LETITIA ROSE MULHOLLAND

Letitia Rose Mulholland was born at Dripsey, Innishcarra Co.Cork, Ireland. Letitia Rose was ch.11.2.1846, while her sister Maria Louisa was ch.3.4.1847; Richard ch.3.3.1849 and Rebecca

ch.23.10.1850. Only Letitia and Maria, who both came to Australia, feature in this story. Their parents Richard Mulholland & Letitia Shepherd, conducted an Inn at the scenic and quiet village of Dripsey near the banks of the River Lee. On a recent visit, only stones could be seen where the old Inn stood, while a new house has been built on the site. This is only a very small village, but rising upon a hill is the Dripsey Castle. Richard and Letitia held about four acres of land, while residing on a smaller lot, according to the Griffith's Valuation. Nothing more is known about the family, until Letitia, who was a nurse, is recorded on the manifest of the "Golden Land" as it left Cork (Cobh Harbour). Letitia boarded the vessel 11th July 1865 as a nurse, with a group of Church of Ireland girls. Letitia gave service to those suffering from Typhoid Fever, during the voyage. No record of her sister's immigration to Australia has come to light, but Maria married in Kent or Ireland, had a child born in Ireland and lived in Toowoomba Australia, where she died in 1923. On approaching Hervey Bay on their way to Maryborough, with Letitia as passenger, the vessel 'Golden Land' was quarantined at Woody Island for a few weeks, resulting from the sickness on board. Letitia’s nursing skills would, no doubt, have been a blessing in these circumstances. After berthing at the port of Maryborough, nothing is known until her marriage to Scotsman John Maltman at Maryborough Methodist Church in 1870. John was an extremely enterprising man and they lived at "Downside Farm" Tiaro, before moving to the north side of the Noosa River. John had earlier worked on "Traveston" Station and sadly left his panning for gold at Gympie, just before Nash made his notable find. He had been a soap chemist with his father James Maltman in Glasgow, so he became the chemist at Noosa, dispensing on instruction from a doctor at Gympie, in the case of emergency. They were beekeepers and fishermen at different times in an effort to raise their large family of 11 surviving children. At Mooloolah on Sunshine Coast John developed his skill in soapmaking, which even today is called the 'Soap Hole'. His interests were bought by Campbell's Soaps of Bowen Hills,Brisbane. Of course, Letitia was a midwife to all her family and friends in the Mooloolah - Bald Knob region, delivering many babies during her lifetime and before her death on 7.3.1917. John predeceased her on 1.7.1916 and they are both laid to rest at the Mooloolah Cemetery. Their children are

1.Alexander Richard Maltman married Beatrice Gill.2.Son died young. 3.James Robert Maltman married Thirza Mildred Hudd. 4.Letitia Ann Maltman married 1893 Robert Boyden (1867-1 896) & second Thomas DeLanty. (Wm.Delahunty, Kilkenny & Jane Fletcher,Clare). 5.John William Maltman rnarried Violet Victoria Cookroamce (known as Cook). 6.Samuel Theodore Maltman married Karsen (Carrie) Rolleston (as her second husband).7.Edith Maltman married Francis Frederick Coole.8.George Maltman died young. 9.Charles Sidney died young.10.William Maltman (adopted son)

Strangely enough Letitia Rose(Mulholland) Maltman had a sister Maria Louise Mulholland who married Robert Boyden too. Maria married in U.K.or Ireland to Robert Boyden b.1842 Woolwich, U.K. and d.1918 Toowoomba. He appears to have arrived in Australia about the time his son Robert Boyden (hus/o Letitia Ann Maltman) died in 1896. Letitia Ann then married Thomas Delanty and from that marriage, an extended Australian family emerges with many exciting and interesting stories.

"A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches" Proverbs

To be continued......