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

An old treasure

"Advance Australia - Album of Melbourne Views."

In a packet of family history documents I received from New Zealand recently was this little book.

It was sent to my great grand uncle, Alexander Morgan in New Zealand by his mother, 

Alice Morgan nee Kelly, who was my great great grandmother.

On the back page was written "To Alick with Love from Mother, Jan 10, 1893".

The little book contains some very amazing, very early pictures of Melbourne.

   

   

Many thanks to Mary for the parcel.

Trove Tuesday - Dusty Melbourne.

An article in the Melbourne Argus on the 30th of December 1872 describes the dusty conditions of Melbourne streets.

I couldn't help but chuckle at the phrase about half way down the first column
"In the olden days ................................................................"

Travel Tuesday - It's a long way from Tipperary

In the 1850 Griffiths Valuation Cornelius Kelly was leasing house land and office from M Penefather at Fussough near Dualla, Ballysheehan, Tipperary.

Yellow highlighted area is roughly map reference 8 on the old Griffiths Valuation map.  This is where Cornelius Kelly's leasehold was situated in 1850.

Cornelius Kelly and his wife Mary Moloughney married on the 6th of February 1834.
Cornelius had died about 1851.
I haven't found when Mary died but perhaps it was about 1858 as her three youngest sons, John, Thomas and William Kelly, aged 18, 15 and 13 resepectively, sailed from Tipperary to Melbourne, Australia just in time for their older sister Margaret's wedding in June 1858.

Margaret Alice Kelly, (known as Alice) my great great grandmother, had moved to Australia possibly about 6 years earlier and their older brother Michael had gone to South Africa to make his fortune.  He remained a bachelor.

All the brothers except John were interested in mining.  Michael did well in Kimberley, South Africa but contracted Tuberculosis and came to his sister in Melbourne where he died in 1898, age 62,  leaving large sums of money to his remaining family members.  Read Michael's Will.

Meanwhile in 1861, Thomas headed for the New Zealand gold rushes where he was one of the discoverers of Noble's Rush on the Grey River in 1865.  Read Thomas' story. 

William it seems was also a miner but a bit more elusive than his brothers.  I have obtained one death certificate which may be him but perhaps I'll never know.  William's story.

John Kelly became a Tanner and it seemed he had a rather tragic life.  His wife and one daughter both died in Melbourne in 1888.  It is on my "to do list" to find out what happened to them.  As yet all I know is his daughter died from accidental burns.  John's story

DUALLA

Dualla - a charming village in Co. Tipperary, nestled in between the local Kill Hills, Slieve na Mbhan (the mountain of women), and the distant Galtees. A lovely, modern church, a beautiful Grotto erected by local people, a Community Centre, tennis court, all add to the picturesque village on the road between historic Cashel and Killenaule.

At the foot of the Kill Hills, which was once thickly populated, can be seen the remains of Killballyherbry Church, built in the 13th century. This church was in use for the locals before Dualla was built. There is a graveyard nearby, where many of our ancestors are buried.

There are various interpretations of the origin of Dualla, but a widely accepted one in Duche Ui Cheallaigh - the land of Kelly.

A few miles down the road as you approach the main Dublin road can be seen the ruins of a Cistercian Monastery in Ballykelly.

The chief attractions of Dualla are it's unspoilt beauty, and the warm, welcoming and friendly people, who are always ready to greet friend and stranger with a Céad Míle Fáilte.

Dualla sounds like a beautiful place and it is my dream to one day visit my great great grandmother's homeland.