Martin, (Rosanna) Rose Ann ^13,126

  General Notes:

Arrived Australia 13 Sept 1887 on the SS Jumna, which left London on 29 July 1887 . Married in Australia.

Her sister came to Australia and was lost in the 1890 "Great Flood" in Brisbane. Victoria bridge was washed away. She was never found. (Ann Turner understands that this girl went to Sydney, and there was some question as to whether she died in a Sydney flood. However uncle Joe said that there was no proof that she did die, but just disappeared.) (Ann) Ann may have her name in her address book. A Number of other family members also came to Australia, possibly her parents, including her nephew Christy. Probably included Elizabeth.He was a wardsman at the Mossman Hospital in North Queensland for many years.



Rose disapproved greatly of her daughter's marriage to James Hurst Turner, on religious grounds. She disowned Mary, and rejected her completeley and told her never to come to the house again. She threatened to throw boiling water over her grandson (William) when he visited at age 19 yrs. Mary did visit her mother on one occasion (when Mary was a baby) about 15 years after her marriage, but stayed with friends in Brisbane. She ensured that she was accompanied on her visit/s to her mother by other members of the family, to protect her.

Rose took in washing to support the family, since her husband was in the Assylum. Youngest child Kate was only 3 months old when he went into the assylum, and Mary was 8. Mary had to leave school to help with the younger children.(from Ann Turner). Rose Ann was widowed at age 32 yrs. Bought a house in Oak St, Bulimba. Paid 2 shillings and 6 pence in repayments. In the 1893 flodds the water lapped the floor boards, and she was distraught. She was very proud of the house. The Hollyoak family inherited the house, and the spare allotment next door. Ann thinks it now has units on it. It was sold in the 1990s. (Ann Morrison nee Turner). Note very close to Laidlaw Pde (the Turner house).

From Recollections of Joe Shaffery (see full tranjscript under Joe Shaffery notes).

"When Roseanna Martin first came out she worked at Fewings at Toowong. Joe thinks it was a boarding house. She used public transport to get everywhere. When she was young she used to go to Sandgate on her day off. One day she accidentally gave half a Sovereign to a Salvation Army collector at Sandgate where they were playing their band. She immediately told them of her mistake but the collector would not give her her money back.

Nana did all sorts of cleaning but would never clean anybody's shoes. She also refused to be photographed in her later years.

Joe says that his mother was married at 19 and widowed at 32. His parents were married at St Stephens Cathedral, and payed 3 guineas for the wedding. This was a big sum of money for the time, but the priest was unhappy and said "they must cut the grass short where you come from".

Peter Shaffery earned about 25 shillings a week at the meatworks at Queensport. He brought home washing for his wife to do and would deliver it to his mates when it was done. He often went to the pub, as did many men in the area. When other husbands were drunk and difficult, Nana used to let the wives and children stay at her place. Once when Peter was out of work he gave his last five shillings to a church collector who came to the door. Nana was very upset about it.

Nana did not know her true age so did not recieve the pension when she was first entitled. Some relatives from Ireland eventually told her, and her daughter, Rose, wrote to the department of social security asking for a pension for her. She was asked a lot of questions about her ownership of the house and land. This angered her as she had worked so hard to buy the house in the absence of her husband. They also questioned her income. So she signed the house over to Joe even though he was living up north at the time. Joe wrote and complained to the department and his mother was granted the pension."

Reminiscences of the Shaffery Family - <Living>.
"Rose never really welcomed us to her house and never came visiting. But Mum and several of us perservered for family's sake. We always contacted her first and didn't stay long! The Knowlege she had lost her son and may have been depressed helped us to understand her. Her hurtfull comments about family members including Elizabeth, are still with me. When she was in her final days Mum and Elizabeth took turns to be with her in hospital".
^{13,39,118,127,128}

  Birth Notes:

1870 according to Mary's birth certificate.

  Noted events in her life were:

• Religion: Roman Catholic.

• Emigration, 1887, Brisbane, , Queensland, Australia.

• Occupation: Domestic servant: Brisbane, , Queensland, Australia. ¹¹⁸ Fewings Boarding House

• Marriage: at age 19 years.

• widdowed: at age 32 years.

• Land: Oak St Bulimba. Bought by her own endeavour . Paid 2 shillings and 6 pence in repayments. In the 1893 floods the water lapped the floor boards, and she was distraught. She was very proud of the house. The house was left to joe shaffery who lived there for some years.

(Rosanna) married Peter Shaffery, son of John Shaffery and Ann Power, on 1 Jan 1889 in St. Stevens Cathedral, Brisbane (Old Church) ³⁹.^,117 (Peter Shaffery was born in 1860 in Moynalty, County Meath, Ireland,^13,38,118 died on 25 Jan 1928 in Brisbane Hospital ^119,120 and was buried on 27 Jan 1928 in Balmoral Cemetery, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia ¹²¹.) The cause of his death was Senility, pneumonia, heart Failure.