James O'Neill : Short Biography

James O'Neill (Neil, Neale) was born in Galmoy, Kilkenny in 1836.  He married Mary Tyne (Tynan) on 16 October 1870, in Templetouhy, Tipperary.  Mary was born in 1847 and was baptised on 12 September 1847 at Ballingarry, residence Springfield, Tipperary.

Their first child, Mary, was born on 10 August 1871 in Moyne, Tipperary and their address was Lisheen. 

The family is said to have travelled to Nashville, Tennesse USA to live with a brother (Edward (Edmond) O'Neill who owned a hotel.  James and Mary's daughter, Delia (Bridget), was born in Nashville on 15 August 1874.  The family came back to Ireland, and their son Edmond was born in March 1876, and was christened on 30 March 1876 at Ballingarry.

James and Mary,  with Mary 5, Bridget 3 and Edmond 1 travelled to New Zealand sailing from London on the Renfrewshire on 29 September 1877, which arrived in Napier NZ on 4 January 1878. The passenger list records their name as Neal, and James occupation as a farm labourer, and that they were from Tipperary.   Edmond died on the journey and was buried at sea near the Canary Islands.  Scarlet fever had broken out on the Renfrewshire, so the vessel was placed in quarantine.  They finally disembarked to the Park Island Emigration Barracks on 17 January 1878.  The Barracks Masters book records show "Neale, James, aged 33. Tipperary.  Occupation: Farm Labourer.

Their assisted passage cost 49pounds and 16 shillings.

Initially James worked as a labourer at Woburn Station in Waipukurau, NZ. The family were living in Hastings NZ in 1887.  James was listed as a settler in the NZ Directory.  The 1902 directory lists James as an Expressman.  

James established a successful carrying business in Hastings. James and Mary had 9 more children in NZ, five of whom died as children.  The NZ children who lived to adulthood were Martin, born 27 January 1880, William born 25 April 1882, Margaret (Maggie) born 16 Oct 1884 and Catherine (Katy) born 13 January 1887. 

This picture shows James seated front left at his son Martin's marriage to Mary Ellen Regan (Molly) on 30 April 1917.  

James died in Hastings, NZ on 10 July 1920 and Mary died in Hastings on 19 April, 1892.