Martin Burke

Martin Burke came from Co Mayo, and his parents were Michael Burke (Bourke) and Bridget Flynn (Flinn). His family moved to Perth in Scotland around the time of the Famine. A cousin has worked out that several related families in Perth had come from Derrycraugh (Derrycraff) in the RC Parish of Aghagower.

Martin Burke was listed in the 1861 census in Scotland, living with his family in a house at 134 High Street, Perth. He was described as married, aged 19, a ploughman. There were also five other family members listed at the address- his parents Michael (52) and Bridget(49); his brothers Thomas (19), a ploughman, and John (16), a cabinet maker apprentice; and his sister Mary (9). In this census, the family all had their birthplace described as “Ireland”, except for Mary, who was born in Perth.

Martin Burke married Ann Philp on 2 February 1861, at St John’s Catholic Church, Perth. Thomas Burke was a witness. Ann was 21 and her usual residence was Abernethy.

Martin and Ann’s first child, Mary Burke, was born 21 August 1862 in the Parish of Inchture in the County of Perth. Mary was my great-grandmother, who later married Patrick Riordan in New Zealand.

In 1864, the young family emigrated to New Zealand on the ‘Mermaid’, which arrived 16 February 1864 in Lyttelton. They later lived on a rural freehold section at Burnham, and Martin Burke was described as a farmer on electoral rolls.

Martin and Ann’s second child, Ann Burke, was born 14 December 1864 at Addington.
Their third child, Thomas, was born 16 September 1866 in Christchurch.

John Burke, the brother of Martin Burke, also emigrated to New Zealand. He died 5 January 1895 at Burnham. He was 52, and a labourer. He had been in New Zealand for 12 years so it seems he arrived c1883. He was unmarried, and was buried in the Darfield Catholic Cemetery.

Ann Burke (nee Philp), the wife of Martin Burke, died 13 March 1895 at Burnham, aged 53. She was also buried in the Darfield Catholic Cemetery near her daughter Mary Riordan and brother-in-law John Burke.

Martin Burke died on 27 November, 1918 at Nazareth House, Sydenham aged 78. On his death registration it said he had been in NZ for 53 years. He was buried in the Sydenham Cemetery, Christchurch.