Descendants of MCGOVERN

Notes

Norah

See the article by Terri Van Lamoen on the Descendants of Norah.

4. Catherine MCGOVERAN

Catherine McGovern arrived in Australia on Saturday 13 February 1841 with her two older sisters, Alice and Margaret on board the ship, Jane Gifford.  The Jane Gifford, a barque of 555 tons, was mastered by George Mason and with M. Charles Gorden as surgeon superintendent, left Plymouth on 2 October 1840 with general cargo, one cabin passenger, 250 bounty immigrants and 26 crew.

Catherine could not read or write. She was also described as being in a very good state of bodily health, strength and probable usefulness. [SR film 2134 and AO film 1329].  

The reel 2134 lists the three McGovern girls in the list of Immigrants British Subjects sent to the Colony of NSW by Mr John Marshall of London in pursuance of an authority granted to his agent the Messrs. Walkers of Sydney by the Colonial Secretary dated 26 August 1839 and who arrived at Sydney by the ship Jane Gifford in 13 February 1841.[Also on reel 1329]

Catherine was described as a housemaid, a Roman Catholic from Tipperary and was 20 years old.  Her mother, Norah McGovern, was a widow.

It has been confirmed that the above Catherine McGovern was Lindsay Nimo's wife, as when Margaret McGovern married John Shin in 1846, Lindsay Nimo was a witness. Also Alice's husband, Hassen Dean, was the witness at Catherine and Lindsay Nimo's wedding.

The Jane Gifford was a barque of 558 tons built in 1840 which made its maiden voyage the same year under Captain George Mason.  It left Plymouth, England for Sydney NSW on 2 October 1840 with 257 immigrants arriving on 13 February 1841.  It is likely that Catherine McGovern and her sisters sailed from Cork to Plymouth on the "Lee" and boarded the "Jane Gifford". They were migrating under the Bounty Immigration Scheme.

Catherine McGoveran married Lindsay Nimo on 6 July 1842.
Marriage: NSW BDM V18423655 74B/1842 and V18421462 76/1842 Lindsay Nimo, widower of Sydney, and Catherine McGoveran, spinster of the same place, married on 6 Jul 1842 at Sydney Presbyterian, St Andrew's Scots Church.

Both Catherine and Lindsay are buried Field of Mars Presbyterian Section in Grave  No. 663

The grave transcription reads:

"To the Memory of Catherine Nimo who departed this life 17th July 1850 aged 31 years leaving a husband and 3 children to lament their loss. Also Lindsay Nimo husband of the above who died 13th Dec 1864 aged 82 years. Also John Nimo son of the above who departed this life 23rd June 1920 aged 78 years. Erected by his loving sister M.A. Llewellyn."

(Note: John, Elizabeth and Mary Anne would still have been living in 1850)

Death: NSW BDM V18502397 102/1850  Catherine McGoveran or Nemo, Sydney, buried 19 Jul 1850, 31 years, St Andrew's Scots Church, Presbyterian
               
               V1850532 105/1850  Catherine McGouvin or Nemo, 31 years, buried 19 Jul 1850, St Andrew's Scots Church