William Bernard McKEOWN : Short Biography

William Bernard or Bernard William McKEOWN - Sadly no photo. The only document I have is his death certificate.

• William McKeown
  Event date: 22/05/1896
  Event type: Death registration
  Date of birth: 1844
  Registration details: 1896/C/1373
• Mother: Elizabeth Bridget Cullen
  Father/parent: William McKeown

          William  buried at Toowomba Cemetery in Queensland. No headstone.  He was living apart from his wife and young family at the time of his death. No details of when Bernard left Ireland. There is a Shipping manifest listing a Bernard McKeown aged 19 in 1861 arriving per 'British Trident' into Queensland - states religion RC - so probably not him. In Oct1879 a B. McKeown is listed as passenger on ship 'Meteor' from Tonga to Sydney, Australia.

Married Agnes Bridget REIDY (Reedy, Ready) 1883c in Tonga, South Seas! No record of marriage found in Australia, New Zealand or Tonga. They had 5 children. Each birth certificate (I have all five copies and have attached copies below) cites a different place, date and year for the marriage. Informant on all birth certificates was the father. Agnes' death certificate in 1924 attached below.

W B was educated, spoke several languages - became an overseer on a plantation on Tonga. Met his wife while holidaying in Sydney. He had a brother who possibly went to Canada.

**There is a possible Canadian connection . William's son Clarden Thomas (my grandfather) and family (including my father Thomas Maurice) sailed to Vancouver and lived there for over two years up until 1924. Family stories say they met wealthy relatives who lived in a very nice area of Vancouver. In 1939 an uncle took a photo - have copy, a small sepia photo - of the McKeown Drug Store in Vancouver. I have researched this family back to Ireland but so far have not been able to find a connection. A word document of the Canadian McKeowns - back to Samuel McKeown - attached below.

***In just under six weeks, I will be going to Ireland on a tour with Sisterhood Women's Travel Group for nearly 3 weeks. It would be so wonderful to know a bit more about my Gt Grandfather William Bernard/Bernard William McKEOWN.