Alicia (nee Mellsop) and Richard Merrick
and their four surviving children
and their four surviving children
Alicia Merrick was the youngest child of Thomas and Elizabeth Mellsop, so she was John Mellsop's youngest sister and, along with their brother Charles, one of three of Thomas and Elizabeth's children who emigrated to New Zealand.
Alicia was born in Dublin in either 1823 or 1827 - there is conflicting information on the records. John and Alicia's father Thomas was possibly Postmaster at Waterford. Alicia married Richard Merrick in Trinity Cathedral of the Church of England at Waterford on 24 August, 1851. Richard was a aged 29 and was a master mariner. As captain of the 66 foot, 125 tonne schooner, the Hirondelle, he sailed from London to Melbourne in 1853, arriving 6 May 1854.
Alicia was pregnant during the voyage and gave birth to their first son Samuel on board in the Saltwater River, Tasmania. In Australia Alicia had three more sons, and it is believed she left a daughter in Ireland with her grand parents when she went to Australia.
Richard and Alicia and family left Melbourne and settled in Auckland in the mid 1860s. In 1873 Captain Richard is shown as in care of the Naval Depot at Devonport. He died on 29 Sept, 1881, aged 59 and is buried on the slopes of Flagstaff Hill (now Mt Victoria). Alicia died 27 Sept 1889 aged 66 and is buried in the same cemetery.
Alicia's dates: Born 1823, (probably Waterford) Eire.
Died, 27 Sept 1889, Devonport.
Alicia was born in Dublin in either 1823 or 1827 - there is conflicting information on the records. John and Alicia's father Thomas was possibly Postmaster at Waterford. Alicia married Richard Merrick in Trinity Cathedral of the Church of England at Waterford on 24 August, 1851. Richard was a aged 29 and was a master mariner. As captain of the 66 foot, 125 tonne schooner, the Hirondelle, he sailed from London to Melbourne in 1853, arriving 6 May 1854.
Alicia was pregnant during the voyage and gave birth to their first son Samuel on board in the Saltwater River, Tasmania. In Australia Alicia had three more sons, and it is believed she left a daughter in Ireland with her grand parents when she went to Australia.
Richard and Alicia and family left Melbourne and settled in Auckland in the mid 1860s. In 1873 Captain Richard is shown as in care of the Naval Depot at Devonport. He died on 29 Sept, 1881, aged 59 and is buried on the slopes of Flagstaff Hill (now Mt Victoria). Alicia died 27 Sept 1889 aged 66 and is buried in the same cemetery.
Alicia's dates: Born 1823, (probably Waterford) Eire.
Died, 27 Sept 1889, Devonport.