*This page is under construction!
DEMPSEY FAMILY
CONNECTIONS
John DEMPSEY & Ann ROBERTS (no record of marriage)
Issue: William b. 1809 d.1870 m. Margaret O'Neille
James b.1812 d.c1854 m. Sophia Ryan
(Charles b.1839 Edwin b.1844 Arthur b. 1846 Emma b.1850 Albert b.1852)
Joseph b. 1814 d. 1900 m.1. Sarah? 2. Mary Fitzgibbon
Mary Ann b.1816 d.1864 m. James Tobias Ryan
(Emma b.1838 Edwin b.1841 John b.1842 Louise b.1844 Matilda b.1846
James b.1848 Josephine b.1850 George b.1852)
John b. 1819
Elizabeth b.1821 d. 1897 m.1William Parnell 2. Thomas Sheedy
Eliza b. 1823 d. 1888 m. Henry MILLS (*my line)
(Edward b.1847 Margaret b.1849 Matthew John b.1850 Rachel Elizabeth b.1852
Clara F A b.1853 Henry II 1854 Elizabeth Mary b.1858 Emma Jane b.1859
George William b.1861 Roland b.1863
George Henry b.1825 d.1881 m.1. Maria York
m.2. Ellen Johnstone
Sophia b. 1827 d.1870 m. Joseph Bayliss
The DEMPSEY NAME, COAT-OF-ARMS & MOTTO
The name DEMPSEY/O'DEMPSEY appears in Irish History from
atleast the twelfth century. The counties of Offaly, and Kildare feature
prominently (From E. MacLysaght, Irish Families 1972)
DEMPSEY is an Anglicised form of the Gaelic name, Diomasaigh,
meaning "proud". The Arms (family symbol) were first used by
Dermot Diomasaigh, chief of his Sept (Irish Clan) c1193.
The Arms: Red shield with silver lion rampant between two swords
pointing upwards towards the right and left.
The Dempsey Crest: A red demi lion rampant.
The Motto: Elatum a Deo Non Deprimat.
This is usually translated "Upheld by God I am not depressed"
Literally is read: "Let no one put me down because God upholds me"
Notes: John Dempsey arrived in Australia on 30 Oct 1802 as a convict
with a life sentence. His journey began from Cork, Ireland on 30 May
the same year. John was one of 8 men sentenced in June 1801 at
Baltinglass (Co Wicklow) and he may have been involved in the 1798
Rebellion as were others who arrived on the ship Atlas II with him.
One of these men was a James Dempsey and if not related these two
men knew each other. John's indent papers describe him as being
20 yrs of age, a native of Kildare (town or county?)and a farm labourer.
His religion was Catholic and he was 5' 7" tall and of swarthy complexion with dark brown hair and hazel eyes. We believe John was born c1776.
Ann Dempsey (nee Roberts?) arrived on the ship "Experiment" in 1804 and her death certificate says a "native of London". John and Ann had 9 children and were living at Richmond at the time of the 1828 census and Ann apparently came free to the colony. Her birthdate would be c1779 and so around 25 on arrival. She lived to
a very great age dying on the 18 July 1889 and the news report in
the Sydney morning Herald stated her age as 100, giving her date
of birth c1789. Ann may have been the wife of another convict by
the name of John Roberts who arrived in the colony a few weeks before Ann but may have died not long after arrival as there is
no record of any children. Ann Robert's maiden name may have
been Bolton according to research by Peter Mayberry who has done alot of research on the Irish Convicts to Australia 1791-1820.
