Climbing our Family Tree

Michael and Ellen were married in Greenane, Ireland, in 1836. They emigrated to Australia on the ship Lysander which arrived here on the 22nd October, 1841. In the shipping records Michael is 31 years old, Ellen 28, and their three children were: Patrick 5 1/2; William 3; and John aged 2. After arrival in Melbourne, they had six more children from 1841 to 1852 - Honora, Mary, Michael, Bridget, Thomas and Ellen. They were all baptized at the St. Francis Roman Catholic Church in Melbourne.

According to later obituaries, the family moved from Melbourne in 1855, to Tylden, then later to Redesdale.

Almost thirty years later, Michael died at three in the morning of the 14th August, 1884, at Barfold. He died from old age, just worn out, aged 82. He had been ill for four weeks. He was buried the next day at the Kyneton Cemetery.

The Kyneton Guardian, Saturday, August 16, 1884

DEATH OF AN OLD REDESDALE RESIDENT - Mr Michael Dwyer, of Redesdale, father of Mr Thomas Dwyer, of Mia Mia, and father-in-law of Mr Dargan, of Emberton, expired on Wednesday night, being 82 years of age. He was a very old resident of the district, and the high respect in which he was held was evidenced by the very large funeral which followed his remains to the Kyneton Cemetery yesterday.

Twenty years later, Ellen celebrated her 100th birthday in November, 1904. She lived with her daughter Mary at Emberton, the farm at Glenhope, since Michael had died. Almost a year later, Ellen passed away after only a few days of illness, her heart failed on the 6th October, 1905. She was buried two days later in the Kyneton Cemetery.

The Kyneton Guardian, Saturday, October 7, 1905

Death Notice DWYER - On the 6th inst., at the residence of her daughter, Mrs Richard Dargan, Barfold, Mrs Dwyer, relict of the late Mr Michael Dwyer, in her 101st year. R.I.P.

Obituary MRS DWYER

A very old colonist in the person of Mrs Dwyer, relict of the late Mr. M. Dwyer, passed away at the residence of her daughter, Mrs Dargan, Barfold, yesterday. The deceased lady was born in Tipperary, Ireland, in November, 1804, and would consequently have completed her 101st year next month. Together with her husband and four children she landed in the colony in 1841, and for a time resided in Melbourne. The family moved to Tylden in 1855, and ten years later took up their residence at Redesdale. During the last twenty years, Mrs Dwyer has resided with her daughter, Mrs Dargan. Mrs Dwyer leaves four sons and two daughters. The sons are Mr P. Dwyer, Glenhope, Messrs W. And M. Dwyer, J.P., Burromine, and Mr Thomas Dwyer, Mia Mia and the daughters are Mrs Dargan and Miss Dwyer, Barfold. Funeral particulars are announced.

Funeral Notice

The Friends of the late MRS MICHAEL DWYER are respectfully invited to follow her remains to the place of interment, the Kyneton Cemetery.

The Funeral is appointed to leave the residence of her daughter (Mrs Richard Dargan), of Barfold, at 12 noon on SUNDAY 8th inst. J. CUDDIHY, Undertaker and Embalmer, Mollison Street, Kyneton.

The Kyneton Guardian, Tuesday, October 10, 1905 THE FUNERAL OF A CENTENARIAN On Sunday the remains of the late Mrs Dwyer, of Barfold, were interred in the Kyneton cemetery. The funeral procession was a very long one, there being upwards of seventy buggies and several horsemen. Among those in attendance were residents of Heathcote, Kyneton, and the surrounding districts, many of whom travelled many miles to pay a last tribute to one of the oldest colonists of the district, and one who was respected far and wide. The coffin-bearers were Messrs J and R Dargan, and M A and R C. Dwyer, all grandsons of the deceased. The pall-bearers were Messrs H. Rawson, J.P., G. Took, J.P., D Dwyer, J J Kenny, C. Westblade, M. Burke, T. Linklater, and J. Cullen. At the grave the Very Rev. Dean Hegarty officiated, and he was assisted by the Rev. Fathers O'Sullivan and Rafferty. At the 11 o'clock mass at St. Mary's, Kyneton, and at Barfold, sympathetic reference to Mrs Dwyer's death was made by the officiating clergymen, Dean Hegarty and Father O'Sullivan respectively. Mr J. Cuddihy discharged the mortuary duties with his customary skilful attention.

Patrick Dwyer & Catherine Murphy

Patrick Dwyer was born about 1836 in Tipperary, Ireland. He came to Australia with his parents in 1841, when he was five and a half years old.

Catherine Murphy was born between 1831 and 1836 in Cashel, Tipperary, Ireland. According to her obituary, Catherine arrived via Adelaide in 1854.

Patrick and Catherine married on the 28th June, 1859 probably in the old St Mary's Church, Kyneton. They had 14 children - Mary Theresa (1860, her birth was registered as Mary Murphy); Michael (1861); Edward (1862, died 1863); Ellen Theresa (1863); Thomas (1864, died 1865); Margaret Jane & Bridget (1867 twins); Patrick Joseph (1869); Honorah Josephine (Norah) (1871); Catherine (Katie) (1872); Anne & John (twins, 1874; Anne died 1875); William (1875); and Daniel (1877).

Patrick died on the 8th September, 1915, at daughter Ellen's home in Mitchell St, Kyneton. He had Bright's disease, which effects the kidneys. He was buried on the 10th September in the Kyneton Cemetery.

These obituaries were sent to us by a 3rd cousin Margaret. She hasn't recorded the sources, but I would presume it is the Kyneton Guardian, 9th September, 1915. Margaret is a descendant of the eldest child Mary, who married Joseph Bowler in 1882.

DEATH OF MR. P. DWYER

Mr. Patrick Dwyer, another of the worthy pioneers of this district, died at 11 a.m. yesterday at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. T. Corcoran, of Mitchell St. He was a native of Tipperary, Ireland, and was 82 years of age. He was married in Kyneton in 1859 by the late Very Rev. Dean Geoghegan. Since 1862 until about two years ago he carried on farming pursuits at Glenhope. Previous to this he had a farm on the Campaspe near Carlsruhe. The primary cause of his death was Bright's disease. His wife and a family of four sons and six daughters survive. The sons are Messrs. Michael, Joseph, John and Daniel Dwyer, who reside in Kyneton, Glenhope, New Zealand and Melbourne respectively. The daughters are Mesdames J. Bowler (Ballarat), T. Corcoran (Kyneton), T. Carty (Warrnambool), H. Lechte (Caulfield), G. Webb (Caulfield) and J. Brown (Elsternwick). Deceased was a kind-hearted, jovial and honest man and was esteemed and respected by all who knew him. The interment will take place in the Kyneton Cemetery, the funeral leaving his daughter's residence in Mitchell street at 2-30 p.m. to-morrow.

Catherine died on the 29th June, 1922 at eldest son, Michael's home, Hutton St, Kyneton. She was buried with Patrick in the Kyneton Cemetery.

DEATH OF MRS. P. DWYER

A Colonist of 68 Years

The death took place at her son's residence, Hutton Street, Kyneton, on Thursday, of Mrs. Catherine Dwyer, widow of the late Mr. Patrick Dwyer, formerly of Glenhope. Mrs. Dwyer, who was 91 years of age, was a native of Tipperary, Ireland, and a daughter of the late Mr. Thomas Murphy, of that country. She landed in Adelaide in 1854, and in the following year came to Victoria. She was married to the late Mr. Dwyer in Kyneton by the late Very Rev. Dean Geoghegan in 1859. That was before the completion of the present St. Mary's Church, and the ceremony took place in the old church recently dismantled on the site of the new parish hall now in course of erection. Mr. And Mrs. Dwyer lived at Carlsruhe. In 1862 they removed to Glenhope, where Mr. Dwyer was engaged in farming for many years. Mr. Dwyer died in September, 1914. About seven years ago Mrs. Dwyer left Glenhope and came to reside in Kyneton. She was possessed of many sterling virtues, which gained her the respect of all who knew her. She is survived by four sons and six daughters. The sons are Michael (Kyneton), Joseph (Glenhope), John (New Zealand) and Daniel (Corowa) The daughters are Mrs. M. Bowler (Flemington), Mrs. E. Corcoran (Kyneton), Mrs. B. Carty (Warrnambool), Mrs. M. Lechte (Caulfield), Mrs N. Webb (Caulfield), and Mrs. K. Browne (Ripponlea). Another son, William, died some years ago. Two of Mrs. Dwyer's sisters were nuns, and died in Ireland. Her only brother died in America. The interment took place in the Kyneton Cemetery yesterday, the funeral, which was well attended, leaving St. Mary's Church at 2 p.m

7 November 2006