Quelch / McKeon - Auckland??

[Infobunny]

Hi Althea,

Thanks for that!  Didn't think of that one - another duh on my part .

What a real treat it is to have such wonderful mystery solvers on this board!

Cheers
Bunny

[Infobunny]

Dear Sherlocks,

A conundrum presents!  This one is for you, Lu!

My cuzzie says: Myrtle was never formally adopted by the McKeons.  I have a letter from the Registrar-General for Births, Deaths & Marriages that was written to me in 2001 that says "Thank you for your letter of 6 April 2001 regarding Myrtle Eva Quelch.
 
While we have no record of an adoption for this person I am enclosing a copy of her death registration which indicates that she was raised by Arthur Joseph McKeon and Cecelia McKeon (nee Quelch)."
 
The copy of Myrtle's death registration shows : Name and Surname of Father : Arthur Joseph McKeon. Name and Surname of Mother : Cecelia McKeon. Maiden Surname of Mother : Quelch.
 
Myrtle's marriage registration shows fathers name as :Arthur Joseph McKeon, Bricklayers Labourer, and Mothers name as Cecilia Quelch formerly McKeon.  Maiden name Cross. 

Cuz agrees that the Arthur who died in 1929 is most likely the correct one.  But his DOB is most likely 1861, while Harriet Quelch was born 1880 with Myrtle in 1899.  So it makes it hard for any assumption that Myrtle was his 'sister' and more likely to be his ward.  Goodness knows how that happens when there is no record of Arthur marrying! And double no record of Cecilia unless she had another name.

Can't find any combo of Cross/McKeon/Quelch in the BDM (unless I'm a blind bunny).

All I can say is - huh?   Would there be any help in the card index at Auckland Public Library if it carries births, deaths and marriages??

Cheers
Bunny

[Thamesite2017]

Arthur Joseph McKeon,he never married and died at his sisters's house 8 Patteson St Freemans Bay,his sister was Mrs W J Lynch (1921/8722 Myrtle May  McKeon  to William John  Lynch )
His father was James McKeon ,married to Mary Ann O'Hanlon
Arthur is buried with with his brother James who died in 1921

Given that its stated here Sister..hard to deny
Is your cousins info an official death certificate? as well, you say letter/rego..is it a copy of the page in old death rego book. ?marriage elsewhere, but then why does his death info say never married.
Bye
althea

[Thamesite2017]

There is a CECILIA CROSS in NZ pre 1900
in school records for 1887, Southland, Father Alexander.

Bye
Althea

[Lucy2]

Hi Bunny

After much head scratching (and unsuccessful searching for the mystery woman "Cecilia") I've arrived at the following : 

*  That Arthur (Joseph) McKEON was the natural father of Myrtle Eva QUELCH.

*  Arthur Joseph McKEON is very likely the child Arthur McKEON whose birth was registered in 1874.   [That y.o.b. differs from the death registration but allowance needs to be made for the informant not perhaps having precise information.]

*  It's not beyond the realm of possibility that Arthur was in a relationship with Harriet Ellen QUELCH and that this situation was opposed by Arthur's (Catholic) family  - or indeed even Harriet's family.    And so it may have been that once Myrtle was born, Arthur (or members of his family), decided that they would raise this child. 
[By 1900, though Arthur's parents are aged in their 60's and early 70's, it does seem that Arthur's spinster sister Mary Ann is also on the scene at the family home and as such may have shared in child-rearing duties ? ]

*  I'm of the view that "Cecilia QUELCH" was simply a name selected by the family, in order to deflect interest from "Harriet Ellen (QUELCH)".    [Whilst Myrtle grew up as a "McKEON", Arthur (and perhaps his family) would have been mindful that Myrtle's official birth registration remained in the surname of QUELCH. ]
                                                           continued  >>

   
   

[Lucy2]

*  Yes it's odd, that at Arthur's death, Mrs W J LYNCH (Myrtle Eva / Myrtle May), is stated as being his sister.
But, had Myrtle really grown up thinking Arthur was her brother ??     [Wonder what parental info was given on Myrtle's marriage to Mr LYNCH in 1921 ?? ]

Perhaps this pretence of being "sister", was just a cover-up to protect (questions being asked of, or about ), the never-married Arthur ? 

*  But as "cuzzie" reveals (in the other thread), Myrtle did eventually meet up with Harriet in 1927 shortly before her death.  [It's not entirely clear from that, though, whether Myrtle knew that Harriet was her birth mother ??]

And that meeting was two years prior to Arthur's passing  .... was it with his knowledge ... or blessing ??
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I think we've all searched pretty thoroughly for "Cecilia".   

There's just nothing to be found, that in any way stacks up.

(And that marriage registration   ... Mother's name : Cecilia QUELCH, formerly McKEON  ... nee CROSS -- is especially odd ? )   

[Lucy2]

Arthur's sister :

Also buried at Waikumete ...

Roman Catholic Division - Row 21 - Plot 61

Mary Ann McKEON - spinster - aged 60 *
Died :  23 May 1939

[*  Note:  Age on cemetery record is incorrect.   Should read as "68 years" (as per online Death index) = bc 1871.   There is a Mary Ann McKEON birth reg'd. in 1870. ]

[Janette]

Here is another spinster sister buried with Mary Ann

1948/20846 McKeon  Bridget Ann  86Y

MCKEON, BRIDGET ANN

ROMAN CATHOLIC DIVISION C Row 21, Plot 61

Age 86

    died: 23-Nov-1948

Cheers Janette

 

[Thamesite2017]

I think we've all searched pretty thoroughly for "Cecilia".  
There's just nothing to be found, that in any way stacks up.
(And that marriage registration   ... Mother's name : Cecilia QUELCH, formerly McKEON  ... nee CROSS -- is especially odd ? )

All very well but there is actually a person called CECILIA CROSS
Name CROSS Cecilia
School Waihopai
Register Number 402J
Admission Date 1887
Parent / Guardian Alexander Cross
Bye
Althea