The Killion, Quinn and Hand Families of Port Macquarie and Kempsey and their Feeney Family

We're still assembling our stories of Jane, John, Thomas and Charles, so stay tuned!   However, we couldn't let today pass without remembering John Killion - husband of Jane and father of Jack, Rose, Thomas, Mary Jane and Margaret. On 21 July 1864 - 153 years ago, John died at his home on the North Shore, Port Macquarie.  John was 59.  He'd been married to Jane for just 13 years.  She was 33 when John died and their five children ranged in age from 11 to 2!   The cause of John's death was asthma which he'd suffered for 3 years.   By now, we're all aware that John's five children died from bronchial related illness.  It's tempting to ask how many of John's descendants are asthmatic......but let's just say it's "the Killion curse"! Today seems a good chance to find out how many cousins have a "Killion Family Tree" prepared by Martyn, our family historian, in the mid 1980s.  I have an original and three c

Jane Feeney is the matriarch of our family - the  hundreds of  descendants of Edward John (Jack) Killion, Rose Porter (nee Killion), Thomas Killion, Mary Jane Newton (nee Killion),  Margaret Gersbach (nee Killion), Annie Quinn (nee Seward) and Matilda Hand (nee Seward). Very few details remain about Jane's life.  We've relied on the records that exist which allow us to follow her voyage from Ireland to our young colony. Times were hard in Ireland between 1845 and 1852.  We know it as the time of the Irish Potato Famine.  Although, the Irish refer to it as the Great Famine or Great Hunger.  While pototo crops were ravaged throughout Europe, the impact was most severe in Ireland where there was mass starvation, disease and immigration.  During this period, about one million people died and the same number emigrated from Ireland to England, Scotland, South Wales, North America and Australia.  About a quarter of the population died or left Ireland. Young destitute gir

The worldwide influenza pandemic which occurred in 1918 and 1919 is believed to have claimed 40 million people.  The disease arrived in Australia through Victoria in early 1919 and spread to New South Wales by 27 January.  By the time it ended in September, more than 6000 people had died in the State.   The three daughters and one grandson of John Killion and Jane Feeney were amongst those who lost their lives.   On 05 July 1919 - 98 years ago today, Margaret Gersbach (nee Killion) was the last of the daughters of John and Jane to died from influenza.  Margaret was 57 years old.  Frank Gersbach jnr, Margaret's son, had died 11 weeks earlier from influenza.  He died on 18 April 1919, aged 29.  Both died at the family home, "Cronulla" 19 Northumberland Street Stanmore. So, it seemed timely to visit the homes where my great-grandmother, great uncle and my two 2nd great-aunts had died all those years ago. Clockwise from top left - Margaret Gersbach (nee Killi