Mary Jane (Elliott) Plunkett (1911 - 1948)

Born 25 Jun 1911 in Richmond, New South Wales, Australia

Wife of John Thomas Plunkett — married 1932 (to 1948) in Auburn, New South Wales, Australia

Died 13 May 1948 at age 36 in Auburn, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Mary was born in 1911. She passed away in 1948.

Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), Monday 10 May 1948, page 3 Mum not worried by unusual twins

Mother of twins born six days one hour apart, Mrs. Mary Plunkett, of Auburn, doesn't care a bit whether it is unique or not . "It's nothing at all to me," she said in Grafton private hospital, Auburn, today. The first twin, a boy, was born at 4 am on Sunday, May 2. Mary Ann followed at 5 am on Saturday. Thirty-six-year-old Mrs. Plunkett said today: "In the six days between the births I prayed for a girl. I already have one son and didn't wan't three boys." Medical superintendent of the Royal Hospital for Women, Paddington (Dr. Schumack) said today long er delays in the arrival of the second twin had been recorded before in world medical history. He had never heard of a similar occurance in Australia, Dr. Schumack said. Footnote: Sydney maternity hospitals had a quiet Mother's Day. Nine babies were born at Crown-street ' (daily average 20); nine each at Royal Hospital, and King George V. and there were only four new arrivals at the Mater Misericordiae, Crown's Nest. TROVE [1]

6 days later Mary Plunkett died

Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), Sunday 16 May 1948, page 28 TRAGIC DEATH OF TWINS' MOTHER

LAST NIGHT'S PICTURE of the Plunkett twins Mary Ann (left) and Roger Thomas. The twins, sleeping in their bassinet in the Grafton Private Hospital, Auburn, have been motherless since Mrs. Mary Plunkett died last Thursday. Mrs. Mary Plunkett, mother of boy and girl twins whose births were separated by six days and an hour, collapsed and died on Thursday in the Grafton Private Hospital at Auburn where the children were born. Birth, of the twins was unique in Australian, and perhaps in world, medical history. The boy, Roger Thomas, was born at 4 a.m. on May 2. His sister, MaryAnn, arrived at 5 a.m. last Saturday. Both kiddies are well. They are being cared for at the hospital. The children's father, John Plunkett, railway clerk, of Hall Street, Auburn, is grief stricken. Nursing staff of the hospital who shared in John Plunkett's joy, are sharing also in his sorrow. 'They were a devoted couple,' a nurse said yester day. 'Just before she died Mrs. Plunkett told me, 'John and I have been married for 18 years and we are still on our honeymoon.' 'Mrs. Plunkett was weakened by the shock of the twins' births, but seemed to be doing fairly well. 'The secondary shock and the great strain associated with the event took toll of her strength and she collapsed and died on Thursday night.' When her last moments came, Mrs. Plunkett sent for her children, took them in her arms and kissed them. Her husband was by her side. Mrs. Plunkett was cremated yesterday. [2]

Sources

• NSW Birth Reg No 32872/1911
• NSW Marriage Reg No 514/1932
• NSW Death Reg No 10237/1948