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MAHER, MEAGHER, surnames of Ireland, Meagher also of England, in Ireland, Ó Meachair, Ir. michair - kindly, in England from Old French megre, Latin macer - thin, lean. MacLysaght notes that Maher is now the more usual spelling of the name in Ireland. (MacLysaght, Reaney). Trace by MacLysaght in Cos. Offaly and Tipperary.
| At Caplin Bay: |
Voter's List for Caplin Bay: 1855 - Thomas Meagher; 1859 - Thomas Maher. |
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Lovell's 1871 Directory: Thomas Maber (sic), fisherman. |
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McAlpine's 1870/71 Directory: Thomas Maher, fisherman. |
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McAlpine's 1894 Directory: Thomas Mahar, fisherman; James Mahar, fisherman. |
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Southern Shore Death Records: December 31, 1891 - Bridget Maher - Influenza - b. Caplin Bay - aged 76. |
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Southern Shore Death Records; May 25, 1898 - Thomas Meagher- Debility- b. Conception Bay - Aged 70. |
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McAlpine's 1898 Directory: John Maher, fisherman. |
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McAlpine's 1904 Directory: John Meagher, fisherman. |
| At St John's: |
Newfoundland Census 1921- John Maher b. 1860 - Caplin Bay & Mary Ellen Maher b. 1870 - Harbour Grace. |
| Family History: |
Although Maher/Mahar/Meagher is a fairly widespread surname in Ferryland District, the Vital Statistics death record of Thomas Maher, who settled at Caplin Bay in the mid 1850s, indicates he was from Conception Bay. His wife, Bridget Barry, was born at Caplin Bay about 1815. Thomas and Bridget had at least two sons, James and John. James left Caplin Bay about 1894 and married Alice Fleming of Bonavista at St. John's in 1895. John Maher, married twice while living at Caplin Bay, first to Mary-Anne Ryan of Fermeuse and then to Ellen Brennan of Ferryland. John and Ellen, and his four children from his first marriage, left Caplin Bay between 1904 and 1908. In the Newfoundland 1921 Census, John and Ellen and one daughter are shown living in St. John's West No record of them was found in any later documents. |
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Based on the Ferryland RC Baptisms, there was a fairly close relationship, between the Mahers, Barrys, and O'Briens of Caplin Bay. Later research verified the Maher/ Barry kinship, however, no kinship was found with the (O')Brien family. Nonetheless, (O')Brien family members are shown as godparents at the baptism of two of John Maher's children and John is shown as the godfather of one of Michael and Bridget (O')Brien daughters in 1880. According to the late Pauline (O'Brien) Norris, at least one member of the Maher family used to visit her family's house at Calvert, long after they left there. |
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