Writing their stories

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. Writing their stories is a small effort together together and preserve the data.

On this day - 25th April

1907 - Birth: Margaret Veronica HORGAN, Mintaro, South Australia

2nd cousin once removed

Margaret Veronica, known as Peg, was the second child born to Thomas James Horgan and Margaret Dempsey. Her sister Anne and details about other siblings and Peg's rosary ring can be found in the post J for Journey

Peg was 30 when she married Edward Dollard in 1938. The wedding was reported in several newspapers. A poor quality photo is reproduced in this article.

 Bride In Blue And Gold

Dollard— Horgan Wedding

Nuptial Mass was celebrated by the Rev. Father M. Horgan (bride's cousin) at the marriage of Peg, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Horgan. of Moseley street, Glenelg, to Mr. T. Dollard. at St. Mary's Church, Glenelg, yesterday. The bride wore a tailored gown of French blue triple crepe beneath a hip length swing back coat to match. Touches of gold kid trimmed the waistline of the frock. A French model hat of black straw fitting closely to the back of the head at the back and extending to an upturned brim in front was trimmed with a matching blue quill fastened at the back and curving round the left side to the front of the brim. A spray of frangipanni was worn on the coat lapel. She was attended by her younger sister.

Miss Ann Horgan, in a beige georgette gown fashioned with long full sleeves and high neckline. Her blue hat of summer felt, turned off the face, was trimmed with rings of velvet in the same shade. A spray of flowers in golden tones was worn on the corsage. During the service. Mr. Harold Wylde presided at the organ, and Mrs. W. C. T. Upton sang. After the ceremony only immediate relatives were entertained at the Pier Hotel to wedding breakfast. 

Mrs. Horgan (bride's mother) wore a gown of black French crepe with long sleeves of black net appliqued in a design of the material. Her large brimmed black straw hat was rimmed with black stiffened net and she carried a bouquet of red roses. Mrs M. Dollard (bridegroom's mother) wore a gown of black flat crepe with little vest of beige georgette, and large black hat and carried a bouquet of autumn toned flowers. 

Mrs. J. J. Davoren (bride's sister) chose a black tailored silk frock buttoned from neck to hemline and trimmed with two breast pockets of black sequins and touches of green. A black cocktail hat with eye veil completed the toilette. Miss Catherine Horgan wore a navy georgette gown trimmed with a deep ruching of navy taffeta on the hem of the full skirt and on the short puff sleeves. Her hat was a Breton navy straw. 

When leaving for the honeymoon, which will be spent motoring to Victoria, the bride wore a tailored navy crepe-de-soie gown with a full-length coat of white linen, white panama straw hat, and white accessories.(1)

Such wonderful descriptions of the outfits, what a pity I have no photos. Peg and Ted must have been delighted with the birth of a baby girl in December of that year, they named her Margaret Ann. (2) Their joy turned to sorrow when the infant died just four months later in April 1939.(3)

It appears that they had no further children. They lived at 100 Portrush Rd. in the suburb that was known as Linden in Adelaide, Matthew was listed as a building contractor with Peg fulfilling tasks at home.(4)

In 1957 they travelled to New Zealand and in May boarded the ship “Athenic” in first class comfort for the trip from Auckland to England. (5)

The ship Athenic of the Shaw Savill & Albion Company, photographed at the port of Napier,
 between 1947 and 1964, by Harold Martin West. https://natlib.govt.nz/records/23167958

In November of the same year they embarked on the “Empress of Britain” bound for Montreal. (6) On their return to Australia, they resided in South Australia. 

Peg outlived her husband by 20 years and died at the age of 91 in 1999.

1. 1938 'Social News', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), 28 January, p. 10. ,  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74214222

2. 1938 'Family Notices.', Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), 15 December, p. 27,  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article92431277

3. 1939 'Family Notices', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), 8 April, p. 12.  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49803262

4 Australian Electoral Rolls available through Ancestry

5. The National Archives in Washington, DC; London, England, UK; Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and Successors: Inwards Passenger Lists; Class: Bt26; Piece: 1383; Item: 130

UK and Ireland, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960 @Ancestry.com

6. The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; BT27 Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and Successors: Outwards Passenger Lists; Reference Number: Series BT27 UK and Ireland, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960 @Ancestry.com

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