Rose Ann Gallagher was born in Bendigo (Sandhurst) 1872, although her death record suggests 1870 (based on age of 85 at death in 1955) and her marriage certificate suggests 1878 (based on age of 36 when married in 1914). Rose's parents were Daniel Gallagher (a miner on the marriage certificate) and Sarah McGrenrea (and various other spellings, see below).
According to an article titled 'The Wedding Photograph' in 'Ancestor', the journal of the Genealogical Society of Victoria (Vol 33, Issue 6, June 2017), Rose's father Daniel Gallagher was born in Donegal County Ireland and arrived in Victoria in around 1858. He may be the Daniel Gallager who arrived in Melbourne from Ireland as an unassisted passenger on board the Royal Charter in 1858 aged 31, along with probable brothers John Gallagher aged 25 and Michael Gallagher aged 36). His first wife, Hannah Gallagher (recorded on her death certificate as the daughter of James Tonar/Toner and Hannah Sweeney), arrived in 1862 with their two children Catherine ('Cassie') Anastasia Gallagher and Hannah (aka Anna) Gallagher. Hannah Gallagher died aged 38 in 1870 (Vic BDM Ref 2630, surname 'Galagher')).
Daniel Gallagher then married the widow Sarah Walsh (nee McGrenery)(born abt 1841 in Donegal) in 1873 (Vic BDM Ref 4319). Sarah Walsh (who was now 32) was previously married to John Walsh in 1861 (Vic BDM Ref 379, nee 'McGrenra') and they had several children:
Daniel and Sarah Gallagher (nee McGrenary also spelt McGrenrea/McGrain aka Green) had several children all born in Sandhurst (Bendigo):
Note - the Mooney family had a close role in caring for the children of James and Mary after their deaths in 1923. Mary Mooney's father Patrick Mooney (abt 1851, Monaghan County, Ireland - ) arrived in Victoria in 1871 on board the Stonehouse with his sister Catherine Mooney. Patrick married Jemima Waters (abt Oct 1860, Lower Huntly) - ) in December 1880 and they had ten children. Patrick's sister Mary Ann Mooney ( - 1894) married James Ni Gan ( - 1906) (who came from China in around 1860) in 1871 and they lived at the Ironbark Chinese Camp where their three daughters and one son were born. None of these children had any children of their own.
Daniel's wife Sarah Gallagher died in 1879 aged 38, possibly connected with the birth and death of Joseph (Vic BDM Ref 2941, husband's name shows as Daniel Gallagher, her parents are both unknown), and/or Edward Gallagher.
As a miner with three or four very young children, Daniel Gallagher may have married again. The most likely is to Margaret Skehan in 1883 (Vic BDM Ref 759). No children are recorded; Margaret may have been a widow.
The Bendigo Advertiser of 23 February 1888 carried a notice for the funeral of Daniel Walsh, stated to be the step son of Daniel Gallagher. Daniel Walsh was probably the 21 year old man of that name who died of phthisis (TB) at Sandhurst on 13 February 1888 (Vic BDM Ref 3726, Bendigo Advertiser 22 February 1888), the son of John Walsh and Sarah 'Green' (as recorded). The funeral notice stated that the funeral would leave from Daniel Gallagher's residence, Golden Square.
Alfred Thomas Morris was born in Auckland, New Zealand in 1880 to Joseph and Margaret Morris (nee Priestley according to his marriage certificate, NZ BDM Ref 1880/488), who married in 1878 (NZ BDM Ref 1878/1366). No other children were apparently born to those parents from 1878 to 1890 (NZ BDM records) and it is not yet known what happened to them.
Margaret Priestley may be the woman with that name who was born to George and Margaret Priestley in New Zealand in 1861 (NZ BDM Ref 6051) - although she would have only been 16 or 17 at the time. Another, slightly older (but less likely because of the name difference) Margaret Martha Victoria Priestley was born to a Thomas Foley and Margaret Priestly in 1859 (NZ BDM Ref 3822).
The Auckland Star of 4 March 1881 reported the results of the Police Court, including the following note. Note that there is no obvious record of two children born to Joseph and Margaret Morris, but only one child is recorded in the NZ BDM Records to a Joseph Morris and a Margaret from 1872 to 1882:
Joseph Morris was called in answer to a charge of deserting his wife, Maggie Morris and her two children, who were without means of support. Defendant appeared in answer to the charge. As Mrs Morris was unwell a remand was requested in order that she might appear. Remanded until Monday next'.
At some point, Alfred Thomas Morris left New Zealand and reached Melbourne. One possible record is the 'A Morris', a crew member (trimmer and tourneur) listed on several ships travelling between Australia and New Zealand, including the Banffshire (Wellington to London in 1906) and the Marama which left Bluff on the South Island of New Zealand on 11 January 1909, bound for Melbourne. He is also listed as a 'tourneur' on the Marama on her voyage to Melbourne departing Dunedin on 15 February 1909. Perhaps he decided to leave the ship in Melbourne and ended up in Bendigo where he met the Gallaghers.
Rose Ann Gallagher appears to have moved to Melbourne from Bendigo by around 1898 when she was 16 or 17 years old (or earlier), perhaps to work as a 'female servant'. From 1899 to 1903, Rose gave birth to three children from unrecorded fathers.
The location where Eileen was born, 85 Highett Street, Richmond, is a double story terrace also known as Grantville House that still exists. Mrs (Eliza) Wilkie and Mrs James were present at the birth. Mrs Wilkie was a relatively well-known nurse. The Argus of 27 June 1895 and again on 25 May 1896 carried advertisements from Mrs Wilkie of 85 Highett Street, Richmond, 'certified midwife, accommodates ladies, strictly private, moderate' and 'for ladies during indisposition'. Eliza Wilkie (and one of her married daughers) died in 1911. The death notice stated that she was the mother of five children and was a colonist of 58 years. One of these daughters carried on the profession in Richmond at 282 Church Street.
In 1909, Rose gave birth to a fourth child, Violet Flora Andrews, the father named as Alfred Andrews. Alfred was an alias used by Stewart Croll, but it may not be the same person - see below.
At this point, it is not known if Violet's father was Alfred Andrews (Stewart Croll) or Alfred Thomas Morris who also went by the name (at least from 1914, see below) of Andrews. It is possible that she knew Alfred Thomas Morris from her time living at Golden Square in Bendigo, and she could have met Alfred Andrews living in the Brunswick area.
Stewart/Stuart Croll, born in 1883 in Geelong, was the son of Robert Croll and Jane Mangan. He had a older sister, Haidee Alice Croll whose story is recorded in the link.
Stewart Norman Croll was previously sent to prison in 1902 on two charges: (a) shooting with intent to murder and (b) outraging, or attempting to outrage, one Ethel Rickards, a servant girl residing at Albert Park. Stewart (recorded as Stuart in his prison record) Norman Croll was sentenced to 10 years jail in September 1902.
Stewart Croll was released from prison on 14 September 1907. He took on the name Alfred Andrews, entered into a relationship and fathered a child (as noted below). Now known as Alfred Andrews, he again attacked a girl in Parkville, which indicates he may have lived in the inner northern suburbs of Melbourne - Carlton, Brunswick, Parkville or Coburg. His sentencing was recorded in the Barrier Miner (Broken Hill) of 26 October 1911 which noted 'he had been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment previously for wounding. That sentence was worthy of him and indicated the character of his crime'. The Argus of 25 October stated that he had 'a previous conviction under the name of Stewart Norman Crowl [sic]'
The Bendigo Independent of 26 October 1911 (and other papers) noted that, during his 1911 trial, Alfred Andrews - 'also known as Croll' - asked the jury to remember 'his wife and child', strongly indicating that he married or at least had a child after being released in 1907 and before being arrested again in 1911 (or perhaps before his first offence, when he was 19). There is no obvious Croll/Crowl/Crole marriage from 1897 to 1912. The most likely possibility is that the relationship and child were when he went by the name Alfred Andrews.
Who was Stewart Croll's 'wife and child'?
A Violet Flora Andrews was born in Carlton to an Alfred Andrews and Rose Gallagher in 1909 (Vic BDM Ref 1536). If Rose Gallagher was Stewart Croll/Alfred Andrews' partner, it appears they never married but had a child together.
According to the Bendigo Advertiser of 27 July 1901, Daniel Gallagher 'an old resident of Golden Square', died on Friday 26 July 1901 aged 68 (born 1833). The article noted that 'He leaves a widow and four children to mourn their loss. One of his daughters [Cassie] is married to Mr William Gunn, mayor of Raywood, while another [Anna/Hannah] is the wife of Sergeant [Thomas] Corbett or St Arnaud.' (Additional source for Anna - Bendigonian of 11 April 1918 obituary of Thomas Corbett, married in 1879 (VIC BDM Ref 3133)). Catherine Anastasia ('Cassie') Gallagher, the second daughter, married William Gunn on 25 December 1874 (Source: The Bendigo Independent 29 December 1899, reporting their silver wedding anniversary).
By August 1914, Rose was a 36 year old single mother living at 11 Goodman Street, Brunswick, (a single story terrace house) with her occupation listed as 'home duties'. This address was formerly occupied by Ellen Dorian, the widow of Daniel Dorian, who died on 19 September 1911 at that address (also known as 'Gordon Terrace'). (Source: The Argus, 21 September 1911).
By August 1914, Alfred Thomas Morris was a 34 year old labourer who lived at 144 Golden Square, Bendigo (the same area where Rose's family lived). In the 1910 commercial directory for Bendigo, there is a gap between 142 and 150 High Street (West side - Golden Square); 150 High Street is recorded as 'Holtorf's Hotel' so it seems possible that he lived there, or in a private residence between the hotel and the shop at 142 High Street.
Rose and Alfred married at the Congregational Manse, 101 Gore Street, Fitzroy, on 14 August 1914 (Vic BDM Ref 8486). Their witnesses were James Henry Trevella (?) and (?S) Theresa Hosking. Curiously, their marriage certificate states that Alfred Thomas Morris was 'commonly known as Andrews'. Could this have been to protect Violet or her own reputation by having a husband (who happened to be called Alfred) that appeared to have the same name as her daughter?
Alfred appears to have moved in with Rose; the 1915 Sands and McDougall Directory records Mr A T Andrews at 11 Goodman Street, Brunswick.
The family is not recorded at the Goodman Street address under the surname Andrews in 1920, indicating they may have moved. Alfred T Andrews re-appears at 14 Brett Street, Brunswick in 1925 and 1930. Both Violet's marriage certificate in 1936 and the directories show the family in 1940, 1945, 1950 and 1955 at 98 Stewart Street, Brunswick.
Violet Flora Andrews (born 1909) appears to have lived with her mother Rose and her husband Alfred Thomas Morris/Andrews until she married Lester Allen/Allan Murphy (born 14 February 1908, Traralgon) on 11 April 1936 at St Augustines in Moreland, Melbourne (Vic BDM Ref 4415).
According to their marriage certificate, Violet Flora Andrews was a 27 year old milliner born in Carlton who lived at 98 Stewart Street, Brunswick. Lester Allen Murphy was a 28 year old mechanic, the son of John Harrison Murphy, a miner, and Sarah Cook. He was born in Kyneton. At the time of his marriage he was living at Kyneton but recorded his usual address as 40 De Carle Street, Brunswick. The witnesses to the wedding were 'A T Andrews' and 'W S Hayes'.
Nothing more is yet known about their lives but as a mechanic he probably worked in the local area.
Violet and Lester had a daughter (Pamela Murphy) who was born in 1938 but died after only 1 day (Vic BDM 16514/1938) at Kyneton, and a son Colin. A Colin Murphy died in April 2005 (The Herald Sun, 6 April 2005).
Violet was recorded as Lester's next of kin when he enlisted for WW2. The electoral rolls show they were living in East Bentleigh in 1950 (and other times).
Rose Ann Andrews (nee Gallagher), the daughter of Daniel Gallagher and unknown mother and born in Bendigo, died aged 85 in Brunswick East in 1955. (Vic BDM Ref 3028)
Lester Allen Murphy died in 1995, according to his grave marker, which refers to his wife Violet and their two children.
Alfred Thomas Morris/Andrews died in Bentleigh in 1957 (VIC BDM Ref 14925) and the family is no longer recorded at Stewart Street. The BDM register records his name as Alfred Thomas Andrews AND Alfred Thomas Morris (the son of Joseph Morris and Margory/Margaret Priestly, and born in Auckland, NZ).
Coincidentally, Alfred Andrews (Stewart Croll) also died in 1957 in Ararat Mental Asylum.
Violet Flora Murphy died aged 93 at Mulgrave, Victoria on 11 May 2002 (Herald Sun 13 May 2002, via Ryerson Index, shows the additional name of 'Judy'), so the dates match with the child born in 1909.
Page created 12 August 2020, last updated 12 August 2020 (page split from the main Croll page). Copyright Andrew Warland. email: andrewwarland(at)gmail.com