John Hand (Matilda Seward's husband) was born 150 years ago today!

John Hand was born on 14 July 1871 at Deepwater Creek on the Macleay River.  He was the oldest child of John Hand and Ann Kenny, two Irish migrants.  

Father John had arrived in 1863 on the Sir John Moore as a 20 year old single man.  He records a cousin, Margaret McGough, was already in the colony.  Ann was on the same ship with her widowed mother, Catherine,  and three younger siblings.  Ann was 18.  Catherine's two orders children, Bridget and Margaret were already in New South Wales.  

Both John and Ann settled on the Macleay.  On 26 April 1865, Ann married Frederick Honholz (or Hohnholy) who had migrated from Germany.  Their son Henry Frederick was born on 17 April 1866 at Deepwater Creek.  On 5 September in the same year, Frederick died in Sussex Street, Sydney.  

On 29 March 1869, John and Ann married at the Catholic Church in West Kempsey.  After John was born in 1871, 7 other children were born to the couple.  

John married Annie Seward on 1 March 1905 at the same church.  You can read about John and Annie's marriage and children HERE.  

John died on 18 September 1932, aged 61, and is buried with Annie in West Kempsey Cemetery.  John was survived by Annie and their three sons - John, William and Bernard - and four grandchildren - Mary Josephine, William Raymond, Veronica Matilda and John Hugh.