Joseph Soames (Exiles Ship ) 1847

[maggiepeg]

Hi Ken

Great to hear from you.

I went to Melbourne a couple of years ago and found that Malachi had died in the Melbourne Benevolent Asylum, Hotham.  I saw the actual entries in the asylums ledger.  Apparently he tried to get admitted some months earlier with Bronchitus, but was turned away as there wasn't any space for him.  He eventually got accepted and died within a week or so.  He married Ann Hemming in 1862.  He had a son also named Malachi, so this is most likely the other Malachi you have found.

Look forward to hearing any news you may find.

Thanks
Maggie

[kenneth cooke]

Maggie,
Malachi's death must have been registered as 'McCarthy'. That was in 1881.
Hotham is now North Melbourne. Get back to you soon,
Ken

[maggiepeg]

Hi Ken

Yes, some seem to use McCarthy and some McCarty which isn't unusual as it was all down to who wrote it down for those that couldn't write.  My line used McCarty up to my Great Grandfather who used McCarty and Carter.  I tried to track down the reason for the change to Carter and can only assume he wanted to appear more English.  Some of his children used Carter and some McCarty.  Both names are on his death certificate.  My grandfather used Carter and so that has continued on.  I was disappointed as I would have liked my surname to have been McCarty instead of Carter.

Thanks for the info about Hotham, I didn't know that.  Malachi is, apparently, buried in Melbourne Cemetery in Crawford.  I was hoping to visit his grave while in Melbourne, but ran out of time.  I did try to find out where in the cemetery he was but couldn't get the information.  I was told it is a huge place.

Regards
Maggie

[kenneth cooke]

Hi Maggie
I've tried to locate Malachi's grave. There is no place called Crawford, but I think it must have been the Melb. General Cemetery in Carlton. That's by far the biggest in Melbourne.
They have no record for him, in 1881, for normal burials. If he had a charity burial, he may be in 'common ground' and unmarked. They would need to know the exact date of his burial (or death) to look him up manually.
Let me know if you have the date of his burial. It will be on the Death Cert.
Ken

[maggiepeg]

Hi Ken

Re: Malachi McCarthy

The information I have is that he died at the asylum on 2 June 1881 and was buried on 4 June 1881.  Reg. no. 4833. 

Thank you so much for your help.  It is really appreciated.

Just in case you didn't know I am in New Zealand.  We have recently moved to Nelson from Christchurch.  Had enough of earthquakes!!  If there is anything I can do for you let me know.  I am a member of Ancestry.com so get a lot of information from there until we get back to the nitty gritty in Ireland and then it comes to a stop.

Regards
Maggie

[kenneth cooke]

I've just called the Melb Gen Cem again, but they can't find him. If it was a charity burial, it is most likely in a mass grave, and these records are not conclusive.
It's a pity, because with a normal burial you can find who else is buried there, the dates, and also if there's a stone or plaque.
Are you sure it was at the Melb. General Cemetery ? That was the name of the place when my Gr g'mother was buried there in 1882, so it hasn't changed.
Let me know if it was a different cemetery.
By the way, if there is a monument, I may be able to get a picture.
Ken

[maggiepeg]

Hi Ken

The details on the schedule of deaths from Ancestry is as follows:

1881 Deaths in the District of West Hotham in the Colony of Victoria
No. 496.  Died 2 June 1881 Melbourne Benevolent Asylum, Town of Hotham, County of Rourke (or Bourke).
Malachi McCarty, Slater.
Broncho Pneumonia
Deputy Registrar Robert C Marrelt? West Hotham
Buried 4 June at Melbourne General Cemetery in (looks like) Crawford or Crawforth.
Born Westmeath, Ireland.
33 years in Victoria
Widower, 3 children.

A picture of a monument would be amazing.  Hopefully the above information may help.

Thank you
Margaret

[kenneth cooke]

The column on the D.cert asks three things. When & where buried, and undertaker's name. So Crawford was the undertaker.
The 33 years in Victoria can't be right. If he came in 1858. he would have been here for 23 years, or did he come in 1848, the  year after his brother James ?
As for the location, I had the same problem with my Gr g'father's grave in Sydney (also largest cemetery) They sent me the wrong details, six months too early, but finally I got it, and he was buried in 'common ground' so the exact location was unknown. He also died in a 'benevolent asylum'(dangerous places).
The records for such burials must be there, but it takes more time to find them.
I'll have another go later. I doubt if there'll be a monument though.

[maggiepeg]

Hi Ken

Thank you so much for all your checking.  You are correct in your finding that he was in Australia for 23 years not 33.  The writing is quite hard to understand.

Just checking my notes from when I sighted the Asylum records, they are as follows:-

I have sighted the actual Asylum Register held at The State Library of Victoria in Melbourne. The entries are as follows:- The first application to have Malachi admitted to the asylum was on Oct 7 1880. He had Chronic Bronchitis. He was denied admission due to there being 'no room'. He was subsequently admitted on Jan 6 1881. The entry in the register reads as follows:- Date of Application: 6/1/1881. Age: 49. Sex: M Married: Widower. Issue: 3 (meaning children) Occupation: Slater. Residence: 67 Market St, Emerald Hill. Length of Residency in Colony: 23 yrs Birth Place: Co. Westmeath, Ireland. Recommending Person: W.J. Mountain (Mayor of Emerald Hill). Reason: Chronic Bronchitis. Admitted 6 Jan 1881

I also found a note that Malachi applied for insolvency in 1867.  This information was given to me by a direct descendant of Malachi's living in NSW.  I did try and find some reference to this in the Melbourne library but again drew a blank.  It is very frustrating isn't it when you keep hitting a brick wall, but very satisfying when you actually do get some information. 

Thank you again.
Regards
Maggie