Sergeant Major John Bury Curran (c.1791........)

Back to . . . Surnames 2nd Veterans Company Regiment of Foot :Newcastle 1826 - 1833

Descendants

Some Information supplied by Fran & Sean Nugent

Some Information supplied by Alida Curran almatt@bigpond.com

Area Settled :

Sydney

 

Children :

John Bury Curran married Mary Ann Hatton.

They had five children

1. Mary Anne b. 1817 (India)

2. John William b.1819 (India).

3. Maria Theresa b.1821 (India)

4. Charles b.1825 (Australia).  

5.Matilda Jane b.1826 (Australia)

History & Achievements :

John Bury Curran owned a freehold farm at Botany Bay, which he bequeathed in his Will.  He also owned land in Smithfield, Dublin which was rented to a Charles Tarrant.  John Bury Curran was literate.  John Bury Curran is buried in Bunnerong Cemetery with his wife.  He died aged 47 years. Further update on John Bury Curren/Curran; History
John Bury Curran was a soldier who was posted in India from at least 1819 to 1821. He served in the Dublin 17th Dragoons (Light) he was discharged aged 38 (covering 1806-1825). He arrived in Australia, Sydney in September 1826. On the sailing ship “Orpheus” The New South Wales Calendar and General Post Office Directory of 1833, lists a “Curran, John Bury, who was the Principal Clerk at Brigade Office Sydney he held the rank of sergeant' The Brigade Office was the military office in Sydney under the command of Lt-Col. Snodgrass who was the “Major of Brigade”. His service record in Australia, served in the New South Wales Veterans; 17th Dragoons (Light) he was discharged aged 43yrs covering dates gives the year of discharge as 1832. In Britain during 1826 three companies of veterans were raised to serve in New South Wales and Tasmania. At the completion of two years service they were allowed to take land grants and settle. One advantage of the Veterans Battalions had over other Regiments was that were able to take heir families with them. Life was made a lot easier for the Veterans then that of Regiment soldier's. The Veterans duties were made easier to accommodate their age and physical conditions. Nerveless the Veterans helped mould the country into what it is today. N.S.W Veterans Company was formed in 1825 and they arrived in the colony on board the “Orpheus” in September 1826. Accompanied by wives and children.
According to his will. John Bury Curran owned property in Smithfield Dublin, which was leased to a Charles Tarrant.  He was also granted land at Botany Bay, which he bequeathed in his will as a freehold farm to his eldest son John William Curran. John Bury Curran married Mary Ann Hatton. They had five children 1. Mary Anne b. 1817 (India) 2. John William b.1819 (India). 3. Maria Theresa b.1821 (India) 4. Charles b.1825 (Australia).  5.Matilda Jane b.1826 (Australia) Mary Ann Hatton died in 1933; John Bury Curran later married Leticia Baxter in Sydney 1835. John Bury died in October 1838. His will, (on which he signed his name) is dated only days before his death. His son, John William Curran, signed the probate records but Leticia had to sign with her mark. John bury Curran's army records:
On John Bury Curran's discharge notice the following is stated: to prevent any improper use being made of this discharge, by it's falling into other hands the following is a description of the said Sergeant Major John Bury Curran's he is about forty three years of age, is 5ft 9 1/2 inches in height, sandy hair, blue eyes, fair complexion, and by trade or occupation a labourer. It is noted that he served 33 1/2 years in the army 14 of these years he spent in the India. According to his army records he was born in the Parish of St Mary's near the town of Dublin. Also on his discharge papers was the following statement: That J B Curran is very respectably connected, being the Nephew of the late Mr JP Curran the late Master of the Rolls Ireland.
He rejoined at Chatham Kent, 1st of December 1825 at the age of 37 years for unlimited service in NSW.

Burial:
Buried at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia  
Buried at Bunnerong Cemetery in the Church of England section C; plot 826, category D.  He is buried in the same plot as his 1st wife, Mary Ann (nee Hatton).  His tombstone, which was upright and in good condition in 1969 states that John Bury Curran died aged 47, leaving a wife and 5 children.  It is probable that his original resting place was the Sandhills Cemetery, which was located in Devonshire St, Sydney.  This cemetery served for nearly 50 years between 1819 and 1868.  In 1901, to facilitate the building of Sydney Central railway Station, the State Government resumed the whole of the Sandhill's Cemetery. Relatives of those buried in the Sandhill's Cemetery were invited to apply for their exhumation and relocation at Government expense.  Some were moved to Rookwood and Camperdown Cemetery, South Head, Waverley and Gore Hill.  The majority, however, were re-located on 25 acres to be known as Bunnerong Cemetery in the custody of the Botany Cemetery Trust.  30,156 remains were interred.


Further notes:  from Aidel Walsh (nee Curran) India and it is therefore likely that John Bury served as a soldier in India for the British Army during the Raj.   In September 1825, a proclamation issued by the War Office in London for the recruitment of three companies of veterans.  The veterans were required for services in the Australian colonies (Coys 1 and 2 in New South Wales and Coy 3 in Van Demon's Land).  Enlistees had to be former servicemen of good character, honourably discharged and have references from members of the Clergy or some other respectable citizens.  They had to be less than 50 years of age and have no serious body infirmity.  John Bury Curran enlisted as a Sergeant with the 2nd Veterans Company Regiment of Foot:  Newcastle (1826-1833). This regiment arrived on the ship "Orpheus" on Wednesday evening, 16 Sep 1826 (aged 33 years).  The "Orpheus" left England on 8 May 1826.  It sailed via Rio de Janeiro (on 22 Jun 1826).  213 men, women and children of the New South Wales Veterans Corps were on board.  The officers comprised of Captain Robinson, Lieutenant Warner, Lieutenant North and Assistant Surgeon Robertson of the 13th Light Infantry.  There were also three Sergeants and three Corporals, the balance of the rank and file being privates.  Mrs Warner and Mrs Norton were the only ladies on board (information from the Sydney Gazette dated 16 Sep 1826.
 
As it was intended that these soldiers should be discharged in the colony and remain as permanent settlers, they could bring their wives and children with them.  It appears that John Bury's wife, Mary Anne Hatton (aged 23 years), and children arrived in the colony earlier on the ship, the "John Barry", which set out from England.  Their 4 children, John William Curran (aged 6), Maryanne  Curran (8), Maria Theresa Curran (aged 4) also made the journey.  The "John Barry" went via the Cape of Good Hope.  On board was Captain John Darcy, 4 lieutenants, 1 acting surgeon, and 84 rank and files of the New South Wales corps, 66 women and 73 children.  Shipboard life was taken very lightly, and there was little inclination to take orders or guard convicts.  Mary Anne and her children arrived in Australia on 8 July 1826 and disembarked in New South Wales.  Most of the rank and file on board, however, continued on to Tasmania.  
 
 
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Last revised: June 15, 2007.