Reilly Family History

Rachel Burrows

Name: Rachel Burrows
Born: 1812 in Kent, England
Parents: unknown
Partner: Charles Norcott
Children: Mary Lucille Burrows
Husband: Michael Hornby, married May 1849


Rachel Burrows was born in Kent, England, in 1812. She arrived in the Swan River Colony on the ship Parmelia 1829, as a maid to Lady Stirling (though she is not mentioned on the passenger list). Another source has her arriving with Captain Boyd and his wife in 1832. In any case, she was mentioned in the 1832 census of the fledgling colony. At that time, the settler population of the Swan River Colony (later to become Perth, Western Australoia) was about 1,500.

She returned to England with the Stirling family in 1832, arriving back in Western Australia with them on the ship James Pattison on 9th June 1834. She was again mentioned in the 1837 census of Perth.

Rachel is the mother of Mary Lucille Burrows, born in June 1835, who was born after a 'liaison' between Rachel and Charles Norcott. Charles died with no knowledge of the birth of the child. Mary Lucille Burrows was to become the wife of J.T. Reilly

Rachel later married Michael Hornby, on 12th of May 1849 at St. Mary's Cathedral, Perth. Michael was a Private in the 51st regiment. He arrived in WA in June 1840 and was stationed at Pinjarrah (Whitely). He was later transferred to the 96th regiment, but was eventually discharged in the colony. In his marriage records he is listed as a farmer in the guilford district. Michael's father was Thomas Hornsby, a farmer.

Rachel is recorded as receiving goods from England from the ship Prince Charlie in October 1850.

details mostly from: Dictionary of Western Australians, Vol 1 Early settlers 1829-1850