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| James Kirwan Kirwin's Inn, Cooma 1836 Historical Text | Obituaries | Genealogy
JAMES KIRWAN is a name indelibly associated with the early history of Manaro. He was married to Elizabeth, a sister of Joseph Ward, who in 1836, being settled at Wambrook, had sent William Glanville to Sydney with a consignment of cattle. Kirwan, having thus heard of Manaro, determined to start business there, though he had never seen the place, and arranged for his supplies to be taken back by Glanville. Within a few months further stores were required. Kirwan, who was in partnership with Ward, wanted his wife to accompany him, but the Ward family objected to Mrs. Kirwan going where no white women were. Upon Kirwan becoming insistent, Ward, who was a passionate man, took up an axe, brought it down upon the wheel of the dray containing the partnership goods, and cutting three spokes out said, "I'll have my half." The wheel was bound up with clothes-line, and Glanville brought the dray along with a composite team of a mare in the shafts, a bull by the name of "Spot," and a bullock called "Tinker" leading. Kirwan, after coming to Manaro, carried on business as a hawker, and made a considerable amount of money. He opened near the junction of the Cooma and Cooma Back Creeks the first place of accommodation the district knew, known far and wide as Kirwan's Inn. A detailed description of this is given in the section, "Early Cooma." Kirwan, by special permission, purchased an area of 160 acres adjoining the boundaries of the village of Cooma. He was in October, 1852, shot by his groom - a man named McSpladden - whilst inquiring into the cause of a quarrel between the latter and a doctor, a guest at the inn. His wife, who was a capable and educated Woman, and looked after his books, predeceased him, dying in October, 1850, at the age of 36. James Kirwan was the lessee of the Cooma Run, of 30,000 acres, the Countegany Run, of 20,000 acres, and acquired from Jeremiah Flinn the Numeralla Run, of 2,140 acres. Miss Kearns, who afterwards married Mr. James Thompson, of Cobbin Station, Jindabyne, was a niece of Mrs. Kirwan, and came to Cooma to her Aunt. There are now, through the descendants of Joseph Ward end Mrs. Thompson, many in the district who are connected with James Kirwan. Kirwan's son, James, met an untimely end, being shot in Cooma by Constable Donohue, whilst the latter was acting in the performance of his duty. Transcribed by Pattrick Mould in 2003, from the book "Back to Cooma' Celebrations" page 80 The following newspaper clippings were supplied by Judy Richards <judy.richards-at-westnet.com.au>
Obituary for Thomas Kirwan The late Mr. Thomas Kirwan, who passed away last week at the Cooma Hospital was one of ------(obscured) in this town about 73 years ago. His father at that time lived below the old police barracks and his house was one of the few , if not the only one in Cooma, and for many years he kept the hotel called “The Lord Raglan”. In the early days deceased, with his brothers, was engaged in pastoral pursuits. They at one time owned the lower Mowenbah Station, now the property of Messrs J. and W. McGufficke, and later had small holdings on different parts of Manaro (sic). In the early days, he and his brothers took a prominent part in racing and their colours (sic) were carried at Cooma, Bombala, Bega, and other courses by such old time celebrities as Stumpy, Marquis, Pitsford and Ada, the grand dam of Swiveller, and later he owned Millie, Goldfish, and others. He was considered a great judge of horses and often acted as handicapper. Of late years fortune did not smite too friendly on him, but he was always cheerful and bright, and adversity never cast him down. He leaves a widow and large family. Transcribed
by Gwen Hubert <ghubert-at-pcug.org.au> 21.04.06 WHO WAS JAMES KIRWAN? Dianne Snowden [dsnowden-at-tassie.net.au] I need some help to prove that James KIRWAN, an Irish convict who arrived on the Boyne in 1826, is the James KIRWAN who was my great-great-great-grandfather.
‘My’ James KIRWAN married Eliza WARD in St. Mary's Church, Sydney, in 1836; they
then settled in the Monaro region of NSW.[1]
James KIRWAN, one
of the earliest settlers in Cooma, was a hawker, innkeeper and landholder, and,
although his life from 1836 is well-documented, there is no mention of his
background or parentage. He died in Cooma in 1852. He was Roman Catholic. From:
Sad Mushroom [mailto:sadmush@webone.com.au] In Regards to From: Dianne Snowden Dear Ian I think that the James Kirwan listed on MP, who married Catherine and had two children, was James Kirwan who arrived on the Ann & Amelia. He is listed in the 1828 Census with Catherine (born in the colony, aged 16 in 1828). This couple may had have more children, possibly as late as 1843, but I have not followed this through. James Kirwan Boyne was at Moreton Bay in 1828-1829. I have not been able to find any evidence that the Monaro James Kirwan had a wife called Catherine. From MP:
James married
Catherine before 1829. Children from this marriage were: F i. Harriett Kirwan was born in 1829 in Sydney, NSW.1 M ii. James Kirwan was born in 1831 in Sydney, NSW.2 With best wishes, Dianne Dianne is in fact correct. From Convict applications to marry, James KIRWAN b.c.1804 from ship Ann & Amelia applied to marry Catherine JENNINGS in 1828 but it was REFUSED stating that as KIRWAN has a life sentence he cannot be permitted to marry unless his present (hard to read might be master) will undertake them both in his service until KIRWAN obtains a Ticket of Leave. Kellie 16.10.2010 Ian 7.02.12 Hi Ian, I wish to praise David King for separating out James Kirwan of the "Boyne" and James Kerwin of the "Anne & Amelia" as he hit the nail on the head. Yet to confirm further, I wish to add some things that David is maybe unaware of, and this will add to his research firmly separating out the two James Kerwins. James Kerwin of the 'Ann & Amelia' was indeed a horse groom when transported from Ireland in 1825 and indeed had permission to live with wife "Catherine born of the colony" just a couple of years later. Yet this relationship seems not to have lasted. In a transcript in the Sydney Gazette 24/5/1831 Page 3, an extensive transcript of a murder case of one Patrick Duffy names a Constable at Parramatta, Thomas Walsh, stating he sent his son in law Kerwin to deliver a horse. Further in the transcript this son-in-law Kerwin is also named by others as "Jemmy the Milkman". This firmly places James "Jemmy" Kerwin as being married to Constable Thomas Walsh's daughter. James Kerwin of the 'Ann & Amelia' very quickly made a name for himself as a horseman and jockey and raced under the following nicknames.. The Hybernian Milkman The Flying Milkman Jemmy the Milkman Jemmy the Jockey By 1831, his first beau Catherine was in the past. He was married to Miss Walsh. A wise choice I would think married to a Constable's daughter to hasten his ticket of leave etc. David states that James had a pub named the Horse and Jockey in the 1830's at Parramatta. This is trueish yet complicated. His first "Horse and Jockey' pub was at the Duck River Bridge Parramatta Road (Granville/Auburn area) which was at that time considered under the jurisdiction of Parramatta. In 1841 he took the lease of Edward Powell's old 1809 pub (Homebush, the first licenced pub on Parramatta road) so he could be close to the new Homebush Racecourse. He re-named the old pub after his old one at Duck River, "Horse and Jockey". Kerwin thrived and raced regularly at the Homebush course and elsewhere. In 1846 he built a new pub, again called "Horse and Jockey" at the site that now occupies the "Arnott's Rail Bridge Homebush. His son, also trained as a jockey, died of illness aged 21 in 1854 at 21 yrs old. James Kerwin himself died December 1855 at 50 yrs old and was buried in the Catholic Cemetery on the corner of Church St and Pennant Hills Road Parramatta. James's widow continued to manage the pub for about a year and re-married to John McDermott in 1856. She died in May 1857 as Mary Ann McDermott at Cooks River just nearby to Homebush. James Kerwin's wife was Mary Ann Walsh. What happened to the Horse and Jockey Hotel ? After Mary Ann died, it was taken over briefly by a James Mills. Then rented out as a school and then a private residence. It was demolished when the rail went over Parramatta Road around 1883. The name however reverted back to the old Powell pub. When the old Powell pub was demolished around 1890 the name went to a new pub a few metres away. Even this 1883 Horse and Jockey was demolished and re-built in 1938 and it is still trading. It's my local pub. Of interest is that James Kerwin of 'Ann & Amelia' was transported on the same ship as "Bold Jack Donahue' the bushranger. Kerwin celebrated this fact in his later years by naming one of his racehorses "Jack Donahue". I hope this adds to David King's correct research separating out the Kerwins and maybe prevent any future researchers barking up the wrong tree and save them time in knowing that James of the Ann & Amelia was not the one at Cooma. Yet James "Jemmy the Jockey" certainly has a fascinating story. My Best Wishes and congratulations on your site. It's excellent. Dave Homebush patrickd at spin dot net dot au Descendants of James Kirwan
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