Hayes

Mary Ann Hayes married Michael Clarke, and her brother, James William Hayes married Catherine Clarke, Michael’s sister.

Their mother, Mary Ann Mills, was born around 1803 in Killeeven, County Monaghan in Ireland. She lived there until girlhood when she accompanied her mother to London. After nine years there, she returned to Ireland where she married Robert Stephen Hayes in 1837. Robert was born in County Limerick around 1808.

Mary Ann and Robert came to Australia about 1840, staying in Sydney for a time before they accepted work with John Eales of Duckenfield. Robert was engaged as overseer on a station owned by Eales at Breeza, between Quirindi and Gunnedah.

After a few years, Robert and Mary Ann moved to Millers Forest on the lower Hunter. They had seven children who were mostly born at Millers Forest: Sarah, Robert, James William, Mary Ann, Thomas, Jane and Elizabeth.

The family moved to the Macleay River in 1862 where Robert took up one of the first selections at Bellimbopinni and Seven Oaks.

Mary Ann Hayes was over ninety-seven years old when she died in 1900. Robert was ninety-seven years old when he died in 1906. They are both buried at Frederickton Cemetery, just north of Kempsey in New South Wales.