On this day 140 years ago Margaret Ryan married George Austin Woodland

To set the scene...Margaret Ryan is the mother of James Woodland who married Agnes Cahill in 1901...

On 18 August 1887, Margaret Ryan married George Austin Woodland at St Mary's Catholic Church, Newcastle.  So this was the day that the Woodland/s name came into our family but I very much doubt that any of us are descendants from George!

It's also seven years today since my dear dad, Frank Woodlands, died.  My interest in our family history stems from Mum and Dad but I'm not sure they could have foreseen the journey I'm on....

So, what better day for a post!

By now, we know that the story of Agnes Cahill is a complicated one.  James Oswald Woodlands' father was Cornelius Bray but James Woodland snr was in James Oswald's life from about the age of 8.  James Woodland snr was the father of Lorna Mae Bisgrove (nee Woodlands).  

When I went to look for the birth registration of James Woodland snr, the next twist in the story unfolded.  James snr was born on 23 November 1874 at King Street, Newcastle to Margaret Ryan.  His birth was registered as James Ryan and "illegitimate" was shown against the father's name.    Margaret was the informant, 21 years of age, born in County Tipperary, Ireland and couldn't write.

Margaret didn't marry George Austin Woodland until James was a few months short of three.  George was from Athlone, County Westmeath, Ireland and may have arrived in Australia around 1870.  

After their marriage, Margaret Ryan and George Austin Woodland had 5 children - George Joseph 1878 to 1927), Margaret Agnes (1880 to 1949), Edward Joseph Ryan (1882 to 1934), Francis Xaviour (1884  to 1884) and Winifred Honora (1885 to 1963).  

The first three children were born in Newcastle and the last two in Goulburn.

Tragedy struck the family in March 1884 when Francis Xaviour, 8 weeks old, was suffocated during the night when sleeping in Margaret's arms. It is reported that Francis had turned towards George in the bed during the night and George's arm was across his face. At the inquest, the verdict was returned of suffocation as the result of an accident.

By 1887, the family had returned to Cook's Hill, Newcastle. Twelve year old, George Joseph, came under the notice of local police in July, 1890:-

"ALLEGED WANDERING - A little lad named George Woodland was charged with he, being under the age of 16 years, had been found wandering about the streets in no ostensible occupation. The boy was barefooted, wore threadbare clothing, and altogether presented a miserable and very much neglected appearance. Constable Larson stated that about 2 o'clock on Sunday morning he arrested the boy in Market square. He had known him for about 12 months, and had seen him running about the streets at all hours of the day and up till 11 o'clock at night. George Woodland, a compositor, residing in Railway street, stated that the boy was his son. He frequently played truant from school and stayed out at night. Witness did not wish, however, to have him sent to the Vernon, as he believed the present lesson would have a good effect on him. In discharging the boy the Bench stated that a great deal of blame was due to the parents in such cases. If proper inquiries were made fathers could easily ascertain whether their sons went to school or not. It was to be hoped that in the present case the boy would in future be more carefully looked after by both parents. He was then discharged." 

On 18 Mar 1891, the NSW Police Gazette carried the news that a warrant had been issued for the arrest of George for deserting Margaret:-

"NEWCASTLE - A warrant has been issued by the Newcastle Bench for the arrest of George Austin Woodland, charged with unlawfully deserting his wife, Margaret Woodland, at Newcastle, since 14 October last, leaving her without means of support. He is 37 years of age, 5 feet 4 inches high, stout build, fair complexion, clean shaved except sandy moustache, hair cut short, round face, teeth regular but black, hollow cheeks, blue eyes, pug nose, high forehead, rings tattooed on the third and fourth fingers of one hand, tattoo mark on left wrist; walks lame owing to injury of the left instep; a compositor; dressed in brown coat and vest, dark tweed trousers, and dark felt hat. Supposed to be employed on one of the papers, Bathurst, went by name of Little Danny." 

After this time, I can't find any information about George Austin Woodlands including his death.  

On 02 Jun 1896, Margaret married James O'Hara at Sacred Heart Church, West Maitland. On the marriage registration, James is shown as a 51 year old, bachelor from County Cavan, Ireland, living in Newcastle and working as a carrier.  Margaret is shown as a 41 year old, widow living in Newcastle and working as a washerwoman.  In 1896, Winifred Honora, Margaret's youngest child, was 10.

Just over four years later, on 13 Oct 1900, Margaret died at 53 Charles St, Cook's Hill, Newcastle. The death registration shows the children of her marriage to George as James 23, George 21, Edwards 19, Margaret 17 and Winifred 14.  (James was nearly 26 at the time of his mother's death.)  On 15 Oct 1900, Margaret was buried at Sandgate Catholic Cemetery, Newcastle.

By the time of his mother's death in 1900, James Woodland snr was living with Agnes Cahill and they had one daughter, Myra, in 1898.  

There's nothing to indicate that James was the son of George Austin (although George is  named as father on James's 1947 death registration).  Also, there doesn't seem to have been any association between James and his siblings although they lived in the inner suburbs of Sydney after their marriages.

So my current thinking is that none of us have any family relationship to George Austin Woodlands.  As Margaret Ryan is the 2 or more times great-grandmother of the "Bisgrove cousins", there is a family relationship with the descendants of the children from Margaret and George's marriage.