| Notes |
CATHERINE QUALTROUGH (1844-1872) – the girl they left behind
This biography is transcribed from chapter 7 of A Quota of Qualtroughs (authors Elizabeth A. Barlow and Joy McDougall, published in Matamata, New Zealand by Elizabeth A. Barlow in 1984), by kind permission of Elizabeth Feisst. For further information on Qualtroughs worldwide see http://www/qualtrough.org.
Text in square brackets [ ] refers to matters in A Quota of Qualtroughs that are not included in the biography below.
--------------------
OF ALL the Qualtrough children CATHERINE is the one who captures the imagination most. The second daughter, she was only 15 when her parents made their momentous decision to emigrate to the other side of the world.
She lived with her aunt and uncle, Jane and John Hudgeon, at Ballakillowey. Just why, as previously commented upon, we are not sure, but it is certain that family ties were strong as the poignancy of the following letter shows. It was written by Catherine to her parents on January 21, 1860.
My Dear Father and Dear Mother,
We received the welcome news of your safe arrival (in N.Z.) 10 of January (i.e. nearly three months later) and I think you can better imagine than I can describe the feelings of our minds after half a year of fear and great anxiety. I received your paper and Aunt Betty the letter the same day. The sight of the paper brought tears into our eyes and joy into our hearts. We were delighted to hear of your good health and spirits and hope this letter will find you in the same it leaves us all at present, except that we are cast down often when we think of the distance between us, but we hope it all will be for the best. I suppose if you give encouragement to us we will be out in New Zealand yet.
It has been a very dry summer and a very stormy winter this last year. When you write I hope you will tell us all particulars. Ned Gale has shifted to Baldwin and Johnny to Strandhall as Gawne has let most of the land. The .......... is gone but .......... is in yet. William Walker is in part and Johnny Gale in the rest of the place.
Many enquiries has been made for you and many good wishes and many prayers been sent unto the Throne of God on your behalf.
We hope you will not forget us as you are always in our thoughts both asleep and awake. Aunt Jane was very uneasy about you as she was often dreaming about you. When we will receive your next letter we will write you. Do not forget to remember me often to the little ones. Tell them I will never forget them. Remember us all to James and Willie. Tell Betsy to write. I hope Richard and Anne and Thomas will be going to work or else to school. Let me know when you write whether Sarah and Emily is ever speaking of me.
When I will write again I will tell you all the news as my paper is nearly filled. With my kind love to my dear brothers and sisters, I remain, my dear parents, your affectionate and dutiful daughter,
Catherine
In 1868 at the age of 24 Catherine married James Kinley. She had three children – Jane, John James and Thomas – then, tragically, died in 1873 aged 29.
Her daughter married John Harrison and produced four daughters; John James Kinley married and had two sons; Thomas Kinley drowned in 1896 while still a bachelor.
Catherine is buried in the Rushen churchyard, Isle of Man.
Poor little Catherine, reaching out in her imagination thousands of miles across oceans to her loved ones, never saw them again after their departure from the Isle of Man.
But her letter to them came alive touchingly when it was read aloud at our Family Reunion by her great-great-granddaughter, Violet Corlett, of Douglas, Isle of Man, in her soft Manx accent that turned back the pages of history to a spellbound audience. [(See Genealogical Chart 6).]
|
1844 - 1873 (29 years)