Michael McMahon & Ellen Tobin

Michael McMahon and Ellen Tobin were my great great great grandparents.  They were married on 7 April 1863 at Dunedin.

Their daughter, my great great grandmother, Margaret Smith's death certificate records that Michael was a miner.  

Margaret McMahon (1868 - 25 January 1930) married Joseph Smith in 1887.

In 1866 Michael was advertising the dissolution of his publican partnership with Richard Strangman in the Waimea township - Strangman was to carry on in business.  

It's then possible that around 1870 Michael and family removed to Thames and the Coromandel to mine up there.  There is reference to a licence being given to a Michael McMahon (and to a James McMahon - brother?) in the 9 November 1869 edition of the Daily Southern Cross.  Within the same group as Michael was a man called Robert Tobin, who may be a relative of Ellen's.  

18/02/2017 UPDATE:
A lady, Anne McLellan, contacted me a few years ago about the Tobin family.  I have lost her email but would like to contact her.  This article details the story of one of her relatives - Michael Tobin.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503343&objectid=11622734

Smith Family - including Ellen "Nellie" Todd nee Smith

My Great Great Grandfather, Joseph Smith was born some time around 1863 in New South Wales, Australia.  

Margaret McMahon was born around 1867.  She was the daughter of Michael and Ellen McMahon (nee Tobin) and was born in Waimea, New Zealand.  

Margaret McMahon and Joseph Smith married in 1887.

Margaret died on 2 January 1930 aged 63 in Wellington.  Immediately prior to her death, Margaret lived in 7 Humber Street, Island Bay.  Margaret had had heart problems for around three years prior to her death and had 'congestion of the lungs' in the week before her death.  Margaret's funeral took place on 4 January 1930 and was conducted by Rev. Fr. Foster. 

Joseph died on 13 July 1935 aged 72.  Both Margaret and Joseph are buried together in the Roman Catholic section of the Karori Cemetery.  Joseph is listed on burial records as being an engine driver. 

Ellen "Nellie" SMITH born on 25 March 1889.  She married Robert Todd in 1913 and died on 29 December 1975.

William Patrick SMITH born 28 September 1890 married 1915 to Gwendoline Mary Grenfell) died in 1954, I think, and is possibly buried in Karori. 

Janet SMITH born in 1892. (22 September 1894???).  


Possibly married George Frederick Hodgson in 1916 and possibly Janet Mary Hodgson died in 1966 aged 73 years.  

This is all guesswork at this stage however, and I have no idea what happened to Janet.  

Joseph Gregory SMITH born in 1896.

Michael John SMITH born in 1897.  He appears to have died before Thora was born (according to what she told her daughter) and was definitely no longer alive in 1930 when his mother died.  

Constance Marie "Connie" SMITH born 3 June 1908 married Charles John "Jack" Taunt (30 June 1909 - 15 August 1984) and died in 1995.  

Thora Margaret Mary SMITH born 31 December 1911 married William Thomas Patrick Heffernan (20 May 1904 - 4 October 1963) in 1932 and died on 6 September 1974.  

At the time of her death, Margaret's living children are listed, by gender and age, as follows:

Female aged 40 - this is Nellie

Male aged 39 - this must be William

Female aged 35 - I presume this is Janet

Male aged 33 - this must be Joe

Female aged 21 - this would be Connie

Female aged 19 - this would be Thora

Given that her husband, Joseph, was still alive and able to confirm the children they had had, I have to believe that the information on the death certificate is correct.  

I am currently, as of March 2017, trying to work out mostly what happened to Janet, William and Michael.