As no New Zealand records can be found, it is presumed that Thomas and Alice married and had their children prior to emigrating. The couple lived at 45 Clyde Quay in the early 1900s. They referred to their house as ‘Clyde Villa’. Thomas worked as a labourer and their son Thomas Morice Donovan lived next door with his wife Helen Helena (known as Ellen).
Alice died in 1909
‘Mrs Donovan, wife of Mr Thomas Donovan, and mother of Mr T. Donovan, of the Royal Pictures Syndicate, died at her residence, Clyde Quay, yesterday evening from an attack of bronchitis, accelerated by heart disease. Mrs Donovan, who was 68 years of age, was much liked by all who knew her’.
Thomas died in 1927. He was 87 years old. He was a foundation member of the Hibernian Society of Wellington.
‘For the past twenty years Mr Donovan has been a resident of Oriental Bay, where his figure was familiar to those who resided in that locality. He is survived by two sons, Mr T.M. Donovan, well known in theatrical circles, and Mr William Donovan, who is a hotel manager in Queensland’
Plot: *ROM CATH/#/433
By Julia Kennedy
