Bridget Wilkinson nee Colgan was born approximately 1864[i] into a large Catholic family in County Offaly, Ireland. Two sisters had already emigrated to New Zealand in 1879[ii], marrying Irish farmers in Southland. In 1883[iii] Bridget arrived in Canterbury with her sister Rose and other single young women, many who were Irish. Their occupation is listed as servants.
Perhaps lured by further adventure or better opportunity, Bridget and Rose then headed over the Tasman. Studio portraits were taken in Wagga Wagga, NSW and we next find them in Fremantle, Western Australia. WA was growing quickly in the 1890s since the gold discoveries, and many travelled over in search of the chances this offered. One imagines that through their travels a close bond developed between Bridget and Rose. They were both working at the National Hotel when Rose died suddenly from apoplexy in July 1896[iv]. Her headstone in Fremantle Cemetery simply states in “loving memory of my dear sister Rose Colgan”.
In 1898 Bridget married Percy John Wilkinson[v]. Percy, originally from Adelaide, worked for a time on the growing WA railway network. Their first daughter Catherine was born 1899 in WA[vi], their second Hilda in 1900 in Melbourne[vii], before they made their way over to Wellington where son Harold was born in 1902[viii] and daughter Edna in 1907[ix].
The family were living at 8 Fernhill Terrace, Wadestown, Wellington when Bridget died of abdominal cancer on 2 May 1916.[x] She was much loved and admired by her children for her strong Catholic faith. Her three daughters all became Sisters of Mercy.
Bridget was buried on 4 May 1916 in the Roman Catholic section of Karori Cemetery. The memorial stone on Bridget’s plot is dedicated to both Bridget and Percy John, though he is buried elsewhere in the cemetery[xi].
Plot ROM CATH/S/103
By Marian Salmon
[i] Irish Civil Reg and age at immigration (not consistent with children’s birth certificates)
[ii] Assistant Emigration records – via Family Search website
[iii] Assisted Emigration records – via Family Search website
[iv] Western Australia death certificate – 26 July 1896
[v] Western Australia Certificate of marriage 25 July 1898 Subiaco
[vi] Western Australia birth certificate – 21 January 1899 Cottlesloe Beach
[vii] Victoria birth certificate – 29 June 1900, Hawthorn, Melbourne
[viii] New Zealand birth certificate – 8 May 1902 Wellington
[ix] New Zealand birth certificate – 10 December 1907 Wellington
[x] New Zealand death certificate – 2 May 1916 Wellington
[xi] Wellington City Council Karori Cemetery records
