What's in a nickname?

Where are we here?

The photo above is of Hamley Bridge in South Australia in 1926, the home of Queenie and Coley. They lived in Barry Street, Hamley Bridge.

But who were they and why the nicknames?

My aunt's photo album included several photos with these names written below. In Australia we are often noted for shortening names or giving nicknames such as Bluey to someone with red hair, Paddy for Patrick, Mick for Michael, or attributing nicknames associated with a person's occupation.

The Kane (Kain) family from County Clare had arrived in South Australia aboard the "Lady Ann" in October of 1857. Martin and Catherine came with 5 children and were sponsored by F.H Dutton who already held land in South Australia. In 1860 another son named Colman (Coleman) was born.

This Colman Kain was to become my mother's uncle, Uncle Coley. He was married to Bridget O'Dea, my grandfather's eldest sister in February of 1891. By the end of the 1890s Bridget and Coleman Kain had six boys. 

What delight they must have expressed when daughter Maria was born in July of 1901. Her birth was followed by yet another son, James, born in 1904.

Imagine the household, 7 boys and just the one little girl. There can be little surprise then that she became known as the little queen of that household, Queenie Kain.

Here she is with a pet dog. I think she looks to be about 9 or 10 years old so possibly taken about 1910-11.   

Thanks to family historian Jenny who has pointed out in the comments below the likelihood of this photo being a decade later, perhaps the early 1920s, due to the dress style and the stylish wristwatch. 

My mother Hannah and her older sisters Mary and Margaret O'Dea must have been delighted to have a slightly older female first cousin when they moved to Hamley Bridge with their mother Georgina O'Dea in 1923.

Coleman Kain and his daughter Maria
Inscription under original photo - Uncle Coleman and Queenie Kain

This one of Queenie was probably taken on the same day and in the same position. The dress, the hat and the background are similar, estimated 1925.

This last photo has Michael O'Dea, Colman Kain and his son Patrick Kain. Michael and Colman were brothers-in-law. Note the inscription below. Uncle Mick, Uncle Coley and Paddy Kain. Uncle Coley must have been an affectionate term used by the O'Dea girls and their brothers.

The unfortunate damage in the album is where unsuccessful attempts have been made by others to remove some of the photos.

Deaths

What heartbreak her parents must have suffered when their precious Queenie died in the North Adelaide Hospital in November of 1928. She was only 27. 

Colman Kain died just four years later in 1932 with Bridget's death recorded in 1936. A recent request from a Kain descendant has encouraged me to revisit this album. These appear to be the only Kain photographs included but there are many more early Hamley Bridge residents to come in future posts.

---

References

Arrival of the Lady Ann SA Archives, 
https://archives.sa.gov.au/sites/default/files/documentstore/passengerlists/1857/GRG35_48_1_57-11_Lady%20Ann.pdf

Marriage of Colman Joseph Kain and Bridget Elizabeth O'Dea. 1891 'Family Notices."The Advertiser"  (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), 21 February, p. 4 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26772482

Birth of Maria Kain  

Surname: KAIN Given Names: Maria Immaculate Date of Birth: 02-Jul-1901 Gender: F Father: Colman KAIN Mother: Bridget Elizabeth ODEA Birth Residence: Hamley Bridge District: Gilbert Book/Page: 679/355 

Death of Maria Kain
1928 'Family Notices', The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), 13 November, p. 8.  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article53603925

Death of Colman Kain
1932 'Family Notices.', Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), 28 January, p. 35  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90909787

Death of Bridget Kain
1936 'Family Notices.', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), 21 September, p. 10
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48180341 

This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin