Brian Condon: Letters and Documents in 19th Century Australian Catholic History

[Vide A.D. Flanagan History of New South Wales, London, Sampson Low, 1862]

[Source: Adelaide Archdiocesan Archives original]

1788. Feb and March. "During the stay of the La Pérouse Father Le Receveur, who came out as Naturalist in the Astrolabe, died. His death was occasioned by a wound he received in a rencontre with the Natives of the Navigator's Island. A Monument with suitable inscription was erected over the spot where he was interred [near the Monument of La Perouse]. This was soon after destroyed by the Natives - Governor Phillip caused the inscription to be engraved in copper, and had it fixed to a tree near the spot.

1811 Mrs Catherine Fitzpatrick [mother of J. Fitzpatrick M.L.A. Sydney] 1811.

1811. Mrs Catherine Fitzpatrick and family came out in ship Providence, Captain Barker Commander, about middle of this year [1811]. She brought a letter and a suit of Vestments for Father Harrold, he had been sent back to Europe a short while before her arrival. She told her case and lamented the departure of the Priest. "What could she do with the Vestments! The order for goods were consigned by her to Robert Campbell Jun. in Bligh Street Sydney - he took advantage of the penal Statute - would not give up parcel sent to Father Harrold, saying that "The priest was a recusant", and it was the current opinion in Sydney that he had a Vest made of the Chasuble and was wont to boast of its rich brocade at the anti Catholic assembly in those sorrowful days.

James Dempsey - a Stone Mason sent out for part he took in rising of '98, was a Native of Wexford. A man of genuine piety and often wept on his captivity, for although his irreproachable character caused him to be allowed to exercise his trade and live, and exempted him from being assigned, he felt his deprivation of all religious aid as keenly as the Jews, who could not sing the songs of the Lord in a strange land, "who wept when they remembered Sion". He was, at the period we write of, a Widower and he now devoted all his earnings to supply a want - so much felt - of having a house to shelter those few good men, who despite the floggings awarded by Clerical Magistrates for not attending Protestant Service on Sunday, kept their faith without faltering. This house was situated in Kent Street, and a few doors from Erskine Street. This house was as "the upper Chamber of Jerusalem", Here those men, Confessors for the Faith, resided and practised by stealth those duties of ...

Most Rev John Bede Polding - born Nov 18 1794 and entered St Gregory's Downside in 1805 - Received the Benedictine habit July 16^th. 1810, professed 18^th. July 1811 - Ordained priest March 4^th. 1819. Missa Prima [[Celebrated] First Mass] , 21^st.

Bulls dated May 2^nd. 1834 - Received episcopal consecration at London, Feast SS Peter and Paul - at the hands of Right Rev Jim York Bramston, assisted by Right Rev Drs Griffiths and Rouchoux - arrived in Sydney in 1835 - was raised to the Archiepiscopate by the Late Pope, Gregory XVI, 10^th. April 1842. -

The Colony of N.S. Wales was founded in the year 1788. The Government of England of that day seemed to have little knowledge of and less interest in, Australia, more than its distance and its vastness, rendered it a vast and illimitable prison house for the criminal population of the British Empire. For the purpose it was set aside and continued to be employed up to the year 1840 - when N.S.W. ceased to be a penal settlement. Such, with the exception of Govt. staff and Military, were the first settlers of the Colony. Another class, however, soon contributed to increase the population.

The attempted Rev. of "98" - in Ireland, and the disturbance consequent upon it for years afterwards gave, at an early period, a large Catholic population to Australia, consisting principally of the unhappy patriots who were defeated in the heroic struggle.