Dear Ian

MP260293 Winifred Flanagan - Brogan - Hurley

This article 'Found Dead' on Trove shines a light on how Winifred Flanagan Brogan had 14 children between 1871 and 1892 prior to James Brogans death 1 Sept 1897 and before she married John Hurley 27 Oct 1897, six weeks after James Brogan was found dead from drowning.   
 

The report on the inquest solves the intrigue.

    Trove Article Identifier

    http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article100236265

NSW BDM Marriage 8584/1897 John Hurley Winifred Brogan at Tenterfield NSW

NSW BDM Death 8216/1897 James Brogan

With regards Deb 

Deborah J Freebairn 

Good morning and happy new year

 

a minor correction to the entry for Francis John McDonald, listed as #46, third generation of the family of Alexander McDonald (1813-1900). Although Francis' individual entry shows his service number as 4608 (which is correct - I've checked the AWM records etc) when listed as #46, third generation, his service number is shown as 4609. A simple typo I'm sure, we all make them.

 

Query. Under the entry for Alexander McDonald is a copy of his passenger record card for the British King. It shows his occupation as "NAILOR & SHEPHARD" (sic). This has been taken elsewhere as "Tailor & shepherd".  Alexander came from Kinlochmoidart (see attached letter to his former landlord) which is, and was, a remote rural area at the head of Loch Moidart (Kinloch = head of the loch). While the occupation of shepherd is consistent with the rural nature of McDonald's origins, a combination of tailor and shepherd would be unusual. I think that at least some of the male tailors at this time in Scotland were those unable to perform harder outdoor labour. However, given how nails were made (see attached paper sent by a friend in Scotland) at the time, it is likely that at least some nails may have been made by hand locally for local use.  I see also from the "Disposal of Immigrants" record that on arrival Alexander was hired by R. Campbell of Sydney ("Merchant" Campbell, of Campbell's Cove and Duntroon, etc) at a salary of 26 pounds plus rations. That was a standard wage at the time for a newly arrived shepherd (including 2 of my own great-great-grandfathers) but tailors were in short supply and could command higher wages. It is unlikely that Campbell, a canny Scot,  would have wasted the talents of a tailor and sent him off to be a shepherd on the Monaro.

 

I should explain that Alex McDonald's letter was examined as part of my recent university studies and while that has been completed and cannot be amended, any further use I might make of the letter can be amplified if I can identify him as a "nailor".

 

Is there a contributor to the data base with whom I might check whether Alexander was actually a maker of nails before he left Scotland, rather than a tailor?

 

Best wishes
 

Hi Graham,

Our records show the Service number for Francis John McDonald was 4608.

As to your questions about the occupation of Alexander McDonald, we show 2 images of shipping records for his immigration, one shows occupation as Nailor and Shepherd, the other shows Tailor and Shepherd and given he would have had a broad accent, misinterpretation of his statements would have been very possible.  However, the notes we have in his record do specifically refer to his occupation after he arrived as being a Tailor. 

I recommend you put your questions on our Facebook page to seek out any McDonald descendants and researchers.

I personally don't know but I do recommend you put your questions on our Facebook page and one or more of our followers can probably help you.

Ian, I believe Joffrey is the illegitimate son of Patricia Margaret Thornton (I179). 

Ref Page 41 of “The Journey from Nimitybelle to Nimmitabel”; on the death of Mary Catherine Thornton the distribution of her children is mentioned but there is no mention of Joffre. Mary’s daughters were put in the care of her sister Margaret. It further states that “Margaret’s husband Patrick John Thornton, died prior to this in a horse accident, when their youngest daughter Patricia was a baby. Later Margaret would also raise Patricia’s son Geoff, and run a boarding house ………”

NSW Birth Index

THORNTON Patrick J                      47116/1917       Father’s name(s) not stated           Mother’s given name               PATRICIA M        COOMA

NSW Death Index

THORNTON Patrick Joffre               203376/1989     Father’s name(s) not stated           Mother’s given name               PATRICIA

RYERSON INDEX

THORNTON        Patrick Joffre      Funeral notice   13SEP1989         Funeral                                                             Illawarra Mercury              13SEP1989        

THORNTON        Patrick Joffre      Death notice   11SEP1989         Death    71               late of Wollongong               Goulburn Post                  12SEP1989        

THORNTON        Patrick Joffre      Death notice   11SEP1989         Death    71               late of Wollongong         Illawarra Mercury              12SEP1989

Ida Isabel OWERS

Daughter of William (I38624) and Phoebe (I38625) Owers nee Sims.

Sister of Bertha (I101231).

RYERSON INDEX

THORNTON        Ida Isabel            Death notice   04SEP1972         Death                   formerly of North Wolongong               Illawarra Mercury               05SEP1972        

THORNTON        Ida Isabel            Death notice   04SEP1972         Death    51               late of North Wollongong               Sydney Morning Herald               05SEP1972        

THORNTON        Ida Isabel            Funeral notice   06SEP1972         Funeral                                                                            Illawarra Mercury              06SEP1972

NSW Death Index

THORNTON IDA ISABEL  5541/1972                WILLIAM             PHOEBE               SYDNEY

The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW) Tuesday September 5, 1972 pg 30

DEATHS
THORNTON, Ida Isabel.-September 4, 1972, at hospital, of 46 Porter Street, North Wollongong, Beloved wife of Joffre Patrick Thornton and dear mother and Mother-in-law of Neil and Heather, Frank and Heather, loved ma of their children, dear sister of Bertha (Mrs Buckley), Ted, Phil, Bill and Horrie Owers, aged 51 years, See Wednesday’s “Herald” for funeral arrangements. 

The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW) Wednesday September 6, 1972 pg 58

FUNERALS

THORNTON. – The relatives and friends of Mr Joffre P. Thornton and family of 46 Porter Street, North Wollongong, are invited to attend the funeral of his beloved wife and their dear mother IDA ISABEL THORNTON, to leave St. Michael’s Pro Cathedral, Wollongong, today (Wednesday) after service commencing at 11 a.m. for the Lakeside Memorial Park, Dapto.

 H PARSONS, WOLLONGONG 2 3062.