Joseph (Joe) O'CONNOR [Parents] was born 1901 in Cahir, Co. Tipperary. He died 23 Sep 1955 in Clonmel, Co.Tipperary. Joseph married Alice MURPHY about 1935 in Co. Tipperary.

Joe ran a public house and grocery business in Cahir. He was also a cattle buyer and a director of Clonmel Foods Ltd. He and Alice lived in the old O'Connor family home on Church Street, Cahir, which was sold in the early 1970s.

Mary O'Connor, a grandniece of Joe's, has published a book on her O'Connor family history entitled 'Our Roots Under The Rock' (the family has Cashel origins). Further information on this work can be found on www.ourrootsundertherock.com.

Alice MURPHY [Parents] was born 1905 in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. She died 1975. Alice married Joseph (Joe) O'CONNOR about 1935 in Co. Tipperary.

John Raymond (Toby) ASHWELL-COOKE [Parents] was born about 1907 in possibly Cheshire. He died about 1972. John married Georgina (Ena) MURPHY on 4 Mar 1937 in St. Mary Magdalen's Church, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex.

Toby was born with just the Cooke surname, Ashwell (his mother's maiden name) being a middle name. The Ashwell and Cooke names were later hyphenated, giving a new surname. His mother also used the Ashwell-Cooke name as she died as Frances Ashwell-Cooke. Toby was the youngest son in the Ashwell-Cooke family. It's known his father was living in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex at the time of Toby's marriage in 1937.

Toby was aviation expert. He was a qualified pilot with his own small plane, a founder of the London Gliding Club and author of a number of technical books on aviation, including 'Motorless Flight' (1932).

It's believed Toby and Ena had no children.

Georgina (Ena) MURPHY [Parents] was born 1907 in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. She died 1975 in Ireland. Georgina married John Raymond (Toby) ASHWELL-COOKE on 4 Mar 1937 in St. Mary Magdalen's Church, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex.

Georgina lived in England for a number of years before returning to Ireland, possibly after the death of her husband, Toby. Back in Ireland she lived with her brother John in Greystones, Co. Wicklow.

Robert (Bob) Edward HUSSEY [Parents] was born 3 Jan 1892 in probably Westminster, London. He died 8 Oct 1947 in London. Robert married Veronica (Vera) CONNOLLY on 1921 in Kingston upon Thames, England.

According to the 1911 census, Bob was a leather currier. This would have been at the Connolly Leather company, owned by the family of his future wife, Vera Connolly. It's believed Robert got the job with the Connollys, at the age of 13, thanks to the influence of one of his grandmothers (probably Agnes Hussey) who was a good friend of one of Vera's grandmothers.

Veronica (Vera) CONNOLLY [Parents] was born 1894 in Islington, London. She died 29 Jul 1976. Veronica married Robert (Bob) Edward HUSSEY on 1921 in Kingston upon Thames, England.

Vera's grandfather on her mother's side was Swiss, while her Connolly ancestors were Irish, emigrating to England in the late 18th century. Vera's father was in the leather processing business, founding Connolly Leather, the Wimbledon-based company that eventually specialised in the manufacture of seating for luxury cars. Among the contracts awarded to the company was the provision of leather for the furnishings aboard the Queen Mary ocean liner, launched in 1936, for which Vera and Bob received a free return voyage to New York.      

Vera, Bob and their family lived in Putney in London.

Trevor HOYLE [Parents] was born 26 Oct 1912 in Thames, New Zealand. He died Oct 1984 in Auckland, New Zealand. Trevor married Catherine (Cath) GORDON on 1943 in Paeroa, New Zealand.

Trevor was owner of an iron foundry in Auckland.

Catherine (Cath) GORDON [Parents] was born 3 Aug 1918 in Te Awamutu, New Zealand. She died 30 Dec 2007 in Auckland, New Zealand. Catherine married Trevor HOYLE on 1943 in Paeroa, New Zealand.

Cath's father died in the 1918 flu epidemic when she was only three months old. Shortly afterwards, she and her mother moved from Te Awamutu to her mother's old family home in Thames. Cath's mother remarried when Cath was six years old and had more children.

Harold Henry HOYLE was born about 1881 in Plymouth, England. He died about 1932 in Auckland, New Zealand. Harold married Edith CLARKE.

Harold died following an accident at his mill in Thames, New Zealand.

Edith CLARKE was born in possibly England. She died 1918 in Auckland, New Zealand. Edith married Harold Henry HOYLE.

Edith died in the flu epidemic of 1918.

Alfred James GORDON [Parents] was born 1890 in New Zealand. He died 1918. Alfred married Elizabeth FALLON.

Alfred was a wheelright. He was only in his late twenties when he died in the flu epidemic of 1918, leaving behind a wife and baby daughter.

Elizabeth FALLON [Parents] was born 1890 in New Zealand. She died 1970 in New Zealand. Elizabeth married Alfred James GORDON.

Elizabeth remarried (possibly a Mr. Hancock) after Alfred's death and had more children.

Michael John GORDON [Parents] was born May 1861 in Kilgarriff, Fairymount, Co. Roscommon and was christened 19 May 1861 in Loughglynn, Co. Roscommon. He died 26 Jun 1938 in probably Paeroa, New Zealand and was buried 27 Jun 1938 in Pukerimu Cemetery, Paeroa, New Zealand. Michael married Sarah Bridget MURPHY on 1888 in Auckland, New Zealand.

Michael left Ireland as a result of a disagreement with his father. The story goes that Michael's father was annoyed that his son was spending so much time training a horse for racing when he should have been working on the farm. Without telling Michael, he sold the horse (which, incidentially, went on to do very well as a racehorse in England). Some time later, Michael was sent to the cattle market to sell two animals. He never returned. The proceeds of the sale were used to purchase his passage to Australia. It's thought he travelled to Australia with his cousin, Robert Gordon. After a short time in Australia, Michael moved to New Zealand and settled in Paeroa. He continued to work with horses and owned a magnificent set of drays which he used in his haulage business. He maintained his interest in horse-racing for the rest of his life.

Michael was buried alongside his wife (Section ROC, Plot 563 in Pukerimu Cemetery).

Sarah Bridget MURPHY [Parents] was born 1866 in Arch Hill, Auckland. She died 10 Nov 1914 in probably Paeroa, New Zealand and was buried 12 Nov 1914 in Pukerimu Cemetery, Paeroa, New Zealand. Sarah married Michael John GORDON on 1888 in Auckland, New Zealand.

Sarah was only 48 years of age when she died. She is buried in Section ROC (Roman Catholic?), Plot 563 of Pukerimu Cemetery in Paeroa.

Sharron Peters, a descendant of  Sarah's sister Lena, is researching her Murphy and Cronin family history. If you have additional information on either of these families that you would like to share, Sharron would be delighted to hear from you. She can be contacted at sharron.vic.peters@orcon.net.nz.

'unknown' FALLON was born in Ireland. He married Catherine (Kate) KEOHANE.

Catherine (Kate) KEOHANE was born in Keakill, Bantry, Co. Cork. She died in New Zealand. Catherine married 'unknown' FALLON.

Kate was one of five sisters who emigrated to New Zealand. She had another sister and a brother who remained in Ireland. Kate was married twice and had 10 children. She ran a number of pubs, including the well-known 'Imperial' in Thames.

Albert Joseph GORDON [Parents] was born 1892 in New Zealand. He died 1972. Albert married Kitty O'TOOLE.

William BAIN died date unknown. He married Monica (Mona) GORDON.

Monica (Mona) GORDON [Parents] was born 1895 in New Zealand. She died 1984. Monica married William BAIN.