Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Saturday, May 26, 2012
More Kilmore Dwyers...
When I started on this quest to sort out the Kilmore Dwyers, then isolate the particular family I was after from amongst them all, I had no idea of the numbers and complexity I was dealing with...there were dozens of Dwyers and O'Dwyers in the Kilmore/Bylands/Willowmavin district of Victoria.
Whilst I have now cut "my" Dwyers from the main mob, I thought that it may benefit other researchers if I briefly note down here what I discovered about the other Dwyer families.
FAMILY OF WILLIAM DWYER & BRIDGET DUGGAN.
William Dwyer was born at Dundrum, County Tipperary, Ireland, in c. 1798, the son of William Dwyer and Margaret Londrigan. He married Bridget Duggan in Tipperary, and had at least eight children before the entire family immigrated to Australia.
The family settled in the Kilmore district, where parents William and Bridget died in 1881 and 1887 respectively. The Kilmore Free Press published the following death notice and obituary on October 6, 1881:
"DEATH- DWYER. On the 28th ult., at his residence, Allen Street, Kilmore, William Dwyer, aged 83 years, native of Dundrum, Tipperary, Ireland."
"OBITUARY. Mr Wm Dwyer, a resident of Kilmore for about twenty years, died on Wednesday evening at the ripe age of 83. Deceased gentleman, who was a native of Tipperary, Ireland, was noted for his honesty and integrity, and he was able to move about up to within a short period of his death. On Friday afternoon the remains were interred in the local Catholic Cemetery, a large number of acquaintances attending to pay the last mark of respect to his memory. Father Galavin performed the obsequies."
William Dwyer's death certificate, as registered by his eldest son, Philip Dwyer, contained the following information:
Died: 1 a.m., September 28, 1881, Kilmore.
William Dwyer, laborer.
Male, 83 years.
Cause of death: Old age and debility. Last illness, three weeks duration. Dr. last attended August 28, 1881.
Parents: William Dwyer, laborer; and Margaret Dwyer, formerly Landrigan.
Informant: Philip Dwyer, son, Kilmore.
Buried: Kilmore Cemetery, September 30, 1881. Witess: Patrick Nonan.
Born: County Tipperary, Ireland. 18 years in Victoria.
Married: At age 30 in Tipperary to Bridget Duggan.
Issue: Philip 53; Patrick 51; Catherine 48; William 45; Margaret dead; Bridget 40; Ann 38; John 36.
Surprisingly, in his will, William Dwyer mentioned only two of his children- "my son Phillip Dwyer" and "my daughter Bridget Dwyer"- as well as "my wife Bridget".
The information given in this obituary suggests that this Dwyer family did not leave Tipperary until relatively late in the mid-1800s,( c. 1860) as opposed to the early 1840s arrival of the other Dwyer family that I have researched. There is a possible match for the Dwyer family arriving on the ship Royal Dane on June 25, 1863:
William Dwyer aged 50 b c. 1813
Bridget Dwyer aged 46 b c. 1817
Philip Dwyer aged 30 born c. 1833
John Dwyer b c. 1840
Bridget Dwyer b c. 1842
Ann Dwyer b c. 1843
John Dwyer b c. 1847
Margaret Dwyer bc. 1848
John Dwyer b c. 1852
This requires further investigation...the ages are "out", but that as mentioned previously, that is almost always the case in passenger lists I have researched. Also, while the names match up with the family of William Dwyer and Bridget Duggan, children Catherine, Patrick and William were not listed.
I have located the following children as belonging to William Dwyer and Bridget Duggan- there most certainly may have been more.
CATHERINE 'KATE' DWYER: born Tipperary c. 1824. Married William Gooley. Died 1923, and 99 years. Her brief obituary in the Kilmore Free Press on September 13, 1923, reads:
" Many persons in this quarter will remember Mr William Gooley, an old Kilmore resident, who over 40 years ago migrated to the Murray district, later moving to Gippsland, where he died. The demise of his widow, who was advanced in years, is now recorded, the sad event occurring at Meriyan, Gippsland, a few days ago."
The North Eastern Ensign, newspaper of Benalla and District, also reported " Obituary. Mrs. C. Gooley. The death is reported of Mrs Catherine, relict of the late Wm. Gooley, of Bylands (Kilmore) and Yarroweyah. The sad event occurred at deceased's home at Meriyan, South Gippsland."- September 7, 1923.
Catherine Dwyer and William Gooley had a family of seven children: Annie(1858-1869); Bridget (1858-1859); William Patrick (1861); Margaret (1864); Catherine Elizabeth (c. 1867-1945); Philip (1871-1952); Ann (1873).
PHILLIP DWYER: Born county Tipperary, c. 1829. Died April 1891, Kilmore.
"Mr. Phillip Dwyer, a resident of Kilmore for many years, died on Monday morning after a few days' illness. Deceased, who was about 60 years of age, and at one time kept a hotel in the premises now occupied by Mrs Tuckwell, Sydney Street. He was sterling, straight-forward man, and one who was deservedly esteemed by all who knew him." -Kilmore Free Press, April 16, 1891.
PATRICK DWYER: born c. 1830, Clonoulty, Tipperary, Ireland. Died January 10, 1900, Kilmore Hospital.
" OBITUARY. Mr. Patrick Dwyer, an old resident of the Kilmore district, died in the local hospital on the 10th inst., where he had been located as a patient for some weeks. Deceased was a brother of the late Miss B. Dwyer, whose death we announced a few weeks ago, was a native of Clonoulty, Tipperary, and came tothis colony about 40 years ago. For a time he settled in the Goulburn Valley district, but returned here to spend his remaining days. He was a straight-forward and industrious man in his time, and a son of the late William Dwyer, whose remains were interred some years back in the local cemetery."
-Kilmore Free Press, January 18, 1900.
BRIDGET DWYER: born c. 1834, Tipperary, Ireland. Died in Kilmore, December 1899, just weeks before her brother Patrick.
" OBITUARY. Miss Bridget Dwyer, for many years resident of Kilmore, died early on Sunday morning. Diseased lady was a daughter of the late Mr. William Dwyer, a native of Tipperary, Ireland, and thoroughly patriotic in all matters affecting her native country, whilst she was also a sincere friend to many. At one time Miss Dwyer carried on a business as a dress-maker in Sydney Street, but for some time lived privately in the east end of the town."
- Kilmore Free Press, December 21, 1899.
Bridget Dwyer never married, and prior to her death she left a will in which she bequeathed legacies to her nephew, William Dwyer, of Footscray, her nephew William Kennedy and her sister Kate Gooley, the wife of William Gooley. William Kennedy was the son of Bridget's sister, Ann Dwyer.
ANN DWYER: born c. 1845, Tipperary, Ireland. Married twice- firstly, to Thomas Kennedy, and then in 1880 to George Hill. From her first marriage there was one child, a son named William Kennedy, who was born in Kilmore in 1877.
Her husband Thomas must have died between his son William's conception in c. 1876-77, and Anne's remarriage in 1880. She married George Hill, and I located two children born to the couple- George Philip in Melbourne in 1882, and Anne in Melbourne in 1885 ( she died in 1978, aged 90 years).
Ann Dwyer Kennedy Hill died in 1891. The Kilmore Free Press reported:
"DEATH: HILL. On the 22nd July, at the residence of her sister, Miss B. Dwyer, Kilmore, Mrs. Ann Hill, aged 46 years, and wife of the late George Hill of Newmarket. R.I.P."
Sadly, Ann's second husband, George Hill, had died just three months before she did...George Hill had died in their home at Falconer Street, Fitzroy, on April 15, 1891. The week before he died, George wrote a will, in which he left assets worth 4,600 pounds to two solicitor trustees to provide for his two children George and Anne until they were 21, and to provide his wife, Anne Dwyer Hill, one pound per week for the rest of her life.
A codicil to the will, added on the same day, then left three more bequests- 100 pounds to his son John Hill; 150 pounds to his grandson George Hill, and 75 pounds to his sister-in-law, Bridget Dwyer.
This mention of a son and grandson reveals that George Hill had been married prior to his union with Annie Dwyer Kennedy. Surprisingly, I can find no mention of George Hill's death in any of the online newspapers. The only George Hill to die in Melbourne in the Victorian death index for 1891 was 50 year old George Hill, no parents named. There was also a George Hill aged 61, son of Samuel Hill and Mary Green, died Clifton Hill..which, if either, of these two men is Annie's George remains to be seen.
Again, I wonder (and worry!) what happened to the little Hill children after the deaths of their parents within such a short space of time. George was only nine years old, and little Annie just five or six. William Kennedy, from Anne's first marriage, would have been aged about 14. I wonder if their mother's spinster sister, Bridget Dwyer, would have taken on the responsibility of raising her young niece and two nephews? When she died eight years later, in 1899, she left money to her nephew William Kennedy, but there was no mention of the Hill children.
When the Hill children's uncle, William Dwyer, died in 1902, he left bequests to William Kennedy and Annie Hill, but there was no mention of his nephew George. I have not been able to locate a death for George Hill, son of Annie Dwyer.
Annie's daughter, also known as Annie, married Charles McGregor Pipe in 1912. Born at Pleasant Creek in 1875, Charles was the son of William Pipe and Annie McGregor. The 1903 and 1909 electoral rolls reveal that Charles was an ironmonger in Kilmore, where he lived with his mother, Annie McGregor Pipe. After his marriage to Annie Hill, Charles moved with her to 21 Norwood Street, Newmarket, and this remained their family home for decades. Charles worked as a painter, and died in 1951. Annie Hill Pipe died at the age of 90 in 1978.
WILLIAM DWYER: I have very information about this character yet beyond the fact that he was a bachelor who farmed at Kyabram, and what I read in the following newspaper report from the Kilmore Free Press:
"UNLAWFUL ASSAULT. Philip Dwyer, a resident of Kilmore, was presented for having committed an aggrevated assault upon his brother Patrick Dwyer at Kilmore on the 1st of November. Mr. Molesworth defended the prisoner. The evidence for the prosecution was to the effect that Patrick Dwyer, with his brother William, had taken a trip to Kilmore from the Goulburn Valley, where they reside. They had gone to a house occupied in common by his mother. The prisoner was not at home. Shortly after they went to bed the two brothers were woke up by a noise outside. On opening the door to find out whence the noise proceeded they were set upon by the prisoner, who knocked one of them about with an axe and severely injured him.
Mr. Molesworth submitted that the affair was out of a family broil, say that the prisoner was merely acting in self-defence in taking the action he had done. The jury, after retiring for half an hour, acquitted the prisoner.
GRIEVOUSLY WOUNDING. Patrick Dwyer, and William Dwyer, the chief witnesses in the previous case, were then placed in the dock, charged with an assault on Philip Dwyer. The prisoners were defended by Mr Jeremiah Dwyer.
This prosecution arose out of the circumstances which formed the basis of the prosecution in the last case. Philip Dwyer, the prosecutor, said that on the night in question he was going home, and on nearing the house he heard his brother Pat say "Here he is, get the poker." He went into the building and was immediately set on by his two brothers, the prisoners. A general scrimmage ensued, which ended in Philip Dwyer being knocked senseless and bound by the prisoners. In his opinion,the prisoners had come down from the country for the express purpose of giving him a thrashing, and that their animosity was due to a jealous feeling on their part because they had not participated in of the property left by their father. The evidence was just as conflicting as in the previous case, and it was left doubtful which party was most to blame. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty, and the prisoners were discharged."
- Kilmore free Press, December 8, 1881.
Elsewhere in the same edition of the paper it was written:
"I am glad the Dwyer family dispute is settled by all parties being discharged. By the wretched brawl, from which dangerous consequences may have ensued, all parties jeopardized their liberty. That they have had enough of suffering,without being confined to gaol, is certain, having to stand their defence, although being lucky enough not to be deprived of liberty, must have made them much poorer. I hope they have learnt the lesson that it will not pay them to quarrel any more."
Almost exactly a year later, two of the warring brothers- Patrick and Philip- were before the courts again, this time in dispute over the ownership of one of their late father's cows!
William Dwyer, son of William Dwyer and Bridget Duggan, died at Kyabram in the Echuca district on April 28, 1902, aged 59 years. He left a very informative will, which alerted me to the existance of two Dwyer siblings that were previously unknown to me- John and Margaret. Briefly, William's will contained the following details:
William Dwyer, farmer, of Kyabram, made his will on June 18, 1900.
His executors were his nephews William Kennedy, cigar maker, of 240 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy,( "son of my late sister Ann Dwyer") and William Dwyer, carrier, of 68 Smith Street, Kensington (" son of my late brother John Dwyer").
Legacies: 200 pounds to William Dwyer
200 pounds to my niece Annie Hill, daughter of my late sister Annie.
50 pounds each to my nieces Bridget Dwyer and Margaret Dwyer, daughters of my late brother John Dwyer.
10 pounds for masses for the repose of my soul.
10 pounds for masses for my deceased mother, Bridget Dwyer, my late sisters Margaret and Anne and my late brother John.
After the legacies were distributed, the balance was to go to "my nephew, William Kennedy."
William Dwyer's real estate was valued at 1799 pounds, and his personal estate at 414 pounds.
MARGARET DWYER: No information beyond the fact that she had died by September 1881 when her father's death certificate noted that she was deceased.
JOHN DWYER: Born in Tipperary c. 1845.Was still alive at the time of his father William's death in 1881, but had died by the time his brother William passed away in 1902. Was married and had at least two daughters- Bridget and Margaret- and a son William.
Whilst I have now cut "my" Dwyers from the main mob, I thought that it may benefit other researchers if I briefly note down here what I discovered about the other Dwyer families.
FAMILY OF WILLIAM DWYER & BRIDGET DUGGAN.
William Dwyer was born at Dundrum, County Tipperary, Ireland, in c. 1798, the son of William Dwyer and Margaret Londrigan. He married Bridget Duggan in Tipperary, and had at least eight children before the entire family immigrated to Australia.
The family settled in the Kilmore district, where parents William and Bridget died in 1881 and 1887 respectively. The Kilmore Free Press published the following death notice and obituary on October 6, 1881:
"DEATH- DWYER. On the 28th ult., at his residence, Allen Street, Kilmore, William Dwyer, aged 83 years, native of Dundrum, Tipperary, Ireland."
"OBITUARY. Mr Wm Dwyer, a resident of Kilmore for about twenty years, died on Wednesday evening at the ripe age of 83. Deceased gentleman, who was a native of Tipperary, Ireland, was noted for his honesty and integrity, and he was able to move about up to within a short period of his death. On Friday afternoon the remains were interred in the local Catholic Cemetery, a large number of acquaintances attending to pay the last mark of respect to his memory. Father Galavin performed the obsequies."
William Dwyer's death certificate, as registered by his eldest son, Philip Dwyer, contained the following information:
Died: 1 a.m., September 28, 1881, Kilmore.
William Dwyer, laborer.
Male, 83 years.
Cause of death: Old age and debility. Last illness, three weeks duration. Dr. last attended August 28, 1881.
Parents: William Dwyer, laborer; and Margaret Dwyer, formerly Landrigan.
Informant: Philip Dwyer, son, Kilmore.
Buried: Kilmore Cemetery, September 30, 1881. Witess: Patrick Nonan.
Born: County Tipperary, Ireland. 18 years in Victoria.
Married: At age 30 in Tipperary to Bridget Duggan.
Issue: Philip 53; Patrick 51; Catherine 48; William 45; Margaret dead; Bridget 40; Ann 38; John 36.
Surprisingly, in his will, William Dwyer mentioned only two of his children- "my son Phillip Dwyer" and "my daughter Bridget Dwyer"- as well as "my wife Bridget".
The information given in this obituary suggests that this Dwyer family did not leave Tipperary until relatively late in the mid-1800s,( c. 1860) as opposed to the early 1840s arrival of the other Dwyer family that I have researched. There is a possible match for the Dwyer family arriving on the ship Royal Dane on June 25, 1863:
William Dwyer aged 50 b c. 1813
Bridget Dwyer aged 46 b c. 1817
Philip Dwyer aged 30 born c. 1833
John Dwyer b c. 1840
Bridget Dwyer b c. 1842
Ann Dwyer b c. 1843
John Dwyer b c. 1847
Margaret Dwyer bc. 1848
John Dwyer b c. 1852
This requires further investigation...the ages are "out", but that as mentioned previously, that is almost always the case in passenger lists I have researched. Also, while the names match up with the family of William Dwyer and Bridget Duggan, children Catherine, Patrick and William were not listed.
I have located the following children as belonging to William Dwyer and Bridget Duggan- there most certainly may have been more.
CATHERINE 'KATE' DWYER: born Tipperary c. 1824. Married William Gooley. Died 1923, and 99 years. Her brief obituary in the Kilmore Free Press on September 13, 1923, reads:
" Many persons in this quarter will remember Mr William Gooley, an old Kilmore resident, who over 40 years ago migrated to the Murray district, later moving to Gippsland, where he died. The demise of his widow, who was advanced in years, is now recorded, the sad event occurring at Meriyan, Gippsland, a few days ago."
The North Eastern Ensign, newspaper of Benalla and District, also reported " Obituary. Mrs. C. Gooley. The death is reported of Mrs Catherine, relict of the late Wm. Gooley, of Bylands (Kilmore) and Yarroweyah. The sad event occurred at deceased's home at Meriyan, South Gippsland."- September 7, 1923.
Catherine Dwyer and William Gooley had a family of seven children: Annie(1858-1869); Bridget (1858-1859); William Patrick (1861); Margaret (1864); Catherine Elizabeth (c. 1867-1945); Philip (1871-1952); Ann (1873).
PHILLIP DWYER: Born county Tipperary, c. 1829. Died April 1891, Kilmore.
"Mr. Phillip Dwyer, a resident of Kilmore for many years, died on Monday morning after a few days' illness. Deceased, who was about 60 years of age, and at one time kept a hotel in the premises now occupied by Mrs Tuckwell, Sydney Street. He was sterling, straight-forward man, and one who was deservedly esteemed by all who knew him." -Kilmore Free Press, April 16, 1891.
PATRICK DWYER: born c. 1830, Clonoulty, Tipperary, Ireland. Died January 10, 1900, Kilmore Hospital.
" OBITUARY. Mr. Patrick Dwyer, an old resident of the Kilmore district, died in the local hospital on the 10th inst., where he had been located as a patient for some weeks. Deceased was a brother of the late Miss B. Dwyer, whose death we announced a few weeks ago, was a native of Clonoulty, Tipperary, and came tothis colony about 40 years ago. For a time he settled in the Goulburn Valley district, but returned here to spend his remaining days. He was a straight-forward and industrious man in his time, and a son of the late William Dwyer, whose remains were interred some years back in the local cemetery."
-Kilmore Free Press, January 18, 1900.
BRIDGET DWYER: born c. 1834, Tipperary, Ireland. Died in Kilmore, December 1899, just weeks before her brother Patrick.
" OBITUARY. Miss Bridget Dwyer, for many years resident of Kilmore, died early on Sunday morning. Diseased lady was a daughter of the late Mr. William Dwyer, a native of Tipperary, Ireland, and thoroughly patriotic in all matters affecting her native country, whilst she was also a sincere friend to many. At one time Miss Dwyer carried on a business as a dress-maker in Sydney Street, but for some time lived privately in the east end of the town."
- Kilmore Free Press, December 21, 1899.
Bridget Dwyer never married, and prior to her death she left a will in which she bequeathed legacies to her nephew, William Dwyer, of Footscray, her nephew William Kennedy and her sister Kate Gooley, the wife of William Gooley. William Kennedy was the son of Bridget's sister, Ann Dwyer.
ANN DWYER: born c. 1845, Tipperary, Ireland. Married twice- firstly, to Thomas Kennedy, and then in 1880 to George Hill. From her first marriage there was one child, a son named William Kennedy, who was born in Kilmore in 1877.
Her husband Thomas must have died between his son William's conception in c. 1876-77, and Anne's remarriage in 1880. She married George Hill, and I located two children born to the couple- George Philip in Melbourne in 1882, and Anne in Melbourne in 1885 ( she died in 1978, aged 90 years).
Ann Dwyer Kennedy Hill died in 1891. The Kilmore Free Press reported:
"DEATH: HILL. On the 22nd July, at the residence of her sister, Miss B. Dwyer, Kilmore, Mrs. Ann Hill, aged 46 years, and wife of the late George Hill of Newmarket. R.I.P."
Sadly, Ann's second husband, George Hill, had died just three months before she did...George Hill had died in their home at Falconer Street, Fitzroy, on April 15, 1891. The week before he died, George wrote a will, in which he left assets worth 4,600 pounds to two solicitor trustees to provide for his two children George and Anne until they were 21, and to provide his wife, Anne Dwyer Hill, one pound per week for the rest of her life.
A codicil to the will, added on the same day, then left three more bequests- 100 pounds to his son John Hill; 150 pounds to his grandson George Hill, and 75 pounds to his sister-in-law, Bridget Dwyer.
This mention of a son and grandson reveals that George Hill had been married prior to his union with Annie Dwyer Kennedy. Surprisingly, I can find no mention of George Hill's death in any of the online newspapers. The only George Hill to die in Melbourne in the Victorian death index for 1891 was 50 year old George Hill, no parents named. There was also a George Hill aged 61, son of Samuel Hill and Mary Green, died Clifton Hill..which, if either, of these two men is Annie's George remains to be seen.
Again, I wonder (and worry!) what happened to the little Hill children after the deaths of their parents within such a short space of time. George was only nine years old, and little Annie just five or six. William Kennedy, from Anne's first marriage, would have been aged about 14. I wonder if their mother's spinster sister, Bridget Dwyer, would have taken on the responsibility of raising her young niece and two nephews? When she died eight years later, in 1899, she left money to her nephew William Kennedy, but there was no mention of the Hill children.
When the Hill children's uncle, William Dwyer, died in 1902, he left bequests to William Kennedy and Annie Hill, but there was no mention of his nephew George. I have not been able to locate a death for George Hill, son of Annie Dwyer.
Annie's daughter, also known as Annie, married Charles McGregor Pipe in 1912. Born at Pleasant Creek in 1875, Charles was the son of William Pipe and Annie McGregor. The 1903 and 1909 electoral rolls reveal that Charles was an ironmonger in Kilmore, where he lived with his mother, Annie McGregor Pipe. After his marriage to Annie Hill, Charles moved with her to 21 Norwood Street, Newmarket, and this remained their family home for decades. Charles worked as a painter, and died in 1951. Annie Hill Pipe died at the age of 90 in 1978.
WILLIAM DWYER: I have very information about this character yet beyond the fact that he was a bachelor who farmed at Kyabram, and what I read in the following newspaper report from the Kilmore Free Press:
"UNLAWFUL ASSAULT. Philip Dwyer, a resident of Kilmore, was presented for having committed an aggrevated assault upon his brother Patrick Dwyer at Kilmore on the 1st of November. Mr. Molesworth defended the prisoner. The evidence for the prosecution was to the effect that Patrick Dwyer, with his brother William, had taken a trip to Kilmore from the Goulburn Valley, where they reside. They had gone to a house occupied in common by his mother. The prisoner was not at home. Shortly after they went to bed the two brothers were woke up by a noise outside. On opening the door to find out whence the noise proceeded they were set upon by the prisoner, who knocked one of them about with an axe and severely injured him.
Mr. Molesworth submitted that the affair was out of a family broil, say that the prisoner was merely acting in self-defence in taking the action he had done. The jury, after retiring for half an hour, acquitted the prisoner.
GRIEVOUSLY WOUNDING. Patrick Dwyer, and William Dwyer, the chief witnesses in the previous case, were then placed in the dock, charged with an assault on Philip Dwyer. The prisoners were defended by Mr Jeremiah Dwyer.
This prosecution arose out of the circumstances which formed the basis of the prosecution in the last case. Philip Dwyer, the prosecutor, said that on the night in question he was going home, and on nearing the house he heard his brother Pat say "Here he is, get the poker." He went into the building and was immediately set on by his two brothers, the prisoners. A general scrimmage ensued, which ended in Philip Dwyer being knocked senseless and bound by the prisoners. In his opinion,the prisoners had come down from the country for the express purpose of giving him a thrashing, and that their animosity was due to a jealous feeling on their part because they had not participated in of the property left by their father. The evidence was just as conflicting as in the previous case, and it was left doubtful which party was most to blame. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty, and the prisoners were discharged."
- Kilmore free Press, December 8, 1881.
Elsewhere in the same edition of the paper it was written:
"I am glad the Dwyer family dispute is settled by all parties being discharged. By the wretched brawl, from which dangerous consequences may have ensued, all parties jeopardized their liberty. That they have had enough of suffering,without being confined to gaol, is certain, having to stand their defence, although being lucky enough not to be deprived of liberty, must have made them much poorer. I hope they have learnt the lesson that it will not pay them to quarrel any more."
Almost exactly a year later, two of the warring brothers- Patrick and Philip- were before the courts again, this time in dispute over the ownership of one of their late father's cows!
William Dwyer, son of William Dwyer and Bridget Duggan, died at Kyabram in the Echuca district on April 28, 1902, aged 59 years. He left a very informative will, which alerted me to the existance of two Dwyer siblings that were previously unknown to me- John and Margaret. Briefly, William's will contained the following details:
William Dwyer, farmer, of Kyabram, made his will on June 18, 1900.
His executors were his nephews William Kennedy, cigar maker, of 240 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy,( "son of my late sister Ann Dwyer") and William Dwyer, carrier, of 68 Smith Street, Kensington (" son of my late brother John Dwyer").
Legacies: 200 pounds to William Dwyer
200 pounds to my niece Annie Hill, daughter of my late sister Annie.
50 pounds each to my nieces Bridget Dwyer and Margaret Dwyer, daughters of my late brother John Dwyer.
10 pounds for masses for the repose of my soul.
10 pounds for masses for my deceased mother, Bridget Dwyer, my late sisters Margaret and Anne and my late brother John.
After the legacies were distributed, the balance was to go to "my nephew, William Kennedy."
William Dwyer's real estate was valued at 1799 pounds, and his personal estate at 414 pounds.
MARGARET DWYER: No information beyond the fact that she had died by September 1881 when her father's death certificate noted that she was deceased.
JOHN DWYER: Born in Tipperary c. 1845.Was still alive at the time of his father William's death in 1881, but had died by the time his brother William passed away in 1902. Was married and had at least two daughters- Bridget and Margaret- and a son William.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Catherine Dwyer's Life with John Gildea.
It seems as though things changed rapidly for Catherine after her marriage to ex-convict John Gildea. In 1852 he was actively involved with Melbourne's Police force, which was still in its infancy. His name appeared in the Argus newspaper during 1852 in his capacity as a police constable testifying in a court case.
In 1855, Catherine gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Mary Ann. The child's birth in the Victorian birth index took a little time to track down, but was finally located as 'Mary Ann Gildar, born 1855, Moonee Ponds, daughter of John Gildar and Catherine Dwyra". By this stage, John Gildea had left the police force and was the publican of the 'Young Queen' at Pascoe Vale.
Poor Catherine was not enjoying married life...on February 12, 1856, the Argus published the following article:
" ANOTHER WIFE-BEATING CASE. At the District Court yesterday, William Gildea, the landlord of the Young Queen public-house, at Pascoevale, appeared to answer the information of Catherine Gildea, his wife, charging him with refusing to maintain her. The complainant, a young woman respectably attired, and who had with her an infant in arms, stated that the defendant was constantly in the habit of beating her, and had turned her out of his house, refusing to support her. The Bench gave the defendant the option of taking the complainant back, or paying 30 shillings per week for her maintenance. Gildea chose the latter alternative, and was ordered to find sureties for his compliance with the order of the Bench."
The article incorrectly referred to Catherine Dwyer's husband as 'William' rather than 'John', but there is absolutely no doubt that it is Catherine Dwyer, her husband John Gildea and their baby daughter Mary Ann who are referred to in the report.
The following month, on March 21, 1856, John Gildea's obvious derailment came to a head when he took a shot at a customer, seriously injuring him. There were numerous newspaper reports covering the event:
" A SERIOUS AFFAIR. A MAN SHOT BY A LICENSED VICTUALLER.
On Friday night last the residents of Pascoevale were thrown into a state of excitement by the report that a man had been deliberately shot by a person named Gildea, the landlord of the Young Queen public-house at Pascoevale. Gildea, who was formerly an active and intelligent officer of the detective police, and has latterly given himself up to intemperate habits, has been repeatedly before the Police Court. Latterly, in consequence of his violent conduct, his wife was compelled to leave him, and succeeded in obtaining from the District bench an order for a separate maintenance.
Since that period, probably about seven weeks back, we learn that Gildea's habits have been more intemperate, and his conduct more violent than ever. The report that a man had been shot unfortunately proved too true, and from the statement made to us, upon enquiry at the hospital yesterday, relative to the condition of the wounded man, we fear there is too much reason to believe that within a few hours of this report reaching the public, a coroner's jury will be summoned to investigate and pronounce upon the the sad occurrence.
The name of the wounded man is William Macaulay. He has for sometime past held a small farm about two miles distant from the Young Queen. On Friday last he had been to town with his team, and on his return homewards called, as was his usual custom, at the Young Queen, where he form Gildea and several other persons engaged in quoit playing. Macaulay played several matches for something to drink with Gildea, both being perfectly sober at the time, and Macaulay was the victor; but Gildea refused to pay, and went into the house, pretending to be in a state of intoxication. Macaulay followed him in, and a slight altercation took place between them, in the course of which Gildea, without (as it is asserted) having received the slightest provocation, said that Macaulay's wife was a w---e. Upon the offensive expression being made use of, Macaulay struck at Gildea,who, however, bobbed his head and eluded the blow,at the same moment seizing a gun, which was in the bar.
Macaulay then left the house, for the purpose of proceeding homewards with his team. Some slight delay occurred in getting them ready; and after the lapse of several minutes from the period at which the altercation in the bar occurred, Gildea deliberately discharged the piece from a window at Macaulay, who was standing in the road.- the charge, consisting of duckshot, entering a little above the unfortunate man's right hip.
There are rumours afloat of Gildea having made use of some expressions not at all indicative of sorrow at what had happened. The wounded man was conveyed to the hospital, and, upon examination of the wounds, medical men expressed a decided opinion that they would prove fatal, in consequence of which Macaulay, to whom the fact was communicated, was requested to make a dying deposition; but as he declared that he did not believe he was in a dying state, his deposition cannot be viewed in this light; in substance it is what we have already stated. He expressed a belief that Gildea was perfectly sober at the time, and declares that Gildea's mention of Mrs Macaulay was entirely voluntary and unprovoked.
Inspector Smith proceeded to the Young Queen on Saturday and arrested Gildea, who is now in the Swanston street watchhouse, and will probably be brought up for examination at the Police Court today."
- Above: The Courier (Hobart),March 27, 1856.
The Argus newspaper covered the story comprehensively, and the end result for John Gildea was that he spent most of the year 1856 in gaol. The following was quoted in the Argus of June 25, 1856:
" His Honour then severely admonished the prisoner as to his future conduct, and especially against having recourse to dangerous weapons. Taking into consideration the recommendation of the Jury, the character the prisoner had received, and the length of time he had already been in prison, he should pass a comparatively lenient sentence: six months imprisonment with hard labour."
Perhaps a gaol sentence was the very thing that John Gildea needed at that point of his life...a law-enforced ban on alcohol while behind bars may have straightened him out, because some time after his release Catherine obviously took him back,bearing him five more children between 1860 and 1868.
The family left Melbourne and settled in the Kilmore district, where Catherine would have had the support of her siblings and their families. John and Catherine Gildea had the following children in total:
Mary Ann Gildea born 1855, Moonee Ponds
John Gildea born 1857, Kilmore. Died 1858, Kilmore.
Johanna born 29 May, 1859, Kilmore.
Catherine Gildea born 27 April, 1863, Forbes near Kilmore.
Patrick Gildea, twin of Catherine, born 27 April, 1863, Forbes.
Confusion exists after the birth of the twins, because according to the Australian birth index on Ancestry.com.au., another baby named Johanna was born to John and Catherine in 1868. This birth has not been located on the official Victorian BDM site. There is also no death for the first Johanna born in 1859, and on Catherine Gildea's death certificate in 1880 her daughter Johanna was noted as being 19 years old, meaning she couldn't have been born in 1868.
There was also a son named John Gildea noted on the death certificate, aged 9 years. I cannot find a birth for a child born to the Gildeas after the 1868 Ancestry birth for Johanna, but their son John obviously existed, and he was born c. 1860-61!
I purchased two of the birth certificates of the Gildea children in my attempt to piece together the lives of their parents. Yet again, I was thwarted in discovering a birthplace for a Dwyer sibling...Catherine, who was the informant at all three births, stated merely that she was from County Tipperary, Ireland. The information on the other certificates (technically, there were only two certificates, as in one case the birth was of the twins in 1863, so the information given on them was identical.
First off...the birth certificate of Johanna Gildea in 1859...
May 29, 1859, at Kilmore.
Johanna Gildea, female, not present.
Father: John Gildea, labourer, 35, born in Co. Mayo, Ireland. Married 1852 at Melbourne.
Issue living: 2 girls; deceased: 1 boy.
Mother: Catherine Dwyer, 35, born in Co. Tipperary, Ireland.
Informant: Catherine Gildea, mother of the child, residing at Kilmore.
Nurse: Mrs Coman
Registered: At Kilmore on March 31, 1860.
27 April, 1863, at Forbes near Kilmore
Patrick Gildea, second of twins, not present, male.
Father: John Gildea, labourer, aged 40. Born in Co. Mayo, Ireland.
Married: June 1854 at Melbourne.
Issue: Mary Anne 8; Johanna 4, John dead.
Mother: Catherine Gildea, formerly Dwyer, age 32. Born Co. Tipperary, Ireland.
Informant: Catherine Gildea,mother of the child, residing at Forbes.
Nurse: Mrs Comans.
Registered 24 October, 1863.
Despite being the second twin to arrive, Patrick Gildea was registered the entry before his sister, Catherine. Information on the two certificates is identical.
NOTE: The nurse who delivered the twins and baby Johanna was "Mrs Coman or Comans". Remember...the Dwyer siblings' mother back in Tipperary was Johanna Comans. Could this Kilmore midwife have been related to Catherine Dwyer? I have done a bit of delving into the Comans family of Kilmore, and will add my brief findings after my story of the Gildea family is completed.
These birth certificates are good examples of why we should never treat as the Gospel truth ages as stated on certificates. From John Gildea's convict record, we know that he was 27 years old when he was tried in 1843. This puts his year of birth as c. 1816, so he was a good deal older than Catherine Dwyer whose birth year was c. 1830-31.
Yet on these birth certificates, Catherine herself gave her husband's age as 35 in 1859 and 40 in 1863.This represents birth years of 1824 and 1823. For her own age, she stated that in 1859 she was 35 and in 1863 she was 32, giving estimated birth years of 1824 and 1831 respectively.
I have in my temporary possession the joint ledger belonging to Paddy Bourke's Noah's Ark Store in Kilmore and his Burramine Store, beginning in the early 1870s. On page 83, he has two entries for "Patrick Dwyer, Old Survey, March 1871", followed by "John Gildea, brother-in-law to P. Dwyer, Survey." This verifies that John Gildea's wife, Catherine Dwyer, was definitely the sister of Patrick Dwyer, his three brothers and four other sisters.
The Kilmore Free Press carried very little news of the Gildea family throughout the seventies, until the appearance of the death notice for John Gildea in 1879.
"On Saturday the remains of John Gildea, a resident for many years, were interred in the Kilmore Cemetery."-October 16, 1879.
Even greater tragedy struck the Gildea family less than 12 months later, when widowed Catherine Dwyer Gildea passed away at the age of fifty, leaving children aged between 23 and 9 years. She had been suffering for sixth months from phthisis pulmonalis, which was a type of tuberculosis,(or the dreaded consumption of the lungs), and after last seeing local doctor, Dr. Brock, on September 20, 1880, Catherine slipped away at 4 a.m on September 26, 1880.
She was buried in the Kilmore Cemetery two days later on September 28, 1880. Catherine's eldest child, daughter Mary Anne Gildea, registered her mother's death at Kilmore on November 1, 1880. Surprisingly, she could not sign her own name....the Kilmore district registrar, Mr. Osborn, had noted "Informant Margaret Gildea, daughter, Kilmore, X her mark". This was a mistake on his behalf, as her name was Mary Anne, not Margaret.
Catherine's death certificate also noted that she had been born in County Tipperary, and had been in Victoria for 40 years; that she had been married at the age of 24 in Melbourne to John Gildea; and that her children were Mary 23; Johanna 19; Catherine 14; Patrick 14 and John 9.
I would love to know what became of Catherine Dwyer's orphaned children. The older girls would most likely have been able to gain employment as house servants or other forms of labour requiring very little or no education. Even the twins at the age of 14 would be of an employable age. But what happened to poor 9 year old John Gildea? Hopefully he was permitted to remain with his family, or at least be absorbed into the family of one of his Dwyer aunts or uncles in the Kilmore district.
THE COMANS OF KILMORE.
As I previously noted, a woman named Mrs Coman or Comans was present at the births of the Gildea twins and of their elder sister, Johanna. By coincidence, on the same page as the births of the twins in 1863 was the birth of the last child of my great-great-great grandparents...Nicholas Bourke, son of Patrick Bourke and Bridget Corbett. Mrs Coman was also the nurse who assisted Bridget at her delivery.
Having a quick look at any Coman/s in Kilmore during this period, it appears that the main family belonged to Cornelius Comans and his wife Bridget Kennedy. Cornelius was born c. 1831 in Tipperary, and he married Bridget Kennedy, the daughter of Matthew Kennedy and Margaret Dwyer, at Kilmore in 1860. Their children were Margaret, Mary, Daniel, Michael, Cornelius and Bridget.
Known as 'Con', Cornelius Comans settled at Bylands. When he died in 1894, the Kilmore Free Press published an obituary that was very helpful in providing details on his life:
"DEATH OF MR COMANS.
We regret this week having to record the death of Mr "Con" Cornelius Comans, farmer, Bylands, by which sad event occurred about 6 o'clock on Sunday evening. Mr Comans was a colonist of about 40 years standing, and, with the exception of a short period after his arrival in the colony on the gold fields, the whole of the time was spent in this district. He came of a good old stock in the county Tipperary, and was himself a sterling, reliable man, well-liked by his neighbours, and very popular.
...Mr. Comans reared a respectable family in our midst, the two eldest daughters being married. He was a shrewd and keen politician, taking much interest in the Irish National subjects as well as in Victorian public questions.
Deceased gentleman was 64 years of age, and his removal from our midst will be felt by many who will miss him for his many kindly characteristics."
-Kilmore Free Press, February 22, 1894.
There was also a wonderful tribute to Con Comans published in the same newspaper on March 1, 1894.
Bridget Kennedy Comans, Con's wife, died on November 25, 1926, on her farm at Bylands. Her death notice in the Kilmore Free Press stated:
"DEATH-COMANS. On the 18th November, at her residence, Bylands, Bridget, relict of the late Cornelius Comans, and mother of Margaret (Mrs Hourigan, Maffra), Mary (Mrs Kelly, Euroa), Daniel (Bylands), Michael (Northcote), Cornelius and Bridget (Bylands). Aged 94."
- Kilmore Free Press, November 25, 1926.
"OBITUARY. The death of Mrs Comans took place at her residence, Bylands -where she reared a most respectable family- on Thursday last, at the fine old age of 94. Relict of the late Mr. Cornelius Comans.
Throughout her long illness she was blest with the devoted attention of her daughter, Miss Bridget, who also, in a most self-sacrificing and heroic manner, spent most of her young life in the watchful and zealous care of her brother (Mr Cornelius) who has been an invalid for a lengthy period through spinal injury accidentally received..."
- Kilmore Free Press, November 25, 1926.
I had thought that this Bridget Kennedy Comans was the only contender for the midwife who delivered Nicholas Bourke and the Gildea babies, but Johanna Gildea was born in 1859 when Bridget Comans was still Bridget Kennedy, she not having married Con Comans until 1860.
More poking around revealed that there was an older "Mrs. Comans" who was present in the Kilmore district, but I am finding it very difficult to find more details about her. Her name was Honora Comans, and she was born in Tipperary c. 1798, the daughter of Patrick English and Mary Honors. According to her death certificate, Honora was married in Tipperary c. 1834 at the age of about 36, to John Comans. Her issue was noted as being Margaret, 47 (therefore born c. 1834) and John, 36 (therefore born c. 1845). Confusingly, the informant was given as 'Roger Dwyer, son, of Kilmore'...why was his name 'Dwyer', and why was he not named as one of Honora's children?
Above: The marriage of Honora English and John Comman took place at Clonoulty, Tipperary, on October 30, 1831. in the presence of William English, Edward Common and Betty Fitzgerald.
The baptisms of two children have been located thus far:
Honoria Commons baptised January 4, 1842. daughter of John Commons and Norry English. Sponsor" Cath Bermingham. Place: Borrisoleigh.
John Comans baptised July 9, 1843, son of John Commons and Honora English. Sponsor Mary Corcoran. Place: Upperchurch & Drombane, Tipperary.
In my initial searching I have not located Honora Coman's shipping record, or that of her children Margaret and John (that is, of course, assuming that the children came to Australia) I can also find no record at all of a Roger Dwyer or O'Dwyer in Victoria.
There is a possible match for Roger Dwyer and John Coman on board the British Trident arriving in Sydney in January of 1861. They were both sponsored to Australia by John English (Honora Coman's maiden name was English):
Roger Dwyer/ 34 years/ farm labourer/native of Carhue, Dundrum, Tipperary/ reference provided by Father Mullally, P.P Donohill, Tipperary.
John Coman/ 16/ farm labourer/ born Carhue, Dundrum, Tipperary/reference provided by Mr Patrick Dwyer,Carhue, Tipperary.
Another passenger list also gives the details that both were Roman Catholic, and whilst John Coman could read, Roger Dwyer could neither read nor write. This list also states that the two were from Clonoulty/Clonalty, Tipperary.
This John Coman is the correct age to be Honora Comans' son, and it seems almost too coincidental that not only a man named English should sponsor them out, but that both Roger Dwyer and John Coman should be sponsored together and arrive together.
I would love to take the challenge of finding out more about Honora and her family, but I am already off on a big enough tangent tracking down the God parents of my Bourke babies without running all over the countryside chasing the family of the woman who delivered the babies of those Godparents!!!!
In 1855, Catherine gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Mary Ann. The child's birth in the Victorian birth index took a little time to track down, but was finally located as 'Mary Ann Gildar, born 1855, Moonee Ponds, daughter of John Gildar and Catherine Dwyra". By this stage, John Gildea had left the police force and was the publican of the 'Young Queen' at Pascoe Vale.
Poor Catherine was not enjoying married life...on February 12, 1856, the Argus published the following article:
" ANOTHER WIFE-BEATING CASE. At the District Court yesterday, William Gildea, the landlord of the Young Queen public-house, at Pascoevale, appeared to answer the information of Catherine Gildea, his wife, charging him with refusing to maintain her. The complainant, a young woman respectably attired, and who had with her an infant in arms, stated that the defendant was constantly in the habit of beating her, and had turned her out of his house, refusing to support her. The Bench gave the defendant the option of taking the complainant back, or paying 30 shillings per week for her maintenance. Gildea chose the latter alternative, and was ordered to find sureties for his compliance with the order of the Bench."
The article incorrectly referred to Catherine Dwyer's husband as 'William' rather than 'John', but there is absolutely no doubt that it is Catherine Dwyer, her husband John Gildea and their baby daughter Mary Ann who are referred to in the report.
The following month, on March 21, 1856, John Gildea's obvious derailment came to a head when he took a shot at a customer, seriously injuring him. There were numerous newspaper reports covering the event:
" A SERIOUS AFFAIR. A MAN SHOT BY A LICENSED VICTUALLER.
On Friday night last the residents of Pascoevale were thrown into a state of excitement by the report that a man had been deliberately shot by a person named Gildea, the landlord of the Young Queen public-house at Pascoevale. Gildea, who was formerly an active and intelligent officer of the detective police, and has latterly given himself up to intemperate habits, has been repeatedly before the Police Court. Latterly, in consequence of his violent conduct, his wife was compelled to leave him, and succeeded in obtaining from the District bench an order for a separate maintenance.
Since that period, probably about seven weeks back, we learn that Gildea's habits have been more intemperate, and his conduct more violent than ever. The report that a man had been shot unfortunately proved too true, and from the statement made to us, upon enquiry at the hospital yesterday, relative to the condition of the wounded man, we fear there is too much reason to believe that within a few hours of this report reaching the public, a coroner's jury will be summoned to investigate and pronounce upon the the sad occurrence.
The name of the wounded man is William Macaulay. He has for sometime past held a small farm about two miles distant from the Young Queen. On Friday last he had been to town with his team, and on his return homewards called, as was his usual custom, at the Young Queen, where he form Gildea and several other persons engaged in quoit playing. Macaulay played several matches for something to drink with Gildea, both being perfectly sober at the time, and Macaulay was the victor; but Gildea refused to pay, and went into the house, pretending to be in a state of intoxication. Macaulay followed him in, and a slight altercation took place between them, in the course of which Gildea, without (as it is asserted) having received the slightest provocation, said that Macaulay's wife was a w---e. Upon the offensive expression being made use of, Macaulay struck at Gildea,who, however, bobbed his head and eluded the blow,at the same moment seizing a gun, which was in the bar.
Macaulay then left the house, for the purpose of proceeding homewards with his team. Some slight delay occurred in getting them ready; and after the lapse of several minutes from the period at which the altercation in the bar occurred, Gildea deliberately discharged the piece from a window at Macaulay, who was standing in the road.- the charge, consisting of duckshot, entering a little above the unfortunate man's right hip.
There are rumours afloat of Gildea having made use of some expressions not at all indicative of sorrow at what had happened. The wounded man was conveyed to the hospital, and, upon examination of the wounds, medical men expressed a decided opinion that they would prove fatal, in consequence of which Macaulay, to whom the fact was communicated, was requested to make a dying deposition; but as he declared that he did not believe he was in a dying state, his deposition cannot be viewed in this light; in substance it is what we have already stated. He expressed a belief that Gildea was perfectly sober at the time, and declares that Gildea's mention of Mrs Macaulay was entirely voluntary and unprovoked.
Inspector Smith proceeded to the Young Queen on Saturday and arrested Gildea, who is now in the Swanston street watchhouse, and will probably be brought up for examination at the Police Court today."
- Above: The Courier (Hobart),March 27, 1856.
The Argus newspaper covered the story comprehensively, and the end result for John Gildea was that he spent most of the year 1856 in gaol. The following was quoted in the Argus of June 25, 1856:
" His Honour then severely admonished the prisoner as to his future conduct, and especially against having recourse to dangerous weapons. Taking into consideration the recommendation of the Jury, the character the prisoner had received, and the length of time he had already been in prison, he should pass a comparatively lenient sentence: six months imprisonment with hard labour."
Perhaps a gaol sentence was the very thing that John Gildea needed at that point of his life...a law-enforced ban on alcohol while behind bars may have straightened him out, because some time after his release Catherine obviously took him back,bearing him five more children between 1860 and 1868.
The family left Melbourne and settled in the Kilmore district, where Catherine would have had the support of her siblings and their families. John and Catherine Gildea had the following children in total:
Mary Ann Gildea born 1855, Moonee Ponds
John Gildea born 1857, Kilmore. Died 1858, Kilmore.
Johanna born 29 May, 1859, Kilmore.
Catherine Gildea born 27 April, 1863, Forbes near Kilmore.
Patrick Gildea, twin of Catherine, born 27 April, 1863, Forbes.
Confusion exists after the birth of the twins, because according to the Australian birth index on Ancestry.com.au., another baby named Johanna was born to John and Catherine in 1868. This birth has not been located on the official Victorian BDM site. There is also no death for the first Johanna born in 1859, and on Catherine Gildea's death certificate in 1880 her daughter Johanna was noted as being 19 years old, meaning she couldn't have been born in 1868.
There was also a son named John Gildea noted on the death certificate, aged 9 years. I cannot find a birth for a child born to the Gildeas after the 1868 Ancestry birth for Johanna, but their son John obviously existed, and he was born c. 1860-61!
I purchased two of the birth certificates of the Gildea children in my attempt to piece together the lives of their parents. Yet again, I was thwarted in discovering a birthplace for a Dwyer sibling...Catherine, who was the informant at all three births, stated merely that she was from County Tipperary, Ireland. The information on the other certificates (technically, there were only two certificates, as in one case the birth was of the twins in 1863, so the information given on them was identical.
First off...the birth certificate of Johanna Gildea in 1859...
May 29, 1859, at Kilmore.
Johanna Gildea, female, not present.
Father: John Gildea, labourer, 35, born in Co. Mayo, Ireland. Married 1852 at Melbourne.
Issue living: 2 girls; deceased: 1 boy.
Mother: Catherine Dwyer, 35, born in Co. Tipperary, Ireland.
Informant: Catherine Gildea, mother of the child, residing at Kilmore.
Nurse: Mrs Coman
Registered: At Kilmore on March 31, 1860.
27 April, 1863, at Forbes near Kilmore
Patrick Gildea, second of twins, not present, male.
Father: John Gildea, labourer, aged 40. Born in Co. Mayo, Ireland.
Married: June 1854 at Melbourne.
Issue: Mary Anne 8; Johanna 4, John dead.
Mother: Catherine Gildea, formerly Dwyer, age 32. Born Co. Tipperary, Ireland.
Informant: Catherine Gildea,mother of the child, residing at Forbes.
Nurse: Mrs Comans.
Registered 24 October, 1863.
Despite being the second twin to arrive, Patrick Gildea was registered the entry before his sister, Catherine. Information on the two certificates is identical.
NOTE: The nurse who delivered the twins and baby Johanna was "Mrs Coman or Comans". Remember...the Dwyer siblings' mother back in Tipperary was Johanna Comans. Could this Kilmore midwife have been related to Catherine Dwyer? I have done a bit of delving into the Comans family of Kilmore, and will add my brief findings after my story of the Gildea family is completed.
These birth certificates are good examples of why we should never treat as the Gospel truth ages as stated on certificates. From John Gildea's convict record, we know that he was 27 years old when he was tried in 1843. This puts his year of birth as c. 1816, so he was a good deal older than Catherine Dwyer whose birth year was c. 1830-31.
Yet on these birth certificates, Catherine herself gave her husband's age as 35 in 1859 and 40 in 1863.This represents birth years of 1824 and 1823. For her own age, she stated that in 1859 she was 35 and in 1863 she was 32, giving estimated birth years of 1824 and 1831 respectively.
I have in my temporary possession the joint ledger belonging to Paddy Bourke's Noah's Ark Store in Kilmore and his Burramine Store, beginning in the early 1870s. On page 83, he has two entries for "Patrick Dwyer, Old Survey, March 1871", followed by "John Gildea, brother-in-law to P. Dwyer, Survey." This verifies that John Gildea's wife, Catherine Dwyer, was definitely the sister of Patrick Dwyer, his three brothers and four other sisters.
The Kilmore Free Press carried very little news of the Gildea family throughout the seventies, until the appearance of the death notice for John Gildea in 1879.
"On Saturday the remains of John Gildea, a resident for many years, were interred in the Kilmore Cemetery."-October 16, 1879.
Even greater tragedy struck the Gildea family less than 12 months later, when widowed Catherine Dwyer Gildea passed away at the age of fifty, leaving children aged between 23 and 9 years. She had been suffering for sixth months from phthisis pulmonalis, which was a type of tuberculosis,(or the dreaded consumption of the lungs), and after last seeing local doctor, Dr. Brock, on September 20, 1880, Catherine slipped away at 4 a.m on September 26, 1880.
She was buried in the Kilmore Cemetery two days later on September 28, 1880. Catherine's eldest child, daughter Mary Anne Gildea, registered her mother's death at Kilmore on November 1, 1880. Surprisingly, she could not sign her own name....the Kilmore district registrar, Mr. Osborn, had noted "Informant Margaret Gildea, daughter, Kilmore, X her mark". This was a mistake on his behalf, as her name was Mary Anne, not Margaret.
Catherine's death certificate also noted that she had been born in County Tipperary, and had been in Victoria for 40 years; that she had been married at the age of 24 in Melbourne to John Gildea; and that her children were Mary 23; Johanna 19; Catherine 14; Patrick 14 and John 9.
I would love to know what became of Catherine Dwyer's orphaned children. The older girls would most likely have been able to gain employment as house servants or other forms of labour requiring very little or no education. Even the twins at the age of 14 would be of an employable age. But what happened to poor 9 year old John Gildea? Hopefully he was permitted to remain with his family, or at least be absorbed into the family of one of his Dwyer aunts or uncles in the Kilmore district.
THE COMANS OF KILMORE.
As I previously noted, a woman named Mrs Coman or Comans was present at the births of the Gildea twins and of their elder sister, Johanna. By coincidence, on the same page as the births of the twins in 1863 was the birth of the last child of my great-great-great grandparents...Nicholas Bourke, son of Patrick Bourke and Bridget Corbett. Mrs Coman was also the nurse who assisted Bridget at her delivery.
Having a quick look at any Coman/s in Kilmore during this period, it appears that the main family belonged to Cornelius Comans and his wife Bridget Kennedy. Cornelius was born c. 1831 in Tipperary, and he married Bridget Kennedy, the daughter of Matthew Kennedy and Margaret Dwyer, at Kilmore in 1860. Their children were Margaret, Mary, Daniel, Michael, Cornelius and Bridget.
Known as 'Con', Cornelius Comans settled at Bylands. When he died in 1894, the Kilmore Free Press published an obituary that was very helpful in providing details on his life:
"DEATH OF MR COMANS.
We regret this week having to record the death of Mr "Con" Cornelius Comans, farmer, Bylands, by which sad event occurred about 6 o'clock on Sunday evening. Mr Comans was a colonist of about 40 years standing, and, with the exception of a short period after his arrival in the colony on the gold fields, the whole of the time was spent in this district. He came of a good old stock in the county Tipperary, and was himself a sterling, reliable man, well-liked by his neighbours, and very popular.
...Mr. Comans reared a respectable family in our midst, the two eldest daughters being married. He was a shrewd and keen politician, taking much interest in the Irish National subjects as well as in Victorian public questions.
Deceased gentleman was 64 years of age, and his removal from our midst will be felt by many who will miss him for his many kindly characteristics."
-Kilmore Free Press, February 22, 1894.
There was also a wonderful tribute to Con Comans published in the same newspaper on March 1, 1894.
Bridget Kennedy Comans, Con's wife, died on November 25, 1926, on her farm at Bylands. Her death notice in the Kilmore Free Press stated:
"DEATH-COMANS. On the 18th November, at her residence, Bylands, Bridget, relict of the late Cornelius Comans, and mother of Margaret (Mrs Hourigan, Maffra), Mary (Mrs Kelly, Euroa), Daniel (Bylands), Michael (Northcote), Cornelius and Bridget (Bylands). Aged 94."
- Kilmore Free Press, November 25, 1926.
"OBITUARY. The death of Mrs Comans took place at her residence, Bylands -where she reared a most respectable family- on Thursday last, at the fine old age of 94. Relict of the late Mr. Cornelius Comans.
Throughout her long illness she was blest with the devoted attention of her daughter, Miss Bridget, who also, in a most self-sacrificing and heroic manner, spent most of her young life in the watchful and zealous care of her brother (Mr Cornelius) who has been an invalid for a lengthy period through spinal injury accidentally received..."
- Kilmore Free Press, November 25, 1926.
I had thought that this Bridget Kennedy Comans was the only contender for the midwife who delivered Nicholas Bourke and the Gildea babies, but Johanna Gildea was born in 1859 when Bridget Comans was still Bridget Kennedy, she not having married Con Comans until 1860.
More poking around revealed that there was an older "Mrs. Comans" who was present in the Kilmore district, but I am finding it very difficult to find more details about her. Her name was Honora Comans, and she was born in Tipperary c. 1798, the daughter of Patrick English and Mary Honors. According to her death certificate, Honora was married in Tipperary c. 1834 at the age of about 36, to John Comans. Her issue was noted as being Margaret, 47 (therefore born c. 1834) and John, 36 (therefore born c. 1845). Confusingly, the informant was given as 'Roger Dwyer, son, of Kilmore'...why was his name 'Dwyer', and why was he not named as one of Honora's children?
The baptisms of two children have been located thus far:
Honoria Commons baptised January 4, 1842. daughter of John Commons and Norry English. Sponsor" Cath Bermingham. Place: Borrisoleigh.
John Comans baptised July 9, 1843, son of John Commons and Honora English. Sponsor Mary Corcoran. Place: Upperchurch & Drombane, Tipperary.
In my initial searching I have not located Honora Coman's shipping record, or that of her children Margaret and John (that is, of course, assuming that the children came to Australia) I can also find no record at all of a Roger Dwyer or O'Dwyer in Victoria.
There is a possible match for Roger Dwyer and John Coman on board the British Trident arriving in Sydney in January of 1861. They were both sponsored to Australia by John English (Honora Coman's maiden name was English):
Roger Dwyer/ 34 years/ farm labourer/native of Carhue, Dundrum, Tipperary/ reference provided by Father Mullally, P.P Donohill, Tipperary.
John Coman/ 16/ farm labourer/ born Carhue, Dundrum, Tipperary/reference provided by Mr Patrick Dwyer,Carhue, Tipperary.
Another passenger list also gives the details that both were Roman Catholic, and whilst John Coman could read, Roger Dwyer could neither read nor write. This list also states that the two were from Clonoulty/Clonalty, Tipperary.
This John Coman is the correct age to be Honora Comans' son, and it seems almost too coincidental that not only a man named English should sponsor them out, but that both Roger Dwyer and John Coman should be sponsored together and arrive together.
I would love to take the challenge of finding out more about Honora and her family, but I am already off on a big enough tangent tracking down the God parents of my Bourke babies without running all over the countryside chasing the family of the woman who delivered the babies of those Godparents!!!!
Monday, May 21, 2012
The last Dwyer Sister...Catherine
From amongst the eighteen Dwyers who arrived on the ship Gilmore in December 1841, I had sorted out those belonging to the family who were so closely associated with my Bourkes that five of them were Sponsors to Bourke babies at their baptisms...brothers John, Thomas, Patrick and Edmond Dwyer, and their and sisters Judith, Ellen, Mary and Winnifred. HOWEVER...an obituary for John's death stated that NINE members of the Dwyer family had arrived on the Gilmore- four brothers and FIVE sisters. So out of the remaining Dwyer candidates on board the Gilmore - Anne, Catherine, Mary and Nancy- which girl was the missing sister????
I left Anne out of the equation initially, as it was stated that she was a Protestant. This column for Religion was often marked incorrectly, as were the age and literacy columns, I have found. But in this instance, I accepted that the information given was true and ruled her out, prepared to return to her later if the other Dwyer girls did not fit in.
Next name on the passenger list was 18 year old Catherine Dwyer, a Roman Catholic from Tipperary who was a house servant and who could both read and write.Having just purchased the "Victoria's Early Church Records" cd from VicHeritage, I checked out marriage records for any Catherine Dwyers. There were four-
Catherine Dwyer married Daniel Sweeny, October 30, 1842, Melbourne.Witnesses William Cooper and Anne Jones.
Catherine Dwyer married John Hogan, April 10, 1842, Melbourne.Witnesses Edward Murphy and Judith Holahan.
Catherine Dwyer married Patrick Wheylan on January10, 1847, Melbourne. Witnesses Daniel Corbett and Bridget Stanton.
Catherine Dwyer married John Gildea, September 8, 1852, Melbourne. Witnesses undecipherable...John and Catherine same last name (perhaps starts with 'M', ends with'y'???)
I checked these Catherine Dwyers in the Victorian death index under their married names, and struck pay dirt immediately with the last Catherine on the list...
Catherine Gildea died 1880, aged 50 years, wife of John Gildea, born Tipperary, daughter of John Dwyer and Johanna Cummins.
Once I started to research this Catherine Dwyer, I discovered that she had a fascinating story to tell...a sad one, but extremely interesting as it wove its way along.
As previously mentioned, I have found the ages of immigants as given on passenger lists to be notoriously "out of whack", often by a year or two but on occasion by several years or more. This has been the case with the Dwyers on board the 'Gilmore'...following is their year of birth if their age as given on the passenger list is correct, as compared to their age as stated on their death certificates:-
John Dwyer aged 23 therefore born c. 1818. Death certificate gives year of birth as c. 1816
Thomas Dwyer aged 28 therefore born c. 1813. Death certificate gives year of birth as c. 1814.
Edmond Dwyer aged 20 therefore born c. 1821. Death certificate gives year of birth as c. 1825
Patrick Dwyer aged 25 therefore born c. 1816. Death certificate gives year of birth as c. 1823
Judy Dwyer aged 26 therefore born c. 1815. Death certificate gives year of birth as c. 1820
Ellen Dwyer aged 18 therefore born c. 1823. Death certificate not located.
Mary Dwyer aged 20 therefore born c. 1821. Death certificate gives year of birth as c. 1814
Winifred Dwyer aged 15 therefore born c. 1826. Death certificate gives year of birth as c. 1835
Catherine Dwyer aged 18 therefore born c. 1823. Death cert gives year of birth as c. 1830. In addition, on the birth certificates of twin children Patrick and Catherine Gildea in 1863, Catherine gives her age as 32, suggesting a birth year of c. 1832.
GILDEAY JOHN YOUNG QUEEN 22 MAR 1854
GILDEN JOHN Young Queen Pascoe Vale 17 APR 1855 granted
GILDES JOHN Young Queen Pascoe Vale 18 APR 1854 granted
(From Victorian Publicans Index)
An entry in the online database of the Victorian Genealogical Society gave a huge hint into John Gildea's background:
I left Anne out of the equation initially, as it was stated that she was a Protestant. This column for Religion was often marked incorrectly, as were the age and literacy columns, I have found. But in this instance, I accepted that the information given was true and ruled her out, prepared to return to her later if the other Dwyer girls did not fit in.
Next name on the passenger list was 18 year old Catherine Dwyer, a Roman Catholic from Tipperary who was a house servant and who could both read and write.Having just purchased the "Victoria's Early Church Records" cd from VicHeritage, I checked out marriage records for any Catherine Dwyers. There were four-
Catherine Dwyer married Daniel Sweeny, October 30, 1842, Melbourne.Witnesses William Cooper and Anne Jones.
Catherine Dwyer married John Hogan, April 10, 1842, Melbourne.Witnesses Edward Murphy and Judith Holahan.
Catherine Dwyer married Patrick Wheylan on January10, 1847, Melbourne. Witnesses Daniel Corbett and Bridget Stanton.
Catherine Dwyer married John Gildea, September 8, 1852, Melbourne. Witnesses undecipherable...John and Catherine same last name (perhaps starts with 'M', ends with'y'???)
I checked these Catherine Dwyers in the Victorian death index under their married names, and struck pay dirt immediately with the last Catherine on the list...
Catherine Gildea died 1880, aged 50 years, wife of John Gildea, born Tipperary, daughter of John Dwyer and Johanna Cummins.
Once I started to research this Catherine Dwyer, I discovered that she had a fascinating story to tell...a sad one, but extremely interesting as it wove its way along.
As previously mentioned, I have found the ages of immigants as given on passenger lists to be notoriously "out of whack", often by a year or two but on occasion by several years or more. This has been the case with the Dwyers on board the 'Gilmore'...following is their year of birth if their age as given on the passenger list is correct, as compared to their age as stated on their death certificates:-
John Dwyer aged 23 therefore born c. 1818. Death certificate gives year of birth as c. 1816
Thomas Dwyer aged 28 therefore born c. 1813. Death certificate gives year of birth as c. 1814.
Edmond Dwyer aged 20 therefore born c. 1821. Death certificate gives year of birth as c. 1825
Patrick Dwyer aged 25 therefore born c. 1816. Death certificate gives year of birth as c. 1823
Judy Dwyer aged 26 therefore born c. 1815. Death certificate gives year of birth as c. 1820
Ellen Dwyer aged 18 therefore born c. 1823. Death certificate not located.
Mary Dwyer aged 20 therefore born c. 1821. Death certificate gives year of birth as c. 1814
Winifred Dwyer aged 15 therefore born c. 1826. Death certificate gives year of birth as c. 1835
Catherine Dwyer aged 18 therefore born c. 1823. Death cert gives year of birth as c. 1830. In addition, on the birth certificates of twin children Patrick and Catherine Gildea in 1863, Catherine gives her age as 32, suggesting a birth year of c. 1832.
I have not been able to determine Catherine Dwyer's movements between her arrival on Christmas Eve, 1841, and her marriage in 1852. The church record for her marriage stated that she was "of Melbourne", so she had obviously not settled at Kilmore like her siblings.
At the time of Catherine Dwyer's marriage, it must have appeared that she had made a good match...her husband was a tall handsome Irishman...almost six feet tall, dark-haired and pale-skinned, and a respectable police detective in Melbourne. By 1854, however, John had resigned from the police force, and had set himself up as the landlord of the 'Young Queen' Hotel at Pascoe Vale.
GILDEA JOHN YOUNG QUEEN Pascoe Vale 19 APR 1854
GILDEAY JOHN YOUNG QUEEN 22 MAR 1854
GILDEN JOHN Young Queen Pascoe Vale 17 APR 1855 granted
GILDES JOHN Young Queen Pascoe Vale 18 APR 1854 granted
(From Victorian Publicans Index)
An entry in the online database of the Victorian Genealogical Society gave a huge hint into John Gildea's background:
KILDEA -. Aged widow in Ireland seeks information from James Thompson, formerly in the Convict Department in Van Diemen’s Land regarding her son who was transported there. Thompson, now (1856) living in Victoria, writes to the Chief Commissioner, suggesting it may be John Gildea, formerly in the police force and now keeping an hotel in Melbourne, who is meant. VPRS 937/P4 Unit 6 Bundle 6.
This information sent me scurrying to the Tasmanian convict records, and sure enough, there was Catherine O'Dwyer's husband, who in 1843 had been sent to Van Diemans Land for manslaughter!
Also to face trial at Mayo on March 7, 1843, was 27 year old John Gildea's younger brother, Richard,aged 25. Both brothers were sentenced to seven years' transportation for the manslaughter of an old woman, Biddy Judges, in a riot in the market, after she was 'wounded in the wrist'. The records for the Gildea brothers noted that both brothers were married, and that their wives were back in their native place. There was no further mention that I could find regarding these two women, beyond the fact that Richard's wife was named Ann.
On May 9, 1843, the Gildeas boarded the convict ship 'Constant' in Ireland, and three and a half months later were landed in Van Deimans Land.
The surgeon's report noted that both brothers were well-behaved and quiet.
Poor Richard, who I took a shining to because he was a red-head (red hair, red whiskers, blue eyes, freckles...like one of my own sons) died within two years of his arrival. He died at Salt Water Creek Probation Station on April 9, 1845.
The Dwyer Brothers.
THE DWYER MEN.
Unlike the Dwyer single women who were divided into two groups on the passenger ship Gilmore- supposedly into two family-based groups-the 7 Dwyer single men were all in one bunch:
John 23; Thomas 25; Edmond 20; Cornelius 28; Matthew 22; Patrick 25; and William 24.
The obituary of John Dwyer informs us that he was one of four brothers and five sisters who arrived in Port Phillip in 1841 on the ship 'Gilmore' and settled at Kilmore soon after. The brothers were named as John, Thomas, Patrick and Edmond, and the sisters not identified. So far we have identified them as Judith, Mary, Ellen and Winifred, with one sister to isolate from Anne, Catherine and Nancy, who also arrived on the Gilmore.
Firstly, though, on to the brothers that we already have no doubt of:
1. JOHN DWYER (sometimes called “O’Dwyer’)
Married Mary Coffey, March 4, 1851, at St. Francis, Melbourne. Witnesses: John Coffey and Bridget Coffey. John Dwyer was from Kilmore, and his bride from Melbourne.
Issue:
Johanna Dwyer b 1850, Kilmore. Died infancy.
Johanna Dwyer b 1852, Kilmore. Known as ‘Hannah’. Married Thomas McGrane,1883. Died 1891, Numurkah.
Margaret Teresa b c 1856. Died 1935, Fitzroy.
John b 1857, Kilmore
William John Dwyer b 1860, Kilmore. Died 1930, Fitzroy.
Mary Ann b c. 1861. Died 1914, Broadford.
Edmond b 1866, Kilmore. Died 1866, aged 10 months.
Patrick b 1868, Kilmore. Died 1868, Kilmore.
" OBITUARY. Mr John O'Dwyer, who died during the week, was an old and well-respected resident of the Kilmore district. In the early fifties he farmed his own land, now embraced in the property of Mrs. O'Connor, 'Parkview', Willowmavin, and was a well-known figure in our midst, being distinguished from others of the name by the kindly appellation of "Gentleman Johnnie', originated doubtless by the handsome steed he generally bestrode, as well as from his own well-groomed appearance. About 40 years ago Mr O'Dwyer moved to Moranding, where he led a quiet retired life, and rarely came to Kilmore where he was once so familiar a figure. Mr O'Dwyer's death removes a link with the first Old Survey settlers. He was 91 years of age. The remains were interred in the Kilmore Catholic Cemetery on Sunday, Rev. father Martin reading the burial service."
- Kilmore Free Press, July 16, 1908.
"A week or two ago the Free Press published a brief account of the death of John Dwyer, a gentleman better known in this district half a century ago than he was lately because of the quiet retired life he led for the past few years. John Dwyer was the last survivor of four brothers, all of whom had farms on the Old Survey, as it was mainly termed, Patrick, Thomas and Edmond having died some years ago, and was one of a family of nine ( five sisters) who came to Victoria by the ship Gilmore in 1841, settling here about 1846.
The Dwyer family were shipmates of the late Mr. John Griffin, (father of Mr D. Griffin, J.P) who was the much-respected owner of the Farmer's Arms, Willowmavin, now occupied as a private residence by the president of the Kilmore Shire, Cr. O'Neill. The value and importance of small holdings will be understood by the eldest of our residents when they bear in view what a progressive place Kilmore was then with a family on nearly every 50 acres on the Old Survey, Bylands to the south being also studded with small farms. That, too, was a period when the sturdy pioneers paid high prices for their holdings and, with lion-hearted pluck, faced the forest clearing then necessary to make the place what it then was- the granery of Victoria. All honour to those who have gone to their higher reward." - Kilmore Free Press, July 30, 1908.
This second article was just brilliant in terms of putting together the Dwyer family that I was looking for- it verified the ship, the family and the names of the brothers...if only I had found this BEFORE I had started whole process of sorting the Dwyers out!!!
John Dwyer/ O'Dwyer's wife, Mary Coffey, died in 1901. The following death notice was published in the Kilmore Free Press:
" DEATHS- O'DWYER. On January 19, 1901, at her residence, Cameron's Creek, Broadford, Mary, the dearly beloved wife of John O'Dwyer, and niece of the late Dr. Coffey, aged 72 years. R.I.P. Sweet heart of Mary, Your prayers for her extol; Sacred heart of Jesus, Have mercy on her soul."
The second Dwyer brother I chased was THOMAS DWYER......
2. THOMAS DWYER: Married Margaret Connell, 11 February, 1844, St. Francis, Melbourne. Witnesses: Cornelius Dwyer and Ellen Cahill.
Children:
Thomas Dwyer born December 1, 1844, Melbourne. Sponsors were Daniel Connell and Anne Dwyer.
Catherine Dwyer born September 8, 1846, Kilmore. Sponsor Johanna Flaherty. Died 1923, Murchison.
Johanna Dwyer born c.1848. Married Treahy. Died Ashton, Victoria, aged 74.
Mary Dwyer born 2 November, 1848, Kilmore. Sponsors Catherine Murtagh and Patrick Dwyer.
Bridget Dwyer born 13 August, 1851, Kilmore. Sponsors Ned Dwyer and Anne Connell. Died 1934, Shepparton district, aged 83.
John Dwyer born January 1, 1852, Kilmore. Sponsors John Dwyer and Mary Dwyer.
Daniel Michael Dwyer born c. 1857. Died 1922, Heidleberg.
Ann Dwyer born c.1858.
Thomas Dwyer died at Willowmavin in 1869...a bad year for researchers as it is a 'blindspot' for the local newspapers online...one batch of papers covers 1865-1868, and the next from 1870-1954. It just happens that 1869 is a black hole for Kilmore researchers, and it is surprising just how many times that I have gone to look up some event from that particular year.
I obtained the death certificate for Thomas Dwyer, and it contained the following information as given by his brother, John Dwyer, farmer of Willowmavin:
Died: 3 a.m., July 15, 1869, at Willowmavin.
Thomas Dwyer, farmer, 55 years,.
Cause: Stomach disease
Parents: John Dwyer, farmer, and Johanna Dwyer formerly Comans.
Born: County Tipperary, Ireand, 28 years in Victoria.
Married Melbourne to Margaret Connell, at age of 30 years.
Issue: Johanna 22; Kate 20; Mary 18; Bridget 16; John 15; Daniel 13; Ann 11.
Unlike the Dwyer single women who were divided into two groups on the passenger ship Gilmore- supposedly into two family-based groups-the 7 Dwyer single men were all in one bunch:
John 23; Thomas 25; Edmond 20; Cornelius 28; Matthew 22; Patrick 25; and William 24.
The obituary of John Dwyer informs us that he was one of four brothers and five sisters who arrived in Port Phillip in 1841 on the ship 'Gilmore' and settled at Kilmore soon after. The brothers were named as John, Thomas, Patrick and Edmond, and the sisters not identified. So far we have identified them as Judith, Mary, Ellen and Winifred, with one sister to isolate from Anne, Catherine and Nancy, who also arrived on the Gilmore.
Firstly, though, on to the brothers that we already have no doubt of:
1. JOHN DWYER (sometimes called “O’Dwyer’)
Married Mary Coffey, March 4, 1851, at St. Francis, Melbourne. Witnesses: John Coffey and Bridget Coffey. John Dwyer was from Kilmore, and his bride from Melbourne.
Issue:
Johanna Dwyer b 1850, Kilmore. Died infancy.
Johanna Dwyer b 1852, Kilmore. Known as ‘Hannah’. Married Thomas McGrane,1883. Died 1891, Numurkah.
Margaret Teresa b c 1856. Died 1935, Fitzroy.
John b 1857, Kilmore
William John Dwyer b 1860, Kilmore. Died 1930, Fitzroy.
Mary Ann b c. 1861. Died 1914, Broadford.
Edmond b 1866, Kilmore. Died 1866, aged 10 months.
Patrick b 1868, Kilmore. Died 1868, Kilmore.
" OBITUARY. Mr John O'Dwyer, who died during the week, was an old and well-respected resident of the Kilmore district. In the early fifties he farmed his own land, now embraced in the property of Mrs. O'Connor, 'Parkview', Willowmavin, and was a well-known figure in our midst, being distinguished from others of the name by the kindly appellation of "Gentleman Johnnie', originated doubtless by the handsome steed he generally bestrode, as well as from his own well-groomed appearance. About 40 years ago Mr O'Dwyer moved to Moranding, where he led a quiet retired life, and rarely came to Kilmore where he was once so familiar a figure. Mr O'Dwyer's death removes a link with the first Old Survey settlers. He was 91 years of age. The remains were interred in the Kilmore Catholic Cemetery on Sunday, Rev. father Martin reading the burial service."
- Kilmore Free Press, July 16, 1908.
"A week or two ago the Free Press published a brief account of the death of John Dwyer, a gentleman better known in this district half a century ago than he was lately because of the quiet retired life he led for the past few years. John Dwyer was the last survivor of four brothers, all of whom had farms on the Old Survey, as it was mainly termed, Patrick, Thomas and Edmond having died some years ago, and was one of a family of nine ( five sisters) who came to Victoria by the ship Gilmore in 1841, settling here about 1846.
The Dwyer family were shipmates of the late Mr. John Griffin, (father of Mr D. Griffin, J.P) who was the much-respected owner of the Farmer's Arms, Willowmavin, now occupied as a private residence by the president of the Kilmore Shire, Cr. O'Neill. The value and importance of small holdings will be understood by the eldest of our residents when they bear in view what a progressive place Kilmore was then with a family on nearly every 50 acres on the Old Survey, Bylands to the south being also studded with small farms. That, too, was a period when the sturdy pioneers paid high prices for their holdings and, with lion-hearted pluck, faced the forest clearing then necessary to make the place what it then was- the granery of Victoria. All honour to those who have gone to their higher reward." - Kilmore Free Press, July 30, 1908.
This second article was just brilliant in terms of putting together the Dwyer family that I was looking for- it verified the ship, the family and the names of the brothers...if only I had found this BEFORE I had started whole process of sorting the Dwyers out!!!
John Dwyer/ O'Dwyer's wife, Mary Coffey, died in 1901. The following death notice was published in the Kilmore Free Press:
" DEATHS- O'DWYER. On January 19, 1901, at her residence, Cameron's Creek, Broadford, Mary, the dearly beloved wife of John O'Dwyer, and niece of the late Dr. Coffey, aged 72 years. R.I.P. Sweet heart of Mary, Your prayers for her extol; Sacred heart of Jesus, Have mercy on her soul."
The second Dwyer brother I chased was THOMAS DWYER......
2. THOMAS DWYER: Married Margaret Connell, 11 February, 1844, St. Francis, Melbourne. Witnesses: Cornelius Dwyer and Ellen Cahill.
Children:
Thomas Dwyer born December 1, 1844, Melbourne. Sponsors were Daniel Connell and Anne Dwyer.
Catherine Dwyer born September 8, 1846, Kilmore. Sponsor Johanna Flaherty. Died 1923, Murchison.
Johanna Dwyer born c.1848. Married Treahy. Died Ashton, Victoria, aged 74.
Mary Dwyer born 2 November, 1848, Kilmore. Sponsors Catherine Murtagh and Patrick Dwyer.
Bridget Dwyer born 13 August, 1851, Kilmore. Sponsors Ned Dwyer and Anne Connell. Died 1934, Shepparton district, aged 83.
John Dwyer born January 1, 1852, Kilmore. Sponsors John Dwyer and Mary Dwyer.
Daniel Michael Dwyer born c. 1857. Died 1922, Heidleberg.
Ann Dwyer born c.1858.
Thomas Dwyer died at Willowmavin in 1869...a bad year for researchers as it is a 'blindspot' for the local newspapers online...one batch of papers covers 1865-1868, and the next from 1870-1954. It just happens that 1869 is a black hole for Kilmore researchers, and it is surprising just how many times that I have gone to look up some event from that particular year.
I obtained the death certificate for Thomas Dwyer, and it contained the following information as given by his brother, John Dwyer, farmer of Willowmavin:
Died: 3 a.m., July 15, 1869, at Willowmavin.
Thomas Dwyer, farmer, 55 years,.
Cause: Stomach disease
Parents: John Dwyer, farmer, and Johanna Dwyer formerly Comans.
Born: County Tipperary, Ireand, 28 years in Victoria.
Married Melbourne to Margaret Connell, at age of 30 years.
Issue: Johanna 22; Kate 20; Mary 18; Bridget 16; John 15; Daniel 13; Ann 11.
Thomas Dwyer’s wife, Margaret Connell (sometimes ‘O’Connell’) died at Ashton in 1895, aged 71.
3. PATRICK DWYER.
Patrick Dwyer married Mary Keefe on May 18, 1851, at Kilmore. Witnesses to the event were John Griffin, John O’Dwyer, Edmund Dwyer, Winnifred Dwyer and Ellen Griffin.
It seems as though they had only one child- a daughter named Johanna Dwyer was born at Kilmore c. 1854. She married Thomas Connors in Kilmore in 1873, and had numerous children, five of whom died in childhood and infancy. Johanna Dwyer Connors died in Kilmore in 1886, aged 32. There is a large memorial headstone in the Kilmore Cemetery erected by Thomas and Johanna for their lost little ones...John aged 5 months; Mary aged 9 months; Thomas aged 4 months; John Thomas aged 2 months and Walter Joseph aged 9 years 8 months.
Patrick Dwyer's wife, Mary Keefe Dwyer, died in 1878, aged 54, the daughter of Dennis Keefe and Kate Keating. It seems as though Patrick suffered greatly without her...when he died five years later, the following obituary was published in the KIlmore Free Press:
" We regret this week having to record the death of an old resident, and under painful circumstances- Mr. Patrick Dwyer of Willowmavin, being found dead in his house on Tuesday morning. Deceased, who wasnever the same man since he lost his wife some time back, was before that event a sober, well-conducted respectable man, and one who was highly esteemed by his neighbours. Mr Dwyer came to the colony in 1841, arriving in Kilmore very soon afterwards, where he resided up to the time of his death. The funeral takes place today (Thursday), the cortege leaving the deceased's late residence at one o'clock."
- April 5, 1883.
3. PATRICK DWYER.
Patrick Dwyer married Mary Keefe on May 18, 1851, at Kilmore. Witnesses to the event were John Griffin, John O’Dwyer, Edmund Dwyer, Winnifred Dwyer and Ellen Griffin.
It seems as though they had only one child- a daughter named Johanna Dwyer was born at Kilmore c. 1854. She married Thomas Connors in Kilmore in 1873, and had numerous children, five of whom died in childhood and infancy. Johanna Dwyer Connors died in Kilmore in 1886, aged 32. There is a large memorial headstone in the Kilmore Cemetery erected by Thomas and Johanna for their lost little ones...John aged 5 months; Mary aged 9 months; Thomas aged 4 months; John Thomas aged 2 months and Walter Joseph aged 9 years 8 months.
Patrick Dwyer's wife, Mary Keefe Dwyer, died in 1878, aged 54, the daughter of Dennis Keefe and Kate Keating. It seems as though Patrick suffered greatly without her...when he died five years later, the following obituary was published in the KIlmore Free Press:
" We regret this week having to record the death of an old resident, and under painful circumstances- Mr. Patrick Dwyer of Willowmavin, being found dead in his house on Tuesday morning. Deceased, who wasnever the same man since he lost his wife some time back, was before that event a sober, well-conducted respectable man, and one who was highly esteemed by his neighbours. Mr Dwyer came to the colony in 1841, arriving in Kilmore very soon afterwards, where he resided up to the time of his death. The funeral takes place today (Thursday), the cortege leaving the deceased's late residence at one o'clock."
- April 5, 1883.
The death index states: Patrick Dwyer, died Kilmore 1883, son of John Dwyer and Johanna Comans.
Patrick Dwyer left a will, leaving everything that he owned to his daughter, "Hannah" Connors, wife of Thomas Connors, farmer, of Pyalong near Kilmore.
EDMOND DWYER:
The last of the four Dwyer brothers to sail to Port Phillip from Tipperary on board the 'Gilmore' in 1841.
Edmond married Margaret Brian/O’Brien in 1854 at St Francis Catholic Church, Melbourne. I have not risked purchasing their marriage certificate in case it is as pitiful in detail as the 1854 Kilmore marriage certificate of Edmnd's sister Winifred Dwyer to James Noonan.
NOTE: I was reading through this part of my blog tonight, having not visited any of my research blogs for months, and decided to take the risk and purchase Edmond's marriage certificate. It provided the following information:
On December 28, 1854. at St. Francis Church, Melbourne, Edmond Dwyer, born Tipperary, Ireland, farmer, aged 30, of Kilmore, son of John Dwyer, farmer, and Johanna Coman, MARRIED Margaret Brian, born Tipperary, Ireland, servant, 21 years of age, resident Melbourne, daughter of John Brian, farmer, and Ann Coman. Edmond signed his name, whilst Margaret made her mark with a cross. Witnesses were Edmond Coman and Johanna ____
Edmond and Margaret had the following children:
Ann Dwyer b 1859, Kilmore
Thomas Dwyer b 1861, Kilmore
Maria Dwyer b 1863, Kilmore
Winifred Dwyer b 1863, Kilmore, twin of above. Died 1945, Flemington, aged 82. Married a Kelly.
Margaret Dwyer b 1865, Kilmore
Patrick Dwyer b 1868, Kilmore
Johanna Dwyer b 1871, Kilmore. Died 1858, aged 10 months.
Edmond Dwyer b 1873, Kilmore. Died aged 2 months, 1873.
Edmond Dwyer b 1874, Kilmore.
When Edmond Dwyer made his will in June 1891, his surviving children at that stage were Patrick, Ann, Winnifred, Margaret, Johanna and Edmond.
"DEATH OF MR EDMOND DWYER. On Saturday evening, after a rather lengthy illness, Mr. E. Dwyer , of Willowmavin, was called to his long home. Deceased gentleman, who reared a respectable family in our midst, must have been resident here nearly 50 years, and was one of a large family who settled on the Kilmore Survey. He was a well-respected resident, and much sympathy is felt with the widow and family in their bereavement. The remains were interred in the Catholic Cemetery."
Margaret Dwyer, Edmond's wife, passed away on June 24, 1896. The following report was published in the Kilmore Free Press of July 2, 1896:
" OBITUARY. We regret having to record the death of another old and respected resident of Willowmavin, Mrs. Dwyer, relict of the late Mr. Edmond Dwyer, having died on the 24th ultimo after some weeks' illness.Deceased lady was 62 years of age, and was a resident of place named for over 40 years, being justly much-esteemed by her neighbours. She reared a respectable family in our midst, all now grown up. The remains were interred in the Kilmore Cemetery on Friday afternoon. Father Ryan officiated at the grave."
The information on Edmond's death certificate sadly did not yield the yearned-for birthplace, but it did give the following details:
Died: 12 September, 1891, at Willowmavin, Kilmore, Shire.
Edmond Dwyer, farmer. 66 years.
Cause of death: a) First, disease of bones of the legs. Secondly, debility.Years duration.
Parents: John Dwyer, farmer. Mother Johanna Dwyer, formerly Commons.
Informant: Margaret Dwyer, wife, Willowmavin.
Buried: September 14, 1891, at Roman Catholic Cemetery,Kilmore.
Born: County Tipperary, Ireland. 50 years in Victoria.
Married Margaret O'Brien in Melbourne at the age of 30 years.
Issue: John 35; William dead; Hannah dead; Ann 31; Thomas 29; Maria 27; Winifred 27(twins); Margaret 24; Patrick 21; Hannah 19; Edmond dead; Edmond 17."
In 1898 daughter Margaret Dwyer placed the following memorial notice in the Kilmore Free Press:
"DWYER- In sad and loving remembrance of my dear father, Edmond Dwyer, who departed this life at Kilmore, on the 12th of September, 1891.
It is just seven years ago,
And I remember well,
I stood beside his dying bed,
To bid a long farewell.
With tearful eyes I watched him,
So peacefully pass away.
But, oh, it was so hard to think,
With us he could not stay.
Oh, father, dearest father,
How I long to meet you again.
In Heaven, where no tears are shed,
And never to part again.
- Inserted by his loving daughter, Maggie."
EDMOND DWYER:
The last of the four Dwyer brothers to sail to Port Phillip from Tipperary on board the 'Gilmore' in 1841.
Edmond married Margaret Brian/O’Brien in 1854 at St Francis Catholic Church, Melbourne. I have not risked purchasing their marriage certificate in case it is as pitiful in detail as the 1854 Kilmore marriage certificate of Edmnd's sister Winifred Dwyer to James Noonan.
NOTE: I was reading through this part of my blog tonight, having not visited any of my research blogs for months, and decided to take the risk and purchase Edmond's marriage certificate. It provided the following information:
On December 28, 1854. at St. Francis Church, Melbourne, Edmond Dwyer, born Tipperary, Ireland, farmer, aged 30, of Kilmore, son of John Dwyer, farmer, and Johanna Coman, MARRIED Margaret Brian, born Tipperary, Ireland, servant, 21 years of age, resident Melbourne, daughter of John Brian, farmer, and Ann Coman. Edmond signed his name, whilst Margaret made her mark with a cross. Witnesses were Edmond Coman and Johanna ____
Edmond and Margaret had the following children:
Ann Dwyer b 1859, Kilmore
Thomas Dwyer b 1861, Kilmore
Maria Dwyer b 1863, Kilmore
Winifred Dwyer b 1863, Kilmore, twin of above. Died 1945, Flemington, aged 82. Married a Kelly.
Margaret Dwyer b 1865, Kilmore
Patrick Dwyer b 1868, Kilmore
Johanna Dwyer b 1871, Kilmore. Died 1858, aged 10 months.
Edmond Dwyer b 1873, Kilmore. Died aged 2 months, 1873.
Edmond Dwyer b 1874, Kilmore.
When Edmond Dwyer made his will in June 1891, his surviving children at that stage were Patrick, Ann, Winnifred, Margaret, Johanna and Edmond.
"DEATH OF MR EDMOND DWYER. On Saturday evening, after a rather lengthy illness, Mr. E. Dwyer , of Willowmavin, was called to his long home. Deceased gentleman, who reared a respectable family in our midst, must have been resident here nearly 50 years, and was one of a large family who settled on the Kilmore Survey. He was a well-respected resident, and much sympathy is felt with the widow and family in their bereavement. The remains were interred in the Catholic Cemetery."
Above: Kilmore Free Press, 17 September, 1891.
Margaret Dwyer, Edmond's wife, passed away on June 24, 1896. The following report was published in the Kilmore Free Press of July 2, 1896:
" OBITUARY. We regret having to record the death of another old and respected resident of Willowmavin, Mrs. Dwyer, relict of the late Mr. Edmond Dwyer, having died on the 24th ultimo after some weeks' illness.Deceased lady was 62 years of age, and was a resident of place named for over 40 years, being justly much-esteemed by her neighbours. She reared a respectable family in our midst, all now grown up. The remains were interred in the Kilmore Cemetery on Friday afternoon. Father Ryan officiated at the grave."
The information on Edmond's death certificate sadly did not yield the yearned-for birthplace, but it did give the following details:
Died: 12 September, 1891, at Willowmavin, Kilmore, Shire.
Edmond Dwyer, farmer. 66 years.
Cause of death: a) First, disease of bones of the legs. Secondly, debility.Years duration.
Parents: John Dwyer, farmer. Mother Johanna Dwyer, formerly Commons.
Informant: Margaret Dwyer, wife, Willowmavin.
Buried: September 14, 1891, at Roman Catholic Cemetery,Kilmore.
Born: County Tipperary, Ireland. 50 years in Victoria.
Married Margaret O'Brien in Melbourne at the age of 30 years.
Issue: John 35; William dead; Hannah dead; Ann 31; Thomas 29; Maria 27; Winifred 27(twins); Margaret 24; Patrick 21; Hannah 19; Edmond dead; Edmond 17."
In 1898 daughter Margaret Dwyer placed the following memorial notice in the Kilmore Free Press:
"DWYER- In sad and loving remembrance of my dear father, Edmond Dwyer, who departed this life at Kilmore, on the 12th of September, 1891.
It is just seven years ago,
And I remember well,
I stood beside his dying bed,
To bid a long farewell.
With tearful eyes I watched him,
So peacefully pass away.
But, oh, it was so hard to think,
With us he could not stay.
Oh, father, dearest father,
How I long to meet you again.
In Heaven, where no tears are shed,
And never to part again.
- Inserted by his loving daughter, Maggie."
Off on a Tangent...the search for the Godparents.
After a quarter of a century searching for the actual birthplace within Tipperary of my Bourke ancestors, with absolutely no success, I have had to turn my attention sideways and look for other means by which I may be able to find at least a hint as to the location of the elusive birthplace. The past week has been spent chasing down the families of the individuals who were named as sponsors (or Godparents) at the baptisms of my Bourkes during the period 1841-1852, at either St. Francis Catholic Church, Melbourne, or at Kilmore.
The old Kilmore newspapers now available on the brilliant 'Trove' website often published very informative obituaries, and it was not uncommon to find an actual birthplace within Ireland named.Of course, this wasn't the case with my Bourkes...when Judith Meehan Bourke died her birthplace was simply noted as 'Tipperary', and when her husband John Bourke had died in Kilmore in 1853 his passing was not noted in any newspaper that I have yet seen. Many other Kilmoreites had their birthplaces noted, however, and I was hoping that if I could find a relationship between my John and Judith Bourke and the people that they chose to sponsor their babies, I might be able to snag a clue as to their origins.
For a person to be chosen to be a Godparent for a child suggests either a family relationship or one based on close friendship. Judith Meehan was pregnant on board the ship 'Duchess of Northumberland' in 1841, and gave birth several months after her arrival. The two people chosen to be Godparents would have had to be either related, from the same place in Ireland or fellow travellers on the same ship. In the case of baby Michael Bourke, who was born on October8, 1841, and baptised at St. Francis on October 11, 1841, his sponsors were Patrick Meehan and Catherine Donovan. Patrick Meehan was his Uncle, the brother of Judith Meehan Bourke, and Catherine Donovan is still a mystery.
My great-great grandfather, Patrick Bourke, was the next child to arrive. Born on July 20, 1843, baby Paddy was baptised at St. Francis on July 30, 1843. His sponsors were Daniel Hennessy and Judith Dwyer.
This relationship with the Dwyer family was the start of a common theme, with five Dwyers in all being nominated as sponsors to Bourke children...Judith, Patrick, Margaret, Edward and Winefred. There were also two Ryans- Patrick and Mary- and a Hennessy, Long and Bourke. Because of there being so many Dwyer representatives, I decided to investigate their family first...my goodness...what a tangle to sort out!
Like my Bourkes, the Dwyers arrived from Tipperary in the early 1840s, then moved up to Kilmore to settle small farms on what was known as 'Old Survey'. An initial search revealed several large families of Dwyers who were pioneers of the Kilmore district, and to complicate things a little more, some used the 'O' prefix to become 'O'Dwyer', or alternated between the two names.
I was lucky that my Paddy Bourke's Godmother was named Judith Dwyer as this first name was uncommon enough to make it easier for me to track her amongst all the other Dwyers. Following are my findings as I delved amongst the ins and outs of the Kilmore Dwyers...
THE DWYER FAMILY
Five Dwyers were named as sponsors of Bourke babies at their baptisms...surely there must have been either a family connection or a common bond from back in Ireland! Researching these Dwyers proved to be very problematic, as not only were there dozens around the Kilmore area, but also many Dwyers did not have their parents named on their death certificates. Thus deprived of the most common means by which to sort them all into family groups, I had to turn to wills and newspapers, and slowly the dynamics of the Kilmore Dwyers began to evolve. Matters were not helped any by various members adding an ‘O’ to the front of their name, and then switching between ‘O’Dwyer’ and ‘Dwyer’ at will.
The names of the Dwyer sponsors were Judith, Edward, Patrick, Margaret and Winnifred. Thankfully the name ‘Judith Dwyer’ was very uncommon, and she was found on board the ship Gilmore arriving at Port Phillip on December 24, 1841, alongside eighteen other Dwyers from Tipperary! The Dwyers were grouped as follows:
Families:
Michael Dwyer/ 29/ labourer/RC/neither reads or writes/from Tipperary/b c. 1819
Catherine Dwyer/25/housekeeper/RC/neither/from Tipperary/ b c. 1816
Single Men:
John Dwyer/23/labourer/RC/both reads & writes/ from Tipperary/ b c, 1818
Thomas Dwyer/28/labourer/RC/both/Tipperary/b c. 1813
Edmond Dwyer/20/labourer/RC/Tipperary/b c. 1821
Cornelius Dwyer/28/labourer/RC/Tipperary/b c. 1813
Matthew Dwyer/22/labourer/RC/Tipperary/ b c. 1819
Patrick Dwyer/25/labourer/RC/Tipperary/b c. 1816
William Dwyer/24/labourer/RC/Tipperary/b c. 1817
Single Women.
Anne Dwyer/22/house servant/Protestant/reads/Tipperary/ b c. 1819
Catherine Dwyer/18/house servant/RC/both/ Tipperary/ b c. 1823
Mary Dwyer/29/house servant/RC/reads/Tipperary/ b c. 1812
Nancy Dwyer/17/nurse maid/RC/reads/Tipperary/b c. 1824
Judy Dwyer/26/nurse maid/ RC/reads/Tipperary/ b c. 1815
Ellen Dwyer/18/nurse maid/ RC/neither/Tipperary/ b c. 1823
Mary Dwyer/20/ nurse maid/RC/neither/Tipperary/ b c. 1821
Winifred Dwyer/15/nurse maid/reads/Tipperary/ b c. 1826
There was also a Margaret Bourke on board the ship Gilmore:
Margaret Bourke/22/house servant/RC/both/Tipperary/ b c. 1819
NOTE: An unknown Margaret Bourke was the sponsor of Edmund/Edward Bourke in 1847(although I find it hardly unlikely- given the shortage of women in 1840s Victoria - that a 22 year old Irish girl would be still unmarried six years after her arrival in the Colony)
Starting with Judith Dwyer, I found only one who married in the accepted period:
1844: Judith Dwyer married Arthur Finnigan/Finnegan, St. Frances R.C, Melbourne. Arthur’s death certificate from 1896 gave his parents as Owen Finnegan and Margaret McDonnell, and his birth year as c. 1822.
Arthur Finnegan emigrated from Tipperary to Melbourne in 1841 on board the ship ‘Neptune’, aged 20. He was a Catholic, and could neither read nor write.
Just like the Bourkes, Dwyers and many other Irish families arriving at Port Phillip in the early 1840s, Arthur Finnegan remained in Melbourne for several years working to pay off his bounty and trying to raise some money to buy or lease a holding. And just like the Bourkes and Dwyers, he soon headed to the new settlement at Kilmore and started to farm and raise a family.
Not everything went to plan... on February 6, 1851, the terrible event known as “Black Thursday” took place- a catastrophic fire that swept though Victoria and claimed 12 lives and over a million head of sheep and thousands of head of cattle. Kilmore and its surrounds did not escape. A witness to the fire, writing in the local paper in 1898, stated “Arthur Finnegan was the heaviest sufferer, he having lost all...” It must have been soul destroying to see the hard toil of the last few years totally destroyed within minutes as the fire swept through. At least Arthur and his wife and small children were unharmed, and they started to rebuild their lives on their small farm.
Owen Finnegan born December 2, 1845, Melbourne. Baptised St.Frances Church, Melbourne, December 15, 1845. Sponsors John Dwyer and Maria Dugan. Died 1876, Hay, NSW. No record found for a marriage.
John Finnegan born February 17, 1847, Kilmore. Baptised February 28, 1847. Sponsors Patrick Meehan and Winefred Dwyer. John married Mary Ann Brown, daughter of William Brown, in 1888, at Hay, NSW. The couple had three children:- John Finnigan born 1888, Hay; George Finnigan born 1891, Hay; and Johanna Finnegan born 1892, Hay.
John Finnigan’s wife Mary died in 1894, leaving children aged six, three and two. John himself died three years later in 1897, leaving John,9; George 6 and daughter Johanna only 5. John had been a cab proprietor at Hay at the time of his death.
I think I have located middle child, George Finnigan, and I am afraid the story is not a happy one:
"SHOCKING RAILWAY FATALITY. MAN'S LEG NEARLY SEVERED.DIES TWO HOURS LATER.
Sydney,Tuesday.
An accident, which resulted fatally, occurred at Lewisham railway station yesterday. The victim was George Henry Finnigan, aged 18, who left Sydeny to go home by train. When drawing into the Lewisham Station, Finnigan got up and walked to the rear platform of the car, and either attempted to alight while the train was moving, or fell from the platform. The next that was seen of him he was on the rails. It was found that one leg had almost been severed from the body. Finnigan was removed to the hospital, where death took place two hours later."
- Above: Barrier Miner, Broken Hill, August 31, 1909.
There were three funeral notices in the Sydney Morning Herald in relation to poor George's death:-
" FINNIGAN- The friends of John Finnigan are kindly invited to attend the funeral of his late beloved brother George Henry, to leave his late residence, Glenmore House, 66 Victoria Street, Lewisham, this afternoon, at 2 o'clock, for Lewisham Station, thence Necropolis."
" FINNIGAN- The friends of Mr and Mrs Con Buckley are kindly invited to attend the funeral of their late beloved friend George Henry Finnigan, to leave the residence Glenmore House, 66 Victoria Street, Lewisham..."
"FINNIGAN- The friends of William John and Joseph Buckley are invited to attend the funeral of their late dearly beloved friend George Finnigan...."
- Sydney Morning Herald, September 1, 1909.
Margaret Finnegan, daughter of Judith Dwyer and Arthur Finnegan, was born August 23, 1851, and baptised August 31, both events taking place at Kilmore. She married farmer Jeremiah Bradley in 1876 and had three sons and two daughters. After Jeremiah died she married John Dunphy, and had one daughter. Thus far I have only found three children born in Margaret’s first marriage- Mary Ellen in 1876; Margaret Hannah in 1883 and Jeremiah in 1885.
Margaret died October 1926, Lancefield, aged 75. The Kilmore Free Press of November 4, 1926, reported:
" Our Lancefield contemporary on Friday contains the following: The death occurred at Lancefield on Wednesday night of Mrs Margaret Dunphy, relict of the late Mr John Dunphy. Deceased was 75 years of age, had only been ill from the Friday previous, and although she rallied in the early tages of her illness, it was evident on Monday night that the end was near. She lasted until 7:30 pm on Wednesday, when she passed away peacefully in the presence of family and friends. the late Mrs Dunphy, who was held in high esteem throughout the district, was born in Kilmore and had resided in Lancefield for the past 56 years. She was twice married, her first husband being Jeremiah Bradley , by whom she had a family of three sons and two daughters. The members of the family are Mrs Mitchell (Yarraweyah). James (NZ), Jack (deceased), Mrs Richter (Murrumbeena) and Jeremiah, who is visiting Lancefield from New Zealand. Of the second marriage there was one issue, Mrs W ('Kitty') Kirk."
Margaret Finnegan Dunphy had been a widow since 1918. Her husband John was 80 when he died in December 1918. According to his obituary published in the Kilmore Free Press on December 26, 1918, he was a native of Kilkenny, Ireland, arriving on the sailing vessell MacDuff in June 1878.
Johanna/Anna Finnegan born c. 1853. Died 1896, Preston, 43 years.
Winifred Finnegan born c. 1857. Died 1935, Prahran, aged 78. A brief notice was published in the Kilmore Free Press after Winifred's death:
" MISS W. FINNEGAN.
The death occurred at Murrumbeena last week of a native of Kilmore in the person of Miss Winnie Finnegan. Deceased, who was 75 years of age, spent her girlhood days in Kilmore, where her father carried on farming. Mrs Richter, of Murrumbeena, Mrs J Mitchell of Yarraweyah and Mrs W. Kirk of Beulah are nieces." -KFP, July 11, 1935.
Judith Dwyer Finnegan died at Prahran in 1900, aged 80.Her parents were given as John Dwyer and Johanna Bourke.
The details of Judith Dwyer Finnegan's death certificate were as follows:
Died: February 1, 1900, at 5 Alpha Street, Prahran.
Johanna Finnegan, housewife, 80 years,
Cause of death: General debility, asthenia.
Parents: John Dwyer, farmer, and Johanna Burke.
Informant: W. Finnegan, daughter, 5 Alpha Street, Windsor.
Buried: St. Kilda Cemetery, February 3, 1900.
Born: Tipperary, Ireland, 58 years in Victoria.
Married: Arthur Finnegan, in Melbourne, aged "about 24".
Issue: Owen dead; John dead; Margaret 50; Johanna dead; Winifred 49.
NOTE: Like my own Judith Meehan, Judith Dwyer Finnegan several times had her name recorded as ‘Johanna’, and even once as ‘Julia’ and once as ‘Anna’. The inter-changeability of ‘Johanna’ and ‘Judith’ seems to be quite common in the early to mid 19th century.
This ‘BURKE’ name of Judith/Johanna’s mother leaps out at me as a possible tie-in with my own Bourke family, and a reason as to why she was chosen to be a sponsor of my great-great grandfather, Paddy Bourke. HOWEVER, of course things are not ever that simple when it comes to my Bourke family, and Judith Dwyer Finnegan’s known siblings give their parents’ names as John Dwyer and Johanna Comans/Commans on their respective death certificates.
That completes my research into Judith/Johanna Dwyer, the Tipperary girl who stood next to the baby Paddy Bourke in St. Francis Church on a winter's day in 1843, making the oaths as required to be his Godmother. Unfortunately there was no mention in the Kilmore papers, or on her death certificate, as to her actual birthplace. The naming of a Burke as her mother was a bonus, even though further research into her known siblings all came up with the name 'Comans' as their mother's name. There was no option but to press on with the next Dwyer on the shipping list of the 'Gilmore'...Ellen Dwyer.
2. ELLEN DWYER.
There were only two marriages for an Ellen Dwyer between 1841 and 1851:-
1843: Ellen Dwyer married Thomas Collins
1843: Ellen Dwyer married Richard Leahy.
Early church records show the following details:
Both marriages were conducted at the St Francis Catholic Church, Melbourne:-
1. Richard Leahy and Ellen Dwyer, both members of the Catholic Church, residents of Melbourne, were married on August 15, 1843. Witnesses to the marriage were Edward Leahy and Mary Dwyer, the latter signing her name with a cross.
Ellen and Richard Leahy’s family were:
Mary Leahy born July 8, 1844, Melbourne. Sponsors were John Duggan and Catherine Dwyer.
William Leahy born April 25, 1846, Kilmore. Sponsors were Patrick Dwyer and Margaret Bourke.
Alicia LEHY born May 7, 1848, Kilmore. No sponsors given.
Richard Leahy born November 29, 1851, Kilmore. Sponsors Edmund Dwyer and Winifred Dwyer.
I favour this Ellen Dwyer as being the one who immigrated on board the ship ‘Gilmour’ in late 1841 because of the association with Kilmore as well as the familiar names appearing as sponsors to her children.
I cannot locate a death certificate for Ellen Dwyer Leahy. Several family trees on Ancestry.com state that she died c. 1852, and that her husband Richard remarried a woman named Margaret O’Callaghan in the same year. I cannot find any trace of these events, despite extensive searching under various spellings and name combinations.
The Ancestry trees state that Richard and his family moved to Howlong, where Richard died in 1892. They also attribute a daughter named Johanna to Richard’s second marriage to Margaret O’Callaghan. According to these trees, Ellen Dwyer’s son Richard Leahy died in the Temora district in 1905 (an entry in the NSW death index corresponds with this- Richard Leahy died 1905,Temora district, son of Richard and Ellen)
Daughter Alice Leahy gave birth to an illegitimate daughter named Ellen Mary Leahy in Kilmore in c.1872. The family moved to the Howlong district of NSW soon after. In an article about Ellen Mary Leahy’s death by suicide in 1889, aged only 17 years, there is reference to a younger sister. This makes me wonder if Ellen was being brought up as a child of Richard Leahy Jnr, who had married Margaret O’Hara in 1874. As well as having four sons ( Richard James born 1875; Christopher P. Born 1881; William F born 1884 and Alfred E born 1886), they also had a daughter, Rosanna Leahy, born in 1879.
(NOTE: There is a record for Alice Leahy’s death at Collingwood in 1898, aged 48, parents Richard Leahy and Ellen Dwyer.)
The articles mention Ellen as being in the company of a nine year old sister just prior to her drowning herself, which puts Rosanna Leahy at the correct age. Some articles also name Ellen’s father as being successful farmer Richard Leahy. Her death certificate gives her mother as Alice Leahy, with no father’s name given.
The suicide of such a young girl received extensive coverage from newspapers Australia-wide, and
many of these articles can be read on the Trove newspaper site.
2. The other Ellen Dwyer married Thomas Collins of Dandenong on November 10, 1843. Their witnesses were John Hopkins and Mary Hopkins. They settled at Gardiner’s Creek, Victoria, and their children were as follows:
Mary Anne Collins born October 25, 1844, Gardiner’s Creek. Baptised Melbourne. Sponsors Thomas Ryan and Mary Ryan.
Thomas Collins born July 8, 1846, Gardiners Creek. Baptised Melbourne. Sponsors Mary Geary and Robert Vas_____
William Collins born November 11, 1847, Gardiner’s Creek. Baptised Melbourne. Sponsors Francis and Bridget Allen.
John Collins born December 23, 1849, Colac. No sponsors named.
Ellen Dwyer and her husband Thomas Collins lived in the Colac district for many years. Ellen died there in 1881 aged 58, the daughter of Patrick Dwyer and Ann Splaine, according to her death record. Her husband Thomas died in 1891, aged 75, the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Collins. There is absolutely nothing to suggest that this is the family of the Ellen Dwyer we are looking for.
Looking at both couples and their families, it was the Ellen Dwyer Leahy who ended up in Kilmore( like most of the other Dwyers and Bourkes who arrived 1840-42 from Tipperary)who is most likely to belong to the Dwyer family that is linked with my Bourkes. Because I cannot locate a death certificate for her, and therefore miss out on the opportunity to reveal a birthplace, I finished my research on Ellen Dwyer here.
The next sibling to look for is MARY DWYER:
3. MARY DWYER.
There were several Mary Dwyers marrying in Victoria in the several years following the Gilmore’s arrival in December 1841:
Mary Dwyer married John Duggan at St. Francis Catholic Church on January 6, 1842. Witnesses Judith Dwyer and Cornelius Dwyer (both signed their name with a cross)
Mary Dwyer, of Melbourne, married John Carey, of Woodstock, on November 30, 1844, at St, Francis, Melbourne, Witnesses were Michael Dwyer and Bridget Hickey(?)
Mary Dwyer married Thomas Flaherty in February 1844. Witnesses were John Findlay and Ann Dwyer. Both Mary and Ann signed with a cross.
Mary Dwyer married John Gorman at Kilmore on June 3, 1853. Witnesses Michael Dwyer and Bridget Dwyer.
I thought that the most likely Mary Dwyer to belong to us was the first Mary Dwyer who married John Duggan(who also arrived on the ship ‘Gilmore’ in December 1841),due to the Judith Dwyer who witnessed her marriage, so I traced her family first. Mary and her husband John had the following children.
John Duggan born January 3, 1843, Melbourne. Sponsors Winifred Dwyer and William ___all
Honora Duggan born December 10, 1844, Kilmore. Sponsors _____ Hickey and Mary Dwyer
Catherine Doogan born October 8, 1846, Kilmore. Sponsors John Griffin and Margaret Skahan.
Bridget Duggan born 27 July, 1848, Kilmore. Sponsors William Ryan and Margaret Ryan.
Unnamed child b 1856 Kilmore
Johanna Duggan b 1857, Kilmore
An extensive Ancestry tree also has the following children attributed to Mary Dwyer and John Duggan:
Annie Duggan born Bacchus Marsh 1848. Died 1915. Married John Crow, 1867. Large family.
Mary Duggan born 1850, Bacchus Marsh; died 1940. Married Ernest Honig.
Ellen Duggan born 1852.Died1871.
William James Duggan born 1856 (most likely the unnamed baby in the birth index) Died 1943.
Patrick Duggan born 1859; died 1940.
Roderick Thomas Duggan born 1859.
James Andrew Duggan born 1864. Died 1956.
After completing some basic research, the following Mary is definitely ours...Mary Dwyer married Thomas Flaherty in February, 1846, at St. Francis Church, Melbourne. Witnesses were John Findlay and Ann Dwyer.
Two children were born to Mary and Thomas:
Simon Flaherty born February 3, 1847, Kilmore. Sponsors Edmund Dwyer and Anne Dwyer. This baptism was on the same day as the baptism of John Finnigan, the baby of Judith Dwyer, Mary’s sister. Simon died in Beechworth in 1901, aged 54.
Johanna Flaherty born February 7, 1849, at Kilmore. Baptised February 24, 1849, St. Francis, Melbourne. Sponsor was Winifred Dwyer.
4. WINIFRED DWYER.
Winifred was only in her mid-teens when the Gilmore arrived in 1841, so I did not expect to find her getting married in the early 1840s like her sisters. There were two records for Winifred Dwyers marrying in 1854-
Winifred Dwyer married James Clarke
Winifred Dwyer married James Noonan
Both of these families settled at Kilmore and raised families. Firstly, the Clarkes:
I can locate four children born to Winifred Dwyer and James Clarke:
Patrick Clarke born 1864, Kilmore
Edmund Clarke born 1866, Kilmore
Mary Clarke born 1867, Kilmore
Winifred Clarke born 1872, Kilmore.
James Clarke was a wealthy landowner and councilman for Kilmore. He died on 26 August, 1882, at his Mount William farm. His wife Winifred survived him by 22 years.
The death index shows that Winifred Dwyer Clarke died in Kilmore in 1904, aged 70 years, and was the daughter of Edmund Dwyer.Her father rules her out as being a sister to Judith, Ellen and Mary, so we turn to the Winifred Dwyer who married James Noonan...
I purchased online the marriage certificate of Winifred Clarke and James Noonan, and was absolutely gobsmacked at the total lack of information contained on it. I have always sung the praises of Victorian certificates whilst smugly turning my nose up at NSW marriage certificates that quite often failed to record information re. parents, birthplaces and other crucial details. This certificate from Kilmore did nothing but record the parties' names - Winifred Dwyer, spinster, and James Noonan, bachelor- and the date- 22 February, 1854. Absolutely nothing else...there is more information available in Early Church records that there was on this civil registration certificate!
Winifred Dwyer Noonan's death certificate is the document that proves that she is the sister of Judith, Ellen and Mary..her parents were given as John Dwyer and Johanna Coman.
Winifred Dwyer and James Noonan had the following children:
Johanna Noonan born 1855, Kilmore. Died 1874, aged 19.
Catherine Winifred Noonan born 1856. Married 1879 to George Thomas Mutton. Died 1886.
John Joseph Noonan born 1859. Died 1888.
Annie Philomena Noonan born 1861. Died 1941.
James Francis Noonan born 1868. Died 1911.
Winifred died in December 1869, leaving behind her five children, including her last child, James, who was still a baby. Her husband remarried, as was the usual practice, four years after Winifred’s death. His second wife was Margaret McNally, and they were married on May 14, 1874. A further ten children were added to the Noonan family by this second marriage.
James Noonan died on 22 February, 1898, at Echuca, having outlived only two of the five children that he had with Winifred Dwyer.
There we have a family dynamic for the sisters of the Dwyer family that I was looking for...the next blog entry concerns the search for the Dwyer brothers.
The old Kilmore newspapers now available on the brilliant 'Trove' website often published very informative obituaries, and it was not uncommon to find an actual birthplace within Ireland named.Of course, this wasn't the case with my Bourkes...when Judith Meehan Bourke died her birthplace was simply noted as 'Tipperary', and when her husband John Bourke had died in Kilmore in 1853 his passing was not noted in any newspaper that I have yet seen. Many other Kilmoreites had their birthplaces noted, however, and I was hoping that if I could find a relationship between my John and Judith Bourke and the people that they chose to sponsor their babies, I might be able to snag a clue as to their origins.
For a person to be chosen to be a Godparent for a child suggests either a family relationship or one based on close friendship. Judith Meehan was pregnant on board the ship 'Duchess of Northumberland' in 1841, and gave birth several months after her arrival. The two people chosen to be Godparents would have had to be either related, from the same place in Ireland or fellow travellers on the same ship. In the case of baby Michael Bourke, who was born on October8, 1841, and baptised at St. Francis on October 11, 1841, his sponsors were Patrick Meehan and Catherine Donovan. Patrick Meehan was his Uncle, the brother of Judith Meehan Bourke, and Catherine Donovan is still a mystery.
My great-great grandfather, Patrick Bourke, was the next child to arrive. Born on July 20, 1843, baby Paddy was baptised at St. Francis on July 30, 1843. His sponsors were Daniel Hennessy and Judith Dwyer.
This relationship with the Dwyer family was the start of a common theme, with five Dwyers in all being nominated as sponsors to Bourke children...Judith, Patrick, Margaret, Edward and Winefred. There were also two Ryans- Patrick and Mary- and a Hennessy, Long and Bourke. Because of there being so many Dwyer representatives, I decided to investigate their family first...my goodness...what a tangle to sort out!
Like my Bourkes, the Dwyers arrived from Tipperary in the early 1840s, then moved up to Kilmore to settle small farms on what was known as 'Old Survey'. An initial search revealed several large families of Dwyers who were pioneers of the Kilmore district, and to complicate things a little more, some used the 'O' prefix to become 'O'Dwyer', or alternated between the two names.
I was lucky that my Paddy Bourke's Godmother was named Judith Dwyer as this first name was uncommon enough to make it easier for me to track her amongst all the other Dwyers. Following are my findings as I delved amongst the ins and outs of the Kilmore Dwyers...
THE DWYER FAMILY
Five Dwyers were named as sponsors of Bourke babies at their baptisms...surely there must have been either a family connection or a common bond from back in Ireland! Researching these Dwyers proved to be very problematic, as not only were there dozens around the Kilmore area, but also many Dwyers did not have their parents named on their death certificates. Thus deprived of the most common means by which to sort them all into family groups, I had to turn to wills and newspapers, and slowly the dynamics of the Kilmore Dwyers began to evolve. Matters were not helped any by various members adding an ‘O’ to the front of their name, and then switching between ‘O’Dwyer’ and ‘Dwyer’ at will.
The names of the Dwyer sponsors were Judith, Edward, Patrick, Margaret and Winnifred. Thankfully the name ‘Judith Dwyer’ was very uncommon, and she was found on board the ship Gilmore arriving at Port Phillip on December 24, 1841, alongside eighteen other Dwyers from Tipperary! The Dwyers were grouped as follows:
Families:
Michael Dwyer/ 29/ labourer/RC/neither reads or writes/from Tipperary/b c. 1819
Catherine Dwyer/25/housekeeper/RC/neither/from Tipperary/ b c. 1816
Single Men:
John Dwyer/23/labourer/RC/both reads & writes/ from Tipperary/ b c, 1818
Thomas Dwyer/28/labourer/RC/both/Tipperary/b c. 1813
Edmond Dwyer/20/labourer/RC/Tipperary/b c. 1821
Cornelius Dwyer/28/labourer/RC/Tipperary/b c. 1813
Matthew Dwyer/22/labourer/RC/Tipperary/ b c. 1819
Patrick Dwyer/25/labourer/RC/Tipperary/b c. 1816
William Dwyer/24/labourer/RC/Tipperary/b c. 1817
Single Women.
Anne Dwyer/22/house servant/Protestant/reads/Tipperary/ b c. 1819
Catherine Dwyer/18/house servant/RC/both/ Tipperary/ b c. 1823
Mary Dwyer/29/house servant/RC/reads/Tipperary/ b c. 1812
Nancy Dwyer/17/nurse maid/RC/reads/Tipperary/b c. 1824
Judy Dwyer/26/nurse maid/ RC/reads/Tipperary/ b c. 1815
Ellen Dwyer/18/nurse maid/ RC/neither/Tipperary/ b c. 1823
Mary Dwyer/20/ nurse maid/RC/neither/Tipperary/ b c. 1821
Winifred Dwyer/15/nurse maid/reads/Tipperary/ b c. 1826
There was also a Margaret Bourke on board the ship Gilmore:
Margaret Bourke/22/house servant/RC/both/Tipperary/ b c. 1819
NOTE: An unknown Margaret Bourke was the sponsor of Edmund/Edward Bourke in 1847(although I find it hardly unlikely- given the shortage of women in 1840s Victoria - that a 22 year old Irish girl would be still unmarried six years after her arrival in the Colony)
Starting with Judith Dwyer, I found only one who married in the accepted period:
1844: Judith Dwyer married Arthur Finnigan/Finnegan, St. Frances R.C, Melbourne. Arthur’s death certificate from 1896 gave his parents as Owen Finnegan and Margaret McDonnell, and his birth year as c. 1822.
Arthur Finnegan emigrated from Tipperary to Melbourne in 1841 on board the ship ‘Neptune’, aged 20. He was a Catholic, and could neither read nor write.
Just like the Bourkes, Dwyers and many other Irish families arriving at Port Phillip in the early 1840s, Arthur Finnegan remained in Melbourne for several years working to pay off his bounty and trying to raise some money to buy or lease a holding. And just like the Bourkes and Dwyers, he soon headed to the new settlement at Kilmore and started to farm and raise a family.
Not everything went to plan... on February 6, 1851, the terrible event known as “Black Thursday” took place- a catastrophic fire that swept though Victoria and claimed 12 lives and over a million head of sheep and thousands of head of cattle. Kilmore and its surrounds did not escape. A witness to the fire, writing in the local paper in 1898, stated “Arthur Finnegan was the heaviest sufferer, he having lost all...” It must have been soul destroying to see the hard toil of the last few years totally destroyed within minutes as the fire swept through. At least Arthur and his wife and small children were unharmed, and they started to rebuild their lives on their small farm.
Owen Finnegan born December 2, 1845, Melbourne. Baptised St.Frances Church, Melbourne, December 15, 1845. Sponsors John Dwyer and Maria Dugan. Died 1876, Hay, NSW. No record found for a marriage.
John Finnegan born February 17, 1847, Kilmore. Baptised February 28, 1847. Sponsors Patrick Meehan and Winefred Dwyer. John married Mary Ann Brown, daughter of William Brown, in 1888, at Hay, NSW. The couple had three children:- John Finnigan born 1888, Hay; George Finnigan born 1891, Hay; and Johanna Finnegan born 1892, Hay.
John Finnigan’s wife Mary died in 1894, leaving children aged six, three and two. John himself died three years later in 1897, leaving John,9; George 6 and daughter Johanna only 5. John had been a cab proprietor at Hay at the time of his death.
I think I have located middle child, George Finnigan, and I am afraid the story is not a happy one:
"SHOCKING RAILWAY FATALITY. MAN'S LEG NEARLY SEVERED.DIES TWO HOURS LATER.
Sydney,Tuesday.
An accident, which resulted fatally, occurred at Lewisham railway station yesterday. The victim was George Henry Finnigan, aged 18, who left Sydeny to go home by train. When drawing into the Lewisham Station, Finnigan got up and walked to the rear platform of the car, and either attempted to alight while the train was moving, or fell from the platform. The next that was seen of him he was on the rails. It was found that one leg had almost been severed from the body. Finnigan was removed to the hospital, where death took place two hours later."
- Above: Barrier Miner, Broken Hill, August 31, 1909.
There were three funeral notices in the Sydney Morning Herald in relation to poor George's death:-
" FINNIGAN- The friends of John Finnigan are kindly invited to attend the funeral of his late beloved brother George Henry, to leave his late residence, Glenmore House, 66 Victoria Street, Lewisham, this afternoon, at 2 o'clock, for Lewisham Station, thence Necropolis."
" FINNIGAN- The friends of Mr and Mrs Con Buckley are kindly invited to attend the funeral of their late beloved friend George Henry Finnigan, to leave the residence Glenmore House, 66 Victoria Street, Lewisham..."
"FINNIGAN- The friends of William John and Joseph Buckley are invited to attend the funeral of their late dearly beloved friend George Finnigan...."
- Sydney Morning Herald, September 1, 1909.
( NOTE: I am not yet sure what the relationship was between the young Finnegan boys and The Buckley family who placed the above notices in the Sydney Morning Herald after George’s tragic death. They were a family consisting of brothers Con, Joe (Joseph William), John (Jack) and William (Will)...more research is needed.)
Margaret Finnegan, daughter of Judith Dwyer and Arthur Finnegan, was born August 23, 1851, and baptised August 31, both events taking place at Kilmore. She married farmer Jeremiah Bradley in 1876 and had three sons and two daughters. After Jeremiah died she married John Dunphy, and had one daughter. Thus far I have only found three children born in Margaret’s first marriage- Mary Ellen in 1876; Margaret Hannah in 1883 and Jeremiah in 1885.
Margaret died October 1926, Lancefield, aged 75. The Kilmore Free Press of November 4, 1926, reported:
" Our Lancefield contemporary on Friday contains the following: The death occurred at Lancefield on Wednesday night of Mrs Margaret Dunphy, relict of the late Mr John Dunphy. Deceased was 75 years of age, had only been ill from the Friday previous, and although she rallied in the early tages of her illness, it was evident on Monday night that the end was near. She lasted until 7:30 pm on Wednesday, when she passed away peacefully in the presence of family and friends. the late Mrs Dunphy, who was held in high esteem throughout the district, was born in Kilmore and had resided in Lancefield for the past 56 years. She was twice married, her first husband being Jeremiah Bradley , by whom she had a family of three sons and two daughters. The members of the family are Mrs Mitchell (Yarraweyah). James (NZ), Jack (deceased), Mrs Richter (Murrumbeena) and Jeremiah, who is visiting Lancefield from New Zealand. Of the second marriage there was one issue, Mrs W ('Kitty') Kirk."
Margaret Finnegan Dunphy had been a widow since 1918. Her husband John was 80 when he died in December 1918. According to his obituary published in the Kilmore Free Press on December 26, 1918, he was a native of Kilkenny, Ireland, arriving on the sailing vessell MacDuff in June 1878.
Johanna/Anna Finnegan born c. 1853. Died 1896, Preston, 43 years.
Winifred Finnegan born c. 1857. Died 1935, Prahran, aged 78. A brief notice was published in the Kilmore Free Press after Winifred's death:
" MISS W. FINNEGAN.
The death occurred at Murrumbeena last week of a native of Kilmore in the person of Miss Winnie Finnegan. Deceased, who was 75 years of age, spent her girlhood days in Kilmore, where her father carried on farming. Mrs Richter, of Murrumbeena, Mrs J Mitchell of Yarraweyah and Mrs W. Kirk of Beulah are nieces." -KFP, July 11, 1935.
Judith Dwyer Finnegan died at Prahran in 1900, aged 80.Her parents were given as John Dwyer and Johanna Bourke.
The details of Judith Dwyer Finnegan's death certificate were as follows:
Died: February 1, 1900, at 5 Alpha Street, Prahran.
Johanna Finnegan, housewife, 80 years,
Cause of death: General debility, asthenia.
Parents: John Dwyer, farmer, and Johanna Burke.
Informant: W. Finnegan, daughter, 5 Alpha Street, Windsor.
Buried: St. Kilda Cemetery, February 3, 1900.
Born: Tipperary, Ireland, 58 years in Victoria.
Married: Arthur Finnegan, in Melbourne, aged "about 24".
Issue: Owen dead; John dead; Margaret 50; Johanna dead; Winifred 49.
NOTE: Like my own Judith Meehan, Judith Dwyer Finnegan several times had her name recorded as ‘Johanna’, and even once as ‘Julia’ and once as ‘Anna’. The inter-changeability of ‘Johanna’ and ‘Judith’ seems to be quite common in the early to mid 19th century.
This ‘BURKE’ name of Judith/Johanna’s mother leaps out at me as a possible tie-in with my own Bourke family, and a reason as to why she was chosen to be a sponsor of my great-great grandfather, Paddy Bourke. HOWEVER, of course things are not ever that simple when it comes to my Bourke family, and Judith Dwyer Finnegan’s known siblings give their parents’ names as John Dwyer and Johanna Comans/Commans on their respective death certificates.
That completes my research into Judith/Johanna Dwyer, the Tipperary girl who stood next to the baby Paddy Bourke in St. Francis Church on a winter's day in 1843, making the oaths as required to be his Godmother. Unfortunately there was no mention in the Kilmore papers, or on her death certificate, as to her actual birthplace. The naming of a Burke as her mother was a bonus, even though further research into her known siblings all came up with the name 'Comans' as their mother's name. There was no option but to press on with the next Dwyer on the shipping list of the 'Gilmore'...Ellen Dwyer.
2. ELLEN DWYER.
There were only two marriages for an Ellen Dwyer between 1841 and 1851:-
1843: Ellen Dwyer married Thomas Collins
1843: Ellen Dwyer married Richard Leahy.
Early church records show the following details:
Both marriages were conducted at the St Francis Catholic Church, Melbourne:-
1. Richard Leahy and Ellen Dwyer, both members of the Catholic Church, residents of Melbourne, were married on August 15, 1843. Witnesses to the marriage were Edward Leahy and Mary Dwyer, the latter signing her name with a cross.
Ellen and Richard Leahy’s family were:
Mary Leahy born July 8, 1844, Melbourne. Sponsors were John Duggan and Catherine Dwyer.
William Leahy born April 25, 1846, Kilmore. Sponsors were Patrick Dwyer and Margaret Bourke.
Alicia LEHY born May 7, 1848, Kilmore. No sponsors given.
Richard Leahy born November 29, 1851, Kilmore. Sponsors Edmund Dwyer and Winifred Dwyer.
I favour this Ellen Dwyer as being the one who immigrated on board the ship ‘Gilmour’ in late 1841 because of the association with Kilmore as well as the familiar names appearing as sponsors to her children.
I cannot locate a death certificate for Ellen Dwyer Leahy. Several family trees on Ancestry.com state that she died c. 1852, and that her husband Richard remarried a woman named Margaret O’Callaghan in the same year. I cannot find any trace of these events, despite extensive searching under various spellings and name combinations.
The Ancestry trees state that Richard and his family moved to Howlong, where Richard died in 1892. They also attribute a daughter named Johanna to Richard’s second marriage to Margaret O’Callaghan. According to these trees, Ellen Dwyer’s son Richard Leahy died in the Temora district in 1905 (an entry in the NSW death index corresponds with this- Richard Leahy died 1905,Temora district, son of Richard and Ellen)
Daughter Alice Leahy gave birth to an illegitimate daughter named Ellen Mary Leahy in Kilmore in c.1872. The family moved to the Howlong district of NSW soon after. In an article about Ellen Mary Leahy’s death by suicide in 1889, aged only 17 years, there is reference to a younger sister. This makes me wonder if Ellen was being brought up as a child of Richard Leahy Jnr, who had married Margaret O’Hara in 1874. As well as having four sons ( Richard James born 1875; Christopher P. Born 1881; William F born 1884 and Alfred E born 1886), they also had a daughter, Rosanna Leahy, born in 1879.
(NOTE: There is a record for Alice Leahy’s death at Collingwood in 1898, aged 48, parents Richard Leahy and Ellen Dwyer.)
The articles mention Ellen as being in the company of a nine year old sister just prior to her drowning herself, which puts Rosanna Leahy at the correct age. Some articles also name Ellen’s father as being successful farmer Richard Leahy. Her death certificate gives her mother as Alice Leahy, with no father’s name given.
The suicide of such a young girl received extensive coverage from newspapers Australia-wide, and
many of these articles can be read on the Trove newspaper site.
2. The other Ellen Dwyer married Thomas Collins of Dandenong on November 10, 1843. Their witnesses were John Hopkins and Mary Hopkins. They settled at Gardiner’s Creek, Victoria, and their children were as follows:
Mary Anne Collins born October 25, 1844, Gardiner’s Creek. Baptised Melbourne. Sponsors Thomas Ryan and Mary Ryan.
Thomas Collins born July 8, 1846, Gardiners Creek. Baptised Melbourne. Sponsors Mary Geary and Robert Vas_____
William Collins born November 11, 1847, Gardiner’s Creek. Baptised Melbourne. Sponsors Francis and Bridget Allen.
John Collins born December 23, 1849, Colac. No sponsors named.
Ellen Dwyer and her husband Thomas Collins lived in the Colac district for many years. Ellen died there in 1881 aged 58, the daughter of Patrick Dwyer and Ann Splaine, according to her death record. Her husband Thomas died in 1891, aged 75, the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Collins. There is absolutely nothing to suggest that this is the family of the Ellen Dwyer we are looking for.
Looking at both couples and their families, it was the Ellen Dwyer Leahy who ended up in Kilmore( like most of the other Dwyers and Bourkes who arrived 1840-42 from Tipperary)who is most likely to belong to the Dwyer family that is linked with my Bourkes. Because I cannot locate a death certificate for her, and therefore miss out on the opportunity to reveal a birthplace, I finished my research on Ellen Dwyer here.
The next sibling to look for is MARY DWYER:
3. MARY DWYER.
There were several Mary Dwyers marrying in Victoria in the several years following the Gilmore’s arrival in December 1841:
Mary Dwyer married John Duggan at St. Francis Catholic Church on January 6, 1842. Witnesses Judith Dwyer and Cornelius Dwyer (both signed their name with a cross)
Mary Dwyer, of Melbourne, married John Carey, of Woodstock, on November 30, 1844, at St, Francis, Melbourne, Witnesses were Michael Dwyer and Bridget Hickey(?)
Mary Dwyer married Thomas Flaherty in February 1844. Witnesses were John Findlay and Ann Dwyer. Both Mary and Ann signed with a cross.
Mary Dwyer married John Gorman at Kilmore on June 3, 1853. Witnesses Michael Dwyer and Bridget Dwyer.
I thought that the most likely Mary Dwyer to belong to us was the first Mary Dwyer who married John Duggan(who also arrived on the ship ‘Gilmore’ in December 1841),due to the Judith Dwyer who witnessed her marriage, so I traced her family first. Mary and her husband John had the following children.
John Duggan born January 3, 1843, Melbourne. Sponsors Winifred Dwyer and William ___all
Honora Duggan born December 10, 1844, Kilmore. Sponsors _____ Hickey and Mary Dwyer
Catherine Doogan born October 8, 1846, Kilmore. Sponsors John Griffin and Margaret Skahan.
Bridget Duggan born 27 July, 1848, Kilmore. Sponsors William Ryan and Margaret Ryan.
Unnamed child b 1856 Kilmore
Johanna Duggan b 1857, Kilmore
An extensive Ancestry tree also has the following children attributed to Mary Dwyer and John Duggan:
Annie Duggan born Bacchus Marsh 1848. Died 1915. Married John Crow, 1867. Large family.
Mary Duggan born 1850, Bacchus Marsh; died 1940. Married Ernest Honig.
Ellen Duggan born 1852.Died1871.
William James Duggan born 1856 (most likely the unnamed baby in the birth index) Died 1943.
Patrick Duggan born 1859; died 1940.
Roderick Thomas Duggan born 1859.
James Andrew Duggan born 1864. Died 1956.
Mary Duggan’s death certificate states that she died at Kilmore in 1911 at the age of 90, putting her year of birth at c. 1821. Her father’s name was given as William Dwyer, no mother given, and her birthplace as Thurles, Tipperary.
These details were at odds to what I knew about the Dwyers I was chasing- ie father William Dwyer as opposed to John Dwyer- so I turned to the Mary Dwyer who had married Thomas Flaherty....After completing some basic research, the following Mary is definitely ours...Mary Dwyer married Thomas Flaherty in February, 1846, at St. Francis Church, Melbourne. Witnesses were John Findlay and Ann Dwyer.
Two children were born to Mary and Thomas:
Simon Flaherty born February 3, 1847, Kilmore. Sponsors Edmund Dwyer and Anne Dwyer. This baptism was on the same day as the baptism of John Finnigan, the baby of Judith Dwyer, Mary’s sister. Simon died in Beechworth in 1901, aged 54.
Johanna Flaherty born February 7, 1849, at Kilmore. Baptised February 24, 1849, St. Francis, Melbourne. Sponsor was Winifred Dwyer.
Johanna Flaherty, daughter of Mary Dwyer, married Edmund Francis Kennedy on 17 February, 1874, at Kilmore. Witnesses to the marriage were Michael Kennedy and Johanna Finegan ( who was her cousin, Johanna Finnegan, Judith Dwyer's daughter)
From the Victorian death index, it is seen that this Mary is definitely a member of the right group, as her parents are given as John Dwyer and Johanna...Mary Flaherty died 1879, aged 59, born c. 1814, daughter of John Dwyer and Johanna.
That deals with three Dwyer sisters- Judith, Ellen and Mary....Winifred's turn to be investigated... 4. WINIFRED DWYER.
Winifred was only in her mid-teens when the Gilmore arrived in 1841, so I did not expect to find her getting married in the early 1840s like her sisters. There were two records for Winifred Dwyers marrying in 1854-
Winifred Dwyer married James Clarke
Winifred Dwyer married James Noonan
Both of these families settled at Kilmore and raised families. Firstly, the Clarkes:
I can locate four children born to Winifred Dwyer and James Clarke:
Patrick Clarke born 1864, Kilmore
Edmund Clarke born 1866, Kilmore
Mary Clarke born 1867, Kilmore
Winifred Clarke born 1872, Kilmore.
James Clarke was a wealthy landowner and councilman for Kilmore. He died on 26 August, 1882, at his Mount William farm. His wife Winifred survived him by 22 years.
The death index shows that Winifred Dwyer Clarke died in Kilmore in 1904, aged 70 years, and was the daughter of Edmund Dwyer.Her father rules her out as being a sister to Judith, Ellen and Mary, so we turn to the Winifred Dwyer who married James Noonan...
I purchased online the marriage certificate of Winifred Clarke and James Noonan, and was absolutely gobsmacked at the total lack of information contained on it. I have always sung the praises of Victorian certificates whilst smugly turning my nose up at NSW marriage certificates that quite often failed to record information re. parents, birthplaces and other crucial details. This certificate from Kilmore did nothing but record the parties' names - Winifred Dwyer, spinster, and James Noonan, bachelor- and the date- 22 February, 1854. Absolutely nothing else...there is more information available in Early Church records that there was on this civil registration certificate!
Winifred Dwyer Noonan's death certificate is the document that proves that she is the sister of Judith, Ellen and Mary..her parents were given as John Dwyer and Johanna Coman.
Winifred Dwyer and James Noonan had the following children:
Johanna Noonan born 1855, Kilmore. Died 1874, aged 19.
Catherine Winifred Noonan born 1856. Married 1879 to George Thomas Mutton. Died 1886.
John Joseph Noonan born 1859. Died 1888.
Annie Philomena Noonan born 1861. Died 1941.
James Francis Noonan born 1868. Died 1911.
Winifred died in December 1869, leaving behind her five children, including her last child, James, who was still a baby. Her husband remarried, as was the usual practice, four years after Winifred’s death. His second wife was Margaret McNally, and they were married on May 14, 1874. A further ten children were added to the Noonan family by this second marriage.
James Noonan died on 22 February, 1898, at Echuca, having outlived only two of the five children that he had with Winifred Dwyer.
There we have a family dynamic for the sisters of the Dwyer family that I was looking for...the next blog entry concerns the search for the Dwyer brothers.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Baby Elizabeth Bourke's half-siblings at the time of her birth..
Out of pure desperation in my so-far futile attempt to track down Kathleen Frances Rogers Bourke, I once again turned to the birth certificate of her daughter, Elizabeth Bourke. Elizabeth's adult siblings were named:- 41 year old bachelor, John Bourke; 39 year old James who was married to Ellen McCluskey and raising his own family at Boosey; 37 year old Margaret, my gg grandmother who with her husband Paddy Bourke was having children at Burramine; 35 year old Bridget from nearby Dookie who had married farmer Michael Moylan and was building a family on their farm; bachelor Thomas aged 30; 27 year old Timothy who had two years previously married Mary Anne Howard, and 25 year old bachelor Patrick. Nicholas Bourke was also named as a sibling, but he had died before Kathleen's marriage to Patrick Bourke.
I was lucky enough in 2011 to be contacted by Dorothy Tuke, a descendant of one of Kathleen Rogers Bourke's siblings, and she was very helpful in that she informed me that Kathleen, or Kate as she was known, had disappeared from the pages of the Rogers' family history as well as the Bourke's.
Dorothy Tuke wrote:
"My mother Eva (Cure) Finch (granddaughter of Mary Rogers) has given me these bits many years ago on a scribbled piece of paper. She states that Kate disappeared (what a shame and I can't recall Mum ever telling any stories, or if she ever knew about poor Kate or little Elizabeth). Elizabeth Rogers married Richard Fitzgerald. Rose married a Mr. Ormsby (a pianist) and they had three children- 2 boys were priests and their daughter was a nun. Edward married a Louise Burgess, and they had no children. My grandmother Margaret Rogers married John Dennis Cure who came from Tasmania, so maybe that is why you could find no trace in Victoria."
I was lucky enough in 2011 to be contacted by Dorothy Tuke, a descendant of one of Kathleen Rogers Bourke's siblings, and she was very helpful in that she informed me that Kathleen, or Kate as she was known, had disappeared from the pages of the Rogers' family history as well as the Bourke's.
Dorothy Tuke wrote:
"My mother Eva (Cure) Finch (granddaughter of Mary Rogers) has given me these bits many years ago on a scribbled piece of paper. She states that Kate disappeared (what a shame and I can't recall Mum ever telling any stories, or if she ever knew about poor Kate or little Elizabeth). Elizabeth Rogers married Richard Fitzgerald. Rose married a Mr. Ormsby (a pianist) and they had three children- 2 boys were priests and their daughter was a nun. Edward married a Louise Burgess, and they had no children. My grandmother Margaret Rogers married John Dennis Cure who came from Tasmania, so maybe that is why you could find no trace in Victoria."
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