Patrick Darcy - Native of Tipperary

 The inscription on Patrick Darcy's gravestone reveals his Irish origins. It reads:

IN LOVING REMEMBRANCE OF PATRICK DARCY

WHO DIED JULY 11TH 1895

NATIVE OF TIPPERARY

IRELAND

AGED 68 YEARS

Patrick Darcy's gravestone, Nelson Creek Cemetery, Ngahere. Photo taken by B. Chapman (2002)

Patrick is buried at Nelson Creek Cemetery at Ngahere. The Cemetery is sometimes referred to as Ngahere Cemetery. Ngahere is a small settlement near the confluence of the Grey River and Nelson Creek in the Grey District of the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island:

Location of Nelson Creek Cemetery
Map created with Google My Maps (modified)

Nelson Creek Cemetery is a very small cemetery surrounded by private farmland:

Nelson Creek Cemetery, Ngahere, Grey District, West Coast, New Zealand
Photo taken by B. Chapman (2002)

So, who was Patrick Darcy and how did he come to be buried at Nelson Creek Cemetery so far away from his native Ireland?

In Search of Gold?

Most records associated with Patrick suggest he was born in Ireland in about 1827[1] to James Darcy, a farmer, and his wife Mary Lonergan[2]. Exactly, why he chose to travel half way around the world, firstly to Australia and then on to New Zealand, we don’t know. It is fair to assume that, like so many others at the time, when he left Ireland, he was in search of a better life for himself and had high hopes for what he may find in Australia. By the time he moved on to New Zealand, he had a family whose circumstances he may have been trying to better.

In reality, Patrick would have had quite a hard life in both Australia and New Zealand. Whether he deliberately set out in search of gold or just happened upon the occupation of goldminer, we can't know. However, he worked as a goldminer throughout his life in Australia and New Zealand.

Sandhurst (Bendigo), Australia

To date, I haven't found a shipping record for Patrick so I don't know exactly when he travelled to Australia from Ireland. He was in Australia by 16 July 1856 when he married Margaret Callanan in the Roman Catholic Parish of Sandhurst, Bendigo District, Victoria, Australia. The marriage entry  indicates that Margaret was aged 25 when she married Patrick and so born in about 1831. She, too, was an immigrant from Ireland. Patrick is listed as a digger (goldminer). Patrick signed with a signature whereas Margaret signed with her X mark. Patrick and Margaret's marriage entry (registration 2616/1856) reads as follows[3]:

'Marriages solemnised in the District of Bendigo - 16 July 1856, Sandhurst;
Patrick D'Arcy, Bachelor, no children from former marriage, born County Tipperary, digger, age 30, residence Bendigo, parents: James, farmer and Mary Landrigan;
Margaret Callanan, spinster, no children from former marriage, born County Clare, age 25, residence Bendigo, parents: Richard, farmer and Bridget McMahon.
Signed Patrick Darcy and Margaret her X mark Callanan.
Married according to the rites of the Catholic Church.
Witnesses - Joseph Abernathy[?], Mary her mark X Coghlan.
Officiating Minister - M Backhaus Catholic clergy'

Sandhurst (later Bendigo)[4] was a gold mining settlement with a growing population when Patrick and Margaret married there. In the 1850’s, the Victorian gold rush accounted for more than a third of the world’s gold production[5]. Most at those working the gold diggings would have been living in tents. Life would not have been easy and mortality rates would have been high.

Margaret was just 32 years when she died on 16 December 1863 at Wellington Gully. This was a little over 7 years after she and Patrick married. Wellington Gully was one of the Diggings at Sandhurst. It would have been where Patrick was mining and where he, Margaret and their family were living. Margaret's death entry shows that she had a fever for 12 days and had been seen by a doctor the day before she died. It also shows that Margaret and Patrick had 5 children together. The oldest, Mary, was 6 ½ when her mother died, James and Sarah Jane predeceased their mother, Alice was 2 ½ and William was 10 months old when Margaret died. Margaret's death entry (registration 9028/1863) reads as follows[6]:

'Died December 16th 1863 Wellington Gully; Margaret Darcy Gold miner's Wife; female; 32 years;
cause of death - fever,
duration of last illness - 12 days,
Medical Attendant - Dr Sorley[?], Dr McDonald, Dr Lever[?],
when last saw the deceased - December 15th 1863;
____ Callanan Farmer Father - Christian names of Father and Mother unknown;
Informant - Patrick Darcy Gold miner Wellington Gully Husband of the deceased;
Registered by Henry Sorley December 16th 1863 Eaglehawk;
Buried at the White Hills Cemetery December 17th 1863
J Oakley undertaker Father O'Dwyer Roman Catholic Clergyman
John Doonan and D. Van Pelt Witnesses;
born at [looks like] Phays[?] County Clare Ireland And 10 years in the Australian Colonies;
where and at what age married and to whom - married at Sandhurst at the age of 25 years to Robert[sic] Darcy;
issue in order of birth their names and ages - Mary, age 6 ½ years, James deceased, Sarah Jane deceased, Alice age 2 ½ years, William age 10 months'

With such a young family to look after, it is not surprising that Patrick married again. It was about 6 ½ months after Margaret’s death, that Patrick married Johanna Bourke. They married on 4 July 1864, at St Kilian's Roman Catholic Church, Sandhurst. Patrick’s second wife Johanna was also an Irish immigrant. Patrick and Johanna's marriage entry indicates that she was 26 years old when they married, so born about 1838. Her place of birth is listed as County Clare. The marriage entry identifies Johanna’s mother’s family name as Callanan so Johanna may well have been a relative of Patrick’s first wife Margaret. Patrick and Joanna's marriage entry (registration 2953/1864) reads as follows[7]:

'Marriages solemnised at St Killian's Roman Catholic Church, Sandhurst - 4 July 1864;
Patrick Darcy, widower, children from former marriage - 3 females, 2 males (Margaret Callanan December 17th 1863), born County Tipperary, miner age 27 [sic], residence sandhurst, parents: James Darcy, farmer and Mary Lonergan;
Johanna Bourke, spinster, no children from former marriage, born County Clare Ireland, Domestic, age 26, residence [?], parents: John Bourke, farmer and Mary Callanan;
Signed Patrick Darcy and Johanna Burke.
Married according to the rites of the Catholic Church.
Witnesses - Daniel Hegarty, [?] Bourke. Officiating Minister - Augustine E. O'Dwyer Catholic clergyman'

There is no evidence to suggest that gold mining was lucrative for Patrick but he must have earned enough to move his family to New Zealand, assuming it was not an assisted passage. To date, I have been unable to find a passenger record from Australia to New Zealand for the family.

Red Jacks, Grey District, West Coast, NZ

Patrick and Johanna and their family most probably moved to New Zealand sometime between 1866 and 1868, or thereabouts[8]. They appear to have gone straight to the West Coast of the South Island and settled near Red Jacks in the Grey Valley where Patrick mined for gold.

Joanna was step mother to Patrick and Margaret’s surviving children: Mary Darcy, Alice Darcy and William Darcy; all of whom were still living when Patrick died. [As mentioned above, Margaret and Patrick's other children, James Darcy and Sarah Jane Darcy predeceased their mother]

In addition, Johanna and Patrick had five children together. Only 4 of them were still living in 1895 when their father died[9]. The oldest of their children was Ellen Theresa Darcy who was born in Victoria, Australia in 1865[10]. I have been unable to find either name or birth entry for the next two, both males, born about 1868 and 1870 respectively. Patrick and Johanna’s youngest children, twins, Agnes Mary Darcy and Alfred James Darcy, were born on 20 April 1873, probably at Red Jacks in New Zealand. 

Agnes and Alfred's births were registered at Ahaura. While Alfred and Agnes would, presumably, have been registered together, their birth registrations are 5 digits apart: Alfred - Registration 1873/40085; Agnes Registration 1873/40091[11]. Alfred must have died before 1895 as he is not referred to as living issue on his father's death entry[12].

Ahaura is a small settlement in the Grey District of West Coast, New Zealand not far from Nelson Creek Cemetery where Patrick is buried, and not far from Red Jacks where the family settled and where Patrick mined for gold in the Red Jacks stream:

Red Jacks stream and Ahaura relative to Nelson Creek Cemetery
Map created with Google My Maps (modified)

Records show that Patrick continued to live and work at Red Jacks up until his death in 1895:

• 1880-1881 Grey Valley Electoral Roll[13] - Patrick Darcy - Red Jacks - Residential - Miner
• 1891, 1892/1893, 1895 New Zealand City & Area Directories[14] - Patrick Darcy - Red Jacks - Miner

While Patrick's cemetery record[15] and gravestone, above, show Patrick's death as 11 July 1895, his death entry says that he died at Red Jacks on 12 July 1895 and was buried on 14 July 1895. As per the death entry, Patrick's death was not certified by a medical attendant and so no cause of death is given. The informant was Edward Cressey, Duty Authority Agent who was acting on behalf of Johanna, Patrick’s wife, who had advised him of the death in writing. Patrick had been ill for 7 days when he died[16] . His death entry (Registration 1895/4793) reads as follows:

'Died 12 July 1895 at Red Jacks; Patrick Darcy Gold miner; male; 68 years;
cause of death _____,
duration of last illness - 7 days,
Medical Attendant by whom certified - Not certified;
Father - James Darcy - farmer, Mother - Mary Darcy formerly Lonergan;
buried - 14 July 1895 Nelson Creek Cemetery;
name and religion of Minister or name of witnesses of burial - Mark Dornary[?] person in charge of funeral, Jas Hannah & Charles Goodwin [?] holders];
where born - County Tipperary,
how long in New Zealand - 29 years;
where married - 1st time married at Bendigo at 29 to Margaret Callanan,
2nd time married at Bendigo at age of 37 to Johanna Burke;
living issue - number, age and sex - 2 females, 1 male by first marriages, male aged 32 females aged 38 - 34. 2 males, 2 females by 2nd marriage males aged 17 - 25, females aged 30 - 22;
informant Edward Cressey Duty authority agent by wife in writing,
informants residence - Ahaura;
Registrar J.H Wheeler 1 August 1895'

Postscript

Patrick Darcy is my husband’s 2nd great grandfather. He descends via Patrick and Margaret’s son, William Darcy. You can find a related post here.

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Notes

[1] Patrick’s 1st marriage record suggests Patrick was 30 when he married in July 1856 and, therefore, born about 1826. However, his death entry says he was 29 at the time of his first marriage suggesting 1827. His 2nd marriage entry records him as 27 in July 1864 which clearly is incorrect and probably should read 37 consistent with Patrick's death entry. Again this would suggest a birth date of 1827. Cemetery records indicate that Patrick was 68 when he died in July 1895 and, therefore, born in about 1827. His gravestone also records his age at the time of death in July 1895 as 68 years: 

• Certified copy of 1st marriage entry (Registration 2616/1856) is held by Author [Jane Chapman], issued by the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Melbourne on 4 September 2001; 
• A certified copy of the 2nd marriage entry (Registration 2953/1864) is held by the Author [Jane Chapman], issued by the Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages, Melbourne on 20 August 2001; 
• Certified copy of death entry (Registration 1895/4793) is held by Author [Jane Chapman], issued by the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Wellington on 16 August 2001; 
• Cemetery Record - New Zealand Society of Genealogists Incorporated; Auckland, New Zealand; New Zealand Cemetery Records via Ancestry.com. New Zealand, Cemetery Records, 1800-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

[2] Patrick’s parents are shown as James Darcy and Mary Lonergan on his death entry and on his 2nd marriage entry. Alternatively, his mother is listed as Mary Landrigan on his 1st marriage entry: 

• Certified copy of 1st marriage entry (Registration 2616/1856) is held by Author [Jane Chapman], issued by the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Melbourne on 4 September 2001; 
• A certified copy of the 2nd marriage entry (Registration 2953/1864) is held by the Author [Jane Chapman], issued by the Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages, Melbourne on 20 August 2001; 
• Certified copy of death entry (Registration 1895/4793) is held by Author [Jane Chapman], issued by the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Wellington on 16 August 2001

[3] A certified copy of the marriage entry (Registration 2616/1856) is held by the Author [Jane Chapman, issued by the Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages, Melbourne on 4 September 2001.

[4] Sandhurst is today known as Bendigo. Having originally begun as Bendigo (the name being derived from Bendigo Creek), the town adopted the official name of Sandhurst in 1854. This was changed back to Bendigo in 1891 after residents voted (on 28 April 1891) in favour of the change – 1,515 in favour, 267 against. 

See: 'Bendigo or Sandhurst? History Through Newspapers', via Blog, State Library Victoria [Website]. Accessed 29 December 2022: https://blogs.slv.vic.gov.au/such-was-life/bendigo-or-sandhurst-history-through-newspapers/

[5] 'Gold Rushes' via National Museum Australia [Website]. Accessed 29 December 2022: https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/gold-rushes

[6] A certified copy of Margaret's death entry (Registration 9028/1863) is held by the Author [Jane Chapman], issued by the Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages, Melbourne on 4 September 2001.

[7] A copy of the marriage entry (Registration 2953/1864) is held by the Author [Jane Chapman], issued by the Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages, Melbourne on 4 September 2001.

[8] Patrick's death entry says that, at the time of Patrick's death in 1895, Patrick had been in New Zealand for 29 years. This suggests an arrival date of about 1866. His son William's death entry says that he, William, had been in New Zealand for 30 years when he died in 1898. This suggests an arrival date of about 1868: A certified copy of the death entries for Patrick (Registration 1895/4793); and William (Registration 1898/3769) is held by the Author [Jane Chapman], issued by the Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages, Wellington on 16 August 2001 and 31 July 2001 respectively

[9] As per the certified copy of Patrick's death entry (Registration 1895/4793) held by the Author [Jane Chapman], issued by the Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages, Wellington on 16 August 2001.

[10] Birth entry – Ellen Theresa Darcy - Registration 18445/1865 - 'Family History Search' [Digital Index Search] via Births, Death and Marriages Victoria [Website]. Accessed 12 June 2022: https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history

[11] These can be accessed via the 'Births, Deaths & Marriages Online' [Digital Index], New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs [Website]: https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/

[12] A certified copy of Patrick's death entry (Registration 1895/4793) is held by the Author [Jane Chapman], issued by the Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages, Wellington on 16 August 2001

[13] 1880-1881 Grey Valley Electoral Roll via Ancestry.com. New Zealand, Electoral Rolls, 1853-1981 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Accessed 29 December 2022.

[14] New Zealand City & Area Directories, 1866–1955 via Ancestry.com. New Zealand, City & Area Directories, 1866-1954 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010 Accessed 29 December 2022.

[15] New Zealand Society of Genealogists Incorporated; Auckland, New Zealand; New Zealand Cemetery Records via Ancestry.com. New Zealand, Cemetery Records, 1800-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Accessed 21 December 2022.

[16] A certified copy of Patrick's death entry (Registration 1895/4793) is held by the Author [Jane Chapman], issued by the Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages, Wellington on 16 August 2001