1872 Retro Station (centre) - Clermont - Copperfield map
Daniel James McLaren 1874 - ?
The puzzling story of Daniel James McLaren
Margaret McLaren gave birth to Daniel at Retro Station, near Clermont, on 23 Jul 1874. Sadly Margaret died that very same day. It was ten years since the birth of Margaret's previous child (Agnes), and 20 years since her first child (Ellen). She was still only 36 years of age.
Daniel’s father was James Hurley, an Irish-born labourer at Retro Station. After Margaret's death, James had a second son, Michael Hurley, born on 13 Jun 1877. Michael never married and remained in the Clermont district. In Jan 1955 he was hit by a train near Retro and died shortly after in Clermont hospital.
Below are Questions and (possible) Answers about Daniel, all have been based on four certificates:
Here are parts of each certificate with comments on the information recorded therein.
Margaret McLaren gave birth to Daniel at Retro Station, near Clermont, on 23 Jul 1874. Sadly Margaret died that very same day. It was ten years since the birth of Margaret's previous child (Agnes), and 20 years since her first child (Ellen). She was still only 36 years of age.
Daniel’s father was James Hurley, an Irish-born labourer at Retro Station. After Margaret's death, James had a second son, Michael Hurley, born on 13 Jun 1877. Michael never married and remained in the Clermont district. In Jan 1955 he was hit by a train near Retro and died shortly after in Clermont hospital.
Below are Questions and (possible) Answers about Daniel, all have been based on four certificates:
- 1874 Daniel McLaren's birth certificate
- 1874 Margaret McLaren's death certificate
- 1877 Michael Hurley's birth certificate
- 1912 James Hurley's death certificate
Here are parts of each certificate with comments on the information recorded therein.
1874 Part of Daniel James McLaren's birth certificate
Notes:
1. Originally the registrar recorded that Hurley and Margaret were married on 9 Jan 1871. He later corrected this and declared Daniel to be illegitimate.
2. Hurley was born in Drumlaig, County Cork, Ireland.
3. The birth occurred at Retro Station.
Notes:
1. Originally the registrar recorded that Hurley and Margaret were married on 9 Jan 1871. He later corrected this and declared Daniel to be illegitimate.
2. Hurley was born in Drumlaig, County Cork, Ireland.
3. The birth occurred at Retro Station.
1874 Part of Margaret McLaren's death certificate
Notes:
1. Her labour lasted 10 hours.
2. Elsewhere, the certificate states Margaret was born in Campbeltown(should be Southend, but close enough), Ireland (should be Scotland).
3. Her parents were named as Alexander (should be Malcolm) McLaren and Margaret McCulkin.
4. The information despite the inaccuracies, is sufficient to identify that this is Margaret McLaren.
Notes:
1. Her labour lasted 10 hours.
2. Elsewhere, the certificate states Margaret was born in Campbeltown(should be Southend, but close enough), Ireland (should be Scotland).
3. Her parents were named as Alexander (should be Malcolm) McLaren and Margaret McCulkin.
4. The information despite the inaccuracies, is sufficient to identify that this is Margaret McLaren.
1877 Part of Michael Hurley's birth certificate
Notes:
1. James Hurley was born in Drumlaig, County Cork, Ireland, identifying him as the same man as Daniel's father.
2. Michael's mother was Mary Lewlor.
3. The birth occurred at Clermont.
4. James's worked as a shearer.
Notes:
1. James Hurley was born in Drumlaig, County Cork, Ireland, identifying him as the same man as Daniel's father.
2. Michael's mother was Mary Lewlor.
3. The birth occurred at Clermont.
4. James's worked as a shearer.
1912 Part of James Hurley's death certificate
Notes:
1. James died at Clermont Hospital and was buried at Clermont Cemetery.
2. He had been in Australia for 55 years.
3. James was the father of two sons. The word "unmarried" may refer to the sons or to James himself. It is uncertain if both sons were still alive in 1912 - we know Michael was.
Notes:
1. James died at Clermont Hospital and was buried at Clermont Cemetery.
2. He had been in Australia for 55 years.
3. James was the father of two sons. The word "unmarried" may refer to the sons or to James himself. It is uncertain if both sons were still alive in 1912 - we know Michael was.
Questions and (possible) Answers:
Q1. Did Daniel McLaren die alongside his mother?
A1. A birth certificate was issued in 1874 but not a death certificate. This suggests he survived.
Q2. There is no record of Daniel's death on BDM Qld, so what may have become of Daniel?
A2. Some possibilities are:
On the full pages of the Clermont births register which show the births of both Daniel (1874) and his half brother, Michael Hurley (1877), there are pencilled notes recording the deaths of various individuals. e.g. in Michael's case, his death in 1955. There is no such note beside Daniel's entry. This may suggest that Daniel left the Clermont district or his death was unknown to the person who made the jottings.
James Hurley's death certificate has a puzzling entry (see below) under "Issue, in order of Birth, their Names and Ages". The entry says:
Living : years
2 sons
unmarried
One possible interpretation is "James Hurley had 2 sons, both of whom were (in 1912) alive and unmarried". Half brother Michael certainly never married. It is possible that Daniel (probably using the surname "Hurley") was unmarried in 1912 too and he may have been known to the registrar.
Michael Hurley's 1877 birth certificate states "Nil previous Issue" in relation to his father, James Hurley. This may indicate:
Q3. Why did registrar William Cave delete the supposed marriage of Margaret and James on 9 Jan 1871 on Daniel's birth certificate?
A3. There is no record of a marriage between Margaret and James Hurley on BDM Qld. However, the marriage date on the certificate is very specific. Speculation: there may have been a marriage but on Margaret's death it was declared to be bigamous; Margaret and James Hurley may have thought it was not necessary that she divorce Denis Sullivan. She had the example of her sister, Catherine, who, separated from her husband Walter Goodman for 8 years, married James Milford, a man who "publicly divorced" his wife by advertising in the papers prior to marrying Catherine. So one can understand that Margaret and James may have married and believed their marriage was legal.
Q4. Who was James Hurley?
A5. James was from County Cork, Ireland. His arrival date in Australia is yet to be determined. His death certificate was very imprecise. It suggested he may have married in Ireland and arrived here around 1857 and failed to record his 1877 marriage to Mary Lewlor.
Q5. What became of James Hurley?
A5. On 12 June 1877, James Hurley married his then-partner, Mary Lewlor (possibly nee Shea). The very next day, on 13 Jun 1877, his second son Michael Hurley was born. James Hurley passed away from cardiac failure on 2 Sep 1912 and was buried in the Clermont Cemetery.
Q6. Are there any other clues that Daniel James McLaren survived?
A6. Oral history warning! Around the 1950s, the McLaran family in Dalby was approached by the Presbyterian Church on behalf of an anonymous family in North Queensland. They wished to establish whether or not there may have been a blood connection between the families. The lack of accurate knowledge on both sides of the family history of the McLaran(en)s and the "an" ending to McLaran meant the approach did not bear any fruit. This may have been an opportunity to reunite Donald's and Margaret's families but it was missed. Other descendants of Margaret's family alive today have vigorously denied (online) any connection to the family of Donald McLaran. This has been set straight on Family Names.
Q5. What became of Michael Hurley, Daniel McLaren's half brother?
A5. On 28 Jan 1955, Michael Hurley died in Clermont Hospital. The previous day he had been hit by a locomotive at Nanya Siding on the Emerald - Clemont line. Nanya Siding is the next siding north of Retro Station. Michael had not ventured far from Retro Station in his 78 years. Michael may have been suffering from dementia or had attempted to suicide.
10 Feb 1955 The Central Queensland Herald
Mr Michael Hurley, of Nanya Siding, died in the Clermont Hospital as the result of an accident. It is believed he was hit by a passing train, as he was found near the line some time later.
14 Jul 1955 The Central Queensland Herald
EMERALD
An Inquest was held at the Emerald Court House into the death of Michael Hurley, aged 78 years. He was found unconscious near the railway line at Nanya, on January 27, and died in the Clermont Hospital the following day. The Coroner (Mr N. Langford) examined Melville Bernard Powell, John Kenneth Williams and Valentine Yeomans, members of the train crew that passed through Nanya about the same time Hurley received injuries.
Q1. Did Daniel McLaren die alongside his mother?
A1. A birth certificate was issued in 1874 but not a death certificate. This suggests he survived.
Q2. There is no record of Daniel's death on BDM Qld, so what may have become of Daniel?
A2. Some possibilities are:
- Daniel may have been adopted by a local family
- he may have remained with his father and adopted the Hurley surname
- he may have been admitted to an orphanage at Rockhampton or Townsville.
On the full pages of the Clermont births register which show the births of both Daniel (1874) and his half brother, Michael Hurley (1877), there are pencilled notes recording the deaths of various individuals. e.g. in Michael's case, his death in 1955. There is no such note beside Daniel's entry. This may suggest that Daniel left the Clermont district or his death was unknown to the person who made the jottings.
James Hurley's death certificate has a puzzling entry (see below) under "Issue, in order of Birth, their Names and Ages". The entry says:
Living : years
2 sons
unmarried
One possible interpretation is "James Hurley had 2 sons, both of whom were (in 1912) alive and unmarried". Half brother Michael certainly never married. It is possible that Daniel (probably using the surname "Hurley") was unmarried in 1912 too and he may have been known to the registrar.
Michael Hurley's 1877 birth certificate states "Nil previous Issue" in relation to his father, James Hurley. This may indicate:
- Daniel had left the Clermont area,
- Daniel had been adopted by 1877
- James had not told his new wife of Daniel's existence.
Q3. Why did registrar William Cave delete the supposed marriage of Margaret and James on 9 Jan 1871 on Daniel's birth certificate?
A3. There is no record of a marriage between Margaret and James Hurley on BDM Qld. However, the marriage date on the certificate is very specific. Speculation: there may have been a marriage but on Margaret's death it was declared to be bigamous; Margaret and James Hurley may have thought it was not necessary that she divorce Denis Sullivan. She had the example of her sister, Catherine, who, separated from her husband Walter Goodman for 8 years, married James Milford, a man who "publicly divorced" his wife by advertising in the papers prior to marrying Catherine. So one can understand that Margaret and James may have married and believed their marriage was legal.
Q4. Who was James Hurley?
A5. James was from County Cork, Ireland. His arrival date in Australia is yet to be determined. His death certificate was very imprecise. It suggested he may have married in Ireland and arrived here around 1857 and failed to record his 1877 marriage to Mary Lewlor.
Q5. What became of James Hurley?
A5. On 12 June 1877, James Hurley married his then-partner, Mary Lewlor (possibly nee Shea). The very next day, on 13 Jun 1877, his second son Michael Hurley was born. James Hurley passed away from cardiac failure on 2 Sep 1912 and was buried in the Clermont Cemetery.
Q6. Are there any other clues that Daniel James McLaren survived?
A6. Oral history warning! Around the 1950s, the McLaran family in Dalby was approached by the Presbyterian Church on behalf of an anonymous family in North Queensland. They wished to establish whether or not there may have been a blood connection between the families. The lack of accurate knowledge on both sides of the family history of the McLaran(en)s and the "an" ending to McLaran meant the approach did not bear any fruit. This may have been an opportunity to reunite Donald's and Margaret's families but it was missed. Other descendants of Margaret's family alive today have vigorously denied (online) any connection to the family of Donald McLaran. This has been set straight on Family Names.
Q5. What became of Michael Hurley, Daniel McLaren's half brother?
A5. On 28 Jan 1955, Michael Hurley died in Clermont Hospital. The previous day he had been hit by a locomotive at Nanya Siding on the Emerald - Clemont line. Nanya Siding is the next siding north of Retro Station. Michael had not ventured far from Retro Station in his 78 years. Michael may have been suffering from dementia or had attempted to suicide.
10 Feb 1955 The Central Queensland Herald
Mr Michael Hurley, of Nanya Siding, died in the Clermont Hospital as the result of an accident. It is believed he was hit by a passing train, as he was found near the line some time later.
14 Jul 1955 The Central Queensland Herald
EMERALD
An Inquest was held at the Emerald Court House into the death of Michael Hurley, aged 78 years. He was found unconscious near the railway line at Nanya, on January 27, and died in the Clermont Hospital the following day. The Coroner (Mr N. Langford) examined Melville Bernard Powell, John Kenneth Williams and Valentine Yeomans, members of the train crew that passed through Nanya about the same time Hurley received injuries.