Family Memorial: Rifleman John O'CONNOR 12462

In loving memory of
Michael SKERRY
Died 12th July 1899 aged 84 years
Also
John O'CONNOR
Died of wounds in France
25 March 1917; aged 39 years
And his wife
Beatrice Ethel
Died 19th June 1914
Aged 32 years

Area 1 Lot No 236
Burial Register has: Roman Catholic, farmer, lived and died Little Sister 12.7.1899, 84 years, born Ireland.[2]

MICHAEL
Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 164, 13 July 1899, Page 8
SKERRY – On July 12. Michael, the dearly beloved husband of Bridget SKERRY, in his8 0th year. R.I.P. Interment private.[1]
[note age different to that on headstone]

New Zealand Herald, Volume X, Issue 3757, 25 November 1873, Page 3
A Light Sentence. —Michael Skerry was charged with violently assaulting his wife, Bridget Skerry, by striking her on the head with a teapot on Saturday night last; he was also charged with committing a violent assault upon Mary Ann Skerry, his daughter, by catching her by the throat and striking her on the head with an iron poker. The prisoner was further charged with assaulting Sergeant Sanderson by striking him on the head with a shoemaker's sharpening stone (a formidable looking instrument), when the police attempted to apprehend him. The prisoner pleaded guilty to the charge of assaulting his wife and the police, and the charge of assaulting his daughter was not proceeded with. He assured the Court that he had been a Good Templar for seven months, but had been led astray at the Papakura election and had taken a little "dhrop." If dealt leniently with he would abstain from liquor for ever and a day, and would assault no more. Inspector Broham gave the accused the character of being a desperate man, and of having repeatedly suffered for breaches of the peace. For the combined offences, the Court ordered the prisoner to pay a fine of 40s. and costs, or suffer 14 days' imprisonment, and to be bound over in his own recognizances, in a sum of £20, to keep the peace for three calendar months. This concluded the business.[3]

Auckland Star, Volume IV, Issue 1222, 5 January 1874, Page 2
A FAITHLESS TEMPLAR. Michael Skerry was brought up on two charges—1st, with striking Joseph Craig on the face on the 3rd January; and 2nd, for assaulting his wife, Bridget Skerry, in a ferocious manner on the 4th. Prisoner said he was not guilty. Joseph Craig stated, that on Saturday evening at eleven o'clock the prisoner was kicking up a dreadful row his wife and daughter were screaming for fear, and when he went to see what was the matter prisoner struck him two or three times in the face. Bridget Skerry deposed that she was the wife of the prisoner, but she had a protection order, and they were separated. She was getting her own living, and he came to her house and used violent language and beat her. She unfortunately had been married to prisoner twenty-four years. Prisoner, who had been a Good Templar, but had relapsed, said he was a hard-working man. The Court sentenced prisoner to pay a fine of 20s and costs, and to find two sureties of £25 each to keep the peace for six months.[5]

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXX, Issue 5329, 22 September 1874, Page 5
ASSAULTING A WIFE - Michael Skerry was charged with assaulting his wife Bridget Skerry at her residence in Lome street, on the 18th instant. —From the evidence of the prosecutrix, who has a protection order against her husband, it appeared that during her absence from home on Friday last the prisoner came and abused and beat her daughter. On her return the girl informed her mother who ordered the prisoner away from the house, whereupon he struck her a violent blow on the back of the head. Prosecutrix then sent for the police. She informed the Court that with the aid of her son she earned her own living and never had any assistance from the prisoner, with whom she had not lived for two years. She did not consider her life was safe from his violence. — Sergeant Sanderson who apprehended the prisoner deposed that he was drunk and threatened to burn the house down and kill his wife. He had frequently been before the Court and on one occasion he himself had been assaulted by him when in the, execution of his duty. — The prisoner who represented himself as a Good Templar, flatly denied that he had assaulted his wife, and said she would swear to anything — The Court considered the charge proved, and for being drunk, fined the prisoner 40s. or 7 days' imprisonment with hard labor ; and for the assault, ordered him to find two sureties of £25 each, for his good behavior for 12 months', and to enter into his own recognizance in the turn of £50.[4]

[Bridget SKERRY died 1904 aged 83] [6]

JOHN
Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 79, 2 April 1917, Page 10
ON ACTIVE SERVICE.
FOR KING AND COUNTRY. O'CONNOR.— Died of wounds In France, on March 25. 1917, Jack, beloved second son of James and M. A. O'Connor, of 112, Khyber Pass Road, Auckland, and brother of W. O'Connor. Christchurch, and Mrs. Cowan, Penrose, Auckland; aged 39 years. Rest in peace.

Military service number: 12462

His Cenotaph database record:
muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/11639.detail?O...

His military records are available but with restrictions
archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=21381660

Taken on: February 9, 2014

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