Prior to her marriage to William Donohoe, my g-g-g-grandmother Annie (nee Reardon) had another family.

This article is under construction.

Though it is possible that Anne Reardon came to Australia aged 21 aboard the Strathfieldsaye in 1841, this can’t be confirmed with certainty. On her 1908 death certificate, Anne’s granddaughter Mary Keetly declared that Anne was 77 years in Victoria and New South Wales, indicating arrival in 1831 at the age of 8.

Her death certificate and the 1856 birth certificate of daughter Mary Ann indicate that she was born in Liverpool, England in 1823 according to the death certificate or 1827 according to the birth certificate. Her father was a Patrick John Reardon (a soldier ranked Private) and Mary.

Anne married William Thorpe on 19 July 1846 at St Francis’ Catholic Church. Not very much personal information is given, but they are shown as both being residents of Melbourne, and the witnesses were John Mansfield and Catherine [Brady?].

By 1849 William and Anne were living in Geelong where William worked as a boot maker and they had four children:
1848 William Thorpe (died aged nine months)
1849 Anna Bella
1850 William (died aged four see below)
1852 Francis Bengally (he died the same year aged 8 months)
c1853 Henry John (no birth entry can be found for him)

Around this time Anne departed Geelong for Wangaratta, where she had relations, including a brother named Henry who worked as a carrier. She met William Donohoe who was also working as a carrier at Wangaratta.

William Thorpe continued to live in Geelong, and in the electoral roll of 1856 can be found listed as a shoemaker and resident of William Place, Geelong North.

Young William Thorpe died in Wangaratta aged 4 on 2 June 1854 from hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain) and was buried at Wangaratta Cemetery. Anne and William Donohoe’s child Mary Ann was born at Wangaratta on 10 June 1855.

Henry Reardon suffered an untimely death aged 30, four days after stab wounds sustained at the hands of a man named Patrick Murphy, in a dispute over a game of cards at the Broadmeadows Hotel on 14 November 1855.

In the 1860s the family went to Grenfell looking for gold. Many others flocked there during this time, ncluding Mark Fitzgerald, Annabella Thorpe’s future husband.

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 Obituary of Henry John Thorpe

The many Orange friends of Mr Thorpe, of Girilambone, will be grieved to hear of his sudden death at his home, on Tuesday last. Mr Thorpe, with his wife, spent the whole of last summer in Orange, and at the time of his demise appeared to be in his usual state of robust health. Heart failure was the cause of death. His eldest son was to be married to Miss Gaynon, of Dubbo, this month, who is a sister of Mr J. Gaynon, of Orange.
(Leader (Orange), 14 May 1917, p.1)

 Obituary of Hannah Maria Thorpe (nee Brennan)

Mrs Thorpe, mother of Messrs. Henry, Will and Ted Thorpe, also of Mesdames Larson and Tom Mackinnon, died in Nyngan at the residence of her son (Will) on Wednesday morning at an advanced age. She had come from Girilambone on Saturday to consult a doctor. She had lived at Girilambone practically all her life.
(Western Age (Dubbo), 13 Mar 1936, p.2)

 Obituaries of Mark Fitzgerald

MARK FITZGERALD.
This grand old pioneer, whose death took place on the 2nd inst, was one of Womboyne's most remarkable figures and respected of citizens. After spending his boyhood days at Bathurst (born at Botany Bay), the lure of the goldfields had their swaying attraction, and he first went to Taron fields, thence to Kiandia, subsequently to Adelong, Lambing Flat and Forbes. At the latter place, where he did fairly well, he married.
In the early sixties, as the diggings were giving out, he selected about 9 miles from Forbes, but, on finding later that he had erected bis house on another man's portion, left it and went to the Grenfell goldfields.
There for seven years, he followed mining and timber getting. From there he went to Ooma Station fencing. Returning to Forbes district, be opened the hotel at Moonbie and did a roaring business, for those were days of great traffic, when Mt Hope and Nymagee fields were working well and two Cobb and Co coaches ran daily between Condobolin and Forbes. Whilst here, the saddest blow of their lives befell Mr and Mrs Fitzgerald, by the drowning of three of their children, who were boating, in a longboat, in the Lachlan River nearby.
Leaving Moonbie in 1883, he went tank sinking on Youngee Plains. Leaving there he again took to mining operations at Calare, near Forbes, putting in three years, but meeting with poor success. In 1890 he took up land at Wombovne, residing there till his death. Though 79 years of age, he was a very strong man up till six months ago, when an attack of' 'flu left him very weak and from which he never regained his old strength. The funeral took place at Wyalong and was a very large one, including friends and relatives from Condobolin, Altogether there were 16 children in the family, 9 of whom are still living. To these and the bereaved widow, we extend our sincere sympathy.
(Lachlander and Condobolin and Western Districts Recorder, 21 Jan 1920, p.4)

MR. MARK FITZGERALD.
A WELL-KNOWN PIONEER.
Mr Mark Fitzgerald, the much-respected head of the Fitzgerald family of Wamboyne district, died on Friday last at the advanced age of 79 years. Thus ends the life of one who has played an important part in the development of this State, and of this and neighboring districts in particular. He has been ailing for the past six months, and during the past week or so he has been subjected to severe attacks, bronchitis and heart affection eventually resulting in his death.
The late Mr Fitzgerald was a native of Botany Bay, Sydney, but spent his boyhood days at Bathurst. When quite a young man, he was lured to The Touron Goldfields, and from there he left for Kiandra in company with the famous jockey, Billy Yeomans.
Still in search of the precious metal, he went to Adelong, thence to Lambing Flat, and thence to the Forbes rush. He did fairly well at Forbes, where he married. When the diggings were played out, he selected a small area about nine miles from Forbes, under the Sir John Robertson Act. This was in the early sixties.
But after holding it for 12 months, when the surveyors, came around, it was found that he had erected his house on another man's holding. Disgusted with his luck, he went to the Grenfell goldfields, which had just broken out, and did not return to his holding. For seven years he followed mining and timber-getting at Grenfell, and from there he went and fenced in the major portion of Mr John Dent's "Ooma" Station. Returning to Forbes, he went down the river and opened an Hotel at Moonbi. This was in the "roaring days" when the Mount Hope and Nymagee goldfields had just broken out, and when two 4-horse coaches were running daily between Condobolin and Forbes, via Moonbi. A sad misfortune befell Mr and Mrs Fitzgerald at Moonbi, three of their daughters being drowned by a long-boat in which they were sailing on the river turning over.
He left Moonbi early in 1883—a drought year—and put down one of the first big tanks on Youngee Plains resuming mining operations at Calare, near Forbes, he put in three years hard toil, and left it poorer in pocket than when he went there. It was in 1890 that he and his eldest son Richard took up land at Wamboyne, the only other selectors in the locality at the time being the McCormick's, Ridley's and Frosts. He has resided there ever since, carrying on grazing pursuits principally. Until Wyalong was established, he was drawing his supplies from Forbes, a return journey of 104 miles. He was a thorough bushman from every point of view, having spent 60 years of his life in the back country. In his younger days, he was a great sporting enthusiast, taking part in horse-racing, and all sorts of games. He remembered well the first pile which was driven for the bridge across the Macquarie at Bathurst, when a bullock was roasted whole and cooked meat distributed to all present.
There were 16 children of the marriage, and his aged wife and nine sons and daughters survive him. The sons are Messrs. Richard, Edward and Henry, of Wamboyne, Patrick, of Sydney. The daughters are Mrs Riley, of Goolagong; Mrs. D. Jones, of Girral; Mrs. J. Anderson, of Ellerslie; Mrs W. Harrison, of Euglo; and Miss Isabel Fitzgerald of Wamboyne.
The remains were laid to rest in the R.C. portion of the Wyalong cemetery on Saturday afternoon, a large number assembling from all parts of the district to pay their last tribute to the departed, Rev. Fathers Shan non and O'Connor officiated at the graveside, the funeral arrangements, being in the able hands of Mr Mills. We extend our deep sympathy to the bereaved.
(Wyalong Advocate and Mining, Agricultural and Pastoral Gazette, 6 Jan 1920, p.2)

 Obituary of Annabella Fitzgerald (nee Thorpe)

Mrs M. Fitzgerald
Another old pioneer of the State in the person of Mrs Annabella Fitzgerald, (relict of the late Mr Mark Fitzgerald) has crossed the Great Divide. The old lady, who had reached the advanced age of 74, had only been ill for about 10 days previously. About that time she was visited by Dr Maloney who found that she was suffering from heart trouble, but she afterwards had an attack of pleurisy, which was the actual cause of death. The day prior to her death she seemed to make a good recovery and passed a peaceful night, but she collapsed and died suddenly on Thursday afternoon.
The late Mrs Fitzgerald was a native of Wangaratta, Victoria. In the early days of the Forbes goldfields, she went there with her mother and brother, where they resided for a number of years. She was the first teacher of a school at Parkes. She married the late Mr Mark Fitzgerald at Forbes, and shortly afterwards they selected land, under the John Robertson Act, eight miles from Forbes on the Lachlan. In those days, surveyors were few in number and their visits were few and far between. When a surveyor came along to "take stock" of the land Mr Fitzgerald had selected it was found that he had erected his residence outside the boundary of his selection. Just about that time, the Grenfell goldfields broke out, and Mr Fitzgerald went there, abandoning his selection.
It was in 1890 that the Fitzgerald family went to the Wamboyne district. The eldest son, Richard, selected his present holding, and the family resided there for a time. Later on, the father selected "Uplands," which was held by him and his wife up to the time of their respective deaths - the former predeceasing his wife two years ago. Mrs Fitzgerald was the mother of 16 children nine of whom are now living. Whilst at Moonbi, three of her daughters were drowned through a log-boat capsizing on the river.
Deceased was of a kindly, charitable and hospitable disposition and won the esteem and affection of all with whom she came in contact. She has played a worthy part in the development of this district in particular, and the State as a whole.
The remains were brought from Wamboyne on Friday afternoon and interred alongside those of her late husband in the R.C. portion of the Wyalong cemetery. The Rev. Father Shannon officiated at the graveside, the funeral arrangements being conducted by Mr E. Mills.
A family of nine sons and daughters are left to mourn their sad loss. The sons are Messrs Richard, Edward and Harry, of Wamboyne; and Patrick, of Sydney. The daughters are Miss Fitzgerald, of Wamboyne; Mrs Harrison of Sydney; Mrs Riley of Goolagong; Mrs J. Anderson, of Clear Ridge; and Mrs D. Jones, of Girral. The whole of the members of the family were present at the funeral, with the exception of Mrs Rilev, who had just returned to Sydney after visiting her mother at Wamboyne.
(Wyalong Advocate and Mining, Agricultural and Pastoral Gazette, 25 Apr 1922, p.4)