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Rev James Corcoran OP

Title:

Rev

First Name:

James

Middle Names:

Vincent

Preferred Name:

Surname:

Corcoran

Order:

OP

Date of Birth:

25-Jul-1800

Place of Birth:

Cashel, Co Tipperary

Country of Birth:

Ireland

Date of Ordination:

10-Jul-1825

Place of Ordination:

Rome

Country of Ordination:

Italy

Ordination Diocese:

Seminary:

Date of Death:

04-Sep-1837

Place of Death:

Sydney NSW

Country of Death:

Australia

Date of Burial:

07-Sep-1837

Place of Burial:

Reinterred: Rookwood NSW

Country of Burial:

Australia

Find A Grave URL:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/251240708

Appointments Table

Diocese
Place
Role
Start Day
Start Month
Start Year
End Day
End Month
End Year
Source
Sydney WindsorSep18354Sep1837Linane, Vol 2
Items per page:
0 of 0


Biographical Notes

Melancholy Death, The Australian, Sydney, 5 September 1837, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36853386:
We have to record the death of the Reverend James Vincent Corcoran, Roman Catholic Chaplain of Windsor, which took place yesterday evening, between 5 and 6 o'clock, under the most melancholy circumstances. The deceased was proceeding from Windsor to Sydney, with a friend, Mr. Edward Ryan, in a gig. After he had proceeded through the Sydney Turnpike about 20 rods, he turned his head, being at that time driving, for the purpose of observing two other friends — the Rev. Mr. Sumner and Mr. John Dermott, when the wheel unfortunately went into a rut, and he was precipitated from his seat with such force as to cause a concussion of the brain, the wheel passing over the left temple at the time. A coroner's inquest was held on the body of the Rev. Gentleman, at 8 o'clock yesterday evening, before J.R. Brenan, Esq., and a most respectable jury, when a verdict of accidental death was returned. The coroner, at the request of the jury, promised to report the bad state of the road at the place where the accident happened to His Excellency the Governor. It was stated by a gentleman present, that an accident had happened to the Windsor Coach in the same spot, on Tuesday evening last, but fortunately without injury to the passengers.
Deaths
Yesterday evening, in consequence of injuries received by being thrown out of his gig, the Reverend James Vincent Corcoran, aged 35 years. The deceased was universally respected in the neighbourhood of Windsor by a numerous circle of friend. He was the friend of the orphan and the widow of the poorer class, of whatsoever faith or denomination, will have to deplore the loss of one of their most charitable and humane supporters. In that district he will be considered a public loss.

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Death, Sydney Herald, 7 Sep 1837, p 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12855478:
We have to announce the melancholy death of the Reverend James Vincent Corcoran, Roman Catholic Chaplain for Windsor, which took place on the evening of Monday last, in consequence of injuries sustained by a fall from his gig. The particulars are as follows:— About sunset on the day in question the reverend gentleman was proceeding from Windsor to Sydney in company with some friends, and was descending the hill within about fifty yards of the Sydney toll-bar, when the wheel of his gig came in contact with the bank left in cutting away the road, and the unfortunate gentleman was precipitated from his seat with such violence as to cause almost immediate death. Medical aid was promptly procured but to no effect; a Coroner's Inquest sat on the body about nine o'clock the same evening, and returned a verdict of "accidental death." Windsor and its neighbourhood are thrown into the utmost sorrow by this sad catastrophe; all denominations participate in the general mourning, the deceased being deservedly popular from his many good qualities.

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Funeral of the Rev Mr. Corcoran, Sydney Monitor, 8 September 1837, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32157300:
In consequence of the announcement in the papers of yesterday; that the funeral of this gentleman would take place at twelve o'clock, to be preceded by High Mass, numbers of persons began to assemble, by ten o'clock, and the Church of Saint Mary soon became crowded. The coffin was placed in the centre of the aisle, surrounded by candles, and the ceremony proceeded in the usual manner, the Bishop, and the Rev. Mr. Gregory, officiating. The solemn Requiem for the Dead was distinguished for its melody and sweetness. The Bishop in his discourse bore evidence to the virtues of the deceased, and the great loss the Church had sustained by his death. After the service was over, which was nearly one o'clock, the procession began to move from the Church, going down King-street, and along George-street, which was thronged by persons waiting to view the spectacle, to the Burial Ground. The children of the Catholic Church, preceded the coffin, bearing wax tapers; the corpse was borne by six gentlemen, followed by the Bishop and the functionaries of the Church in their Sacerdotal vestments, on foot, and a large concourse of respectable persons.

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Fr T.J. Linane, From Abel to Zundolovich, Vol. 2: Biographies of Priests on the Australian Scene up to 1900, 1980, pp 82-83:

Corcoran, James Vincent, OP, Irish
Held Up By Bushrangers, According to Polding

And we may add to the title on his card: killed rather tragically in a buggy accident near the old toll-gate situated close to the Pitt Street Railway Station of today. James Vincent was born in Cashel, County Tipperary on 25 July 1800. He was trained for the priesthood in Rome and ordained there on 10 July 1825. He was stationed at the Lucca Convent in Italy until 1831. He then came to the Devonshire-Cornwall Diocese, being stationed at Trelawny and Fullaton. He left the latter place to join Dr. Polding and other members of the party bound for the Antipodes. The party arrived in Sydney on 13 September 1835, and in quick time James Vincent took up his appointment in charge of the Windsor Mission - replacing Father Dowling OP who was transferred to Newcastle. The short stay of a few years under the shadow of the Blue Mountains was fruitful. A very temporary church, probably no better than a stable, was the first acquisition - the only place to offer a welcome to Dr. Polding when he paid his first visit in April 1836. The humble first building was to be soon replaced by the present St. Matthew's, one of our earliest extant churches (See 'Men of '38'). At least Father Corcoran was the first to lay the foundations, collecting the wherewithal from the pockets of an impoverished farming community.

In a letter of Dr. Polding of 1 May 1836 we read 'inter alia': " ... Mr Corcoran who is stationed at Windsor has a district 70 miles in length and very wide, studded throughout with Catholic settlers. He has had this Easter upwards of 140 communicants, of which perhaps not more than six or eight had been to Confession for many years. We only want priests to make this country Catholic ..." Polding goes on to describe Windsor as a "depraved district" and praises Corcoran for having begun its reformation (Report 1842). As well as commencing St. Matthews, the zealous missionary built the Church of St. Rose of Lima on the upper branch of the Hawkesbury. A Polding letter of 14 June 1837 makes good reading: " ... Mr Corcoran is the only clergyman who has been attacked by bushrangers. The man pretended to be the constable of the road and stood at his horse's head till a severe blow made him retreat. Another man came out of the bush a few yards further on, and was treated in the same manner. Corcoran was not known to be a priest otherwise he would not have been attacked. Did you read of his adventure with a most desperate character in the Currajong, Armstrong, the terror of the country, who by his means was brought to justice? With this man he had frequent interviews: he begged him to desist from his lawless habits. On Good Friday, at Armstrong's request, he met him, and entreated him for the sake of his Redeemer to give himself up. He promised to do so on the following Wednesday. The police, however, had received notice of Mr Corcoran's movements. They watched him, and following at a distance met Mr Corcoran on his return, and by him were directed which way to go, on their promise not to take Armstrong's life - a futile promise. They fell in with Armstrong and whilst running off, after having snapped his pistol, he was shot. He survived about half an hour. He called repeatedly for Mr. Corcoran, who was sent for but arrived too late. Armstrong was the chief of a lawless murdering gang ..."

As pointed out in 'Dominican Pioneers in New South Wales', by Sister Assumpta O'Hanlon OP, Father Kenny and Dr. Ullathorne gave a somewhat different version of the same incident. Sister goes on to describe Fr. Corcoran's premonition of death, quoting from a letter in the Tallaght Archives, written by S.M.B. de Lacy in 1867: "On Sunday, 3 September, he preached in the Windsor Church on the uncertainty of human life. His style was impressive and effective. 'O my beloved friends, think seriously of the truth that we know not the moment when we may be summoned before our Judge ... it may be my last time to tell you of the uncertainty of the time, place, and manner'. These words were prophetic ..." The following day marked the sad accident referred to above. Polding in his Eulogium at the Requiem in St. Mary's was moved to copious tears for the loss of his "active, energetic, and zealous" priest, and made his hearers weep just as copiously. He was buried in the old Devonshire Cemetery, and when that institution was dismantled to make way for the Pitt Street railway, the remains were transferred to Rookwood. The age was a tender 37.
(Footprints, Vol. 2, No. 11)
Ref.: As quoted from MDHC File, Fitzroy.

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