Good morning
We are researching our Guerin heritage and are descended from Irish immigrants to South Australia.Any help or direction would be greatly appreciated We are searching for our Irish origins.
Patrick Guerin b approx 1814 in Co Clare Ireland died 19th September 1900 at Hackham South Australia married Winifred Mulvihille 6th September 1847
Lawrence Guerin b approx 1820 (says in Co Clare on hospital admissions) died 24th August 1906 at Belton Co Frome South Australia married Margaret Larkin 16th June 1850
Bridget Guerin b approx 1823 in Co Clare died 5th February 1903 at Yass New South Wales Australia married Joseph O'BRIEN 2nd May 1847 ( Bridgets parents are recorded as John Guerin and Catherine RYAN)
John Guerin born approx 1826 died 1st March 1878 in Adelaide South Australia married Bridget Agnes Conlin 11th May 1850
Catherine Guerin born approx 1830 died 1888 at Chewton Victoria Australia married James McNamara 9th September 1847, (Catherine's parents are recorded as John Guerin and Catherine RYAN)
all arrived together on the ship "Hooghly" at Adelaide South Australia Australia in 1846. They departed Plymouth England but I have no record of their origins although family folklore says Co Limerick and Co Clare Ireland. I am seeking to find their origins in Ireland and am hoping that you can either help or direct me!! Miracles do happen!!.
I surmise that they are siblings due to baptismal sponsors and ages etc but apart from Catherine and Bridget have no actual recorded proof.
A Michael Guerin and wife Mary ?GANDY/GANDLEY with child Bridget Anastasia arrived in South Australia in 1840 departing Plymouth England. Handwritten records show that they came from Cabaska, Caunafin Ireland. However these records have been transcribed and could be flawed. It has been suggested that the most possible origin would be Corofin, Co Clare Ireland. This family are related to the Hooghly 5 GUERINS.
Any help or direction that you might give me in my family tree research would be much appreciated .
Virginia Loy nee Guerin

Hello Virginia

I'm in Adelaide and for 10 years I have been doing free research for people all over the world who want information about ancestors/family who came to South Australia in the 1800's.

I was in the South Aus. State Library (where I do all my research) yesterday, and I found the following, although I suspect you already have all the information.

ARRIVALS FROM OVERSEAS.

Patrick Guerin, John, Lawrence, Bridget and catherine Guerin all arrived in South Australia 24th October 1846 aboard the "Hooghly" which sailed from London ex Plymouth.

ARRIVAL FROM OVERSEAS.

James McNamara arrived in South Australia 1st November 1846 aboard the "Lady Bruce" which sailed ex London via Southampton.

APPLICATION FOR FREE PASSAGE TO SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Michael Guering, occupatrion listed a laborer of Caha's Ka Carnofin (my spelling - or mispelling!!), married aged 29years, and wife aged 27years and 1 daughter aged 1year all applied for a free passage to South Australia 16th June 1840. Application No. was 8750, Embarkation No. was 5030

1841 CENSUS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

As Civic registration did not officially commence until 1842, people coming to South Australia pre 1842 were noted as where they are living during the 1841 census.

The following was found on the 1841 Census.

Michael Guerin, aged under 35years, 1 male under 50years, 3 females under 7yrs, 2 females under 35yrs all resided in "Emigration Square" during the 1841 Census.

MARRIAGES

Laurence, of full age, single, father's name not recorded married 16th June 1850 to Margaret Larkin aged 17years, single, father's name not recorded at Roman Catholic Church, Morphett Vale, District Adelaide reference book 10 page 335.

Margaret Larkin arrived in South Australia 23rd October 1848 aboard the "Roman Emperor" ex London

No children appeared to be born to the above couple in our birth records.

MARRIAGE

James McNamara, of full age, father's name not recorded married 9th September 1847 to Catherine Guerin aged 17years, single, daughter of Michael McNamara at Catholic Church Adelaide, District Adelaide reference book 8 page 67

There were no children listed as born to James McNamara and Catherine Geurin.

James McNamara arrived in South Australia 11th November 1846 aboard the "Lady Bruce" ex London via Southampton.

CATHERINE Guerin

Catherine Guerin born c1830 died 1888 at Chewton, Victoria.

Laurence Guerin born c1823 Co. Clare died 5th February 1903 in New South Wales. Bridget married Joseph O'Brien 2nd May 1847.
Bridget was the daughter of John Guerin & Catherine Ryan.

I can see from your message on the Message Boards of 10th June that you already have a lot of the above information, if in fact, not more.

Hoping the above has been of some interest to you.

Regards

Heather
in a very cold, windy and wet day
in Adelaide

Hi Heather
You are a treasure! Thanks for your help.
I have 2 questions and hope that you may be able to help me again.
Is there any way of finding out who was with Michael Guerin in "Emigration Square" in the 1841 SA Census? I am particularly interested in the male under 50 years and the children.
With Catherine Guerin and James McNamara's marriage record was James McNamara's father registered as Michael McNamara and if so can you see when Michael McNamara came out? (Probably difficult as there were probably a few Michael McNamaras...did he come out with his son?
Once again my thanks
Virginia

Hi Virginia

I'm sorry about the delay, but I have eventually managed to do some looking up regarding Michael Guerin and family coming to South Australia. The following is the little I did find:-

ARRIVAL FROM OVERSEAS

Michael Guerin and wife Mary nee Ganley and daughter (unnamed) arrived in South Australia 7th December 1840 aboard the "Birman" which sailed ex Greenock 24th August 1840.

MARRIGAE

Michael Guerin married May Ganley 1839 in Greenock, Renfrew, Scotland.

BIRTH

Mary Ganley was born 1810 in Ireland.

'EMIGRATION SQUARE'

Emigration Square, which comprised of a Rough Square of tents.

In 1839 almost 16,000 men, women and children lived in Immigration Square.
Some of the official Agents were woefully incompetent and the immigrants suffered terribly. In all cases, the death rate was high."

"Immigration Square" was very close to the River Torrens, which was a haven for mosquitos and anything else that went into it. That's where the water was taken from for the people living in Immigration Square. Shocking way to live.

I'll make a note of particularly looking up the daughter's name which was not recorded on the shipping list, and also life of the Guerin family in South Australia .

BIRTH

This information comes from the 'DOGPILE" Web Site.

I also, by accident, found the following:-

John born 16th July 1844 at Glen Osmond South Australia to Michael Guerney and Mary Ganley.

I will be going back to the library within the next week or so, and will look up further information re this family if you don't mind waiting.

Hoping the above information is of some help.

Regards

Heather

For those searching for information in Ireland there is a townland named Corrofin, Civil Parish of Killinaboy, Poor Law Union of Corrofin, County Clare. Back this far there are few records but County Clare has quite a number and some are online. Google, County Clare library for further resources.

Thank you for the information. I have accessed the Clare Library and have actually visited it in person where they were exceptionally helpful. However thanks to your reminder and info I will revisit the site.. One day I will find these elusive Guerins origins in Co Clare!!!
Virginia