Ellen Holmes

     NOTE: The information on this page is my research to date and is subject to change as I become better informed. I very much welcome any corrections or additional info you might have - my email address is at the bottom of this page. Whilst historical facts are not copyright, my writing about these facts are. If you wish to use any text from this site on Ancestry or on any other website, please ask me first - Tim Hill.


(For a brief history and context on the Holmes family see this page)

Ellen was born circa 1818 at Ireland. She was the daughter of William Hyde Holmes and Ellen O'Donnell.¹

Ellen emigrated from Liverpool on 27 October 1841 on the 'Champion' with her adoptive parents and siblings (both biological and adopted), as well as her future husband, William Curtayne.^1,2,3,4 After a voyage of 108 days Ellen arrived at Sydney on 12 February 1842 with her future husband, William Curtayne. During the voyage 5 sailors committed mutiny but were eventually released by the Attorney General.^1,2,3,4


Ellen came out with the expectation of becoming a house servant. It was noted that she was an Episcopalian who could read and write.⁵

She married William Curtayne, son of David Curtin and Catherine (?), circa 1842 at New South Wales. However, this is open to some speculation as there may be another husband and wife of the same names...^6,2 She presumably lived with her parents at Princes Street in The Rocks, in Sydney, in 1843. It is not clear that the entry refers to this family, but is a reasonable speculation given that Bridget and her husband claimed to live in this same street ten years later.⁷

The family soon became parishioners at St. James' Church of England, thought of as the principal church in the city and one which "the congregation usually includes the family of the Governor, and a large proportion of the leading members of society. It is also decidedly the favourite resort for the more aristocratical among the votaries of Hymen". How this sat with the Holmes family isn't known, but perhaps it sat well with William and Ellen as they contemplated the future for the eight young women under their charge. With space to seat a congegation of 1500, it would have made for a bustling centre of the community.⁸

She may have attended the wedding of her sister in the marriage of Henry Hugh Hill and Bridget Holmes at St. James' Church of England on Monday, 20 January 1851 at Sydney. Bridget and Henry went on to have four children together.^9,10

She may have attended the wedding of her sister in the marriage of William Patrick McMunn and Albina Hyde Holmes at St. James' Church of England on Monday, 17 January 1853 at Sydney. William and Albina went on to have some 10 children together.^11,12

Her adopted father died 1 July 1864 at the aproximate age of 70. Ellen was aged about 46 when this happened.

Her adopted mother died 11 January 1865 at the approximate age of 65. Ellen was aged about 47 when this happened.

Ellen died on 6 May 1869 at Queensland.¹³