See also Shamrock Hotel Gulgong
Three women outside James Eagan's Shamrock Hotel, Canadian Lead
Source: SLNSW
Shamrock Hotel, Canadian Lead
Detail from Main Street photo
Source: SLNSW
Mr James Eagan, licensee of the Shamrock Hotel, Canadian Lead
Source: SLNSW
BACKGROUND
James Eagan (1828-1893) married Ellen Boyle (1839-1910) in Ireland. They travelled to Australia in 1856 on a ship called Winifred. Their children included:
- CATHERINE - born 1858? at Meroo; died 4 March 1875 in Gulgong, aged 16, from measles (NSW BDM 7894/1875)
- JAMES - born 1860 in Mudgee (NSW BDM 9471/1860); died 1 April 1875 in Gulgong, aged 14, from typhoid fever (NSW BDM 7922/1875)
- PATRICK - born 1863 in Mudgee (NSW BDM 10290/1863)
- JOHN - born 1865 in Mudgee (NSW BDM 11552/1865)
- MARY ELLEN - born 1867 in Mudgee (NSW BDM 12439/1867); died 1875 in Gulgong, aged 8, from typhoid fever (NSW BDM 7924/1875)
- FRANCIS LEO - born 1869 in Mudgee (NSW BDM 14168/1869); died in Gulgong in 1925
- MICHAEL - born 1871 in Mudgee (NSW BDM 13360/1871); died 8 March 1875 in Gulgong, aged 4, from measles (NSW BDM 7895/1875)
- ELIZABETH - born 1873 in Gulgong (NSW BDM 14317/1873)
- MARGARET - born 1875 in Gulgong (NSW BDM 15044/1875)
- JAMES - born 1876 in Mudgee (NSW BDM 15402/1876)
- MARY EGAN died 1879 in Mudgee (NSW BDM 7008/1879)
NEWS ITEMS
Notice is hereby given, that the undermentioned persons for whom passages were provided to this colony in pursance of deposits made in the Treasury here, under the Remittance Regulations, have arrived in the ship Winifred, and that they will be prepared to join their friends; the single females from the Institution, Hyde Park Barracks, on and after arrival there, and the married families and single men from the ship, on WEDNESDAY next, the 5th instant, at 12 o'clock noon.
1872 - Publicans Beware
On Wednesday last, James Eagan, Landlord of the Shamrock Hotel Canadian Lead, was summoned for keeping a disorderly house. From the evidence of the police it appeared there was a free fight all night in the house as the wounded were seen at five in the morning lying about in several rooms with skin and hair hanging in gory fragments from blood stained faces. The bench inflicted a penalty of £10 with costs. And stated their intention to fine heavily for this class of offence.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 73, 27 April 1872
1872 - [COURT CASE]
See QUERRILL for a murder trial where James and Ellen Eagan were called as witnesses.
1875 - A Bereaved Family
The family of Mr Egan a farmer near the Canadian Lead, has been sadly bereaved during the past few weeks. In the first place, all the members of the family were suffering from measles. Partially recovering from that, typhoid fever supervened which has proved fatal in four instances. Four of the children aged 8, 11, 15 and 18 years [sic] have died during the past ten days and the father now lies in a very critical position suffering from the same disease. We learn that the remains of two of the children were taken to Mudgee today for interment. It has been truly said that ‘misfortunes do not come singly.’
Source: Gulgong Evening Argus, 3 April 1875
1910 - Mrs. Ellen Egan, Gulgong.
The death of Mrs. Ellen Egan, an old and respected resident at Gulgong, took place on Thursday last. Deceased, who was the mother of Mr. Frank Egan, of the Prince of Wales Hotel, Gulgong was born in County Clare, Ireland, in 1839, and came to this country in 1856, with her husband, Mr. James Egan. In the early days of the goldrush, they kept a hotel called The Shamrock, at Canadian Lead, five miles from Gulgong. For many years the family lived on a farm at Spring Creek, and later on Mrs. Egan and her son, Frank, took Tattersall's Hotel, in Herbert-street, Gulgong. The husband pre-deceased her by 17 years.
In 1895 they took out a license for the Prince of Wales Hotel, Gulgong, where Mrs. Egan resided up to the time of her death. The deceased saw many stirring events during her long life, and could relate many exciting tales. Her health had not been too good for some months before her demise. Dr. Maher and Nurse Crommelin (Sydney) were in constant attendance, but on Thursday last she died, fortified by the rites of Holy Church, administered by Father Parker.
Deceased was constantly visited and comforted by the Sisters of St. Joseph. The late Mrs. Egan, by her loving kindness and inherent philanthropy, became endeared to all whose good fortune brought them in contact with her. The funeral was largely attended by all classes of the community. The coffin was first taken to the church, where prayers were recited by Father Parker, and then the long cortege wended its way to the cemetery, where the interment took place, the Rev. Father Parker officiating at the grave. The relatives received many telegrams, cards, and letters of condolence, and some beautiful wreaths were placed on the coffin. The following sons and daughters (for whom the deepest sympathy is felt) are left to mourn their sad and irreparable loss: Patrick, John, Francis, and James, Mrs. Hogan (Wee Waa), Mrs. Macrae (Numba), and Mrs. F. Dent (Sydney). Deceased also, left numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. — R.I.P.
James and Ellen's headstone
Source: Austcemindex
Model by Max Cameron of Gulgong
Source: Gulgong Pioneers Museum
OTHER EGAN FAMILIES
1905 - [WEDDING]
At St. John's R. C. Church, Gulgong, on October 25th, the wedding was celebrated of Mr. Michael Egan, of Canadian Lead, and Miss Eleanor Halloran, also of Canadian Lead.
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Thu 9 Nov 1905 Page 9What may be described as a miraculous escape occurred at Canadian, near Gulgong quite recently, whereby Mrs. James Egan*, a well-known and highly respected resident or that locality, narrowly escaped a serious accident, and probably the loss of her life. It appears that Mrs. Egan some little while ago lent a rifle to a friend to go shooting, and when it was returned the magazine had apparently not been emptied of the cartridges. One of her little boys managed to get hold of the weapon and began playing with it,when it accidently exploded, the bullet tearing away the boards where Mrs. Egan was standing.
Source: The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate (NSW : 1894 - 1954) Fri 8 Sep 1911 Page 4* possibly one of James and Ellen's daughters-in-law
