QUINLIVAN
Josephine; died 19 November 1918; buried 20 November 1918. NB may not have died of influenza
Laurence Edward (Ed); died 4 December 1918; buried 5 December 1918
James George (George); died 9 December 1918; buried 11 November 1918.
Plot reference Karori Cemetery Roman Catholic 12K
George, Ed 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 New Zealand in 1864. James & Elizabeth had nine children between 1865 and 1886:
Josephine; died 19 November 1918; buried 20 November 1918. NB may not have died of influenza
Laurence Edward (Ed); died 4 December 1918; buried 5 December 1918
James George (George); died 9 December 1918; buried 11 November 1918.
Plot reference Karori Cemetery Roman Catholic 12K
George, Ed 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 New Zealand in 1864. James & Elizabeth had nine children between 1865 and 1886:
Birth Year |
Name |
Known as |
Death Year |
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 |
Ed |
1918 |
1884 |
Margaret |
- |
1939 |
1886 |
Josephine |
- |
1918 |
Part 1 of a 2 part panorama of P Hutson & Co, a pottery and brick factory in Newtown, Wellington. O'Brien, P T :Photographs of the Hill Bros Brick Works, Wellington 1895. Ref: PAColl-0241-1. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22317664
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.
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.
As the epidemic started to intensify in the first two weeks of November 1918 Josephine became ill, leading to her death on 19 November. 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.
After this blow to the family, Laurence Edward (known as Ed) then became one of those who succumbed to influenza. He died on 4 December 1918 at St Patrick’s Temporary Hospital (set up in St Patrick’s College, Cambridge Terrace, Wellington). He was 35 years old, and 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.
Four days later, on the 9th December, another brother, George, also succumbed to influenza at St. Pat’s Temporary Hospital. 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 also never married, 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.
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 Force.
As the epidemic started to intensify in the first two weeks of November 1918 Josephine became ill, leading to her death on 19 November. 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.
After this blow to the family, Laurence Edward (known as Ed) then became one of those who succumbed to influenza. He died on 4 December 1918 at St Patrick’s Temporary Hospital (set up in St Patrick’s College, Cambridge Terrace, Wellington). He was 35 years old, and 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.
Four days later, on the 9th December, another brother, George, also succumbed to influenza at St. Pat’s Temporary Hospital. 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 also never married, 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.
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 Force.
There was no reference to the later death of his 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.
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.
HEADSTONE INSCRIPTIONS
|
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 |
Overlooking Newtown, Wellington, taken ca 1937 by Sydney Charles Smith. Daniell Street can be seen on the right, Riddiford and Mansfield Streets to the left, the pond at Wellington Zoo in the foreground to the right, and the P Hutson brickworks in the foreground to the left.
Newtown, Wellington. Smith, Sydney Charles, 1888-1972 :Photographs of New Zealand. Ref: 1/2-045201-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22754117
