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James Edward Harrigan (1839–1929)

Mr. James Edward Harrigan, who died at Merewether on 12th May last, was born at Tarrawanna on the 28th of May, 1839, and at the time of his death was 89 years and 11 months of age. He was the eldest son of the late Mr. Edward Harrigan, of Tarrawanna. His early life was spent in this district, enduring many of the hardships and privations incidental to the early settlement of this district, unfortunately losing his mother when quite a lad through an accident at the intersection of Gipps-Road and the Prince's Highway, Wollongong. For some time he attended a private school where the R.C. Cemetery is situated at Corrimal. It was kept by a gentleman named Hassan. On Mr Hassan reliquishing teaching in that place the late Mr. Harrigan accompanicd him to Shellharbour as a companion, Mr. Hassan being a bachelor. Becoming dissatisfied with the treatment accorded him, he ran away and returned home after swimming the Macquarie River, which happened to be in flood at that time. On reaching the age of 20 years he was married in the Temporary Church of England at Wollongong to Miss Amelia Ann Thornton, of Wollongong, by whom he had 10 children, all of whom are living — Fred (Coffs Harbour), Arnold (Tweed River), Charles (Tenterfield), Henry (Corrimal), George (Kogarah), Arthur (Earlwood), Mrs. G. Roble (Bvron Bay), Mrs. M. Scofield (Queensland), Mrs. J. Piper (Langothlin), Mrs. J. Irish (Merewether), and there are at present 52 grand children, and 63 great grand children.

On the 1st April, 1862, shortly after the passing of Sir John Robertson's Land Act, he selected land in the West Kangaloon district, and conducted farming operations there until increasing years made it necessary for him to rest, and for some years past he has been residing with his youngest daughter at Merewether.

His first wife predeceased him by about 10 years. He afterwards married Miss Louisa Brenning, of Kangaloon, there being no issue.

Unassuming in manner, kind and sympathetic by nature, strictly honest in all his dealings, he won the esteem and goodwill of everyone with whom he came in contact.

He was buried in the East Kangaloon cemetery on the 14th instant, the funeral cortege leaving the Bowral Hospital, followed by a large number of relatives and friends.

Original publication

Citation details

'Harrigan, James Edward (1839–1929)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/harrigan-james-edward-26067/text34095, accessed 4 November 2024.

© Copyright Obituaries Australia, 2010-2024

Life Summary [details]

Birth

28 May, 1839
Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia

Death

12 May, 1929 (aged 89)
Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

Cause of Death

heart disease

Cultural Heritage

Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

Occupation