On January 9, 1882 Jemima Catherine Hawley married Samuel John Shaw. They were married at the residence of the brides parents, John and Sarah Hawley, in Palmer Street, Sydney. The witnesses to the marriage were John Kidd and Samuel's cousin Jessie (Janet) Pithethly Shaw.

Samuel Shaw was born in about 1852 in the townland of Oughley, Saintfield parish, County Down in Northern Ireland. He was the third child of Thomas Henry Shaw and Margaret Scott. Other family members were William (who emigrated to America), Mary, Susan, James, Elizabeth, Anne, Agnes, Thomas, Andrew, Eleanor, Margaret and David. They lived on a farm at Oughley and also had a smaller farm at Lisdalgin.

In 1877, Thomas Henry Shaw decided to give up farming in Oughley and move to Belfast. Samuel was not happy with the decision to leave the farm and so made up his mind to emigrate to Australia as had his uncle, William Shaw in 1863.

His travelling companion on the voyage to Australia was David Anderson, the son of a neighbouring farmer in Oughley. Samuel visited the town of Lanark in the Central Lowlands district of Scotland before commencing his journey to Australia.

The ship'"Tyburnia", with Samuel aboard set sail from Plymouth, England on Tuesday November 20, 1877. It was carrying 328 emigrants, 28 crew, an engineer and a baker. It arrived in Sydney on February 19, 1878. (A day by day account of Samuel's voyage is held in the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland)

Samuel first lived with his Uncle William Shaw, a storekeeper, of Bourke Street, Woolloomooloo, Sydney. He was able to obtain work and was paid two pound ten shillings a week. Before marrying Jemima Hawley, Samuel had moved to the farming district of Singleton in the Hunter Valley.

Samuel and Jemima's first child, Thomas Henry Shaw was born in 1882 at St.Clair, which is a property near Singleton which was owned by George Loder. Samuel was working as a stockman.

Andrew Frederick Shaw and Raymond David Shaw were born in Raymond Terrace. Jemima's mother Sarah Hawley assisted at the births. Ettie May, Alma Sarah, Ella Margaret and William Samuel were all born in the Singleton area.

The family travelled to Nymagee, a town in the west of New South Wales, after William's birth. Samuel and Jemima's youngest child, Vere May was born in 1899 at Nymagee. Samuel was 45 years old and Jemima was 39. At some stage Ettie May and Ella Margaret were sent to live with relatives in Sydney.

In 1902 we find the family again at Raymond Terrace. Jemima's mother and brother were still living in the area.

From September 1901 to November 1902, most of Australia was affected by a severe drought. In August 1902, Samuel was so excited by an unexpected shower, that he stayed out in the rain until he was soaked. Unfortunately he caught a chill which developed into pneumonia. Samuel died on August 25, 1902 at Newcastle Hospital. He was 47 years old. He was buried at the Presbyterian Cemetery, Raymond Terrace.

Shortly after Samuel's death, his oldest son Thomas left home to further his career as a jockey. Jemima and the remaining children moved to Duckenfield, near Raymond Terrace, where Andrew worked as a fireman.

By the end of 1908 Jemima and her children, Raymond David, William and Vere May had moved to Greta where Raymond found work in the coal mines. Andrew had moved to Kurri Kurri but came to live in Greta after his marriage to Amelia Threadgate in 1910. Andrew also worked in the coal mines.

Both Andrew and Raymond served with the Australian Imperial Forces during World War I.

Jemima made Greta her home until her death in July 1939. She was 83 years of age. She had been predeceased by four of her children, Alma, Ettie, Thomas and Raymond and by two of her grandchildren, Ettie Edna Lorraine Cole and Victor Shaw. Jemima's death was followed in August by that of her son, Andrew.