hi capers,

was your grandmother's name Margaret ?

Yes, sorry I forgot to put that, Ive tried BDM and cant find where she was born, or her sisters

ok, I will do a bit of research

she married Leslie Edward Richard King in Wellington in 1913
Leslie was born in Australia

Leslie died 13 May 1959 aged 65 (birth year about 1894)
Margaret died 23 Jan 1961 aged 67 (birth year about 1898)
- they are buried in PUBL-005-0001+2 at Totara Memorial Park, Thames

(you probably know all this nut written here to 'jog' readers memories)

if I find anything I will add it here

Margaret should read birth of 1893 ...

tentative at the moment but I have:

Michael O'BRIEN
born 1851 in County Clare
died 1916 in Wellington aged 65

Mary WALSH
born 1852 in Dublin
died 1913 in Wellington aged 61

- buried together Plot 53 R, Section ROM CATH at Karori


cannot find them having any kids yet :)

wow, thanks for that, I tried the cemetries, in Otago, but with her getting married in Wellington I wondered if they moved to Wellington, that gives me something to work on, thanks so much, have to get you to work on Leslies mother MARY McKenzie, and John KING, now thats an adventurous couple, shes from NSW and him it says Methvern, not sure if that NZ or Scotland, I think scotland, he met her and went to Tasmania worked in the mines, had Leslie and went back to NZ, but tracing John King, if a bit difficult as its such a common name, Is Karori in Wellington

yes, Karori is one of the oldest suburbs of Wellington
It was originally established as a separate settlement, not an extension of Wellington proper. As such, it had a separate political existence, and was officially established as a borough in 1891. Both Wellington and Karori expanded towards each other, the two urban areas becoming gradually connected (aided by the construction of the Karori tunnel in 1901), and the Borough of Karori was amalgamated into the City of Wellington in 1920

are you not in NZ??

16 June 1888 - DEATH
At Ngapara, on the 16th instant, Thomas, the beloved son of Michael and Mary O'Brien, aged 14 days. The funeral will leave the Oamaru Railway station to-day, on arrival of the morning train from Ngapara

No I married a Perth guy 40 years ago, and live here in sunshine 10 months of the year haha. Went to Wellington a few years ago on a visit. I do come back about every 3 years for a visit

Well Well, so there was a son also, the girls must have been born in NZ as Margaret was born 1893, and seeing photos of Ivy and Ann they were only a few years younger or older. You do a wonderful job finding all these things out, thank you. Will try finding ship that bought them out

Have got death certs for this Michael and Mary, her maiden name was Walsh, but they had 8 females and 5 males, it could be the same one , but on both certs different amounts of children and ages appear and there was no one born in 1893, so busy looking into this will get back to you.

Michael and Mary walsh were my great grandparents. They left three children in Ireland when they immigrated somwhere between 1880 and 1886. These 3 were brought up by Mary's parents. Two immigrated to NZ with their wives and settled in Timaru. One was my grandfather.

Hello Capers, have done some research, but don't know if this is actually your family. Michael O Brien b Aug 1851 Callaghans Mill Kilkishen County Clare. ( Father James Obrien)Immigrated on his own to NZ. Left his wife and three sons behind. John Martin 12/11/1872, Michael 16/11/1873 and James ?. His wife was Mary Walsh born 1852 in Waterford Dublin ( father Thomas Walsh) and they married 13th Feb 1872.Mary followed Michael and left their three sons in the care of her parents. They settled in Ngapara, Waitaki Otago, NZ. Michael was a bootmaker. They had at least 8 more children. Confirmed are. Richard 2/7/1880,Delia Philomena 1881,Ellen 1883. William Smith 22/12/1884,Thomas 26/6/1891 died 16/6/1881, James Thomas 26/6/1891. Mary hated her life with Michael, he was abusive,an alcoholic and gambled away his money and land. She went to live with a daughter in Wellington. She died there 19/12/1913. Michael lost his money became a pauper and died in Picton, but was buried in Wellington with Mary. All the children except James Thomas left their father as soon as they were able. The reason there are no records of other children is the family were Catholic and the children were registered with a priest. They had to wait until the priest came from Oamaru, often only six monthly. NZ BDM records registrations not births so this is only a guideline to when people were born.That is why some births are registered in the same year in the same family. This happened a lot in rural districts as Ngapara was and still is very rural.

Thanks for your reply, I feel its not the same family, Margaret was born 1893, Ivy 1899 and Ann 1897, that woud have put Mary to old to have children as she died in 1913 at 61, somehow it doesnt all go together. What was your grandfathers name? and who was the daughter in Wellington that Mary lived with when she went to Wellington. 1913 was the year my grandmother married in Wellington. I will keep working on it and go through the electrol rolls. more digging is required haha. Thanks Carol

this is the same family

JosiG, Yes this is one family, and I have been in contact with 3 cousins out there looking one being badjelli and have discovered all these new relatives. Amazing, when they started showing me photos of there own, and that I have had in my possession for decades, all the hairs on your neck stand up . So am working with them now to see what else we can find out, still a lot of blanks.

Are you related?

My Great Great grandparents...

Yes I am one of your cousins. Now signed on as Fenn and looking for the remaining 3 family members not traced: Ellen/Nellie, Mary and Kate/Catherine

Cheers