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Hi Saddles!    You just inspired me to have a look on Google Maps & am excited to see so many old places still in that area. Would be such a thrill if the place where he lived is still standing.

That's excellent information, Lyn & Merlin!  Good suggestion re: the Ann Meehan in 1857 also possibly being Owen's granddaughter.

Back at the drawing board, could these be some leads to follow up?

1. Do you know where Owen Meehan was buried or if he left a will (maybe in a probate file?) ?  Maybe you could check to see whether there's a Honora buried nearby or mentioned in the will?

2. Another family member not previously mentioned here also was brought out by Owen Meehan on the Simond in 1855: Rose Mul(l)holland age 34 (parents Hugh & Mary), a sister of Owen Meehan & a widow. (see http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/60179326?searchTerm=meehan and http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/12968080?searchTerm=meehan). Maybe her whereabouts could add a lead re: where Honora ended up?

3. Possibly a huge long shot -- but I noticed a "Nora Mehan" in Connecticut, USA in 1870.  (ref: https://www.familysearch.org/search/image/show#uri=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.familysearch.org%2Frecords%2Fpal%3A%2FMM9.1.i%2Fdgs%3A004259463.004259463_00009 (4th row))
Sounds a long way away, but she's the right age (40), from Ireland, no sign of any family, and also can't read or write (which is the same as your Honora declared in 1855 when she went to Australia).  Maybe worth further investigation?


Update re: Rose Mulholland
Rose appears to have been married to Philip Mulholland, who seems to have died before she arrived in Australia per the Simond in 1855. Two of their sons appear to have also come out to Australia, in May 1859 on the "Palmyra" - Hugh b.c.1835 (d. 1901 in Ryde NSW) and Philip b.c.1847 (d. 1932 in Hurstville NSW).  This information may help you locate Rose?  [Also found that, like Rose, Patrick McNally similarly stated in 1855 age 40 that his parents were Hugh & Mary, both dec'd (though he was listed as Owen's step-brother, while Rose age 34 was listed as a sister of Owen).]

All this mystery is very intriguing isn't it! Actually I just found, at the time of his arrival Hugh's parents were stated as Hugh (already in Sydney) & Bridget (dec'd).

Is this your Owen Meehan in Nov 1857?  Do you know whether he had a daughter called Ann, or if it could be a nickname for Honora?  http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/13003354?searchTerm=meehan

You lovely things! Thank you all for making an effort to help me.

Althea:  Great idea - do you know how whether there is electoral roll info online somewhere for 1906? Or to buy? I recently splurged on all the wonderful NZSG CDs (1881, 1893, 1896 & 1911) but those are the only CDs I've been able to find.

Riley:  Bingo!  That's exactly one of the fire stories I found @ Papers Past (what an excellent resource!). Unfortunately none of the articles I found mentioned any injuries (though smoke inhalation might have gone unreported) & didn't mention John Helliwell.

After thinking about it just now, I'm not even sure whether I'm on the right track...a niggling doubt about the wording of an "accident" at the Commercial Hotel bugs me I guess... and makes me wonder if they would have mentioned "fire" rather than "accident" if it was fire related.  I suppose being a builder/carpenter it could have also been a work-related injury.  This really is mind boggling 

I did ask the funeral home if there were any other clues at all, but unfortunately this is all I've got to go on

Janette: He did indeed!    All the initials in that notice are John's children