Headstone Glen Innes Cemetery 10
Thomas O'Hara born 17 May 1831 1 in County Cavan, Ireland; died 8 Sep 1896 2 at Plainfield, Glen Innes, NSW, Australia; buried 10 Sep 1896 3 in C of E Section (Grave A5 & 6) Glen Innes Cemetery. He married (1) on 7 Jul 1852 4 in Killinkere Church of Ireland, Co. Cavan, Ireland, his first cousin Sarah O'Hara born circa 1831 in Co. Cavan, Ireland 5; died 4 Jun 1881 6 in Glen Innes, NSW, Australia, buried with husband in Glen Innes Cemetery, a daughter of Samuel O'Hara and Elizabeth Jordan of Greaghadossan, Killinkere, Co. Cavan, Ireland. He married (2) in 1884 23 in Glen Innes Ann McRae born on 3 Nov 1839 8; died 23 Jul 1935 8. No issue from second marriage.
Thomas and Sarah O'Hara and their first child Joseph, who was born during the voyage from Plymouth, England, arrived aboard the Florentia on 25 April 1853 at Moreton Bay in Queensland which was then part of the Colony of New South Wales. When the birth of their third child was registered at Burnett River in July 1856 they were still in what in 1859 became the State of Queensland. By Sept. 1858 when the next child was born Thomas was working as a shepherd on Glen Innes Station.
The first Glen Innes land grant to this pioneer settler was likely that for 51 acres recorded in the NSW Government Gazette of 11 Feb 1859. In 1863 his occupation was recorded as a carrier and in 1865 as a farmer. He followed the occupation of farmer and grazier for the rest of his life, winning many prizes over the years for cattle, produce, and machinery exhibited at the local Agricultural Show of which he was a Committee member. Among many community and occupation related positions held at various times by Thomas O'Hara were that of Church of England warden, hospital committee member, and member of the Land Leagues Committee. Thomas was a member of the first Glen Innes Municipal Council when it came into existance in 1872 and was re-elected an alderman into the 1880s. There are a numerous mentions of him in the 1972 book titled The Beardies heritage : a history of Glen Innes and District produced by the Municipal Council to mark the centenary of the municipality 25. The Glen Innes Historical Society holds a lengthy listing of mentions in various publications such as the NSW Government Gazette and local newspaper. Indicative of his standing in the community is that he was the Glen Innes area Guardian of Minors. Acting in that capacity he gave the required consent for an under full age niece Beatrice Williams, a daughter of his deceased sister Jane, to marry in 1892 24.
Thomas and Sarah had eleven children and a known total of eighty-one grandchildren. It is said he employed a tutor for some of his daughters and for a unknown reason got upset if called "Bart". The Armidale and Glen Innes newspapers reported on a bizarre occurrence immediately preceeding his funeral - perhaps he decided he was not going without one last ride around the Plainfield home paddock to check his prize winning Hereford cattle !Children of Thomas O'Hara and Sarah O'Hara were:
1. Joseph O'Hara
2. Samuel O'Hara
+ 3. William Thomas O'Hara
+ 4. Sarah O'Hara
+ 5. Elizabeth O'Hara
+ 6. Margaret O'Hara
+ 7. Mary Ann O'Hara
+ 8. James O'Hara
+ 9. Susan O'Hara
+ 10. Martha Matilda O'Hara
+ 11. Isabella O'Hara
SECOND GENERATION
1. Joseph O'Hara was born in 1853 7 on board the Florentia en route to Australia; died about Feb 1911 8 in Glen Innes, NSW, Australia, and was buried in Glen Innes C of E Cemetery. He never married.
2. Samuel O'Hara was born 27 Apr 1854 9 in Burnett River, Wide Bay, Qld, Australia; died on 12 Oct 1958 8.
3. William Thomas O'Hara was born 31 Jul 1856 11 in Queensland (then part of NSW); died 18 Jul 1936 8. He married on 16 Nov 1877 12, Elizabeth Noble born about 1858 8 and died 1929 8.
4. Sarah O'Hara was born 2 Sep 1858 13, reg. at Wellingrove, NSW, Australia; died 24 Dec 1935 8. She married on 3 Nov 1874 8 Joseph Weir, born in 1851 8; died 11 Apr 1928 8.
5. Elizabeth O'Hara was born on 3 Feb 1861 15 reg. at Wellingrove, NSW, Australia; died 11 Sep 1935 8. She married on 4 Jun 1879 8 William Ross, born 5 Nov 1856 8; died 15 Sep 1952 8, son of William Ross and Sarah Ridley.
6. Margaret O'Hara "Maggie" was born on 6 Apr 1863 16, reg. at Wellingrove, NSW, Australia; died 9 Oct 1941 8. She married on 27 Feb 1883 8, William Henry Kennedy, born 5 Sep 1849 8; died 30 Jul 1919 8.
7. Mary Ann O'Hara was born on 28 Aug 1865 17, reg. Wellingrove, NSW, Australia; died 14 Jan 1951 8. She married on 12 Mar 1884 8, Alexander "Sandy" Ross born on 7 Apr 1861 8; died 3 Mar 1945 8, son of William Ross and Sarah (presumably Sarah Ridley - thus Alexander would have been a brother to William Ross who married Mary Ann's 4 years older 1861 born sister Elizabeth).
8. James O'Hara was born on 29 Aug 1867 19, reg. at Wellingrove, NSW, Australia; died 1 Oct 1936 8. He married (1) on 25 May 1892 8 Ellen Duff born in 1871 8; died 1919 8; and (2) Eliza Jane Randall who was a daughter of Samuel O'Hara (the son of Samuel Jr. & Martha McAuley) & Ann Tickle.
9. Susan O'Hara was born on 25 Nov 1869 20, reg. Wellingrove, NSW, Australia; died 18 Mar 1958 8. Susan married John William Follent born 13 Jul 1868 and died on 17 Feb 1959 8.
10. Martha Matilda O'Hara "Tillie" was born on 19 Nov 1872 21, reg. Wellingrove, NSW, Australia; died about 1933 8 in Burwood (will probate was 2 May 1933). She married in 1894 8 Thomas Boston born 23 Jan 1869 8 in Warrick, Queensland, Australia; died 7 Jan 1921 8 in Sydney.
11. Isabella O'Hara was born on 14 Jun 1874 22, reg. Wellingrove, NSW, Australia. She married in 1900 in Casino, NSW, Colin Alexander McIntyre.
Genealogy & family history to be continued ..............
Compiled by J. Raymond, Brisbane, Qld. - first posted 15 August 2001
Special acknowlegement to Gwenda Andersen of Queensland - a researcher for over 20 years of the line who generously made available her compiled genealogy and answered queries. Without her assistance this page would not have been possible.