Patient David Nolan

Born: 1841 Cashel, Tipperary, Ireland

Died: 6 July 1898 Woogaroo Asylum – Mania & Exhaustion

Magisterial Inquiry held at Woogaroo Asylum 7 July 1898 by W Yaldwyn PM

Buried 8 July 1898 Asylum Cemetery 2

Great Grandpa David Nolan was born in County Tipperary, in 1841 to Edmond Nolan and Catherine Morrissey, one of four known children. David was baptised in the Roman Catholic faith in the Parish of Cashel on 16 May 1841. In 1877, David boarded the brand-new immigration ship, Saraca, bound for Maryborough, one of 275 Assisted Passengers. The Saraca left Greenock, Scotland on 18 Aug 1877, arriving in Maryborough on 14 Dec 1877. On 22-Nov-1882, David married Bridget Hogan, an Irish immigrant who had arrived just 5 months prior, in St Mary's Church Maryborough, according to the rites of the Church of Rome. David worked for the QLD Government Railways from the Staff records. The earliest known record is 1889 as a Labourer. The 1892 Staff record shows he was a Lengthsman, David & Bridget had six children before Bridget died on 14 Sep 1892, just 9 months after the birth of their 6th child.

Great Grandpa Nolan then married another young Irish Immigrant, Eliza Tinkler on 9 July 1893, again at St Mary’s Church, Maryborough

David and Eliza had three children: Alice Margaret born 19 Jun 1894 and died 1 Jul 1894, Lizzie, my grandmother, born 17-Sep-1895 and died on 3-Apr-1980. Their 3rd Child William John was born on 20-Jun-1898 whilst his father was in Woogaroo Asylum and died on 13 Mar 1899.

David was committed to Woogaroo Asylum on 23 June 1898 and died, just 2 weeks later, on 6 Jul 1898 of Mania and exhaustion.

Woogaroo Asylum contacted Eliza for a contribution to the maintenance of our David whilst in their care. The letter she wrote in return says “Sir, referring to your letter of 26th October my husband David Nolan has got no property of any kind. He has no relations in Queensland. He left eight children a baby of eight months. The oldest boy is only fifteen. I cannot earn money to buy food for my children. I am depending on the Government for a house as my husband was a lengthsman on the railway line. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your Obedient Servant, Mrs D Nolan” An article in the Maryborough Chronicle on Friday 24 March 1899 advertises “A social and dance will be held in the Hibernian Hall on Easter Monday night, under the auspices of the HACB Society and in aid of the widow and orphans of Late D. NOLAN”. I cannot begin to imagine what it was like for Eliza and the children at the turn of the 19th and the start of the 20th Century. Times were tough for a lone woman. So different to our lifestyle now! Life improved for Eliza who married Andrew Jessen, a widower with 14 children (yes, I said our Eliza was amazing) in 1900 and lived a happy life bearing him three children. I have not found any record of a grave marker for David Nolan in the relocated Goodna Cemetery