Denis O'Keefe
Privacy Level: Open (White)

Denis O'Keefe (abt. 1857 - 1944)

Denis O'Keefe aka O'Keeffe
Born about in County Clare, Irelandmap [uncertain]
Son of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of — married 26 Dec 1884 in New Zealandmap
[children unknown]
Died at about age 87 in Makarewa, Southland, New Zealandmap
Problems/Questions Profile manager: Matt Carroll private message [send private message]
Profile last modified | Created 9 Jun 2018
This page has been accessed 451 times.

Contents

Biography

Denis O'Keefe was born about 1857 in Ireland.

Immigration to New Zealand

Denis arrived in Bluff, New Zealand on 3 December 1878 as an assisted immigrant aboard the Waitara. Under the name "Denis Keefe", he was noted as being aged 20, from County Clare, with the occupation of farm labourer.

Marriage and children

Denis married Bridget McNamara on 26 December 1884. The following children are known:

  • Thomas John O'Keeffe (born 3 Nov 1885 in Mabel Bush, New Zealand)
  • Mary O'Keeffe
  • Stillbirth (born circa 1890, buried 29 Apr 1890)
  • Denis O'Keeffe (born circa 1888, died 11 Oct 1892)[1]
  • Patrick Joseph O'Keefe (born 7 Apr 1892)[2]
  • Bridget O'Keefe (born 7 Apr 1892)[3]
  • Stillbirth (born circa 1896, buried 16 Sep 1896)

Life in New Zealand

Denis began running the Wallacetown Junction Hotel in 1888. He ran the hotel from 1888 to 1896.

Denis purchased a farm in Mabel, Southland in 1896 and transferred lease of the hotel to John Shaw.

From about 1903 onwards, Denis began living in Makarewa, Southland. The post office directory gives his occupation as a contractor, while the electoral rolls give his occupation as a labourer.

From the 1925 electoral rolls onwards, Denis is noted as living on Flora Rd, Makarewa and working as a farmer. The post office directory continued to state his occupation as a contractor.

Death

Denis passed away on 8 October 1944 while living in Makarewa, Southland, New Zealand. He was buried at Eastern Cemetery on 10 October 1944 (Cath, Block 3, Plot 35).

Research notes

  • Army records of his son Thomas John O'Keeffe (as spelt) give the following useful information:
    • Thomas John was born in Mabel Bush on 3 November 1885, son of Denis O'Keefe and Bridget O'Keefe
    • Thomas John was noted as being a contractor who last lived in Makarewa, Southland (dated 1917)
    • Denis and Bridget O'Keefe are both noted as being from Ireland, and both as having resided in New Zealand for 39 years (dated 1917 -- suggesting 1878 arrival)
    • He gives his next of kin as Mary O'Keeffe, sister, from Makarewa, Southland
    • Curiously, he spells his name as O'Keeffe, but his parents names as O'Keefe
  • NZ BDM Marriage: 1884/1674, Bridget McNamara to Denis O'Keeffe, Date 26 December 1884
  • Newspaper articles:
    • Southland Times 30 Jan 1885 Transfer of section 5, block 5 in Makarewa from Denis O'Keefe to Patrick Sullivan
    • Robert Sutherland Patton was bankrupt in 1888 and ceased being manager of Wallacetown Junction this year
    • Southland Times 4 June 1888 - Renewals were granted to the following applicants the police reports being favourable: Denis O‟Keefe Wallacetown Junction Hotel
    • Southland Times 29 October 1888 - At a meeting held in the Junction Hotel permission was given by Mr O'Keefe proprietor of the hotel to play in one of the paddocks near the house
    • Southland Times 18 May 1889 - Mr Powell of Wallacetown and Mr D O‟Keefe of the Junction Hotel are agents for Robertson's Gargareon or Diphtheria Cure.
    • Southern Times 10 June 1889 - Renewals of ten o'clock licenses, Wallacetown Junction Hotel, Dennis O'Keefe
    • 9 Jun 1890, Southland Times - Daniel O'Keefe awarded ten o'clock license for Wallacetown Junction by Awarua Committee.
    • 15 Jan 1891, Southland Times - D O'Keefe appeared as a witness in a court case for an event relating to Wallacetown Junction
    • Southland Times 11 February 1891 - Denis O'Keefe gives evidence for court case relating to Wallacetown Junction
    • Southland Times 06 June 1892 - license granted to Denis O'Keefe of Wallacetown Junction Hotel
    • 6 Oct 1892, Southland Times - describes an accidental fire to "a little son of Mr. D. O'Keefe of the Junction Hotel".
    • Southland Times 12 Oct 1892 -- "Funeral Notice – The friends of Denis O'Keefe are respectfully invited to attend the funeral of his late son Denis leaving the Junction Hotel at 1 p.m. this day for the Eastern cemetery. W T Goodsir Undertaker"
    • Southland Times 13 October 1892 -- mentions Mr O'Keefe's little boy and Wallacetown Junction
    • 17 Feb 1893, Southland Times - a clearing sale on behalf of D O'Keefe at the Junction Hotel, Wallacetown, selling a large number of horses and horse equipment
    • Southland Times newspaper 02 March 1893 -- weird court case, Mr O'Keefe landlord of Wallacetown Junction
    • Otago Witness, 7 Feb 1895 - D O'Keefe, late of the Wallacetown Junction Hotel, along with C. Ross, purchased an 872 acre farm from Edward Corbett in Mabel, Southland. The title was "new farmers".
    • Around 1896 John Shaw began managing the Wallacetown Junction
    • 22 Oct 1898, Southern Cross - D O'Keefe showed liabilities amounting to 201 pounds against assets valued at 48 pounds. He had sold out of the Junction Hotel with a credit balance of 1000 pounds, but had since lost heavily through floods on a farm that he had taken up.
  • Directories:
    • (??) 1894-1895 New Zealand Directory: Wallacetown - O'Keefe Daniel, Junction hotel
    • ...
    • Not on the 1902 directory for Makarewa, could be elsewhere
    • 1903 Wises Post Office Directory: Makarewa, Denis O'Keefe, contractor
    • 1904 Wises Post Office Directory: Makarewa, Denis O'Keefe, contractor
    • 1907 Wises Post Office Directory: Makarewa, Denis O'Keefe, contractor
    • 1910 Wises Post Office Directory: Makarewa, Denis O'Keefe, contractor
    • 1913 Wises Post Office Directory: Makarewa, Denis O'Keefe, contractor
    • ...
    • 1930 Wises Post Office Directory: Makarewa, Denis O'Keefe, contractor
    • ...
    • 1940 Wises Post Office Directory: Makarewa, Denis O'Keefe, contractor
  • Electoral rolls:
    • For Pre-1911 electoral roll research, see O'Keeffe-447
    • 1911 Awarua Roll: Denis O'Keeffe, Makarewa, labourer -- also here is Bridget O'Keeffe, married and Thomas John O'Keeffe, farmer
    • 1914 Awarua Roll: Denis O'Keeffe, Makarewa, labourer -- also here is Bridget O'Keeffe, married and Thomas John O'Keeffe, farmer and Mary O'Keeffe, spinster. on Awarua Supplementary Roll is Joseph O'Keeffe, Makarewa, labourer
    • 1919 Awarua Roll: Denis O'Keeffe, Makarewa, labourer -- also here is Bridget O'Keeffe, married and Joseph O'Keeffe, labourer and Mary O'Keeffe, spinster
    • 1922 Awarua Roll: Denis O'Keefe, Makarewa, labourer -- also here is Joseph O'Keefe, labourer and Mary O'Keefe, spinster
    • 1925 Awarua Roll: Denis O'Keeffe, Flora Road, Makarewa, farmer -- also here is Patrick Joseph O'Keeffe, farmer and Mary O'Keeffe, spinster
    • 1928 Awarua Roll: Denis O'Keeffe, Flora Road, Makarewa, farmer -- also here is Mary O'Keeffe, spinster
    • 1931 Awarua Roll: Denis O'Keeffe, Flora Road, Makarewa, farmer -- also here is Patrick Joseph O'Keeffe, farmer and Mary O'Keeffe, spinster
    • 1935 Awarua Roll: Denis O'Keeffe, Flora Road, Makarewa, farmer -- also here is Patrick Joseph O'Keeffe, farmer and Mary O'Keeffe, spinster
    • 1938 Awarua Roll: Dennis O'Keeffe, Flora Road, Makarewa, farmer -- also here is Patrick Joseph O'Keeffe, farmer and Mary O'Keeffe, spinster and Alexander O'Keefe, labourer
    • 1941 Awarua Roll: Denis O'Keeffe, Flora Road, Makarewa, farmer -- also here is Patrick Joseph O'Keeffe, farmer and Mary O'Keeffe, spinster and Alexander O'Keefe, labourer and Alan Leslie O'Keefe, labourer
      • Alan Leslie is Alexander's son. I'm not sure who Alexander is -- probably one of Denis' sons, but I can't find the birth certificate to confirm
    • 1943 Awarua Roll: Denis O'Keeffe, Flora Road, Makarewa, farmer -- also here is Patrick Joseph O'Keeffe, farmer and Mary O'Keeffe, spinster and Alexander O'Keefe, labourer
    • By 1946, Denis had passed away, though Mary O'Keeffe, spinster and Patrick Joseph O'Keeffe, farmer are still on Flora Rd. The same applies to 1949.
  • NZ BDM Death: 1944/30955, Denis O'Keefe, Age 87Y, Died 8 October 1944, Registered Invercargill
  • Eastern Cemetery, Invercargill Records: Denis O'Keefe, from Makarewa, 87 yrs, buried 10 Oct 1944, Cath Block 3 Plot 35
    • Also on this exact plot is Denis O'Keefe, boy, buried 12 October 1892, Cath Block 3 Plot 35 -- this is his son who suffered from fire at the Wallacetown Junction
    • Also on this exact plot is s/b child of Mrs O'Keefe, buried 16 Sep 1896, Cath Block 3 Plot 35
    • Also on this exact plot is "Erected by his sorrowing sister to the memory of JOHN McNAMARA died 31 October 1881 aged 23 years" -- this is the brother of his wife Bridget McNamara
    • The adjacent plot, Plot 34, has s/b child of Denis O'Keefe, buried 29 April 1890
    • The adjacent plot, Plot 34, has Bridget O'Keefe, from Makarewa, buried 26 Mar 1923 -- this is his wife

Sources

  1. NZ BDM Death: 1892/5462, Denis OKeeffe, 4Y, Date 11 October 1892)
  2. NZ BDM Birth: 1892/8804, Patrick Joseph OKeefe, mother Bridget, father Denis, date 7 Apr 1892
  3. NZ BDM Birth: 1892/8805, Bridget OKeefe, mother Bridget, father Denis, date 7 Apr 1892




Is Denis your ancestor? Please don't go away!
 star icon Login to collaborate or comment, or
 star icon contact private message the profile manager, or
 star icon ask our community of genealogists a question.
Sponsored Search by Ancestry.com

DNA
No known carriers of Denis's ancestors' DNA have taken a DNA test.

Have you taken a DNA test? If so, login to add it. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA.



Comments

Leave a message for others who see this profile.
There are no comments yet.
Login to post a comment.

O  >  O'Keefe  >  Denis O'Keefe