Sunday 27 August 2017

Mystery photo of unknown gentleman possibly solved?

Today after a discussion with a cousin I had cause to revisit an old mystery photo from New Zealand.  
This discussion jogged my memory of an email I had received in June 2015 after a query to the Alexander Turnbull Library about the photo.
Fancy forgetting about it for that long.  
My only excuse is that life got in the way.
The above photo in my possession is courtesy of Brigid Simpson and the Lavin family collection of my great grand uncle, Alexander MORGAN in New Zealand.  Photo labeled "Unknown taken in Wellington". 
We have no idea of what connection these men had with Alexander Morgan whose family were all Roman Catholic.

Fiona Gray, research librarian at Alexander Turnbull Library would possibly date the photograph to c1890s.  Fiona kindly suggested the two outside gentlemen in the above photo were Rev James Gibb and Rev James Paterson


Portrait of Reverend James Gibb. S P Andrew Ltd :Portrait negatives. Ref: 1/1-013980-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23228151  http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23228151

Gibb, James (Rev Dr), 1857-1935
Presbyterian clergyman, political lobbyist. Presbyterian minister and Moderator. Wife, Jeannie Gibb (nee Jane Paterson Smith; married 1881 at Aberdeen; known as Jean in New Zealand). See DNZB (Vol 2, 1870-1900, p165-167) - http://natlib.govt.nz/items/22387441
I found this Creative Commons Image which I believe may well be the middle gentleman in the original photo.  Right side image of Rev George Thomas Marshall is from
http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/Cyc02Cycl-fig-Cyc02Cycl0672a.html
THE REV. GEORGE THOMAS MARSHALL, Wesleyan Minister in charge of the Franklin Circuit, resides at Pukekohe. He was born at Leamington, England, in 1853, and held a position as book-keeper and cashier to a firm of English merchants, until he left for New Zealand, in which he arrived in January, 1881, by the ship “Loch Urr.” Before coming to the colony Mr. Marshall was a local preacher in connection with the Wesleyan Church, and became a candidate for the ministry in 1882. He was for one year at the Three King's Institute, as a student at his own expense, and for a second year by direction of the Conference. Mr. Marshall has been engaged in the work as a minister since 1883, when he was appointed to the PAGE 672 Upper Thames circuit. Subsequently he was at Kawakawa, Northern Wairoa, Paparoa, Tauranga, and Opunake respectively, and was afterwards at Richmond for four years. He was stationed at Pukekohe in April, 1899. Mr. Marshall was married, in 1887, to a daughter of the late Mr. W. P. Brown, a very old settler in the Bay of Islands, and has four sons and three daughters.

Photo of Rev James Paterson at right is courtesy of Fiona Gray, research librarian, Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand http://www.natlib.govt.nz/ 

As yet I haven't found further information on Rev Paterson.
There seems to be another.  Image can be seen at https://digitalnz.org/records/1541403/fig-238rev-james-paterson-presbyterian-minister-1869
 but his photo seems too different.

Two men front centre are Rev Gibb and Paterson 1933.

Do you think the mystery men have been found?

Thursday 17 August 2017

NFHM2017 Blogging Challenge Week 3 - River Lodden Victoria

One river in my family history that comes immediately to mind is The River Loddon which, after the Goulburn river, is the second longest in Victoria.  It begins near Musk, just East of Daylesford and travels North for nearly 400 kilometres to merge with the Little Murray River around Winlaton near Swan Hill.

A map of the river can be seen HERE at Bonzle.com

My great-great-grandmother, Mary Ann (Marrian/Marion) PIKE was born at River Loddon on the 10th of May 1847, youngest daughter of Isabella nee BEATON and John PIKE.  Loddon District covers a wide area and the exact location seems to be unknown, although likely somewhere near the Murray River.  


Her Obituary in the Euroa newspaper in 1933 had an interesting snippet about her memories.

THE EUROA ADVERTISER, FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 1933.
MRS MARRIAN MORGAN
The death occurred at her residence, Euroa, on Friday last, of Mrs Marrian Morgan, one of the oldest and most highly respected residents of the district. The late Mrs Morgan was one of the earliest residents, coming to this district in 1851, with her widowed mother, at the age of four years, and has thus resided here for 82 years. She was born in Loddon district, and had a good recollection of the early days, recalling an occasion, when she resided in the north, her mother had to leave her children and cross the Murray, a mile wide in flood, in a frail boat, to obtain provisions. They did not expect their mother to return safely.  After her marriage she resided for many years on a farm a few miles from Euroa, near Mr G. Harrison’s. She raised a large family, four of whom, with her husband, pre-deceased her. Her eldest son, John, was drowned in the Seven Creeks, near the Sydney road bridge, in flood time. For many years the late Mrs Morgan had resided in the town. The possessor of a kindly and genial nature, she held the affection of a large circle of friends and relatives. She leaves an adult family of one daughter (Mrs A. McNay, Yarrawonga), and eight sons, all of whom are well known here and held in high respect. The funeral took place on Sunday last. The graveside service was read by Rev. L. Hume. The pall bearers were Messrs, H., Edward, George and Arch Morgan, S. T. McNay, G. McCoomb and N. McCoomb; the coffin bearers were Messrs G., R., A., J., E., and F. Morgan, and Messrs T., J., and George Morgan jr., acted as flower bearers. Mr T. G. Ferguson carried out the funeral arrangements.


Wikipedia - electoral district of Loddon


http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/585809
Created/Published Melbourne : Surveyor Generals' Office, Dec. 8 1855


Tuesday 15 August 2017

Fleming brothers marry Mummery sisters

*"George William Finlay Fleming was born at Moyhu and was the 8th child of 11.  His parents were John Knight and Margaret Jane Fleming nee Splatt.  George started school at Edi and had to walk 5 miles each day, when the river was in flood the only way across was by a flying fox.  At about 6 years of age the family moved to a farm near Wangaratta.  They lived on several farms within this area during his school life.  George used to tell of how he would have to milk the cows of a morning before going to school in Wangaratta.  At the age of 19 he went to Melbourne for the show.  A group of them went for the evening and George had no partner so Edith Mummery agreed to blind date.  As she said " Thats how it all began."   We do not know for sure of the reasons, maybe he got tired of making regular trips to Melbourne - but about 2 years later George moved to the city where he got a job in a grain store.  He worked there for a short time until he got a more permanent job with Hoeffman's carting bricks to building sites - he carted the bricks to the memorial Shrine when it was being built.  In April 1936 he and Edith were married.  George became a warder at Pentridge - but he would joke that he always had a key to get out.  From there and his family moved to a farm at Timboon in the early 1950's.  He worked the farm and supplemented the farm work with building.  After leaving Timboon he moved to Kyabram for a short time then to Dandenong where he built flats, then about 1965 he returned to Kyabram.  His interests were fishing  and he was a keen shooter.  Graeme relates to a shooting trip to Queensland on which George hit the mark every time without a miss for 70 consecutive shots - he equalled his age which was a great achievement.  He loved the outdoors and he had an appreciation for nature and enjoyed travelling around Australia.  Towards the later years of George's life he would say we are not going up North this winter then the first frost would hit and George would start packing the caravan and be gone before the second frost arrived.  Alma Edith Mummery was known to most of us as Edie and she was born in Dandenong and was the 4th of 6 children.  She must have been a favourite of a particular Uncle, as he put her through Business College, after finishing Business College she got a job in the Dandenong Shire Office and from this she was teaching as a primary school assistant.  When Edie first met George she is quoted as saying " Thats the man I'm going to marry".  When Edie and George set some sort of record on a motorcycle from Berwick to Dandenong that Ron admits he hasn't been able to equal.  Edie was Secretary and President of the Ladies Guild.  She was always involved with the family and taught the grandchildren card games.  Unfortunately Edie was killed in an accident on Norfolk Island while on a holiday there with her sister Beryl."

I didn't find any engagement or wedding notices for Edith and George, perhaps because of the War.

Family Notices (1940, December 23). The Argus (Melbourne,Vic:1848-1957), p. 6. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11312053

A.C.F. Notes (1942, February 11). The Dandenong Journal (Vic:1927 - 1954), p.16. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article215707398
*"Gordon Raymond Fleming was the son of John Knight and Margaret Jane Fleming nee Splatt and was the 10th of 11 children, he was born at Edi. After his schooling he worked on the family farm, and at the age of 21 he got a job at H.V. McKay Massey-Harris working on farm machinery and installing milking machines.  Earlier at the age of 20, he attended his brothers wedding as groomsman, there he met Beryl, the brides sister who was also a bridesmaid, five years later, after World War II had begun, they married.  Three months after the wedding Gordon was assigned to England with the Department of Agriculture to help assemble farm machinery and demonstrate the machinery to Land Army women.  He was there for two and a half years, and on his return worked as a mechanic and bus driver for three years.  In 1949 Gordon, Beryl, Joan and John moved to Myrtleford where Gordon worked in Robertson's grocery store for 5 years, he then worked at Price's Garage as a car salesman for eight years before returning to farming at Rosewhite.  Whilst in Myrtleford Gordon took a keen interest in local football and later in lawn bowls, and his interest in bowls lasted many years.  In 1965 the family moved to another dairy farm at Nanneella near Rochester, in 1970 they moved to Katunga.  In 1985 Gordon, Beryl, John and Jill moved into Numurkah township.  Gordon belonged to the Numurkah Masonic Lodge and was actively interested in the Numurkah Golf Club, his other interests were the Bowling Club, fishing and duck shooting expeditions.  He was also a keen gardener, with fresh vegetables all year around and a wonderful array of colourful chrysanthemums especially for mothers day."

*The above notes were compiled by Mrs Jean Sharrad, a great-great granddaughter of William Finlay Fleming and Ann Jane Knight.  Jean has done an amazing amount of research and willingly shared her findings with interested family members.  She interviewed many family members although it isn't noted who supplied the above stories.
We thank you Jean
Read about the origins of Trove Tuesday at GOULD GENEALOGY HISTORY & NEWS

Friday 11 August 2017

#NFHM Blogging Challenge - Week 2 - Careful He Might Hear You

Brenda Mary Adams (1905 - 1999)
taken 1926 (family collection)


My paternal grandmother kept her secrets very close.

It wasn't a custody battle but a battle for child maintenance which seemed to begin in 1913.  Nana would have been 8 and her brother 6.

I didn't know until a few years ago when I was searching through newspaper archives that they were almost made wards of the state because for many years their father didn't contribute maintenance for their care.

In 1913 he was found in Adelaide.

The first article I found was in the Adelaide Advertiser.

Thursday 16 October 1913
John Adams was charged with having, on April 1, deserted his wife at Ascot Vale, Victoria. Detective O'Sullivan produced a provisional warrant for the apprehension of the accused. On Tuesday afternoon the witness and Constable Mcinerney saw the accused in Gouger-street. He asked him for his name, and he replied that it was John  Gray. The witness said, 'I believe your name is John Adams, and you are wanted for wife desertion at Ascot Vale." The accused answered, "Yes. my name is John Adams." Inspector Burchell asked for a remand until Saturday, in order that an escort might arrive from Victoria. The request was granted. The accused, in asking for bail, said he was a bricklayer by trade and had been in Adelaide twelve months. Bail was allowed in himself of £30 and one surety of £30.
 

I couldn't find any reports after that until the Essendon Gazette article in 1915 and the ongoing saga in later years which seems to have been played out in the Flemington Court house right through to 1918.

Thursday 31 May 1917 page 3
Maintenance Claim. Mary Adams proceeded against her husband, John Adams, on a charge of neglecting to comply with an order of the court granting complainant and her two children maintenance.  Mr. C. J. McFarlane, on behalf of complainant, said that since defendant was last in court, in November last,
Adams had contributed £13 5s on the order, but the arrears to date amount to upwards of £50. Some time ago defendant was brought from Adelaide on warrant.
In Adelaide, he was living in adultery with another woman and was at present continuing those relations and living with the woman at Kensington, while his lawful wife was left to support two children, aged respectively 10 and 12 years.
Unless defendant entered the witness box and gave sound reasons for his failure to comply with the order, he (Mr. McFarlane) would ask that Adams be committed to gaol. Defendant, on oath, said he was a brick layer, and for some time past had only been in temporary work. He had contributed as much as he possibly could, and had run into debt as a result of borrowing to meet the order. To Mr. McFarlane, I admit that I cleared   ? on a recent tender. I am living in the same house with a Mrs. H---- and her two daughters. I also stopped at her place in Adelaide. We are not living together as man and wife and I have never made admissions to that effect. I defy anyone to prove such as assertion. I do not want my children put on the State. I cannot support my wife because I find it impossible to get constant work. Mr. McFarlane: Do you remember the woman referred to suing her husband for maintenance? Defendant: Yes. Was the claim disallowed because the daughter of this woman swore that she had taken tea and toast to you and her mother who were in bed together?
Yes. she swore that because she was promised a new dress. Mr. Shaw, J.P. said the Bench experienced much difficulty in endeavouring to deal with this case. Defendant had since he was last in court paid his wife £13. and it was clear that he would not have been in a position to do that had he been sent to gaol. While sympathising with the complainant the Bench felt that it was advisable to adjourn the case for a further term of three months to give defendant an opportunity of ascertaining what he could do in the way of meeting the order Mr. McFarlane suggested that the case might be adjourned, to be dealt with by a police magistrate. Complainant took the view that if her husband was committed to gaol he would come to his senses and make an effort to pay for the maintenance of his wife and children rather than go there. The Bench did not favour the suggestion, and the case was adjourned till August 21.  

The many other news articles through until 1918 that show that Mary Adams wasn't going to give up her fight can be read HERE

It hasn't been revealed by any family members what happened in the following years and I haven't yet found where my grandmother and her brother attended school in Ascot Vale.

On the 1st of September 1928 My grandmother married her first husband, Eric Ebor Daniels. His occupation was a motor driver and hers a confectioner. She worked for the MacRobertson's chocolate factory. At the time of her marriage she was living at 24 Canning Street North Melbourne and Eric lived around the corner in Erskine Street where his father had a business as a produce merchant.

The next year the Wall Street Crash in October 1929 caused the Worldwide horrific economic downturn of the Great Depression.  The impact worsened in Australia over the following years and many people of all classes were financially crippled, out of work, homeless and in despair.

In these early years by grandmother and her little family suffered even more despair and heartache.

In 1930 (I am fairly sure in February but yet to obtain his birth certificate, the process of which I am unsure of as it isn't classed as a historical certificate.) little Ronald Francis Daniels was born. Again I need to obtain Ronald's birth certificate to find out where they were living but within the next year, I do know they at 10 Molesworth Street, North Melbourne.

Ronald Francis Daniels (family collection)
Location not recorded.

Poor little Ronald developed "Influenzal Meningitis"  He was admitted to the Royal Children's Hospital where he died two weeks later on the 15th of December 1931.

Family Notices (1931, December 16). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 1.
from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203728858
Dad told me Nana always blamed the meningitis on Ronald's first haircut and she wouldn't get Dad's hair cut until just before he started school.

But their heartache wasn't over.
Thirty-three days later, on the 17th of January 1932, Ronald's father Eric died of Hodgkin's disease at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Eric and Ronald's grave
(family collection)
Eric Daniels
(family collection)


His death certificate states the duration of his disease was two and a half years. 
I just cannot imagine how my grandmother coped with all of this heartache.


Family Notices (1932, January 18). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 1. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203187394
The house at 10 Molesworth Street was only a ten-minute walk from both hospitals so on a recent visit to the Royal Melbourne Hospital where my husband had to undergo some tests I went for a walk to see the house. On the way, I wondered just how many times my poor grandmother had walked these paths.  

Royal Melbourne Hospital ca 1930 to 1940
 Author / Creator: Edwin G Adamson 1895-1974, photographer.
from State Library Victoria - No copyright restrictions
 http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/153647
The hospital looks completely different today and I took a few photos at the entrance but never thought to take a more distant one of the whole hospital.

On the 24th of August 1933, only nineteen months after Eric passed away,  Mary Agnes Adams, my Nana's mother passed away at 10 Molesworth Street.

My great grandmother Mary Agnes Adams nee Morgan (1864 - 1933)

At that time the house was owned by Albert John Harford of 86 Molesworth street.
Albert had inherited the house from his mother Mary Ann Harford who died in 1910.  
Mary Ann Harford had owned the house since 1889.

The Great Depression would still be having an impact in Australia when Nana married my grandfather, James Forsyth (born James Musson - long story!) in 1937.
From a child's perspective, I think they lived a happy life together.

My grandparents at the wedding of my parents in 1958.

My grandmother, Brenda Mary Forsyth, formerly Daniels nee Adams.
#NFHM Blogging Challenge - Week 2 - Careful He Might Hear You
by Alexandra at Family tree Frog
Theme - Sumner Locke Elliott wrote a haunting tale about PS and his aunts, custody battles and secrets called Careful He Might Hear You.


Saturday 5 August 2017

The Ancestral Places Geneameme

A fun Geneameme has been suggested by fellow geneablogger, Alona from Lonestester HQ

As family historians we come across all sorts of interesting people and places during our research. In this geneameme I wanted to focus on the places. The countries, the states, the counties or provinces, as well as the parishes, the towns and villages. Our ancestors have a connection to these places. photo and description from http://www.lonetester.com/2017/07/the-ancestral-places-geneameme/
Where do my direct ancestors come from?

A - Aberdour, Aberdeenshire, Scotland  (Farquhar, Forsyth Yule) -paternal
A - Alvah, Banffshire, Scotland (Hay, Christie) - paternal
A - At Sea (Morgan, Bartsch) - maternal

B - Balagan, Foveran, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (Thomson) - paternal
B - Beechworth, Victoria, Australia (Hulme) - maternal
B - Belfast, Canterbury, New Zealand (Musson) - paternal
B - Belgrave, Victoria, Australia (Forsyth) - paternal
B - Brandenberg, Germany/Prussia (Nebel, Shultz) - maternal
B - Bukau, Prussia (Bartsch, Nebel) - maternal

C - Cameron, Fife, Scotland (Mason) - maternal
C - Clunes, Victoria, Australia (Hart) - maternal
C - Crimond, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (Mitchell, Yule) - paternal
C - Cupar, Fife, Scotland (Carstairs) - maternal

D - Derrynoose, Armagh, Northern Ireland (Morgan) - paternal
D - Dualla, Tipperary, Ireland (Kelly) - paternal

E - Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland (Beaton, Dick) - maternal
E - Ellington, Huntingdonshire, England
E - Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (Forsyth) - paternal
E - Euroa, Victoria, Australia (Morgan) - maternal

F - Foston, Lincolnshire, England (Bird, Kellam) - paternal

G - Gallowayshire, Scotland (Fleming) - maternal

H - Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia (Mason) - maternal

I - Ireland

J

K - Kaiapoi, Canterbury, New Zealand (Forsyth) - paternal
K - Kensington, Victoria, Australia (Adams) - paternal

L - Largo, Fife, Scotland (Cunningham) - maternal
L - Limerick, Ireland (Barry, Boyle) - paternal
L - Lodden River, Victoria, Australia (Pike) - maternal

M - Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, England (Musson) - paternal
M - Moonee Ponds, Victoria, Australia (Morgan) - paternal
M - Moreton Jeffries, Herefordshire, England (Blount) - maternal
M - Moyhu, Victoria, Australia (Morgan) - maternal
N - North Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Adams) - paternal

O - Oxley, Victoria, Australia (Hulme) - maternal

P - Puckeridge, Hertfordshire, England (Wood) - maternal
P - Putney, Surrey, England (Hulme) - maternal

Q

R - Rathangan, Kildare, Ireland (Pike) - maternal
R - Rathen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (Farquhar, Milne, Pirie) - paternal
R - Ropsley, Lincolnshire, England (Bird) - paternal
R - Runhall, Norfolk, England (Bush) - maternal
R - Ryburgh, Norfolk, England (Land) - maternal

S - Saffron Walden, Essex, England (Adams, Harris) - paternal
S - Saltby, Leicestershire, England (Lord) - paternal
S - Spring Hill, Victoria, Australia (Fleming) - maternal
S - Stonesby, Leicestershire, England (Musson) - paternal
S - St. Pancras, London, England (Hulme) - maternal

T - Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England (Knight, Lucas) - maternal
T - Turriff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (Thomson) - paternal

U
V - Victoria, Australia

W - Waltham On The Wolds, Leicestershire, England (Kellam) - paternal
W - Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia (Fleming) - maternal
W - Whitfield, Victoria, Australia (Fleming) - maternal
W - Wonastow, Monmouthshire, Wales (Morgan) - maternal

X
Y
Z


Friday 4 August 2017

Morgans of Keady Parish, Derrynoose, Armagh, Ireland

Further to my previous post about my Irish Catholic family I have been trying to find the parents and the deaths of my 3rd great grandparents Ann Lennon (also known in records as Agnes and Nancy) and Alexander Morgan from Derrynoose, Armagh, Northern Ireland.
I am not having much luck.

In the Derrynoose registers, they have children:

Patrick Morgan baptised at Derrynoose on the 1st of February 1827. Parents Alexander Morgan and Nancy Lennon.
Sponsors were Bernard Morgan and Rose McGeough.
I haven't found further information on Patrick.

John baptised at Derrynoose on the 30 June 1829.
Parents Alexander MORGAN and Ann LENNON.
Sponsors were James LENNON and Mary MORGAN.

Bridget Morgan baptised at Derrynoose on the 1st of Feb 1833.
Parents Alexander Morgan and Ann Lennon.
Sponsors were Bernard Barka and Ann Barka.

Ann Morgan baptised on the 8th of December 1846.
Parents Alick Morgan and Nancy Lennon.
Sponsors were Ann and Francis Morgan.

The Catholic Parish registers at NLI for Derrynoose, Archdiocese of Armagh | County of Armagh Variant forms of parish name: Keady hold 194 online images on Microfilm 05589 / 03 for
Baptisms 01 Feb. 1835 to 29 Jan. 1837
Baptisms Dec. 1846 to 28 Jan. 1866
Marriages 17 July 1846 to 31 Jan. 1875
Deaths 22 July 1846 to Apr. 1851

and 77 images on Microfilm 05589 / 04 for
Baptisms 01 Feb. 1866 to Feb. 1881
Marriages 08 Feb. 1875 to 16 Jan. 1881

I found one Alexander Morgan at Rowan, Derrynoose in the Griffiths Valuation for Ireland leasing house, offices and land from Andrew J Crawford.  No results found in Tithe Applotment books for either Armagh or Monaghan.

I found a death record for an Alexander Morgan who died on the 24th of September 1870 in the Parish of Keady.  His age was 75, his address was Roughan, occupation farmer.  Informant was a householder by the name of Catherine Murphy.  This could fit my 3rd great grandfather.

Also in that Parish was the death of an Agness Morgan on the 28th of December 1869 age 65, widow of a farmer, address Fergort, information a householder named Francis Morgan.  But as this Agnes was a widow at the time of her death she can't be the wife of Alexander Morgan.

Valerie Prince, a very helpful member of the County Armagh Genealogy group on Facebook searched in Armagh and Monaghan for an Ann Lennon's baptism, 1804 +/-5 years.
Ann Lennan baptisms in 1802, 1803, 1804, 1806, Armagh.
A couple of trees in ancestry have Ann Morgan nee Lennon's parents listed as Felix Morgan and Mary McArdle but none of these baptisms have a father named Felix.

Elaine Curran, another very helpful member of the group noted that a Miles Morgan and Ann Lennon married at Derrynoose in 1829.
I found that Miles and Ann were having children at the same time as my Alexander and Ann. The ancestry trees naming Ann's parents as Felix Lennon and Mary McArdle have listed these exact children for Alexander Morgan and Ann nee Lennon.
Francis baptised 2/12/1832
Thomas baptised 24/12/1835
Michael baptised 20/01/1847.

So I think that confirms that they aren't children of Alexander and Ann and I am still stuck on finding parents for Alexander and Ann.

Thursday 3 August 2017

My Irish Catholic Family

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
Denomination - Roman Catholic
There was a Cross Keys road not far from John's home town of Derrynoose in Armagh.


Cross Keys:  A common sign in Christian heraldry, referring to St. Peter, to whom Jesus said: "I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven".  The papal arms show crossed keys.
Click here for more information on Cross Keys coat of arms of the Holy See.

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.
http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/108235

MARGARET "ALICE" KELLY was born in 1834 Tipperary, Ireland
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.

Mary KELLY nee MOLOUGHNEY mother of Margaret "Alice" KELLY

Alice died on the 30 Sept 1904 at the 

Photo courtesy of Coburg Historical Society.

Margaret "Alice" MORGAN nee KELLY
Photo courtesy of her 3rd great-granddaughter,
the late Brigid SIMPSON, nee LAVIN, 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.

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 on board 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

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 Thomas KELLY, another 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.

******  
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.
******
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.
Hopefully one day more information or a DNA match will come to light.
******
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.  I haven't found further information on Patrick unless of course, he is actually Felix.
(The joys of genealogy)

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.  Unless of course, I am totally wrong about the Margaret who came to Australia being John's sister.

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.

Death notice from the Mellon family history collection.

John and Alice's children Francis Edward Morgan and Agnes Margaret Morgan who both died in 1900. Photos from LAVIN family 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.

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 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.

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
Family friend of the Morgan's was Father Patrick Loughnan of St. Roch's

My great grandmother,  Mary Agnes Adams nee Morgan,
eldest daughter of John and Alice Morgan.
Photo from LAVIN family collection.
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.
© Copyright Dean Molyneaux and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Derrynoose Roman Catholic Church, Armagh, Ireland

I cannot confirm if this Alexander and Agness Morgan are my ancestors though. 


This post is my contribution to Alexandra Daw's 

#NFHM Blogging Challenge Week 1 - Poor Man's Orange

https://familytreefrog.blogspot.com.au/2017/07/nfhm-blogging-challenge-week-1-poor.html