Source: Clann An Ghorta Vol. 1, No. 3: January 1999

Johanna Kelly, 16, arrived in Sydney on January 12, 1850 per the orphan ship 'Panama'.  She had lived on the town land Ballandarahy, adjacent to the village of Glenmore at the south of Co. Kilkenny, a few miles from the city of Waterford.  Her mother Mary Ryan died but her father William was living. From the Immigration Depot, Hyde Park Barracks, Johanna was engaged by Mr. Wilson of Macleay River, Kempsey, as a house servant for his young family of four children.  It was 75 days after her arrival when Mr. Wilson signed the indenture to engage her for one year at $8 p.a., provide her with board and
lodgings and proper rations and teach her the skills of being a good house servant.

Three months after her service with the Wilsons, Johanna, then 18, married John Richard Bushell, aged 38.  John, formerly a boy convict, aged 16 in 1831, lost his left leg in the hulk, "Euryalas" in an accident, and had been trained as a tailor.

Johanna and John had 12 children, 8 at Kempsey and the last 4 at Fernmount, Bellinger River.  Both died of old age at Fernmount, John aged 81 on 18-2-1894, and Johanna aged 96, on 19-3-1929.  They share a common memorial in the Fernmount Historic Cemetery.

Coffs Harbour and Dorrigo Advocate, Thursday, March 28, 1929 page 1

Pioneer's Death

Mrs. Johanna Mary Josephine Bushell, aged 95 years and 9 months, one of the first white women to settle on the Bellinger, died at her home at Fernmount last week.  She was born in Ireland, but came to Australia as a girl.  At the age of 14 she came to Kempsey, and was married when she was 18.  Her husband died about 40 years ago.  Just on 50 years ago Mr. and Mrs. Bushell came to Fernmount to reside.  Deceased retained full use of her faculties until four days before her death, when she had a paralytic seizure, which unfortunately proved fatal.  Two sons and a daughter predeceased her.  Those living are Messrs. John (South Grafton), Frank (Sydney), Alfred (Fernmount), Robert (Coffs Harbour), George (Bellinger River), and Charles (Repton); Mrs. R. Piggott (Bellingen), Mrs. Fred Fowler (Fernmount) and Miss Emily Bushell (Fernmount).

John & Johanna Bushell's eldest daughter, Anne Amelia, married an Irish ex-soldier, Michael Carney, on 14th November 1870, at the Bellinger River. He was the son of farming parents, Patrick & Mary Carney, and was born at Limerick, Ireland.

Contributed by Rhonda Turnbull; email Rhonda to share information regarding the Bushell family.