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Michael Brennan was in born County Carlow, Ireland on December 28, 1836 and the Brennan family migrated to America when Michael was only 8 years old. Michael later enlisted in the Union Army, Company B, 155th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, as a private; on September 5, 1862. The 155th was then officially organized as a non-volunteer unit at New York City, officially assigned and mustered into the Union Army on November 18, 1862, at Newport News, Virginia. The 155th Infantry Regiment was organized of men from Broome, Erie, King, New York, Queens and Suffolk Counties. Brennan was made Sergeant on Nov. 18, 1862 and promoted to 1st Lieutenant on August 6, 1864; replacing a Lt. Dunbar who had been promoted. On May 15, 1865 Brennan was promoted again, to Captain of Co. K, replacing Capt. McConvey who had been discharged.* Michael Corcoran was originally the commander of the 69th New York State Militia regiment, which fought at the battle of 1st Bull Run in July 1861, where he was captured by the Confederacy and held prisoner for 13 months; until his exchange in August 1862. Corcoran then formed an all-Irish brigade known as “Corcoran's Irish Legion”; one regiment being the 155th New York Volunteer Infantry. The 155th organized at New York City was first attached to Corcoran's Brigade, Division at Suffolk, Virginia, 7th Army Corps, Dept. of Virginia until April, 1863. Then it was attached to the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 7th Army Corps, until July, 1863, back to Corcoran's Brigade, King's Division, 22nd Army Corps in the Defences of Washington until November, 1863, to the 1st Brigade, Corcoran's Division, 22nd Army Corps until December 1863, to the 2nd Brigade Tyler's Division, 22nd Army Corps until May 1864, to the 4th Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac until June, 1864 and to the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps until July, 1865. The 155th saw action from Newport News, Virginia to Suffolk, participated in Dix’s Peninsula Campaign, moved to defend Washington, D.C., joined the Army of the Potomac and participated in Rapidan Campaign from May 17th through June 15th and was involved in heavy action at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House in Virginia from May 17th through the 21st; where Brennan was wounded in action. They went on to participate in the Siege of Petersburg, fought at Deep Bottom, at Hatchers Run, participated in the Appomattox Campaign, the fall of Petersburg and were at the Appomattox Courthouse for the surrender of General Robert E. Lee. They then went on to participate in the Grand Review and the regiment finally mustered out of military service at Washington, D.C. on July 15, 1865; Brennan among the last to muster out. The 155th Regiment had lost 9 officers and 105 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, with 2 officers and 71 enlisted men dieing by disease. They also had 2 officers and 35 men taken as prisoners of war. After his discharge Brennan sailed for New Zealand, staying briefly, and later aboard the “Great Britain” arrived in Melbourne, Australia in August 1864. Brennan first worked in the gold fields, around Victoria, arriving at Godfrey’s Creek in 1869. In 1868 gold was discovered in Godfrey's Creek and the following year, when 650 miners were estimated to be on the goldfield, a primary school was opened. Within another year the township had some thirty buildings, and about twenty of its buildings served as hotels throughout the mining area. A mining registrar was located in the township, along with a post office and a police barracks. By 1870, however, gold mining had passed its peak, even though steady outputs continued until the 1880’s. Gobur, as the town was named, was thought by some to have come from a corruption of an Aboriginal word for Kookaburra. In reality, the name comes from Gobur Creek and the Gobur pastoral run. Brennan bought a piece of land in the newly surveyed town of Gobur and opened a boot-maker and saddlery shop, where he made boots and saddlery to order as well as making repairs for locals. Though he owned and operated his shop in town, Brennan continued working a farm as well. He married Julia Maria Joyce in Carlow in 1870 (reg. no. 2915) while in Gobur and decided to remain in the district. They had two children, James Lawrence born in Gobur in 1873 (reg. no. 24302) and a Mary Winnefred born in Gobur in 1875 (reg. no. 23216). He purchased 130 acres of land south-east of the township a few years after getting married, where William O’Caaghan first had a slaughter yard. He then built a four room weatherboard house as well as other building for operating his farm. While living at Golbur Michael became active in local community affairs, serving on the school Board of Advice for some six years, while at the same time serving as manager of the “Gobur Common” for three years. Michael remained in Gobur running his boot making business in a building next to the hall and working his farm until 1891, when he left Gobur with his wife and three children. In 1884 Brennan acquired a contract to deliver local mail and preferring boot making to farming, Michael opened another shop on Grant Street in neighbouring Alexandria in 1891 where gold-bearing locations were discovered, 90 km., north-east of Melbourne. Some of the claims were very rich, which attracted development to Alexandra and township blocks were sold and a school opened in 1867. Alexandra was awkwardly located for connection by railway to Melbourne; but he found it unprofitable. Next he opened a shop in Euroa and later one in Yea, where he remained until 1908; when his wife died. Upon her death he retired and returned to Gobur with his son James L. Brennan; a school teacher who had married Florence Kelly of Yea and he was head school teacher of the Gobur State School. Michael was widely known and respected throughout the district and his advice was often sought by locals on a variety of matters. He remained in good health until a few months prior to his death in December 1916. Of his children, the eldest son, Thomas Francis Brennan, began working for the Victorian Raways (sic) in 1899, becoming their Chief Accountant; a position he held from 1914 until he retired in 1936. His other son, James Lawrence Brennan, became Gobur’s longest serving teacher, being there from 1908 until 1927; as well as teaching at Springvale and other schools. He was a popular teacher and was said he could even shoe a horse when the need arose. His daughter Mary became a trained nurse and was once the Matron in charge of the Wagga, New South Wales Hospital. Roy Parker, in researching Michael Brennan uncovered a mystery. He found another Michael Brennan in the same exact unit, with the same birth-date, the same birth place and the same exact occupation. One supposedly came to Australia in 1864, according to his obituary unless it was wrong, while the other was still in the army. One came to Australia alone while the other came with his wife Mary; according to researcher Bob Simpson. The only conclusion that can be arrived at is that perhaps errors were made in the initial research and/or confusion occurred regarding incidents. It seems absolutely impossible for there to be two different Michael Brennan’s with the same birth place, the same birth-date, he same occupations and be in exactly the same Company B, 155th. New York Infantry Regiment, during the same period of time. In any event, on December 28, 1916, Michael Brennan died at 80 years of age and was buried in the Yea Cemetery. |
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“Alexander Times”, January 26, 1817 *Report of the Adjutant-Generals Office, New York “New York in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865”, Frederick Phisterer "Gobur and the Golden Gate", John Waghorn, 1982 Gobur Oral History Michael Brennan, New York Induction Card New South Wales Birth and Death Records New York Historical Society Library New York State Archives New York State Military Museum “War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies”, Washington: Government Printing Office, 1880 Yea Cemetery Correspondence Royal Australian Historical Society Library Collection Files |
