Ellen Kennedy, nee Mcgrath, wife of Henry Harris, wasa native of Ireland, born c 1795.
Ellen Kennedy was convicted under that name at Longford (Ireland)in April of 1819 for the offence of House Robbery.She was transported under thatname to New South Wales,initially sentence to serve seven years for her crime. She departed Ireland aboard the the notorious ‘Janus’ on 3 Dec 1819, the vessel being subject to an inquiry after its arrival.
The vessel arrived at Sydney on 3 May 1820. Ellen was one of sixty-eight females aboard the ship who where then sent on to Tasmania perPrincess Charlotte and was one of twenty five women sent to Port Dalrymple,the remaindergoing to Hobart. Seoul Massage
Ellen’s was assigned to Henry Harris upon arrival in Tasmania,herconvictrecords shows no conviction until 1825,whereupon she entered into marriage with Henry Harris. After their marriage that year she offended frequently.mostly for drunk and disorderly. It did not appear to be a match made in heaven..and in fact the marriage may have been enforced by the arrival of children prior to 1825.
Ellen’s maiden name is given as McGrath on her death certificate, and also on herdaughters death certificate,which means that Ellen was most likely married to Mr Kennedyin Ireland. What became of him is unknown..but she didn’t marry Henry Harrisuntil 1825.
Ellen was reconvicted in 1838 on a ‘receiving’ charge,she had been free for some time and she was now to serve another seven year sentence.
Ellen came to Victoria in 1848 with her daughter Margaret Willis,and son in law,Georg Willis, aboard the ‘Essington’. She appears to have remained only a short time in the Port Fairy District with Geo and Margaret and at her death in 1871 in Geelong, she had been in that area for at least 15 years.
Ellen suffered an inglorius death – she fell into a gully on her way home and was killed by the fall. She is buried in Geelong. We have long suspected that she had family in Geelong,and are still trying to ascertain if this is so.
Whether this family be McGrath,Kennedy or Harris is still to be determined.
See HARRIS Family History