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Hello again!

I am hoping someone may be able to assist as I continue in my efforts to smash through this frustrating brick wall.

I have returned to the marriage certificate of John Donovan and Mary Ann Crowe and note that the names given as witnesses are:

William Patrick Corcoran, Amanda Corcoran, Maggie Corcoran and Patrick Crowe.

William Patrick Corcoran was a hotelier who owned the Prince George Hotel in Swanston St, Melbourne.

I have discovered that his wife at the time of John Donovan and Mary Ann Crowe's marriage (1873) was Mary Alice O'Connor (parents Jeremiah O'Connor and Margaret Crowe), the cousin of Mary Ann Crowe.

Further investigation revealed that he had two previous wives and numerous children.

Wife #1 Rachel Fitzsimons (m 1843 in Dublin, residence given as Powerscourt). The couple had two boys, Francis John Corcoran and William Edward Corcoran in Ireland. I am assuming Rachel must have died but I haven't been able to find any death record for her in either Australia or Ireland.

To add to my problem, I am also having trouble finding an emigration record for William Patrick Corcoran and his sons!

Wife #2 Mary Ann Burns McGonigall (m Melbourne 1856). They had five children that I could find: Amanda, Margaret Ann Jane, Frances Mary, Adelaide Victoria Creed, and Annie Alex. The only child I can only find marriage details for is Frances Mary (who wed Charles Thomas Lake).

Mary Ann Burns McGonigall died in Melbourne in 1870.

Wife #3 Mary Alice O'Connor (m 1873). I can't seem to find any children to the couple - and it seems just two years later, in 1875, William Patrick Corcoran died.

I am hoping to discover what happened to Mary Alice O'Connor, who must have been left with these step children she would barely have known. I can't find a marriage record for her and am asking for assistance if anyone could help me.

I am hoping that if I can uncover any clues it could perhaps help me in my search for the elusive John Donovan!

I also notice on this board a lady who is researching Joanna Crowe who is one of Mary Ann Crowe's family members but so far have had no luck in making contact with her.

Thank you for taking the time to read this!

Hi Sue,

Yes I have pursued this line to a point ..

A long time ago I purchased Mary Butlers death certificate. It revealed that she died on Xmas Day 1855 at Brighton. Thomas Hallinan friend and witness to her death. Certificate says that she was married to John Donovan at Four Mile Wake in Waterford approx 1834. She had lived in Victoria for 14 years which gives an emigration year of approx 1841. Children given as James (13), John (12), Bridget (10), Ellen (, Thomas (6) and Catherine (2).

I haven't chased this lead up for a few years - might see if I can uncover something. For memory I don't think I could find any record of the marriage in Ireland. I also seem to recall that one of the children was born in the Geelong or Mount Moriac area (where the Crowe family lived).

Any help appreciated - thank you so much I am very grateful.

Anna.

Hi Jamjar - thanks for helping me ..

I think after Mary Ann's death her husband packed up and left Deniliquin and moved to Charters Towers to be with two of his sons who ran Nelia Ponds Station. The third son remained in Deniliquin .. perhaps there was some family rift with the brothers. I have never been able to find out.

I am wondering if the elusive parents of John Donovan were convicts .. I just can't work out why I cannot find them anywhere despite years of trying. Both John and his brother Thomas were born in Australia, so their parents must be buried somewhere - it's amazing that there is no record of theie existence (that I can find anyway!).

Hoping someone out there can assist me!

Anna.

Hi Sue,

The obituary was for Mary Ann Donovan (nee Crowe) and was published in the Gordon Advertiser newspaper in 1914. It talked about Mary Ann Donovan being survived by her husband John Donovan, a brother of the late Thomas Donovan of Egerton. It also confirmed Mary Ann's parents John Crowe and Margaret (nee Hogan) who were formerly from the Ballan rd, near Egerton but died in Deniliquin.

Hope this helps.

Anna.