Family background
Edward McEncroe (or McEnroe) was born about 1817 in County Tipperary, Ireland. His parents were Pierce and Margaret McEnroe; his father was a merchant.
Edward, his first wife Johanna, and their infant daughter Margaret, arrived on the Lady MacNaughten in 1837, a notorious voyage with nearly half the children and many adults (including the ships surgeon) dying of typhoid and other diseases. The passengers were confined at the then new Quarantine Station at Manly for several months when they arrived. Johanna died on 15 August 1844 and a year later, Edward married a Margaret Dalton (or D’Alton). It seems likely that this is the same Margaret Dalton who also came out on the Lady MacNaughten. She was the same age as Johanna and they possibly became acquainted during the traumatic voyage, as the men and women were segregated during the voyage, even the married ones.
Edward ‘Ned’ McEncroe died on 17 November 1888 in Sydney aged 83 and was buried in Waverley Cemetery. The family home was then at Belmont Street in Enmore. He was a Roman Catholic.
Occupation & interests
Edward McEncroe was recorded as a tobacco spinner from Cashel, County Tipperary, on his immigration record in 1837. He was in business with his brother Denis (who arrived to Sydney in 1842 on the Woodbridge) as an importer of tobacco; they traded as E & D McEncroe in the early 1850s. In 1844 Edward McEncroe, tobacconist and grocer, had premises at 599 George Street near the Old Gaol. In 1859 his business was at 194 George Street, while his brother Denis was recorded as a grocer in Sussex Street.
Community activity
Edward McEncroe was heavily involved in Catholic and political affairs as well as running a tobacco importing and manufacturing business. He attended several public meetings and in February 1844 spoke at the Immigration Meeting. He was the chairman of the Australian Repeal Association in December 1844.
Local government service
Edward McEncroe was a Councillor from 1 November 1852 until 31 December 1853 when the Council was replaced by a three-member Commission.
References
McIntyre, Perry & Rushen, Elizabeth A 2010, Quarantined!: the 1837 Lady Macnaghten immigrants, Anchor Books Australia, Spit Junction, NSW, pp. 134-36.
‘Public Meeting – Municipal Corporation’, The Sydney Herald, 7 June 1842, p. 2
‘The late public meeting on immigration’, The Australian, 8 February 1844, p. 2
‘Court of Requests’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 9 December 1854, p. 7
‘Obituary Edward McEncroe’, Freeman’s Journal, 24 November 1888, p. 15