Peter Mulvay (abt.1840-1919) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree

Peter Mulvay aka Mulvey, Mulvrey

Born about 1840 in Ireland

[uncertain]

Son of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]

[sibling(s) unknown]

Husband of Elizabeth (Oliver) Riddle — married 4 Feb 1862 (to about 1885) in Tokomairiro, (nr Clutha) Otago, New Zealand

Husband of Mary Nelder (Burns) Mulvay — married 1 Jan 1886 in Westport, New Zealand

Husband of Henrietta (Mallinder) Mulvay — married 6 Nov 1891 in Herberton, Queensland, Australia

Descendants

Father of Alexander Oliver Mulvay, George Gordon Mulvay, Elizabeth Jane (Mulvay) McKenzie and William Gordon Mulvay

Died 25 Sep 1919 at about age 79 in Perth, Western Australia, Australia

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Profile last modified 13 May 2022 | Created 19 Feb 2018

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Biography

Peter was born about 1840 most likely in Ireland^[1] as he stated in Court that he was " ... an Irishman himself". (Sic)

RESEARCH NOTES: Ancestry says he is born Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland, whilst others says he is born in Ireland, but is located under another surname spelling.

If the second version is true, this changes the oral family history, that the two knew each other before they each came to New Zealand - separately.

Peter Mulvay migrated from Ireland to New Zealand.

He emigrated to New Zealand.

He married Elizabeth Oliver on 4 February 1862^[2] at Tokomairiro, Otago. They had eight children.

Alexander Oliver (1862^[3] - 1934^[4])
James Oliver (1863 - 1863)
Robert Oliver (1863 - 1864^[5])
George Gordon (1864 - 1947)
Robert Sutherland (1866^[6] - 1868^[7])
Mary (1868^[8] - 1941^[9])
Elizabeth Jane (1870 - 1954^[10])
James (1872^[11] - 1944^[12])

In 1873 Peter was arrested on "a charge of shooting with intent at a miner named Hugh Calder"^[13]. Peter was a farmer and storekeeper, and he and his accuser were living at Riverview near Ahaura. The charge was that he was "deliberately, and with malice aforethought, attempting to murder Hugh Calder, by shooting at him with a gun loaded with powder and lead, at Riverview, near Ahaura, on Saturday, 26th July"^[14]. The outcome of the court proceedings was that Peter was convicted of the crime on 2 September and sentenced to "penal servitude for eight years".^[1]

In October 1873 a petition to the Governor was arranged concerning the sentence^[15]. By the end of October his property had been sold under mortgage^[16]. It "consisted of leasehold land, farm produce, dairy stock, horses, pigs, etc, [and] realised, as far as sales were effected, a gross total of £120". In 1874 the sentence was reduced to four years^[17]

This event must have placed a great strain on the marriage. How did Elizabeth provide for herself and her children while Peter was in jail in Nelson after the farm was sold? The next report in the press is the announcement of proceedings for divorce by Peter^[18]. They divorced in 1884 at the Hokitika Supreme Court^[19].

He married Mary Burns on 1 January 1886^[20]^[21], who had previously been married to William Jones^[22].

He died on 25 September 1919 at Perth, Western Australia.

Research notes

Some information gives him being born in Haddington, Scotland, but on a subsequent marriage certificate says he was born in Ireland. He himself stated as much.

Not all the children's birth registrations have been found, possibly because of variations in the spelling of the surnames.