Mary Jane Barrett : Short Biography

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my gt-gt-grandmother, went australia and married Alexander McKaskail on 24 Sep 1859 in Rockhampton, QLD. She had at least two children with him, one a son who died at 18mths, and a daughter Elizabeth Ellen McKaskell. The marriage failed in 1863 and Mary and Elizabeth go to New Zealand shortly after where Mary eventuallly marries a William John McDonald probably in Hokitika. (see The Comrie Connection on Ancestry)

Barret

Sunday 12th April 2020 10:47PM

Further information:

Mary was baptized on 25th December 1833 at Ardara, Co Donegal. Her parents were William Barrett and Mary Sophia De La Tour D'Auverque Folvil.

I have no information on her travel to Australia but she marries Alex McKaskail as above. Their daughter, Elizabeth Ellen McKaskell, was born 27th Nov 1860 in Rockhampton and a son, Henry Kenneth McKaskell was born 6th July 1862. He unfortunately only lived about five months, dying on 26th Dec 1862. On 11th April 1863 an article is published in the Rockhampton Bulletin accusing Alex of murder, here is the first paragraph:

"  Alexander McKaskell was indicted for that he
did on the 27th of March last, attempt to
drown and suffocate Mary Jane McKaskell, his
wife, in the Fitzroy River, at Rockhampton,
with intent to murder. Prisoner pleaded Not
Guilty.. " So it seems that Mary is still in Queensland in April 1963. Have still not been able to find any record of her subsequent travel to New Zealand but the birth of a daughter, Isabella McDonald, is recorded on 15 Oct 1870 in Hokitika, West Coast, NZ. She suffered a number of tradgedies including the death of her husband William McDonald, and their son Ronald in a boating accident, and the death of her grandson Willie from flu, all happening within 3 months. She died on 26 May 1907 in Hokitika and is buried in the Seaview Cemetery, Hokitika.

Barret

Monday 11th May 2020 07:54AM

I thought it best if I made a correction to the information on Mary Barrett, daughter of William Barrett and Mary Sophia Folvil.   I am the great grandson of William Barrett and Maria Sophia Barrett (Folvil)   Mary Barrett was my Great Aunt and was baptised as Mary Sydney Barrett.. It is correct that Mary was born at Ardara (25/12/1833) as my G/Grandfather had a law practice in Ardara at the time before relocating to Killybegs .   Mary never married and remained at her parents property - Carricknagore House, Killybegs, -with her younger sister, Charlotte  until her death in 1914.  Charlotte's married name was Hamilton aand her decendants remain on the property to this day.  I hope this information has been of assistance.

BarrettJ

Sunday 6th December 2020 01:46AM

Thank you for your correction to the information I have posted regarding Mary Jane Barrett. I believe there are two Mary Jane Barretts which has to led to confusion on my part.

My post of Monday 11th May states that Mary was baptized on 25th December 1833 at Ardara, and that her parents were William Barrett and Mary Sophia De La Tour.
This is correct for Mary Sidney Jane Barrett but incorrect as far as my gt-gt-grandmother, Mary Jane Barrett is concerned.

After further research I have concluded that Mary Sidney Jane Barrett is not the same person as my Gt-gt-grandmother, Mary Jane Barrett.

I apologize for any confusion this may have led to.

If you search the Ancestry database in the recordset "Ireland, Petty Session Court Registers, 1818-1919"
and specify name of Mary Barrett and Court Place of Donegal, you will find some records that prove
that Mary Sidney Jane Barrett was present in Killybegs in 1883 and 1887. At this time my
gt-gt-grandmother was resident in New Zealand, living with William John McDonald at Hokitika.

The rest of my post of 11th May is factually correct. Since your correction of 6th Dec I have obtained the death certificate of my Mary Jane and it appears she comes from Belfast, Antrim. How she got to Australia and then New Zealand remains unproven at this stage, but I do have sequential records going back through my maternal ancestors which  detail major happenings in her life.

In the course of my research I have uncovered details of Mary Sidney Barretts ancestors including her connection to the De La Tour family thru Stephen Folvil.

You may already know much of this but if not, are you interested in seeing what I have uncovered regarding the Ducs of Boullion?

My email address is sherylem@xtra.co.nz

Best Regards, 
Bruce Johnson

Barret

Wednesday 9th December 2020 08:21PM