Noting the details

This series of posts focuses on an A-Z theme for April in 2025. I have chosen events that occurred On This Day in April of years in the past. These events are recorded in my genealogy database.

By noting down the smallest of details on any record a pattern of families and their lives emerge. Over the years I have used Evernote to save notes about people and their families. I have used Google Keep extensively to extract text from images. 

On This Day - 16th April

1853 - Immigration: John SMYTH, Melbourne, Victoria 

The recording of events regarding John's arrival varied from the 6th April to May in four different sources. By noting the details in each of the sources, I could then search for the arrival of the ship "Africa" in Melbourne in 1853 by using Trove.

April 16—Africa, ship, 1474 tons, H. O'Neill, from Liverpool Dec 6th, and Lisbon Jan 1?th. Passengers cabin: .............., Rev. J. Healy, Rev. P. Hughes, Rev. J Smythe,  and four hundred and fifty in the steerage. Willis, Merry, and Co , agents.

 1853 'SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 18 April, p. 4,  https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4791740

His arrival in South Australia was also noted:

Friday, May 4th— The barque Chilian, 195 tons, Grayson, master, from Melbourne 30th April Passengers— Rev Mr Hughes, Rev Mr Smith .......................

1853 'SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 7 May, p. 2.  https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/38463395

His arrival led to the chain migration of three of his brothers and further details published in his obituaries in 1870 provided additional clues to their lives in County Westmeath, Ireland.

A brief summary of John's life and his role as Vicar -General of Adelaide diocese is available on the family archive here. From Castlepollard to Adelaide 

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1886 - Accident:  Daniel HORGAN, Tarlee, South Australia, Australia

Serious Accident to a Lad.—A son of Mr. D. Horgan, of near Tarlee, six years old, met with a severe accident on Friday after noon. The lad was going towards his home holding on to a dray, and by some mishap fell. The wheel passed over his foot, crushing it. The poor little fellow was brought into Kapunda, where Dr. Hamilton attended him, and the doctor was not quite certain at first whether or not the foot would have to come off. He now hopes to he able to save the foot.

1886 'The Kapunda Herald.', Kapunda Herald (SA : 1878 - 1951), 20 April, p. 2.  https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/107358980

 The details in this small snippet of information allowed me to deduce that the six year old boy was Daniel Horgan born in February 1880 to Daniel Horgan and Julia Evans. Given that there are seven Daniel Horgans in the family tree, by noting the age and location I was able to determine which child this was.

In 1908 Daniel married Hanorah Murphy in Burra, South Australia. View A report of the wedding along a photo kindly shared by third cousin Felicity.

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1946 - Death: James E HORGAN, Christchurch, New Zealand 

HORGAN.—On April 16, at Christchurch, N.Z. (suddenly), James E. (C.S.S.R.), the eldest dearly beloved son of Denis and Laura Horgan, of Geelong. Aged 32 years. R.I.P.

1946 'Family Notices', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), 20 April, p. 18. ,

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/35690571

News has been received in Junee that Father Jim Horgan had passed away at Christchurch (New Zealand) Father Horgan, a young man in his early 30's was the son of Mr and Mrs D. Horgan of Geelong, and formerly of Illabo. He was ordained in 1938. Father Horgan is survived by two brothers, Tom (Illabo) and Tony, and two sisters, Mary and Agnes.

1946 'Town Topics', The Gundagai Independent (NSW : 1928 - 1954), 18 April, p. 4.https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/264995683 

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24854, 18 April 1946, Page 4
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19460418.2.48 

By noting the details in these three notices, one is provided with additional information about James and his family. Nowadays there are many AI agents that will extract details from sources and provide notes from those sources. I made use of ChatGPT to extract details from the three sources above, then checked the details, added some other details and deleted extraneous information.

Notes about James Horgan

Father James Horgan, C.S.S.R., died suddenly on April 16 in Christchurch, New Zealand.

He was known as Jim

He was the eldest son of Denis and Laura Horgan of Geelong.

He was 32 years old when he died.

He was ordained in 1938.

His family previously lived in Illabo, NSW.

He was survived by two brothers, Tom (Illabo) and Tony, and two sisters, Mary and Agnes.

A Solemn Requiem Mass was held in Christchurch for the repose of his soul.

He was buried in Bromley Cemetery.

The notes provide a summary and provide me with many ideas for further research. 

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