John HICKEY
Catherine HURLEY
==================================
These are the
parents of Jane Hickey who married Alfred Henry Skinner in Adelaide in 1903.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
THEIR PARENT’S BACKGROUND
For the detailed
(most probable) origins of the forebears of John Hickey in Ireland, refer to
“The Irish Couple Who Barely Existed”.
For the detailed
origins of the Hurleys of West Cork, refer to “The Rise And Fall Of An Irish
Dynasty”, and for the detailed (most probable) origins of Catherine Hurley in
Ireland refer to “Once We Had Land And Castles And Everything”.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
THE KNOWN FACTS ON THE BEGINNINGS OF JOHN HICKEY
9/7/1838 to 8/7/1839 – John was born in Co Cork, Ireland, a
Catholic.
(John’s death certificate)
22/6/1839 – John was born in Co Cork
(Letter to
Jan from grandson Andrew Hickey)
8/4/1841 to 7/4/1842 – John was born in `Killmene', Co.
Cork, Ireland
(1871 Census of
Kent)
8/10/1842 to 7/10/1843 – John was born
(Shipping arrivals
Ad Lib)
4/10/1843 to 3/10/1844 – John was born to an Andrew Hickey
(John’s marriage
certificate)
between 1838 and 1869 - John emigrated to England
(from earliest
birth to marriage date)
1861 Census of England – no relevant John Hickey.
1839 to 3/10/1869 – John’s father Andrew died
(John’s marriage
certificate, showing father Andrew ‘deceased’)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
THE KNOWN FACTS ON THE BEGINNINGS OF CATHERINE HURLEY
11/7/1842 to 10/7/1843 - Catherine was born in Co Cork,
Ireland, a Catholic
(Catherine’s
death certificate)
8/4/1844 to 7/4/1845 - Catherine was born in `Hairech', Co
Cork Ireland
(1871 Census of
Kent)
8/10/1846 to 7/10/1847 – Catherine was born
(Shipping
arrivals Ad Lib)
4/10/1847 to 3/10/1848 - Catherine was born to a Timothy
Hurley
(Catherine’s
marriage certificate)
1861 Census of England – no relevant Catherine Hurley.
between 1842 and 1869 - Catherine emigrated to England
(from earliest
birth to marriage date)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The Life and Times of
JOHN HICKEY and CATHERINE HURLEY
Hard facts on
their lives in England are really only their marriage, the 1871 Census, and the
baptism of their first children. Even the two witnesses at their 1869 wedding
are hard to find, before or after.
Also, there are
no images of either John or Catherine, even in later life, but going on photos
of their kids, and anecdotes from those who knew them, John was probably
small-ish and lean, hard-working, as tough as horeshoe nails (the Hickeys were
traditionally blacksmiths in their homeland in Cork), and had a short fuse.
Catherine was probably shortish but stocky, also tough (they both somehow
survived The Great Famine as small kids), and had a mind of her own.
pre 1869 – John Hickey and Catherine Hurley met (that
is, simply some time before they married).
The best guess
is that they each emigrated to London separately in their teens, probably with
like-minded young friends, neighbours, or relatives, and settled in the Erith
area on the Thames in the north of Kent, then with a significant Irish
population. At the time Erith was described as...
A small town and
a parish on the river Thames in the Dartford district of Kent, 3½ miles NW of
Dartford, once a market and corporate town. It consists chiefly of one
irregular street, but includes many recent villas and other good houses;
presents an agreeable rural appearance, with environments of green lanes and
pleasant paths; is a sub-port, where many large merchant ships, going up to
London, stop to discharge part of their cargo; and has a steam-boat pier.
The parish
contains also the hamlets of Beadonwell, Lessness-Heath, Picardy, and
Northumberland-Heath. Much of the land, along the Thames, above the town, is
low and flat. Two powder magazines in the parish, said to contain 30,000
barrels, exploded on 1 Oct 1864, effect as far as London, mistaken there for an
earthquake, much damage was done to property; but surprisingly few lives were
lost.
Erith Reach, in
the Thames, extends to Jenningtree Point; is 1½ mile long; and has anchorage in
from 3 to 5 fathoms; but shoals toward the Essex side.
3/10/1869 – John Hickey married Catherine Hurley in St Mary
of the Crays Catholic church in Dartford District, Kent. John was "25"
(bachelor, labourer), Catherine was "21" (spinster), both shown as
living in "Northumberland Heath, Erith" (two parishes away). His
father was shown as Andrew Hickey (deceased, labourer) and her father as
Timothy Hurley (labourer). The couple, and the witnesses Dennis Driscoll and
Ellen Dant, only "made their mark". The priest was Jas (or Jos)
Alberry MA. (Their marriage certificate).
St Marys of the
Crays RC church (built 1842, rebuilt 1973) is at 111 Old Rd, Crayford, about
2.5kms south of Mill St Erith where they were living in 1871.
As John worked
on the Pt Adelaide wharves later, it’s assumed he was labouring on the Erith
wharves during his time there.
c.July 1870 - Daughter Mary Ann born in Erith, Kent (1871
Census for Kent).
8/10/1869 to 7/10/1870 - Daughter Mary A born (Shipping,
Adelaide Lib)
As with every
one of their kids, Mary Ann was never registered, a fairly common practice
amongst the Irish at that time, in England and in South Aust, and later ages
always seemed to be a bit rubbery.
7/4/1871 – The family was living in Mill Rd, Northumberland
Heath, Kent (a separate building), John Hickey as head of household, married,
aged 29, Labourer, born in "Ireland, Killmene, Co Cork". With him is
his wife Catherine, aged 26, born "Ireland, Hairech(?), Co Cork", and
daughter Mary Ann aged 9 months, born Erith Kent. (1871 Census for Kent)
In the 1871
Census - Mill Rd was full of Irish born families, many from Co Cork, virtually
all "Labourers", but there is not a single Hurley in Erith in this
Census, or what looks like other relevant Hickeys.
c. 1870s - John "...was a policeman in London for many
years..."
This was in a
letter to Jan in the 1980s, from John’s grandson Andrew Hickey. As John was
illiterate, but a tough bare-knuckle fighter (from the same letter) it’s more
likely he was some kind of a part or full time security guard on the docks.
8/10/1871 to 7/10/1872- Their daughter Nora born (Shipping.
Ad Lib)
8/10/1872 to 7/10/1873 – Their son John born (Shipping,
Ad Lib)
8/10/1873 to 7/10/1874 – Their daughter Catherine born (Shipping,
Ad Lib)
1875 – There is possibly a space in here where one of the
several “missing” children could have been born, and died as an infant or at
birth before they emigrated, as all informants on John and Catherine’s death
certificates agree on there being two more deceased sons by 1921 and maybe two
daughters, although there’s no Deaths on the St Caths BMD Index.
May 1876 – Their daughter Margaret born (Shipping, Ad
Lib)
7/10/1876 – The family sailed for South Aust, from
Plymouth, in the "Robert Lees", John Hickey 33 Labourer (nationality
as "English"), Catherine 29, Mary A 6, Nora 4, John 3, Catherine 2,
Margaret 5 months. The family would have been assisted immigrants. (Shipping, Ad Lib)
 |
| The sailing ship "Robert Lees" |
9/10/1876 - EMIGRATION FROM PLYMOUTH — The Western Morning
News of October 9 publishes the following — "The Elder Line ship Robert
Lees, 1,199 tons register.
Captain John
Rose, from London, with a general cargo for Adelaide, was towed to sea on
Saturday from Plymouth Sound, where she had embarked Government emigrants,
composed of 66 married couples, 101 single men, 69 single women, 53 boys, 42
girls, and 19 infants, making a total of 416 souls, equal to 349½ statute
adults. She was dispatched by Messrs. W.T. Weekes & Co, the agents for the
owners.
The Rev James
Bickford, Wesleyan minister, formerly of Adelaide, visited the depot, and after
inspecting the buildings under the guidance of Mr Watson, the superintendent of
the institution, held a semi-religious service. The Rev gentleman's address
consisted of a description of South Australia; of cautionary advices as to
their conduct toward each other on board; and the steps necessary to be taken
for securing employment after arriving in the colony. He gave the names of the
respective ministers in Adelaide, and advised them to connect themselves with
the churches to which they had belonged in this country immediately on their
arrival.
At the close of
the service several of the emigrants applied for the names of the Adelaide
ministers and commendations to them, which was readily given. On Mr Bickford's
recommendation Mr John Jarvis, of Kingsbridge, who for many years has been a
Sunday-school teacher and lay preacher, was appointed schoolmaster and chaplain
for the voyage. A tolerably good supply of Sankey and Moody's hymns and copies
of the Scriptures have been placed on board for the use of the emigrants.
Captain Rose has
promised his best efforts to make Mr. Jarvis's duties as convenient and as
agreeable as possible. The crew of the Robert Lees number 42, making in all 453
souls on board."
14/11/1876 – Their daughter Margaret died of "general
debility" on the voyage out, aged 6 months. (Shipping, Ad Lib)
10/1/1877 - ROBERT LEES, Master Rose, J., Origin London,
Depart Date Friday, September 29, 1876, Destination Port Adelaide, Arrival Date
Wednesday, January 10, 1877 (Trove
newspaper archive)
11/1/1877 - Arrived at Pt Adelaide. (Shipping, Ad Lib)
Journey Notes -
The Robert Lees
was sighted from the stations simultaneously with the John Rennie on Thursday
morning, and having a brisk breeze from the south-west she was soon in a good
position to be boarded. The vessel was at once kept away for a berth inside the
Bell Buoy, were she awaited Dr. Duncan's visit of inspection, and in a few
hours the immigrants were free to land.
Captain Rose
reports leaving London on September 30, and a few days after he sailed at
Plymouth, where she embarked 416 emigrants, and on October 7 was again at sea.
The early part
of the passage was marked by stormy south-west gales, continuing till past the
Bay of Biscay, when less adverse winds set in. On October 21 he sighted the
Canary Islands, and getting a light trade, a course was shaped inside the Cape
Verds, and on the thirty-sixth day out, the vessel crossed the Equator on
November 14 in 291/2° of west longitude.
The trades were
extremely light, so much so that her last day's work under their influence only
reached 199 miles. On December 12 she was in the longitude of the Cape in 40°
26'S., and from there had a fine passage across the South Atlantic between the
parallels of 42° and 43°. So fine was the weather that on no occasion did the
sea break on board ever so little, and on Saturday last the ship was within a
day's sail of the island, but had been retarded by head winds.
She passed Cape
Borda on Wednesday, and on Thursday morning was boarded at the Semaphore, but
would not moor in the Stream before Sunday.
(From “Passengers In SA History” gov website)
12/1/1877 – ARRIVAL OF THE JOHN RENNIE AND THE ROBERT LEES.
On Thursday
morning, January 11, the “John Rennie” arrived with 25 souls on board, mostly
Germans, and the “Robert Lees” with 404 souls; and a very fair sample they
looked. Perhaps not as bright and fresh as if the morning had been very fine,
but good hard-working people, some of whom really mean work. The single girls
number about 69; amongst them are several good domestic servants, and they will
be removed from the ship to the home at once, so as to be ready for immediate
engagement.
The voyage of the vessel from Plymouth has been
unmarked by any startling feature. Only one birth occurred during the voyage,
but there were 13 deaths. Shortly after leaving Plymouth scarlatina showed
itself, and for some time the doctor was fully occupied, but succeeded in so
far isolating the patients that the disease died out long before the ship
arrived. There were 13 deaths on board, seven of which were from the above
cause.
The ship is not one of the latest style of
clippers, but probably was selected by reason of the height of the 'tween
decks. There is no doubt but that twelve years ago she would have been
considered quite a clipper, replete with all the improvements of the then
improving age, but she is just a little behind the present day, although a fine
vessel.
She had no sooner hove-to in the roads than the
pilot boarded and took her up to a berth where the Health Officer visited and
mustered the people, and as soon as practicable she will be towed into harbor. (From the Adelaide Advertiser).
23/1/1877 - Disembarked at Pt Adelaide. (Shipping
arrivals Ad Lib)
The only related
names on board were (all single) W Cronin 24 Labr, D O’Leary 26 Aglab, P
O’Leary 23 Aglab, but they may or may not have been connected to the family.
 |
| Rundle St Adelaide c1880 |
Jan 1877 – On or soon after arrival the family went to live
in “Adelaide”, probably the inner city CBD.
(SA RC church baptism records for Jane’s bapt)
26/3/1877 – Their Daughter Jane was born (SA RC church
baptism records)
(Oral history in
the family was always that Jane was “born on arrival”, which is close to the
facts).
8/4/1877 – Their daughter Jane was bapt at St Patricks RC
in Adelaide, sponsors being Chris(?) and Sarah A Kerr, and the parents shown as
"of Adelaide". (SA RC
church baptism records)
4/7/1878 – Their daughter Jane was born (has to be wrong
info from her Dad at the time?!) (School enrolments records SAGHS)
1/8/1878 – Their son Andrew Joseph was born in Adelaide. (SA
RC church baptism records)
Andrew was said
to be born 11/4/1879 on the School enrolments records SAGHS, and again it was
John who enrolled him, and John was teetotal so hard to know what to blame
these lapses on.
11/8/1878 – Their son Andrew Joseph was bapt at St
Patricks, sponsors Dan O'Leary & Rosanna Malsy, parents still shown as
"of Adelaide". (SA RC
church baptism records)
12/12/1878 – “Mary Ann Turner was charged by Catherine
Hickey with assaulting Mary Ann Hickey, at Adelaide, on December 4, and was
fined 10s plus Court fees.” (SA
newspapers on Trove)
This sounds like
a stoush between neighbours over the kids.
5/11/1879 ?? – Their daughter Ellen was born (the bapt
records are hard to read) (SA RC church baptism records)
In her own
marriage notice, Ellen is described as “the sixth daughter of John Hickey”,
which would be right, if counting Margaret who died on the voyage out.
8/11/1879 – (Adelaide Courts) “John Hickey was charged by
Sarah Gubbins, dairy-woman, Russell-street, with assaulting her on 3rd inst
when applying for her account, which defendant refused in consequence of the
bad quality of the milk. A cross-information charged Gubbins with assaulting
Hickey on the same occasion. The Court fined each party one shilling”. (SA newspapers on Trove)
This sounds like
John and their milk-lady having an exchange over the quality of her wares.
1/12/1879 – Their daughter Ellen was bapt at St Patrick’s
RC in Adelaide, sponsors Jeremiah and Catherine Daly, and the parents still
shown as "of Adelaide”. (SA RC
church baptism records)
This is over
three weeks after the birth, but that birth date above may be wrong?
Dec 1879 to Dec 1881 – The family must have moved from
Adelaide to Hindmarsh, being ‘of Adelaide’ in Dec 1879 at Ellen’s bapt, but ‘of
Thebarton’ when Timothy died in Dec 1881. But why Hindmarsh? Probably for work
as there were small industries along the river.
1880 to 1883 – There is possibly another space in here
where some of those several “missing” children could have been born, as all
informants on John and Cath’s death certificates agree on there being two more
deceased sons by 1921 and maybe two daughters. But if so they must have died at
birth before bapt?
?/4/1881 – A son Timothy appears to have been born (Deaths Index)
This fits the
prior births/deaths as at John and Cath’s deaths info, AND it could be that he
was named after Catherine’s father Timothy Hurley.
31/12/1881 – A Timothy Hickey, 8 months, of Hindmarsh
(father John), died (Deaths Index)
This could
easily be one of the “missing” two sons in Deaths info.
20/3/1882 – (Personal Notices) - “I will not be responsible
for any debts contracted by my wife Catherine Hickey after this date, she
having left me and my seven children. John Hickey Labourer Hindmarsh”. (Trove newspaper archive)
This suggests
that John, although teetotal, wasn’t always easy to live with, and Catherine
needed a bit of a break – from him AND the kids!
These “seven
children” must be Mary Ann, Nora, John, Catherine, Jane, Andrew, and Ellen.
 |
| Port Adelaide c1880 |
March 1882 to June 1883 – The family must have put
themselves back together and moved from Hindmarsh to the Port, being ‘of
Hindmarsh’ in March 1882 above, but ‘of Pt Adelaide’ below when in court in mid
1883.
There had been
Hickey families living in the Pt Adelaide area for at least 20-30 years before
this, and there’s several indications that some could have been relatives, but
why didn’t John and Catherine settle there to begin with if he’d been working
on the docks in England?
When they moved
to The Port, Mary Ann would’ve been 12-13 yrs old, Nora 11-12, John 10-11, Cath
9-10, Jane 5-6, Andrew 4-5, Ellen 3-4.
Would the older
3 or 4 kids already have had schooling in city? By Sept 1883 Mary at 13 was
already working as a “Nurse Girl” and living in King William St, possibly in
the city, although the 1936 “Peter St” in Rosewater (it’s parallel with
Margaret St) is today called “King Wm St”.
8/6/1883 – (Port Adelaide Court) “John Hickey, labourer,
was charged with using threatening language towards his wife Catherine Hickey,
at Port Adelaide, on Wednesday, June 6. Bound over to keep the peace for three
months, and to find one security in £5.”
(SA newspapers on Trove)
Together again,
but clearly John still tending to lose his temper with her, although she was
having none of it!
13/8/1883 – (Pt Adelaide Police Crts) - Catherine Hickey,
wife of John Hickey, labourer, of Rosewater, was charged with using indecent
language on August 7. Bound over in two sureties of ₤5 each to keep the peace
for three months. (Trove)
It seems that
Catherine herself wasn’t any shrinking violet either!
25/9/1883 – Pt Adelaide Police Crt - John Hickey, labourer,
was charged on the information of P.C. Beare, district ranger for Bosewater,
with allowing a goat to stray in that district Fined 5s and costs 30s. (Trove)
27/9/1883 – Mary A Hickey, 13 (= bn c1870), of King William
St (City), arrived on "Robert Lees", resident SA 6 yrs, born Brighton
Eng, occ "Nurse Girl", rel RC, admitted to RAH with a fracture of the
rib, discharged 21/10/88. (RAH admissions SAGHS)
This is
obviously their daughter Mary Ann, although the place of birth is about 60 kms
out. No record of where she was working or how she received the injury.
?/?/1884 - Honorah Hickey admitted to RAH, 13 (=bn c1871), bn
Eng, 6yrs in SA, arrived on "Robert Lees", occ Servant. (RAH
admissions SAGHS)
This is also
their daughter, but record is incomplete.
Both daughters are out working already.
2/5/1884 - Son Luke Dominic born (SA RC church baptism records)
23/5/1884 - Son Luke Dominic bapt at Pt Ad, sponsors Luke
and Nora Hickey (SA RC church baptism records)
These two
sponsors are uncertain. IF the Nora is their daughter, she was only about 13.
The Luke would surely be who the baby was named after, so a close relative? And
the Nora could be his wife, as usually only adults were sponsors. But nothing
on file as to who they are.
4/11/1884 - Luke Dominic Hickey 6m, son of John Hickey,
Labr of Largs Bay, died at Largs Bay of "Marasmas
Dentition" (John X-ed) (Pt Ad
BMD certifs)
5/11/1884 – Luke Dominic Hickey age 6m, of “LeFevres
Peninsula”, interred Chelt Cem, but today “site redeveloped”. (Chelt data online)
c 1885 - Dau Johanna born (says “youngest girl” somewhere) (Deaths)
?/?/1886 – A Norah Hickey (has to be Nora) admitted to RAH,
age 15 (=bn c1871), of Pt Adelaide, born London, 10 yrs in SA, arr on
"Robert Lees" (RAH
admissions SAGHS)
4/1/1887 – Nora Hickey, age 15, bn London, arr “Robert
Lees”, 10 years in colony, RC, of Pt Adelaide, admitted for 9 days with
“Hysteria & Constipation” (RAH admissions SAGHS)
5/8/1889 – Their daughter Jane was enrolled at Pt Adelaids
Primary school, (aged 11-12), father "labourer of Longville St
Portland", previously at Sisters school Pt Adelaide (School enrolments records SAGHS)
This is the
first school enrolment noted, at a time when the first 4 kids would have all
been teenagers. Where did they do any schooling?
Can’t find there
having ever been a “Longville” St in The Port. Could be Langham Place, where
they were in 1890.
St Mary’s
Catholic Church at The Port was opened in 1858, and the small hall next door
built in 1869. Here the Josephite nuns ran a school and lived in Howard House,
the two-storey home further along. (Pt Ad Council Walks)
13/11/1890 - Son Andrew enrolled at Pt Adelaide Primary,
(aged 11?), father John Hickey labourer of Langham Place, again “previously at
Sisters school Pt Ad”. (School enrolments records SAGHS)
5/9/1891 - Dau Mary Anne married Edward Edmunds (24,
labourer of Glanville) at Wesleyan parsonage Pt Ad. She was 22, spinster of Glanville. Witnesses Mary Ann Wilson of Glanville and Anna Maria Allen of Pt
Adelaide. (Their marriage certificate)
A Mary Ann
Wilson had at least four kids to a Richard Hickey from 1886 to 1902 in
“Adelaide”, presumably the city, but THEY were either side of 1891 above (see
Births Index), and also there is no marriage for them in the SA Marriage Index,
so is there any connection except a names coincidence?
14/3/1894 – John and Catherine’s first grandchild born
(Helen Mary), a daughter to Mary Anne and Edward Edmunds, sponsors Andrew &
Johanna Hickey. (SA RC church
baptism records)
These sponsors
are presumably Mary Ann’s brother and sister, but they would’ve been only 16
and 9 years old, suggesting that at times quite young siblings WERE used as
sponsors.
13/6/1896 - "At Lipson St Pt Adelaide, Elizabeth Hilda
Hickey Hines" was born, father "not stated", mother Catherine
Hickey, informant Sarah Hines, "friend" of Exmouth St Glanville. (From Pt Ad BMD originals)
Oral history has
it that John had “disowned” his daughter during her pregnancy, although she
seems to have been given some support by her siblings.
One would have
to assume that the father was a Mr Hines, probably already married.
The baby was
bapt 16 June, still no father shown, again the sponsors were Andrew &
Johanna Hickey (SA RC baptism records), but there’s no obvious record of what
became of the baby, possibly formally adopted after her mother died 8 days
later.
20/6/1896 - Catherine Hickey above ("and infant")
aged 20, living in Pt Adelaide, Servant, RC, admitted to RAH with
"Puerperal Septicemia" (RAH
admissions SAGHS)
21/6/1896 – Catherine above died (in the RAH?) (RAH
admissions SAGHS)
21/6/1896 – Catherine Hickey 20 of Pt Adelaide, died in
Adelaide (no relative recorded) (Deaths
Index)
Catherine was
buried in West Tce Cem 23 June, and current WTC data says she was 20, a burial
in Plan 3, Row 27, No 35, and in the same grave and on the same date also a Joseph
Kelsey and a William Wells. Neither of these seem to be related to her or each
other, implying a pauper’s burial? By 1930 this site appears to have been
recycled to a Goldsworthy family.
In some past
(possibly ex early SAGHS) record Catherine was said to be in the same grave as
the infant son of a Richard Oliver Hickey, along with the second wife of
"old" John Hickey, but this may have been a transcription error. (See
West Tce Cem data in “Other Hickeys” file)
 |
| Port Adelaide wharves c1890 |
6/3/1899 – “John Hickey, a wharf labourer, residing at
Rosewater, fell down the hold of the steamer Gulf of Bothnia at Port Adelaide
at about 5 o'clock on Saturday afternoon whilst engaged in working cargo. The
sufferer was removed to the Port Casualty Hospital, where it was found that he
had broken three ribs.” (SA
newspapers on Trove)
7/3/1899 – “The injured men, W. Stone and J. Hickey, in the
Port Casualty Hospital, were much better on Monday. The latter was not engaged
in working cargo on the steamer Gulf of Bothnia at the time of the accident,
but was assisting in coaling.” (SA newspapers on Trove)
This is most
likely John, supported by a grand-daughter’s latter day phone comments about
“coaling”.
20/5/1899 – (Marriages) “At Melbourne, Capt F Pastorino of
Genoa to Ellen May Hickey, sixth daughter of Mr John Hickey of Rosewater.
Sydney papers please copy.” (SA newspapers on Trove)
Refer to the
summary following of the lives of their children.
23/1/1900 – A John Hickey of McGregor Tce Rosewater,
"unable to write", opened a bank account, referee John Johnson (SA Bank records SAGHS)
As he was of
McGregor Tce, and their dau Johanna died at the same address 18 mnths later,
this must be ‘our’ John Hickey.
24/7/1901 - Johanna Hickey 17 of Rosewater, relative John
Hickey, died at Rosewater (Deaths Index)
24/7/1901 - Dau Johanna died of “Phthisis Pulmonulis” (a
TB-related pneumonia?) aged 17, dau of John Hickey, Labourer, (died at) and
(Usual Residence) Rosewater. (Her
death certificate)
26/7/1901 – (Funeral Notices) The Friends of Mr. JOHN
HICKEY are informed that the Funeral of his late daughter (Johanna) will leave
his residence, McGregor Street, Rosatala, this day at 3 p.m., for the Woodville
Catholic Cemetery (actually Cheltenham).
(SA newspapers on Trove)
26/7/1901 – Johanna Hickey 17 of Rosewater interred Chelt
Sect F, Drive A, Path 9(31), Site 299 S.
(Chelt Cem data online)
This is the (now
re-cycled) 3-plot Hickey family site, which also contains her brother Andrew
and his wife Margaret (nee Liddiard).
14/9/1903 – Their daughter Jane married Alfred Henry
Skinner (labourer of St Lena Pl Adelaide) at St Marys RC Pt Adelaide. Aged 23, spinster of Deslands St Glanville,
witnesses Mary (her married sister) and Edward Edmunds, both living as Deslands
St Glanville. (The bride and groom each
took 3 years off their ages). (Her
marriage certificate)
13/6/1905 – Son Andrew (27, B, Labourer, father John
Hickey, married Margaret Nesbitt (20, of Rosewater, father John) in St Marys
RC, Pt Ad, witnesses Margt & Robt Nesbitt
(from Pt Ad BMD originals)
His wife
Margaret actually re-married (as a widow) in the mid 1940s to a Hubert
Liddiard, presumably related to her brother Andrew’s wife.
1906 & 1907 – Jno Hickey, McGregor Tce Rosatala Pt Ad,
Labourer (SA Directories)
There are no
entries either side in 1904 and 1908.
6/5/1907 – In Pt Ad Local Crt, John Hickey, labourer of
Rosewater, vs J Pomeroy, labourer of Pt Ad, concerning a cow John bought
previous Nov, took it to Pomeroy’s property to graze, subsequent dispute with
Pomeroy over ownership when he went to collect it, and John lost. (Trove)
6/3/1908 – (Pt Ad Court) Andrew Hickey, laborer, of
Rosewater was charged at the Port Adelaide Police Court on Thursday... on the
information of the Manager Australasian United Steam Navigation Company, with
having, on February 28, stole a case of biscuits, valued at 10/-, belonging to
the company... (near midnight... arrested at gunpoint... lots more in the
report) (SA newspapers on Trove)
8/4/1908 – (SA Register - full report and transcript of the
trial) “...the accused was married with one child, had worked for Huddart,
Parker & Co for nine years, (reports his defence in detail). Judge was
dubious but jury found him not guilty. (Trove)
John’s son
Andrew had recently married, and had time to have one child by this time, but
typically none were registered.
28/11/1908 – “Whilst working at Port Adelaide on Friday
morning Andrew Hickey of Rosewater, had two of his fingers painfully crushed.
He was examined at the Casualty Hospital by Dr. Rngg, who dressed the wounds
and sent him on to the Adelaide Hospital for treatment. It is probable that one
of Hickey's fingers will have to be amputated.” (SA newspapers on Trove)
5/3/1912 - Dau Mary Ann Edmunds (nee Hickey) died aged 40 of
"pulmonary tuberculosis (years)", husband Edward Edmunds, wharf
labourer of Commercial Rd Portland, Dist of Pt Ad, aged 19 at marriage. Certif says she was born in Kent (town
unknown), resided in the C'wealth for 33 yrs. (Her death certificate)
27/3/1912 – Andrew Hickey of Clarke St Roswater, wharf
labr, gave evidence re an accident (Trove)
10/7/1921 - John's wife Catherine died ("age
78"), John a labourer, her ususal residence Mental Hosp Parkside, died of
"Senility" at No.3 Aberdeen St, Dockville, Pt Ad (the home of son
Andrew). Born Co Cork Ireland, in
C'wealth 44 years, aged 22 at marriage.
At time of death she had 2m, 3f children living, 3m, 4f dec (total 12 -
they had 13 children acc to Andrew Hickey letter). (Catherines death
certificate & Trove)
No 3 Aberdeen St
was at the west side of the south end. It’s under a new warehouse today, but
cottages at Nos 4, 6 and 8 opposite are still there.
1921 to 1927 – Their son John must have died in this period
acc to the info on their respective death certificates, as this is the only
thing the informants agree on. Oral history says he left the family and changed
his name to Hurley, but there’s no SA Marriages or Deaths Index on either name
that fit his age. None in NSW fit, one possible in Vic 1922 age 47, in
Ballarat, but no parents shown.
8/7/1927 - John Hickey died, (Age) 88, ex “Wharf Labourer”,
at (usual res) Little Sisters of Poor Home, Glen Osmond, of "Senile
Decay". Born Co Cork Ireland, in C'wealth 51 years, aged 20 at marriage.
Children at time of death 1m, 3f living, 4m, 6f dec (total 14) (John’s death certificate)
9/7/1927 – “The friends of the late Mr JOHN HICKEY are
respectfully informed that his funeral (motor) will leave the residence of his
son Mr. Andrew Hickey, No 3 Aberdeen Street, Dockville, Port Adelaide, on
Saturday at 3.30pm, for the Catholic Cemetery, Cheltenham.” (SA newspapers
on Trove)
 |
| Worker's Memorial Pt Adelaide |
9/7/1927 – “WATERSIDE WORKERS' FEDERATION PORT ADELAIDE
BRANCH MEMBERS are hereby notified that the remains of our late Brother, JOHN
HICKEY will be removed from his late residence No 3 Aberdeen Street, Yatala at
3.30 p.m. this day (Saturday) for interment in the Cheltenham Cemetery. F. A.
CARR, Secretary.” (SA newspapers on
Trove)
(Apparently John
Hickey helped to form the Workingmans Assn (later the Waterside Workers Fedn),
and his name is inscribed on the Labour monument at Black Diamond Corner at The
Port. He was nominated for this by the Labor Party in 1918. (From grandson Andrew’s letter, and “some
sundry data at Pt Ad Lib”)
9/7/1927 – John was interred, age 88, of Glen Osmond, in
Sect F, Drive A, Path 9(31), Site 299C. In the same site is son Andrew Hickey d
16/8/1940, dau Catherine Hickey d 11/7/1921. In the site to one side is dau
Johanna Hickey, and other side is dau-in-law Margaret Liddiard. All look
re-interred, as this appears to be a triple block originally, since recycled to
a McPhearson in 2010. (Cheltenham
Cem data online)
22/10/1928 – Andrew Hickey, Labr of Rosewater, in court,
fined for indecent behaviour. (Trove)
8/7/1929 (In Memoriam) “HICKEY — In loving memory of our
dear father and grandfather, John, who died on 8th July 1927. Deep in our
hearts there's a memory of one we will never forget. Inserted by his loving
son, Andrew, and daughter-in-law Margaret, also grand children Andrew, Tom,
Mary, and Nell.” (SA newspapers on
Trove)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
LIVES OF THEIR CHILDREN (as adults)
The actual number of children
How many
children they had seems to vary...
There are 7
girls and 3 boys known for sure, and these are detailed below, that is 10 in
total.
Their son Andrew
said they had 13 children in total.
The informants
at Catherine’s death in 1921 said there had been 12 births in total – 5 boys (2
living, 3 dec) and 7 girls (3 living, 4 dec), and this could be represented
as...
Boys (living) –
John (d post 1921 ?), Andrew (d 1940)
Boys (decd) –
Timothy (d 1881 ?), A boy ??, Luke (d 1884)
Girls (living) –
Nora (d post 1921?), Jane (d 1966), Ellen (d post 1921?)
Girls (decd) –
Mary A (d 1912), Cathn (d 1896), Margt (d 1876), Johanna (d 1901)
The informants
at John’s death in 1927 however said there had been 14 births in total – 5 boys
(1 living, 4 dec) and 9 girls (3 living, 6 dec), and this could be represented
as...
Boys (living) –
Andrew (d 1940)
Boys (decd) –
Timothy (d 1881 ?), A boy ??, Luke (d 1884), John (??)
Girls (living) –
Nora (d post 1921 ?), Jane (d 1966), Ellen (d post 1921 ?)
Girls (decd) –
Mary A (d 1912), Cathn (d 1896), Margt (d 1876), Johanna (d 1901), a girl (d
??), a girl (d ??)
The only
constant is that John must be the male who died, between 1921 and 1927.
There is “space”
1874-5 for one birth (but he/she would have to have died before emigration in
1877 as he/she aren’t on the list), and maybe two or three 1880-3, or maybe
after 1885 as Catherine would’ve “only” been about 40, although surely these
would’ve been fresher in the memory of the informants?
The lives of the ten known, as adults
Mary Anne (1870-1912)
5/9/1891 - Dau
Mary Anne married Edward Edmunds (labourer of Glanville) at the Wesleyan
parsonage Pt Ad. She was 22, spinster of Glanville. Witn Mary Ann Wilson of
Glanville and Anna Maria Allen of Pt Adelaide. (Their marriage certificate)
She was buried
at Chelt Cem 7/3/1912, age 40, ex Portland Est, in Sect F, Drive A, Path 9(31),
Site 299 N. In same site is Margt Liddiard, wife of her brother Andrew.
Nora (1871- )
There is no
adult data on Nora at all, there’s only her birth c1872, being in the 1871
Census in Erith, on board ship to SA with the family in 1877, and two admits to
the RAH, 1886 and 1887, when she was 15.
There are NO
Nora or Honora(h) Hickeys marrying in SA Indexes 1842-1937, or dying in SA
Indexes 1837-1972, and no Nora or Honora(h) Hickey entries in the Ad Cem Auth
database.
John (1872-1921/7?)
This is the son
who was said to have changed his name to Hurley as an adult as a result of a
falling out with his father (ex phone call by his nieces) and went into the
trotting industry. But the well-known South Aust Hurley trotting people are no
relation, as they came out of Co Clare and were part of the significant
mid-north cluster of Hickeys.
There is no
relevant SA Marriages Index that looks like John.
Going by the
death certif data of his parents, John must’ve died between 1921 and 1927, but
there is no SA Deaths Index data that is him, and no Deaths in NSW, but there
is one in Ballarat in 1922 (age 47 =bn 1875) that doesn’t state parents, but
there’s no notice in Vic papers of the day.
Catherine (1873-1896)
In 1896 at 20 yo
Catherine appeared to have had a dau in Lipson St Pt Ad, probably to a
(married?) man named Hines, but she died in the RAH 8 days later of blood
poisoning as a result of her delivery. The baby was bapt with Catherine’s
brother Andrew and sister Johanna in attendance, but there’s no data on what
happened to her dau after that.
Catherine seems
to have been buried in “Common Ground” so it’s possible she had been disowned
by at least her father.
Margaret (1876-1876)
Died as an
infant on the voyage out to SA late in 1876, and was buried at sea.
Jane (1877-1966)
Married Alfred
Henry Skinner (for full story see their file)
Andrew Joseph (1878-1940)
Married age 27
(=bn 1878), father John Hickey, married Margt Nesbitt 20, St Marys RC Pt Ad
13/6/1905. (Mars Index)
Margt Nesbitt
was born in Rosewater c1874, and after the death of Andrew she re-married
c1943-45, to widower Hubert Roy Liddiard. She died Dec 1847 age 63 at home of
her dau Mrs Chapman (Mary Hickey) at 5 Rowley Tce Woodville, then buried (as
Margt Liddiard) at Chelt in same (old 3 part Hickey) plot as Mary Ann Edmunds
(bd 7/3/1912, age 40 Portland Est) in Sect F, Drive A, Path 9(31).
Children -
Thomas Christopher c.1903 - 3/7/1976,
Mary (Chapman), Andrew c.1908 -
11/12/1984, Nell (Cooper)
In the 1990s Jan
had a phone conversation with two of Andrew’s daus above – Mary (Chapman) and
Nell (Cooper) - who said that their two other siblings were Thomas and Andrew.
Notes taken from
the conversation were...
“John Hickey
(their grandfather who they remembered) was born 22/6/1839, a bare fisted
fighter (impression was scratch fights on the docks for cash), tough as old
boots, an old tyrant, used a walking stick when he was older, which it’s said
he used on a man who had the temerity to sit in HIS pew in his church of St
Marys at Pt Ad one Sunday.
“He was a
regular church goer, his grandkids were terrified of him, as he used to do the
rounds and collect them all up Sunday mornings and walk them into church in
line like a mob of ducks, which was embarrasing.
“He used to take
the more dangerous wharf jobs, like being lowered down into the ship’s holds in
a cage arrangement to work in the coal shutes etc, as this paid extra.
“His son John
fell out with his father and left home, changed his name to Hurley, and was
involved with trotting horses.”
Jan also had a
letter from Andrew above in 1976, main points being...
“John Hickey
(was) my grandfather, born 22nd June 1839 in Co Cork, married
Catherine Hurley, had thriteen children, he was a Policeman in London for many
years, embarked on “Robert Lees”, landed SA 10th Jan 1877, one child
was born at sea, their dau Catherine died 11th July 1921 aged 73,
and John himself died 9th July 1927 aged 88.
“He helped to
form the Working Men’s Association, now Waterside Worker’s Fedn, his name is on
a monument on the Black Diamond Corner in Pt Ad.
“(One of their)
daus Ellen married an Italian sea capt and lived in Italy and she went blind
and we heard no more of her. (Of the other of John and Catherine’s) children
Mary Ann Edmunds died 7/3/1912 aged 40, Johanna died 26/7/1901 aged 17,
Catherine jnr d age 25 date unknown, my father Joseph Andrew died 14/8/1940
aged 63, my mother Margaret died 18/12/1947 aged 63.”
Andrew Hickey
died 14/8/1940 of bronchitis “at Hospital”, aged 63 [=bn 1877], a
"Waterside Worker" of 12 Brook St, Dockville SA. Wife Margaret, kids
Andrew, Tom, Mary, Nell. (His death certificate and Trove)
Ellen May (1879-????)
Ellen was said
to have "married an Italian sea capt and went to live in Italy .. went
blind and we heard no more of her .."
(grandson Andrew Hickey’s letter)
20/5/1899 –
(Marriages) “At Melbourne, Capt F Pastorino of Genoa to Ellen May Hickey, sixth
daughter of Mr John Hickey of Rosewater. Sydney papers please copy.” (SA
newspapers on Trove)
Capt Pastorino
was 37, an Italian from Genoa, who sailed the 1199 tons barque “Gaetano
Casabona” from Savannah Georgia USA about late 1897, bound for Aust.
Expected
Arrivals were posted in Melb, Sydney and Brisbane from Jan 1898 through to
March 1899, he was in NZ in Oct 1898, and arrived Brisbane March 1899 “short of
provisions and without an agent”.
In May 1899
(presume after the wedding) he sailed to Sydney, and by July 1899 he was about
to clear Sydney for Genoa. (I’state papers Trove)
How Ellen met
him or how long she knew him is unknown, as the ship was never in Adelaide, and
Pastorino doesn’t seem to have been in Aus before. And why “Sydney papers
please copy”? Other oral history has it that Ellen (a) went blind in later
life, and/or (b) was never heard of again.
Luke Dominic (1884-1884)
Died at 6 months
of “Marasmas Dentition” (wasting away associated with the cutting of teeth ??)
Johanna (1885-1901)
Johanna died in
1901 only 17 yo, of TB-related pnuemonia, and was buried in the (then) family
triple plot at Chelt.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
POSSIBLY RELATED DATA
18/7/1841 - A
John Hickey was bapt to an Andrew Hickey and Nora Cronin, of Glashaceenleen,
Kilmeen, Co Cork, witnesses Nora Riordan and J Riordan [O’Keefe]
18/7/1841 - A
John Hickey was bapt in Boherbue RC church to an Andrew Hickey and Honora
Cronin, of Clashaceenleen, Kilmeen, Co Cork, witns J Riordan and Honora
Riordan (IrishGenealogy.ie)
These are the
ONLY records that exist of a John born to an Andrew in the two data collections
in the relevant period. (The LDS site says the same), but while this bapt date
isn’t all that close to what was said to be his 22/6/1839 birth date, there are
no John-to-Andrew bapts in 1839 on existing records in all of Co Cork.
Dec 1879 - Jeremiah
& Catherine Daly were sponsors at the Adelaide bapt of one of their kids.
18/7/1841 – On
the exact same day as John above (along with a Callaghan, a Connell, and a
McCarthy), a Catherine Kenny was bapt in the Boherbue RC, to John Kenny &
Mary nee NR (of Williamstown), witn John Kenny & Mary Fitzgerald. (IrishGenealogy.ie website)
7/4/1845 - A
Jeremiah Daly was bapt in Boherbue RC to Jeremiah Daly and Ellen nee Curtin of
Knockeenadallane, witn Eliz Callaghan (IrishGenealogy.ie website)
12/2/1863 - A
Jeremiah Daly (of Kiskeam) mar a Catherine Kenny (of Kiskeam) in Boherbue
Parish. His parents were Michael Daly and Margaret Cronin. Her parents were
John Kenny and Julia Sullivan. Witn was a Timothy Guinea. (IrishGenealogy.ie website)
The two Boherbue
bapts above don’t match on parents with the marriage, but there’s nothing else.
IF John’s mother was Nora Cronin, then it’s
possible that John and Jeremiah were first cousins (ie, Nora and Margaret their
mothers were Cronin sisters), as each were time and place contemporaries.
IN GRIFFITHS - A
Jeremiah Daly in Banteer (10kms E of Boherbue), few Kenny’s, some Cushins, but
nothing very close to Boherbue.
No Shipping
Arrivals for them in SA can be seen 1863 (when Mar) to 1879 (when witn at
bapt), but they had SA Index births of Jeremiah 11/11/1874 and Johanna 3/6/1877
both at Thebarton (and Index says she is nee Kenny).
1901 Directory
shows Jeremiah Daly Ballantyne St Thebarton (but none for him ealier)
6/3/1903
(MARRIAGE) SMITH—DALY — On the 26th January, at the Queen of Angel's Church,
Thebarton, by Rev. Father Healy, Jas. A., eldest son of James Smith, of
Portland Estate, to Annie, only surviving daughter of Jeremiah Daly, of West
Thebarton (Trove)
1907 Directory
shows J. Daly Ballantyne St Thebarton, Labourer.
1915 Elec Roll
for ‘Hindmarsh’ shows Jeremiah (labr) and Catherine (HD) of Torrens Rd
Franklin, but they’re not in 1913 ‘Hindmarsh’.
“DALY — On the
7th November, Jeremiah, dearly loved husband of Catherine Daly (late of West
Thebarton), and loving father of Mrs. J. A. Smith, Torrens Road, Franklin, aged
78 years (=bn 1840).” (Deaths Ad Mail 16/11/1918)
Jeremiah was bur
8/11/1918 at WTC, Cath Old Area, Grid Ref D9, Site 12. (WTC data)
“DALY — On the
3rd June, at “Canberra”, Torrens Road, Franklin, Catherine, relict of Jeremiah
Daly, late of Ballantyne street. West Thebarton, and dearly loved mother of
Mrs. J. A. V. Smith, aged 85 years (=bn 1835)”
(Deaths Ad Register 4/6/1920)
Catherine was
bur with Jeremiah 3/1/1920. (WTC data)
(Ballantyne
St is east behind Theb Oval, just west of Dew St. Franklin is an old Torrens Rd
suburb east of Alberton Oval)
Pre 1871 Census
1861 – No John
Hickey or Catherine Hurley that’s relevant in Eng Census [LDS]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“Traditional” Irish Naming Practices (a website)
Testing this against the actual names of their children...
First born son named after his father's father?
(s/b Andrew? –
act John)
Second born son named after his mother's father?
(s/b Timothy? –
act Andrew Joseph)
Third born son named after his father?
(s/b John – act
Luke Dominic)
Fourth born son named after his father's oldest brother?
(not known – act
. . . . )
Fifth born son named after his father's 2nd oldest brother
or his mother's oldest brother?
(not known – act
. . . . )
First born daughter named after her mother's mother?
(not known – act
Mary Ann)
Second born daughter named after her father's mother?
(s/b Nora? – act
Nora)
Third born daughter named after her mother?
(s/b Catherine –
act Catherine)
Fourth born daughter named after her mother's oldest
sister?
(not known – act
Margaret)
Fifth born daughter named after her mother's 2nd oldest
sister or her father's oldest sister?
(not known – act
Jane)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>