52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 9 - At the Courthouse - John McCarthy

This year I have decided to take part in Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks blogging prompts. 

The theme for Week 9 (Feb. 25 - Mar. 3) is: At the Courthouse.

The digitised newspapers on Trove are the perfect place to find out if any of your Australian ancestors went to the courthouse for any reason.

Today on Trove I found the following article in the McIvor Times and Rodney Advertiser, Friday, 8 March 1872, page 2. John McCarthy, in this case, is my great great grandfather John McCarthy, with his brother Michael McCarthy. 

John, who was born in 1835 at Clash, County Kerry, Ireland, would have been about 36 years old at the time, married to Catherine (Mannix) McCarthy, with 4 children. His brother Michael would have been aged 20 years. 

Source: HEATHCOTE POLICE COURT. (1872, March 8). The McIvor Times and Rodney Advertiser (Heathcote, Vic. : 1863 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved February 26, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article89691106

"HEATHCOTE POLICE COURT.
(Before J. G. Taylor, Esq., P.M., R Cocks, Esq., J.P, and the Mayor)
Michael McCarthy, John McCarthy, John Long, John Sullivan, Michael Sullivan, and August Carboon, were charged with creating a disturbance in High. Street on Wednesday last.
Mr. Booker appeared for John Long and Michael and John Sullivan. All the defendants pleaded not guilty. The evidence adduced by the police went to show that the parties were, with the exception of Michael McCarthy, all drunk, and were fighting among themselves. As it did not appear that they interfered with anyone not in company with them and they bear a good general character, they were discharged with a caution. "

Source: HEATHCOTE POLICE COURT. (1872, March 8). The McIvor Times and Rodney Advertiser (Heathcote, Vic. : 1863 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved February 26, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article89691106

John and Catherine (Mannix) McCarthy had another 5 children before John's death on 29 March 1885 at Heathcote, after he was kicked by a horse. 

The following newspaper article gives more information about John's sad death.

Source: Local and General News. (1885, April 3). The McIvor Times and Rodney Advertiser (Heathcote, Vic. : 1863 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved February 26, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90145303

"SAD FATAL ACCIDENT - A very lamentable accident occurred about 5 o'clock on Saturday evening last resulting in the death of a very old resident of the place, Mr John McCarthy, of Commissioner's Flat. Mr McCarthy had just returned home with a load of chaff from the township, and after taking out the horse and putting it in the stable proceeded to carry in the chaff through the stable door. He was in the act of carrying in one of the bags, when the horse kicked out striking him violently in the abdomen, causing serious internal injuries from which he died about 7 o'clock on the following morning, after suffering great agony. The deceased was quite conscious to the last and stated how the accident occurred. We believe some of the children were standing by when the accident happened. Immediately after the accident Dr Clark was sent for and saw the deceased about 20 minutes after the occurrence and in company with Dr Scobell about two hours later. Under the circumstances, an inquiry was not considered necessary, thus, we are glad to state, relieving the family and friends from further pain. Very general sympathy is felt for the widow and children of the deceased, Mrs McCarthy being left with nine children to lament their sad loss. We understand it is the intention to start a subscription for the relief of the family in their distress. The funeral took place on Tuesday and was numerously attended."

Source: Local and General News. (1885, April 3). The McIvor Times and Rodney Advertiser (Heathcote, Vic. : 1863 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved February 26, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90145303

Five days later, a notice appeared in the McIvor Times and Rodney Advertiser, as follows:

Source: Advertising (1885, May 8). The McIvor Times and Rodney Advertiser (Heathcote, Vic. : 1863 - 1918), p. 3. Retrieved February 26, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90145247

"NOTICE
PERSONS having Lists of Subscriptions in aid of the Widow and Family of the late Mr John McCarthy are respectfully requested to hand them in without delay to Mr John Long, Heathcote, or the undersigned.
Michael Manton.
Heathcote, 6th May, 1885."

Source: Advertising (1885, May 8). The McIvor Times and Rodney Advertiser (Heathcote, Vic. : 1863 - 1918), p. 3. Retrieved February 26, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90145247

Mr John Long is likely to be the same man mentioned in the Heathcote police court report in 1872. 

Michael McCarthy was still living at the time of his mother Honora (Tangney) McCarthy's death on 4 November 1873, but it is uncertain what became of Michael after that time.

© 2019. Australian Genealogy Journeys. This post was originally published at https://ausgenjourneys.blogspot.com/2019/02/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks-week-9-at.html

52 Ancestors in 52 weeks is © Amy Johnson Crow. 

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 8 - Family Photo - J.W. Smith and Family

This year I have decided to take part in Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks blogging prompts. 

The theme for Week 8 (Feb. 18-24) is: Family Photo.

For this week's theme, Family Photo, I have chosen to share a photograph of my grandmother's family, taken at the time of my grandmother's wedding in 1936. 
My grandmother was the daughter of James William Smith and his second wife Agnes Fullerton. 

This photograph shows J.W. Smith, his wife Agnes, and 11 of J.W.'s 13 living children in 1936. 

J.W. Smith and Family, 1936. A scan of an original photograph. Click the image for a larger view.

J.W. Smith and his first wife Hanora Hanley married in 1897 and had four sons (James, Joseph, Cyril and Ivo) and one daughter (Audrey). Joseph died in 1902 when almost 6 months old. Hanora died in December 1908 at Elmore, Victoria, Australia. 

J.W. Smith and his second wife Agnes Fullerton were married in 1910 and had four sons (William, John, Robert, Francis) and five daughters (Dorothea, Ellen, Evelyn, Joyce and Kathleen). 

Using Adobe Photoshop Elements, I digitally added photographs of the two living children who were missing from the original 1936 photograph: James (Jim) and Cyril (Syd).

J.W. Smith and Family. Digital creation. Click the image for a larger view.

As part of a Smith family reunion, held in October 2017, I created a Facebook Group for the descendants of James William Smith and first wife Hanora Hanley and his second wife Agnes Fullerton. All descendants are very welcome to request to join the Facebook Group.

© 2019. Australian Genealogy Journeys. This post was originally published at https://ausgenjourneys.blogspot.com/2019/02/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks-week-8-family.html

52 Ancestors in 52 weeks is © Amy Johnson Crow. 

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 7 - Love - O'Brien / Joyce Wedding

This year I have decided to take part in Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks blogging prompts. 

The theme for Week 7 (Feb. 11-17) is: Love.

For this week's theme, I have decided to share a newspaper report from 1896 of the wedding of my great grandparents Owen O'Brien and Margaret Mary Joyce. 

"WEDDING AT TENNYSON.

A very interesting ceremony took place at the Tennyson Roman Catholic Church last Monday, when Miss Maggie Joyce, eldest daughter of Mr. E. Joyce, of Pannoobamawm, was married to Mr. O. O'Brien, a well-known resident of the Tennyson district. The church was tastefully decorated for the occasion, and as the day was all that could be desired it tended in no small way to make the surroundings of the wedding pleasant and enjoyable. The marriage ceremony was performed by the Rev. Father Mulquin, The bride was attired and looked well in cream crepon, trimmed with passementerie and lace, with the usual wreath and veil, and her travelling dress was brown serge, with hat and cape to match, The bridesmaid, Miss Annie Joyce, sister to the bride, wore a neat costume of brown serge, trimmed with passementerie, with lace hat to match. Mr. M. O'Brien acted as best man. After the ceremony was concluded, a large number of friends drove to the residence of the bride's parents, where the wedding breakfast was laid out in a sumptuous manner in a large marquee erected for the purpose. The Rev. Prior O'Hanlon presided, and in proposing the toast of "The Bride and Bridegroom," referred to them in complimentary terms and wished them a long and happy life. The toast was suitably responded to by the bridegroom. The other toasts proposed were—"The Bridesmaid," by Mr. Seierson; " The Bride's and Bridegroom's Parents," by Cr. Allan; "The Ladies," by Mr. T, O'Brien; and "The Clergy," by Mr. P. Joyce. They were responded to respectively by Mr. M. O'Brien, Mr Joyce, senr., Mr. O'Brien, snr., P. Joyce and the Revs. Prior O'Hanlon and Father Mulquin.
After the wedding breakfast the happy couple departed amid the cheers and good
wishes of the bystanders to catch the evening train at Prairie, en route to Gippsland, where the honeymoon is to be spent. None of the ordinary accompaniments to such a departure were forgotten - rice and old shoes being thrown after the retreating couple. The presents were numerous and handsome, testifying to the high esteem in which they are held by their many acquaintances. As is usual on such occasions the guests indulged in dancing and other customary amusements until the early hours of the morning reminded them that it was time to be journeying homewards."

Wedding at Tennyson. (1896, August 10). The Riverine Herald (Echuca, Vic. : Moama, NSW : 1869 - 1954; 1998 - 2000), p. 2. Retrieved February 11, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article114993682

A shorter version of a similar notice had appeared in the Bendigo Advertiser on 8 August 1896.

"ROCHESTER, Friday. 

Matrimonial - A wedding took place at theRoman Catholic Church, Tennyson, on Monday, the contracting parties being Miss M.Joyce, eldest daughter of Mr. E. Joyce, of Pannoobamawm, and Mr. O. O'Brien, of Tennyson. The church was beautifully decorated for the occasion, and the ceremony was performed by the Rev. Father Mulquin,of Rochester. The bride's dress was of cream crepon trimmed with passementerie and lace, and the usual wreath and veil completed a most charming toilet. The bridesmaid, Miss Annie Joyce, sister to the bride,wore a very becoming costume of fawn serge trimmed with passementerie, with lace hat to match. Mr. M. O'Brien officiated as best man. After the ceremony a large number of friends drove to the residence of the bride's parents,where the wedding breakfast was partaken of in a large marquee erected for the occasion.The Rev. Prior O'Hanlon presided, and the usual toasts were duly honored. The happy couple left Prairie by the evening train for Gippsland, amid the hearty wishes of a large number of friends who assembled to see them off."

OUR COUNTRY SERVICE. (1896, August 8). Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918), p. 5, column 5. Retrieved February 11, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88989739

© 2019. Australian Genealogy Journeys. This post was originally published at https://ausgenjourneys.blogspot.com/2019/02/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks-week-7-love.html

52 Ancestors in 52 weeks is © Amy Johnson Crow. 

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 6 - Surprise - Ann (Pettit) Peacock

This year I have decided to take part in Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks blogging prompts. 

The theme for Week 6 (Feb. 4-10) is: Surprise.

For this week's theme of Surprise, I have decided to write about my 5 x great grandmother Ann (Pettit) Peacock, one of my direct maternal line ancestors. 

Back in 2006, I was alerted by another Peacock family researcher, via GenesReunited, that the burial register of St Edmund's Church, Abbess Roding, Essex, England, contained a detailed entry of burial for my 5 x great grandmother. I was surprised to discover what this detailed burial entry described.

The entries for burials in the parish around the time of my 5 x great grandmother's death in 1801 only rarely included more than the person's name and the date of burial. For example, the entries for 1801 start off as follows:

1801 

Mary Skinner, January the 10th 

Nancy Madle, an infant, June the 2nd 

What followed after these entries was a detailed account of the sad and unexpected circumstances of my ancestor Ann (Pettit) Peacock's death. The entry covered eighteen lines in the register, instead of the usual one, and spanned across the bottom of one page and on to the next. It gave details about the family that are usually unexpected in the burial registers of that time.  

Anne Peacock, July 19th. In the Death of this Woman there was something so peculiarly aweful, & instructing instructing us all of whatsoever age to remember that in the Midst of Life we are in Death, that it deserves somewhat more than the common obituary Register. Whilst sitting in her Cottage at Fyfield by the side of a window she was struck dead by Lightning. An Infant Daughter in her Arms escap'd altogether unin-jur'd.  A decrepid, paralytick Mother was the unhappy Spectator of this melancholy Event; & a poor Boy, who had taken Shelter from the Violence of the Storm. She left behind her a Husband, & nine Children to regret her Loss. In Consequence of this solemn Visita-tion of Almighty God, & the Circumstances of her young Family, the Bishop of London sent me for their Relief 20 £. To teach us to number our Days, that we may apply our Hearts unto Wisdom.

Just three burial entries below Ann's were the following two burials, for her parents Francis Pettit and Sarah (Bright) Pettit (my 6 x great grandparents):

Francis Pettit, Clerk of the Parish, Decr 4th The Father
Sarah Pettit, Decr 25th & the Mother of the above A.Peacock

Source: "Burial Register, Essex Record Office, Parish Records, Abbess Roding, St Edmund, 1786-1811, D/P 145/1/4.," 1801. Burial of Anne Peacock; digital images(accessed 29 Jun 2009); Essex Ancestors, Essex Archives Online from the Essex Record Office. http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk/Result_Details.aspx?ID=21157

© 2019. Australian Genealogy Journeys. This post was originally published at https://ausgenjourneys.blogspot.com/2019/02/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks-week-6.html

52 Ancestors in 52 weeks is © Amy Johnson Crow.