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Thanks for the tip. That's frustrating about Annie & Johanna being interchangeable. I thought I would have more luck with Johanna because it seems less common. Still back to trying to find Teresa's parents in England. I guess that 's the frustration many people feel about common names.

Tania...Johanna "Annie" one and the same name ...First cousins not allowed to marry so it may well be that Michael's mother was nee Collins by sheer coincidence...only by locating previous generations will you be able to tell if any familial connection.

Interesting news. I have Teresa's marriage certificate to Michael Sullivan in 1882. In that certificate, her parents names are Michael Flanagan & Johanna Collins (instead of Annie). However, Michael's parents are named as Michael Sullivan and Annie Collins!! I wonder if Teresa married her cousin?

I am still struggling to find records going back further so any suggests gratefully received.

I have received Teresa (?Mary)'s marriage certificate to Isaac Burgess Hudson 16 June 1900. It doesn't help unfortunately, but does confirm what we already knew.

It says Teresa Sullivan (widow), born in London, Middlesex, England (Teacher), aged 47 years, parents Michael Flanagan (surveyor) and Annie Collins

I think that 1851 census is correct - the sister Mary Collins is also a match for Annie Collins the mother's maiden name.

Thanks. That 1851 does look promising - I had missed that in my research. I agree there are so many variants of Flanigan / Flanagan / Flannaghan which makes things difficult. The fact that he is named as a surveyor is a good sign.

I will have another look at the arrivals to Qld between 1851 & 1861.

Congratulations on your beautiful grand-daughter Flip.

No, I can't find any of them on later census either Flip. The problem is that we are looking for a fairly common surname and with so many variants too.

That 1851 looks promising Rootgatherer!! Don't know about you, I can't find any of them after this though - just a lot of links to the US.

Wonder if Theresa was her confirmation name?

Have you eliminated these people please?

1851

Name: Mary Ann Flanagan
Age: 11 Mo
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1850
Relation: Daughter
Father's Name: Michl Flanagan
Mother's Name: Anne Flanagan
Gender: F (Female)
Where born: England

Civil Parish: St Marylebone
Ecclesiastical parish: Rectory
County/Island: Middlesex
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Disability:

View Image

Registration District: Marylebone
Sub-registration District: Rectory
ED, institution, or vessel: 13a
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Schedule Number: 350
Piece: 1488
Folio: 659
Page Number: 28
Household Members:
Name Age
Michl Flanagan 41 b. Ireland, Assistant Surveyor
Anne Flanagan 27 b. Ireland
Bridget Flanagan 5 b. Ireland
Mary Ann Flanagan 11 Mo
Mary Collins 22 Sister, b. Ireland

I will. Thanks for your interest. Happy New Year.

I think Trove is brilliant, and it's free - unlike our own British Newspaper Archives (I have them as part of a sub on another site). I start off looking for someone and end up reading the whole newspaper.

Hopefully the marriage cert might have more info so do let us know when you get it.

Yes I agree. Isn't the Trove digital newspaper service fantastic. I love reading the stories as I try and find out about my ancestors. I have much information about Isaac Hudson Burgess from the digital newspapers (and from many other sources), but Theresa has me stumped. I suspect because she married later in life and died soon after, no one in the family knew much about her.

Thankfully, I don't think that 1896 is your Mary Teresa (having read it, it was her husband who should have perished).

Australia Marriage Index, 1788-1950

Name: Jeremiah Joseph Sullivan
Spouse Name: Mary Teresa Macevoy
Marriage Date: 9 Feb 1891
Marriage Place: Queensland
Registration Place: Queensland
Registration Year: 1891
Registration number: 001273
Page Number: 25354

It is a very interesting story, although tragic. They were killed in a house fire. She died at the scene and he was carried down the mountain to the train, where he was taken to Brisbane where he later died. He must have died a very painful death.

The death certificate says unknown for any children from her first husband. I only have a transcript of their marriage certificate and the person who copied it down has written this. I have ordered the original.

I have found a newspaper article from 1896 which describes a Mary Theresa Sullivan married to a Jeremiah Joseph Sullivan in Mount Morgan (also in Queensland, not too far away from Maleny by today's standards). However, the father mentioned in the article is a different name. However, if this is her, this is also tragic because the article describes her being abused horribly by her husband.

Hi Tania, does the 1900 marriage certificate actually say her first husband is unknown?

Are you aware of any children she might have had prior to marrying Isaac? Given that she was around 48 when they married I'm guessing they had no issue.

I've just been reading the circumstances of their death on Trove, the poor stepson must have been traumatised.

Reggie, I've checked arrivals into Queensland and can find no T or Theresa or Mary Flannigan. There are many many Mary Sullivans (too many to ascertain if she is one of these), although no Theresa Sullivan. Without being able to know her spouse's first name I can't see the arrivals being any help I'm afraid. You can appreciate why I'm stuck.

Thanks for the suggestion re the Irish connection.
I've already looked in familysearch.org but cannot find them I'm afraid.

In our family history she is often called Mary or Teresa interchangeably. Her gravestone says Teresa Burgess.

Yes, that is definitely her death. Her step-son gave the information for the death certificate (her husband died the same day) and so it may well be slightly inaccurate which complicates things.

Her father's name on the marriage certificate is Michael Flannigan, Surveyor. I'm pretty sure I've tried for arrivals but I'll have a double check now.