CATHERINE CAPLICE
= BERNARD O'DOHERTY

Catherine Caplice was Bernard's second wife.

Catherine was born in Ballyporeen, on about 7 Feb 1862. Ballyporeen is a small village in Tipperary to which President Ronald Reagan of the USA has also traced his ancestors. Ballyporeen had a population of 632 in 1881.

CHILDREN

Catherine was Bernard's second wife. Catherine was 23 years old and living at Gympie at the time of her Marriage to Bernard. Catherine's younger sister Alice Capless (Caplice) was a witness at her marriage. Daniel O'Neill was the other witness. Marriage Certificate Reg. No. 559.

Catherine was shown as Catherine Capless on her Marriage Certificate. She was living at Gympie at the time of her marriage to Bernard O'Doherty on 7 June 1886 at St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, Gympie.

Catherine Caplice (20 yrs) travelled to Australia in the ship "Dacca" with her brother Patrick (21 yrs). The ship left London on 17 January 1884 and arrived in Cooktown on 6 March 1884. Brian Hickey thinks they came to live with someone called O'Brien who lived at Gympie. Vince Shepherd told me that a Tim O'Brien and a Margaret O'Brien came from Ballyporeen and lived in Gympie. The Qld. Country Marriage Indexes show a Timothy O'Brien marrying a Margaret O'Brien in 1886 (Marriage Certificate Reg. No. 536).

Vince also said that three O'Brien brothers came earlier and one married Margaret O'Brien. A Helen O'Brien is the grand daughter of Margaret O'Brien and in 1989 she worked in the Mater Hospital, Brisbane as a bio chemist. She has been to Ballyporeen a few times. Her mother gave Vince a photo of Margaret O'Brien.

Catherine and Patrick were probably the first of this Caplice family to shift to Australia. Later on their younger sister, Alice (15 yrs) arrived in Maryborough on the 29 August 1885 on the ship "Wistow Hall", followed by their mother Catherine (40 or 46 yrs), sister Mary (16 yrs) and brother James (20 or 21 yrs) who arrived in Maryborough on 14 Oct 1887 on the ship "Oriana".

Catherine used to keep chooks and sell chooks and eggs to supplement the family income.

"INISHOWEN" was the large family house in Kent St., Maryborough. Bernard O'Doherty had "Inishowen" built for him for 280 Pounds. "Inishowen" was named after the Inishowen Peninsula in the north of County Donegal, Ireland. Inishowen was the traditional home of the O'Dohertys. The bulky O'Doherty castle, near Castle Bridge, has acted as centrepiece for Buncrana since 1430, though only the keep is well preserved now.

The Queensland Post Office Directory shows a Mrs. B. O'Doherty of Kent St. (Inishowen), Maryborough in the 1917/18 edition.

The 1909 Commonwealth Electoral Rolls, Division of Wide Bay, Subdivision of Maryborough show a Catherine O'Doherty, home duties, living at Ferry Lane with her husband Bernard. Also shown are John Thomas, Thomas Henry and Alice Mary. Catherine's children are John Joseph (7 yrs old), step son Thomas McDermott (29 yrs old), and Alice Mary O'Doherty (21 yrs old).

The Marriage Invitation for her daughter's wedding read as follows: "Mrs C. O'Doherty requests the pleasure of _________ Company at the Marriage of her Daughter Catherine, to Mr. L.L. Jensen, at St., Mary's R.C. Church, Maryborough, at 7 P.M. on Wed 1st Feb, 1922, and afterwards at their residence, Inishowen, Kent St."

Catherine O'Doherty (nee Caplice) collapsed unexpectedly beside her bed and was found by her daughter Eileen Bernardine, who sent the children from the corner house to get the doctor and the priest. She died on 20 June 1930 in Maryborough.

Catherine O'Doherty was buried in Grave No. F 573 at Maryborough Cemetery on 21 June 1930. There is a large O'Doherty grave in Maryborough.

Catherine O'Doherty (nee Caplice) died without a will or intestate. The records of the Public Curator being appointed Administrator of her estate are held in the Qld. State Archives, Reference SCT/O No. 440 of 1930. The details contained in these records are as follows:

Name: Catherine O'Doherty

Died: 20 June 1930

INVENTORY SCHEDULE

Personal Cash 14 Pounds 3 Shillings and 6 Pence
Livestock 1 Pound 8 Shillings
Furniture 158 Pounds 18 Shillings and 9 Pence
SGIO Policy 50 Pounds
Realty 475 Pounds
TOTAL 699 Pounds 10 Shillings and 3 Pence

Mary Dann (nee Hickey) told me that there was a story that after their mother had died, each of the daughters received 50 Pounds from her estate.

DEATH NOTICE
(Maryborough Chronicle, Saturday 21 June 1930)

O'DOHERTY On June 20, 1930 at Maryborough, Catherine, relict of the late Bernard O'Doherty.

"R.I.P."

FUNERAL NOTICE
(Maryborough Chronicle, Saturday 21 June 1930)

The funeral of the late Catherine O'Doherty will move from St. Mary's Church, THIS (SATURDAY) MORNING at 10 o'clock for the Maryborough Cemetery.

(A Requiem Mass will be offered up this morning at 9 o'clock for the repose of her soul.)

J.M. Gettons.
Funeral Director.
Lennox street, John street and Melville street

Phones, Office, 572, Residence, 377 or 86.

OBITUARY
(Maryborough Chronicle, Saturday 21 June 1930)

We regret to record the death of Mrs. Catherine O'Doherty, which occurred at Maryborough early yesterday morning. The late Mrs. O'Doherty was born in Ballyporeen, County Tipperary, Ireland, and had resided in Maryborough for the greater part of her life. The deceased is survived by a family of two sons, Messrs. James and John O'Doherty, and five daughters, Mesdames G. Hassam, L. Jensen, J. Hickey, J. Townsley, and Miss Eileen O'Doherty. She also leaves two step sons, Messrs. Hugh and Thomas O'Doherty, two sisters, Mrs. J. Manski and Miss Caplice, one brother, Mr. Caplice and nineteen grandchildren. Her husband, the late Mr. Bernard O'Doherty and one daughter predeceased her some years ago. The funeral will leave St. Mary's church this morning at 10 o'clock for the Maryborough Cemetery. At St. Mary's Church this morning at 9 o'clock, a requiem mass will be offered up for the repose of her soul.

After Eileen's mother died, Fred and Eileen Shepherd lived in Inishowen, the O'Doherty family home, until about 1937 when they moved to Mundubbera.

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This Page first produced on 8 Feb 1997

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