Waterworks Timekeeper -- Scant Info..

[aghadowey]

Timothy died 1906-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1906/05551/4557340.pdf

Cause of death- Diarrhea six days no med[ical] att[endant]

I do know that when Johanna was married in NZ it was witnessed by a Michael O'Connor.  I have assumed that was her older brother.  It that is correct and I have the correct Michael O'Connor, they had a brother Timothy who died in NZ. 

If I've got the correct family then Johanna's brother Timothy died in Ireland as above 

Might be worth checking in N.Z. for that Michael & Timothy O'Connor to see if you can establish the names of their parents.

[dragonlady403]

Ok I feretted around to see if I had a death cert  for Michael O'Connor.  No I don't ---so will follow up on that  today if I can. 

Johanna went to Blenheim NZ where she married Daniel Murphy.  A witness was Michael O'Connor (Blenheim was a VERY small place back then)... this is further info I have on him:

"Mr. Michael O'Connor , Proprietor of “Brookby,” was born on the 29th of September, 1839, near the

Lakes of Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland. He came to New Zealand in the year 1861'.

His sister Johanna arrived in NZ around 1874 (the year Michael O'Connor married Margaret Murphy -- I did wonder if Margaret was related to Johanna's husband Daniel-- in Blenheim).

If this is indeed Johanna's elder brother-- their brother Timothy was definitely in NZ, because there is information linking Michael and Timothy to a specific farm in NZ.

I thought the info I had to link them was fairly strong --but will see if I can obtain his death cert. 

Regards, Carol

[dragonlady403]

Aghadowey - I've ordered the death printouts for Michael O'Connor and Margaret Murphy from NZBDM. 

I should have them in a day or two... will follow up on this thread to confirm whether  or not he is indeed Johanna's older brother.  This should sort out the Timothy O'Connor question as well.

I will keep this thread open until I receive them if that's ok with you and the Administrator?

Regards, Carol

[dragonlady403]

Hi Aghadowey.. Ok so I managed to locate and obtain copies of the NZ death certs for Michael O'Connor and his wife Margaret Murphy.

Michael is definitely Johanna's older brother... so this would mean it was his brother Timothy in NZ as well, because as far as I can tell, he inherited his brother's farm Brookby, but subsequently lost it in a bankruptcy situation. 

Michael had a son Timothy, but he would have been too young for the bankruptcy case.  So I think his brother Timothy also lived and died in NZ.

I will be in Kerry in a few days and have spoken to the Castleisland and Tralee libraries who have been exceptionally helpful:)  I will visit with them to see what else I can "unearth".

Thanks for your help!

[aghadowey]

Will have another look later to see if there's any other clues 

[dragonlady403]

Ta very much!!  I'm going to Kerry in a few days.  I spoke to the Historian at Tralee Library so I'm hoping to get a bit more info whilst there.

[frirish]

My gr grandmother's father Patrick O'Connor (wife Ellen Fenton/Fegneighty) was listed as a Waterworks Timekeeper on her death certificate.
/quote]

HI Carol, I came across this myself-it means he was the payroll clerk at the Waterworks. He kept track of the time everyone worked. Hope that helps.

[dragonlady403]

Thanks FRIRISH.. I know they were near Firies at one point so I guess the waterworks would be in Killarney.  I will see if I can check that out.

Thanks:)

[frirish]

A time keeper was the forerunner of what we now know as the payroll dept.! So you will find this occupation in all sorts of workplaces-my relly was one at a steamship company. So the original name meant the person who kept record of everyone's work time in essence a clerk.