Tracing my 3x great-grandfather, James McGrath, I had very little information to go on, and a fairly common name. James was an Irish immigrant, born in Tipperary about 1836.

Creating a timeline I added evidence of key events, to help identify gaps. Aside from details in official records linked to his life in Australia, including his marriage, the births of his children, and his will, the extent of what I know about James has mostly come from obituaries.

These obituaries provide a more ‘human’ picture of James than can be found in dates and places. I found two which have both overlapping information and new perspectives. The transcripts of them below offer plenty of clues.

The first obituary comes from the Mudgee Guardian.

DEATH OF MR. JAS. McGRATH.

On Thursday last one of this district’s most respected and most energetic pioneers was called to his long home at the age of 77. The deceased, Mr. James McGrath, of Lawson’s Creek, had resided in this district since 1857. He was a native of Tipperary (Ireland), and came to Australia in the early fifties. After a few years spent in and around Sydney the famous Hargraves goldrush happened along, and Mr. McGrath immediately decided to try his luck at gold mining. While at Hargraves he did fairly well, a fact which enabled him to take up a farm at Lawson’s Creek in 1857.

On this property the old pioneer continued to reside till nearly the time of his death. For some considerable time he was ailing, and about nine months ago took to his bed. However, his indomitable spirit and strong constitution enabled him to rally against the attack. However, the bout with sickness was so severe that he never completely regained his former health. Last week he was staying with his son-in-law, Mr. Jack Spears, of Gulgong, when he was suddenly stricken down and died on Thursday afternoon.

The deceased was one of those whole-hearted genial gentlemen whom it was a positive pleasure to talk with. He was of a generous and charitable turn of mind, and never failed to assist objects which commended themselves to his sense of worthiness. He was a staunch churchman, but [illegible]. He gave [illegible] pocket whenever benevolent propositions were brought under his notice.

In the early days he was a keen politician, and was in the thick of every political fight. As an organiser he had few superiors, while his fluency of speech and ready wit made him a popular platform speaker. Even in his latter days he took a great interest in political movements and was always ready to argue. While holding strong opinions, however, he never failed to respect the opinions of others. He was one of the good old Irish gentlemen — full of faults, but overflowing with the milk of human kindness.

The late Mr. McGrath left to mourn four sons and two daughters, viz., Denis (Lue), Jack (Mudgee), Michael and William (Lawson’s Creek), Mrs. Spears (Gulgong), and Mrs. Ryan (Parkes), besides a number of grandchildren. The remains were brought to Mudgee by Mr. Frank Jones on Saturday, and interred in the R.C. portion of the general cemetery, the Rev. Father Flanagan officiating.

The second obituary is from the Cowra Free Press, syndicating from the Western Post, and shares some new information.

THE LATE MR. JAMES McGRATH.

The death of another very old and highly respected resident of the Mudgee district has to be recorded. On Friday last, at Gulgong, Mr. James McGrath (formerly of Lawson’s Creek) passed away at the ripe age of nearly 80 years.

The deceased had been ailing for 12 months, and was nursed during his long illness by his daughter, Miss Nellie McGrath. He had been a resident of the Mudgee district for about 40 years, and followed farming and dairying pursuits. His wife pre-deceased him by some nine years. The late Mr. McGrath leaves behind a fairly large family as follows :— Mr. J. McGrath (Lue), Mr. J. M. McGrath (Cowra), Mrs. E. Ryan (Forbes), Mrs. J. Spears (Gulgong), Miss Nellie McGrath (Gulgong), and J., D., and W. McGrath, who reside on the old property.

The late Mr. McGrath was a man with whom frugality was a leading feature, and in many respects he set a worthy example to those around him.

The funeral, which was largely attended, took place on Saturday afternoon, when the remains were laid to rest in the R.C. portion of the general cemetery; the Rev. Father Flanagan officiating. To the members of the family and relatives and friends the “Post ” desires to extend its sympathy.

(The late Mr. McGrath took a keen interest and was a prominent fighter in some of the early political struggles, and there can be no doubt that they were contests in those days. It was in the days of the old hustings, and there were practically skin and hair flying at times. The deceased was a strong advocate for the return of Mr. G. C. Waldron (since deceased) in the memorable contest on June 22, 1891, Mudgee returned three members then, and those contesting the election were Messrs W. C. Wall, G. C. Waldron, R. J. Black, Robert Jones, John Haynes, and James Cook. The latter was the first Labor candidate who stood for Mudgee, and when a show of hands was asked for at the hustings on the Market Square, such was declared to be in favor of Mr. Cook, but when the numbers went up he was hopelessly out of it. It was at this election that Mr. Robt. Jones first saw political light, and well do we remember the procession that wended its way up Market-street, prominent among the party being Mudgee’s old and esteemed resident, Mr. Thomas Randell. The late Mr. D. Cassan ran Mr. R. J. Black single-handed, the result being that he was defeated.)—” Western Post.”

James’ political interests are not surprising, particularly given his Irish heritage. Some of his descendants have also shown similar interests.

The one piece of information I’ve been frustratingly unable to find has been James’ arrival in the colony. I was able to narrow down the period of time to look for it, because he’d married my 3x great-grandmother, fellow Irish immigrant Anne Maloney, on 10 February 1857. And the obituary told me he’d arrived “in the early fifties” and spent “a few years” in and around Sydney before heading to the goldfields. That meant he probably arrived sometime between 1850 and 1855.

Unfortunately I’ve not located him in any records, and it was a busy time for immigration. Then I found a reference to his arrival in a short newspaper article about “… the meeting of old shipmates … Mr. James McGrath, of Lawson’s Creek, and Mr. Dan Tomlinson.” The article said the men had arrived as “boys” on the 17th May on a ship called the Mattoka.

I’ve since been able to find that ship and its passenger list, with the ship’s name spelled Matoaka. It did arrive on 17 May in 1855. However, although I found 18-year-old Daniel Tomlinson on the passenger list, there was no sign of James McGrath.

There are others with the first name James amongst the passengers, but no one with the surname McGrath. He’s not listed under that name as a single man, unaccompanied minor, nor member of a family group. Did he have a different surname, and if so why would he change it? He could have been a member of the crew, but I’ve not found details of crew aboard the ship, and nothing in immigration deposit journals.

So, I’m still searching immigration and passenger records for James, looking at anything to do with the Matoaka, and anything related to immigration in May 1855.

If you can find an official record of James McGrath’s arrival, please let me know!

Selected references

‘Death of Mr. Jas. McGrath’, Mudgee Guardian, 20 January 1913, p. 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article157714628, accessed 28 February 2026.

‘The Late Mr. James McGrath’, Cowra Free Press, 22 January 1913, p. 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article99613462, accessed 28 February 2026.

‘Local Brevities’, Mudgee Guardian, 15 September 1904, p. 11 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article157627636, accessed 28 February 2026.

Will of James McGrath, died 17 January 1913, Probate Packets, NSW State Archives, NRS-13660-6-798-Series 4_59923.

Passenger list entry for Daniel Tomlinson, Matoaka, 17 May 1855, State Archives and Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood New South Wales, Australia; Persons on Bounty Ships (Agent’s Immigrant Lists); Series: 5316; Reel: 2137; Item: [4/4792], accessed 28 February 2026.

‘Ships’ Mails’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 18 May 1855, p. 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12969398, accessed 8 March 2026.

‘Immigrants Per Matoaka’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 19 May 1855, p. 5, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12969429, accessed 8 March 2026.

‘Immigrants Per Matoaka’, Empire, 19 May 1855, p. 1, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60179461, accessed 8 March 2026.

‘Ships’ Mails’, The Shipping Gazette, 21 May 1855, p. 107, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article161107134, accessed 8 March 2026.

Photograph of ‘Gold minehead and gold miners, Hill End-Tambaroora (?)’, American & Australasian Photographic Company, 1870-1875, glass plate negative, Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, 9O4DLe3n, https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/record/9O4DLe3n, image out of copyright.