ancestorchaser (Kerryn Taylor)
♦ April 3, 2020
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My paternal great-great-grandfather, JOHN MORGAN was born in 1829 at Derrynoose, Armagh, Ireland.
His parents were Alexander MORGAN and Ann LENNON.
John was baptised on the 30 June 1829 at Derrynoose.
Sponsors were James LENNON and Mary MORGAN.
John died on the 24 Feb 1880 at the Cross Keys Hotel, Essendon, Victoria, Australia
Cause of death – Chronic alcoholism
Buried Melbourne General Cemetery
John married Margaret Alice Kelly on the 30th of June 1858 at St. Francis Church, Melbourne, Victoria.
St, Francis Church, Melbourne [picture] / printed from stone by Thos Ham.
Thomas Ham 1821-1870, lithographer.
Parents – Cornelius KELLY and Mary MULLOUGHNEY/MOLOUGHNEY
Cornelius KELLY was a farmer who leased house, land, and office from Matthew Penefather at Fussough, Tipperary until about 1851.
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| Mary KELLY nee MOLOUGHNEY mother of Margaret “Alice” KELLY |
Alice died on the 30 Sept 1904 at the
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| Photo courtesy of Coburg Historical Society. |
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Margaret “Alice” MORGAN nee KELLY
Photo courtesy of her 3rd great-granddaughter,
the late Brigid SIMPSON, nee LAVIN and family, of New Zealand |
Margaret “Alice” Kelly
Baptised 10 Dec 1834, Dualla, Sponsors were Laurence Mockler and Judith Dwyer (vicc Judith Mulloughney) which I am told means “standing in for” So it seems that Judith Dwyer was standing in for Judith Mulloughney. (or was it a maiden name?)
Alice’s father’s death may have been the reason for her migrating to Australia some time in the early 1850s. I have not yet found any information on her mother, Mary nee Moloughney, so I don’t know where the younger boys lived between their father’s death and their migration to Australia in 1858.
Michael Kelly
Baptised 18 Sep 1836, Dualla, Sponsors were Patrick Molloughney, Mary Mahony
He arrived in Australia in about 1897 only six months before his death of TB.
Did he go to South Africa directly from Ireland or, like his brothers, did he come to Australia first and then head to South Africa?
Edmond Kelly
Baptised 16 Sep 1838, Dualla, Sponsors were Thomas Ryan, Julia Kelly.
No further information found as yet on Edmond Kelly.
John Kelly
Baptised 20 Jun 1840, Newpark, Sponsors were William Mahony, Mary Ryan. He married Mary ANN FRANCIS. John died in 1905 at Yackandandah, Victoria
Thomas Kelly
Baptised 1 Jan 1843, Dualla, Sponsors were Thomas Quinlan, Catherine Mulloughny. Thomas emigrated to New Zealand in 1861. He married Juliana BASSETT. Thomas’s New Zealand death certificate was the only way I found out the name of the townland in Tipperary that the KELLY’S came from.
William Kelly
6 Jan 1846, Dualla, Sponsors were Michael Kelly, Mary Ryan. William died at Longreach, Queensland in 1899, a miner and a bachelor.
The three younger brothers arrived in Australia on the 15th June 1858 onboard the ship Rising Sun.
They had arrived just in time for their older sister’s wedding on the 30th of June that same year.
John’s age was given as 15 or 16
Thomas was age 13
William age 12
Alice and some of her other family members are buried Melbourne General Cemetery
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| Photo courtesy of Chel Indikt (member of a Facebook genealogy group) |
The Morgan family grave is at the Melbourne General Cemetery.
Roman Catholic, Section F, Grave C53 C54
MORGAN
Erected by
Alice
in memory of her beloved husband
John MORGAN
died at Essendon
24 Feb 1880
age 48 yrs
also their second daughter
Alice
died 5 Nov 1872
age 6 yrs
also
Michael KELLY
died at Essendon
19 Apr 1898
age 59 yrs
also their dearly beloved youngest daughter
Agnes Mary Magdelen MORGAN
died at Essendon
30 Apr 1900
age 24 yrs
also their son
Francis
died at Essendon
11 Jun 1900 age 40 yrs
also the beloved mother of above
Alice MORGAN
died at Essendon
30 Sep 1904
age 69 yrs.
J Hanson (stonemason)
John and Alice’s 2nd son, Alexander MORGAN, was found to be in New Zealand along with his Uncle, Thomas KELLY, one of Alice’s brothers.
Alice’s brother, John KELLY, was found to be in Gippsland at around the time of John Morgan’s death in 1880.
John Morgan had arrived in Australia on the ship Calliance on the 31st of December 1855 along with his 2 sisters, Margaret and Bridget.
John’s occupation was listed as Agricultural Labourer and he was sponsored by a Mr Dodd of Campbellfield.
Bridget (21 yrs) and Margaret (19 yrs) both Farm Servants were sponsored by a Mrs Morgan of Flinders Lane who was named as their sister in law. This sister in law may well have been Mary Ellen Morgan, nee Hayes, who was married to a Felix Morgan.
The name Felix was used as a middle name for John Morgan’s youngest son so it most likely was a family name along with Francis.
According to another family researcher, Phil Morgan, Felix may have been known as Patrick as this nicknaming went on in future generations. We can find no baptism record for Felix but there is one for a Patrick in 1827 which, within reason, fits with Felix documented age in Australia and his immigration record.
Felix (25 yrs) Agricultural Labourer and Mary (24 yrs) possibly arrived on the ship Truro in January 1854 – they were sponsored by a Mrs Vivian of Hawthorn. Felix and Patrick may have been either the same person or if brothers, Patrick may have remained in Ireland.
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Bridget Morgan was baptised at Derrynoose, Armagh on the 1st of February 1833.
Sponsors were Bernard and Ann BARKA (sic) – (Church baptism record)
Bridget married a Bernard Clark in Victoria in 1859.
They had 2 children at Inglewood, Victoria.
Margaret born 1861
Peter born 1863.
Bridget died in 1863, perhaps from complications of childbirth.
I’m hopeful of a DNA match one day with a descendant one day if Margaret and/or Peter went on to have families of their own.
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Margaret Morgan married a Thomas Gaffney at Inglewood on the 24th of September 1863.
They had 7 children, of which the last 3 were known to be born at Euroa in Victoria. Margaret died on the 31st of March 1912 at Collingwood in Victoria.
The Gaffneys are also buried at Melbourne General Cemetery.
I found no baptism record for Margaret.
Recently a couple of DNA matches have confirmed Margaret’s connection.
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In both John and Margaret’s Victorian certificates Alexander Morgan’s occupation is Farmer.
There is also a baptism record for Patrick Morgan at Derrynoose on the 1st of February 1827. Parents Alexander Morgan and Nancy Lennon.
Sponsors were Bernard Morgan and Rose McGeough.
DNA tests have given us matches with a Hennessey family in America who are all descendants of a Patrick Morgan born around the same year in Ireland but they don’t have a lot of detail about his ancestry.
On the 8th of December 1846 an Ann Morgan was baptised, daughter of Alick Morgan and Nancy Lennon. Sponsors were Ann and Francis Morgan.
Imagine my excitement after doing an autosomal DNA test with FamilyTreeDNA and finding Dad and I matched at the right amount of shared centimorgans to be 3rd cousins and 3rd cousins once removed with Kathleen and her cousin Marcella who were descendants of Ann Morgan from Armagh. Ann emigrated to the United States of America in 1865.
We all also share a DNA match with Shirley and her daughter Shaun who are descendants of a Margaret Morgan also of Keady Parish, Armagh. Margaret may well be a first cousin of John Morgan.
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| Photo of Ann is courtesy of her 3xgreat grandson, David Kurtz. |
On the 27th of September 1869, Ann married John Courtney in Pennsylvania. They went on to have six children and lived their lives at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
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| Death notice from the Mellon family history collection. |
John and Alice’s eldest son Francis was born 1860 at Hawstead.
He had two daughters with the char-woman of the Cross Keys Hotel in 1879 and 1881.
He married Emily BENNETTO in 1886 and they had a son and a daughter.
DNA matches with descendants of Francis Edward Morgan confirm our relationships and paper trail.
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Alexander Morgan, second eldest son of John and Alice.
Photo from LAVIN family collection. |
Alexander was born in 1862 at Moonee Ponds. He joined his maternal Uncle, Thomas KELLY in New Zealand where he married Lavinia STUART.
He worked for many years as an accountant for the New Zealand Treasury Department.Alexander’s daughter,
Mary Agnes MORGAN became a very much loved sister with the Roman Catholic Order of the Society of the Sacred Heart.
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| This photo was amongst Alexander Morgan’s collection. It shows a group of men at an unknown location. The closest man in the photo is the Archbishop of Victoria, Daniel Mannix |
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| A family friend of the Morgan’s was Father Patrick Loughnan of St. Roch’s |
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John Felix Morgan, youngest son of John and Alice.
Photo from LAVIN family collection. John tragically drowned in the Cross Keys Hotel water tank in 1907. His widow, Margaret nee O’MEARA carried on as the final licensee of the original Cross Keys Hotel. They had no children. |
I found one Alexander Morgan at Rowan, Derrynoose in the Griffiths Valuation for Ireland and a death record for 1870 in the Parish of Keady.
Derrynoose RC church is included in Parish of Keady.
Also in that Parish was the death of an Agness Morgan in 1869.
I cannot confirm if this Alexander and Agness Morgan are my ancestors though.
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Derrynoose Roman Catholic Church, Armagh, Ireland
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ancestorchaser (Kerryn Taylor)
♦ March 3, 2020
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My 3rd great grand uncle, Edward “King” Hulme, (1818 – 1904) wrote a small book called “A settlers 35 Years Experience in Victoria, Australia 1856-1891”
I am lucky to have a copy that my Mum found online some years ago.
Below are a couple of excerpts from the book.
Introduction
In giving this little “Life Sketch,” I am actuated by a desire to assist many, not only hard-handed men in the “Old Country,” but many soft-handed ones also, as I was, and especially those who have large families, as I had, and who are struggling for a living, and see but little hope for the future in the already over-crowded hive in the “Old Land,” and a still poorer prospect for the new swarms; I, therefore, think a little advice and encouragement to those desirous to “cast off,” from one who has been through it all, will be welcomed by many, —— E.H.
SKETCH OF MY ARTIST LIFE
When living in the Old Land,” over 35 years since, I belonged to a class of which there are many thousands ‑ a struggling professor and of the class I have designated as “ soft‑handed.” I was an artist by profession; studied from a child; never did anything else; and in I850 and I85I had so far advanced in my profession to have the honour of having my works hung in a creditable position on the walls of the Royal Academy of Arts, of which I was also a student.
I married rather young (at 25), and soon had little ones running round. I started fairly well in the neighbourhood of London, at Clapham, adding teaching. Just about this time (I8I7) artists were invited by the Government to send in specimens of their works for exhibition in Westminster Hall, for competition for the decoration of the new Houses of Parliament, then just finished. I was rather too young and inexperienced an artist for so great and honoured an undertaking; however, I thought I would venture. I got my large picture finished, but from over‑study, excitement, and anxiety, my health gave way. I contracted nervous typhus fever, and consequently could not finish the other one, which was required by the Commissioners to enable me to Compete. But Sir Chas. Eastlake, the President, whose letter I still have, said my painting ‑ under the section of “Scriptural Allegory,” subject, “The King of Kings and Lord of Lords “‑ though not entitled to compete, could, if I liked, be hung in the vestibule of the hall; which was an honour I gladly consented to.
On getting up from my long and dangerous illness, my medical advisors persuaded me to go to a milder climate for perfect restoration, and to give up my profession for a time, at least to do very little painting. South Devonshire was recommended. We therefore left our home at Clapham, and took up our residence about four miles from that lovely spot, Torquay. To our residence was attached a small farm and splendid orchard. In this beautiful climate I soon regained my strength. I did all sorts of labour on the farm, so that I got a general insight into all sorts of farming work. This I found exceedingly useful since taking to farming in Australia.
I found many kind friends in Devonshire. (I cannot help naming the Savile family. God bless them for their kind patronage and introduction in my profession!) We resided in Devonshire about four years. We then came again to London, but found a difficulty in looking up a connection again, had to fill up my time in decorating in the various courts of the Crystal Palace, at Sydenham, just then being erected. I however, saw but little prospect of advancing in my profession, or even making a living, and less prospect for a large and increasing family, we having by this time seven children, six boys and one baby girl, besides I had contracted a great taste for rural life while in Devonshire. We were determined therefore to depart for Australia, the land of gold.
The goldfields being at that time in full swing. A wide field indeed for enterprise, and anticipated prosperity, with God’s blessing, for, I am happy to say, I had long sought His grace and guidance, and committed my ways unto him, and was sure He would guide our steps.
In the first place, I applied to the Commissioners of Emigration for a situation as schoolmaster for the voyage, on a Government emigration ship, my wife to act as matron. I presented letters of recommendation, one from the Bishop of London (Blomfield). I was well known to him, as Fulham, near London, where he resided, was my native place. The commissioners said my letters were more than enough, but desired to know the number of children I had. On hearing the number they informed me that they regretted to say that, according to their regulations, this would be a bar to my appointment. Three I think was the number allowed.
This was a great blow to us, as we should have saved our passage money, and had a salary besides. I think about I50 pound as schoolmaster, and wife as matron. Parties told me I could have managed it if I had liked, by getting some of the passengers to take the other four children, but this I could not do from principle. To pay our passage in a general passage ship, therefore, exhausted all our little means.
FAREWELL TO DEAR OLD ENGLAND
We did intend taking our passage in the new ship “Schomberg” just launched, owned by the “White Star Company”. On enquiring at the London office, they informed me that I could send our goods on at Liverpool, but they would not be put on any ship until our passage money was paid, and that I could find them in the company warehouse at Liverpool, consequently, I sent the goods on. We could not however get ready to go by the “Schomberg”. On arrival at Liverpool, and enquiring for our luggage, I found it had been sent on in that vessel.
Now the fate of that fine new ship, I presume is generally known. The captain had a bet with the captain of the ship “Kent”, a well known clipper, and declared “if he did not beat the “Kent” he would knock the “Schombergs” bows in”. On hearing that the “Kent” had made the passage before him, the “Schomberg” was wilfully run on shore just a little way from Cape Otway. Luckily it was fair weather and the passengers and crew were taken off, but with only the luggage they could carry in their hands, there being only just standing room on board the rescuing steamboat. The “Schomberg” became a total wreck.
This I suppose, is one of the most wicked and shameful incidents that ever happened on the shores of Australia. We took our passage in the next ship, the good ship “SULTANA” from Liverpool, on the 2Ist October, I855.
MELBOURNE AT LAST
We were thankful to arrive safely, after a fine passage of 8I days. We arrived off Cape Otway in the night, and stood ‘on and off’ until daylight, when the pilot came on board, and the first thing he told us was the loss of the ‘Schomberg’.
Well of course, we then knew also that all our goods were at the bottom of the sea. We were thankful though, that we did not ship on board that ill fated vessel, but ought we to attribute her loss to fate? No! It was wilful wickedness. I regretted our loss the more as my Westminster Hall picture was among the things lost, as it was the highest class work I ever attempted.
OFF TO THE DIGGINGS.
I started alone with swag, blankets, billy, pannikin, etc., in orthodox style, for a 200 miles’ tramp through the bush. (See frontispiece.) This, however, was not much of an undertaking for me, as I was a great pedestrian, could do my six miles an hour easy, and often over 50 miles per day on my sketching tours in the “Old Country;” being tall (fully six feet), I had a good stride. At that time the Sydney Road was only formed a few miles out of Melbourne, and from the Rockey Waterholes to the foot of the Big Hill (commonly then called Pretty Sally’s Hill) was swamp ground. I found a difficulty in getting over this; I had to tread the thistles down for miles to prevent bogging, and it was raining fast. The contractors were just forming the road, and on the first rise on the other side of the swamp the camp was formed. The men had knocked off on account of the rain. Just as I was level with the camp, I beard my name called out in true Irish accent, and out ran one of our shipmates to greet me. He occupied the next berth to us on board ship, and was ill a great part of the way. He had been a tradesman in Dublin. He was lively enough now, as he grasped my hand and cut a real, Irish caper, with “Hurrah! for Australia and I4s. a day, and wood and water”! He was driving one of the contractor’s drays. He wanted me to stay, as it was far into the afternoon, but no ‑ my alloted mileage was not done, so I marched on.
My first night’s ”bushing” was a strange experience. Rolled up in blankets, at the foot of a gum tree, I had not turned down long (I cannot say turned in) when I was conscious of something being upon my shoulder, and, cautiously turning round saw an animal perched quite innocently there. It was an opossum. I presume he did not recognise me from a log.
He appeared quite content to sit there until I gave him a cant and sent him some distance off.
This ” camping out” is not at all an unpleasant experience, as many might think, and this was a splendid moonlight night. At that time it was far more safe to keep clear of restaurants and shanties as they were the resort of the vilest characters. Neither was it safe to camp out alone with a fire at night, as this was an attraction, and you were pretty sure to get objectionable company. The plan, therefore, generally adopted, was to boil the billy for tea, then, after tea, leave, and go on a little distance in the dark, and turn off the road or track into the silent bush, and roll up in your blankets; thus you avoided unpleasant company. I got through in about seven days. I passed through the famous “Woolshed Diggings,” where the rich claims were, and where the men had to wash the gold off their boots when they left work. There was a “ strike” on just then. The claim‑holders wanted to reduce the wages to £I per day. I was interviewed, and offered work at that price, but of course, I refused, as I was on my way to join my wife’s brothers. I then went on through Beechworth – Spring Creek diggings. The scenes on the diggings were strange and novel to me. Beechworth was the chief centre of the mining district, and the other diggings around were named by the distance from Beechworth, thus – “ The One Mile,” “ The Three Mile,” and “The Nine Mile.” This last was my destination. It was also called “Snake Valley,” from the winding course of the creek. It was late in the evening when I arrived, quite dark and pouring rain, and there had been a long rain before, so that the roads in the township were wretched. At the crossings of the creek it was impassable, and was only indicated by side logs, on which I had to crawl. The worst of it was, I had to wander up and down the creek to find my brothers’ hut. The storekeepers knew them by sight, but could not say where they lived. I was directed to a large restaurant, about a mile down the creek. There were about 40 diggers, just at tea. I walked up and down between the tables, and I think they were the finest, strongest, and roughest set of men I ever saw. I did not see my brothers, though. Came back, enquired at the police camp, also to no purpose. Over the creek again, when at last I found a butcher who pointed out on the bank, on the other side of the creek, the light shining through the calico top of their hut. He lent me a piece of candle to cross the creek with, and I managed to work my way among the holes and sludge, etc., to the other side. And glad I was to get there, and I was as “wet as a rat,” and pretty well tired out. I soon got “a shift ” however, and such a fire as they had never saw before; enough to roast a bullock; at which also I got a good roasting; and after a good supper of beef, damper and tea, soon felt all right. This for my first tramp in Australia.
I’m happy to know that the book is now available online to read online through the State Library of Victoria.
The link is http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/245578
ancestorchaser (Kerryn Taylor)
♦ January 9, 2020
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David Adams was the only child of George Adams and Catherine Barry whose death and further life movements we hadn’t yet found.
Christine Stafford nee Adams, my 3rd cousin once removed and I had all but given up hope but every few years a small snippet of information would show up in searches just to tease us I’m sure.
After his birth registration details in 1866, the next bit of information on his whereabouts was that he was a witness to the marriage of my great-grandmother, Mary Agnes Morgan, to his older brother, John Adams in Essendon, Victoria in 1887.
Christine had later found some newspaper articles that mentioned
a young David Adams in the Flemington area of Victoria where our Adams ancestors lived.
We still don’t know for sure if this was our David though.
David was one of the beneficiaries in his Will.
He was also a beneficiary in the Will of one of his sisters,
Margaret Mansfield in 1926, so we knew he must have been still alive.
I hadn’t found any more family Wills.
The last hint was nearly 12 months ago when I came across an obituary for David’s sister, Catherine McFadyen who died in 1946, that mentioned her brother,
David Adams in Sydney.Then a new record hint in ancestry.com.au came up for him!
A marriage was recorded in The Sydney, Australia, Anglican Parish Registers, 1814-2011 which had been added to ancestry. (I’m not sure when)
This record actually showed a marriage certificate for a David Adams to an Evelyn Maude Sutton in 1938. I thought Nah ……
His age was 71 years and he was a builder who lived in Sydney.
Well, that occupation ran in the family but I had previously found another death for a David Adams, builder so I wasn’t convinced.
Hopeful.
Born in North Melbourne, Victoria, tick.
He was a Widower which would explain his age, tick.
The big YES came at his parent’s names, George Adams, builder and Catherine Barry.
BIG TICK and BINGO!!
It took a while to sink in but you can imagine the happy dance!
After all these years I couldn’t believe he had been found.
I had actually looked at the marriage record previously for these two but due to financial restraints, I can’t spend willy-nilly on BMD certificates.
Chris Goopy, a genealogy blogging friend, once said David would help us find him when he was ready.
He did!
I hooked up with my cousin Christine in messenger and we both began a frantic search for other information.
In the excitement, I can’t remember now who found what but we found his death and funeral notices in April 1951.
Further searching of the electoral rolls determined that David’s sons were John Lockyer Adams and David Bernard Adams.
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| Christine found his death notice in 1987. |
John married Eileen Marie Holmes in 1928.
I haven’t found David Bernard Adams death as yet but we are fairly sure he married a Maisie Lilian Belcher.
On looking in ancestry there doesn’t seem to be any of his descendants researching or as obsessed interested in the family history as I am.
Hoping this blog post may attract contact by David’s descendants one day.
ancestorchaser (Kerryn Taylor)
♦ January 9, 2020
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Private Ambrose Percival TUCKETT
Ambrose Percival Tuckett was born the youngest of 7 children in Nathalia, Victoria in March 1894 to parents Thomas George Tuckett and Alice nee Fleming.
On the 1st of March 1916, he married Violet Maude Gibb at Parkville in Victoria.
Ambrose enlisted in the A.I.F. on the 3rd of October 1916 at the age of 22 years and 5 months. He gave his occupation as Storeman and was married to Violet Tuckett first of 6 Lambeth Street, Kensington and later at 23 Southgate Street, Parkville.
On enlistment, Ambrose was still serving with the Citizen Forces. He was 5 foot 7 and a half inches tall with a medium complexion, brown hair and brown eyes. Religious denomination Church of England.
He initially served in A company of the 23rd battalion but within a month was transferred to H company of the 2nd Battalion then into K company and finally to the 24th Battalion just a week before embarkation on the ship ‘Hororata’ on the 23rd of November 1916.
They arrived at Plymouth, England on the 29th of January 1917.
Five months later he was in France with his battalion which
“took part in its first major offensive around Pozieres and Mouquet Farm in July and August 1917.
The Battalion got little rest during the bleak winter of 1916-17 alternating between the front and labouring tasks. When patrolling no man’s land the men of the 24th adopted a unique form of snow camouflage – large white nighties bought in Amiens.
In May 1917 the battalion participated in the successful, but a costly second battle of Bullecourt. It was involved for only a single day ‘ 3 May ‘ but suffered almost 80 percent casualties. The AIF’s focus for the rest of the year was the Ypres sector in Belgium, and the 24th’s major engagement there was the seizure of Broodseinde Ridge.“
Ambrose was recorded as “Sick” a casualty on the 22nd of September 1917 later being classified as Shell Shocked.
He had pains all over the body, very shaky hands and couldn’t sleep due to the pain.
On the afternoon of the 20th of September, he claimed he was blown over by a shell and felt stunned for a while, very giddy and shaky and was taken to M.O. by Sgt Major.
On the 21st of November, his next of kin were advised he was wounded.
In the next entry, it says he was admitted to 1st Southern General Hospital at Stourbridge with Severe shell shock on the 15th of December 1917.
On January 2nd, 1918 his next of kin were advised that he was in the hospital and on January 23rd they were advised that his condition was stationary and by the 25th he was convalescent.
His next of kin were advised on the 27th of February, 1918 that he was returning to Australia.
Returned to Australia from England per “Dunluce Castle” on the 24th of January 1918.
Discharged 30th of April 1918.
Ambrose went on to have 4 children with Violet.
He later married Harriet Jessie Cayzer nee Albon in 1945 and they also had 4 children.
Ambrose Percival Tuckett died of Myocardial infarction at Leongatha on the 14th of June 1958. He is buried in the Leongatha cemetery.
Remembering our family’s Servicemen
Kerryn's Kin 