Laurence/Lawrence Glennan was born approximately 1835/6 in County Kildare, Ireland., the son of John Glennan and Catherine [nee Hackett]. He came to Australia with his parents and siblings in 1842, aboard the 'Anne Milne’. According to family information Laurence was known as 'Lance'
First Marriage: On 6th April 1858, he married his first wife, Margaret McDonald at Tea Tree Station, Rock Flat near Cooma. Margaret was born 1841, the daughter of Alexander McDonald [a shepherd] and Janet [Jessie]Chisolm. She died of consumption on 10th March 1876 at Cooma Creek. She was 35 years old. [ref 5691/1876].
Laurence and Margaret had the following children: Click Here
Mary Jane Gordon/Hughes was born 24th January, 1859 at 'Shannon View' Moruya, to single mother Margaret Gordon who was 18 years old. The registration does not give her name but simply states 'unnamed female' Gordon. The birth was registered by Ellen Jones 'Mistress' of Shannon View, a large property on the banks of the Moruya River. I suspect that mother Margaret worked on the property. At the time of her marriage, Mary Jane is using the surname Hughes and lists her parents as Williams Hughes and Margaret Gordon although William did not marry Margaret until 1863. As Mary Jane is underaged, it is William Hughes who give shis consent to the marriage.
Second Marriage: On 8th May 1877, 18 year old Mary Jane, spinster, married the 38 year old widower Laurence Glennan in the Roman Catholic Church at Cooma. At the time of her marriage, Mary Jane’s occupation is shown as ‘labourer’s daughter’. Laurence is recorded as a farmer residing at Rose Farm. The officating minister was Father Patrick Ryan. Witnesses were Philip Kelly [husband of Laurences sister Mary] and Rose Hayes [Laurences sister]. Oral hisotry states that Mary Jane was living in the Glennan household looking after the children either after Margaret's death or during her illness.
Laurence and Mary Jane had the following children: Click Here
Grevilles 1872 Post Office Directory for Cooma shows Laurence as a farmer, residing at Cooma Creek. 1903 Electoral Roll shows him as a labourer at Nimitybelle. By 1912, it appears the family had moved to Sydney.
Deaths:
Laurence Glennan, old age pensioner and farmer, died on 21st March 1912 at 29 Ben Boyd Road Neutral Bay. He was recorded as being 79 years old. Cause of death was carcinoma of the stomach and asthenia [?] which is an archaic medical term meaning loss of energy or strength. His illness lasted for 6 months. The informant was P.F Glennan of the same address, probably son Peter Francis. Laurence was buried on 25th March at the New Roman Catholic Cemetery at Gore Hill, Section D Plot 7.
Mary Jane died on 14th December 1940 at 10 Clarke Street, Lidcombe, Berala. She is recorded as being 83 years old. [ref 23130/1940 reg under GLENNON]. Cause of death was senility which is an old medical term meaning old age. Ann Bathie, of second avenue Lidcome, daughter, was the informant. Mary Jane was buried with husband laurence at the New Roman Catholic Cemetery, Gore Hill on 16th December 1940 Section D Plot 7
a) NSW BDM online index b) NSW Shipping records c) Death Certificate Laurence Glennan
d) Death Certificate Mary Jane Glennan e) Birth Certificate Ada Glennan f) Marriage Certificate Laurence Glennan & Mary Jane Hughes [h] Birth Cert Mary Jane Gordon