Sergeant Dennis (Neenan) Neehan (.......)

Back To . . 57th Foot West Middlesex Regiment

Descendants

This information was kindly supplied by Rex Shepherd

linrex@burnett.net.au

Area Settled :

 

 

Children :

1. John Neeham - born 9th May 1826 at Parramatta.
2. Anne Neenan - born 24th February 1828 at Sydney.
3. Catherine Neenan - born 9th May 1830 at Sydney.

History & Achievements :

 

On government archives, a Dennis Neehan , soldier of the 57th regiment, and a Margaret Leahy are listed

as the parents of 3 children. There is no record of a marriage. Each child was recorded as Neenan. (see Margaret Scully below).

It appears that his full name was possibly Dennis John Neehan. The 57th regiment was in NSW during the

years 1826 to 1831. The regiment left Australia in March 1831. Military records do not list Dennis Neehan/Neenan as staying in Australia. A search of NSW death records does not list a NEEHAN (Neenan) Dennis or Neehan (or anyone with similarities of those names). It would be assumed that he departed Australia with his regiment and returned to England.

In 1832, a William Neenan was born in Sydney. Parents names recorded as Denis and Margaret. It

appears that Dennis stayed in Australia.

Margaret Leahy - Margaret Neenan - Margaret Scully

A Margaret Leahy is on government archives as being the mother of the following three children :-
1. John Neeham - born 9th May 1826 at Parramatta.
2. Anne Neenan - born 24th February 1828 at Sydney.
3. Catherine Neenan - born 9th May 1830 at Sydney.

There are two birth records for both Anne Neenan and Catherine Neenan. One of each shows their

mother's name as Mary. The other two show their mother's name as Margaret. It appears that Margaret Leahy's full name was Margaret Mary Leahy.

In 1845, there is a birth record of a William Nein registered at Sydney and mother's name listed as

Margaret Nein. No record of the father's name. Surname of Nein probably meant to be Neehan.

Also, in 1845, there is a marriage record of a Margaret Neenan married a James Erskine at Sydney. In

1865, a Mary A. Erskine was born at Murrurundi NSW. Parents names Margaret and James Erskine. Another record of a Margaret Nein married William Hood at Sydney in 1862. Margaret Hood died Sydney in 1884. Her mother's name shown as Margaret. No details of father.

In 1868, an Ellen Mundy married a Thomas Lyon at Queanbeyan. On the marriage certificate, Ellen's birth

name is recorded as Ellen Neenan. Her parents names are shown as Denis Neenan (a sargeant) and Margaret Scully. Ellen Mundy was a widow aged 39 when she married Thomas Lyon. That would make Ellen's birth year about 1829. No records of birth have been found for Ellen Neenan.

It is possible that NEEHAN (Neenan) Dennis had a relationship with another woman named Margaret Scully or there is

the possibility there may have been another Dennis/Denis Neehan/Neenan. There are no records to confirm the latter. On government archives, a Jane Scully (age 6) was admitted to an orphanage in February 1822. Her parents names were shown as Michael Scully, a soldier of the 48th regiment, and Margaret Scully, both deceased. That Margaret Scully could also have had another older child also named Margaret Scully. Children were not admitted to, or had to leave orphanages when they reached 13 years of age. If that is the case, in 1829, the second
Margaret Scully would be age 18 or 19 and could be the mother of Ellen Neenan born about 1829.