The surname arose in Co. Clare, where the family were, next to the O'Briens the most important sept of the Dalcassian Knights (sons of Cas). The McNamara's were hereditary marshals to the O'Brien's. Their job was to protect Ireland from sea invasions for the O'Brien Clan. They tended to settle along the mouth of the Shannon River, or in coastal areas, near the Atlantic Ocean. From relatively minor beginnings, they grew in power to become rulers of the territory of Clancullen, a territory including a large part of what is now east Clare, where they held sway for almost six centuries. They were divided into two septs, the MacNamara Fionn ("Fair") ruling the west of the territory and the MacNamara Reagh ("dark") ruling the east. In the course of their lordship they built dozens of castles, forts and abbeys, including two of the most famous castles in Ireland, Bunratty Castle (built by Maccon Mac Sioda MacNamara and his son Sean Fionn MacNamara) and Knappogue Castle (built by Sean Maccon, son of Sioda MacNamara in 1467), both completely restored and in use as banqueting halls. Quin Abbey is also a 15th century MacNamara castle built by Sioda Cam MacNamara and Prince Mahon MacNamara. Later the MacNamara's moved to other places in Clare. However, all of Clare is a McNamara stronghold and it's a very old, respected and well known surname in County Clare.
James McNamara was born in County Clare, Ireland in the early 1800's. He married Bridget Duggan and they had atleast one son, named Thomas McNamara.
"The Emigrant's must consist principally of married couples, not above 40 years of age at their last birthday ; but for every child above 14, an excess of one year will be allowed in age of the parents, if they are still hale and capable of labour. The candidates most acceptable are young married couples without children." ~ The Emigrant's Friend ~
** Due to this strict age criteria for Free Sailing Passage, many people said they were younger than they were, and as birthdates weren't often known, ages for these early people are approximate. **
Thomas McNamara was born around 1844 in County Clare. He migrated to Australia during the 1850's or 1860's. We haven't yet located him on the Assisted and Unassisted shipping lists but assume he sailed into Melbourne's Port Phillip, or into Adelaide, South Australia as a young man (maybe on the Standard into Adelaide in 1853?).
Thomas settled in the Warrnambool area (south west Victoria). He died in hospital in Warrnambool in 1888. His death certificate (VIC BDM 8011) states that Thomas originated from County Clare, Ireland , was 54 years of age when he died, and he had lived in the colony of Victoria for 22 years.
Thomas had 2 wives and 8 children.
His 7 children with Bridget Daly were Bridget, John, Michael, Peter, Daniel, Patrick and Annie.
Only Michael, Peter, Patrick and Annie survived.
His son with Alice Maloney was Thomas Jnr.
Thomas is buried in an unmarked grave in the Warrnambool Cemetery beside his first wife Bridget and 3 of their children, Bridget, Daniel, and John.
Bridget's sister Ellen Daly/Daley/Daily married Thomas Frazer/Fraser of County Tyrone, Ireland in 1872 (VICBDM2968). They had 7 children: Helena (Lena) Fraser 1873 Nirranda ; Joseph Fraser 1873 Nirranda ; Peter Fraser 1875 Nirranda ; Michael Fraser 1878 Nirranda ; Dominick Francis Fraser 1881 Nirranda ; David Augustine Fraser 1883 Nirranda ; Gabriel Victor Fraser 1888 Nirranda.
An Ellen Fraser of Warrnambool died in 1916, aged 69 years (VICBDM16419). Don't know for certain if it's our Ellen.
Bridget Daly married Thomas McNamara in 1867 and in August 1878 she lost 3 of her young children to Diptheria. Bridget died the same year, on the 17th October, 1878 (VICBDM 12872). Thomas was left to raise 6 year old Michael, 5 year old Peter, 2 year old Patrick and the 6 month old baby Annie. Bridget is buried in Warrnambool Cemetery in Grave No. 58, Comp 7, Roman Catholic, beside her 3 small children, Bridget, John and Daniel, and husband Thomas.
Despite Thomas's remarriage, he was still eventually buried beside his first wife Bridget Daly and their 3 small kids in unmarked graves. The overseer of his burial was a Mrs McNamara, who would have been his surviving widow Alice.
Thomas McNamara and Bridget Daly's 7 children were Bridget, John, Michael, Peter, Daniel, Patrick and Annie.
Thomas McNamara and Alice Kennedy/Maloney's only child was Thomas McNamara Jnr .
Thomas and Bridget's oldest child Bridget McNamara was born on 9th August, 1868 in Wangoom, Victoria (20299).The witness at her birth was a Mrs Murmame. Bridget sadly died from Diptheria in Mepunga, Victoria on her 10th birthday (7514) in 1878. Bridget is buried with her parents and brothers John and Daniel in the Roman Catholic section of the Warrnambool Cemetery.
Thomas and Bridget's next child, John McNamara was born in Warrnambool in 1870 (5826). He also died on the 9th August, 1878 in Mepunga of Diptheria (7515). John is buried with his sister Bridget, brother Daniel and his parents in Warrnambool Cemetery.
Thomas and Bridget's third child Michael McNamara was born in Nirranda, Victoria in 1871 (20456).
Michael married Florence Morris . Florence was born in Victoria in 1881. She was the 2nd of 7 children (Edwin John, Florence, Martha, James Charles, Francis, Ernest John and Robert) born to Frederick Morris and Hannah Maria West. Michael McNamara and Florence had 3 children.
Carmel Mary McNamara Foden born in Tasmania in 1901. Carmel married Jack Watt in New Zealand and had 2 children:
Ada Jane (Jean) McNamara Foden. Ada was born in Tasmania, Australia in 1906.
Ernest James William Edgar (McNamara) Foden was born in New Zealand in 1911.
Michael McNamara also fathered a child with his sister-in-law, Martha Morris .
Their daughter Bertha McNamara was born in Tasmania in 1901, which means that Michael had two daughters born of sisters (one being his wife) in the same year!
Michael met his wife Florence in Victoria. They lived at Mortlake, Victoria before moving to Tasmania where Michael fathered 4 daughters. Then Michael sailed to New Zealand alone. He sent money for his wife and children to join him on the north island of New Zealand, but they got to the south island and contacted Michael for more money as Florence had decided to bring her mother, Mrs Morris too. Mrs Morris, upon her death, was buried not far from Tolaga Bay on New Zealand's north east coast.
Michael's wife Florence eventually divorced him and married Thomas Foden . Florence had a daughter named Mary with Thomas Foden and raised her 3 McNamara children under their step father's name of Foden. Ernest (McNamara) Foden married and had a daughter named Phyllis Grace Foden . Phyllis Foden married a man named Lennox.
Martha Morris went on to marry Eugene Ivers and lived at Clive in Napier, New Zealand. Her daughter Bertha (McNamara) married a man named Mahoney . Michael McNamara, a retired roadman, died on the 9th June 1954 in Gisborne, New Zealand.
Thomas and Bridget's 4th child Peter John McNamara was born on the 25th November, 1872 in Wangoom, Victoria. He married Julia Jane McKenzie on the 24th October, 1899 (VICBDM 6949)at St. Joseph's Church, Warrnambool. Both from Purnim, Pete was 26 and Julia was 22 at the time of their marriage. Witnesses to the marriage were Joseph Fraser and Lena Fraser , Peter's cousins (Ellen Daly's children.) Peter died on the 29th September, 1960 aged 88, and is buried in Colac Cemetery, Victoria in Section 34, Allotment 63 of the Roman Catholic Section.
Julia Jane McKenzie was born on the 6th October, 1877 in Purnum, Victoria. She was the 2nd eldest of 11 children born to John McKenzie and Katherine Burris . John McKenzie originated from Leach, Isle of Raasay, Inverness Shire, Scotland. A Protestant, he sailed to Australia on the ship Edward Johnston in 1854 and married Julia's mother, Katherine Burris, in Warrnambool, Victoria in 1876. Julia Jane died on the 26th October, 1952, aged 73 years.
Pete McNamara and Julia Jane McKenzie had 8 children.
Thomas John McNamara was born in 1900. He married
Eileen Molymeux and had four children. Thomas John died in Colac in 1963, aged 63 (VICBDM`10772).
Kevin McNamara married Mary Alfreda Barrow and had 5 children:
Christine Margaret McNamara
David John McNamara was born in 1964 and married Donna Louise Hose
Gary James McNamara
Deborah Karen McNamara
Kylie Mary McNamara
James McNamara
James Patrick McNamara was born in Purnim in 1902 and died in 1987. James married Bridget Mary Mulheron in St. Mary's Church, Colac, Victoria on the 23rd October, 1929. They had two sons.
Martin John McNamara , born 2nd November, 1930.
Ambrose Francis McNamara , born 7th December, 1931 in Colac, Victoria.
Kathleen Bridget (Kit) McNamara Kit was born on the 6th October, 1904 in Purnim, Victoria. She married Lawrence Norman Bowen in Victoria in 1930 and had 8 children.
Francis Desmond Bowen.
Valerie Patricia Bowen
Kevin James Bowen
Shirley Margaret Bowen
Brian John Bowen
Raymond Lawrence Bowen
Carmel Bowen
Graham Bowen
Peter Joseph McNamara was born in 1907 and died at 2 1/2 years of age in 1909.
Daniel Francis McNamara was born on the 5th July, 1909 in Nalangil, Victoria and died on the 10th October, 1993 in Frankston, Victoria.
Dan married Eliza Ellen (Nelly) Dunstan on the 26th October, 1929 in Colac, Victoria.
Eliza's was one of 3 daughters born to
Albert Edward Dunstan and Winifred Margaret Morrish. Her sister's were Thelma Laurel Dunstan (who died in Colac in 1973 aged 60), and Winnie Dunstan . Eliza, known as Nellie, attended the Irrawillipe State School and worked on her parent's farm at Tomahawk Creek, Irrawillipe, Victoria. Nellie, who lived at Colac, died as a result of a blood disorder and kidney failure in St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne in 1970 or 1971.
Dan McNamara and Eliza (Nell) Dunstan had 9 children.
Albert Francis (Alby) McNamara was born on the 20th January, 1930 in Camperdown, Victoria. Alby died on the 4th August, 1991 in Colac. Alby and his first wife Florence(Shirley) McNair married in Geelong in 1947, and had a daughter the same year:
Vonetta McNamara ,1947
Alby and his 2nd wife, Sheila Rita Snell had 2 sons:
Ross (of Alby) McNamara ,1959
Wesley McNamara ,1961
Keith Thomas McNamara was born on the 2nd December, 1931 in Colac, Victoria. Keith married Rita Dawn Fitzroy . Rita (aka Dawn)was born on the 13th July, 1951 in Melbourne to Gladstone Fitzroy and Ivy McCorriston . Keith and Dawn had 2 sons:
Alan Keith McNamara , 1955
Gary Kenneth McNamara ,1959. Gary married Denise Lesley Ashby
Desmond James McNamara married Joyce Cummory and had 2 children:
Brett McNamara ,1957
Tanya McNamara ,1959
Milton John (John) McNamara was born on the 20th August, 1935 in Geelong, Victoria. John died at home in Blackbutt, Queensland from Cancer on the 17th February, 1999 and was cremated at the Toowoomba Crematorium. John had 3 marriages, to Beverley Lowry (1955), Deirdre Jane Pitcher (1960 - 1993), and June Hedges (1999)(nee June McMillan of Auckland).
Deirdre Jane Pitcher was born on the 27th November, 1938 in Canterbury, Kent, England. The oldest of 9 children, her father was John Douglas Sotheby Pitcher , the son of the royal marine artist Neville Sotheby Pitcher and the author Kathleen Hewitt . Deirdre's mother was Janet Douglas Cuthbert .
John and Deirdre moved from Victoria to Queensland in 1960 and had 5 children.
Douglas John McNamara ,Melbourne, 1960
Robert Milton (Bob) McNamara ,Nambour, 1961
Gregory James McNamara. Greg was born on the 3rd October, 1963 in Nambour. At 3 1/2 months, he contracted Encephalitis from a mosquito bite and died on the 25th January, 1964. He is buried in the Nambour Lawn Cemetery, Queensland.
Suzanne Deirdre McNamara ,Nambour, 1964
Janelle Robyn McNamara ,Tin Can Bay, 1966
Kenneth Laurance McNamara was born on the 20th March, 1937 in Geelong, Victoria.
Leon Craig McNamara , 1961
Ashley Laurence McNamara , 1963
Wayne Leslie McNamara ,1967
Margaret Winifred McNamara was born on the 25th July, 1939 in Geelong, Victoria.
Margaret married Ian Francis Arrowsmith and have a daughter.
Eliza Jane Arrowsmith ,1975
Lynette Ellen McNamara was born on the 16th February, 1941 in Geelong, Victoria. Lynette married August Hartmann and had 2 daughters:
Trudy Hartmann , 1965
Michelle Hartmann , 1970
Coleman Joseph (Joe) McNamara was born on the 27th July, 1945 in Colac, Victoria. Joe married Pamela Anne Morris on the 24th June, 1967. Pam was one of four children born to Clement (Clem) Morris
(3/3/1918 - 30/10/02) and Wendy (Gwen) Mabel Humphrey (20/06/1918).
Joe and Pam raised 2 children:
Kelly Anne Mabel McNamara ,1966
Shaune James McNamara , 1969
Joe McNamara moved to Queensland in the 1970's, married Pat and had another son,
Michael Patrick McNamara , 1970's
Elaine Barbara (Judy) McNamara was born on the 23rd June, 1946 in Colac, Victoria. Judy married a few times (one husband was Brian ?. Judy had a daughter in the 1960's who was adopted out. Judy died of Ovarian Cancer on the 29th October, 2000 and rests at Dandenong-Frankston Road, Victoria.
Annie Agnes McNamara was born on the 23rd December, 1912 in Colac, Victoria. Annie married James Albert John Hussey in St Mary's Catholic Church in Geelong on the 28th May, 1938. James Hussey (aka Jack) was born on the 19th May, 1915.
Annie and James had one son.
Kevin John Hussey...
Leslie Edward McNamara was born on the 5th January, 1914 in Colac, Victoria. He married Betty and had 3 children.
Phillip McNamara
Wilma McNamara
Pam McNamara
Mary Theresa (Monnie) McNamara was born on the 1st December, 1916 in Colac, Victoria. Monnie married Les Way and had 4 children.
Doreen Way
Beverly Way
Noel Way
Barbara Way
Monnie's second husband was Keith Nash.
Thomas and Bridget's 5th child Daniel McNamara was born in Nirranda, Victoria in 1875 (VICBDM 4431). He died in 1878 and was buried in Warrnambool Cemetery on August 19, 1878.
Thomas and Bridget's 6th child Patrick McNamara was born on the 11th August, 1876 in Nirranda, Victoria, Australia and died in New Zealand in June 1964, aged 88.
Patrick's birth certificate states that he was named "John Patrick" when born in the Nullawarra Shire of Warrnambool, County of Haylesbury, District of Nirranda, Victoria, Australia. After his mother Bridget died, Patrick (also referred to as John)and his brothers Peter and Michael lived with their father and his 2nd wife Alice Kennedy/Maloney . Patrick described his step-mother as a witch and ran away from home when he was 12. He got a job in the stables at Dame Nelly Melba's residence in Lillydale, Victoria but left for New Zealand with an uncle when he was 19. He didn't stay long and soon returned to Australia. Eventually Patrick returned to New Zealand on his own.
Patrick (aka John) married Edith Jane Gibbs .
Edith (aka Jane) was born on the 29th November, 1880 in Hastings, New Zealand to parents James Gibbs Jnr and Sarah Bubb . Edith died aged 84 years on the 22nd April, 1964 in Gisborne.
Patrick McNamara and Edith Jane Gibbs had 10 children.
Leslie John McNamara was born on the 1st March 1907 and died on 10th February, 1973 in Palmerston North, New Zealand. He married Alice (Billie Ashworth) and Marjory Scott . Leslie John McNamara had 4 children; Lesley, Earl, Reece and Howard.
Lesley McNamara married and had 2 sons:
Lynley McNamara
Daryl McNamara
Maurice McNamara
was born on the 12th March 1908 and died on the 25th September 1983 in Gisborne, New Zealand.
Maurice married Doreen Warren and had one son, Warren McNamara.
Warren McNamara married and had 3 children:
Steven McNamara
Lynda McNamara
Janene McNamara
Annie Evelyn McNamara was born on the 1st April, 1911 in Hastings, New Zealand and died on the 10th April, 1993 in Gisborne, New Zealand. Annie married Wilfred George Cust in 1937 in New Zealand. Wilfred Cust was born in 1908 in New Zealand and died in 1976 in New Zealand.
Beverley Anne Cust
Harvey Cust
Graham Cust
Kevin Cust
Sydney James McNamara was born on the 31st July, 1900 and died on the 13th September, 1986 in Gisborne, New Zealand. Sydney married Pearl Sayers and had 4 children:
Leslie (of Sydney) McNamara
Edna McNamara
Raymond McNamara married Judith Wallace from Gisborne and had 8 children;
Sharon McNamara, 1959, married Roger Morgan and have 4 children
Michael McNamara, 1960,
married Linda Newton and have 3 children
Warrick McNamara, 1961 - 19 , has a daughter
Robin McNamara, 1963 - 19 , has a daughter
Kerrie McNamara, 1964, married Peter Crosswell and have 2 children
Craig McNamara, 1968 - 19 .
Grant McNamara, 1970, has 2 children
Joanne McNamara , 1973
Raymond (Ray) now lives in Opotiki, New Zealand with his second wife Patricia Crosswell .
Frank Frederick McNamara was born on the 30th July, 1912 and died in Gisborne on the 9th May, 1986.
Frank married Anne Crosby and had 3 sons;
Donald Frank McNamara , 1940 . Donald married in Christchurch and had 2 children:
Ross Duncan McNamara ,1947 . Ross and Julie Ann Jackett have 2 daughters:
Louise Ann McNamara
Suzanne Alice McNamara
Myrtle Ellen McNamara was born on the 22nd December, 1914 in Hastings, New Zealand. Myrtle married Walter McCracken and had 3 children:
Stephanie McCracken Stephanie has 2 sons:
Gordon McCracken
John McCracken had 6 children; Patricia, Charles, Rachael, Margaret, Maureen and Susan.
Elsie McNamara was born on the 1st January, 1918 and died on the 29th June, 1990 in Gisborne, New Zealand. Elsie married James Rennie and had 2 daughters:
Joyce Eunice McNamara was born on the 7th May, 1920 and died on the 5th November, 1999 in Gisborne, New Zealand.
Joyce married Douglas Tuck and had 3 children:
Diane Tuck
Barry Tuck
Ian Tuck
Allan Charles McNamara was born in Gisborne on the 23rd December, 1923 and died in Wellington, New Zealand on the 17th March 1967.
Noel Stanley McNamara married Violet Hagley and had 3 children:
Alaine McNamara
Vicky McNamara
Ric McNamara
Thomas and Bridget's 7th and last child Annie Mary McNamara was born in Allansford in Victoria in 1878.
Annie was only a few months old when she lost her mother and 3 of her siblings in 1878 to Diptheria. In 1879 her father married Alice Maloney (nee Kennedy)and Annie was most likely raised by Alice.
Annie married Tom Holloway , a "Bachelor" of Birregurra, at St. Patrick's Church, Camperdown, Victoria on 24th May 1897 (VICBDM 2909). Annie was 19 and Thomas 21 years of age, and Annie's "Guardian" on the marriage certificate was her brother Michael. Witnesses to the marriage were John Henry Hurley and Margaret Mary Griffin .
Thomas Patrick Holloway was born at Birregurra in 1876 to Noah Holloway and Ann Maria Murray.
Annie McNamara and Tom Holloway had atleast 11 children in Victoria before moving as a family to NSW.
Thomas Patrick Holloway Birregurra 1897
James Vincent Holloway Camperdown 1898
Annie Margaret Holloway Skipton 1899
Kathleen May Holloway Skipton 1900
Thomas Patrick Holloway Skipton 1901
Frederick John Holloway Skipton 1904
Eileen Holloway Skipton 1906
Leslie John Holloway Skipton 1908
Stanley Francis Holloway Skipton 1909
James Richard Holloway Skipton 1910
Grace Josine Holloway Skipton 1913
Francis Eugene Holloway Skipton 1915
Alice originated from County Tipperary in Ireland and her parents were Hugh Kennedy and Mary Lahey . Alice married her first husband around 1853 and they had about 14 children.
James Maloney born in Belfast (now Port Fairy), Victoria in 1854.
Patrick Maloney
Michael Maloney born in Yambuk, Victoria in 1857.
William Maloney born in Yambuk in 1859.
Alice Maloney was born in Yambuk in 1861. She died when she was 80 and was buried on top of her mother, Alice in the Burwood Cemetery on the 17th December, 1940.
Catherine Maloney was born in Codrington in 1862 and died in Camberwell, aged 88, in 1950.
Annie Maloney was born in Codrington in 1865. She died the same year.
Hugh Maloney was born in Yambuk in 1867.
Agnes Maloney was born in Yambuk in 1867 as well, but she wasn't Hugh's twin.
Richard Maloney was born inYambuk in 1869.
Edward Maloney was born in Yambuk in 1870.
John Maloney
Peter Maloney was born in Yambuk in 1871. He died the same year.
Edward John Maloney was born in Yambuk in 1873. He died the same year.
Patrick Maloney died about 1874 yet Alice Kennedy/Maloney had another child named Mary or Maria in 1876. How this worked we have yet to find out!
Maria Jane (Mary) Kennedy/Maloney was born in Belfast (now Port Fairy) Victoria in 1876. There are two birth listings for Maria Jane in 1876 but one has Kennedy and the other states the surname as Maloney. Her birth certificate states "father unknown". As we are pretty sure Patrick Maloney had died in 1874, who fathered Maria (known also as Mary) is a mystery.
Alice then married our Thomas McNamara in 1879 and on the 29th May, 1880, Alice gave birth to Thomas's namesake son, Thomas junior .
Thomas's 8th and final child Thomas McNamara Jnr was born on the 29th May, 1880 in East Woodford, Shire of Warrnambool, County Villiers (Victoria, Australia). His mother, Alice , is listed as being "about 39 years" of age at his birth. All other records would show that she was more likely to be "about 48 years" of age at his birth, perhaps a good 10 years older than her husband Thomas. We haven't been able to find anything more about Thomas Jnr except that in 1923, at 44 years of age, he was recorded as alive when his mother died. He may have gone to live with his half sister Annie in Sydney, sailed like his half brothers to New Zealand, or stayed locally in Victoria.
That is a total of 16 births for Alice Kennedy/Maloney/McNamara. When Thomas married Alice, he was a newly widowed father of 3 young sons and a baby daughter. So between them, Thomas and Alice had around 23 children (though Alice had lost 2 and Thomas had lost 3 at young ages).
Alice Kennedy/Maloney/McNamara outlived Thomas and on the 9th February, 1898 at St Joseph's Church, Warrnambool she married James O'Meally of County Clare, Ireland (VICBDM684). Their marriage certificate states that James had 14 children (12 alive) and Alice had 13 (10 alive).
James was born in Clare in 1827 to parents James O'Meally Snr and Mary Toohey . James' 1st wife may have been Mary Sheedy (1832 -1894) and if so, they had a bundle of children born in Wedderburn, Inglewood, Korong, and Bridgewater, Victoria in the 1860's and 1870's.
James O'Meally and Alice Kennedy/Maloney/McNamara lived in Bushfield for a time and James died in Warrnambool in 1913 (VICBDM11728).
Alice Kennedy/Maloney/McNamara/O'Meally ended up living with her daughter Miss Alice Maloney at 23 Redfern Road, Hawthorn, Melbourne and died there "from concussion and heart failure due to shock" on the 7th May, 1923. Alice's death certificate stated she was 91 years of age when she died, and she was buried at Burwood Cemetery on the 9th May, 1923 in RC Section 1, 845. The applicant for the burial site was Alice's daughter, Miss Alice Maloney, who was eventually buried on top of her mother upon her death at age 80 on the 17th December, 1940. There are quite a few Maloney's buried in Burwood Cemetery but we don't know if they are connected to Alice.
