GAVEY family:
James GAVEY (1841-1923) married Susan Elizabeth NICOLLE (1842-1935) on 23 March 1865 in Guernsey. Susan's family can be traced back to the early 1600's in Guernsey. James and Susan had 7 children; Ada (1879-1911), Alice Jane (1873-?), Susan (1880-1967), Jessie Cissie (1882-1963), James (1870-1925), Albert (1864-1888), and Agnes (?-?). James worked for the New Zealand Railways department for around thirty years. It is remembered by both my grandmother and her sister that they spoke French, especially when they didn't want the children to hear what they were saying! They are both buried in Terrace End Cemetery in Palmerston North. If you have a connection with this family or would like to know more please contact Bruce McNiven.

KEEGAN family:
Spanning one hundred years, through the reign of five monarchs, two world wars, earthquakes, epidemics, and a world wide depression, this is the Story of Patrick Keegan and Annie Sinnott. Their lives were a series of chapters. The struggles and pain during 55 yrs of marriage, were overshadowed by the huge bright bursts of laughter. Their love trained and strengthened the bond between them and their children .The children, there were eleven of them, grew up in a warm, close knit, very Irish Family. Though essentially different, there was a solidarity, loyalty and a tenacity to overcome obstacles imbued in each member of the family. Through all the triumphs and disasters they maintained their ever-present sense of humour and irrepressible optimism. Oh, what it is to be IRISH! Through-out Ireland in the 19^th century there existed what was known as the hedge schools. Forbidden by law, they were conducted behind hedges and attended by ragged children eager to appease the appetite for learning, officially denied to them. Made extremely poor by the process, they invariably became hungry and very undernourished, to attend classes taught by scholars who risked death if caught. John Keegan of Connaught was one of the bright lights who graduated from the hedge. Poet and Patriot, he was born 1809, married to Catherine Brien, and died 1849, IRE. Their children were Patrick, born 1839, in Connaught and Ellen, born 1847, Gorey, County Wexford. Patrick was only a very young lad when the Family shifted to County Cork. He was later apprenticed to a baker, and was a Master Baker when he married Annie Sinnott in 1862/3. His Sister Ellen, married John Connor in Dublin 1867. Patrick was 36, and had seven children, when his doctor advised a long sea voyage for his wife, due to her ill health. So, having swiftly made a decision, and after selling up, they took a coach to Dublin, a ship to Bristol, and travelled by rail to London. There they boarded the clipper the Edwin Fox, 25^th November 1874, bound from the River Thames, London, to Wellington, New Zealand. In London,after the family had boarded the clipper, it caught fire so all the passengers were put ashore again. The next attempt to sail also nearly ended in disaster. On Saturday the 28^th the passengers re-embarked but, as there was thick fog , the ship could not be moved to Gravesend until Monday 30^th for the pre-voyage inspections. Finally, by Tuesday the 1^st December the ship had been made ready and on  the 2^nd she set sail.Unfortunately they had to return to Gravesend on the 13^th, owing to the stress of the weather. They had been driven back into the Downs, and  dropped anchor to near the Deal Sand bar where the ship ran aground as the tide fell, bumping heavily, and taking on water. The ship was towed to dry dock and the passengers disembarked and billeted once again, to enable a full inspection on the vessel. By now it was the 19^th of December. One could imagine what was going through Patrick and Annie’s mind, should we just give up and go back home? But oh no! This is not the finish of the Edwin Fox’s troubles. The frustrations and delays must have been a nightmare, not to mention a severe drain on the resources, but must have been a godsend to the children, to do things they would have never been able to do before. On the 22^nd re-embarkation took place yet again, but once again fog delayed sailing. The next day while being towed down the Thames, she ran foul of a coal-carrying schooner carrying away the Edwin Fox's jib. The schooner promptly sank. That’s when things really started to fall apart. It was said the Captain was “three sheets to the wind most of the time”, so was removed. He showed his disapproval by taking the sailing instructions with him, so a new set had to be obtained, and the ships Surgeon had had enough at this stage, too, and left. While all this was being sorted out, the ship had a new boom fitted, and by noon on Christmas day was finally towed out to the Chops of the Channel, and the voyage actually started. Their is plenty of family history re the voyage, but too numerous to recall here, and so, 114 days after leaving the  Channel, the little ship finally sailed into Wellington Harbour, YAAY! Patrick’s sister, Ellen, who married John Connor (who were also our Cousins) had already sailed on the clipper Douglas, arriving in Wellington 14^th June 1873. It was them who rowed out to meet the ship and one could image the joy that this brought them. Unfortunately their were more delays instore, as there was a period of quarantine required on Somes Island. I was here that Mary-Ann Keegan was born on 18^th April 1875. The family next stayed with the Connors to, as they say, sort themselves out, and prepare for the shift to Wanganui. As Annie had been a lace maker and had used her considerable talents making vestments at Wexford Castle, it is safe to say that any material that had presented itself to meet there imminent clothing needs would have had the most beautiful decorations on them, as all their clothes were hand made. From Wellington they travelled by boat to Wanganui, obviously making it over the notorious bar. It was here that John Keegan was born on 10^th September 1876. The main families in this scenario, the O'Donnell’s, O'Shannessey’s, and Keegan’s have all had a long association with Wanganui, while our cousins the Conner’s were Wellington and then Christchurch based. The O'Donnell’s were Christchurch based first, whereas the O'Shannessey’s came south to Hokitika later on. The history of the families goes on from 1800 in Ireland to the present day, which brings in a lot more families not mentioned here, but where the Keegan link to the other families comes in is:
- Michael Keegan married Bridget O'Shannessey, 10^th June 1886 at Wanganui  
- Elizabeth Keegan married Thomas O'Shannessey, 14^th February 1888 at Wanganui
My Mother was an O'Shannessey and brought in that side. All these families originated from County Galway, Connaught Province, Eire. In closing, Patrick finally hung up his coat on, 20^th April 1912, aged 73, after 38 yrs in New Zealand and is buried at Wanganui. His wife Annie did the same on 8^th July 1914, aged 75, after 40 yrs in New Zealand and is also buried at Wanganui. Patrick Keegan is my 2^nd Great Grandfather. If you have a connection with this family or would like to know more please contact AJ O'Donnell.