Isabella was born in Ireland to William Magaw and his wife Mary Ann Archibald, in about 1820 (1819 based on Immigration papers; 1822 based on headstone inscription).

She had four younger siblings - David (1822-1881), James (1826-1905), Elizabeth (1829-1883) and Samuel (1832-1902).

The whole family immigrated to Australia in 1841 aboard the "Orestes". Isabella travelled as a single female because she was older than 16.

These are the details that were recorded in the passenger manifest :-

Isabella McGaw ; 22 years old ; farm servant ; Presbyterian ; can read and write ; from Antrim; paid a bounty of £19.

NSW Marriages registrations :-

Relationship 0.

James Dyball and Isabella Magaw do not appear to have been married.

James Dyball married someone else in 1842 AND Isabella married in 1844 using her maiden name.

Marriage 1.

Registration number - 1822/1844 V18441822 76

Groom- SMITH, JOHN

Bride - MAGAW, ISABELLA

District - JI (Presbyterian, Bathurst)

Marriage 2.

Registration number - 277/1855 V1855277 82

Groom - GALE, GEORGE

Bride - SMYTH, ISABELLA

District - JI (Presbyterian, Bathurst)

NSW Births registrations for her children :-

DYBALD, MARY A

Registration number - 8522/1842 V18428522 45C

Parents - JAMES and ISABELLA

District - JI (Presbyterian, Bathurst)

SMITH, JAMES

Registration number - 359/1844 V1844359 48

Parents - JOHN and ISABELLA

District - JZ (Presbyterian, Co. Cook)

SMITH, WILLIAM

Registration number - 570/1847 V1847570 49

Parents - JOHN and ISABELLA

District - JI (Presbyterian, Bathurst)

SMITH, JANE

Registration number - 126/1848 V1848126 51

Parents - JOHN and ISABELLA

District - JI (Presbyterian, Bathurst)

SMITH, ELIZABETH

Registration number - 127/1850 V1850127 51

Parents - JOHN and ISABELLA

District - JI (Presbyterian, Bathurst)

SMITH, SAMUEL

Registration number - 347/1852 V1852347 52

Parents - JOHN and ISABELLA

District - JI (Presbyterian, Bathurst)

GALE, DAVID

Registration number - 3190/1856 

Parents - GEORGE and ISABELLA

District- BATHURST

GALE, JACOB

Registration number - 4653/1858 

Parents - GEORGE and ISABELLA

District- BATHURST

GALE, GEORGE S (Stacy)

Registration number - 4859/1861 

Parents - GEORGE and ISABELLA

District - BATHURST

GALE, ROBERT

Registration number - 5044/1863 

Parents - GEORGE and ISABELLA

District - BATHURST

(n.b. Robert Vining Gale, born in 1857, was the son of Thomas W and Mary Gale.)

It would seem that George Gale raised all ten children as his own. On his death certificate is stated that at the time of his death he has 7 sons and 3 daughters living; no children deceased. This tallies with the issue of Isabella.

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NSW Deaths Index Search Results

GALE, ISABELLA

Registration number - 13430/1897 

Parents - WILLIAM and MARY

District - ROCKLEY