Thomas was born about 1853.[1]
He migrated to Canterbury from Armagh, Ireland in 1873 on the Columbus, with his wife Bessie. They both gave age as 21.[2]
He was found drowned in Lyttelton Harbour on 12 Nov 1884.[3]
He was buried 21 Feb 1885 at Barbadoes St. Cemetery, Christchurch.[4]
According to his probate files[5] (he and his wife both died intestate), the couple had the following children still alive as of 1897: Richard Best McCleary, Thomas Henry McCleary, James Ritchie McCleary, Margaret Ann Bougen (wife of William Bougen), William Malcolm McCleary, and John David Vaughan McCleary.
The list of children in the probate dispels any doubt around the various spellings McLeary, McCleary in NZ BDM , and the use of Bessie vs . Elizabeth .
In their son Richard's WW1 record he lists both parents as being born in Ireland.
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M > McCleary > Thomas McCleary
Categories: Barbadoes Street Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury | Migrants from County Armagh to Canterbury | Columbus, sailed 19 May 1873 | Estimated Birth Date | Christchurch, Canterbury