Hi There,

I am researching my Husbands Fanning/Finning/Fenning Ancestors and am having an awful time trying to find them or him actually coming to Australia.
Thomas Fanning/Fenning/Finning/Fannon/Finnin/Fannin born circa 1819, surname depending on which registration you look at, but what we have been told was Fanning, Thomas married Jane O'Brien on the 27 May 1853 in the St. Francis Catholic Church, Melbourne, Victoria.
They had 11 Children, their first four being born in Emerald Hill (South Melbourne) with their following Children being born in the Loddon district (Castlemaine and surrounding areas). We have information on these Children and whom they married, we have their dates etc. So that's really not what we're asking for help with, although to hear from any descendants would be wonderful. What we are trying to find out is how they got to Australia or other relevant information. When I say "they", Thomas had a brother Dominick Fanning. We have information that these two brothers were in the Police Force in Victoria. Thomas as a Constable who resigned on the 10 March 1854 and Dominick as a detective. But that doesn't mean they immigrated together?! Dominick also owned a tavern called Westmeath Tavern (he is listed in 1853 as a Publican of this tavern), which is said to have been in Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne but is also mentioned to be in Collingwood?
Westmeath (Ireland) is where they were both born, as this is recorded on their children’s birth registrations. On their death records, Thomas's parents are listed as Dominick Fanning and Mary Martin. But on Dominick's it says John Fanning and Mary (no surname). We have been told this can be error of the informant as we have other information to their being siblings. We also have other information (Family) that say there was a Patrick and a Mary also. This information came from one of Thomas's daughters, there is a Patrick and also a Mary in Victoria at around same times etc, also Patrick coming to Bendigo (near Castlemaine) in similar years, but we are yet to prove a connection.

Three of Thomas's Children... Dominick, Richard and Thomas all bought adjoining properties in Barkers Creek (Castlemaine) around the 1867-1874. Although their Father Thomas was paying rates on this land for a few years before this, so I’m assuming they bought the crown land their father had resided on while they grew up.

Any information would be so gratefully appreciated, even if you could help us find another avenue to look at, as we seem to have searched high and low. Although there is a convict from Westmeath named Mary Fanning who was transported here in Nov 1818. There is said to be 17 Children on the Ship, does anyone know if they brought their infant Children with them or what happened to them. I haven't come across convicts in my ancestry before so I’m unsure of that information. Is there anyway to find out if perhaps this was their Mother? Clutching at straws... but in Genealogy anything is possible.

Thanks

Kate Finning

finningfamily@iinet.net.au
Ph: (03) 54721855