Thomas Francis Meagher - Marriage and Family

Marriage and Family

On February 22, 1851 Meagher married Katherine Bennett ("Bennie"). Katherine was the daughter of Bryan Bennett, a convicted highwayman. His fellow exiles disapproved of his marriage. Soon after they were married, Katherine became ill. Less than a year after his wedding in January 1852, Meagher abruptly surrendered his "ticket-of-leave" and planned his escape to the United States. Meagher sent his "ticket-of-leave" and a letter to the authorities, along with notifying them he would consider himself a free man in twenty-four hours. When he escaped, Katherine was in an advanced stage of pregnancy and stayed behind. Following Meagher's departure from Van Diemen's Land, their son was born, but he died shortly after Meagher reached New York City.

The infant son was buried at St. John's Catholic Church, the oldest Catholic church in Australia, in Richmond, Tasmania, Australia. The small grave is next to the church. A plaque notes his father Meagher's being an Irish Patriot and member of the Young Irelanders.

Following Meagher's escape, Katherine was taken to Ireland. Eventually she was able to spend a short time in the United States with Meagher, before returning to Ireland pregnant and in poor health. She gave birth to Meagher's only child: a boy, who was named after his father. She died in Ireland in May 1854, at the home of Meagher's father. Meagher never met his son, who stayed with the senior Meaghers and relatives.

After Meagher settled in New York, he soon courted Elizabeth Townsend, the daughter of Peter Townsend and Caroline (née) Parish of Monroe, New York. The Townsend family were wealthy Protestants, who opposed Meagher's marrying their daughter but they eventually relented. Elizabeth converted to Catholicism, and in 1856 she and Meagher married.