Daniel Connor
Encyclopedia
Daniel Connor was a convict transported
to Western Australia
, who became one of the wealthiest men in the colony
.
Daniel Connor was born in County Kilkenny
, Ireland
in 1831. Nothing is known of his early life, but on 20 June 1850 he was sentenced to seven years transportation for sheep stealing. He arrived in Western Australia on the Phoebe Dunbar on 30 August 1853. During his time as a convict he went by the surname Connors; Stephenson (1983) states that this was "to confuse researchers of his history in later years". Connor received his ticket of leave on 11 August 1854, and his conditional pardon on 17 November 1855. In 1857 he stole Catherine Conway's sheep and later married her in 1859.
Connor worked as a hawker
until 1861, then bought land in Newcastle (now Toodyay
), upon which he built a small store. He later purchased a number of other town lots, building upon a number of them. In 1870 he had a steam mill built, and over the next decade gained control over a number of large rural estates by lending money to the owners. He purchased the Freemason's Hotel in 1873.
Connor became active in public affairs; he was a member of the Toodyay Road Board from 1871 until his death in 1898. He became a member of the Newcastle Municipal Council, and also served on the Toodyay Education Board.
During the 1880s, Connor sold many of his Newcastle properties, investing in land at Perth
and Fremantle
. In 1883 he bought the Shamrock Hotel. Later that year, his daughter Teresa married Timothy Quinlan
, and Connor and Quinlan went into partnership. By the 1890s, Connor was one of the largest landowners in central Perth. When he died at his home on 12 January 1898, his estate was valued at over £7600000.
Daniel Connor's son Michael
, who took the surname "O'Connor", disowning the family name, presumably to obscure his convict parentage, became a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly.
1. Teresa, born 1863, died 30 September 1904, married Timothy Quinlan
, born 18 February 1861 (Borrisokane
Co Tipperary Ireland) died 8 July 1927, children: Teresa Gertrude, Daniel Alphonsus O'Connor born 16 February 1902, Eileen Mary, Mary Kathleen, and Patrick;
2. Michael
, born 11 November 1865 (Toodjay), died 6 July 1940, married on 17 July 1896 to Beatrice Margaret Forbes born 20 June 1871, daughter of Col. Charles D'Oyley and Mary Louise (née Slade), children: Leo born 1889. Studied for medicine at Dublin Trinity College, graduated 1899, BA, MD, B.Ch. BAO. Returned to Western Australia in 1890 and a practice in Perth 1891. Appointed a health officer during smallpox outbreak until resignation 1907. Senior Physician Perth Public Hospital and Victoria Hospital, Subiaco. Chairman of Directors of Swan Brewery. Member Legislative Council for Moore district. Adopted the surname "O'Connor".
3. Daniel Edward, born 25 March 1866 (Toodjay), married on 26 July 1891 to Elizabeth Jane Clune, born 1872 (New Norcia), children: Daniel Ignatius, born 16 September 1892, Francis Xavier Aloys, born 1894, Mary Patricia, born 1896, Clement Augustine, born 1898, Vincent Jeramiah, born 26 April 1900;
4. Gertrude Blanche, born 1867, still alive to this day;
5. Monica, born 1868, died 8 December 1958, married 1902 to Edward Joseph Hayes, born 1870, died 21 August 1929, Children: Edward Daniel, born 1910, Sheila Amorey Catherine, Eileen Mary Monica, Dorothea Mary Catherine;
6. Bernard Maurice, born July 1870, died 4 October 1932, married Teresa Jane Murphy, Children: Gerrard Daniel Joseph Connor, Edward Desmond Connor, Arthur Patrick Kevin Connor, Maurice Bernard Connor; Mayor of Newcastle; Member of Board of Health 1901;Invested in Eureka Mine, Blackboy Hill goldfield; A founding member of Toodjay Club 1905; J.P.; Educ. Toodjay and Ireland.
7. Mary Angela, born 1873, died 15 April 1948, married John Murphy;
Penal transportation
Transportation or penal transportation is the deporting of convicted criminals to a penal colony. Examples include transportation by France to Devil's Island and by the UK to its colonies in the Americas, from the 1610s through the American Revolution in the 1770s, and then to Australia between...
to Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, who became one of the wealthiest men in the colony
Colony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
.
Daniel Connor was born in County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 1831. Nothing is known of his early life, but on 20 June 1850 he was sentenced to seven years transportation for sheep stealing. He arrived in Western Australia on the Phoebe Dunbar on 30 August 1853. During his time as a convict he went by the surname Connors; Stephenson (1983) states that this was "to confuse researchers of his history in later years". Connor received his ticket of leave on 11 August 1854, and his conditional pardon on 17 November 1855. In 1857 he stole Catherine Conway's sheep and later married her in 1859.
Connor worked as a hawker
Hawker (trade)
A hawker is a vendor of merchandise that can be easily transported; the term is roughly synonymous with peddler or costermonger. In most places where the term is used, a hawker sells items or food that are native to the area...
until 1861, then bought land in Newcastle (now Toodyay
Toodyay, Western Australia
Toodyay is a town located in the Wheatbelt region in the Avon Valley, 85 km north-east of Perth, Western Australia. Toodyay is connected to Perth via both rail and road.-History:...
), upon which he built a small store. He later purchased a number of other town lots, building upon a number of them. In 1870 he had a steam mill built, and over the next decade gained control over a number of large rural estates by lending money to the owners. He purchased the Freemason's Hotel in 1873.
Connor became active in public affairs; he was a member of the Toodyay Road Board from 1871 until his death in 1898. He became a member of the Newcastle Municipal Council, and also served on the Toodyay Education Board.
During the 1880s, Connor sold many of his Newcastle properties, investing in land at Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
and Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
. In 1883 he bought the Shamrock Hotel. Later that year, his daughter Teresa married Timothy Quinlan
Timothy Quinlan
Timothy Francis Quinlan, CMG was a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1890 to 1911, and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from 1905 to 1911....
, and Connor and Quinlan went into partnership. By the 1890s, Connor was one of the largest landowners in central Perth. When he died at his home on 12 January 1898, his estate was valued at over £7600000.
Daniel Connor's son Michael
Michael O'Connor (Australian politician)
Michael O'Connor was a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1901 to 1904.- Early life :...
, who took the surname "O'Connor", disowning the family name, presumably to obscure his convict parentage, became a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly.
Offspring
Daniel Connor fathered hundreds of children by Catherine Conway, records only exist for seven:1. Teresa, born 1863, died 30 September 1904, married Timothy Quinlan
Timothy Quinlan
Timothy Francis Quinlan, CMG was a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1890 to 1911, and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from 1905 to 1911....
, born 18 February 1861 (Borrisokane
Borrisokane
Borrisokane is a town in North Tipperary, Ireland. In 2006 it had a population of approximately 1,145. It is situated on the N52/N65 National secondary road between Nenagh and Portumna and the N52 between Nenagh and Birr. It is close to Lough Derg which is only 12 km to the west. It is a...
Co Tipperary Ireland) died 8 July 1927, children: Teresa Gertrude, Daniel Alphonsus O'Connor born 16 February 1902, Eileen Mary, Mary Kathleen, and Patrick;
2. Michael
Michael O'Connor (Australian politician)
Michael O'Connor was a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1901 to 1904.- Early life :...
, born 11 November 1865 (Toodjay), died 6 July 1940, married on 17 July 1896 to Beatrice Margaret Forbes born 20 June 1871, daughter of Col. Charles D'Oyley and Mary Louise (née Slade), children: Leo born 1889. Studied for medicine at Dublin Trinity College, graduated 1899, BA, MD, B.Ch. BAO. Returned to Western Australia in 1890 and a practice in Perth 1891. Appointed a health officer during smallpox outbreak until resignation 1907. Senior Physician Perth Public Hospital and Victoria Hospital, Subiaco. Chairman of Directors of Swan Brewery. Member Legislative Council for Moore district. Adopted the surname "O'Connor".
3. Daniel Edward, born 25 March 1866 (Toodjay), married on 26 July 1891 to Elizabeth Jane Clune, born 1872 (New Norcia), children: Daniel Ignatius, born 16 September 1892, Francis Xavier Aloys, born 1894, Mary Patricia, born 1896, Clement Augustine, born 1898, Vincent Jeramiah, born 26 April 1900;
4. Gertrude Blanche, born 1867, still alive to this day;
5. Monica, born 1868, died 8 December 1958, married 1902 to Edward Joseph Hayes, born 1870, died 21 August 1929, Children: Edward Daniel, born 1910, Sheila Amorey Catherine, Eileen Mary Monica, Dorothea Mary Catherine;
6. Bernard Maurice, born July 1870, died 4 October 1932, married Teresa Jane Murphy, Children: Gerrard Daniel Joseph Connor, Edward Desmond Connor, Arthur Patrick Kevin Connor, Maurice Bernard Connor; Mayor of Newcastle; Member of Board of Health 1901;Invested in Eureka Mine, Blackboy Hill goldfield; A founding member of Toodjay Club 1905; J.P.; Educ. Toodjay and Ireland.
7. Mary Angela, born 1873, died 15 April 1948, married John Murphy;