Over the next few days I will be publishing the results of my work on the update of the Lawlers Cemetery records and photos. I have been careful editing and researching for the past three weeks. This cemetery is quite small, with only 164 burials. Like all cemeteries, it’s a snapshot of the people who made up this small community and among the graves are many a family tragedy. I have endeavored to do a short biography on each of the people with as much information as I can find. If anyone has anything to add or notice any errors do let me know.
In these snapshots I have selected the following to feature (the full list of the burials will be on the OFH web site at the end of these articles).
The Little Ones – all infants under 2 yrs.
Mining Deaths – the main occupation in town
Suicides – A Tale of despair
The Irish – The large number of Irish born people in the cemetery : 19 Burials
DOOHAN Thomas d 17 November 1901 Great Eastern Hotel, Lawlers, Aged 47 years Occ:- Storekeeper, Cause-Acute Alcoholism, born Kilrush, Co Clare, Ireland In WA 10yrs, Single
DUNN James d 11 April 1908 Aged 42 years Kathleen GM near Lawlers, Occ:- Millman, Cause:- Fracture of the skull in accident at the Kathleen GM, Inquest held 22 Apr 1908, Father:- James DUNN (Farmer) Mother:- Elizabeth LEMON, Born Co Tyrone ,Ireland Mine accident www.wavmm.com
FLETCHER Thomas d 29 Jun 1910, Lawlers Hospital, 30yrs, Occ:- Labourer, Cause:- Peritonitis from an accident while returning to his camp on the 12 Jun, Father:- Edward FLETCHER (Bootmaker) Mother:- Bridget KENNEDY, In SA 20yrs, in WA 8yrs, Born Ireland, Single.
GROGAN Margaret d 31 Mar 1905 Aged 27 years, Housewife, Cause:- Tuberculosis, Father:- Patrick FOLEY (Cattle Dealer) Mother:- Esther GROGAN Born Cashel, Tipperary Ireland, in WA 6yrs, Married to John GROGAN in Cashel Tipperary Ireland at age 21yrs. Children:- Patrick John 3 yrs.
HICKEY David d 15 Aug 1896 in Park Street Lawler’s Occ:- Horse Driver 56 yrs Cause:- General debility born Ireland in QLD 39yrs in WA 2 yrs
KEANE Thomas d 1 February 1904 Aged 28 years, Occ:- Miner, Cause:- Injuries received through accidentally falling from a bakers cart, Verdict of the Coroner, Father:- John KEANE (Farmer), Mother:- Norah FOLEY Born Co Kerry, Ireland, 8yrs in WA
McALEER Katie d 7 March 1911, Clifton Street, Lawlers, Married woman, Cause:- Gastric carcinoma, Aged 50 years Father:- Patrick RODDY (Farmer) Mother:- Catherine PRIOR Born Co Leitrim Ireland, In NSW 2yrs in WA 19yrs, Married to Patrick McALEER in NSW at 28yrs
Children:- Kathleen 20yrs, Charles 17yrs, J????? 15yrs, Rose 13yrs.
Katie McAleer
Katie McALEER Kalgoorlie Western Argus 14 March 1911, page 12
McCARTHY Felix d 21 January 1912, Surface, Northern Mines Limited Lawlers, Occ:- Contractor, Cause:- Crushed by 150 tons of slime at the Northern GM, Aged 32 years Father:- James McCARTHY (Farmer) Mother:- Julia O’NEIL, born Co Cork, Ireland, 10yrs in WA, Single.
McCarthy Murchison Times and Day Dawn Gazette 1 February 1912
McCAUSLAND Claudius d 17 Aug 1899 Great Eastern Mine Lawlers Occ:- Refreshment Room Keeper Cause:- Chronic Dysentery Father:- James McCAUSLAND (Farmer) Mother Betty at age 42 years in born:- Moyle Hill Newtown Stewart Co Tyrone Ireland In SA 30yrs Port Augusta SA In WA 4 yrs Married to Jane ANDERSON
McDONALD Arthur, d 20 May 1905, Lawlers Hospital, Aged 28 years, Cause:- Typhoid Fever, Father:- John McDONALD Born Castle comer Killkenny, Ireland, Single.
McKEEFRY James Henry, d 4 February 1903 Aged 33 years Occ:- Hotelkeeper, Cause:- Alcoholism, Father:- Peter McKEEFRY (Farmer) Mother:- Mary HENRY, born Londonderry, Ireland, 2yrs in VIC, 11yrs in WA, Married to Sarah Teresa O’TOOLE, no children
McKeefry J H Western Mail 14 February 1903
McNEIL Patrick d 13 September 1901 The Rose Hotel, Lawlers, Aged 45 years Cause:- Injuries self inflicted in the region of the heart during temporary insanity, Verdict of Coroner, Born Co Antrim Ireland, in NSW some years
MILLIGAN Mary Ann d 3 February 1911, Lawlers Hospital, Aged 70 years Cause:- Senile decay, Father:- Charles HAMILTON (Bootmaker) Mother:- Susan JOHNSTONE, Born Ireland, in WA 34yrs, Married twice: First in Scotland to Richard STANCLIFFE? In Scotland John MILLIGAN Children:- (which marriage not stipulated) Susan 48yrs, Sarah 38yrs, Rachel 34yrs, Annie 32yrs, Maggie 27yrs, James 25yrs.
MOLONEY Bryan, d 12 July 1918, Lawlers Hotel, Clifton Street, Lawlers, 79yrs, Occ:- Retired Civil Servant. Cause:- Senile Decay, Father:- David MOLONEY (Farmer) Mother:- Helen MCMAHON Born Co Clare Ireland, in VIC 48yrs, in WA 10yrs, Married to Bridget RUANE in Melbourne VIC at age 26yrs, Children:- Mary 53,Patrick 40, Joseph ?,
OCONNOR Edmond d 19 Nov 1925, Water Reserve Corboy’s Find Wiluna, Occ:- Prospector, Aged 57 years, Cause:- by falling down a well, no evidence of how the accident occurred, ( Verdict of the Coroner, Father:- Peter O’CONNOR (Farmer) Mother:- Johanna HOGAN. Born Knockanore Co Waterford, Ireland
OCONNOR Peter C d 8 Dec 1926, Lawlers, Aged 56 years, Occ:- Miner, Cause:- Phthisis, Father:- Peter OCONNOR (Farmer) Mother:- Johanna HOGAN, Born Co Waterford, Ireland, In WA 30yrs, Single.
PRATT George d 9 June 1908, Lawlers Hospital, Aged 36 years, Cause:- Regurgitation, Father:- George PRATT (Weaver) Mother:- Ann McMANN Born Co Clare, Ireland, In SA 15yrs, in WA 12yrs, Married to Anne SAUNDERS in Coolgardie WA at age 29yrs. No Children.
RUSSELL Matthew d 27 February 1904, Lawlers Hospital, Occ:- Miner, Cause:- Heart Failure, Aged 67 years Born Cardiff, Co Antrim, Ireland Single.
WINTERS John d 22 September 1903 Aged 38 years Lawlers Hospital, Occ:- Miner Father:- William WINTERS (Farmer) Mother:- Helen DALEY ,Born Cork Ireland In Wa 6yrs, Single
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Moya Sharp
Thank you, Moya, for your ever lasting research… I’m sure there are many who would be grateful to find their ancestors listed.
I have included your blog in INTERESTING BLOGS in FRIDAY FOSSICKING at
https://thatmomentintime-crissouli.blogspot.com/2017/12/friday-fossicking-dec-8th-2017.html
Thank you, Chris
Most interesting Moya, thank you for researching and publishing your findings
thank you for all the research. it is most interesting