Thomas Flanagan (prospector)

Thomas Flanagan
Born	1 January 1832 Ennis, County Clare, Ireland
Died	16 November 1899 (aged 67 years 10 months) Bendigo, Victoria, Australia

Thomas "Tom" Flanagan (1 January 1832 – 16 November 1899) was a gold prospector who 1n 1893, together with fellow Irishmen Paddy Hannan and Dan Shea, found the first gold in what would turn out to be the richest goldfield in Australia, in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.

Thomas Flanagan was baptised on 1 January 1832. His parents were Mary Lyons (c.1790-1870) and Michael Flanagan (c.1782-1865) who leased a farm in the district of Clonkerry, County Clare. Thomas was one of at least ten Flanagan children baptised in the parish of Doora Barefield (also known as Doora Kilraghtis). The parish is 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometres) from the town of Ennis, which appears on various official family documents as their place of residence.

From 1831 all Irish children received an elementary education in literary and moral subjects, under the regulations of the state-funded National School (Ireland) system. Nevertheless, their childhood must have been bleak, as the Irish famine of 1846-1851 caused the starvation and death of about a million people, and drove another million to leave the country.

By contrast with the deprivations of a famine-ravaged Ireland, Australia was enjoying the luxury of numerous Australian gold rushes. One of Thomas’ older brothers, John, set off for Australia in 1858, arriving in Melbourne on the Marco Polo in July. Thomas followed, docking in Melbourne on the William Kirk in July 1860.

Margaret O’Halloran, also from Ennis, had arrived in Geelong in 1850, on the Lady Kennaway. She was recorded in the ship's passenger list as a domestic servant, 18 years old. By 1861 she had married John Flanagan, moved to Bendigo (then known as Sandhurst) and started a family.

Thomas Flanagan was with Margaret O'Halloran and her family in Bendigo in 1864, when he had the tragic duty of signing the death certificate of his brother John. In his final year (1899) Thomas would return to lodge with Margaret (by then a widow for the second time), in her house at 26 Howard Street, Quarry Hill, Bendigo.

...
Wikipedia