Hi there,
From the passenger list for The Armstrong, arriving Auckland Feb 1865, I have found where John Keeffe, and his wife Ellen, together with their children, Patrick, John, Julia, Michael and Ellen arrived in NZ. I descend from the lad, John, born in Dublin Ireland c1858. John came to NSW when 18, where he then married in 1878. I am interested in finding out more about his siblings, and perhaps the following info will assist:
John Keeffe (the head of this family) had a military background, perhaps 55th regiment, but not sure. Ellen Keeffe (his wife) was probably born Ellen Donoghue (as per her son’s NSW marriage and death certs). Ellen died in Auckland March 1876, and it was her son John who made the arrangements, so I do not know where her husband or her eldest son was. (This is from my oral history). I do not know if her widower husband re-married, but he may have – perhaps Bridget may be name of his second partner.
I think Patrick married a lass with surname Storey. I think either Patrick died or there may have been a divorce, however I think Mrs Patrick Storey (Emily?) remarried, to a Robert Mitchell McLean.
On the Auckland Cenotaph website is a K I A in France WW1, with his photo from newspaper perhaps. That image is spit of my first cousin. The lad was Albert Keeffe, and his next of kin was Mrs R McLean. I am seeking confirmation about his parents.
I think Julia Keeffe married a chap with surname Vazey or Vasey, and that either she, or her children kept in very regular contact with my NSW forebears, at least until perhaps the 1940’s.
I am sure that Michael Keeffe lived to a very old age, (this is from my oral history), and was “on the land”.
My late Gran (1887-1962) spent much of her youth in Auckland, as both her parents died in the late 1890’s in Sydney and she was sent to her NZ family, where she was “finished” and did some nursing training.
So, I am seeking clues to advance my searching for information about this family.
I am in NSW Australia, and I thank you for taking the time to read this posting.
Cheers, from across the ditch, I enjoy that reference to the Tasman Sea, for I have not yet found the passenger lists to show how my great grandfather got from Auckland to Sydney, and often wonder it he perhaps had to hitch a ride across somehow! On other lines on my tree I have other NZ forebears, and they too may have found alternative ways to cross that ditch for the passenger lists between NZ and AUS have been diligently searched and none of my forebears details found as yet.
