Sarah Mary (Willey) Ryan (1841 - 1884)

Born 1841 in Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia

Ancestors

Wife of Daniel Ryan — married 11 May 1859 in Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Descendants

Died 6 Jun 1884 at about age 43 in Franklin Road, Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand

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Biography

Sarah Mary WILLEY -5th child of Thomas & Susannah (death has Sarah Ann) b Fremantle WA c1841 Birth not on WAPI.

She is described as under the age of 21 when marrying Daniel Ryan. Age at death suggests born 1841 which would make her the 6th child rather than the 3rd which has been suggested by her descendants in NZ.

Sarah married 11.May.1859, St Johns Catholic Church, Perth, Daniel RYAN born 1825 Middlesex, England., of the Royal Engineers.

He arrived in WA in 1858 per 'Nile' : Son of Jeremiah & Ann RYAN.

Sarah & children moved to NZ per 'Hero' 21 Feb 1873 via Melbourne. Daniel named on shipping list but it is believed he deserted his wife & children & returned to WA. Not much was known of him after that. He died 10.August.1874 Newton, Auckland, NZ.

Sarah's life before her marriage would obviously be more or less the same as her siblings, the need to work for a living, etc.

Life after her marriage is not recorded other than through birth certificates etc. When Daniel left the Army they moved to South Australia where her sister Eliza (md Robert BIRD) lived, then they moved on to Melbourne. In light of Hosp records in NZ which show Daniel entering Hosp for treatment of epilepsy, & the fact that his death entry cites 'brain disease' as a cause of death,it would be interesting to know his state of health in these earlier yrs.

From Melbourne they sailed to Auckland & spent some time in the Thames area, where another of Sarah's sisters (Ellen md Joseph SAUNDERS) was living. They evidently came to Auckland after that because Daniel died in the city in 1874. [Their children at this time were aged between 4 & 13.

Two yrs later Sarah had a child, Walter Vincent, born at Auckland on 14 September 1876. The father is shown as John GRIFFITHS, aged 29, born Melbourne, Australia.

Despite thorough research, including special written permission from the Catholic Bishop of Auckland to delve into their archives, no trace has been found of a marriage for Sarah & John Griffin/Griffiths. On Walter's birth certificate it shows Sarah's name as RYAN nee WILLY. Eight yrs later, on 23 January 1884, at Thames, Sarah gave birth to twins, Harold John & Ethel May & again her name is given as Sarah RYAN nee WILLY, with no mention of the father. Harold died aged 10 days & on his death certificate Sarah is shown as Sarah GRIFFIN nee RYAN, & the father as John GRIFFIN. Five months later at Franklin Road, Auckland, Sarah died 6 June 1884 of heart & liver disease. Her death certificate is in the name of GRIFFIN & states she was married to him (secondly) at age 34, which would place the event c.1876. It is not known what became of John GRIFFIN.

Sarah was buried at Symonds Street Catholic Cemetery. (Photo - unfortunately this cemetery has been widely graffitied ) In the 1960's, part of this cemetery was used for the new motorway & the disturbed graves were relocated. Sarah was placed with her daughter Ellen (BROWNE) who had died in childbirth in Taranaki & a plaque was provided. It is interesting to note that Sarah is buried as Sarah RYAN. Her funeral mass was held at St Francis de Sales chapel in the Newton area, now long demolished.

Source: Jill Bickmore

Sources