Introduction
As a small part of the larger history of the Cregan-Gill family, here we look at the children of Ellen and Walter Bird.
Ellen Cregan emigrated to Queensland from Leitrim with her mother, Anne, and sisters Elizabeth and Alice. They sailed on the ship Ravenscrag and disembarked at Rockhampton on 16/04/1883. Ellen married Walter John Bird, an English immigrant, on 24/11/1895 in Murwillumbah. They lived initially in Sydney, but soon moved north to the Taree area, before settling in Ipswich, Queensland.
Ellen and Walter had five children (two boys and three girls):
- (Peter) Percy Norman, born 11/08/1896 (NSW birth reg. 26769/1896)
- Ethel Annie, born 18/10/1897 (NSW birth reg. 35835/1897)
- Ida May, born 27/05/1899 (NSW birth reg. 16355/1899)
- Ellen Kathleen (Nellie), born 31/08/1901 (NSW birth reg. 26924/1901)
- Walter John (Watty), born 15/07/1912 (Qld birth reg. 1912/C/6510)
Each of the Bird children has their own section on this page.
(Peter) Percy Norman BirdPercy Norman Bird was born on 11/08/1896 in Pople's Terrace, Botany, presumably in the Birds' home, since that's where they were living then. We have Percy's birth certificate. Percy was about six years old when his family settled in Ipswich, Queensland. Percy Bird married Isobel Priscilla McDonald on 16/03/1927 (Qld marriage reg. 1927/C/439). The family photo opposite, from c.1950, shows Percy (centre, back row), with wife Isobel (lady with dark glasses), and daughters Joan Elizabeth (Beth) and Margaret Ellen (Nelle) in the front row. They are with members of Isobel's family. Another photo from around the same time shows Percy alongside his two daughters, Beth and Nelle. Percy worked as a turner throughout his life, and, like his father, he worked in the Ipswich Railway Workshop. After marrying, he and Isobel moved to 7 Jacaranda Street, Basin Pocket, not far from the house he grew up in. Percy and Isobel lived out their lives at that address. Percy Bird was a talented sportsman, excelling locally in rugby league, cricket, and swimming. He was pictured in 1923 in the Queensland Times in his league uniform. Percy and Isobel had three children (one boy and two girls):
Percy Bird died on 20/10/1956. His wife, Isobel, died on 12/09/1977. They are buried together in the Ipswich General Cemetery. Their tombstone is shown opposite. We also have a copy of Percy's death certificate.
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Ethel Annie BirdEthel Annie Bird was born on 18/10/1897 in the Taree district. After finishing school, Ethel worked as a tailoress, while living at her parents' McGill Street home in Ipswich. Ethel Bird married Henry Lawrence Currie, an Ipswich local, on 24/04/1926 (Qld marriage reg. 1926/C/1390). Ethel and Henry lived their lives at 3 Davidson Street, Basin Pocket, with Henry working as a labourer. The only child of theirs that we know of is Allan Lawrence Currie, born c.1929. Henry Currie died on 28/12/1963. Ethel Currie (nee Bird) died on 27/08/1982. According to Ethel's funeral notice, she was buried in Ipswich Cemetery.
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Ida May BirdIda May Bird was born on 27/05/1899 in the Taree district. Like her sister Ethel, Ida worked as a tailoress after leaving school. Ida Bird married James Ernest Conway on 16/07/1927 (Qld marriage reg. 1927/C/2267). Ida and James had three children (two boys and one girl):
For a short time after marrying, Ida and James Conway lived in Twickenham Street, Chelmer, in Brisbane, where James was a shop assistant. But in 1928, they moved to Nudgee, living on the then corner of Cameron Street and Station Road - an address we think now is 1 Penhill Street, Nudgee, after a renaming of streets. Ida and James lived out their lives at that residence, with James working as a clerk. James Conway died on 13/12/1969. Ida Conway (nee Bird) died on 15/05/1991. They are buried together in Nudgee Cemetery. Their shared tombstone appears opposite.
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Ellen Kathleen (Nellie) BirdEllen Kathleen (Nellie) Bird was born on 31/08/1901 in the Taree district. Nellie Bird lived at her parents' home in McGill Street, Basin Pocket, until about 1928, when she moved in with her sister Ida and brother-in-law James Ernest Conway in their home at Nudgee. Nellie then began working as a shop assistant. In the early 1930s, Nellie returned to the Birds' McGill Street home in Ipswich. This might have been in order to provide some help to her parents - at this time, her father's health was failing. After her father's death, through the late 1930s and the 1940s, Nellie continued to live at her mother's home. Nellie married Eugene Joseph Mangan on 14/10/1948 at St Mary's Church in Ipswich. Nellie and Eugene lived in a house at 14 McGill Street next door to Nellie's mother's home. Eugene was working as a taxi driver. Unfortunately, Eugene Mangan died, at a relatively young age, on 05/02/1956. Nellie Mangan remained living in her McGill Street house. She died on 16/06/1981 and was buried alongside Eugene in the Ipswich General Cemetery. Their shared tombstone is shown opposite. We do not believe that Nellie and Eugene had any children.
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Walter John (Watty) Bird JnrWalter John (Watty) Bird Jnr was born on 15/07/1912 in Ipswich. Walter Jnr worked as a French polisher during the 1930s, while he was living at the home of his parents at 12 McGill Street, Basin Pocket. Walter Jnr became a turner in the mid-1940s. In the mid-1950s, he married Sheila Madden. Walter Jnr and Sheila lived in the McGill Street home of the Bird family for many years. Around 1981, they moved from there to a home nearby at 23 Herbert Street, Saddlers Crossing. Sheila Bird died on 03/07/1994. Walter Bird Jnr died on 12/08/2002. Walter Jnr and Sheila did not have any children.
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