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Census category: health: blind, deaf, dumb, imbecile, idiot, or lunatic.

 On her death cert, it says she died of congenital Brain Disease, and Broncal pneumonia four days. I don't understand how it could be congenital as I have not yet found any other family member with 'brain disease'.

Congenital only means present from birth. Heredity is when something is passed from one generation to the next. Some of the infectious diseases can cause damage to unborn children, trauma to the mother, or a difficult birth as you said.

Hi. Thomas Dwyer who was born in Australia was my Father's grandfather. My grandmother Ellen was his eldest daughter. They lived with Thomas as Ellen was a widow with 6 children. My Father remembered his great grandmother and her dying at 101. My uncle owned the family farm until his death in 1970s. The farmhouse still stands.

I never did find out anything about that Thomas Dwyer, the name was just too common and I'd already spent too much on certificates. I haven't been in this part of my husband's tree for an age. Is this the one born about 1868 to William Dwyer and Mary Navin? All I have is that he died before 1906, since he was marked as dead on his father's death certificate. I'd love to know who he married and when he died. It's beaut that the family farmhouse still stands.

I've just transcribed the death notice for Mary (not real sure of death date) from an online newspaper image at TROVE.

Advocate (Melbourne, Vic)   
Thursday 11th September, 1930, page 34
MRS. THOMAS DWYER
Widespread general regret was expressed at the death of Mrs Thomas Dwyer, which took place at her her residence, "Tara," Mia Mia, early on the morning of August 10 [? faint]. Mr Dwyer, who was 71 years of age, was the widow of Mr. Thomas Dwyer who for many years was the owner and licensee of the Mia Mia Hotel. Mr. Dwyer was also the valuer and rate collector for the shire of Mclvor for nearly forty years. Mrs. Dwyer was a native of Ireland, but spent practically her whole adult life in Mia Mia. She was greatly beloved by a large circle of friends. Her loving nature was most clearly shown by her attitude towards her six step-children—her husband having previously married a daughter of the late Mrs Westblade, of Flower Hill Estate, Mia Mia, who, at her death, left six young children. The writer did not know for many years that Mrs. Dwyer was not the mother of these children so utterly devoted was she to them, and they reciprocated her affection warmly. She had three children, Miss Kitty, who lived with her, John, whose home is in New Zealand, and Charles, who lives in Melbourne. She had been in delicate health for many years, but had only taken to her bed about eight weeks before her death She was devotedly nursed during her illness by her daughter and stepdaughters. Throughout her illness she was constantly visited by the Very Rev. Fr. O'Dee, P.P., of Heathcote. Her funeral to the Kyneton Cemetery was very largely attended. The Rev. Fr. O'Dee held a service at the house and accompanied the funeral as far as Barfold, when he had to return to Heathcote for other duty. The Rev. Fr. Fitzpatrick, of Kyneton, officiated at the grave. The coffin was carried by Messrs. Michael Dwyer, John, and Michael Dargan, Joseph and Edward Dwyer, and Augustine Linklater, the sons, nephews, and grandson of her late husband. The day following the funeral Mass was offered at her home by the Rev. Fr. O'Dee for her eternal repose.    R.I.P.

I know this is a really old thread, but just some more info ...

Mary Ellen HUNTER is my great-great grandmother, and after she died in 1889, Mary Ann PARISH arrived to look after the many children Mary Ellen had with Joseph BRITTEN. In 1890, Mary Ann married Joseph, and the following year, her brother (my great grandfather) married her stepdaughter, Emily.  I'm related directly by blood to all three families - Hunter, Britten and Parish.

It was my now defunct website quoted earlier in this thread. I do have a tree on TribalPages now, but this family isn't yet in it.

I haven't anything on Thomas Hunter.

Hello Mia Mia girl,

I'm the ChristineR mentioned by judb. I had to come to Rootschat today to check on a private message (been so long since I have been here that I had to ask for a new password!). So, I thought I would browse a bit and checked out the 'new replies' key at the top of the page. So, I see your post.

My husband (who is the Dwyer relative) and I have been in the area since 1990. The only knowledge we have is from what I have learned through my family history research. We have no family stories of the Dwyers.

If you would like to PM me your email address I will send you an invitation to my Tribal Pages website. There, you can find absolutely everything I know about the Dwyers but would never be able to remember without looking at the notes! The dates and family structures might help prompt your father's memories about people too. If you want copies of birth, death, marriage certificates referred to in the notes I am happy to do that.

I've often wondered if the Dwyers around here were from the same lines. 

ChristineR