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

From Castlepollard to Adelaide

John Smyth : A great-grand uncle

A renowned speaker and gifted administrator who died young - John Smyth.

Early years

In December of 1824 near Castlepollard in County Westmeath, Ireland, John was born to the Catholic couple Francis Smyth and Mary McCormick. His birth marked the beginning of a remarkable journey that would touch the lives of many.

He attended Mr. Brady's Classical School in Cavan during his early years.(1) By the time he was 17,  eight younger siblings had been born; Anne, Thomas, Mary, James, Michael, Biddy, Francis, and Margaret. Edward, his older brother, had been born in 1823, a year before John.

Education for the priesthood

In 1846 at age 22, John entered the Diocesan Seminary of Navan in Meath. After a year’s study he went to the College of the Propaganda in Rome and was ordained as a priest on June 10, 1852.(2)

His ordination marked a pivotal moment in his life and that of his brothers, Edward, Thomas and James. 

Immigration

John was recruited by Bishop Murphy to serve in the diocese of Adelaide many thousands of miles from his home and family. John arrived in Melbourne in April 1853 (3)with another young priest Peter Hughes and then took the ship “Chilian” to Adelaide which berthed in May just a few weeks later. (4) Just 2 weeks after arriving in Adelaide, both John and Peter are listed as attending a levee held by the Lieutenant Governor to celebrate Her Majesty's birthday.(5)

A working life

Evidence of early effective speech making is afforded in this report of a fund raising function for St Francis Xavier's Cathedral. (6) John spent most of his career in Adelaide as he was appointed Administrator for the diocese. In his subsequent role as Vicar General, he managed the clergy and the business affairs of the church. He often travelled to the country areas, laying foundation stones for new churches, or preaching at the opening of these new churches. 

 Very Rev. John Smyth (Vicar General); seated on the left in the front row next to the
Rt. Rev. Bishop Laurence Bonaventure Sheil. https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+11338

John's elder brother Edward arrived in the colony in 1859 followed by younger brother Thomas and then James in 1864.  In 1865 John laid the foundation stone for St Benedict's Church at Pinkerton's Plains within the neighbourhood where his brothers farmed. (7)

In 1869 the priests of the diocese expressed their thanks to John for his thoughtful and effective administration of the diocese in the two year absence of the Bishop. He was presented with a gold snuff box containing 50 sovereigns along with a written testimonial.  (8)

By 1870 John expressed hope for leave to visit his mother in Ireland after news of his father's death earlier that year. Alas he fell ill, perhaps it was the constant pressure of work. After three months of poor health he died on 30 June 1870.  (9)  

Extensive obituaries appeared in the newspapers of the day extolling his virtues and the sense of loss that the colony had suffered. (10)  A lengthy funeral procession followed.(11) (12)

Tributes

"His people, who mourned him so, built in his memory the mortuary chapel in the cemetery, in the vault of which his remains rest." (13)

Smyth Memorial Chapel, West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide
https://www.experienceadelaide.com.au/heritage-places/west-terrace-cemetery-john-smyth-memorial-chapel-west-terrace-adelaide/

 In 1885 George Loyau wrote of John Smyth that "as a preacher and platform orator he possessed an amount of eloquence and earnestness that were always effective."(14)

John Smyth's story summarised briefly here, was one of devotion, a life dedicated to serving God and his fellow human beings.

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REFERENCE LIST

Early years and from Navan to Rome

(1) 1870 'DEATH OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC VICAR-GENERAL.', Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 - 1912), 30 June, p. 2 Edition: LATE EDITION,  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196732180 

(2)  1906 Byrne, Monsignor F., History of the Catholic Church in South Australia, Archive CD Books p.83

Arrival in Melbourne

(3) 1853 'SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 18 April, p. 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4791740 

Arrival SA

(4)  1853 'SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 7 May, p. 2.  , http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38463395 

Attendance at Levee

(5)  1853 'HER MAJESTY'S BIRTHDAY.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 25 May, p. 2., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38463456 

Fundraising for building of cathedral

(6) 1854 'PORT ELLIOT AND WELLINGTON.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 31 January, p. 3.   http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48550830 

Laying foundation stone at St Benedict’s, Pinkerton Plains

 (7) 1865 'PORT ADELAIDE: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27.', Adelaide Observer (SA: 1843 - 1904), 30 September, p. 5.  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article159498126 

Presentation recognising service as Administrator and Vicar General

 (8) 1869 'PRESENTATION TO THE VERY REV. JOHN SMYTH.', The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), 12 January, p. 3.  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article31985687

Death

 (9) 1870 'DEATH OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC VICAR-GENERAL.', Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 - 1912), 30 June, p. 2. (LATE EDITION), https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/196732180/22384727  

 

 (10) 1870 'Family Notices', Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 - 1912), 30 June, p. 2. (LATE EDITION), viewed 19 Aug 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196732172 

Funeral

(11) 1870 'Advertising', Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 - 1912), 30 June, p. 2. (LATE EDITION), viewed 19 Aug 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196732182 

(12) 1870 'FUNERAL OF THE LATE R.C. VICAR GENERAL.', Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 - 1912), 4 July, p. 2. (LATE EDITION), http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196732288 

Recollections

 (13)  1923 'Very Rev. John Smyth, D.D., V.G.', Southern Cross (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1954), 26 October, p. 4. , http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167743817

(14)  Loyau, George E.. Notable South Australians; Or, Colonists, Past and Present. Australia: Carey, Page & Company, Printers, 1885. P 234-235  Available Google books

Genealogy Snapshot

Name: John Smyth
Parents: Francis Smyth and Mary McCormick

Relationship to Carmel: Great-grand uncle, brother to Gt Grandfather Edward Smyth

1. Gt. Grandfather: Edward Smyth
2. Paternal Grandmother: Elizabeth Smyth
3. Father: Edward Horgan
4. Carmel

This post first appeared on https://earlieryears.blogspot.com/