MARGARET CARR nee Riley – my great great grandmother (1831-1870)

Margaret Riley, born approximately 1831, in County Cavan Ireland, came to Australia when she was 16 years old. She married Robert Tiffin Jnr. 5.2.1852 in the Parish of Willoughby, County of Cumberland.

Robert Tiffin Jnr. was born in Sydney, NSW 17.2.1828. His parents were Robert Tiffin Snr. (convict) and Mary Blue (born Sydney, NSW).

On 30th November, 1852 their first child, a son, Robert was born.

On 25th December, 1853 their second child, also a son, William was born.

Unfortunately, her husband Robert died on 3rd December, 1854 aged 27 years. The cause of death “disease of the heart and liver”.

Margaret was three months pregnant with their third child.

On 18th March, 1855, her young son William died, aged 15 months. The cause of death was “debility” which indicated that he had been a sick child.

Almost three months later on the 8th June, 1855, Margaret had a baby girl, naming her Margaret.

The following years must have been very difficult for Margaret Tiffin with a baby daughter and a young son but she remained close to her mother-in-law Mary French formerly Tiffin nee Blue.

On the 5th July, 1858 Margaret Tiffin married William Carr formerly of Liverpool, England. Like Robert Tiffin her first husband, William Carr was a carpenter.

Sadly, two months later, on 12th September, 1858, Margaret’s first son Robert died aged 5 years. The cause of death was “fever”.

Margaret had seven children to William Carr from 1859 to 1870.

The children were: Henrietta born 1859, Henrietta born 1860, Robert William born 1863, John Thomas born 1865, Mary Jane born 1867, Maria born 1868 and George Alfred born 1870.

Sadly Margaret died on 6th September, 1870, a few days after the birth on 1st September of their seventh child George Alfred. Her cause of death was “infection in uterus and the blood stream following childbirth”. George Alfred only lived 40 days, dying on 10th October. He was buried on 12th October at St. Thomas Cemetery, Crows Nest.

Margaret was buried in the family plot at St. Thomas Cemetery at Crows Nest with her first husband, Robert Tiffin, and her two sons Robert and William. In 1895 her mother-in-law, Mary French formerly Tiffin nee Blue was also buried in the family plot at St. Thomas Cemetery.

Margaret’s daughter Margaret Tiffin, born on 8th June, 1855, was only 15 years old when her mother died. At the age of 28 years, she married John Riddle, a widower on 21st July, 1883 at Bethel House, George Street, Sydney, NSW.

Margaret Carr formerly Tiffin nee Riley had a relatively short life of 39 years. She endured the loss of her first husband Robert in 1854, two sons, William in 1855 and Robert in 1858 by her first husband, and her daughter Henrietta Carr in 1859 by her second husband.

So much sadness for her to deal with, then only eleven years later in 1870, she lost her own life.

I hope death brought her relief from suffering, and that she has rested peacefully.

I hope her remaining children knew about her life, and that they had much love and affection for her during their lifetime.

Rest in peace, Margaret Carr.

Catherine (Herring) Williams
30th November, 2020 Cairns, Qld.