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Julia came to New Zealand on the Ben Lomond arriving in Port Chalmers 19 January 1863 from Glasgow, Scotland aged 17 years accompanying the family for whom she worked as a nurse-maid governess. It is believed that the party spent some time in Australia en route. Julia's family came from Limerick, Ireland where her father, James MacNamara, was a firkin maker by trade. Firkins are a small cask for liquids, fish, butter and other commodities. They originally containing a quarter of a barrel or half a kilderkin. Julia was convent educated. From what is known of her family; it is believed that not all the children were convent educated. Her brother James emigrated to Australia and then went on to America. Her sisters Elizabeth and Mary both emigrated to Australia. Mary married Joseph Beattie and they came to Oamaru for a time. Julia arrived in Oamaru on 3rd February 1863 and 18 months later she married William Falconer on 12 August 1864. They were married by the Rev. Charles Connor. William and Julia lived at Otepopo (Herbert) Oamaru in the early years of their marriage and the first seven of their children were born there. The remaining six children were born at Waiareka where she and William farmed the property known as Endsleigh. At the time of William's untimely death in 1891, the youngest of the family was ten years old, the eldest was almost twenty six and two of the older boys had already left to seek their fortune in the North Island. After the farm was sold Julia and her single daughter, Mary, moved to Dannevirke in the North Island. Her eldest son, Thomas and her third son Julius were already living in the Hawkes Bay area at the time. Upon Mary's death , in 1922, Julia, herself then in ill health moved to Wellington where she was cared for by her married daughter Ellie (Helen) Kraft. Her last days were spent here. Julia was buried in the Oamaru cemetery together with William. See a copy of the obituary notice that appeared in the local Oamaru newspaper. [Go Back] |
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