Ancestral, historical and genealogical research in the County of Tyrone including all of Ulster.

Knox, Elizabeth (nee Russell)	b.1809; d.1908	Len Swindley
McElroy, Owen	b.c.1860; d.1946	Sarah Knowles
McElroy, Mary (nee Managh)	b.1854; d.1943	Sarah Knowles
Mullan, Robert Francis	b.1847; d.1928	Mary Skipworth
Mullan, Thomas	b.1840; d.1918	Mary Skipworth

The World’s News (Sydney, Australia), 23 January 1909
The late MRS. KNOX, of Auckland, New Zealand, who was born in the village of ARDSTRAW, COUNTY TYRONE, bequeathed £4000 for the deserving poor of the village and district and £500 towards the improvement of the Ardstraw Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Knox left nearly £100,000, of which £70,000 goes to charitable and public institutions, and nearly £23,000 to nephews, nieces, and friends, several of whom live in the neighbourhood of Ardstraw.

The Auckland Star, 20 October 1908
MRS. ELIZABETH KNOX A very old resident of Auckland, MRS. ELIZABETH KNOX, died at her residence, Symonds Street, yesterday evening at the great age of 99 years. She had been bedridden for the past few months, and death took place quietly in her sleep. Deceased was a native of COUNTY TYRONE, IRELAND, being a MISS RUSSELL, and was born at Ardstraw Bridge. She was married to the late MR. CHARLES KNOX, and came with her husband to Auckland in the very early days, when the city was but an assemblage of tents and huts, with but little promise of growing into the fine town that has since developed on the banks of the Waimate. Prior to coming to New Zealand, Mr. and Mrs. Knox spent a couple of years in Sydney [Australia]. Shortly after arriving here, Mr. Knox, who was born as far back as 1809 in County Tyrone, Ireland, and had a thorough knowledge of farming, purchased 300 acres of land between where St. John’s College now stands and Tamaki. There in a few years, he, by hard labour, carved out a home and developed a fine property which supported hundreds of cattle, sheep and horses. During the number of years Mr. Knox occupied this farm, he was continually improving and adding to its value. Mr. and Mrs. Knox made two trips to the Old Country and previous to his death Mr. Knox was contemplating a prolonged tour through America and Europe, when a stroke of paralysis seized him and he never fully recovered. He had a third stroke which cut him off on the 5th of December 1871 at the age of 62 years and his widow was his sole survivor. Mr. Knox was a thorough colonist, who, undeterred by the early pioneer struggles and hardships, retired with a large fortune acquired through perseverance and thrift. Previous to his last completed tour, he sold a considerable part of his estate, but a large portion remained in the possession of Mrs. Knox. Although Mr. Knox abstained from taking part in public affairs, his well-known acts of kindness and monetary help placed many a poor struggling colonist on the way to success. Mrs. Knox was a worthy and devoted wife who cheered her husband by her courage and sympathy through all his vicissitudes and hardships of the early pioneer days, and also helped him in a practical way in the management of his farm; in fact her knowledge of stock and farming was equal to that of her husband. Mrs. Knox has resided in her villa, Symonds Street and until near the end of her long life was a hearty old lady retaining until near the last the distinctive traits of her country – keenness of wit and tongue, together with robust health. For over 30 years, Mrs. Knox had resided with her niece, MISS RUSSELL.........It is an open secret that most of the Auckland Charitable institutions will benefit from the will of Mrs. Knox, who for many years, has in a quiet and unobtrusive manner, assisted in good works. The interment will take place tomorrow in the Symonds Street cemetery.

The Auckland Star, 29 January 1909
A North of Ireland journal contains the following paragraph referring to the bequest left by the late MRS. KNOX: - “The chief topic of conversation in the village of ARDSTRAW, CO. TYRONE, and for a few miles around for the past few days has been the Knox bequest of £4,500. Newsagents selling the “Irish Daily Telegraph” which contained the report on Monday last were quickly sold out. In the forges, of which there are not a few in the locality, at the creamery and in the fields, everyone is talking about the matter. Speculation is rife – (1) as to whether the £4,000 is intended for the village or parish; (2) whether the £500 is to be literally spent on the church edifice. The late Mrs. Knox was a sister of the late JAMES RUSSELL of KILLEN and ROBT. RUSSELL of CHURCHTOWN, near Ardstraw. She and her husband went to New Zealand over 60 years ago. The city of Auckland was then an assemblage of tents. Having a thorough knowledge of farming, he purchased 300 acres at a cheap rate. As the city of Auckland grew the land increased in value quickly and it now stands valuable house property”.

Owen McELROY born c. 1860, Fintona, Co. Tyrone; died 27 May 1946, Halcombe, Manawatu, New Zealand. His wife,

Mary McELROY (Managh), wife of Owen McElroy, born 12 Nov 1854, Drumlister, Co. Tyrone; died 14 Jul 1943 in Halcombe, Manawatu, New Zealand

WESTPORT, August 3 [1928] The death took place this evening of Mr Robert Francis Mullan. Born in Dungannon, County Armagh, Ireland, in 1847, deceased arrived in Queensland in 1867, later going to New South Wales. He came to New Zealand in 1870, and worked at mining at Giles Terrace, also in connexion with boating operations between Westport and Lyell diggings, and in contracting on the Buller road. In 1880 he was appointed clerk to the Buller County Council, which position he held until, through failing health, he retired in 1908. Other positions he held, were secretary of the Buller Hospital Board, Westport Domain Board, and Westport Permanent Building Society. He had three sons and two daughters, all of whom, except one son, John, who succeeded him as county clerk, predeceased him. One son was killed in France during the Great War, and another while serving in the South African War.**[**Incorrect, son Robert who served in South Africa lived the rest of his life in Westport] He is also survived by his widow. Deceased was a man of sterling qualities and of kindly, sympathetic, and charitable nature. His passing is deeply regretted. Press 4 August 1928

Source: https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers

Mr. Thomas Mullan, late inspector Manawatu Railway Company, died at his residence, Wanganui-avenue, Auckland , on Friday last, aged 79. Mr. Mullan was a native of Dungannon, Ireland, and came out to Victoria , and subsequently to New Zealand , at the time of the goldfields rush on the West Coast. Some years later he removed to Wellington , and was an inspector of works during the construction of the Manawatu Railway line, on the completion of which undertaking he was appointed inspector of permanent way to the company. He retired on superannuation on the Government taking over the railway. The late Mr. Mullan, who was well known in Wellington , was a member of the Masonic body. He leaves a widow, two sons—Mr. T. Mullan ( Auckland ) and Mr. Edward Mullan (now on active service) —and two daughters—Mrs Alexander Nichol ( Newtown ), and Mrs. Athol Waters (Northland). Mr. Robert Mullan, of Westport , is a brother of the deceased. The interment took place at Auckland on Saturday. Evening Post 14 Jan 1918

Source: https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers

Return To The County Tyrone Home Page

Page Created by James A. McKane