http://mctiernan.com/rock.htm 1-29-12

This is a McTernan in the Rockfield McTernan family of County Leitrim. Their home was the townland of Gortgarrigan, Co Leitrim The Rockfield McTernans in Co Leitrim and the Heapstown McTernan families in Co Sligo are related through their maternal lines.  They may also be related through their paternal lines.  They are called kinsman in several newspaper writings. No known male issue survives of the Rockfield line to do the DNA test

The Sydney Morning Hearld (NSW); Tuesday February 24, 1874   my edits or additions in [ ]

THE LATE SURGEON JAMES MCTERNAN, li.lsr. -An English paper relates the following, in noticing the death of the above gentleman, who visited Sydney some ...years ago: James McTernan, U.N. [Navy], [ 1790--1873 ] Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals and Fleets, died at his residence, Blackheath, [Kent] on the 26th November [1873], in the 83rd year of his age.

He was a native of Co Sligo, and student of Trinity College, Dublin. Dr. McTernan, in early life, acquired a more than ordinary acquaintance with classical literature, which he cultivated with great ardour and enjoyment up to a recent period, and which gave him great facilities of illustration in his unsually vivid powers of speech. After leaving Dublin, he spent about twelve months in Paris previous to entering the medical service of the Royal Navy BB Surgeon's mate, being then but 17 years old. In speaking of this event, he used to say that his Latinity enabled him to thin out the truth of his real age, and thus obtain a commission long before he was entitled to it.

In 1812, when he was but 21 years of age, he served in the Northumberland, 74 guns, under Captain the Hon. Henry Hotham, off the coast of France, where they captured two French frigates, the young surgeon being for his skill and gallantry awarded a medal: and in 1813 [American War of 1812], in the Dragon, commanded by Sir Robert Barry, during the American wars, he saw the various naval exploits in the Chesapeak Bay.

He was in the squadron which protected St. Helena during -the residence there of Napoleon, and was present on the island at the death of that distinguished, but unfortunate monarch in 1821. Subsequently to this period he was engaged at the various home stations; and finally, previous to his retirement, he did duty at Greenwich Hospital [in NSW] for about 11 years.

His seniority is dated 25th July, 1855 when he became Deputy Inspector-General. According to John C McTernan's book, Sligo Families, James married Harriett Hart, -->1877, in London and they had one son, Cpt. Constantine Lernon Hotham McTernan, 1831--1864, who was married with one daughter, Constance Margaret McTernan, -->1877. He was a Captain in the Royal Artillery and is buried in the family vault at Brockley Cemetery, Parish of Lewisham, County of Kent in England.

very old Australian newspaper clippings below

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/result?q=McTernan&sortby=dateAsc>http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/result?q=McTernan&sortby=dateAsc