Thomas RYAN 1829-1917
&
Mary DWYER 1835-1910

My great grandparents were Thomas RYAN 1829-1917 and Mary DWYER 1835-1910. Thomas RYAN was born at Glenkeen, near Borrisoleigh in Tipperary, his parents being Martin RYAN and Mary O’BRIEN. Descendants of the same family live today in Glebe House Glenkeen.

Others of the RYAN family to come to Australia were Patrick and Bridget Treacy, and his cousin Thomas and Anne Russell, who all went to Queensland.

Thomas RYAN and Mary DWYER were married in Warrnambool, Victoria in 1857 and their family of twelve children had births registered in Woodford, Tower Hill and Casterton, between the years 1858 and 1876. Three of their children, Martin Joseph, Mary Ann, and Bridget Gertrude, married children of Denis CALLAGHAN and Julia McDONALD. Another daughter Helena Agnes married Cornelius O'BBIEN, and after her death, Cornelius married her cousin Mary Ann RYAN, the daughter of Michael RYAN & Mary Ann McCARTHY. Consequently, sorting out all the connections has not been easy.

At the time of Marriage Thomas and Mary lived at Merri Creek, where his occupation was given as "labourer". The Bahgallah School roll included Thomas's children, and he was one of the residents who petitioned for the establishment of the school.

Thomas RYAN & Mary DWYER had the following children...

1. Thomas Nicholas RYAN 1858-1938, b. Woodford, Victoria; resided at Bahgallah for may years; d. Casterton, S-W Victoria, m. 1890 at Nhill, Victoria to Mary Jane TIERNEY 1864-1950, b. Casterton, S-W Victoria to Michael TIERNEY and Catherine MORGAN, d. Hamilton, S-W Victoria. 7 known children...
   1. Mary Kathleen RYAN 1891-1936, b. Casterton, Victoria; d. Casterton, Victoria; m. 1910 Benjamin George WHYTE 1883-1941, b. Yambuk, Victoria to Charles WHYTE and Mary BINGHAM; d. Edenhope, Victoria. 3 children.
   2. Theresa Ruby "Tassie" RYAN 1893-1911, b. Bahgallah, Victoria; d. Casterton, Victoria; m. 1911 Richard "Leather" GILL 1890-1963, b. Casterton, Victoria to Richard GILL and Ada Mary HAMMOND; d. Melbourne, Victoria.
   3. Margaret Ursula RYAN 1894-1911, b. Casterton, Victoria; d. Casterton, Victoria.
   4. Thomas RYAN 1896-1917, b. Casterton, Victoria, son of Thomas Nicholas RYAN and Mary Jane TIERNEY. He enrolled at Bahgallah School in 1908 with his father recorded as a labourer of Bahgallah. He enlisted in the AIF on 5 Jan 1916 and served as Pte 5201, 14th Battalion, AIF. He embarked on the "Anchises" from Melbourme on 14 Mar 1916; wounded and DOW, France, 5 Feb 1917 and was buried in the Bernafay Wood British Cemetery, Montauban, France.
      Named : Bahgallah Old Scholars & District Volunteers Honour Roll
      Named : Casterton Town Hall Honour Roll
      Named : Casterton War Memorial
      Named : Sandford State School Honour Roll
   5. Michael RYAN 1898-1959, b. Bahgallah, Victoria; d. Tarpeena, South Australia; m. aft 1940 to Miriam Jane ..?.., left a widow and 2 sons. According to Sandford and Bahgallah Honour rolls he attended both schools. He enlisted in the AIF on 5 Jan 1916 and served as Pte 5199, 14th Battalion, AIF; embarked on the "Anchises" from Melbourme on 14 Mar 1916; served in Egypt and France and embarked "Delta" from England on 24 Jan 1919 for RTA.
      NOTE : Michael Ryan also enlisted and served in WW2 and was in the Middle East in 1940-42.
      Named : Bahgallah Old Scholars & District Volunteers Honour Roll
      Named : Casterton Town Hall Honour Roll
      Named : Sandford State School Honour Roll
   6. Martin RYAN 1900-..?.., b. Sandford, Victoria; ...?....
   7. Annie RYAN 1902-..?.., b. Sandford, Victoria; ...?....

2. Martin Joseph RYAN 1859-1925, b. Tower Hill, Victoria, d. Ararat, Victoria, married 1892 Nhill, Victoria to Mary Ann CALLAGHAN 1867-1920 (my grandparents), b. Tower Hill, Victoria, to Denis CALLAGHAN and Julia McDONALD; d. Ararat, Victoria. 1 child.
3. Mary Ann RYAN 1861-1951, b. Tower Hill, Victoria, d. Melbourne, Victoria, married 1884 Casterton, Victoria to John Joseph CALLAGHAN 1860-1901, b. Tower Hill, Victoria, to Denis CALLAGHAN and Julia McDONALD; d. Western Australia. 7 children.
4. Bridget Gertrude RYAN 1862-1940, b. Woodford, Victoria, d. Gippsland, Victoria, married 1890 Sandford, S-W Victoria to Jeremiah Mark CALLAGHAN 1866-1932, b. Tower Hill, Victoria, to Denis CALLAGHAN and Julia McDONALD; d. Melbourne, Victoria. 3 children.
5. Laurence RYAN 1864-..?.., b. Tower Hill, Victoria, and ...?...
6. John George RYAN 1865-1905, b. ..?.., d. Geelong, Victoria, married 1898 Geelong, Victoria to Catherine Theresa HENNESSEY 1868-1934, b. Geelong, Victoria, to Michael HENNESSY and Maria WHELAN; d. Melbourne, Victoria. 1 child.
7. Margaret RYAN 1867-..?.., b. Tower Hill, Victoria, d. ..?.., married Robert SULLIVAN (details unknown).
8. Helena Agnes "Lena" RYAN 1868-1903, b. Bahgallah, S-W Victoria, signed 1891 Women's Suffrage Petition, d. Casterton, S-W Victoria, married 1897 Casterton, Victoria to Cornelius O'BRIEN 1866-1947, "Muntham" Station, Victoria; d. Casterton, S-W Victoria. 2 children.
9. Patrick Joseph RYAN 1870-1954, b. Casterton, S-W Victoria, d. Melbourne, Victoria.
10. James Lawrence RYAN 1872-..?.., b. Casterton, S-W Victoria, d. ..?.., married 1913 Victoria to Mary Winifred BURKE 1876-1915, b. Warracknabeal, Victoria, to Martin BURKE and Mary O'HALLORAN; d. Warracknabeal, Victoria. 1 child.
11. Sarah Ann "Sadie" RYAN 1873-1918, b. Casterton, S-W Victoria, d. Melbourne, Victoria, married 1914 Victoria to Allan Goulburn LOVELL 1877-1923, b. Hamilton, Victoria, to Alan Walker LOVELL and Mary Ann SULLIVAN; d. Melbourne, Victoria.
12. Julia RYAN 1876-1876, b. and d. Casterton, S-W Victoria.

It appears the children, Lawrence and Patrick Joseph, did not marry.

I would like to make connection with others who have details of these RYAN or CALLAGHAN families.

Mike Gardiner
61 Swan Street,
Wangaratta, Vic 3677
AUSTRALIA
telephone: 03 5721 7225