Rose Gaughan

Rose Gaughan, ex Panama

Rose Gaughan arrived in Sydney on the Panama. She told the Immigration Agent that her parents, Edward and Bridget, were both dead, and that she could read.

MacLysaght (1991) confirms that Gaughan is a North Connacht name. The Agent recorded Rose's native place as "Kilfoyle"; it is believed that this is Kilfian Parish in North Mayo. Kilfian Parish records are available from 1826-1836.

Church records show that Rose Gaughan was born on 9 May 1831, in the townland of Glenedagh, in Kilfian Parish, North Mayo (about 10km south of Ballycastle). Rose's parents are listed as Edmund Gaughan and Bridget Collins.

Rose told the Immigration Agent that she was 14 years old when she arrived in Sydney; her baptism record confirms that she was actually 18 years old.

Further searches in the church records reveal that Rose had at least one sibling. An older sister, Sarah Gaughan, was born in Glenedagh on 1 January 1829. Sarah's baptism record lists the sponsors' names as Edmund and Winifred Collins. These are likely to be relations of Sarah and Rose's mother, Bridget Collins.

Sarah and Rose most likely also had a younger brother. There is a baptism record for John Gaughan, born in Glenedagh on 14 June 1835. However, whilst all the other details match the records for both Sarah and Rose, John Gaughan's mother is recorded as Bridget Kelly, instead of Bridget Collins.

The sponsors for John Gaughan's baptism were Thomas Cullane and Bridget Gaughan.

The fate of Rose's siblings, Sarah and John Gaughan, is unknown. If they had not died along with their parents, then they may have been in Ballina workhouse along with Rose. Unfortunately there are no records available to confirm this.

On arrival in Sydney, Rose was sent to the Maitland Depot, where she was employed by WC Bailey of West Maitland, for 2 years at £7 (see Irish Famine Orphan Database).

Rose Gaughan’s name is etched on the glass wall of the Australian Monument to the Great Irish Famine at Hyde Park Barracks in Sydney.

Research is continuing to confirm the details of Rose Gaughan's later life.

Rose Gaughan, Baptism Record, 1831. (Image: rootsireland.ie)

Sarah Gaughan, Baptism Record, 1829. (Image: rootsireland.ie)

John Gaughan, Baptism Record, 1835 (Image: rootsireland.ie)