Kevin O'Brien Family Connections

Philip John DODUNSKI (Private). Parents: Leo DODUNSKI and Barbara ALEXANDER.

Children were: Gareth Leo DODUNSKI, Aimme DODUNSKI.

Storm Pearl DODUNSKI (Private). Parents: Aaron James DODUNSKI and Christine BOWEN.

Rachel ? DONALD ? was born about 1750.

Some of this is tentative and the unsourced details are mainly from Neil Austin. Dates in some cases have been inferred from births and marriages but should be in the range of ± 5 years.

The Alexander line has been attached because naming conventions make it highly probale that he was a bother of John.Cormack Snr's father is likely to be Robert.
Mostly gleaned from the Northern Ensign published in Wick in 1903, copied by JRSD in Caithness.

A lot of detail is available in the Ensign about life in Caithness and the Cormack family, some of whom had lived inThrumpster continually for over 300 years. Great stories too of fishing life which explains why the Cormacks were hardy and long livers.

See James Cormack (gso) for further detailed notes about family.
------------
From: Helen Cormack <helen.c@clear.net.nz>
To: <GENANZ-L@rootsweb.com>
Subject: Life in the 1500's
Date: Monday, 12 July 1999 09:40

A little off topic but you might enjoy this excerpt from my mailbox this
morning;
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Life in the 1500's
>
> This is pretty interesting (and TRUE!!)
>
> Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May
> and were still smelling pretty good by June. However, they were starting
> to
> smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the b.o.
>
> ~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$
>
> Baths equaled a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had
> the
> privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then
> the
> women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the
> water
> was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying,
> "Don't
> throw the baby out with the bath water".
>
> ~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~*

> Houses had thatched roofs. Thick straw, piled high, with no wood
> underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the
> pets... dogs, cats and other small animals, mice, rats, bugs lived in the
> roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would
> slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying, "It's raining cats and
> dogs."
>
> ~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~

> There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a
> real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could really
> mess
> up your nice clean bed. So, they found if they made beds with big posts
> and
> hung a sheet over the top, it addressed that problem. Hence those
> beautiful
> big 4 poster beds with canopies.
>
>
> ~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>
> The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt, hence
> the saying "dirt poor." The wealthy had slate floors which would get
> slippery in the winter when wet. So they spread thresh on the floor to
> help
> keep their footing. As the winter wore on they kept adding more thresh
> until when you opened the door it would all start slipping outside. A
> piece
> of wood was placed at the entry way, hence a "thresh hold".
>
>
> ~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>
> They cooked in the kitchen in a big kettle that always hung over the fire.
> Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They mostly ate
> vegetables and didn't get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner
> leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the
> next day. Sometimes the stew had food in it that had been in there for a
> month. Hence the rhyme: peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas
> porridge in the pot nine days old."
>
>
> ~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>
> Sometimes they could obtain pork and would feel really special when that
> happened. When company came over, they would bring out some bacon and hang
> it to show it off. It was a sign of wealth and that a man "could really
> bring home the bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests
> and
> would all sit around and "chew the fat."
>
>
> ~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>
> Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with a high acid content
> caused some of the lead to leach onto the food. This happened most often
> with tomatoes, so they stopped eating tomatoes... for 400 years.
>
>
> ~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>
> Most people didn't have pewter plates, but had trenchers - a piece of wood
> with the middle scooped out like a bowl. Trenchers were never washed and
> a
> lot of times worms got into the wood. After eating off wormy trenchers,
> they would get "trench mouth."
>
>
> ~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>
> Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of
> the
> loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the
> "uppercrust".
>
>
> ~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>
> Lead cups were used to drink ale or whiskey. The combination would
> sometimes knock them out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the
> road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid
> out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather
> around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence
> the
> custom of holding a "wake".
>
>
> ~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>$<~**~**~>
> England is old and small, and they started running out of places to bury
> people. So, they would dig up coffins and would take their bones to a
> house
> and re-use the grave. In reopening these coffins, one out of 25 coffins
> were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had
> been burying people alive. So they thought they would tie a string on
> their
> wrist and lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it
> to
> a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night to
> listen
> for the bell. Hence on the "graveyard shift" they would know that someone
> was "saved by the bell" or he was a "dead ringer".

-----------

l

Children were: Robert CORMACK, Alexander CORMACK - farmer of Brubster, John CORMACK , William CORMACK.

Anne DONALD was born on 12 Sep 1858.⁽⁹¹⁾ She died on 28 May 1942.⁽⁹¹⁾

She was married to William George HODDER on 18 Oct 1881.⁽⁹¹⁾ Children were: Norman Stanley HODDER, Ida Elizabeth Mary HODDER , Letitia Catherine HODDER, Hilda Isabella Janet HODDER, Eva Annie HODDER .

Annie DONALD⁽⁷²⁾⁽²⁾ was born on 26 Nov 1856. She died on 6 Feb 1927.

She was married to Walter George HODDER on 17 Feb 1879. Children were: Herbert Walter HODDER, Ethel HODDER, Jessie Emma HODDER, Beatrice Elizabeth HODDER, Lillian Grace HODDER .

Michelle DONOVAN Parents: Unknown DONOVAN and Margaret Rose SMITH.

Suzanne DONOVAN Parents: Unknown DONOVAN and Margaret Rose SMITH.

Unknown DONOVAN

He was married to Margaret Rose SMITH . Children were: Suzanne DONOVAN, Michelle DONOVAN.

Daniel Victor DOOHAN

Children were: Dennis Brian DOOHAN , James Raymond DOOHAN.

Dennis Brian DOOHAN. Parents: Daniel Victor DOOHAN and Dorothy Thelma KANE.

James Raymond DOOHAN. Parents: Daniel Victor DOOHAN and Dorothy Thelma KANE.

Francis DORREEN⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born.

He was married to Joyce O'CONNOR .

Irene DOUGLAS⁽⁴⁾⁽²⁾ was born.

She was married to Ralph MCNEISH . Children were: Gregory MCNEISH, Lydia MCNEISH, Peter MCNEISH, Victoria MCNEISH.

Marian DOUGLAS

Children were: James Rupert PRESS, Adrian Nicholas PRESS.

Helen Margaret DOULL⁽²⁴⁾⁽²⁾ was born.

She was married to Vincent Charles BICKNELL. Children were: Debra Ann BICKNELL, Bronwyn Claire BICKNELL, Amanda Marie BICKNELL, Nigel Vincent BICKNELL.

Patricia DOWER⁽⁴⁾⁽²⁾ was born.

She was married to James Owen SCHIERNY. Children were: Coral June SCHIERNY , Kelly James SCHIERNY.

Kevin DOWNS⁽⁶⁹⁾⁽²⁾ was born. Parents: Lawrence Hector DOWNS and Eileen Myra HODDER.

He was married to June TAYLOR. Children were: Kim Alexandra DOWNS , Ross Lawrence DOWNS.

Kim Alexandra DOWNS⁽⁶⁹⁾⁽²⁾ was born. Parents: Kevin DOWNS and June TAYLOR.

Lawrence Hector DOWNS⁽⁶⁹⁾⁽²⁾ was born.

He was married to Eileen Myra HODDER. Children were: Kevin DOWNS, Russell DOWNS, Margaret Lynley DOWNS.

Margaret Lynley DOWNS⁽⁶⁹⁾⁽²⁾ was born. Parents: Lawrence Hector DOWNS and Eileen Myra HODDER.

She was married to Christopher MCLEOD. Children were: Darren Richard MCLEOD, Shona Catherine MCLEOD.

Rachel Tracey DOWNS⁽⁶⁹⁾⁽²⁾ was born. Parents: Russell DOWNS and Heather WOOLER.

Richard Ian DOWNS⁽⁶⁹⁾⁽²⁾ was born. Parents: Russell DOWNS and Heather WOOLER.

Ross Lawrence DOWNS⁽⁶⁹⁾⁽²⁾ was born. Parents: Kevin DOWNS and June TAYLOR.

Russell DOWNS⁽⁶⁹⁾⁽²⁾ was born. Parents: Lawrence Hector DOWNS and Eileen Myra HODDER.

He was married to Heather WOOLER. Children were: Rachel Tracey DOWNS , Richard Ian DOWNS.

Irene DOYLE⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born.

She was married to Ronald Keith O'NEALE. Children were: Kirsty Anne O'NEALE .

Kate DOYLE Parents: Patrick DOYLE and Johanna GREEN.

Margaret Mary DOYLE (photo) was born on 21 Jul 1889 in Oamaru.⁽⁷⁴¹⁾⁽⁷⁴²⁾ She died on 22 Jul 1956 in Wellington, 182 Molesworth Street.⁽⁷⁴³⁾ She was a Boarding house keeper & publican 1935 - 1950 ? in Timaru & Wellington.⁽⁷⁴⁴⁾ She was buried in Karori, Wellington.⁽⁷⁴⁵⁾ Parents: Patrick DOYLE and Johanna GREEN.

She was married to Michael O'BRIEN (Mick) on 6 Jul 1910 in St Patricks Basilica, Oamaru.⁽⁷⁴⁶⁾ Witnesses: Bernard Joseph O'Brien (Brother) Hakataramea and Christine Imelda Doyle (sister) Pukeuri
Children were: William Alphonsus O'BRIEN (Bill), Grace O'BRIEN, Edna O'BRIEN, Patricia O'BRIEN.

Nell DOYLE was born in 1897. She died on 31 Dec 1997 in Wellington.⁽⁷⁴⁷⁾ Had 100th birthday Dec? 1997 Parents: Patrick DOYLE and Johanna GREEN.

Children were: Ray LINDSAY.

Patrick DOYLE was born in 1863 in Taughmaconnell, County Roscommon Ireland.⁽⁷⁴⁸⁾ He was a labourer in 1889 in Oamaru.⁽⁷⁴⁹⁾

Children were: Margaret Mary DOYLE, Nell DOYLE, Kate DOYLE.

Glenys Esme DRAKE (Private). Parents: Lionel James DRAKE (Jim) and Esme Lillian PATERSON.

She was married to Keith Thomas WILLIAMS on 29 Sep 1962 in All Saints Church, Palmerston North.⁽⁷⁵⁰⁾ Children were: Stephen Keith Thomas WILLIAMS, Sharryn Heather WILLIAMS.

Julie Margaret DRAKE (Private).

Children were: Jesse Rene Louis HODDER, Yasmin Clarrissa HODDER.

Lionel James DRAKE (Jim).

He was married to Esme Lillian PATERSON.⁽⁷⁵¹⁾ Children were: Glenys Esme DRAKE.

Beverley Jane DRISCOLL (Private). Parents: Colin James DRISCOLL and Judith DANIELS (Judy).

Colin James DRISCOLL has reference number P52.

Children were: Virginia Anne DRISCOLL, Beverley Jane DRISCOLL .

Virginia Anne DRISCOLL (Private). Parents: Colin James DRISCOLL and Judith DANIELS (Judy).

Amanda Jane DRYSDALE

She was married to Carl Henning John MORCH in Mar 1996 in Catholic Church, Omata, New Plymouth.⁽⁷⁵²⁾ Children were: Isaac Jane Drysdale MORCH .

Agnes DU PERIER

She was married to Neville Eric DICKSON . Children were: NEDdau1 DICKSON, NEDson1 DICKSON, NEDson2 DICKSON.

Peggy Contance DUDDING⁽²⁴⁾⁽²⁾ was born.

She was married to Terence Charles HODDER.

DUDLEY ⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born.

He was married to Irene HODGSON .

Eleanor DUGGAN

Information on this family line is from Cheryl Fenn nee Randall of Leeman, by the sea, Western Australia. Email: paul@wn.com.au
Children were: William R.A PORTER, Edna PORTER, Melbourne PORTER, George Harold PORTER, Eleanor M. PORTER, Henry S. PORTER.

Lianne Vicki DUNCAN (Private).

Children were: Edward Charles NEES, Simon William NEES.

Don DUNFORD.

He was married to Beatrice WEEKES . Children were: Lynette DUNFORD, Sharon DUNFORD.

Lynette DUNFORD Parents: Don DUNFORD and Beatrice WEEKES.

Sharon DUNFORD Parents: Don DUNFORD and Beatrice WEEKES.

Natalie DUNKLEY⁽⁴⁾⁽²⁾ was born.

She was married to Roy Frederick KING. Children were: Graeme Dennis KING, Nigel Wayne KING, Phillip Gerald KING.

Gail Patricia DUNLOP

Children were: Sarah Elizabeth Groves HODDER.

Harriet DUNNETT.

She was married to William COGHILL 1826 ?.⁽⁷⁵³⁾ Children were: Isabella DUNNETT.

Isabella DUNNETT was born in 1834.⁽⁷⁵⁴⁾ She died 1905 ?.⁽⁷⁵⁵⁾ Parents: William COGHILL and Harriet DUNNETT.

She was married to John CORMACK about Jun 1870 in Blue Spur Otago Goldfields ?.⁽⁷⁵⁶⁾ See main notes ABOUT HIS FAMILY
The birth registration #490 for Euphemia gives the father as John Cormack, miner, Blue Spu and mother as 'Isabella Dunnett now Cormack'. The birth date was Mar 27 1870 and the registration date June 20 1870. The name change hints at a marriage prior to the birth being registered. There was an earlier birth recorded in 1867 of a female child.

Isabella's father's name was Coghill but she took her mother's Dunnett name for some unknown reason - see below.

One of the daughters married a (H) Cameron [Obit]

CORMACK - DUNNETT - COGHILL CONNECTION

Information (1995) from Tom King, 273 Gillies Ave, Epsom, phone 6304366.

1. Coghill family tree shows;

1801 - William Coghill born
1826? - married Harriet Dllnnett
1834 - Isabella born

2 Photo from Donald Sutherland & Marjorie Brown (brother and sister)
1316 North Arbor Ave
Casa Grande AZ 85222
USA

Photo is from Donald's grandfather's album. Grandfather was a Dunnett..

3. Family tree info presumably from

Ronald Coghill
41 Chalton Rd
Inverteil
Bridge of Allan
Stirlingshire FK9 4EF
UK.

--------------------------------------
Staying with a maried daughter.
DEATH OF A TUAPEKA
PIONEER.
Word was received in Lawrence on Monday of the death of Mr John Cormack which occurred at the Hamilton Hospital, in the North Island, where he had been staying with a married daughter The late Mr Cormack, who, was a prominent figure in the mining industry in Tuapeka in the early days, was a native of Caithness, Scotland, where he was born In 1837. As a young man he served his time to the wheelwrighting and carpentering trade, and at the age of 24 years decided to try his fortune in New Zealand and arrived at Dunedin by the ship Robert Henderson in the year 1861.
After working for a short time at his trade in Dunedin, he found his way to Gabriels Gully, where stayed until attracted by what was known as Fox's rush, near the Arrow. At this he was very successful, and later, returning to the Blue Spur, he bought into Morrison and Co.'s claim and also acquired an interest in the Great Extended, acting as manager in the latter for some time. Later he went in for railway contracting in North Otago, in which undertaking he was fairly successful. He next turned his attention to land speculating in the same district, but unfortunately, the depression in land values, which throughout the colony about that time, proved disastrous to him, arid he returned to Tuapeka, where he occupied for some time the farm at Tuapeka now owned by Mr Samuel Young. On leaving Tuapeka West he settled his family in Lawrence and himself went to Australia, where he spent some years visiting the mining centres and also some time prospecting in New Guinea. He returned to Lawrence some few years ago, and after remaining a short, time the roaming spirit again seized him and he went to the North Island, where he has for some time past been working at his trade. He was a particularly well-informed man, and in the early days of Tuapeka took a keen and prominent interest in political matters. He leaves a family of eight daughters and two sons, all grown up, three of the former- viz.., Mrs H.Cameron and Misses Elizabeth and Isabella being residents in this district. [Tuapeka Times 25 Jan 1908, JD015] Children were: James CORMACK, Janet CORMACK (Jessie), Isabella CORMACK, Daughter CORMACK (one named ?), Euphemia CORMACK , Elizabeth CORMACK, Dau1 CORMACK, Dau2 CORMACK, Dau3 CORMACK, Son1 CORMACK.

Jennifer Jacqueline DUNNINGHAM⁽²⁴⁾⁽²⁾ was born.

She was married to Anthony Graeme HODDER. Children were: Nicholas Noel HODDER , Carl Alexander HODDER.

Lisa Joanna DURRY⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ was born. Parents: Mervyn DURRY and Shirley Caroline NIELSEN.

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