Information sent by Val Grey from package of K. F. McElhone which she received
from Briare McElhone. This information is provided with the kind permission
of Briare. It is strictly copyrighted. For personal use only!
Generation No. 1
1. TERRENCE1 MCELHONE was born 1791 in Ireland1, and died November 28, 1843
in N.S.W. Australia. He married CATHERINE MALLON 1816 in County Tyrone,
Ireland.
Notes for TERRENCE MCELHONE:
"Search in records of the Registrar-General's Department indicates that he
was born in Ireland in 1791, married Catherine Mallon in County Tyrone, Ireland
in 1816, arrived in Australia with his wife as a free settler in 1828 or
1829 and died in Sydney on 29th November 1843 aged 52 years.
Search in the Mitchell Library section of the Public Library of New South
Wales shows that his name is not recorded in the Census made in November
1828, nor do the incomplete shipping lists held by that library show his
arrival in Australia. It would appear that he and his wife arrived in Australia
in late 1828 or prior to 15th September, 1829 when their daughter, Mary Jane
was baptised accourding to the Catholic Church baptismal records now kept
by the Registrar-General. Official Government records of births, deaths and
marriages were not commenced until 1856, but the Registrar-General now has
fairly complete earlier Church records.
Records at the Land Titles Office show that he purchased property in and
around Sydney. Both he and his wife were marksmen (Roger's note - this means
could not write own name), and this would account for various spellings of
his name in old documents - McElhone, Macklehone, Machahone, MacHillone,
Micklehone, Michael Owen, the last spelling being no doubt due to his Irish
brogue.
Records of land and property purchased by him are -
(1) 19th January, 1831 - Property in Clarence Street, Sydney (see Book 92
No. 712)
(2) 2nd March, 1832 - North-west corner of Kent and Bathurst Streets, Sydney
(Book H, No. 646)
(3) 3rd June, 1833 - 23 1/4 acres of land and a dwelling in Botany Road,
adjoining Robert Cooper's land and the Sydney Common purchased for L150 (Book
H, No. 648)
(4) 19th February, 1836 - Property "Dungate House" and adjoining propery
"Kelso House" in Castlereagh Street (east side) Sydney, being 72 feet north
of Liverpool Street (Book M, No. 608 and Book 3 No. 761 and Book 11 No. 7)
(5) 11th February, 1837 - Property at North-west corner of Castlereagh and
Liverpool Streets, Sydney, purchased for L400 (Book L No. 671 and Book W
No. 599). There was an Hotel on this land known as the "Dungate Inn" (now
the National Bank). The land adjacent to this property is now called Dungate
Lane.
(6) 25th July, 1837 - Property in Liverpool Street, Sydney, adjoining the
Dungate Inn, purchased for L112.10.0 (Book L No. 566b)
(7) 2nd February 1841 - Land at Waverley near the South Head Road (Book V
No. 492)
He was a dairyman by occupation and at the time of his death lived in "Dungate
House". His Will made on 26th November 1843 commences "In the Name of God,
Amen" and he appointed as Executors his wife, Charles Doyle of the "Dungate
Inn", Publican, and Rev. Father Francis Murphy (Probate No. 1515(1).
His name is mentioned in the following newspapers kept by the Mitchell
Library:-
"The Australian", 8/8/1840 p.3 and 11/8/1840 p.1 -
"To Let, a house and premises situate in Castlereagh Street near Market Street,
containing eleven rooms, large kitchen and a good well of water. Further
particulars may be had of Mr. T. McElhone, Dairyman, the owner of same"
"The Australian", 16/1/1841 p.3
"To Let, 2 houses and premises situate in Castlereah Street Stough, one
containing 11 rooms and the other 10 rooms, with good stabling, and a never
failing well of water, fitted for any gentlemen and their families. For further
particulars apply to Mr. Terence McElhone, Castlereagh & Market
Streets"
"The Australian", 25/7/1840
"A knight of the thimble and shears, named John Hickey, with a rich Tipperary
brogue, was on Thursday last committed by the second Police Magistrate to
take his trial for an aggravated assault, under the following circumstances:
- The defendant was a tenant of Mr. Terence Maclehone's the wealthy cowkeeper
of Castlereagh Street, and inhabited one of his small tenements in Clarence
Street. The defendant was in arrear of payment of his rent and on Monday
last Mr. Maclehone sent his bailiff to distrain on the goods upon the premises;
but wisely considering that 'an empty house is better than a bad tenant',
the landlord pomised that if his tenant would give him peaceable possession
of the house, he would afford him a temporary asylum in an adjoining house
for a fortnight, gratis, and take the debt owing at five shillings per week.
The defendant seemingly acceded to this liberal proposal, and on Tuesday
evening went to to the plaintiff's premises and brought him to Clarence Street
for the avowed purpose of giving up possession of the house. When the parties
arrived there, defendant requested permission to take his supper before he
departed, with which reasonable request the landlord complied; and during
his repast the bailiff asked the defendant for th key of the street door,
which was handed over to him, but on trying it, he could not make it fit
the lock. He told the defendant that he must have given him the wrong key,
to which Hickey replied 'Oh, you don't understand how I lock it,' and immediately
locked the door and put the key into his pocket, exclaiming to the astonished
landlord and his bailiff 'now I have got you in, I will keep you in.' The
parties to whom this observation was addressed, not relishing to be so
unceremoniously 'locked up' made earnest entreaty to be allowed to depart
but defendant was dear to their request. Mr. Maclehone then availed himselp
of the assistance of the defendant's 'goose' and with it was in the act of
knocking off the lock of the door for the purpose of effecting a retreat,
when defendant came behind him and felled him to the ground with a violent
blow with his fist under the ear and while he was prostrate he (in the words
of the bailiff who was examined as a witness) 'kicked him for falling.' The
complainant and his bailiff however ultimately effected their retreat, and
the defendant in about an hour afterwards sent the amount of rent due and
then quitted the premises. The defendant with considerable tact, although
not in the most intelligible English, endeavoured to make it appear that
the complainant was a trespasser and that he was only exercising the necessary
force to expel him from his 'castle'. He had also endeavoured to forestal
the compainant in his appeal to the justice seat by making an application
for a summons against Mr. Maclehone for assault, but was unsuccessful even
in this ruse. He was admitted to bail to answer the charge at the quarter
sessions, and applied for copies of the depositions taken against him that
he might (as he said) 'take furder stips wid Misther Maaclehone'. The
compainant's solicitor, Mr. W. Thurlow, made a similar application to the
bench for a copy of the defendanat's affidavit, in his charge of assault,
and both applications were granted."
Children of TERRENCE MCELHONE and CATHERINE MALLON are:
i. "SON"2 MCELHONE.
ii. MARY JANE MCELHONE, b. September 15, 1829, N.S.W. Australia; d. January
20, 1916, N.S.W. Australia; m. (1) RICHARD CULLEN, June 16, 1846; m. (2)
THOMAS HUBBARD, February 27, 1865; m. (3) JOHN WALTER SMART, January 19,
1870.
2. iii. JOHN MCELHONE, b. June 16, 1833; d. May 06, 1898.
Generation No. 2
2. JOHN2 MCELHONE (TERRENCE1) was born June 16, 1833, and died May 06, 1898.
He married MARY JANE BROWNE February 05, 1862, daughter of JOHN BROWNE.
Notes for JOHN MCELHONE:
Date: 97-08-28 From:ttgray@netspace.net.au (Trevor Gray)
Found this at our local library to go with Terrence McElhone.
Found this in a book called Australian Dictionary of Biography Editor
Douglas Pike Vol 5 1851-1890
MCELHONE JOHN (1833-1898) merchant and politician, was born on 16June 1833
in Sydney, son of Terence McElhone, milk vendor, and his wife Catherine,
nee Mallon. Educated at St. Mary's Seminary School, he joined the "the Cabbage
Tree mob" of wayward native-born youths. In 1851 he was an apprentice in
Robert Towns's Royal Saxon. By 1859 he was a commission agent in Sydney.
On 5 February 1862 at St Mary's Cathedra he married Mary Jane, daughter of
John Browne, a wealthy squatter on the Liverpool Plains. In 1867-72 he was
a broker and produce merchant in partnership with Richard Binnie, a saddler
and
brother-in-law of George Hill. In 1873 Mcelhone advertised as a stock, station
and wool agent but soon set up as a hide and tallow merchant and exporter
of colonial produce. In August 1875 he contested the Legislative Assembly
seat of Upper Hunter, defeated by Thomas Hungerford. McElhone had the election
declared null and void, and as the free selectors' champion won the second
ballot after a bitter fight. He survived Hungerford's allegations of bribery
and corruption but was later censured by the press for inciting the selectors
to violence against the squatters, whom he described as "the biggest thieves
in
creation" In 1876 he was banqueted by the selectors of Jindera for helping
to
open the Colombo and Yanco reserves for selection. In 1877 elections he
told
his constituents that "I pride myself on having been the chief obstructionist
in the Assembly". He railed against the roguery, the corruption, and the
jobbery of parliament and so viciously attacked land agents in parliament
that he was sued by Thomas Garrett for 5000 pounds in damages.
In 1878-82 McElhone represented Fitzroy Ward in the Sydney Municipal Council.
In 1880 with his penknife he exposed defective work in the foundations of
the Town Hall and the ensuing "corporation frauds"stirred up so much scandal
that the government architect resigned. In February at the Town Hall he was
called a 'servile lickspittle'by Daniel O'Connor and promptly punched him
below the left eye and drew blood; an aldermanic scuffle followed. McElhone's
impetuosity sometimes led him into 'serious violations of fairness and
propriety'.In November 1882 his speech attacking Sir John Robertson's land
bill was followed by the division on which the Parkes -Robertson government
fell. Mcelhone was credited with'one of those rare speeches, which affect
votes'. Elated at his success, in December he challenged Parkes in East Sydney
and with the help of the Catholic vote was elected ahead of Parkes. On the
hustings he argued the necessity of providing work for the colony's children'
when a woman interjected. 'What if you haven't any children?' he roared back,
'Change the bull!' He also won the Upper Hunter and boasted that 'his friend',
W. B. Dalley had written
'every word' of his electoral address.
McElhone's support of Alexander Stuart's ministry was short-lived but he
'repeatedly obstructed the business of the House' and was criticised by Governor
Loftus for'violent and abusive language'. In March 1883 after a dispute with
A.G. Taylor McElhone challenged him to resign and contest Mudgee with him.
Both resigned their seats'Mcelhone lost but was again returned for the Upper
Hunter. In February 1884 O'Connor denounced him in the House as 'an illiterate
mountebank' a commercial Shylock', 'an unscrupulous vulture' and 'a political
Quilp'. Repute as a boxer usually saved McElhone from such attacks but in
1888 he was beaten in a fight with George Matheson, member for Glen Innis,
in the parliamentary smoking room.
In 1881 his father-in-law had died and excluded three of his daughters from
an estate valued at over 110,000 pounds. McElhone entered a caveat against
probate being granted. Although his case was pleaded by Juliam Salomons from
9to 29 August 1882, he was unable to prove in Brownev.McElhone that the testator
had been senile. He offered to forgo any claim in his sisters-in-law benefited
but was criticised for exposing scandals in the Browne family and making
his 19-year old daughter give evidence. In 1884 a Legislative Assembly select
committee found that Mcelhone had three times recommended J.T. Handsaker
was not only in his debt but also a notorious drunkard, and after he was
given employment his salary went to McElhone. Denounced by the Evening News
for corruption, McElhone unsuccessfully sued the proprietors for libel. In
1885 although nominated by supporters he did not canvass his electorate and
was defeated. He visited England and in February 1887 regained the Upper
Hunter.
McElhone had been repeatedly forced by the Speaker to apologise and in 1888
was taken into custody by the sergeant-at-arms. Incurably litigious he
successfully sued Alderman James Poole for infringing the 1879 Sydney Court
injunction restraining the Australian Mutual Provident Society from using
25,000 pounds of its funds to create a superannuation fund for its staff.
He did not stand in the 1889 elections and in 1891 ascribed his defeat to
his views of the shearing strike. An advocate for freedom of contract, he
had denounced the union leaders from the hustings as 'scoundrel's. In turn
he had been castigated as 'traitor to the free selectors and working men'.
In 1894 he was defeated for the Fitzroy division of East Sydney but won the
seat as an independent free trader in 1895. He could not adapt to the changed
politics of the 1890s: he dismissed Federation as 'a cuckoo cry taken up
by a lot of scheming politicians' and thought the payment of members 'pernicious'
and that the 'self-styled labour members' had done nothing for the country.
Honest, hot-tempered, ribald and at times scurrilous, McElhone was more than
a mere rough-neck. His endless question in parliament exposed many public
wrongs, and his vitality and purpose were respected. His driver, Bill Inglis,
an ex-prize-fighter, was often useful in the rough and tumble of electioneering.
About 1881 McElhone had built a four-storied house in Rockwell Crescent,
Potts Point, near the Woolloomooloo steps named after him. He died on 6 May
1898 from heart disease and was buried in the Catholic section of Waverley
cemetery. Predeceased in 1894 by his wife, he was survived by six sons and
three daughters to whom he left an estate valued over 42,000 pounds.
- - - - - - --
From package compiled by K. F. McElhone
John McElhone (1833 - 1898). Hide & Tallow Merchant - Alderman of Sydney
City Council 1878 - 1882 Member of Legislative Assembly, N.S.W. for the Upper
Hunter 1875 - 1889, and for Fizroy (Sydney) 1895 - 1898.
Obituary in "Sydney Morning Herald" 7/5/1898
"Death of Mr. John McElhone, M.L.A.
Yesterday morning at about 11 o'clock Mr. John McElhone, M.L.A. died at his
residence in Macleay Street, Potts Point. The death cannot be described as
altogether a sudden one for Mr. McElhone had been in failing health for a
long time and was under the treatment of Dr. Bowker. About a fortnight ago,
he made a tour on foot from Strathfield to Concord, and the exertion proved
a severe strain upon his physical abilities. Although he temporarily recovered,
it was felt by his family that the chronic weakness from which he suffered
had been accentuated. Yesterday morning he was in his private apartment at
his residence in company with Mr. S. Melvil, a pastoralist of Gunnedah, when
he suddenly became seriously affected. His eldest daughter (Mrs. Clift) rushed
to his assistance, but he fell upon his bed and did not rally afterwards.
Dr. Murray Oram had been in immediate attendance upon Mr. McElhone, but the
attack with which he was seized yesterday morning was beyond all medical
aid. Death was attributable to an affection of the heart.
Mr. John McElhone was a well known political figure in New South Wales. Twenty
years ago he took an active part in politics, first contesting the Upper
Hunter electorate under the old regime. He was defeated at the outset by
Mr. Hungerford, but objections were lodged against the validity of the election
and they were upheld. When the second poll was taken Mr. McElhone was selected
by a larage majority although he admitted that the contest was a very expensive
one for him from a pecuniary standpoint. The deceased represented the Upper
Hunter for a number of years and subsequently (in 1882) he contested the
East Sydney seat. The members of the Opposition of that day were agitating
for a thorough reform in the Land Law. Sir henry Parkes and Sir John Robertson
were in the Ministry and Sir John Robertson had brought forward a measure
for the consolidating the existing law. Mr. Reid and others wanted a thorough
reform. Mr. McElhone took a leading part in the movement and was elected
for East Sydney at the election of 1882. On that occasion Sir Henry Parkes
and Sir Arthur Renwilck were defeated candidates. Although Mr. McElhone was
elected for East Sydney he did not represent the constituency, he havilng
been elected for the Upper Hunter at the same time that he was in the successful
bunch for the Metropolitan constituency. Mr. McElhone enjoyed several years
of retirement from public life prior to his election for Fitzroy Division
at the last election. He was then regarded as a freelance, or what may probably
be better understood as an 'independent' member. As a matter of fact, the
deceased Parliamentarian was never identified with any particular political
party, although he was a freetrader."
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