1914 Death of Denis Sullivan
1828 Denis Sullivan was born in Ewer Street, London, on the south bank of the Thames
A record of Denis's arrival in the colony has proved elusive and it is possible he entered as a sailor, even perhaps in 1853 aboard the America. Information on his 1914 death certificate supplied by daughter Margaret Sullivan dated his arrival to 1854, but the stated "60 years in Australia" would be an approximation.
Denis had a variety of occupations listed against his name in various birth and death certificates:
1856 - a builder at Weranga
1862 - a carpenter
1863 - a drayman
1864 - a labourer
1914 (and presumably in 1904) - a labourer
Newpaper articles in the 1860's have helped track the activities of Denis Sullivan's family. Denis's life and whereabouts between 1868 and 1904 remain unresolved. In 1904 at the age of 76, Denis Sullivan was committed to Goodna Mental Hospital and in May of that year the authorities made a concerted effort to contact Denis's children. Denis recalled that one of his daughters lived in Mt Morgan but was unable to provide her correct married name. Following police investigations in Mt Morgan, it was realised that Denis's daughter was Agnes Twine, who had recently moved with her husband and family to Emerald.
The police in Emerald spoke to the Twines, but they offered many reasons as to why they were unable to contribute to Denis's upkeep at Goodna. Indeed, Agnes Twine's health was delicate (she died in 1906) but her "four rather delicate children" all survived another 30 years or more.
Denis passed away on 22 Aug 1914, 10 years after entering Goodna, and was buried in the hospital cemetery.
A record of Denis's arrival in the colony has proved elusive and it is possible he entered as a sailor, even perhaps in 1853 aboard the America. Information on his 1914 death certificate supplied by daughter Margaret Sullivan dated his arrival to 1854, but the stated "60 years in Australia" would be an approximation.
Denis had a variety of occupations listed against his name in various birth and death certificates:
1856 - a builder at Weranga
1862 - a carpenter
1863 - a drayman
1864 - a labourer
1914 (and presumably in 1904) - a labourer
Newpaper articles in the 1860's have helped track the activities of Denis Sullivan's family. Denis's life and whereabouts between 1868 and 1904 remain unresolved. In 1904 at the age of 76, Denis Sullivan was committed to Goodna Mental Hospital and in May of that year the authorities made a concerted effort to contact Denis's children. Denis recalled that one of his daughters lived in Mt Morgan but was unable to provide her correct married name. Following police investigations in Mt Morgan, it was realised that Denis's daughter was Agnes Twine, who had recently moved with her husband and family to Emerald.
The police in Emerald spoke to the Twines, but they offered many reasons as to why they were unable to contribute to Denis's upkeep at Goodna. Indeed, Agnes Twine's health was delicate (she died in 1906) but her "four rather delicate children" all survived another 30 years or more.
Denis passed away on 22 Aug 1914, 10 years after entering Goodna, and was buried in the hospital cemetery.
1904 Letter from Emerald police station to Goodna Mental Hospital.
1914 Denis Sullivan Notice of Death - Goodna Mental Hospital.
1914 Part of Denis Sullivan's death certificate.
Notes:
Notes:
- The bolder and more slanted writing was the original entry on 29 Aug 1914.
- In a different hand is the additional information obtained between September and December 1914 from Margaret Ahrens nee Sullivan.
- Margaret's information confirms that Denis was the father of three daughters and a son.
Comment
Denis's legacy is similar to Margaret McLaren's - his children proved that they were survivors. His longevity was inherited by his daughter Margaret, many of her children, and also by his grand-daughter, Mary Jane Sullivan.
It is difficult to determine if it was Denis or Margaret (or both of them) who created the family instability. Their inability to put down roots and remain in the one place for a period of time was not passed on to their daughter Margaret, who lived continually in Roma from around 1876 to 1950. In fairness to Denis, the depression of the 1860's made it a difficult time to be a worker in Queensland. His court appearances suggest he may have been an alcoholic. This would not have assisted his naturally ill-tempered nature.
Denis's legacy is similar to Margaret McLaren's - his children proved that they were survivors. His longevity was inherited by his daughter Margaret, many of her children, and also by his grand-daughter, Mary Jane Sullivan.
It is difficult to determine if it was Denis or Margaret (or both of them) who created the family instability. Their inability to put down roots and remain in the one place for a period of time was not passed on to their daughter Margaret, who lived continually in Roma from around 1876 to 1950. In fairness to Denis, the depression of the 1860's made it a difficult time to be a worker in Queensland. His court appearances suggest he may have been an alcoholic. This would not have assisted his naturally ill-tempered nature.