Thomas Arthur GRATTAN

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Thomas Arthur GRATTAN b 1851 Philipstown, Kings Co, IRL (Daingean, Co.Offaly, IRL) d 27 Mar 1928 Te Aroha NZ.

His father was Thomas GRATTAN and his mother was Isabella FISHER.

Wife: Ellen GORTON b 26 Nov 1857, Otahuhu NZ, d 5 oct 1952, Hamilton NZ. Hear her story.

Her father was John GORTON, mother was Margaret HUGHES. Their marriage was on 13 Apr 1880.

1. Isabella GRATTAN b 18 Sep 1880 Waihau, NZ, d 1926 at Hamilton East. M Alfred Montgomery ST GEORGE. Their children.
2. Ellen GRATTAN b 2 Dec 1882, Waihau, NZ, m Albert George YARDLEY.
3. Louisa GRATTAN b 6 Apr 1885 at Te Aroha, m. William Burns SMITH.
4. Jane GRATTAN b 28 Mar 1887 at Te Aroha, m. Patrick (Paddy) Hogan. 6 children.
5. Henry Parnell GRATTAN b 17 Jul 1889,in Te Aroha.
6. Thomas Arthur GRATTAN b 22 Sep 1891 at Te Aroha.
7. John GRATTAN b 1894 at Te Aroha.
8. Maud GRATTAN b 1896 at Te Aroha, d. 6 Mar 1993 at Te Aroha, m. James DOWLING, 7 children.
9. Edward James GRATTAN b 3 Dec 1899 at Reidston, NZ, d. 14 Nov 1967 at Te Aroha. M. Ruby ORR, 3 children.

Thomas Arthur GRATTAN was a Surveyor's Assistant 1880,1882. He came out to Australia from Ireland aged 4. Worked in HM Customs then joined the Australian Army to come to NZ and fight in land wars 1863. Thomas was employed in the customshouse as a boy and joined the Prahan Volunteers, he then volunteered for service in NZ under Col.Pitt in the 1st Waikatos. T.A. Grattan arrived Auckland on the "Star of India" 12 Sept 1863. He served for 3 1/2 years after which he joined Col. McDonald Native Company (Te Ranga with Arawas), serving in East Coast and other places in the chase for Te Kooti.

His diary shows he was employed in the Customs house as a boy, later joined Col McDonalds Native Company, then Thames goldfields, (no luck) and off to Tirau gum digging. To Auckland, then Hamilton where he was Sergeant in the Armed Constabulary, in charge of KihiKihi Constabulary.

His will is stored in Auckland Govt Archives..

The GRATTAN family is recorded in Burke's Irish Families and is descended from Rev Patrick Grattan (1630-1707) (of Trinty College, Rector of Cappaghin Derry, Prebendery of Howth) who married Grissell Brereton.

Here is Rev Patrick Grattan's descendants chart in pdf form. The descendants include the Rt. Hon. Henry Grattan, Irish statesman, who is buried in Westminster Abbey and a statue of him is in Dublin.

  Henry Grattan