6. James Austin Sheridan

Above: Birth certificate of James Sheridan. The spelling of his middle name appears to be " ALSTON", but future references to him have his middle name as 'AUSTIN".

Above: An obituary published after the death of James Sheridan in New Zealand in 1931.

James Austin Sheridan was born at Moolort, near Carisbrook, on January 31, 1876, the sixth child and fourth son born to Nicholas Sheridan and Bridget McGrath. After completing his education at Yarrawonga Convent School, James worked in Melbourne for a period of time whilst serving his apprenticeship as a compositor with the "Melbourne Age" newspaper. James decided to emigrate to New Zealand, where he was employed in the newspaper trade at Invercargill and Ashburton. In about 1919 he joined the staff of the 'Christchurch Times', and at the time of his death in 1931 was serving in the position of deputy-printer with the paper. On January 30,1908, at Ashburton, New Zealand, James Austin Sheridan married Frances Ethel Brown, and the couple had a family of eight children: Dorothea Bridget Chatham Sheridan: b June 3,1908, at Wellington. Remained a spinster. Worked as a domestic. Died November 22, 1956, at Christchurch.

James Francis Sheridan: born March 25, 1911, at Invercargill, NZ. He was a foundry worker, and never married. Died July 15, 1969, at Christchurch.

Thomas McGrath Sheridan: Born August 5, 1914, at Ashburton. Married Doreen Howard at Christchurch Cathedral on April 24, 1964. Tom worked as a factory foreman. Nicholas Albert Sheridan: born January 7, 1915, at Ashburton. Married Anne Cleghorn in October, 1938, at St. Anne's, Woolston. Nicholas worked as a factory hand and gardener. He and Anne had a daughter, Frances Ethel Sheridan.

Marie Frances Sheridan: born December 10, 1917, at Christchurch. Married Eric Thomas Truesdale on January 2, 1946, at St. Anne's Catholic Church, Christchurch. Had three sons- Eric John; James Thomas and Paul Francis.

Agnes Teresa Sheridan: born December 23, 1919, at Christchurch. Married William Reaby, a market gardener, at Woolston, Christchurch, on January 6, 1941. Agnes was a dressmaker. She had three daughters- Averill; Valerie and Rosalind.

Cathleen Monica Sheridan: born April 1, 1921, at Christchurch. Married William Winter on July 6, 1942. Like her sister Agnes, Catherine was a dressmaker. She had six children- Robert; Beverly; Maurice; Allan; Joy and Desmond.

Patricia Amy Sheridan: born April 24, 1923, Christchurch. Married Philip March on December 21, 1941, in Christchurch. Patricia had seven children- Janet; Philip; Patricia; Thomas; Judith; Elizabeth and Phillippa. James 'Jim' Sheridan died on October 28, 1931, at Addington, New Zealand, aged only 55 years. His life was claimed by the same disease that killed his father and uncle- tuberculosis. James was buried at the Sydenham Cemetery.

NOTE: All of the information about James Sheridan and our New Zealand cousins was kindly supplied to me in a letter written in 1988 by James Sheridan's daughter Marie Truesdale. Her address had been passed to me by Bill Marshall, son of Roseannie Sheridan Marshall, and she was very helpful in providing me with details of her siblings and their families. Part of Marie's letter read as follows:

" I'm sure if Bill Marshall didn't warn you you will have realised by now that I am the worst letter writer you could have contacted. However, I have gathered together as much information as possible but you will see for yourself that the Sheridan name on this branch finishes with my brother Albert(Nicholas Albert). It was we girls that produced all the males.

It was very interesting getting your letter Jen. We really know very little about our Dad and his family, and being young there is very little we remember about him, as he worked at night, arriving home at 2-3 a.m., and he was sleeping when we went to school and was away to work at 6 p.m. again. He really only had Saturdays at home with us. Unfortunately all our early photos we lost when moving house. I remember him as very tall, dark hair and to me very handsome. I am trying to get a photocopy for you from one of my sisters.

Agnes, Cath, Patricia and myself are all widows. My brother Tom is permanently in a wheelchair- the result of a stroke. He is in a home and it keeps us busy visiting him. Agnes and I go twice a week to see him.His wife is still working and only sees him on Sundays.

Agnes and Cath's husbands were both on the land, Agnes' growing vegetables and Cath's mainly potatoes and onions for export. Cath and three of her sons have carried on the farm.

Hope you can understand mt writing but I have arthritis and my fingers cramp up after awhile. I am much better when it comes to knitting and sewing and am at my best when baking. I run a luncheon for senior citizens every Friday and do all the baking- cakes, scones, buns, pikelets, savouries and make sandwiches to feed about 100. I charge enough to cover the cost. After lunch we play housie.

Albert and his wife have returned to the beach. They are very keen on fishing so it is handy to be on the spot when the salmon are running.

My youngest sister Patricia does not keep the best of health. She has always been troubled with asthma and has a heart problem. She lost her husband on December 24, 1984 and lives with her daughter not very far away from me, so I see her very often."

Marie seemed like a lovely lady, and I am indebted to her for the preceding information.