For many years I have been searching for information about Anne Jane TOOHEY and John MAHER [CLARK]. This is a long posting, however your time to read through it is much appreciated. If you are able to assisting any way with connections to this family, I would be very grateful. The tragedy concerning Sarah MAHER, daughter of Anne Jane TOOHEY and John MAHER [CLARK], also effected sixteen other children. These children died in Rockhampton in 1886. Sarah Maher along with her older sister Margaret, was transferred from St. Joseph's Orphanage in Mackay to the Meteor Park Orphanage, later known as Neerkol, in Rockhampton on 22nd December 1885. Interesting brief entries from the Meteor Park Orphanage Register for 22nd December 1885 read: "Marara [St. Joseph's] Orphanage was becoming more unhealthy through its position. The children grew more delicate every year so our Bishop, the Right Rev. Dr Cani, built this orphanage to receive them. Fifty-seven of them came here on 22nd December 1885". Sarah Maher was admitted to the Rockhampton Children's Hospital, on 4th May 1886, suffering from pernicious anaemia. This condition was contracted as a result of the poor living conditions endured at St. Joseph's Orphanage in Mackay. Sarah Maher died the day she was admitted to hospital and was buried on Wednesday 5th May 1886, in the Rockhampton Cemetery Roman Catholic section, Row 7, Grave Plot No, 1400. The following is an extract from a report submitted by the Inspector of Orphanages for 1885 in relation to Sarah Maher's death. "The children of the St Joseph's Orphanage, Mackay, had been for some time previous to transfer, suffering from extreme anaemia or poverty of blood, caused by long exposure to malarial poison, and were thus suffering when they landed at Rockhampton, A large number were at once placed on the sick list, Dr McNeely was called in by the Bishop, and the medical officer requested to visit and consult as to treatment". Sixteen children from the Meteor Park Orphanage, who had previously been transferred from St Joseph's Orphanage in Mackay died from ailments associated with their stay at Bucasia during 1886. Effective medical treatment administered to the surviving former St Joseph's inmates in Rockhampton may have prevented further deaths. Only one child died at Meteor Park in 1887. Extracts from the St Joseph's Orphanage Register are as follows: St. Joseph's Orphanage via Mackay [Page 57] Name: MAGHER, Sarah When Born: 1878 Where Born: Port Douglas When Admitted: 1st October 1881 Why Admitted: Destitute - Mother died. Father out of employment. There was a collection made by the Thornborough townspeople to pay their fares to Mackay. Name of Parents: John MAGHER and Annie CLARK Occ. of Parents: Father Digger; Mother Dressmaker; Religion: R.C. Residential: Port Douglas [Page 58] Name: MAGHER, Margaret When Born: 1876. Where Born: Port Douglas When Admitted: 1st October 1881 Why Admitted: Sister to Page 57 The reference in the above listings to Anne Jane Toohey as "Annie Clark" is considered incorrect. The name 'Clark' has been used consistently in the Catholic Church Records as an alias for John Maher. At the time of Anne Jane Toohey's death in 1881, mining prosperity on the Hodgkinson Goldfield was in extreme decline. Her surviving children would have produced an added dilemma for concerned Thornborough residents. It would have been an enormous responsibility for some family to have taken these two girls into their home. The decision by the townspeople to raise the cost of the children's fares to St. Joseph's Orphanage in Mackay was probably the only option. MARGARET MAHER Margaret Maher is listed on Page 7 in the 'Hired Out' register of the Meteor Park Orphanage, and was 'Sent to Service' in July 1888. Her employer was recorded as being John William CARROLL, a Watchmaker of Townsville. Margaret was 12 years of age and commenced her employment with Carroll on 16th July 1888. She was probably engaged in domestic duties to assist Mrs Eugenie Carroll with a family of young children. Employers of an orphans had to meet stringent conditions and reasonable measures in the form of periodic checks were conducted by staff of the Department to ensure that employers were meeting their obligations. Along with providing wages and clothing, employers were obliged to provide care and support, moral and physical, for orphaned children in their service. As well, the children were to attend church services regularly. They received some pocket money out of their wages, but the balance was forwarded to the Department to be banked in a trust fund until the child had reached the age of twenty one years. Up to a maximum of 25% of the child's trust fund could be withdrawn by them prior to their turning twenty-one. Margaret Maher was sent to service in July 1888. No discharge date is indicated for her in the register for the Meteor Park Orphanage. There is no indication in orphanage records of any later employers, or of her returning to Rockhampton from service with the Carroll family later employers, or of her returning to Rockhampton from service with the Carroll family. It is presumed that she remained with the family until her discharge around 1904. Does anyone know what happened to this Margaret MAHER. She may have taken the name CARROLL or married? Any help very much appreciated. For further information please see: http://www.heritagearchaeology.com.au/Tracey_Maher/Tracey_Maher.htm Kind regards. Jen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jennifer Lambert Tracey HERITAGE ARCHAEOLOGY Archaeological & Heritage Assessment Consultants PO Box 4265 KINGSTON ACT 2604 AUSTRALIA Tel / Fax: (02) 6295 6795 Mobile Tel: 0419 011 860 http:\\www.heritagearchaeology.com.au ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~