Thomas O'Brien - Marine
Thomas O'Brien - Ancient Ancestry
Early Naming Patterns:
Irish Records:
1788 Muster:
Left Right
 
Thomas gives evidence in
first Murder Trial in the Colony:
2nd Fleet - Susannah Mortimore
Susannah's Trial, including scans of
'Original' Documents in both Devon
& Hampshire Assizes.
The enigma of John & Noah/Nathaniel
Mortimer - 1st Fleet.
Life at Norfolk Island:
Susannah Jnr.:
Children:
1808: Evacuating the
Island:
1808: Susannah Jnr.
Marries:
1809: Life at Glenorchy:
1819: Muster:
Death:
1822:The Farm continues:
1837: Census
1846: Susannah dies:
1857: Historical Icon;
The destruction of
O'Brien's Bridge: |
Thomas O'Brien was a marine of the 1st Fleet in the 32nd Company, Portsmouth Division, volunteering to
escort 751 convicts to establish a new settlement at Botany Bay under the Command of Arthur Philip in 1787.
The Fleet of seven ships left Spithead, Portsmouth bound for Botany Bay in the early hours of Sunday
the 13th May 1787 arriving at the destination point on the 19th January 1788. Botany Bay proved an unsuitable
site and on the 26th January 1788, the Motherland's Flag was raised near the spot now known as Circular Quay,
in Sydney.
Thomas O'Brien has been said to have been born in Tyronne, Ireland although no concrete evidence has been
found to support this hypothesis. Anciently a great deal can be learnt from the roots of this ancient Irish Name
and his ancient lineage. Ireland's Early Clans were extremely territorial and his Ancestry certainly stretches
back to the colourful legends of his first O'Brian ancestor Brian Boru in the 10th Century.
This vein of Research can be followed in great detail in Ancient Manuscripts Online at Ireland in Maps.
It is noted above that Thomas places the order of his children with own namesake being his youngest son.
This follows the ancient patterns of the 17th and 18th Centuries whereby a man would not usually place himself
above his father, particularly in the case of naming the eldest son. It is therefore possible to assume that
'James' was the namesake of Thomas's father. See an example of Naming Patterns
There are now several sites where online Irish Records are available. See Links at Irish Roots.
Also the LDS site is now slowly extending and improving their online records.
Thomas O'Brien remained at the Cove for the next two years, during which time the Colony he was
recorded in the 1788 Muster assigned to Captain Tench's Company as at the 30th September have a debt to the
Admiralty of £1.5s7d [usually deducted from marines' pay in the next month - this is discussed in detail in the
'First Fleet Marines' with scans of pay sheets etc. - Currently under construction.
Six weeks later, on the 17th November 1788, Thomas O'Brien gave evidence in the Trial of fellow marine
Private James Baker indicted for the murder of Marine Private Thomas Bullmore. Three other marines
were also implicated i.e. Privates Luke Haines, Richard Askew and Richard Dukes.
Thomas testified that on the morning of 7th November he was asked by the deceased to stand his shift
for him, he not being well. Thomas refused and four days later Bullmore died as a result of wounds
inflicted in a fight with the accused on the day mentioned. The Charges were later reduced to Manslaughter
and all marines were given 200 Lashes.
See transcription of Trial: Macquarie University Law: R. v. Baker and Others [1788] NSWKR 8.
Two years later, the arrival of the second fleet brought with it twenty-eight year-old
convict Susannah Mortimore, formerly of Devonshire, and her infant daughter Susannah born at sea en route
aboard the convict transport 'Lady Juliana'.
Susannah was indicted firstly at the Hampshire Assizes assumed found innocent and then moved to Exeter
Castle, Devonshire, to stand trial for stealing a sheep with co-conspirator John Rice on the 17th March 1788.
Both were initially sentenced to death but later reprieved to serve seven years transportation to the Colony.
See Documents relating to her Trial in this series PART I.
During the voyage, Susannah gave birth to a daughter and reports of her boarding the vessel with another child,
although no documentation has been found to support the existance of this elder child.
Within a few short weeks after arrival at Sydney Cove, Susannah and her infant daughter were sent to Norfolk
Island per 'Surprise' on the 7th August 1790.
Already on the Island were 1st Fleet Convcits John Mortimer and his son Noah, who were convicted for theft
at Devonshire Assizes 20th March 1786 sentenced to seven years transportation to the Colony.
Recent evidence implies that Noah later used the name 'Nathaniel Mortimer' and is the same man who lived
at the home of James O'Brien, the son of Susannah and Thomas at Glenorchy since 1834. There is substantial
evidence to this effect recorded in the Inquest into his death twelve years later in 1846 whereby James's wife
Ann [nee Cowen] and their adolescent daughter Susannah O'Brien, aged thirteen, gave evidence at the Inquest.
See: The Enigma of Noah/Nathaniel Mortimer in this series PART 1 - also in the Epilogue: James O'Brien.
At this point the Marines were allowed to accept the offer made by the Admiralty prior to their Departure,
to either settle at the Colony with a Land Grant, enlist in the establishment of the newly arrived relieving
NSW Corps or return to England.
According to Sergant James Scott's Journal a further enticement to settle on the following Encouragement;
Eighteen months Provisions with 60 Acres of Land, 1/2 an acre Cleared.
'A house built; two Breeding Sows; Six Hens & one Cock; four. Jackets; Four Waistcoats;
four pair drawers; four pair Trousers; four pair Shoes; four pair Hose; two Hats; four shirts
& thread Needles; a Bed & Blankets.'
This Order was made on the 5th April 1791, however they were not allowed to leave until their houses were built.
Thomas O'Brien was one the first twenty nine marines to choose to settle in the Colony. He was discharged
on the 24th October 1791 and left Sydney Cove two days later aboard the 'Atlantic' to settle at Norfolk Island.
Within weeks Thomas O'Brien and Susannah Mortimore were very likely married in November 1791, in one of
several ceremonies performed on the Island by Rev. Johnson at that time - No records have been found.
Susannah's child Susannah jnr was nearing the age of two years at their marriage, she later adopted the
name of her step-father and ultimately married under the name Susannah O'Brien. Susannah formed a
close bond with her half siblings. Moving into their newly built two storey home, several Issue followed as
the family prospered.
Issue;
Catherine Obrien baptised at Norfolk Island on the 27th August 1792 - See Epilogue.
Mary Ann O'Brien baptised on Norfolk Island on the 26th February 1794 - died in infancy - See Epilogue.
Agnus Therese O'Brien was born on Norfolk Island on the 18th July 1795 - See Epilogue.
Elizabeth O'Brien was born on Norfolk Island in 1799 [by inference] - See Epilogue.
James
William O'Brien born on Norfolk Island in 1800 [by inference] - See Epilogue.
Margaret O'Brien born on Norfolk Island in 1807 [by inference] - See Epilogue.
Mary Ann O'Brien born on Norfolk Island in 1804 [by inference] - See Epilogue.
Thomas O'Brien was born in 1808 possibly in Hobart [by inference] - See Epilogue.
Susannah was now aged around forty-eight, this would be her last child.
Although the Settlement at Sydney Cove had for many years been reliant on the rich harvests of Norfolk
Island, the treacherous shipping conditions brought about the decision to evacuate Norfolk. The houses
were to be destroyed to deter settlement by foreign shipping and many of the settlers were to be re-located
south of the mainland at Van Diemen's Land compensated with large Land Grants.
The O'Brien Family left the Island per 'The City of Edinburgh' on the 3rd September 1808.
By this time Susannah appears to have been carrying her youngest child en-eutro.
With them were their six surviving children Catherine aged 16yrs; Agnus was aged 13yrs; Elizabeth aged 9yrs;
William aged 8yrs and Margaret aged 1year and Susannah the daughter of Susannah's prior relationship aged
eighteen.
During this time the O'Brien Family appear to have endeared forty-year-old convict George Porter [Scarborough2
-1790]] who had been working on the Island since 1792 George was also re-located to Van Diemen's Land at this
time. Within a few weeks of arrival, after adopting the name of her Stepfather and with his blessing as a Witness,
young Susannah O'Brien married George Porter [twenty-two years her senior] at Hobart on the 21st November 1808,
by whom she had several issue. See Biography of George Porter.
According to the Muster of 1809, Thomas was granted 100 acres of land of which three were under wheat and
one in Barley. It states he has six children.
During the next few years a bridge was built across Humphries Rivulett a tributary of the Derwent River,
laying adjacent to the O'Brien Farm. A vital crossing to local residents a bridge had been constructed, which
became known as O'Brien's Bridge, standing as a local icon used locationally in many Deed & Legal Documents
in Hobart for many decades.
By the 1819 Muster Thomas O'Brien is recorded on the same property with ten acres in wheat, one in peas
and beans, three in potatoes and forty six under pasture.
At this point his children were aged: Catherine 27yrs [unmarried]; Agnus 24yrs [unmarried]; Elizabeth 20yrs
[unmarried]; James 19yrs; William 17yrs, Margaret 12yrs and Thomas aged eleven years.
This Muster was the last recorded account of Thomas O'Brien, where and exactly when he died and was buried
remains a mystery, he is assumed to have been buried on the property shortly following.
Three years later, his sons James and William were both recorded living at the property, was now called 'O'Brien's
Farm.
William was recorded in an advertisement in the Hobart Town Gazette: Saturday 25th May 1822;
Transcription:
STRAYED, from O'Brien's Farm at Humphrey's Rivulet, about three weeks ago,
3 young Steers, branded BJ on the left thigh, one of them with his right horn inclining towards
the cheek, one of a dark brown colour with a white forehead, the other, a light brown with
a white streak down the back.
Any person giving information where they may be found, will received Three Pounds Reward of
W. O'Brien, the owner of the said cattle; but if found in any persons possession after this notice,
they will be prosecuted according to law. National Library Australia [NLA] Newspapers]
Susannah was recorded in the 1837 Census living with her daughter Margaret McDonald.
Susannah O'Brien [formerly Mortimore] died on the 31st December 1846, buried at St. Matthew, Glenorchy
her Tombstone inscribed aged 86 years.
Tombstone Photo kindly submitted
by Mr.P.McCormack [descendant],
photographed personally in 2007.
Susannah's son James O'Brien is interred with her, died on the 21st December 1863.
His Spouse Ann O'Brien [nee Cowan] also shares the grave. See Epilogue
O'Briens Bridge had stood a local icon, servicing the local community for nearly half a century, built
on the corner of the O'Brien property, crossing Humphrey's Rivulet at Glenorchy.
The orginal Bridge was torn down piece by piece in 1857 by a disgruntled neighbour, annoyed by traffic
on his land. The records that he acquired the adjacent property sold to him by Susannah & Thomas's
grandson 'McDonald', assumed to be James McDonald, the son of their daughter Margaret. .
Susannah's eldest son James O'Brien gave evidence in a subsequent dispute mentioning the event.
Hobart Town Mercury: Wednesday 17th June 1857. Click on Images to enlarge;
Part 1
 |
Continued
 |
Remainder & Outcome
See: NLA 17th June 1857
|
Relatively recently a Plaque was erected commemorating the once Historical Landmark with engraved
reference to Thomas O'Brien former Marine. See National Library.
The plaque was raised near Glenorchy Shopping Centre [Northgate].
EPILOGUE [Below]
With many thanks to Peter McCormick and R. Coup for their contributions |
Thomas O'Brien & Susannah Mortimore
[Before1760-post 1818] [1760-1846]
Marine - 1st Fleet to Sydney Cove [1788] Convict - 2nd Fleet to Sydney Cove [1790]
PART III
Their life together in the Colony, their children
and the enigma of Nathaniel Mortimore
