Andrew Doyle (1774-1841) Ireland, Australia
1 Woody Pear (c1820s) watercolour on paper 42x27cm
details, signature, Portland Head NSW [Hawkesbury River]
collection of Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW
A Hardy, B (1985) Early Hawkesbury Settlers
Andrew was accompanied in exile by his family: wife Sophia Isabella [Norris: 1769-1855] was, he claimed, the 'first Irish gentlewoman' to reach the colony. Andrew on disembarkation was assigned to Sophia Isabella. remaining so until conditionally pardoned in 1806. They lived first at The Rocks, Andrew employed by Governor King to make botanical watercolours for Sir Joseph Banks. Gratitude found expression in delicately flower-decorated ribbon that Andrew presented to the governor's lady. ... Sophia was granted 60 acres at Toongabbie. Later, Andrew bought his permanent farm called Ulitedinburra Lodge on Sawyer's (Cambridge) Reach.
B http://www.cawb.com.au/to-be-sure-to-be-sure.html
James and Andrew came from a reasonably comfortable family. James worked as an army clothier in Dublin. Somehow they became entangled in the Irish Rebellion Movement and were both convicted and sentenced to life in exile in 1801. They were both transported on the “Rolla” in 1803 and whilst Andrew’s wife and children made the voyage with them, alas, James’s wife Margaret and young child Mary, were left behind. Margaret had been charged with selling up the family home and furniture in Dublin. She made a hurried dash to the wharf in Cork....only to arrive one day late! The “Rolla” had already sailed and it would be many years before James was to see just one of them again. ( It seems that in 1799 James states in a Petition that he has a deserving wife and 3 children....sadly, two must have perished).
C letter from Andrew (1804) to an unknown Reverend in England
“I take the earliest opportunity to inform you of our safe arrival here on the 10th May 1803 after a passage of six months and after delaying 1 month in Rio de Janeiro in the continent of South America where Mrs Doyle and myself spent the happiest days we ever spent in our lives and where she and her children would meet with the greatest encouragement by stopping.”