Wednesday, September 17, 2008

John Bourke, ninth and final child of Paddy & Margaret Bourke.

John Bourke was born at Burramine on June 10, 1890, the final child and sixth son of 46 year old Paddy and his 42 year old wife Margaret. He was the second child to be named John...just three months before his birth, eldest Bourke child John died at the age of nineteen.
Six months pregnant at the time, his mother Margaret must have been devestated, and when her last child arrived he was named John in honour of his lost eldest brother.
Tragedy wasn't finished with the Bourke family, however, and just eight days later baby John Bourke joined his five siblings in the Burramine cemetery. His uncle, John Mannix, and C. Molloy, were witnesses named at the burial
John died on June 17th, 1890, in the family home at Burramine. Just one week old, the cause of his death was given as 'enteritis' ( Inflammation of the intestines ). No doctor was given, but it was noted on his death certificate "Enteritis verdict at inquiry held by W.B Cairnes, Justice of the Peace, Yarrawonga, 18th June, 1890." The informant on the certificate was Police Constable A.J Robertson, number 4040, Yarrawonga, who was present at the magisterial inquiry.
I don't know the reason for such an inquiry...perhaps the baby's death was sudden or unexpected and there had been no time or reason to send for a doctor.

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