Ellen Agnes Cleary
Ellen Agnes Cleary, born in Miltown Malbay on born 15 August 1867. She was the daughter of Matthew Cleary and Sarah (Sally) O'Brien. The family emigrated to North Queensland in Australia; they sailed from Glasgow on 20 July 1883 aboard the Eastern Monarch and arrived at Townsville on 23 October 1883.
On 20 February 1889, Ellen married William Sercombe, an Englishman, at St Marys Catholic Church ( ? in Townsville). The marriage certificate records that Matthew Cleary gave his consent to the marriage as Ellen was age 19. It also records that Ellen was a dressmaker and William a storeman. After their marriage they lived on Wrotham Park, a large cattle station west of Mareeba in northern Queensland, but moved to Brisbane before World War One. Children of the marriage were :
- Annie Sercombe, born 2 July 1890. On 14 June 1919 she married Arthur Hawthorne Skuse who had served in World War One, having sailed to Egypt on 3 October 1915 on Clan McEwan and was invalided home on 5 March 1919, just three months before his marriage. The couple lived in Brisbane. There were some children but details are unknown.
- Willie George Sercombe, born 3 March 1892; married Catherine Grace Perry in Brisbane on 23 December 1916. Catherine died on 20 October 1949 in Brisbane. There were children but details are not known.
- Ileen Sercombe, born 30 April 1894; married Harry Crossley Sykes on 26 April 1924 in Brisbane; further information not known.
- Nelly Sercombe born 5 May 1897 and died shortly after on 16 August 1897.
- Emily Gladys Sercombe, born 13 April 1901; further information not known.
- Kathleen Sercombe, born 14 November 1903; further information not known.
Ellen died on 13 April 1933 and William died on 10 February 1945.
Thanks to Lyn Williams for providing much of the above information.
Lyn's husband, Terry Williams, is a descendent of Matthew Cleary
