Ellen Jordan **

   Cause of her death was Cerebral Embolism/ 7 Days & Mitral Regurgitation / many years.

   Other names for Ellen were Jorden, Jordon, Jourdan, Ellen Jourdon and Ellen Sullivan.

  General Notes:

Ellen arrived in Sydney from Plymouth on the Tippoo Saib on 29 July 1850. This vessel was one of a series between October 1848 and August 1850 which carried over 4000 female orphans from Irish Workhouses as a part of Earl Grey's pauper immigration scheme. These women came from families that had been torn apart by the Great Irish Famine. Most were orphaned but about a quarter of them still had one parent alive. The journey that brought Ellen to Australia was the last in this program.

Ellen was just 17 years old, her "Calling" was recorded as House Servant. Her Native Place was recorded as Drumcullen, Limerick and her religion, Roman Catholic. She could read, but not write, she had no relations in the Colony, her health was Good and she had no complaints about her treatment on board the ship. Her parents were recorded as "William & Judith mother living in Drumcullen". It is quite clear from the record that her mother is recorded as living, for many other passengers the parents are listed as "both dead".

Fellow passengers on her ship to Australia included Catherine Hudner, aged 19, both parents dead, and Mary Hutley, aged 14, whose mother was still living in Drumcullen. These girls were both also House Servants from "Drumcullen". No doubt the girls would have known each other which must have been a blessing for such young girls undertaking such a huge journey. Catherine Hudner was subsequently a witness at Ellen's marriage to Thomas.

Drumcullen is almost certainly "Dromcolligher", a small village near Mallow in Limerick, as there is no Drumcullen in Limerick as far as I can tell. Her birthplace is clearly recorded as Limerick, Ireland on daughter Eva's birth certificate. The Griffiths Valuation of Ireland (1847-64) does record one person with the surname "Jordan" living in this village - a David Jordan at Gardenfield West. He is presently believed to be Ellen's cousin or uncle. More importantly, there is certainly a William and Judith Jordan living in Drumcolligher/Drumcollogher at the time Ellen was born and having children there (although no record for Ellen has yet been found).

Her Immigration record confirmed that Ellen had no relatives in the Colony when she arrived. She could read and she was in good health. She was Roman Catholic. There is also a reference: "Im. Cor. 50/791 1/11/50 engaged by Mr. Rowe of Mittagong, on way to Goulburn." Her parents are listed as "William & Judith (mother living in Drumcullen)"

She is recorded as 28 years old on daughter Ellen's Birth Certificate which would put her birth year at around 1832. On son Edmund's she was recorded as 31 placing the birth year at around 1833 (but could be 1832 depending on the month!). She is 38 years old on Catherine's birth record placing her birth year at about 1833. Her birthplace is recorded as "Limerick, Ireland" on this document. On this latter document (1871) she made her mark which tells us that, despite having a School Master as a husband, she was illiterate. A review of all her children's birth records suggest she was born in 1832-1833. However, as previously stated, although there was a William and Judith Jordan bearing children in Drumcollogher, Limerick at this time no record for Ellen's baptism has yet been found.

According to the 1903 Electoral Roll she was living in Audley Street, Narandera. Her occupation was recorded as Domestic Duties. She was possibly lving with her grand-daughter Eva Agatha Sullivan and / or her daughter in law Rosetta, both of whom were also recorded as living in Audley Street.

On her youngest daughter Eva's death certificate she is named as "Elandra Jordon".

Ellen's death was reported in the Narrandera Argus and Riverina Advertiser on Friday 2 August 1912. She was incorrectly named as "Elizabeth" and had actually spent 62 years in NSW, not 54:

Death of Mrs. E. Sullivan.--- Another very old resident of Narrandera, in the person of Mrs. Elizabeth Sullivan, passed over to the great majority on Wednesday night. The late Mrs. Sullivan, who of late years resided at Lake Coolacumpama with one of her sons, was the mother of the large and well-known family of that name who have resided in Narrandera for the past 23 years. Mrs. Sullivan was 80 years of age, of which 54 years were spent in New South Wales. She leaves an adult family of four sons and six daughters, nearly all of whom are married and the parents of large families. The deceased was a grandmother of 67 and great-grandmother of 38 children. The funeral took place yesterday, when the remains were interred in the RC portion of the Narrandera Cemetery.
[NB: Lake Coolacumpana was about 5 miles north of Narrandera, and is the present day Lake Coolah]
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  Noted events in her life were:

• She emigrated from Plymouth to Sydney arriving on 29 Jul 1850 from on the "Tippoo Saib".

• Her occupation was listed as a House Servant on the Immigration record when she arrived on 29 Jul 1850.

Ellen married Thomas Denis O'Sullivan **, son of Denis Sullivan and Ellen Unknown, on 4 Feb 1851 in Berrima, New South Wales, Australia. (Thomas Denis O'Sullivan ** was born in 1815-1820 in Tramore, Waterford, Munster, Ireland, died on 25 Dec 1885 in "Warri" nr, Ardlethan, New South Wales, Australia and was buried on 26 Dec 1885 in "Warri" nr, Ardlethan, New South Wales, Australia.). The cause of his death was Paralysis 10 years.