The Mystery of David Mulholland and Eliza Jane McCrae

One of my favourite (and most frustrating) family mysteries is that of David Mulholland and Eliza Jane McCrae.  Both were born in Ireland and emigrated to Australia, settling in the area around Bright, Victoria.

David Mulholland was born in Ireland sometime around 1830 and emigrated to Australia around 1860.  These details are only approximate, taken from the details in his death notice and cemetery headstone.  He married Eliza Jane McCrae, although no marriage record for the two has been found, either in Australia or Ireland.  For many of their children details are sketchy – most were never registered at birth, some died registered under their mother’s name, others under their father’s name.  For some the only details come from their cemetery records, as no other records seem to exist.

The death notice for David Mulholland reads “Mulholland.  On the 10^th April, at his late residence, Eurobin, David Mulholland aged 71 years, after a short illness.  Father of E.M., D.M., M.M., J.M., P.M., J.M., H.M.  Interred in Bright Cemetery Saturday 12^th inst.  Beloved by all who knew him.  A colonist of 42 years.”  This death notice was published in the Argus 15^th April 1902, the Australian 19 April 1902 and the Leader 19 April 1902.

The initials refer only to his surviving children – Ellen (Stoddart), David, Mary (Pape), Jane, Pricilla (Cark), James and Henry.  His wife Eliza is not mentioned, although she still lives.  All these children are also mentioned in David’s will, with the married names of daughters Ellen, Mary and Pricilla also included in the document.

David was buried in Bright Cemetery, 1F, Presbyterian, plot 35.  In the same or neighbouring plots are the following :

• Mulholland, Elizabeth Jane 85 years  Died 30/10/1925  Daughter of James McCrae and Mary
• Mulholland, Henry 4 years 8 months Died 29/1/1872 Son of David Mulholland and Eliza Jane McCrae
• Mulholland, Margaret 10 years Died 5/9/1885 Daughter of David Mulholland and Eliza Jane McCrae
• Mulholland, Margaret Jane 6 years Died 2/2/1872 Daughter of David Mulholland and Eliza Jane McCrae
• Mulholland, Samuel Thomas 4 months Died 29/4/1879 Son of David Mulholland and Eliza Jane McCrae
• Mulholland, Thomas 14 months Died 15/2/1872 Son of David Mulholland and Eliza Jane McCrae
• Mulholland, Thomas 10 days Died 26/1/1887 Son of David Mulholland and Eliza Jane McCrae

From the details that I have, I can conclude David Mulholland and Eliza Jane (or Elizabeth) McCrae had the following children :

1. Ellen born 1862.  No birth record.  Married James Stoddart 1886.  Died 1905 – on her death certificate father David Mulholland mother Ellen (unknown), no place of birth given.  Her initials are included in David’s death notice and she is included in his will.
2. David born 1863.  No birth record.  Died 1951 - on his death certificate father David Mulholland mother Elizabeth Jane (McCrae), born in Eurobin.  His initials are included in David’s death notice and he is included in his will.
3. Margaret Jane born 1865.  No birth record.  Died 1872 - death record is under the surname McCrae, mother Eliza Jane McCrae, father unknown.  Buried in Bright Cemetery under the surname Mulholland.
4. Henry born 1867.  No birth or death record.  Died 1872 - buried in Bright Cemetery under the surname Mulholland.
5.  Mary born 1869.  No birth record.  Married John Pape.  Died in 1950 - on her death certificate father David Mulholland mother Eliza Jane (unknown), born in Eurobin.  Her initials are included in David’s death notice and she is included in his will.
6. Thomas born 1870.  No birth record.  Died in 1872 - death record is under the surname McCrae, mother Eliza Jane McCrae, father unknown.  Buried in Bright Cemetery under the surname Mulholland.
7. Jane born 1872.  No birth record.  Never married.  Died in 1948 - on her death certificate father David Mulholland mother Elizabeth (McCrae), born in Eurobin.  Her initials are included in David’s death notice and she is included in his will.
8. Margaret born 1874.  No birth record.  Died in 1885 - on her death certificate father David Mulholland mother Eliza Jane (McCrae), born in Eurobin.  Buried in Bright Cemetery under the surname Mulholland.
9. Pricilla born 1877.  No birth record.  Married James Clark.  Died 1976 - on her death certificate father David Mulholland mother Eliza Jane (McCrae), born in Eurobin.  Her initials are included in David’s death notice and she is included in his will.
10. Samuel Thomas born 1879.  No birth or death record.  Buried in Bright Cemetery under the surname Mulholland.
11. James born 1879.  Registered in 1880 (he was born 30 December 1879) born in Eurobin.  Died in 1970 - on his death certificate father David Mulholland mother Eliza Jane (McCrae), born in Eurobin.  His initials are included in David’s death notice and he is included in his will.
12. Henry born 1883.  Registered in 1883, born in Eurobin.  Died in 1966 - on his death certificate father David Mulholland mother Eliza Jane (McCrae), born in Eurobin.  His initials are included in David’s death notice and he is included in his will.
13. Thomas born 1887.  No birth or death record.  Died 1887 - buried in Bright Cemetery under the surname Mulholland.

I have also checked New South Wales records but found nothing.  I am descended from child no 9, Pricilla Veronica, who married James Nicholas Clark.  Anyone out there descended from David Mulholland and Eliza Jane McCrae, I’m interested in hearing from you and swapping information.