John snr. and Catherine were married in 1866 with their first child Margaret Mary being born in 1867 at Edicup, followed by four more children. The youngest son Michael owned a property next to William Searle jnr. at Lake Toolbrunup.
Catherine always called her husband Maher never by his Christian name, family member’s often say they wonder if she ever really liked the man.
One day John came home with an Aboriginal boy who he claimed he found under a tree. The Aboriginal boy John was infact the child of John snr. and Kitty Bordrian or Borderan. Unfortunately Kitty’s life after John Maher took the Aboriginal John is unknown. Aboriginal John lived with John and Catherine and their children until the age of 12 years.
John snr. took the Aboriginal John to New Norcia where he lived for quite a few years. The Aboriginal John jnr. married an Aboriginal girl who was also at New Norcia by the name of Emily Maggs.
John & Catherine’s first born daughter Margaret “Maggie” married William Searle jnr. in 1887. William jnr. and Maggie farmed on a property called “Grove Farm” where one of William & Maggie’s daughter’s Maud my married my grandfather Arthur William Dawson in 1916. This property was later sold to Mrs. Paisley.
William’s father, William snr. And his son-in-law built the original house at “Clear Hill’s”, the property was so named because of the view to the Stirling Range’s. It was on this property that my grandmother Maud and her brother Thessel were born. Maud in 1893 and Thessel in 1891. Unfortunately Thessel only lived for two months, he was buried on Clear Hills.
My grandfather Arthur Dawson also farmed in the Lake Toolbrunup area his property was called “Twolganup” this property was later purchased by their son William “Bill” who later sold the property to the Ball family.
Arthur and Maud’s other son Leo farmed a property on the Formby Road this property was called “Montana” now owned by the Keefe family.