Catherine/Kate/Kathleen Mary McNamara passes away as a young mother in 1914

Introduction

When Catherine / Kate / Kathleen Mary McNamara was born on 3 July 1887 in Blayney, New South Wales, her father, John, was 32, and her mother, Mary, was 18. She had one son with Frederick Henry Lee. She then married Norman Thomas Smith in 1913 in New South Wales. She died as a young mother on 5 December 1914 in New South Wales at the age of 27, and was buried in Sydney, New South Wales. #CatherineMcNamara

Catherine's story is a true testament and example of the whole range of situations that possibly may have led to an illegitimate birth across early 20th century Australia, by women, in this period. To this day, it is not known of the exact circumstances that led to Catherine's illegitimate birth of her son Cecil James Bull. In saying this, a few situations have been surmised. These will be discussed further below in the subheading titled 'Birth of son'.

Her name is listed as Catherine in birth record, Kate in son Cecil's birth record, Kathleen Mary in marriage to Norman Smith and her death - confirmed in her death cert.

A lot can be written about Catherine, in examining her life, however, some of this will be saved for a new blog post titled 'Reasons Suggesting The High Likelihood That Frederick Henry Lee is the father to Cecil James Bull Snr'.

Pictured: Catherine/Kate/Kathleen Mary McNamara

Birth

Catherine / Kate / Kathleen Mary McNamara was born on 3 July 1887 in Blayney, New South Wales, to Mary Reynolds, age 18, and John McNamara, age 32. source: abt. 1890 from birth cert of son Cecil; parents' names from CB; birth cert 1887 18265 ordered June 2012: informant is John Mcnamara, father, police constable of Blayney, nurse Mrs McKay[18265/1887 MCNAMARA CATHERINE, JOHN MARY BLAYNEY]

Pictured: John and Mary McNamara, parents of Catherine McNamara.

Above: Catherine McNamara's family tree. Sourced from www.ancestry,com.au.

Birth of sister

Her sister Julia Mary was born on 8 December 1888 in Molong, New South Wales, when Catherine / Kate / Kathleen Mary was 1 year old.

Pictured: Image from a 80 page document, written by Courtney Bull, to represent the discovery of the Frederick Henry Lee, as Courtney's great, great, great grandfather.

Birth and death of sister

Her sister unnamed female was born in 1891 and passed away that same day.

Catherine in the Dependent Children's Register

Catherine McNamara in the Dependent Children Register. Gaurdian/Foster Parent is A C Mannie.

Pictured: Catherine McNamara in the Dependent Children's Register.

Birth of brother

Her brother James was born in 1895 in Sydney, New South Wales, when Catherine / Kate / Kathleen Mary was 8 years old.

Pictured: James McNamara, brother of Catherine McNamara.

Death of father

Her father John passed away on 11 May 1898 in Parramatta, New South Wales, at the age of 43.

Birth of son

Her son Cecil James (Jim) was born on 29 May 1909 in Paddington, New South Wales.

Possible scenarios that may have led to the birth of Cecil James (Jim) Bull include:

1. Frederick Lee was employing servants at his property and Catherine McNamara worked as a servant, becoming pregnant.

2. Frederick was living in Sydney as he owned property there and met Catherine in Parramatta where she was living.

3. As they both were from the Molong/Blayney area, they could have met each other.

4. Catherine worked on one of the properties as a housekeeper and her mother and father had moved from Molong and then he came looking for her at Parramatta

5. One of the marriage announcements mention that Frederick’s first wife Mary was a teacher at Manildra. A teacher is more 'respectable' than a servant, so maybe she and her parents were insistent on marriage, unlike Kate (Catherine) and the other girls who were probably told to pack their bags and go. They may have been a love match.

Questions

1. Was Catherine at Molong working as a housekeeper in 1908?

2. Did she notify her parents that she was working for Frederick?

3. Why was she living in Phillip Street Parramatta and not in Cowper Street with her mother and brother?

4. Why did Catherine’s sister Julia choose not to raise her nephew?

Marriage

Catherine / Kate / Kathleen Mary McNamara married Norman Thomas Smith in New South Wales in 1913 when she was 26 years old.

Death

Above: Newspaper Article from 'The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta), NSW: 1888 - 1950. Date: 11 Dec 1915.

SMITH.—December 5, 1914, Kathleen Mary, dearly be-loved wife of Norman Smith, and daughter of the late Constable John McNamara, of Molong, at her mother's residence, Cowper-street, Parramatta [17233/1914 SMITH KATHLEEN M JOHN MARY PARRAMATTA]

Burial

RC. Smith Kathleen M 26 09/12/1914 SEC*M1*Q**339 - same as her father. Burials for Kate and her parents are not in findmypast index. No gravestone. This area at Rookwood Cemetery has been cleared because of a nearby road. Only grass and a few graves left.

Dwelling next to Molong Court House, NSW

Above: Dwelling next to Molong Court House on Edward Street, Molong. Photo taken: 2018. Did the McNamara's live here 1889-91?

Comments

More on her death certificate: her brother James McNamara and husband Norman Thomas Smith were informants. she was 26, and died of phthisis (tuberculosis) which she had for 18 months. born Blayney, married age 24 to Smith, no issue. parents names given.