My mother's paternal grandfather, John Devir/Dever/Diver- (a different spelling on every occasion!!)- emigrated to Australia with his wife Bridget [O'Donnell] aboard the "Scottish Hero" departing 14.12.1878 from London & arriving 5.4.1879 in Maryborough Queensland. I have no record of them before this.
Bridget had 5 children in Australia: Mary, born/died 1881, Catherine born/died 1882, John Patrick, (my mother's father) b 1883, Catherine born/died 1884, and Bernard (born 1885). Bridget died in 1885, aged 25, possibly from a complication of childbirth. Her death certificate is sketchy, with marriage particulars and parents names & occupation(s) unknown. Birthplace is given as Ireland, and we always assumed it was Donegal. Her death notice in the Sydney Morning Herald requests Londonderry papers to copy. Puzzlingly, it also states she leaves "an affectionate husband & 3 children" Did they leave a child behind in Ireland as my mother seemed to think. There is no further record of the last child Bernard, except for his birth...
John was born abt 1855. He had 2 brothers,
1. Bernard born abt 1839 in Donegal to Thomas Devir, farmer, & Catherine Sweeney, (according to his death certificate) and
2. Michael born abt 1837 in Donegal to James Devir, farm labourer, & Catherine Sweeney, (according to his death cert.) Was this a clerical error? or was Catherine widowed and remarried to another Devir?
Michael and his wife Sarah [Ryan] emigrated to Aus in abt 1865, but I've found no shipping record for them. I found a marriage record for a Michael Diver & Sarah Ryan, both of Cloghroe in 1864. His father's name is given as James
I have discovered several James & Thomas Devir/Dever/Divers in Conwal (Letterkenny); Tullaghobegly (Maheragallan); Killybegs (Drumbarran)and Kimacrenan (Gortnaskeagh) but I am anxious not to leap to erroneous conclusions.
Bernard's obit in the Sydney Morning Herald 1886- he died 24 Jan after 17 yrs in Aus.- stated that he was formerly of Kilmacrenan. He married, in Sydney in 1876, Catherine Leggatt [nee Devir], who had emigrated with her sister Sophia Devir in 1859 aboard "Lady Bruce". Their brother Dominick (sic) & sister Bridget joined them in 1864. Sophia Devir married Cornelius Devir, a fellow passenger on the "Lady Bruce" (presumably in Sydney, as they each appear as single on the passenger list).
All these Devirs marrying Devirs gets very confusing!
Back to my gtgrfather John. He seems to have fallen of the face of the earth. We know he went gold mining, dragging my gfather (who eventually ran away back to Sydney) with him. He was an alcoholic by that time, small wonder. There is no further record of him. But that's for the Aus forum.
Any leads on their pre Australia lives, and connections, would be much appreciated.
