Passenger list for INDIAN QUEEN 1857

[patsymac]

Hi again Luc I might try asking on NZ list if someone has access to the marriage fiche and see if I can find that marriage for Mary Ann  and james COnnelly.    It may have been missed off the online list and it isnt on the NZSG CD either.  cheers Patsy

[patsymac]

sorry that should read James DONNELLY lol

[Lucy2]

.. and thanks for the offer but I have a copy of his Probate.   No Inquest though which is a pain I felt sure there would be one but I got Lynley to check for me and nothing could be found.  His Will left everything to Mary Ann she was executrix and then to his children. NONE of them are named in any of the papers sadly.  

Hi Patsy

I'll get back to you shortly and reply to your earlier questions.
In the meantime here is the report from the Inquest into the death of John MASON.

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz

"Wellington Independent" - 17 April 1869 - Fatal Accident - page 2

... it states he had a wife and six children.   

   ~  Lu 

[Lucy2]

... it states he had a wife and six children.   

And if Robert MASON (1869) was the son of the same John and Mary Ann MASON, then he was born shortly after the death of his father.
(Date of Birth for Robert MASON = 17 June 1869 -- deduced from online Birth registration record.)

[So maybe seven children in total ... unless the soon-to-be-born "Robert" was included in the six spoken about ?  ]

 

[patsymac]

Hi Luc
I am so cross (not with you  you are wonderful) but with myself HOW DID I MISS THAT? I have a copy of the death notice from the SAME days paper!!!!! grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr  thank you so much.
I asked on the NZ list about the marriage of Mary Ann and James nothing found but I was sent a transcript from the marriage of Marshall John Mason (aka Donnelly) and that actually stated his father John Mason his Mother Mary Ann Mason nee Marshall and the WITNESS was James Donnelly.  It also states "Marshall John Mason his name by birth & baptism but took the name of his stepfather Donnelly & nowknown by that name"   If they were married (and no one has found the marriage on the birth fiche) then surely she would have been noted on Marshall's marr as Mary Ann Donnelly prev Mason nee Marshall or somesuch?.     The marriage could have missed being sent to the Registrar I suppose then I guess it wont be found unless it comes up on a Church list somewhere maybe?? 
Again, thanks very much for your help it has been invaluable.
Yes you are right Robert was probably born after his father's death and there must be other? children somewhere that I dont know about.
cheers
Patsy

[Lucy2]

Hi Patsy

Marshall's marriage cert. would be evidence enough for me, that his mother was not actually married to James DONNELLY. 

Mary Ann MASON probably preferred to face the public as "Mrs DONNELLY" but I believe her son has given an honest account of the true situation ... and to boot, has provided an explantion as to his change of surname.   And all in the presence of (former policeman) James DONNELLY - as witness to the marriage. 

  ~  Lu

[Lucy2]

It wasn't of course illegal for Mary Ann MASON to change her surname to DONNELLY (all that was required was that she be able to prove that her new name, "was the name by which she was commonly known". )

So whilst Mary Ann was a widow and free to remarry, it seems likely that James DONNELLY wasn't in that same position (i.e. another Mrs DONNELLY in his past.)
[A probable clue is that no wife or family was mentioned in the numerous newspaper references to his death and the notes on his funeral. ]

And after wading through a great number of articles about DONNELLY's death, I finally happened upon a more lengthy obituary which in turn led to finding more about his past.

"Manawatu Standard" - 23 June 1900 - Obituary

... James DONNELLY - at age of 20 enlisted in Irish Constabulary and afterwards migrated to Victoria (AUS) ;
- he came to NZ in 1863 when he joined the Colonial Defence forces and was in 4 engagements in Taranaki during the Maori wars ;
- in 1867 he entered the Police Force - was stationed at various places including Wanganui - Wairarapa - Palmerston North ;
- Since 1890 (following retirement from the Police force) he had been Inspector of Weights and Measures in Wellington.

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[Lucy2]

Can place "James DONNELLY - Police Constable" at Masterton (Wairarapa) in March 1868,  and "James DONNELLY, District Constable"  April 1877-  ("Manawatu Times") Palmerston North, from where I think he went on to Wanganui.

And while there were other police officers named DONNELLY referred to in the newspapers without a christian name, I believe the Sergeant DONNELLY involved with a Constable BUCHANAN at Wanganui (1879 and earlier), is James DONNELLY.

You'll need to read through these Court cases to get "the drift".   

"Wanganui Herald"

- 18 January 1879 - R.M. Court
- 20 January 1879 - page 2  - R.M. Court

{There may be a couple of additional references in other papers too ? }

One of the above items confirms the separation of Sergeant DONNELLY and his wife - but she 'ain't named in any of them.   Grrrr !!

"Wanganui Chronicle"  - 1 February 1879 - Local and General

- Police Changes  ... reports Sergeant DONNELLY is to be transferred to Wellington.

   ~ Lu
 

[patsymac]

Hi Luc  - well that sure answers that question doesnt it.  Thanks heaps.  Does make interesting reading too doesnt it?   As you say nothing to prevent Mary Ann calling herself whatever she wished but it does explain why no wedding between the two.  I wonder if her family knew???  and I wonder if he had children. No doubt his Will might shed light on that do you think?  Oh what a web we weave etc etc etc   I do wonder what they would have thought that umpteen years down the track family are 'digging up these secrets'    One ofmy great grandfathers' was what I would call an oldfashioned cad! and my cousins and I often talk about what he would think if he knew we had dug up all the 'bits' about his life that he thought he had covered up???      cheers from here Patsy