Claude Victor Bartley was the youngest child of Edward
Bartley and Elizabeth Hannken.
He was born at Devonport, Auckland 23 June 1881
[i]
and followed his elder siblings to Devonport School in 1888.
[ii]
In 1909 he married Catherine (Cassie) TOOHER. Cassie was
from Thames and theirs was a summer wedding, celebrated 26 January 1909.
[iii]
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| Cassie Tooher |
The couple had four children: Allen Victor 1909, Eva Kathleen 1911, Claude Francis 1914, Owen John 1917.
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| Claude and Claude 1914, from the album of George Bartley |
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| Allen Bartley about 1919, from the album of George Bartley |
Cassie was the sixth child of John Tooher and Catherine
DERMODY. Her parents emigrated from Tipperary and were married at the Cape of
Good Hope in 1865. They settled in Thames where John worked as a miner. Their
eldest daughter Margaret (Maggie) was born in 1869, later marrying Martin
DOLAN. Twins James and Bridget were born in July 1876 but did not survive. Mary
Anne was born in 1878. She married Michael KEANE. The next daughter Ellen
arrived in June 1879 but died 6 months later on 30 January 1880. Another
daughter followed in 1881, christened Ellen Josephine, she was known as Nellie
and later became the wife of William BARTON, also of Devonport. John was born in 1884.
 |
| Thames Star 5 November 1904 |
At the time baby Ellen died, January 1880, the family lived at
Terrace Block 27 in Thames.
[iv]
Two months later, Cassie’s father John was hospitalised after being caught in a
fall of earth on Queen of Beauty Hill.
In 1895 the Toohers' family home was threatened by a fire at the neighbours property.
 |
| Thames Star 24 April 1895 |
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| Thames Star 26 April 1895 |
John never enjoyed good health after the
accident but survived until 6 November 1910. He was buried on 8 November at the
Shortland Cemetery in Thames.
[v]
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| Thames Star 7 November 1910 |
Claude died of influenza 19 April 1919 and was buried at O’Neill’s Point
21 April 1919.
Cassie died suddenly at home on 4 March 1921 and was
interred in at O’Neill’s Point Cemetery.
 |
| Auckland Star 5 March 1921 |
The four children were orphaned. Allen
spent some time at St Joseph’s Orphanage in Takapuna until his Aunt Kate( widow
of Frederick and mother of George) was able to bring him to live with her.
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| This image shows the new block in 1924 which was under construction when Allen stayed there. |
 |
| Kate and George Bartley |
Allen’s siblings were taken in by their mother’s family and were raised in
Thames.
[ii] Devonport School enrolment # 1730
[iv] Obit Thames Star 31 Jan 1880
[v] Shortland Cemetery Records Ref#P3087
Tooher family research by M W Bartley
[vi] NZRBDM 1919/3544
