1850
Hannah (aged 17) (presumably) marries Joseph Kilfoyle
Try as we might, we can’t find a record of their marriage in New South Wales or Victoria. Did she follow in the footsteps of her mum and marry later, it’s hard to know.
From the earliest days in the colony until about 1840, among the convict population in general, marriage was viewed somewhat differently. Women (and presumably men as well) saw marriage as a way to improve their economic and social standing in the community, and was finally entered into once the bloke had proved himself a good provider, or in the case of a woman, she had demonstrated her business acumen to the benefit and stability of the family.
With or without the blessing of her mum, Hannah went with Joseph Kilfoyle to the Victorian goldfields south east of Ballarat. She gave birth to 13 kids, the first, Caroline Elizabeth, born in 1850, died 6 years later. Only 6 remained alive at the time of her own death in 1905. She appears to have spent her life in Rocky Flat and was buried in the cemetery at Talbot, the nearby township.
1851
21st April Sarah Ann marries Peter Mark Ready in St Mary’s Cathedral Sydney and they move to Victoria.
1854
15th May Mr West wields an axe
Sydney Morning Herald Page 5 Central Police Court(90):
A man named West was charged by his employer Mrs Hannah Samuels with having wilfully and maliciously injured a door and a window, her property, with an axe while intoxicated. He admitted the charge and was sentenced to pay the damages with 4 shillings and sixpence cost or to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for one month.
23rd December The Mrs Lyons affair
Bell’s Life in Sydney and Sporting Reviewer (91)
Hannah wears a wig! I think it’s a “saying”
1855
6th January Ellen Lyons has the last word
Bell’s Life and Sydney Sporting Reviewer (92)
Hannah (don’t mess with me) Samuels aka Ann, confirms her character yet again. The auburn haired Mrs Lyons, obviously unhappy with the court outcome, resorts to an advertisement to get her point across to the public at large. The article, (page 3 article 27), written the day before and signed AN UNPREJUDICED SPECTATOR has all the authenticity of a witness to the fracas. Very very Interesting is the next article, 28 signed Ellen Lyons. The writing style is the same! It looks like the “Unprejudiced Spectator” is none other than Ellen Lyons!
The litigious Ellen Lyons is no stranger to the courts. Three weeks earlier the Sydney Morning Herald of the 21 December 1854(93) reported: “John Ryan was charged by Ellen Lyons with having assaulted her. Both parties are in the employ of Mr. Metcalfe, complainant being cook, defendant was rebuked by her for taking the servants food to feed his dog, for which he gave her a blow on the mouth with his fist, and threatened to kick her. Ordered to pay 40s with costs, or to be imprisoned for seven days.”
1857
The lovely legged (20 year old) Louisa marries Jabez Brown(94 95 96), Wharfinger. A marriage, I suspect, thoroughly approved of by Hannah.
Jabez was a clearly a young man on the rise financially, socially, and influentially. A successful marriage that is probably worthy of a story in it’s own right. H & H ‘s youngest, Ellen, married another Brown (not a brother of Jabez) and sadly died at the age of 36 leaving 4 young kids in the care of her (mariner) husband. The lovely legged Louisa and Jabez raised Ellen’s 4 along with her own 8! Aptly naming his Randwick mansion Louiseville.
Jabez was also the executor of Hannah’s estate after her death.