John Patrick Morgan

Further on my theory that Felix Morgan is the brother of my great-great-grandfather, John Morgan, DNA results do support this and also the fact that Felix's wife Mary, "Mrs Mary Morgan of Flinders Lane, sister-in-law," sponsored the migration to Australia in 1855 of Felix's sisters Margaret and Bridget on the ship Calliance.  My great-great-grandfather John was also on the Calliance.

With help from Mary Ellen's great-grandson, Dr Philip Morgan who is a DNA connection with my family and many Morgan cousins I have done some further research on Felix and Mary Morgan's children, who would have been my great-grandmother's first cousins. 

Alexander died not long after his birth in Ireland in 1853.

Agnes Ann was born in Richmond, Victoria in 1854 after Felix and Mary arrived in Australia.  Agnes Ann died a Morgan in 1895 at the Prince Alfred Hospital, so never married.

Then Margaret died at the age of 2 years in 1860.  

Also in 1860, Mary gave birth to Thomas who died in 1900 at the age of 40 years. I haven't found if Thomas married.

About the 4th of January 1863, Mary gave birth to twin daughters Mary and Ellen.  

Mary died in Hosier Lane off Flinders Lane in Melbourne on the 18th of January at only 2 weeks of age. The cause of death was debility, born a twin and very weak from birth. Marasmus certified by L Martin

Ellen died on the 7th of  March in 1863 Off Flinders Lane East Melbourne.  Cause of death Marasmus, convulsions, certified by L Martin.  age 10 weeks.

This may well have been the reason Mary went back to her parents in Ireland.

Notes from Mary Ellen's great-grandson, Dr Philip Morgan -

"Mary Ellen Morgan boarded the Norfolk in June 1864, accompanied by her children Agnes and Thomas.  All ages fit.

Mary must have been pregnant at the time as John Patrick Morgan was born at Carrick-on-Suir Tipperary, Ireland on the 20th of December 1864.

In December 1865 Mary Ellen Morgan disembarked from the Royal Standard with children Agnes, Thomas and an unnamed third child.  

Given Mary's straitened circumstances at that time, someone paid her and the children's fare, probably her father who was apparently prosperous and living in Carrickbeg, which is just over the bridge from Carrick on Suir."

from familysearch.org, FHL film number 101103

Felix and Mary's last son Edward James Morgan was born in Melbourne in 1867 and died in 1957.

John Patrick Morgan went on to marry Mary Ann King at St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne on the thirteenth of February 1901. (source - Marriage certificate supplied by their grandson Philip Morgan)

John Patrick and Mary Ann Morgan had three children

Thomas Alexander Morgan, (1901-1959)

Edward James Morgan, (1902-1974)

John Joseph Leo (Jack) Morgan, (Philip's Dad)

Phil's told me that John Patrick was "described as difficult and idiosyncratic (he's been a cobbler and made his own boots, and they were robust and noisy - mum said you could hear him all over backstage when he walked around!).  He was a great union man and dad followed him into both the theatre and the union.

In 1917 John Patrick Morgan was a stagehand in the mechanical department at Melbourne's Theatre Royal and was for many years a Union member on behalf of the theatrical workers. 

APPOINTMENT OF A CONCILIATION COMMITTEE IN THE THEATRICAL, MOVING PICTURE AND AMUSEMENT INDUSTRY—THEATRICAL AND AMUSEMENT EMPLOYERS' DISPUTE. (1930, September 25). Commonwealth of Australia Gazette (National : 1901 - 1973), 1892.  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article232595276

Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Tuesday 4 July 1911, page 8

STAGE EMPLOYEES.

The third half-yearly meeting of the Victorian branch of the Theatrical Employees' Association was held on Sunday. Mr. J. P. Morgan (president) occupied the chair.......

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11596826

THEATRICAL WORKERS HEARD (1917, April 12). The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), p. 12. from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242690119

John Patrick Morgan died at Richmond on the 12th of December 1934.

He was held in high esteem by colleagues.

John was buried with his wife Mary Ann and his brother Thomas at Melbourne General Cemetery

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/197768630/john-patrick-morgan

Felix Morgan

I'm fairly certain that Felix Morgan is a son of Alexander Morgan and Agnes/Ann/Nancy Lennon of Derrynoose, Armagh, Northern Ireland and so a brother to my great-great-grandfather, John Morgan.

Felix's great-grandson shares DNA with many known Morgan cousins.

But

We can't find a baptism for him in the Derrynoose, Armagh baptism records.  

Although

There are gaps in the records that could account for that.

Felix appears to be a family name passed on through later generations.

For about five and a half years Felix was a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary. 

 Their records state he was born in Armagh.

• 10385 Felix Morgan, a native of County Armagh. 
• Catholic 
• 5 foot 7 3/4. 
• Aged 20 on joining on 20 May 1847. 
• Recommended by Sub. Inspector Armstrong. 
• Previously a labourer. 
• Assigned to Tipperary South Riding. 
• Promoted 1st Sub Constable 1 May 1848.
• Reduced to 2nd Sub Constable 1 Feb 1852. 
• Promoted to 1st Sub Constable 1 Jun 1853. 
• Resigned 6 Oct 1853.

Felix married Mary Hayes in Cappawhite Tipperary on the 2nd of May 1852 in the presence of John Douglas and James Brien.

Felix and Mary had eight children:

Alexander, baptised 5th May 1853 Cappawhite Tipperary. 

(Ancestry and FindMyPast have transcribed father's name as Robt but it is clearly Felix)

Agnes Ann Morgan was born in  Richmond, Victoria, Australia in 1854 after Felix and Mary arrived on the ship Truro.  

Agnes died in 1895.

Margaret was born in Melbourne in 1858 and died in 1860.

Thomas was born in Melbourne in 1860 and died in 1900.

Ellen and Mary were both born and died in Melbourne in 1863.

John Patrick Morgan was born in 1864 and died in 1924.

John was born in Ireland so Mary at least must have returned there for a short while.

Edward James Morgan was born in Melbourne in 1867 and died in 1957.

Then things began to get a bit messy.  I'm not sure why.  Perhaps Felix and Mary's relationship had been strained and maybe that's why she returned to Ireland for a while.

But it looks like things then got a little worse.  

I'm told by a descendant that Felix was an alcoholic so perhaps that was the cause of their troubles.

Felix died on the 19th of February 1878 at the Melbourne Hospital.

Cause of death looks like Morbus Brightis.  

Brights disease is kidney failure so perhaps it was that due to his alcoholism.

The informant on Felix's death was a hall porter at the hospital so it seems he was estranged from his family.

No family or parents are named on his death certificate only that he was 24 years in Victoria.

1878 'Family Notices', The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), 21 February, p. 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article200544498

A couple of years ago I requested a photo of where Felix was buried in Findagrave where I am a volunteer and another kind volunteer sent me this.  

It appears Mary was also buried there in 1887.

We are now seeking any other descendants of Felix who are open to doing a DNA test to hopefully add more information or clarification to our data.  Any takers out there?

Morgan family from Armagh, Northern Ireland

 

My Morgan family from Armagh in Northern Ireland is driving me crazy!

I have recorded most of my research at 

https://morganandkellyfamilyhistories.weebly.com/alexander-morgan-and-ann-lennon.html

and

https://morganandkellyfamilyhistories.weebly.com/children-of-alexander-and-ann-morgan.html

with lots of DNA matches that lead me down various rabbit holes, I'm feeling a bit lost on where to go next.

It appears our Morgans are in both County Armagh (Monaghan/Armagh border) and County Monaghan.

https://ancestorchaser.blogspot.com/search?q=derrynoose

With many DNA matches whose connections are so hard to pinpoint I feel that I am running around in circles.

Subscribers to my blog

 I haven't been very active blogging lately so this is a quick test post to see if those who subscribed will still receive email notifications of my new blog posts since the Blogger platform took away the Feedburner option.

You will see in the side panel to the right a "GET NEW POSTS BY EMAIL" box where you can subscribe if you wish.

I really do hope to get myself out of this brain fog and start doing some further constructive research, new posts and the part I love most, to make contact with more family members.

Genealife In Lockdown - sharing once again

 Oh my, it has been a roller coaster of a week this week.

Regional Victoria is back in Lockdown once again due to covid cases in my home town of Shepparton.

Finally finishing off sanding the plaster joins then undercoating the kitchen ceiling and keeping up with all the exposure sites of the Shepparton covid outbreak has been time-consuming and rather nerve-wracking.

Once again I am so lucky that my lovely third cousin June has shared some old family photos with me.

I was also able to share some with her and we were able to fill in blanks of names in photos for each other.

Our common ancestors are Agnes Mason and Peter Hart.

June's great-grandmother, Amelia Agnes "Millie" Hart and my great-grandmother, Margaret Hart were sisters.

Millie married Edmond Wills Kiely in 1901.

The first photo June sent me last week was the following.

The photocopy of a photo that I had was the following.

Unfortunately, due to computer crashes etc over the years, I have lost my source information for this photo.

Maryanne Hart (1872 to 1963) married George Rathbone in 1898

Margaret Hart (my great-grandmother 1869 to 1960) married Donald Fleming in 1889

Hannah Hart (1870 to 1956) married 1. John Prest 1889 2. Angus McDonald 1905.

Amelia Agnes "Millie" Hart (1879 to 1971) married Edmund Wills Kiely in 1901

Amelia "Millie" Kiely nee Hart

Below is Agnes Hart nee Mason and Peter Hart. 
A copy was given to me years ago by another family member.
Peter died in 1900.

Agnes later married Hosea Matthews in 1904.

Agnes and Hosea, from June.

Again, Agnes and Hosea from June

Hanscom Hart and his wife Mary Ann nee Sadd
photo from June.

This photocopy was given to me years ago by another family member

The name Hanscom has been passed down many generations.

In July 2012 I did a post for the "family history through the alphabet" blog challenge.

I wrote about the Hanscom name in our tree

H is for .......

Handskum and Hart families in Hollywell-cum-Needingworth, Huntingdonshire.

And finally this wonderful photo from June

Front Left is Hanscom Hart and his wife Mary, their daughter Marcella, Agnes Matthews, the young boy is perhaps one of the Prest boys (son of Hannah), Hosea.

Back Left could be Amelia, Margaret and Rose. (These are a guess). 

Alex at Family Tree Frog has set a new challenge for Family history bloggers in Australia to post about Genealife in Lockdown for the family history month of August.

This is my fourth post.

Genealife In Lockdown - Thankful once again

 We're lucky here in Regional Victoria to have come out of  Victoria's 6th Lockdown last week.

This came about earlier than Melbourne due to there being no active cases of Covid found in Regional Victoria.

Goodness only knows how long our little bit of freedom will last this time.

Unfortunately, too many people are defying health advice and keep doing the wrong thing.

 The "Powers that be" are not yet saying when Melbourne's restrictions will ease.  

I suppose that will depend on the daily number of cases and contact tracing results.

Sadly I can't visit my daughter and grandchildren down there until then. 

I haven't seen them now for two months so missing them terribly.

In my first two posts for this 2021 National Family History Month of August, I mentioned being thankful for wonderful sharing cousins.  They are keeping me motivated!

This week that theme once again came into play.

Today I received a photo of a certificate earned by my Dad's first cousin Len Adams 

Photo courtesy of Len's nephew Warren Delbridge

It appears Len attended the Flemington Primary School which was a part of the Essendon district schools cluster.

I found the following article in Trove but the Football wasn't mentioned.

1930 fits with Len's age and the Headteacher of Flemington Primary School being G.J. Neuss.

SCHOOL SPORTS. (1930, December 5). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 12. Retrieved August 15, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4231818

George James Neuss was Headteacher from 1930 until 1939.

    source - FPS School History - Flemington Primary School (online PDF document)

Alex at Family Tree Frog has set a new challenge for Family history bloggers in Australia to post about Genealife in Lockdown for the family history month of August.

Genealife In Lockdown Luck

 

Alex at Family Tree Frog has set a new challenge for Family history bloggers in Australia to post about Genealife in Lockdown for the family history month of August.

In my first "Genealife in Lockdown" post, last week, I wrote about how thankful I was for my many wonderful cousins and friends.  

We were then just coming out of Lockdown number five here in Victoria.

Now we are currently in Lockdown number six due to the super spreading Covid-19 Delta variant.

Today my lovely Fleming family second cousin Carol, who was decluttering her house during lockdown here in Victoria, found a memento of her grandfather Albert Henry Percival FLEMING amongst things her grandmother had given her.

Carol was very kind and shared it with our Fleming Family Facebook page.

Albert, known as Alf. was my Mum's paternal Uncle. 

I have written previously a little about his brave WW1 war service history HERE.

The memento that Carol found today is a Vote 1 card for Alf in the 1938 Preston Municipal Elections.

It was a rather special find for Carol as her grandfather passed away when she was only two years old so sadly she never got to know him personally.

Carol didn't know what year this election would have been so I turned to Trusty Trove and found the following:

APA citation

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS THIS WEEK (1938, August 23). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 4. Retrieved August 8, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12476859

Thanks so much for sharing, Carol.

Genealife in Lockdown - National Family History Month Blogging Challenge

Alex at Family Tree Frog has set a new challenge for Family history bloggers in Australia to post about Genealife in Lockdown for the family history month of August.

I have to admit to lately struggling with "blogger's block" but is that due to Covid Lockdown stress? 

I really don't know as I feel it may have been ongoing for some time. 

I find I am unable to concentrate on any one subject for long and run off at a tangent at the slightest trigger.

Here in Victoria, we have just come out of, what was I think our 5th lockdown.  

On a positive note, I am counting the blessings -

Thankfully our state government have been quick to act, perhaps not to everyone's liking but it seems to be having the desired effect.  

Compared to other countries I feel we have been very lucky in Australia. (touch wood)

I consider myself lucky in being able to visit my children and grandchildren perhaps more than many. 

During lockdowns, my genealife has been mainly concentrated on DNA results and working through matches which is a challenge in itself.

Also asking questions in user groups about solving my family tree program issues.

I am fortunate in that my Dad, brother and many close cousins have tested.

I'm so very grateful for the many cousins and like-minded friends around the world that I have found through my obsession hobby.  

Many of them have saved my sanity by way of cousin Zoom meetings, private messages of support and generally keeping in touch.  I hope I have helped them in some small way too.

THANK YOU ALL! 

ANZAC Memorial Numurkah

I've been in nearby Numurkah quite a lot lately and I am always drawn to the "Saluting Their Service" Mural along the side wall of the IGA building at the corner of Melville and Saxton Streets.

Unfortunately, I forgot to get a full-length image but will remedy that and add one later.

It is certainly impressive.

Done in separate sections for each theatre of war it commemorates those from Numurkah who served.

Facing Memorial Park the mural includes over 151 individual and 34 background images, and a list of the names of Boer War soldiers.

World War 1 - Gallipoli

Portraits - Left to Right

W Williams, W Lineham, W Little, J Lineham

World War 1 - Middle East

M Bourchier, A Devine, A Price, A Waser, W Cumming, W Lynch, T Lineham

World War 1 - Western Front

Portraits - Left to Right

Top - W Sharp, J Miller, L Reynoldson, E Reynoldson, J Cope

Middle 1 - T Lumsden, S Betts, J Cumming, C McKenzie, W Sutton, L Caygill, 

D Henderson, T Lynch, V Nelson

Middle 2 - D Bristol, H Tyers, G Burkitt, E Holmes, A Cumming.

Bottom - E Eddy, W Sutcliffe, E Suttcliffe, H Green, W Stratton, A Cope, G Cope

World War 2 - Australia

Portraits - Left to Right

Top - G Patterson, G Saxton, A Gribben, J Gribben, I Gribben, W Crozier, K Phillips.

Middle  - G Heard, W Learmonth, I Powell, R Thomson, E Patrick, K Harris

Bottom - W Webb, W McCaskill, J Henderson, E Morris

World War 2 - Europe

Portraits - Left to Right

W Hunkin, D Mann, H Dyson, E Visser, F Green, A Vickerman

I Learmonth, G Hunkin, K Moss

World War 2 - Middle East & North Africa

Top - B Beverley, R Mackay, J Laidlaw, H Gray, B Saxton, F Brown, H Hill, J Christie

Bottom - J Thornton, A Staggard, H Gribben, R Robinson

World War 2 - Pacific - New Guinea

Portraits - Left to Right

Top - V Lee,  A Browne, E Curtis, C Newman, R Ladgrove, T Rose, A Wellington

Middle - C Flack, R Harris, B Betts, R Kennedy, K Laidlaw

J Wearne, R Laidlaw, A Aldridge, J Lumsden

Bottom - C Sharp, W Sharp, E Cowan, W Saxton, C Tweddle, A Campbell

F Rowe,  D Wilkinson

World War 2 - Pacific - South East Asia

Portraits - Left to Right

Top - L Stewart, J Gray, K Tyers, J Sharp, C McPherson

Middle - R Cowan, G Shannon, L Venables

Bottom - G Dickie, S Gainey, R Haynes, C Moss, F Christie, A Miller

World War 2 - Pacific 

Portraits - Left to Right

Top - V Love, B Morris, W Dudley, K Jenkins

Middle - S Thomas, R Monk, C Heard, G Campbell, A Boase.

Bottom - G McArthur, L Reynoldson, G O'Brien, K Paternoster

Korea, Far East, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan

Portraits - Left to Right

Top - B Tremellen, L Bristol

Middle 1 - P Dealy, R Bensley.  Middle 2 - G Monk, J Campbell

Bottom - R Hayllar, J Stanyer

Top Far Right - B Swann & Afghan Boy.  Middle Far Right - T Learmonth

Bottom Far Right - R Learmonth

Across the road, the memorial park is also impressive.

THE NUMURKAH MOB REMEMBERED

Brimming with youthful enthusiasm, the images of the 15 local soldiers who adorn this memorial were largely captured on their enlistment day in Melbourne on June 28, 1940, immediately following their respective wheat crops being sown.

Mostly the sons of district farmers, an inseparable bond of friendship had earlier been forged, when they and their magnificent horses were the first to join the Numurkah troop of the 20th Light Horse Field Regiment in 1938.

Following the outbreak of World War 2 in 1939 and news that mounted regiments were being disbanded, the decision was made to enlist in the Australian Army as a group.  In full Light Horse uniform, 14 members of the 20th made the train journey to Melbourne, arriving at the Town Hall recruiting depot where Lady Mayoress Cole was waiting to meet them.  Later pictured marching side by side up Bourke Street, their story was featured in the Herald that afternoon and The Sun the following morning.

After their initial training at Royal Park, Melbourne and Benalla, where "The Numurkah Mob" name was appropriately coined, Jack Thornton and Jack Laidlaw were sent to Officer Training School, and Jim Sharp, on request, joined his father in the Field Ambulance Corps.  Completing infantry training at Wangaratta, the balance of  "The Mob" went to Puckapunyal for artillery training, joining the 4th Anti-Tank Regiment on February 4, 1941.  On parade, one member was ordered to volunteer for this regiment and with the call, "One in, all in" the other 10 stepped forward in unison.  Col McPherson, of the Numurkah Platoon of the 59th Infantry Militia Battalion, enlisted on August 18, 1940 and transferred to the 4th Anti-Tank Regiment on April 10, 1941 becoming the final member of "The Numurkah Mob".

On June 9, 1941, all 12 disembarked from the SS Zealandia in Singapore and were soon dispatched inland onto the Malay Peninsula.  Intensive training on their two-pounder anti-tank guns was soon put to the test following the massive Japanese invasion on December 8, 1941.  Facing overwhelming odds they fought bravely, retreating with the allied forces to Singapore Island, prior to the surrender to Japan on February 15, 1942.

Mob members Frank Christie, Reg Cowan, George Dickie, Stan Gainey, Johnny Gray, Ron Haynes, Col McPherson, Allan Miller, Cliff Moss, Barry Shannon, Keith Tyres, and Les Venables had remained intact, immediately becoming prisoners of war where separation was soon to become inevitable.

For the next three and a half years their bond of mateship and resolve to survive would be tested to the extreme.  During this period they were forced to endure cruel brutality, near starvation, tropical diseases, and horrendous conditions in Changi Prison at camps along the construction of the Thailand-Burma Railway and in the docks and coal mines of Japan.  Sadly, Keith Tyres died on Borneo's infamous Sandakan death march, Johnny Gray succumbed to beri-beri at Hell-Fire Pass, and Jim Sharp was killed in action as an Ambulance Driver during the bombing of Singapore.

Captain Jack Thornton fought Rommel's forces at Tobruk and El Alamein, returning to fight the Japanese in New Guinea and Borneo.  Lieutenant Jack Laidlaw served in the Middle East and was promoted to Temporary Captain for the New Guinea campaign.

The dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 led to Japan's official signed surrender on September 2, 1945.  This ultimately saved the lives of the 10 remaining Numurkah Mob prisoners of war, who after years of torment, finally returned home to their families and loved ones.

To a man, all of these gallant soldiers went on to be outstanding community-minded citizens, supporting each other and their fellow soldiers by holding annual POW reunions in the town for 50 years from 1940.

In Dedicating this memorial to "The Numurkah Mob" the families of the soldiers honoured, together with the entire Numurkah district, salute their service and sacrifice proudly remembering the unbreakable bond of mateship they shared.  September 7, 2014

LEST WE FORGET