o'neills in Rakaia NZ

[Lucy2]

But it gets more interesting now ... 

Benjamin O'NEILL had had great involvement with his local church - All Saints (Anglican) at Killinchy.   

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz

The following articles in 1906 ( > search on "B. ONEILL") tell that he'd served as a churchwarden, that he'd spent 24 years in the district (Killinchy) and he and his wife (and family ?) were making the move to Rakaia.

"Ellesmere Guardian"

 - 1 September 1906 - Social and Presentation
 -  5 September 1906 - Local and General -- "Church News"

                                            next   >

[Lucy2]

Church Records - for Killinchy :

As Wayne mentioned earlier, the records housed at the Christchurch Central Library, are off-limits to the public at present due to the devasting earthquake.  When in the future they do beome available, I think you can be hopeful of finding more records for family O'NEILL. 

Christchurch Library has a wonderful index card facility compiled many years ago from the records of a great number of Canterbury area churches.   Anglican are the most widely represented.  The baptism records give excellent info ... including names of sponsors (godparents) often leading to finding further family members.

All Saints, Killinchy (dates represented - index cards)

BAPTISMS -- 1874 to 1962

BURIAL -- 1876 to 1961

[Didn't see a listing for Marriages at Killinchy, All Saints, but possibly there are some records ?]

~  Lu

[Lucy2]

I'll get to the various children of Benjamin, shortly, but here are some interesting snippets (which I'm sure grandson Barry will find both enlightening and amusing? )

PapersPast - "B. ONeill"

"Ellesmere Guardian"

--  4 August 1906 - page 3 - column 3 - Tenders
[RE:  his leased farm at Killinchy.]

-- 18 December 1897 - The Proposed Banking Charge
[Mr. Benjamin ... getting a tad stroppy.   Mentions he arrived 30 years ago (c. 1867) ].

--  17 November 1897 - Local and General
[Questionable driving skills ?   On a visit to Christchurch, Benj. thrown out of his trap, under a verandah - no serious injury. Wife and son, unhurt.    ]

--  3 February 1894 -- The Ellesmere Guardian ... main page
[Leeston Magistrate's Court - assault case. ]

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[Lucy2]

PapersPast

"Ashburton Guardian" - 15 August 1912 - page 8 / Col. 3

Stock Clearance   ... this has good detail of Benjamin's assets.

....  Blimey ... the advert. also gives the names of a whole lot of his animals -- a grey horse called "Nobbie" -- etc. etc. 
So he had all those children, and still found names for his horses, as well !   

[Lucy2]

  ... oops ...  this one too.

"Ashburton Guardian" - 18 November 1911 - page 8/Col. 2

Sale of Benjamin O'NEILL's property -- list of assets.

[If you search on "B. O'Neill" - mostly in "Ellesmere Guardian" you'll see other articles re: his church activities and offices held;  he's mentioned too in items connected with "The Centra Dairy" ;  "Canterbury Dairy Factory"  (both 1892) ; and local community meetings. ]

~  Lu

[jck1103]

Hi Lu 

thanks for info had been wading through papers had picked up the sales of his farms and of course his problem with Emily  had'nt got assault case  or dairy that you mention  will look at those presently. been wondering how Elizabeth nee Cunningham died, got the death 1908 aged 42  assume its her, been looking to see if theres anything in papers but got nothing    got walter and lizzies marriage in papers sounds like a lovely wedding 1920 ellesmere guardian and then 1921 birth of a daughter. there is so much in them especially during the war years ! ben was certainly a busy boy 

am in process of typing all info up and have got so much to do but thoroughly enjoying it  cant wait to hand it all over to barry he's in for a suprise 

thanks again
regards jacky

[Lucy2]

Hi Jacky

Just took a "breather" from posting info ... didn't want to bog you down to much.    There's quite a bit more to come. 

Ah yes, Walter's wedding.   I think a few of the O'NEILLs married into Catholic families.   And was it Lizzie who was a cousin of P. McCLOY (possibly the "Patrick" who married Ruby May O'NEILL ??).

Back soon.

~  Lu

[Lucy2]

O.K.  ... the O'NEILL Kids !

Will put their names here again to save finding earlier in the thread.

In December 1911, Benjamin states he has "raised" 9 sons and 12 daughters... 21 in all.   (About the same time Emily (3rd wife) contradicts that by saying he has about 25 children.   Who knows for sure ?  )

Family One
- Parents: Benjamin and Mary (probably Mary ROSS whom he marries in 1877 )

1870 - Hannah O'NEILL - Reg. at Mt. Grey (between Waipara and Rangiora)

1876 - Louisa O'NEILL - Reg. at Mt. Grey - 1st Quarter

1877 - Emily Catherine O'NEILL - Reg. at Rangiora - 3rd Q

1879 - Richard Howard O'NEILL - Reg. at Rangiora - 2nd  Q

1881 - Elizabeth O'NEILL - Reg. at Rangiora - 2nd Q

All above are shown on NZ Birth Index.

Also found  ... ( through marriage notice)

c. 1876 - Mary Ann O'NEILL

[So two, three  ... born before marriage. ]

[Lucy2]

Hannah O'NEILL (b. 1870)

Hannah O'NEILL - William STACKHOUSE - m. 1894

"Ellesmere Guardian" - 29 December 1894 - Killinchy

Account of wedding ... indexed as "O'NIELL"

[Benjamin sure knew how to throw a good party ! ] 
------------------

Hannah STACKHOUSE died 1954 - aged 84
[Place of burial unknown at present.   Last at St. Albans electorate, Christchurch.]

Probate file at Archives NZ (Christchurch)

STACKHOUSE - Hannah - Widow -- 1954