QUINLIVAN, George James
QUINLIVAN, Laurence Edward
QUINLIVAN, Josephine
George, Laurence and Josephine QUINLIVAN, all of whom died during the 1918 influenza epidemic, were siblings in a large, close-knit family, most of whom didn’t marry, and many of whom continued to live at home or together until well into their adult years. Their parents were James QUINLIVAN, of Co. Limerick, Ireland and Elizabeth CHANCE of Kent, England who married in Wellington, New Zealand in 1864.
James & Elizabeth had nine children between 1865 and 1886:
QUINLIVAN, Laurence Edward
QUINLIVAN, Josephine
George, Laurence and Josephine QUINLIVAN, all of whom died during the 1918 influenza epidemic, were siblings in a large, close-knit family, most of whom didn’t marry, and many of whom continued to live at home or together until well into their adult years. Their parents were James QUINLIVAN, of Co. Limerick, Ireland and Elizabeth CHANCE of Kent, England who married in Wellington, New Zealand in 1864.
James & Elizabeth had nine children between 1865 and 1886:
1865 |
James George |
George |
1918 |
1870 |
Albert John |
Herbert |
1965 |
1873 |
Leonard |
. |
1899 |
1876 |
Mary Ethel |
. |
1952 |
1878 |
Eva |
. |
1955 |
1880 |
Thomas |
. |
1937 |
1882 |
Laurence Edward |
. |
1918 |
1884 |
Margaret |
. |
1939 |
1886 |
Josephine |
. |
1918 |
James was described as a labourer in the Electoral Rolls (1880-1914). He worked for P Hutson and Co, Wallace Street, Newtown, Wellington. The company made drains and pipes, commercial pottery, tiles and bricks. In 1897 at least 40 men were employed at their works site in Wallace Street, Mount Cook, where there were five kilns for firing bricks, and the latest pipe-making machines under cover on a one-acre site. James worked there for many years, and over time, most of his sons also worked for Hutsons. In 1900 – 1901 James was Honorary Secretary for the Employees Social Club.
James and Elizabeth lived in heartland Te Aro throughout their married lives, in Dixon Street, then Taranaki Street. Later they were able to move to 107 Wallace Street, in the suburb of Mount Cook. James would have easily been able to walk to and from his place of work at all times.
The children when young appear to have attended Mt Cook and/or Te Aro Infants Schools, moving into the Catholic schools run by the Marists as they advanced. The boys all became labourers, with the exception of Thomas who became a clerk in government service.
In 1899 tragedy struck the family for the first time when Leonard died, aged 25. A large plot was purchased in the first Catholic section of Karori Cemetery, and this became Leonard’s final resting place.
Over the next few years the family continued to live and work together, the major exception to this being when Mary Ethel married Thomas Richard RUSCOE in 1902. They had two daughters and a son.
On 28 June 1912 Elizabeth passed away, aged 66 years, at the family home in Wallace Street. Requiem Mass was held at St Joseph’s Church, Buckle Street the next day, followed by a private interment in the family plot in Karori Cemetery.
Two years later their father James passed away on 5 March 1916 at his son George’s residence, 23 Bidwell Street. He was 75 years old. Bidwell Street is less than a kilometre from 107 Wallace Street. A private interment was held at the family plot in Karori Cemetery on 7 March 1916.
WW1 had begun in 1914 and none of the Quinlivan men rushed to sign up, presumably because they were mostly approaching or well into their middle age years. However, Thomas was eventually called up for active service and he served from late 1917, until returning home unscathed in August 1919.
Eva, Margaret and Josephine all joined the workforce at some stage, in one of the limited range of jobs available for women. Eva, for example, was employed as a machinist.
When the epidemic started to intensify in the first two weeks of November 1918 George was amongst those who succumbed. He died on 9 December 1918 at St Patrick’s Temporary Hospital (set up in St Patrick’s College, Cambridge Terrace, Wellington), aged 53 years. His funeral left the Mortuary Chapel of E Morris Jnr Ltd, Kent Terrace, Wellington, on 11 December 1918 for burial in the family plot at Karori Cemetery. George had never married, so had no children, and left no will. Probate was processed through Letters of Administration granted to his brothers and on behalf of their sisters in 1919.
Only 8 days after George died his youngest sister Josephine died, on 19 November 1918. The circumstances surrounding her death are not known, but it seems possible that she did not die as a direct result of influenza. She was clearly working prior to her death as there is a small separate plaque on the wall of the family plot in Karori Cemetery provided by her workmates.
In December the family suffered another blow when Laurence died on the 4th at St Patrick’s Temporary Hospital. He was 35 years old, and also had never married so had no children. He had however made a will and bequeathed his property to his brother Herbert John. Probate went through on 20 February 1919.
Laurence too was buried in the family plot in Karori Cemetery, on 5 December 1918. The New Zealand Tablet, a weekly Catholic periodical published in Dunedin, in its issue dated 19 December 1918, included an item from the Archdiocese of Wellington which noted that Mr Edward Quinlivan, an esteemed member of the Hibernian Society had died. It went on to state that he was a single man and his sister Josephine predeceased him by a few days, and that his brother, Mr T Quinlivan, manager of the State Coal Depot, Dunedin, was away serving with the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces. There was no reference to the earlier death of his other brother George.
The somewhat depleted family, having lost three of its members within a one-month period, welcomed the return of Thomas from war service in August 1919. Not long afterwards Thomas married Alice BARRY and they had a daughter in 1921. She lived for only a few months and was buried in a separately purchased plot in Karori Cemetery. Thomas and Alice went on to have two more daughters, and lived in Dunedin and then Christchurch.
The family plot continued to be used, for Margaret in 1939 then Eva in 1955. The final member of the family to be interred in the plot was Herbert, who died in 1964, aged 95. In all, nine members of the family were laid to rest together.
Thomas died in Christchurch in 1937 but was brought to Wellington to be buried with his infant daughter in their own plot in 1937.
Mary’s husband Thomas Ruscoe died in 1934, and Mary in 1952. They were buried in their own plot in the Catholic section at Karori Cemetery, and their two daughters Irene and Mary joined them in 1939 and 1965 respectively.
James and Elizabeth lived in heartland Te Aro throughout their married lives, in Dixon Street, then Taranaki Street. Later they were able to move to 107 Wallace Street, in the suburb of Mount Cook. James would have easily been able to walk to and from his place of work at all times.
The children when young appear to have attended Mt Cook and/or Te Aro Infants Schools, moving into the Catholic schools run by the Marists as they advanced. The boys all became labourers, with the exception of Thomas who became a clerk in government service.
In 1899 tragedy struck the family for the first time when Leonard died, aged 25. A large plot was purchased in the first Catholic section of Karori Cemetery, and this became Leonard’s final resting place.
Over the next few years the family continued to live and work together, the major exception to this being when Mary Ethel married Thomas Richard RUSCOE in 1902. They had two daughters and a son.
On 28 June 1912 Elizabeth passed away, aged 66 years, at the family home in Wallace Street. Requiem Mass was held at St Joseph’s Church, Buckle Street the next day, followed by a private interment in the family plot in Karori Cemetery.
Two years later their father James passed away on 5 March 1916 at his son George’s residence, 23 Bidwell Street. He was 75 years old. Bidwell Street is less than a kilometre from 107 Wallace Street. A private interment was held at the family plot in Karori Cemetery on 7 March 1916.
WW1 had begun in 1914 and none of the Quinlivan men rushed to sign up, presumably because they were mostly approaching or well into their middle age years. However, Thomas was eventually called up for active service and he served from late 1917, until returning home unscathed in August 1919.
Eva, Margaret and Josephine all joined the workforce at some stage, in one of the limited range of jobs available for women. Eva, for example, was employed as a machinist.
When the epidemic started to intensify in the first two weeks of November 1918 George was amongst those who succumbed. He died on 9 December 1918 at St Patrick’s Temporary Hospital (set up in St Patrick’s College, Cambridge Terrace, Wellington), aged 53 years. His funeral left the Mortuary Chapel of E Morris Jnr Ltd, Kent Terrace, Wellington, on 11 December 1918 for burial in the family plot at Karori Cemetery. George had never married, so had no children, and left no will. Probate was processed through Letters of Administration granted to his brothers and on behalf of their sisters in 1919.
Only 8 days after George died his youngest sister Josephine died, on 19 November 1918. The circumstances surrounding her death are not known, but it seems possible that she did not die as a direct result of influenza. She was clearly working prior to her death as there is a small separate plaque on the wall of the family plot in Karori Cemetery provided by her workmates.
In December the family suffered another blow when Laurence died on the 4th at St Patrick’s Temporary Hospital. He was 35 years old, and also had never married so had no children. He had however made a will and bequeathed his property to his brother Herbert John. Probate went through on 20 February 1919.
Laurence too was buried in the family plot in Karori Cemetery, on 5 December 1918. The New Zealand Tablet, a weekly Catholic periodical published in Dunedin, in its issue dated 19 December 1918, included an item from the Archdiocese of Wellington which noted that Mr Edward Quinlivan, an esteemed member of the Hibernian Society had died. It went on to state that he was a single man and his sister Josephine predeceased him by a few days, and that his brother, Mr T Quinlivan, manager of the State Coal Depot, Dunedin, was away serving with the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces. There was no reference to the earlier death of his other brother George.
The somewhat depleted family, having lost three of its members within a one-month period, welcomed the return of Thomas from war service in August 1919. Not long afterwards Thomas married Alice BARRY and they had a daughter in 1921. She lived for only a few months and was buried in a separately purchased plot in Karori Cemetery. Thomas and Alice went on to have two more daughters, and lived in Dunedin and then Christchurch.
The family plot continued to be used, for Margaret in 1939 then Eva in 1955. The final member of the family to be interred in the plot was Herbert, who died in 1964, aged 95. In all, nine members of the family were laid to rest together.
Thomas died in Christchurch in 1937 but was brought to Wellington to be buried with his infant daughter in their own plot in 1937.
Mary’s husband Thomas Ruscoe died in 1934, and Mary in 1952. They were buried in their own plot in the Catholic section at Karori Cemetery, and their two daughters Irene and Mary joined them in 1939 and 1965 respectively.
The family progressively noted on the headstone on the family plot, the passing of each member, sustaining the practice for a period of about 60 years. This is somewhat remarkable, not only because of the timespan, but also because there were very few descendants to ensure the work was done each time someone died.
In Loving Memory of
Elizabeth Quinlivan
Who Died June 28th 1912
Also
Leonard Quinlivan
Son of the above
Who died April 1st 1899
Aged 25 years
Eternal Rest Grant Unto Them O Lord
And Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Them
Also James Beloved husband of Elizabeth Quinlivan
Who Died March 5th 1916, Aged 75 years
May The Lord Jesus Have Mercy Upon His Soul
On left face
In Loving Memory
Of
George James Quinlivan
Who Died 9 December
1918
Aged 52
Also Edward
Who Died 4 December
1918
Aged 35
And Josephine Elizabeth
Who Died 19 November
1918
Aged 31
Beloved Children of James & Elizabeth Quinlivan
On right face
In Loving Memory
Of
Margaret Quinlivan
Who Died Dec. 26th 1939
Also
Eva Quinlivan
Who Died April 7th 1955
Herbert John Quinlivan
Who Died July 4th 1964
R.I.P.
Separate plaque
In Loving Remembrance of
Jo
Died 19 Nov 1918
From Her Workmates
Researched by Beverley Hamlin and written by Beverley Hamlin & Barbara Mulligan
Grave Information:
Section: ROM CATH
Plot: 12 K
Sources:
1. www.paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
2. www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
3. New Zealand Society of Genealogists Kiwi Collection
4. Boulcoutt Street Baptismal Records - www.freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com
5. New Zealand Electoral Rolls, 1853-1981 – www.ancestry.co.uk
6. The Community Archive – St Patrick’s College 1885 – www.thecommunityarchive.org.nz
7. Karori Cemetery database – www.wellington.govt.nz › Services › Community & culture › Cemeteries
8. Archives New Zealand Probate Records – www.familysearch.org
9. Notices of Deceased Estates, 1880-1950 under administration of Public Trust – www.ancestry.co.uk
In Loving Memory of
Elizabeth Quinlivan
Who Died June 28th 1912
Also
Leonard Quinlivan
Son of the above
Who died April 1st 1899
Aged 25 years
Eternal Rest Grant Unto Them O Lord
And Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Them
Also James Beloved husband of Elizabeth Quinlivan
Who Died March 5th 1916, Aged 75 years
May The Lord Jesus Have Mercy Upon His Soul
On left face
In Loving Memory
Of
George James Quinlivan
Who Died 9 December
1918
Aged 52
Also Edward
Who Died 4 December
1918
Aged 35
And Josephine Elizabeth
Who Died 19 November
1918
Aged 31
Beloved Children of James & Elizabeth Quinlivan
On right face
In Loving Memory
Of
Margaret Quinlivan
Who Died Dec. 26th 1939
Also
Eva Quinlivan
Who Died April 7th 1955
Herbert John Quinlivan
Who Died July 4th 1964
R.I.P.
Separate plaque
In Loving Remembrance of
Jo
Died 19 Nov 1918
From Her Workmates
Researched by Beverley Hamlin and written by Beverley Hamlin & Barbara Mulligan
Grave Information:
Section: ROM CATH
Plot: 12 K
Sources:
1. www.paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
2. www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
3. New Zealand Society of Genealogists Kiwi Collection
4. Boulcoutt Street Baptismal Records - www.freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com
5. New Zealand Electoral Rolls, 1853-1981 – www.ancestry.co.uk
6. The Community Archive – St Patrick’s College 1885 – www.thecommunityarchive.org.nz
7. Karori Cemetery database – www.wellington.govt.nz › Services › Community & culture › Cemeteries
8. Archives New Zealand Probate Records – www.familysearch.org
9. Notices of Deceased Estates, 1880-1950 under administration of Public Trust – www.ancestry.co.uk