Julia Ann HURLEY

On my maternal side, Julia Ann HURLEY was born in Victoria.

Her parents Cornelius HURLEY (born abt 1829) and Julia DWYER (born abt 1831) were both born in Ireland (based on a number of certificates), but married in England around 27th July 1851 at St George's Catholic Church, Southwark, London - the first Catholic Cathedral in England since the reformation.

The 1851 England census, taken on 6 June, less than two months before the wedding of Cornelius HURLEY and Julia DWYER, shows only one Cornelius HURLEY of the right age, living in 31 Bexley St, Peckham, Lambeth (now part of greater London), aged 24 (giving a birth year of 1827), an unmarried farm labourer born in Cork, Ireland. He was living with his mother Johanna, widowed, aged 50 whose occupation was lodging housekeeper also born in Cork, as well as a sister Catherine and brother Denis aged 19. His brother being named Denis adds to my belief this is the 'right' Cornelius HURLEY as Cornelius and Julia DWYER named a son Denis in Australia (b. 1862 Vic Australia, d. 1927 Yarrawonga NSW).

Amazingly, the very same page of the census reveals Julia (appears to be written July?) DWYER, living next door from Cornelius at 32 Bexley St, Peckham. Julia's age was 20, confirming her birth abt 1831 and was born in Tipperary, Ireland. She was living with her mother Catherine, a widower and domestic servant, aged 55 (and therefore born abt 1796).

So Cornelius HURLEY met Julia DWYER as they were neighbours!!!


Cornelius and Julia nee DWYER appear to have had several children in England following their marriage in London before travelling to Melbourne about 8 years later on 'Prince of the Seas' in February 1860 with children Cornelius and Edmond:

*HURLEY, CORNELIUS 4
*HURLEY, JULIA 28
*HURLEY, EDMOND I
*HURLEY, CORNELIUS 30

Also on board were
HURLEY, Ellen 18
HURLEY, MARGARET 24

It is possible that Ellen and Margaret HURLEY were relatives of Cornelius, though I'll have to get a copy in the immigration records to confirm this.

Cornelius and Jullia appear to have settled in Malmsbury, Victoria where they had several more children including my ancestor Julia Ann on 22nd August 1863, her palce of birth being given as Malmsbury Reserve. Malmsbury was a town on the road between Melbourne and the gold town of Bendigo to the north, and around the time the Hurley's arrived in Malmsbury the railway line betwixt the two opened that included a stop in Malmsbury. Cornelius' occupation was given as labourer in her birth certificate.

I've not tracked their movements from Malmsbury, though by the time Julia Ann HURLEY married Patrick Joseph QUINANE in 1887 the family appears to have moved to the area west of Albury, as three years later he mother Julia nee DWYER died in nearby Yarrawonga. The transcripts for Yarrawonga Cemetery Headstones reveals Julia's entry:

Erected to the
Sacred memory
of JULIA
HURLEY
the beloved wife
of Cornelius
Hurley born
Tipperary,
Ireland died
Sept. 24th 1890
aged 59 years
also the above
CORNELIUS
HURLEY died
July 8th 1905
aged 89 years.

Combining lists of children in birth certificates, Victorian and NSW BDM entries and Ancestry.com UK Birth entries, their probable children are listed below. The order for the first few children is assumed based on the chronological list of sibilngs in Julia Ann and James' certificates.

John born England, deceased prior to arrival in Australia
Johanna born England, deceased prior to arrival in Australia
Cornelius Joseph HURLEY, born abt 1855 London England, married Ellen Anne DWYER 1884 Yarrawonga Vic, died Yarrawonga Vic 1893.
Catherine born England, deceased prior to arrival in Australia
Edmond P HURLEY, born abt 1859 London England, died Petersham NSW 1935.
Denis HURLEY, born abt 1862 Vic Australia, died Jerilderie NSW 1927.
Julia Ann HURLEY, born 22 Aug 1863 Malmsbury Vic, married Patrick Joseph HURLEY in Burramine Vic 4 Sep 1887, died 16 Dec 1937 Rockdale, Sydney, NSW
James HURLEY, born 2 Jul 1865 Malmsbury Vic, died 1866 in Vic.
Daniel HURLEY, born and died 1867 in Vic.
Patrick HURLEY, born abt 1869 Vic Australia, died 1937 Henty, NSW, Australia.
Thomas Francis HURLEY, born abt 1870 Vic Australia, died 1960 Vic.
Michael HURLEY, born abt 1873 Vic Australia, died 1960 North Sydney, NSW, Australia

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As always, a few more certificates will help - in particular, the marriage certificate in the UK of Cornelius HURLEY and Julia DWYER may give more information about their town of birth. Their death certificates may also be useful.