Michael Tobin (abt. 1850 - 1919)

Born about 1850 in Ennis, County Clare, Ireland

Ancestors

Husband of Bridget Teresa (Drury) Tobin — married 6 Jun 1870 in St. Austin's Church, West Derby, Lancashire, England

Descendants

Died 25 Jul 1919 at about age 69 in Auckland, New Zealand

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Janeen Horne [send private message] and Jo Hilder [send private message]

Biography

Michael was born in 1850. ^[1]

Soon after marrying in 1870, Michael went to the USA.^[2] It would appear that he left prior to his wife, Bridget, and their baby as he is not listed as a passenger on the ship that they went across on, but is said to have gone with his brother, John. Bridget Tobin, 22, and John Tobin, infant, are listed on the ship’s manifest of the SS “Colorado” from Liverpool to New York, arriving on 30 December 1870. They had a daughter in New Jersey ^[3] who died on their journey back to the UK>

Little is known of what they did while in the US or what happened, but things cannot have worked out as well as they hoped because, while it is said that Michael’s brother remained in the US, Michael and Bridget returned to England some time around 1873.

In 1876, the family left England again, this time bound for New Zealand on the “Jessie Osborne”. Leaving Liverpool on the 15th of September, they arrived in Auckland on the 19th of December. They are listed on the ship records as Michael and Bridget Tobin (both 28), John Hill (6), Mary E (4) and Cecelia (1). Presumably Herbert John’s name was written incorrectly on the ship’s manifest. Michael is listed as a farm labourer .

They settled in Auckland, New Zealand where he ran various businesses selling furniture or fruit at various times, and dabbled in gold-digging.

He passed away in 1919. ^[4] He was buried in Waikaraka Cemetery.^[5]

Research Notes

Note that a transcription on Ancestry gives St Augustine's Church as the place of Michael and Bridget's marriage but scanned marriage certificate indicates St Austin's (see attached pdf)

Note that Michael Tobin has no middle name on most records including his birth certificate, but on the birth record for his last born (Ruth Kathleen) both Bridget and Michael are listed with middle names for the first time and Michael has the middle name "James". On the death certificate for Ruth Kathleen, Michael's middle name is given as "Joseph".

Sources

1. ↑ Death Certificate, age at death stated as 69Y certificate sighted by Christine Pole on 27 May 1983.
2. ↑ Shipping manifest from trip to USA from NZ in 1916, states he lived in USA 1870-1874
3. ↑ Christening records from David Ogden
4. ↑ Death Certificate sighted by Christine Pole on 27 May 1983.
5. ↑ "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVLW-SCYY : 13 December 2015), Michael Tobin, 1919; Burial, Auckland, City of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand, Waikaraka Cemetery; citing record ID 89403217, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

• image of handwritten marriage certificate of Michael Tobin and Bridget Drury shows St Austin's Church, West Derby (ancentry source below most likely a mistranscription) - see attached source image
• Liverpool, England, Catholic Marriages, 1754-1933 (ancestry.com). Name: Michaelem Tobin, Marriage Date: 6 Jun 1870, Marriage Place: St Augustine (Augustini), Liverpool, Lancashire, England, Father: Joannis Tobin, Spouse: Birgettam Drury. [Forenames are Latin variations of Michael, John and Bridget.]
• "New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Probate Records, 1843-1998," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2XL-YW6P : 12 November 2017), Michael Tobin, 1919; citing Auckland, , record number 13487, Archives New Zealand, Auckland Regional Office; FamilySearch digital folder 101526073.
• "New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Passenger Lists, 1839-1973," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FSBT-CJZ : 9 March 2021), Michael Tobin, 19 Dec 1876; citing ship , Archives New Zealand, Wellington; FHL microfilm 004411701. [Immigration Date: 19 Dec 1876, Immigration Place: Auckland, New Zealand, Departure Date: 15 Sep 1876, Occupation: Farm Labr, Nationality: Lancashire, Ship Name: Jessie Osborne.]
• Auckland War Memorial Museum: Online Cenotaph. Name: Michael Tobin, ARMED FORCE / BRANCH: Army, WAR: New Zealand Wars, MILITARY SERVICE: Auckland Royal Irish Rifle Volunteers, EMBARKATION DETAILS: Captain/Military. https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C129999
• National Library of New Zealand website. Book Title: Michael and Bridget Tobin : their story and their descendants, Creator: Jo Hilder 1963- author, Subjects/Genres: Tobin, Michael, approximately 1850-1919 -- Family, Tobin, Bridget, 1849-1912 -- Family, Tobin family, New Zealand -- Genealogy, Publisher: Wellington, N.Z. : J. Hilder, Publication Date: 2011, Format: 140 p. : ill., maps ; 30 cm., Identifier: ISBN : 9780473186265 (pbk.), Notes: Traces the family lineage of Michael Tobin of Ennis in County Clare, Ireland, and his wife Bridget who emigrated to Auckland, New Zealand in 1876 departing from Liverpool, England on the ship the "Jessie Osborne." Written by Jo Hilder, Language: English, Source: NLNZ ALMA 9914728783502836. https://natlib-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/f/1s57t7d/NLNZ_ALMA21238960960002836
• Auckland Council Libraries Kura Collection. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections NZG-18910516-0013-01. Portrait of Captain M. Tobin, winner Of District Champion Belt, Auckland, in the rifle-shooting competition at Mount Eden rifle range. Published in The New Zealand Graphic and Ladies Journal, 16 May 1891, p.13. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/110483/rec/6

Papers Past

• Paperspast website. AUCKLAND STAR, VOLUME XXIII, ISSUE 233, 19 SEPTEMBER 1892, PAGE 4. Page 4 Advertisements Column 3. "SALVAGE ! SALVAGE ! FROM LATE FIRE AT M. TOBIN'S PREMISES, KARANGAHAPE ROAD. WILSON & CLAYTON Have been instructed to sell by public auction at premises as above, on Tuesday next, at eleven o'clock, THE SALVAGE FROM THE LATE FIRE AT MR TOBIN'S PREMISES. Karangahape Road, consisting of..." https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS18920919.2.51.3
• Paperspast website. AUCKLAND STAR, VOLUME XXXIV, ISSUE 253, 23 OCTOBER 1903, PAGE 2. Page 2 Advertisements Column 2. "IN BANKRUPTCY — IN THE SUPREME COURT HOLDEN AT AUCKLAND. — Notice Is hereby given that MICHAEL TOBIN, of Patteson-st, Auckland, Fruiterer..." https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19031023.2.14.2
• Paperspast website: Obituary. NEW ZEALAND HERALD, VOLUME LVI, ISSUE 17222, 26 JULY 1919, PAGE 9. "PASSING OF PIONEERS. Mr. Michael Tobin, an old and well known resident of Auckland, died yesterday in his 70th year. Mr. Tobin, who was born in County Clare, Ireland, arrived at Auckland in 1874 by the ship Jessie Osborne. He was associated with the fruit trade for many years, and in the early eighties he took a prominent part in local affairs, being chairman of the Archhill Road Board and other local bodies. He also was one of the instigators of the annual eight-hour demonstrations in Auckland, the place of which was subsequently taken by the Labour Day functions. Mr. Tobin was prominent in volunteering circles. He was a captain in the Royal Irish Rifles, and was one of the founders of the Victoria Rifles. He was a first-class shot, and won many district championships. Mr. Tobin, who had been a widower, for seven years, leaves a grown-up family of five sons and seven daughters. One son, Private W. Tobin is now on active service. The funeral will take place at the Waikaraka cemetery tomorrow." https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19190726.2.106

See also:

• 'EIGHT-HOUR-DAY MOVEMENT', from An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, originally published in 1966. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/1966/eight-hour-day-movement (accessed 13 Feb 2021)