CAIRNS FAMILY: Descendants of Patrick "Moses" Kearns/Cairns

Our CAIRNS/KEARNS family were transported from Ireland for the "errors" of their ways. Originally settling in the Hunter Valley, they travelled west to Forbes and Wee Waa in NSW then north to Surat, Nanango, Normanton in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Mackay and Brisbane. Their hardship was overcome by successive generations and proudly includes two Gallipoli veterans: James Alford Raimond Cairns and William Raymond Cairns.

Surnames include Kearns, Cairns, Lakeman, Ferguson, McDowall, O'Shaughnessy, and Haskell. Patrick "Moses" Kearns was transported from Cork, Ireland in 1826 to Sydney, New South Wales on the convict ship "Boyne" for being an accomplice in a Highway Robbery. His wife, Dorothy Carthy aka Carty & McCarthy was transported to Sydney on a convict ship some years later. Dorothy Carty had been convicted for stealing a scarf in County Cavan in 1828. This tree records their descendants.

Early times in Australia did not look promising with the early death of Moses Kearns leaving his family to fend as urchins on Sydney streets thus condemning them to a boy's home. James Rayment Alcium Cairns grew up and moved west to Forbes then worked north as a drover to Normanton in Far North Queensland. His children were born along the way at Forbes, Wee Waa, Surat, Gayndah, Nanango and Dingo. From Normanton, James Cairns, Sr. was sent to Dunwich settlement for aged people on Stradbroke Island where he is buried.

Family villages and towns in Ireland were visited in 2005. Genealogy research by Cairns/Kearns descendants including Kevin O'Shaugnessy and Janet Noack over many years has resulted in this record Surviving records are far from complete due to damaged and lost Irish records. More details and/or corrections are very welcome.

Original records should always be checked personally.