann Grace, aged 71 years. May she rest in peace. Sydney papers please copy.

The gravestone records she died 28 September 1869 aged 70 years.