Ann (Moran) Curtis, Convict "Hercules" 1802

Ann's name if searching the ships registers was Moran. She married John in Parramatta, NSW. She is actually my 3 x great grandmother. Susan Stevenson

Ann Moran/Feaghan was born c1767 probably in Trim Co, Meath Ireland. She was a publican by trade. There is doubt whether her name Moran is her maiden name, married name or an alias. Her son John Joseph's marriage certificate and death certificate lists his mother's name as Fegan/Feaghan. His daughter Elizabeth's death certificate also lists her mother's name as Fegan/Feaghan. Fegan may be her maiden name and her married name is Moran. Since she was over 30 (born c1767) when transported to Australia it is not unreasonable to assume that she may have been married in Ireland. Also there is some evidence that she was an Irish Rebel. If this is true then the name Moran may be an alias (Irish rebels often used an alias to protect their family). Ann had been tried and convicted in Trim in Co Meath, Ireland, during the spring of 1797 (coincidentally the year that John arrived in Sydney) in connection with political activities. (However, Irish Catholics were transported for simply looking suspicious). Found guilty, she was sentenced to seven years transportation to New South Wales. One record in the State Library implies that the prisoners on the Hercules were convicted for offences in the “late rebellion” Ann was held in custody in jail in Ireland for three years to await a ship for transportation to Australia. In November 1801 she was placed on board the Hercules. On Sunday the 28th November 1801, two vessels, Hercules with Ann aboard, and Atlas, sailed from the Port Of Cork, arriving in Australia on 26 June 1802. Ann was one of the first hundred Irish women convicts to come to Australia. When Ann arrived in June 1802 she was assigned work as a dairymaid at Toongabbi - she was the first registered dairy maid in Sydney. Here she met John Curtis and they began a relationship. In c1803 their first child, Elizabeth, was born. In the following years 3 sons were born - James (c1806), John Joseph (c1809) and Peter (3 July 1811). On Tuesday 16 August 1814 in a ceremony at St Johns Church, Parramatta John Curtis and Ann Moran were married. This ceremony was followed by the baptism of 3 year old Peter and his baby sister Catherine (Kitty). By 1821 Ann Curtis set up business for herself as a publican for the sale of wine and spirituous liquor at Parramatta. After John's death in 1821 Ann applied for and received a grant of 100 acres at Parramatta adjoining John’s original 30 acres. On 6 October 1832 at the age of 65, Ann died and was buried at the Sydney Burial Ground, at the site of the present Sydney Central Railway Station. In 1901, about 73 years after Ann’s burial, when the land was required to build the Railway Station her remains were transferred to the Pioneer Section of Botany Cemetery where her headstone still stands today amongst those of early settlers.

Ann Moran/Feaghan was born c1767 probably in Trim Co, Meath Ireland. She was a publican by trade. It is not known whether Ann was married previously before being transported to Australia. Since she was 30+ when transported it is not unreasonable to expect that she was previously married in Ireland. The marriage certificate and death certificate of her son, John Joseph, gives his mother’s name as Ann Fegan/Feaghan. Her daughter Elizabeth's death certificate also states her mother's name was Ann Fegan. Fegan/Feaghan may have been her maiden name. There is also the possibility that Moran was her maiden name and Fegan/Feaghan was her married name.
Ann had been tried and convicted in Trim in County Meath, Ireland, during the spring of 1797 in connection with political activities. Found guilty, she was sentenced to seven years transportation to New South Wales. Ann was held in custody in jail in Ireland for three years to await a ship for transportation to Australia. In November 1801 she was placed on board the Hercules sailed on 28th November 1801, from the Port Of Cork, arriving in Australia on 26 June 1802. Ann was one of the first hundred Irish women convicts to come to Australia.
When Ann arrived in June 1802 she was assigned work as a dairymaid at Toongabbi - she was the first registered dairy maid in Sydney. Here she met John Curtis and they began a relationship. In c1803 their first child, Elizabeth, was born.
John and Ann set about making a life for themselves in N.S.W. In the following years 3 sons were born – James (c1806), John Joseph (c1809) and Peter (3 July 1811). In 1814 another daughter, Catherine was born on 7th June 1814.
On Tuesday 16 August 1814 in a ceremony at St Johns Church,Parramatta John Curtis and Ann Moran were married. This ceremony was followed by the baptism of 3 year old Peter and his baby sister Catherine (Kitty). The family prospered fairly well in NSW - by 1821 John owned a house in Parramatta, 26 head of cattle and a mare, a 30 acre farm on Sydney Rd, near Haslem’s Creek (now Lidcombe), adjoining a grant of 100 acres made to Ann after John’s death.
Because of John’s advanced age,( he was now 72), Ann Curtis set up business for herself as a Publican. After John’s death in 1821 Ann applied for and received a grant of 100 acres at Parramatta adjoining John’s original 30 acres.
On 6 October 1832 at the age of 65, Ann died and was buried at the Sydney Burial Ground, at the site of the present Sydney Central Railway Station.
In 1901, about 73 years after Ann’s burial, when the land was required to build the Railway Station her remains were transferred to the Pioneer Section of Botany Cemetery where her headstone still stands today amongst those of early settlers.

Sources
Colonial Secretary Index, 1788-1825 Newspapers of the times