Family of Mary Catherine Malone & Martin McNamara ...

Family of Mary Catherine Malone & Martin McNamara - Prepared by: John Malone 1

Printed: 20 August 2020


Family of Mary Catherine Malone and Martin McNamara

In the previous story of the life of Mary Catherine (nee Malone) and Martin McNamara we concluded

the story with the deaths of various members of the McNamara family, especially the deaths of four

people within a very short period of timeframe of approximately 6 months:

The events are summarized in the table below:

Date / Year Person Event 8 January 1879 Martin McNamara (Senior) Gored by a bullock and died

21 March 1882 Honora McNamara (nee

McDonnell) – 2nd wife of Martin

McNamara (Senior)

Dies aged 56 years

21April 1884 Mary Catherine McNamara (nee

Malone)

Wife of Martin McNamara (Jnr)

Died of weakness 4 weeks after childbirth leaving 5

children

22 May 1884 Elizabeth Frances James (nee

McNamara)

Sister of Martin McNamara (Jnr)

Died after childbirth, aged just 22 years

11 June 1884 Elizabeth May James - Daughter

of above

Died aged 3 weeks

14 June 1884 Martin McNamara (Junior) Killed in a horse fall on way home from the funeral of

his niece Elizabeth James – leaving 5 orphaned

children

19 February 1886 Winifred Bath (nee McNamara) –

sister of Martin McNamara (Jnr)

Died aged 25 years leaving 7 children

The four deaths included:

Mary Catherine McNamara (nee Malone) was to die on 21 April 1884, from weakness after childbirth,

as per her death certificate: The birth of an unknown child had obviously taken place 4 weeks earlier

when she was attended to by Doctor Healey.

Mary Catherine McNamara was to leave behind 5 living children.

Elizabeth Frances James (sister of Martin McNamara Jnr) died after childbirth on 22 May 1884. She

was just 22 years of age leaving a young daughter and a newly born baby.

Elizabeth May James (newly born daughter of Elizabeth Frances James) was to die on 11 June 1884

aged just 3 weeks

Martin McNamara was killed after a horse accident as reported in the Burrowa News, dated Friday 20

June 1884: Apparently Marin McNamara died after attending the funeral of his niece Elizabeth May James.


Deaths of Mary Catherine Malone and Martin McNamara

Mary Catherine McNamara (nee Malone) was to die on 21 April 1884, from weakness after

childbirth, as per her death certificate: The birth of an unknown child had obviously taken place 4

weeks earlier when she was attended to by Doctor Healey.

Just 2 months later:

Martin McNamara - killed after a horse accident as reported in the Burrowa News, dated Friday 20

June 1884.

“FATAL ACCIDENT”

MARTIN McNAMARA sustained fatal injuries on Thursday last by

his horse falling and dragging him along the road.

“The unfortunate man was unconscious till death occurred on

Saturday evening.

Drs Healey and Ryan were in attendance but injuries were too

severe.

Deceased wife died a few weeks ago.

Five young children are left”.

Martin died on the 14th June, 1884 at the age of 35 years.

His skull had been fractured from the horse fall at “Beverley”, Burrowa.


The sudden loss of both parents left the five McNamara children orphaned! What was their fate?

What happened the McNamara children?

Back in the early 1980’s, I submitted a request to the Genealogical Magazine “Descent” seeking

information about the McNamara children.

The first major breakthrough came via a letter dated 7 July 1982 from Lyn O’Brien of Ryde and it

was her subsequent letters that began to open up and unravel the family history story of the

McNamara children.

Lyn O’Brien (far left) - Malone Reunion

6 October, 1985 - Frogmore NSW


Margaret Mary Hyland (nee McNamara)

Daughter of Mary Catherine and Martin McNamara

First letter from Lyn O’Brien


The McNamara Children

Research indicates that Mary Catherine Malone and Martin McNamara’s first child was born in 1874

(exact date unclear, but appears to be 15 August 1874).

The child, Charles John McNamara was baptised through the Catholic Church, Parish of Goulburn,

but by that stage, Martin and Mary were living at Burrowa.

The baptism of Charles John McNamara was registered under the Roman Catholic Parish of

Goulburn, but may have taken place under the guidance of a travelling priest who may have travelled

to outlying areas away from Goulburn itself. Sponsors at the baptism were Cornelius McNamara

(brother of Martin McNamara) and Mary Ann Jones (sister of Martin McNamara who was married

to John Jones).

Charles John McNamara would have been approximately 9 years of age when both his mother Mary

Catherine and father Martin McNamara both died at Burrowa.

What happened the orphaned children after the loss of their parents?

The correspondence from Lyn O’Brien led me to believe that the McNamara children may have been

taken care of by the nuns at Goulburn. St Joseph's Orphanage, run by the Sisters of Mercy, was located in Clinton Street, Goulburn from 1864 until 1905 when the children were moved to a new site in Kenmore. It provided care for girls aged 5 to 16 years. For me, the above question had been unanswered for 34 years until on the 31 July 2016 when I stumbled

upon an “obituary” which provided a huge breakthrough into shedding light upon the above mystery.

This information will be revealed later in this story.

On 30 April, 1901, Charles John McNamara was to marry a widow Ida Emily Maud Crane (nee

Towner) in the Roman Catholic Church at Molong NSW.

Both bride and groom were 27 years of age, with Charles listed as a labourer and Ida a servant.

At that stage both Charles and Ida listed their residence as Red Bank, New South Wales.

The exact location of Red Bank remains obscure - there are several Red Banks or Redbanks in NSW:

near Port Macquarie

near Bourke

or it may have been a property name in the Molong area

1. Charles John McNamara


Marriage Certificate of Charles John McNamara and Ida Emily Maud Crane (nee Towner)

Ida Emily Maud Towner was a widow.

She was born at Waterloo in Sydney on 27 March 1870, the

daughter of George Towner (a builder) and Jane Robinson

(or Sophia Jane Robinson).

At the stated age of 16 years (should be 18 years), and with

the consent of her mother, Ada was to marry Herbert Crane

at the Council Chambers at Waverley on 11 December 1888.

Ida was in advanced pregnancy and a daughter Mabel

Florence Crane was born at Botany road, Alexandria on 24

January 1889.

Ida was to give birth at Redfern to a second child Albert

Crane in 1892, although the father of the child was not

listed.


Charles John McNamara was to

become the foster father of these

two children and they both took

on the surname of McNamara.

Mabel Florence Crane / McNamara married James Horton at the residence of her parents-in-law

William and Harriet Horton at Bodangara, a gold mining community near Wellington NSW on 10

October 1909.

On the marriage certificate, Charles McNamara was listed as a miner and was most likely also

residing at the Bodangara goldfields.

It appears as though Charles and Ida did not have any children of their own.

The New South Wales Police Gazettes, dated:

28 July 1920

30 April 1924 give an insight into the relationship between Charles John McNamara and his

wife Ida, some 20 years into their marriage:


With the death of Charles McNamara’s brother John

Patrick McNamara in World War 1, Charles was to sign

the Statutory Declaration (pictured).

The document was signed at Portland (north of Lithgow)

and dated 1 November 1922.

Charles John McNamara was working as a quarryman

and living in the settlement of Excelsior, 60km north of

Lithgow.

In the surrounding region are numerous cement quarries

and most likely Charles John McNamara was working in

that industry.


The whereabouts of Charles John McNamara can be further traced through various Electoral Roll

records.

Charles John McNamara (in many Electoral Rolls listed as John Charles McNamara). (Maybe the Police Gazette warrants dated 1920 and 1924 were a factor in the name reversal)

Charles John

McNamara (or John

Charles McNamara)

Year Record Address Occupation

1916 Registrar General Office

Document

58 Holmsdale St, Marrickville secretary

1933 Electoral Roll 18 Wellesley St, Summer Hill labourer



1936 Electoral Roll Valley Heights, Pymble Road

Frenchs Forest

labourer


Frenchs Forest

labourer


Frenchs Forest

labourer

1943 Electoral Roll 18 Wellesley St, Summer Hill retired

In 1841 when the death certificate of Charles John McNamara’s

brother Martin was certified, Charles John McNamara gave his

address as: 53 Boyle Street, Enfield

Charles John McNamara died at Liverpool Hospital on 3 August 1943 aged 68 years.

The cause of death was listed as Cancer of the Prostate. Charles was buried at Rookwood Cemetery

the following day.

Death Certificate details were provided by Lily Coleman, a cousin of Charles John McNamara who

was also residing at 18 Wellesley St, Summer Hill.

Lily Coleman was the daughter of John McNamara and Frances Reid (uncle and aunt of Charles John

McNamara) and the wife of Sydney Charles Coleman.

Note: In 2007, Anne Wymark (McNamara Researcher) discovered documentation dated 26 April, 1921, relating to the

Divorce proceedings of:

Sidney Charles Coleman

Lily Louisa Coleman

The Co-respondent in these proceedings was listed as Charles Frederick McNamara (aka Charles John McNamara).

The documentation clearly indicates that Lily Coleman and Charles John McNamara were living together as a couple.


Children of Ida McNamara (formerly Crane - nee Towner)

and

Foster Children of John Charles McNamara

Mabel Florence Horton (previously McNamara – nee Crane) died aged 69 years at St George Hospital

in outback Queensland on 25 July 1957 and was buried in the St George Cemetery.

Mabel Florence Horton had spent the last 27 years of her life in Queensland after moving from NSW.

She had 10 children, 8 being alive and 2 deceased when she passed away.

Her daughter Phyllis Zirbel, 42 Winton Street, Goondawindi Qld corresponded with me during the

1980’s and provided most of the family documentation.


Mabel Florence (later Horton) had a son George

Henry “Darby” McNamara.

“Darby” McNamara was born at Urandangi in

outback Queensland before his mother Mabel

Florence was married to James Horton.

According to Phyllis Zirbel, “Darby” McNamara

was not mentioned on his mother’s death

certificate.

According to Phyllis Zirbel, Albert Crane / McNamara was known by his half-sister Mabel Florence

Horton and that he apparently had a “large family”.

The life story of Albert McNamara remains quite scanty. The basic facts include:

Albert McNamara married Eveline May Limpus at Rockhampton Qld on 6 December 1937.

Albert died at Gympie Qld on 11 August 1966 aged 74 years.


Mary Josephine McNamara, the second child of Mary Catherine Malone and Martin McNamara Jnr

was born on 11 May 1876. She was most likely born on the property “Ann’s Vale” at Burrowa.

Mary Josephine McNamara would have been approximately 7 years of age when both her mother

Mary Catherine and father Martin McNamara died at Burrowa.

Early childhood fate of the McNamara children revealed later in the article.

At the age of 26 years Mary Josephine McNamara was to marry Robert Mason, a labourer and fellow

native of Burrowa. Mary Josephine was a domestic servant living in Wellesley Street, Summer Hill.

The marriage was celebrated

on 2 February 1903 and took

place at St Thomas Roman

Catholic Church at

Lewisham, Petersham.

Robert Mason was the son of William Mason, a station hand, and Isabella Small.

Their two children:

o William Robert Mason born 1904

and

o Ethel Louise Mason born 1906 were both registered at Yass indicating that in their early

married years they were actually living in the Yass area or possibly even still in the Boorowa

region.

2. Mary Josephine McNamara


In the Australian Electoral Roll of 1913 Mary Josephine and Robert Augustine Mason were residing

at 33 Weston Street in Summer Hill.

Mary Josephine was living at home employed in domestic duties while Robert Mason was working as

a chainman (possibly a surveyor’s assistant).

In his obituary it makes mention that Robert works for the NSW Railways, so his chainman job may

have been associated with the railways.

The 1930, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1916 and 1937 Electoral Rolls shows that Mary Josephine and Robert

Augustine Mason had moved house at 10 Fifth Avenue, Lidcombe.

Later the street has a suburb name change to Berala in the subdivision of Flemington.

Robert Augustine

Mason is still working

as a chainman.

1930 – Son William Robert Mason, a labourer, was living with his parents

Robert Augustine

Mason is now working

as a watchman. Robert

was approx. 61 years of

age, so may have been

retired from NSW

Railways and possibly

employed as eg a

nightwatchman

1936 – Son Robert William Mason married Eileen Edna McLister at Auburn in 1934 and is

listed in the 1936 Electoral Roll residing with her husband and her “in-laws” at 55 Third

Avenue, Berala.

1913

1930

1933

1934

1936


Mary Josephine Mason (nee McNamara) died at her home at Berala on 11 January 1841 aged 64 years

and is buried in Rookwood Cemetery.

Name: Mary Josephine Mason

Birth Date: abt 1877

Death Date: 11 Jan 1941

Age: 64

Burial Place: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Cemetery: Rookwood

Section: 15

Row: 25

Denomination: Catholic Mortuary 2 & 3

It appears as though her husband Robert Mason soon moved to Young, New South Wales where his

brother William lived. He was to enter the Old People’s Home at Young where he resided for two

years before his death there on 26 July 1844, aged 72 years.

The following obituary was published in the “Murrumburrah Signal & County of Harden Advocate”

dated Thursday 3 August 1944.

Robert Mason Headstone – Young Cemetery

1. Margaret Mary McNamara

The reference to Isabel Small is an error – that was his

mother – his wife was Mary Josephine (nee McNamara).


The third child of Mary Catherine Malone and Martin McNamara, Margaret Mary McNamara, was

born at “Ann’s Vale”, Burrowa on 15 December 1877 and baptised at nearby Frogmore a week later

by Catholic Priest T Long.

Witnesses at the baptism were John Jones and his wife Mary Ann (nee McNamara), the sister of

Martin McNamara (snr).

The baptism took place at Frogmore. Frogmore was prospering quite well in 1875 when a school was

opened and Father John Dunne (Parish Priest) built the Church of the Assumption, a weatherboard

structure that served the district Catholics for 40 years.

It is likely then, that Margaret Mary McNamara was baptised in the Church of the Assumption at

Frogmore. The priest Father T Long was posted to Burrowa in 1877.

As mentioned earlier, the first major breakthrough came via a letter dated 7 July 1982 from Lyn O’Brien of Ryde and it was her subsequent

letters that began to open up and unravel the family history story of the McNamara children, especially that of her grandmother:

Margaret Mary Hyland (nee McNamara).

Margaret Mary McNamara would have been approximately 6 years of age when both her mother

Mary Catherine and father Martin McNamara died at Burrowa.

As per the above letter, Margaret Mary and her siblings may have been taken care of by the nuns at

Goulburn.


3. Margaret Mary McNamara

First letter from Lyn O’Brien


Margaret Mary McNamara was to marry Herbert Augustus Hyland at Wagga Wagga NSW on 16

August, 1902. Herbert Augustus (or Augustine) Hyland was born at Wagga Wagga on 5 October

1879, the son of Luke Hyland and Rhonda Emisson (nee Hatton).

When married, Margaret Mary would have been 24 years of age, while Herbert Hyland was just 2

years younger aged 22 years.

Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950 Name: Margaret McNamara

Spouse Name: Hubert (Herbert) A Hyland

Marriage Date: 1902

Marriage Place: New South Wales

Registration Place: Sydney, New South Wales

Registration Year: 1902

Registration Number: 5862

In their early years of marriage, Herbert and Margaret Hyland appeared to have been on the move,

as is indicated by the birth of their children, before settling at Croydon Park in Sydney.

Children:

Claude Augustine born 22 June 1904 at Moss Vale

Clifford Luke born 10 July 1905 at Tamworth

Elaine Margaret Mary born 23 August 1906 at Tamworth

Geoffrey born 4 April 1909 at Tingha (212 km north of Tamworth)

Gweneth born 22 July 1911 at Tingha

Florence Mary born 7 December 1913 at Croydon Park, Sydney

Kathleen Theresa born 24 January 1915 at Croydon Park, Sydney

Joy Patricia Margaret born 18 June 1924 at Croydon Park, Sydney

Tingha - Tin was discovered in the area in the 1870's and this led to a rapid growth in its

population as thousands flocked to the area. At the height of the tin mining era, the township

had a population of between 7000 and 8000 people. More than 25% of these people were

Chinese.

By the early 1900's the mining boom was over and Tingha's population had dwindled to just a

few hundred people. Shortly after this, many large companies moved into the area to mine the

less accessible tin and once again Tingha saw a degree of prosperity. Tingha boasted the first

tin dredge in Australia.

In the 1930 Electoral Roll, Margaret and (Herbert) Augustine were living in Balmoral

Avenue, Croydon Park.

Augustine, as he was named on each Electoral Roll, was listed as a boilermaker, while

Margaret’s occupation was listed as home duties.

Living with their parents were two of their children:

Clifford Hyland - boilermaker’s helper

Elaine Hyland - typiste

http://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=1780


In the 1931 Electoral Roll, Geoffrey Hyland appears as a bricklayer living at 69 Balmoral Avenue,

Croydon Park, just 2 doors from his parents who (according to death certificate) lived at 71 Balmoral

Avenue, Croydon Park.

The 1934 Electoral Roll includes daughter Gweneth Hyland, who like her sister Elaine, was also a

typiste. Mention is also made of the address “Osborne”, Balmoral Avenue which may also be a

different address to that of their parent’s address.

1935 Electoral Roll

In the 1936 Electoral Roll, Florence Hyland appears as a stenographer.

1937 Electoral Roll


Margaret Mary Hyland (nee McNamara) with some of her family

Herbert Augustus Hyland was to die in Croydon Park in 1942 aged 63 years.

Name: Herbert Augustus Hyland

Death Date: 1942

Death Place: New South Wales

Father's name: Luke

Mother's name: Rhoda Ernestine

Registration Year: 1942

Registration Place: Canterbury, New South Wales

Registration Number: 25538

Margaret Mary Hyland was to survive her husband for a further 10

years and this death notice published in the “Sydney Morning Herald” on

Monday 18 August 1952 tells of her passing.

(L to R) Agnes Hyland (daughter-in-law), Margaret Mary Hyland, Kathleen (daughter), Gweneth (daughter)

(front) Florence (daughter)


Interesting Note:

The eldest son of Margaret Mary and Herbert Hyland was:

Claude Augustine Hyland.

The 1932 Electoral Roll shows that Claude was living in Bullecourt Street, Cootamundra and working

as a telegraphist.

Claude would have been my (John Malone’s) 2nd cousin – he and his wife Caroline would have been

living approximately 400m from the residence my family have occupied in Cootamundra since 1971.


The fourth child of Mary Catherine Malone and Martin McNamara, Martin McNamara (Jnr-Jnr)

was born at “Beverley”, Burrowa on 23 September 1879 and baptised at St Patrick’s Church,

Burrowa just over a month later on 26 October 1879, by Catholic Priest, Father John Dunne.

Witnesses at the baptism were Peter McNamara and Honorah McNamara, half-brother and half-

sister of Martin McNamara (Jnr).

Father John Dunne came to Boorowa in 1872 and was the Parish

Priest when the current St Patrick’s Church was opened in 1877.


The life of Martin McNamara has been only sketchily pieced together.

On Tuesday 5 May 1987, this “Request from the readers” was

published in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Some replies were received but they shed very little light on this

family.

Martin McNamara, in search of employment, was to make his way to the mining area of Bodangara

which is near Wellington NSW.

Martin McNamara’ brother Charles John McNamara was also most likely a resident at Bodangara

while Martin McNamara was there (see story of Charles John McNamara).

Mitchells Creek Goldfield is claimed to be Australia's first goldfield. It is located at Bodangora near Wellington, New South Wales.

Gold was apparently first found in this area by a shepherd called McGregor in Mitchells Creek on the Montefiore's squatting run,

“Nanima” in 1848 (about four years before the “official” discovery of gold in Australia).

Newspaper reports of early prospecting are a bit confusing as another Mitchells Creek (now called Sunny Corner) was also a

goldfield and was located 801907 miles (130 km) to the south–east.

The Bathurst Free Press noted on 25 May 1850 “Neither is there' any doubt in the fact that Mr. McGregor found a considerable

quantity of the precious metal some years ago, near Mitchell's Creek, and it is surmised he “still, gets more in the same locality" -

"WELLINGTON.". Bathurst Free Press (NSW: 1849–1851) (NSW: National Library of Australia). 25 May 1850. p. 6.

Retrieved 27 May 2011, which pre-dates the extravagant claims of Edward Hargraves to be the first discover of gold in

Australia.

4. Martin McNamara (Jnr-Jnr)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellington,_New_South_Wales

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article62215293

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bathurst_Free_Press

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Hargraves


On 2 February 1907, Martin McNamara, aged 27 years, took as his bride Violet Ethel Martin, aged 17

years at St Patrick’s Church in nearby Wellington.

(The minister John Aloysius Dunne was most likely the same priest that baptised Martin quite

some years earlier at Burrowa)

Both Martin McNamara and Violet Martin were residing on the Bodangara goldfields.

Violet was the daughter of James Martin, a miner, and Bridget Harnet who was by now deceased.

James Martin gave his written consent to the marriage as Violet was under the age of 21 years.


After the marriage, children followed:

Cyril James 6 July 1907 Registered: Wellington

Horace M 1909 Registered: Cobar

Leo K 1911 Registered: Coonamble

Cedric R 1913 Registered: Dubbo

John A 1915 Registered: Dubbo

The NSW Police Gazette dated 4 October 1922 makes mention of a Martin McNamara (Jnr-Jnr)

living at the “Albion Hotel”, Warren. Martin was robbed of £15 and a warrant was issued for the

arrest of Charlie Cowan. As Martin was known to be in the Dubbo area, this may have been “our”

Martin McNamara.

According to the Death Certificate of Martin McNamara, the marriage of Martin and Violet ended in

divorce on 8 April 1924 by a decree from the Supreme Court of NSW.

Violet McNamara (nee Martin), the divorced ex-wife of Martin McNamara was to remarry in 1832 at

Randwick. Her new spouse was Walter Saunders.


This fact is backed up by a newspaper article published in the Mudgee Guardian and North-Western

Representative, Thursday 13 May 1943.

WEDDINGS

Robins — McNamara

A very pretty wedding was celebrated on April 24 at All Souls' Church,

Leichhardt, when Miss Winifred Robins, daughter of Mr. J and Mrs. W. E.

Robins, of Leichhardt, was married to Mr. Cedric McNamara, son of Mrs.

W. Saunders and the late Mr. McNamara, of Gulgong.

The bride entered the church on the arm of her father, who gave her

away. The bride was becomingly attired in white lace over satin.

She was attended by two bridesmaids, who looked very charming in pale

blue marquisette, they being Miss Beryl Gough, of Mortdale, and Miss

Kath Skinner, of Bondi. The bride's bouquet was of frangipani and the

bridesmaids’ were of carnations. The groom was attended by Mr. George

Palmer as best man and Mr. Reggie Robins as groomsman. They are also

in the forces.

During the signing of the register the bride's uncle, Mr. J. Robins, rendered

the solo "Just For Today."

The reception was held at the Rozelle Hall, where seventy guests were

received by the mothers of the bride and groom, Mrs. Robins wearing a

floral frock with a posy of red roses, and Mrs. Saunders also wearing floral

with a posy of red rosebuds.

After the breakfast the usual toasts were, honoured, and a very enjoyable

evening was spent, interspersed with dancing and musical and vocal

items.

The bride's travelling frock was brown with, green accessories. The

honeymoon is being spent at Tuggerah Lakes.

The articles mentions the “late Mr McNamara, of Gulgong.”

In the 1930 Electoral Roll,

there was a Martin

McNamara, a labourer,

living at Beryl, a small

settlement near Gulgong.


As a side issue, Kathleen Russell (eldest daughter of Herb and Alice Malone) recalls Martin McNamara

living with Patrick Thomas and Sarah Malone and working in the Frogmore mines. She further recalls

her father Herb and Martin McNamara coming home from work very late one night, after obviously

being delayed at the hotel. They were greeted at the front door by Herb’s most irate wife, Alice,

brandishing the shotgun.

The Death Certificate of Martin McNamara is quite revealing:

Martin McNamara:

was an invalid pensioner

his usual residence “no fixed abode”

died at the Randwick Auxiliary Hospital

was a labourer

died aged 61 years

died of Pulmonary Tuberculous and a Coronary Occlusion

his parents were listed as Martin McNamara, a boundary rider and Mary Malone

his death was also certified by his brother Charles J McNamara, 53 Boyle Street Enfield

he was buried on 11 June 1941 at the Roman Catholic Cemetery, Rookwood

he was born at Boorowa

he married Ethel martin at Bodangora near Wellington when aged 27 years

his children were listed as Thomas, Horace (ages unknown), male & female (unknown)

Martin McNamara’s former wife Violet Ethel (later Saunders) died on 20 July 1952 and funeral

arrangements took place at the Macquarie Park Cemetery and Crematorium in North Ryde.


Family of Martin McNamara and Ethel (nee Martin – later Saunders)

Research into the family of Martin and Ethel McNamara is at a very early stage.

Cyril James McNamara

o Cyril was born at Bodangara near Wellington on 6 July 1907

o Cyril married Moreen Doyle in Queensland in 1935

o Cyril enlisted in the Australian Army (World War 2)


Horace McNamara

o Horace was born 1909 in Cobar

o Horace is mentioned as a child in Martin McNamara’s death certificate

Leo Kelvin McNamara

o Leo was born in 1911 and registered at Coonamble

o Leo died 22 November 1963 in Rockdale, Sydney

Cedric Roy McNamara

o Cedric was born 22 July 1913 in Dubbo

o Cedric enlisted in the Australian Army (World War 2)

Thomas McNamara

o Mentioned on Martin McNamara’s death certificate

John Albert McNamara

o Died 1979


For some years it was thought that there may have been a breakdown of the relationship between

Mary Catherine and Martin McNamara as the baptismal notice below relates to:

John Patrick McNamara was born at “Ann’s Vale”, Burrowa on 17 March 1881 (not 12 March as above)

and baptised by Father E J Fallon, six weeks later, on 24 April 1881 at St Patrick’s Church, Burrowa.

Mary Malone was listed as the mother, but the father was listed as Michael McNamara.

(It was thought that Michael McNamara was the younger brother of Martin McNamara but Anne

Wymark (an authority and long time researcher on the McNamara family has indicated the nowhere in

the McNamara family is there any evidence of his existance).

The mention of Michael McNamara appears to be a clerical naming error made by the baptising

priest Father Fallon. The priest Father E J Fallon was transferred to Burrowa in 1878.

The parentage listing is also echoed in the Births, Deaths and Marriage Civil Registration as below

but would have simply been a copy of the above error. Witnesses at the baptism were John McNamara

(a brother of Martin), along with Catherine Hyde.

5 James Patrick McNamara

McNamara


As mentioned in the introduction to the article, in the next couple of years there were a succession of

events and tragedies that befell the McNamara family in basically a 6 to 12 month period:

In the context of the life story of Mary Catherine and Martin McNamara we pick up the threads:

Mary Catherine McNamara was again pregnant in the second half of 1883

Mary Catherine McNamara (nee Malone) was to die on 21 April 1884, from weakness after

childbirth, as per her death certificate: The birth of an unknown child had obviously taken place

4 weeks earlier when she was attended to by Doctor Healey

James Patrick McNamara would have been just 3 years of age when his mother Mary Catherine

McNamara died, his father Michael McNamara died and his step-father Martin McNamara died.


When John Patrick McNamara answered

the call and joined the Australian Imperial

Forces on 31 January 1916, at the

beginning of World War 1, his occupation

was listed as a stockman and drover.

John Patrick was 34 years and 10 months

of age.

He listed as his “next of kin” his sister

Mary Mason

33 Weston Street

Petersham


Upon enlistment John Patrick’s file listed the

following attributes:

5 ft 3 inches tall

Weight – 110 lbs (only 45 kg – jockey size)

Blue eyes

Dark hair, going grey

Roman Catholic

Scar on the left groin

John Patrick McNamara was sent to the Army

Camp at Casula.

(Casula is a suburb of Sydney 35km south west of

the central business district)

During the First World War, a large Australian Imperial Forces recruitment and training reserve was located in Casula - a fact reflected by the name of one of its major residential streets, "Reserve Road". This camp became briefly notorious in 1916 when a large mob of soldiers rebelled against the strict training regimen, marched on nearby Liverpool, ransacked and looted several pubs, hijacked several trains to Central Station in Sydney and continued their drunken rioting, resulting in the Military Police shooting dead one rioter.

John Patrick McNamara most likely thought he would soon be heading off on a great new adventure

overseas.

Little did he know that by the end of the year he would be “lying

dead” on the battlefields of France.

After receiving his initial training John Patrick McNamara

Embarked on His Majesty’s Australian Transport Ship “Anchises”, on 14 March 1916.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liverpool,_New_South_Wales

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Station,_Sydney

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Station,_Sydney


A68 ANCHISES

10,046 gross tons. Speed 14 knots. Built 1911 by Workman Clarke at Belfast for the Ocean Steamship Co Ltd, London (Alfred Holt's Blue Funnel Line) Requisitioned by the Commonwealth as a troopship in 1914. 9th - 14th August 1915 refitted at Cockatoo Island Drydock, Sydney to

transport 1520 troops Carried 15th Reinforcements 4th Light horse Regiment & Medical Officers from Melbourne on 14 March 1916. Troops from Adelaide 16 March 1916. From Sydney Troops & Medical Officers 24 August 1916 and Melbourne August 26 1916. Further units & Medical Officers embarked from Sydney on 24 January 1917. 8 August 1917 29th Reinforcements 4th Light horse Regiment & Medical Officers from Sydney. Greater details available at Australian War Memorial webpages. (Private Roy Longmore, 3rd Reinforcements, 21st Battalion, of Bannockburn, Victoria enlisted on July 13, 1915; and he embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Anchises on August 26, 1915, his fame, as well as being an ANZAC, is that he died 2001 at 107 years being the 2nd last Anzac trooper alive at the time). HMAT Anchises was released from War service 12th October 1917. Resumed peacetime services as a cargo vessel on the Australian run. On 23rd September 1918 she was chased by a submarine in the Atlantic and attacked with gunfire. Retaliating with extreme accuracy the Anchises drove off her attacker. She resumed commercial service on the Glasgow - Liverpool - Brisbane service during September 1922. On 27th February 1941 she was damaged and lost power following an air attack by a Focke-Wolf FW200 Condor off Bloody Foreland, Ireland. A total of 134 passengers and crew abandoned ship in six life boats whilst 33 crew members remained on board to try to sail her to Liverpool. Whilst waiting for a salvage tug she was attacked again on 28th February and sank with the loss of 12 lives. The remaining survivors were rescued by HMS Kingcup and HMCS Assiniboine. She was only 70 miles short of the Mersey Estuary

The soldiers, including John

Patrick McNamara arrived in

the port of Alexandria and

were then transferred to the

transport ship “Ivernia” on 21

June 1916 and set out for

Marseille, France.

Alexandria is a port city on

the Mediterranean Sea in

northern Egypt founded in 331

BCE by Alexander the Great.

It is most famous in antiquity

as the site of the Pharos, the

great lighthouse, considered

one of the seven wonders of

the ancient world, for

the Temple of Serapis, the

Serapion, which was part of the

legendary library at Alexandria,

as a seat of learning and, once,

the largest and most

prosperous city in the world. It

also became infamous for the

religious strife which resulted in

the martyrdom of the

philosopher Hypatia of

Alexandria in 415 CE. The city

grew from a small port town to

become the grandest and most

important metropolis in ancient

Egypt.

http://www.ancient.eu/alexandria/

http://www.ancient.eu/city/

http://www.ancient.eu/mediterranean/

http://www.ancient.eu/egypt/

http://www.ancient.eu/Alexander_the_Great/

http://www.ancient.eu/The_Seven_Wonders/

http://www.ancient.eu/temple/

http://www.ancient.eu/Hypatia_of_Alexandria/

http://www.ancient.eu/Hypatia_of_Alexandria/

http://www.flotilla-australia.com/images/A68-anchises-00.jpg


In quick succession John Patrick McNamara

Embarked on the transport ship “Ivernia” from Alexandria, Egypt on 21 June 1916

Disembarked from the transport ship “Ivernia” in Marseilles, France on 29 June 1916

Moved “into active service” at Etaples on 24 August 1916

Was “taken on strength” by the 5th Pioneer Battalion “in the field”.

John Patrick McNamara was by now beginning to realise the seriousness of war as he was thrust into the

battlefield action.

The nest item listed on his personnel record tells it all:

John Patrick McNamara died on the World War 1 battlefield in France on 4 December 1916.

John Patrick McNamara’s name appears on the Villers-Bretonneu Memorial in France.


What happened the orphaned children after the loss of their parents?

The correspondence from Lyn O’Brien led me to believe that the McNamara children may have been

taken care of by the nuns at Goulburn. St Joseph's Orphanage, run by the Sisters of Mercy, was located in Clinton Street, Goulburn from 1864 until 1905 when the children were moved to a new site in Kenmore. It provided care for girls aged 5 to 16 years. For me, the above question had been unanswered for 34 years until on the 31 July 2016 when I stumbled

upon an “obituary” which provided a huge breakthrough into shedding light upon the above mystery.

During July 2016, I began piecing together some information I had gathered on the wider McNamara family, ie the family

of:

Martin McNamara Snr and Margaret Leo (9 children)

Martin McNamara Snr and Honorah McDonnell (7 children)

The 16 children are summarised below in order to provide a clearer family pathway: Family of Martin McNamara and Margaret Leo (9) Family of Martin McNamara and Honorah McDonnell (7)

Cornelius m Mary Ann Tweedie Catherine Mary m William Gooley

Julia m Daniel Walker Bridget m Patrick Gooley

Margaret m John English Honorah m Thomas Moroney

Mary Ann m John Jones Winifred m Edward Bath

Patrick died 4 months Elizabeth m James James

Martin (2) m Mary Catherine Malone Peter m Louisa Elizabeth McMahon

Michael unmarried – child to Mary

Catherine Malone

Patrick m Annie M Gallagher

Timothy m Hanora Conlon

John m Frances Reid

My direct interest was that of Mary Catherine McNamara (nee Malone) and her family.

Mainly through the “Trove” Website (digitised Australian newspapers released through the National Library), I was keen to

find out as much as I could about the brothers, sisters, half-brothers and half-sisters of Martin McNamara (2) as well as

their spouses.

The research was both challenging and extremely fruitful as I delved into the lives of the 16 children, many of them

migrating from Boorowa to the North Coast of NSW.

One particular challenge related to Honorah McNamara, the 3rd child of Martin Snr and Honorah McDonnell.

After many examinations of the NSW Marriage Index, Honorah McNamara didn’t appear to marry. Finally it was

discovered that Honorah did in fact marry at 50 years of age to widower Thomas Moroney at Casino in 1908.

For days I searched for an obituary for Honora Moroney without success and finally the obituary record appeared!

The information it contained was quite “mind blowing”!


The “obituary” quite stunned me with the information it contained, information I had been chasing for 34 years.

Richmond River Herald and Northern Districts Advertiser – Tuesday 2 October 1934

OBITUARY

MRS HONORA MORONEY

A very old and well-known resident of Coraki passed away on

Sunday in the person of Mrs Honora Moroney, in her 76th year.

Mrs Moroney was born in Burrowa, and was the youngest

daughter of the McNamara family, on which tragedy laid a heavy

hand some 50 years or more ago. For instance, the father was

gored to death by a bullock, then her sister, Mrs James James,

died in childbirth, leaving three little ones.

Next her sister-in-law, Mrs Martin McNamara, died rather

suddenly, then, five weeks later, one of the children of her late

sister Mrs James died, and Mrs Moroney's brother, Mr Martin

McNamara, while returning from the funeral was thrown from

his horse and killed, leaving five orphans. Finally another sister,

Mrs Bath, died, leaving seven children.

The 13 surviving children of the James, Bath and McNamara

families were all reared by Mrs Moroney before she came to the

Richmond some 35 years ago, a self-imposed duty that called for

much sacrifice on her part. Some years after her arrival on the

Richmond-she came here about 1900— deceased married the

late Thomas Moroney, Senr, who passed away about 20 years

ago. Surviving sisters of deceased are — Mrs P Gooley (Lismore,

late of Coraki), and Mrs W Gooley (Casino) Mrs Smith, of

Lithgow, but at present staying in Tatham, and who will

celebrate her 90th birthday in December, is a step-sister.

Mr Pat McNamara, of Petersham, is a brother, and Mr John

McNamara of Petersham, a step-brother.

For some years Mrs Moroney has been in poor health, but her

declining days were made comfortable at the home of her

nephew and niece, Mr and Mrs P Gooley, of Bridge Street,

Coraki.

The funeral took place yesterday at Coraki, Mr Jas. Sweeney

(Lismore) carrying out the arrangements, and Very Rev. Father

Fitzpatrick taking the services at the Church and graveside.


As per her obituary, Honorah McNamara would have been a young woman in her mid 20’s when she was to suddenly

inherit a huge family of what was finally 13 children.

For Honora (and the rest of the McNamara Family), a series of tragic events saw in quick succession, the death of:

Mary Catherine McNamara (nee Malone) – her Step Sister-in-Law

Elizabeth Frances James (nee McNamara) – her sister

Elizabeth May James – her niece

Martin McNamara (2) – her Step Brother

and finally, after 18 months

Winifred Bath (nee McNamara) – another sister

21April 1884 Mary Catherine McNamara (nee

Malone)

Wife of Martin McNamara (2)

Died of weakness 4 weeks after childbirth leaving 5

children

22 May 1884 Elizabeth Frances James (nee

McNamara)

Sister of Martin McNamara (Jnr)

Died after childbirth, aged just 22 years

11 June 1884 Elizabeth May James - Daughter

of above

Died aged 3 weeks

14 June 1884 Martin McNamara (2) Killed in a horse fall on way home from the funeral of

his niece Elizabeth James – leaving 5 orphaned

children

19 February 1886 Winifred Bath (nee McNamara) –

sister of Martin McNamara (Jnr)

Died aged 25 years leaving 7 children

The women mentioned died primarily during or after childbirth, leaving behind a total of 13 children to be cared for.

The family that Honora inherited are listed below:

Child Date of Birth Approx. Age Natural Parents

Florence Mary James 15 March 1881 3 years Elizabeth Frances McNamara & James James

Charles John McNamara 15 August 1874 9 years Mary Catherine (nee Malone) & Martin McNamara (2)

Mary Josephine McNamara 11 May 1876 8 years Mary Catherine (nee Malone) & Martin McNamara (2)

Margaret Mary McNamara 15 December 1877 7 years Mary Catherine (nee Malone) & Martin McNamara (2)

Martin McNamara (3) 23 September 1879 5 years Mary Catherine (nee Malone) & Martin McNamara (2)

John Patrick McNamara 17 March 1881 3 years Mary Catherine (nee Malone) & Michael McNamara

(brother of Martin [2])

Elizabeth May Bath C 1876 8 years Winifred McNamara & Edward Bath

Charles Bath C 1878 6 years Winifred McNamara & Edward Bath

Mary Bath C 1879 5 years Winifred McNamara & Edward Bath

Edward Bath C 1881 3 years Winifred McNamara & Edward Bath

Millicent Winifred Bath C 1881 3 years Winifred McNamara & Edward Bath

Honora Ruth Bath C 1882 2 years Winifred McNamara & Edward Bath

John J Bath C 1884 New born Winifred McNamara & Edward Bath

As per the obituary of Honora Moroney (nee McNamara), the huge task undertaken was “a self-imposed duty that called for much sacrifice on her part”. Honora surely must go down in history as the “uncanonised saint” of the McNamara family. She did not marry until she was 50 years of age when she married a widower Thomas Moroney at Casino in 1908. Many of the family had moved to the North Coast over the years, including Honora’s sisters Catherine and Bridget who both married brothers William and Patrick Gooley respectively. Margaret Mary Hyland (nee McNamara) made mention of the nuns at Goulburn. It appears likely that as the children progressed in age and were in need of education, that the nuns at Goulburn became part of the equation. As research continues, hopefully further information will be uncovered to expand upon the life-story of the McNamara children.

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