McGrath Family New Zealand

[sandy feet]

Thanks Lucy,

Have you any suggestions where I could look for information to connect Patrick and Margaret ( Turner)? This is certainly the most difficult relative to find in my tree so far. I suppose it only takes one bit of information to link it all together.

Sandy

[sandy feet]

Hello Lucy,

I have been reading through all the posts looking for another angle to pursue and was wondering if you could please give me your sources for the following quotes from your posts.

In regard to the Newspaper info regarding Patrick's court proceedings re- Publican . I have searched papers past to no avail.

Quotes from Lucy2


“From what I've found to date, I tend to think that the Margarets (wife & daughter) left NZ around mid-1884 and that Peter McGRATH possibly left at the end of that year or early 1885 [- still have some records to re-check”


“He comes to prominence in newspaper reports around 1883 and then in 1884 following bankruptcy, there is much publicity concerning his (business-related) affairs and eventual "extradition" back to NZ from Sydney, to face (seemingly ill-conceived) accusations "of absconding with intent to defraud his creditors".

Thanks Sandy

[Lucy2]

Have you any suggestions where I could look for information to connect Patrick and Margaret ( Turner)?

Sandy

In regard to the Newspaper info regarding Patrick's court proceedings re- Publican . I have searched papers past to no avail.

Hi Sandy

Just to clarify for you, the man connected to Margaret McGRATH (alias TURNER) at Rangiora (the 1877 baptism) ... and the roading contractor who was briefly a publican at Wellington, (1883-84) ... is Peter McGRATH (and not Patrick McGRATH).

I already have much information on this Peter McGRATH ... will sift through my notes and reply to your questions later today.

  ~  Lu

[PS :  Thanks for your earlier message, but as I don't have access to the PM facility in this forum, am unable to read or reply to it.  ] 

[Lucy2]

Thanks Lucy,

Have you any suggestions where I could look for information to connect Patrick Peter and Margaret ( Turner)? This is certainly the most difficult relative to find in my tree so far. I suppose it only takes one bit of information to link it all together.

Sandy

Hi again

Yes, I do have some further suggestions  ... and will add these after I've replied to your questions regarding the items at PapersPast.   [This will allow me to hopefully better explain these suggestions. ]

   ~  Lu

[Lucy2]

Hi Sandy

Following is a brief history of the Peter McGRATH, roading contractor and later a publican, who was resident for some years at Rangiora (as well as other Canterbury locations and the Wellington district). 
[This profile is compiled from information extracted from numerous newspaper items and, (where they exist), from records from other resources.    I am of the view that there was just the one man named Peter McGRATH residing in the general Canterbury area during the 1870's to early 1880's.   Whilst the NZ voting rolls of 1880-81 have listings for what looks like 3 different Peter McGRATH's in Canterbury, this (one) man owned land in several locations and as such, qualified for voting rights in each. ]

*   Arrival in NZ - date unknown :   Possibly in the colony as early as 1873 working on the Oxford Tram Road (Canterbury).  In February 1876 the tender of P. McGrath is accepted for the formation of the Bealey Gorge Road.

*   Many advertisements in (Canty. ) newspapers up to 1882 mentioning Peter (or P.) McGRATH relating to tenders for other road building work ... his buying / selling of land and of chattels once contracts had been completed.  He owned at least one farm and also had a brief stint as an auctioneer.

*   He worked mainly on (local) government projects and employed a large band of men (- often the Christchurch unemployed, were despatched to his sites).  As work was spread over the whole of the Canterbury area (and neighbouring regions) he would have been absent from his home base Rangiora for lengthy spells at  times.

*   In October of 1882 (whilst still at Rangiora) he was awarded the tender for the Te Aro Reclamation work in Wellington (he was the lowest tenderer by some L6,000 (six thousand pounds)!   [ "Colonist" (Nelson) - 31 October 1882 - Wellington  ... " P. McGRATH signed a contract today  ... "  ]

*   According to some newspaper reports the Wellington Council put many obstacles the way of Peter McGRATH, and while he commenced the contract, by May 1883 he was in financial difficulties.
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[Lucy2]

Peter McGRATH ... continued

*   The "New Zealand Herald" (Auckland) - 29 May 1883 - NZ Telegrams (along with other newspapers) carried the following story :   "Peter McGRATH, contractor for a section of the Wellington-Manawatu Railway and the Te Aro Reclamation, has assigned his estate."
[This was apparently seen as a better option than declaring bankruptcy. ]

*   Various notices followed in newspapers re: creditors meetings (in Wellington).

*   The "Evening Post" (Wellington) - 20 October 1883 - page 3 / column 5 lists an Auction to take place at "Mr P. McGRATH's residence, Kent Terrace ... for the whole of the furniture of a 10-room house ... consisting of principally superior articles (furniture recently purchased, almost new) .... "
[There followed in the papers something of an outcry (from creditors) as to how McGRATH could be in possession of expensive furnishings (in particular a Belgian rug of some worth) .... when he owed money to so many.    ]

*   Just a matter of weeks later however, Peter McGRATH begins advertising that he is now the proprietor (having purchased the lease and goodwill ), of the Star Hotel, in Lambton Quay, Wellington.     "Evening Post" - 1 November 1883 page 4 / col. 5
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[Lucy2]

Peter McGRATH - continued ...

*   A variety of advertisements concerning the Star Hotel ... (newly renovated ... hosting government officials ... etc.) appear in the months of Nov / Dec. (1883) and January / February 1884.

*   What transpires after the end of February concerning McGRATH and the Star Hotel, and his numerous creditors, is best explained in the following article [which comes after he has absconded to Sydney and then been extradited to NZ.]


"Evening Post" - 16 September 1884 - page 2 - McGRATH Before the Magistrate's Court.

-  Confirms Peter McGRATH, late landlord of the Star Hotel  ... was last seen in the hotel bar on 1st March (1884)

-  Charles Cheymol (a creditor) states he took possession of the hotel on 3 March and that Mrs McGRATH remained at the hotel for about 2 weeks.
[In another report, it was also said that Mrs. McGRATH had some responsibility for running the hotel. ]

-  Peter McGRATH states that he went to Sydney by the "Hauroto".
[Couldn't find his name on the passenger list for the voyage which departed Wellington early March.   ALSO ... during the Court proceedings the Prosecutor at one time challenged whether in fact McGRATH was on that particular vessel and that he (the Prosecutor), would be checking further and speaking to the Captain of the "Hauroto". ]
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[Lucy2]

Peter McGRATH ... continued

[Note:  In none of the good many articles relating to Peter McGRATH (publican / former contractor) did I find his wife referred to by anything other than "Mrs McGRATH".   Likewise there is no mention that he had a family (though living in a 10-room house in Wellington may be a clue that he had a brood in tow ?) ]

We should never be too reliant on passenger manifests, so the following may or may not be, the wife and children of Peter McGRATH.

"Evening Post" - 14 March 1884 - Shipping - page 2

"Wakatipu" - departed Wellington 13 March - arrived Sydney 17th March 1884

Cabin Passengers :   A Mrs BATTERSLE (Battersbee?) and a Mrs McGRATH and six children ??

The Mariners in Australian Waters website (and also ancestry site) have a scan of the passenger list you can view.    It shows Mrs. McGRATH accompanied by 4 children and Mrs. Battersbee (no children) ??

[Note: At Peter McGRATH's "trial" September 1884 it was stated that Mrs McGRATH remained at the Star Hotel for about another two weeks - after the last sighting of her husband on 1 March.   So the Mrs McGRATH and children departing for Sydney on 14 March, do seem a real possibility. ]
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A number of NZ newspapers reported on Peter McGRATH's arrest in Sydney (August 1884) - this was one of them > "Marlborough Express" - 23 August 1884 - Another Absconding Publican.    [And his return to Wellington (apparently without any of his family) > "Manawatu Herald" - 15 September 1884 - page 3 ... [Messrs. Poppens and McGrath ]

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[Lucy2]

Peter McGRATH ... continued

[Only found this one item in Australian newspapers re: McGRATH's arrest. ]

"Australian Town and Country Journal" (NSW) - Saturday 13 September 1884 - page 18
"Peter McGRATH, contractor and lately Hotelkeper at Wellington, appeared in the Central Police Court on Tuesday charged with absconding from New Zealand with intent to defraud creditors  ..."
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Despite a plan being in place from May 1883 to repay his creditors (and confirmation that moneys would be sent from Sydney), Peter McGRATH was officially declared bankrupt in NZ.

But in September 1884 McGrath was said to be making application for discharge from bankruptcy and the following article then appeared.

"Evening Post" - 26 September 1884 - The Education Grant

... Creditors acceptance of offer (made by McGRATH) to allow Bankruptcy to be annulled.   All other charges against McGRATH were withdrawn.   McGRATH then joined his friends outside the Court.

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Wellington newspapers through to 1886 carried occasional notices of dividends being paid to McGRATH's NZ creditors (... and there is even one as late as 1889 paid out of Sydney. ).

From his September 1884 Court appearance, there is no further mention (business-wise) of Peter McGRATH, nor any listings on NZ electoral / voter's rolls.
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