The Story of James Patrick McCane / Memories ... January 19

This is the story of my maternal Grand Uncle, James Patrick (Jim) McCane  (1904 - 1982).

Our common ancestors are:  Owen McCane (Muckian) and Margaret Farrell.

I'm publishing it on the anniversary of his birth.

Anniversary of a Birthday:

(also for my 'Family Anniversaries' page)

James Patrick McCane, on the day of his sister Sarah's wedding in 1921, aged 17.

• My maternal grand uncle, James Patrick (Jim) McCane, was born in Charters Towers, Queensland, on January 19th 1904.

• He was the sixth-born child of Owen McCane (Muckian) and Margaret Farrell.

• At the time of his birth he had two sisters and three brothers.  His eldest brother Edward William died the following year in tragic circumstances, so sadly, James Patrick never knew his eldest brother.  Another sibling was born three years later, and was named Edward Joseph.

• The McCane family moved to a farm near Gumlu around the time James turned 10 years old.

•  James spent most of his life in this area working as a farmer.

• At the age of 26, James married Marie Sybil Crofton.  

An article was published in both the Bowen Independent (Sat 19 July 1930) and the Townsville Daily Bulletin (Thurs 10 July 1930) stating:

"Rocky Ponds, Wakala, home of the bride's parents, was the scene of a very pretty wedding at 2.30 pm on Tuesday, June 24th, when Miss Marie Sybil, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Crofton was united in the bonds of matrimony with James Patrick, third son of the late Owen and Mrs. McCane of 'El Rita', Broadlands."

The bride "wore a handsome gold wrist watch, the gift of the bridegroom" and she presented her husband with a "pair of gold sleeve links."

After the "dainty wedding breakfast", the couple "motored to Ayr en route to Cairns and the Barron Falls."

• James and Marie married in 1930 and went on to have five children - Marie, James Owen (known as Owen), Jean, Lawrence and Rita.

• This photo shows the extended McCane / O'Donnell / Bidgood family around 1934.  James, his wife Marie and their son James Owen (known as Owen) and daughter Marie are all circled.

• City Directories Records show that James was still living and working on his farm in 1947 when he was 43 years old.

• By 1980, Electoral Records show he had left the farm and moved into the nearby town of Home Hill.  

• He was living on Tenth Avenue with his wife Marie.  By this time James was aged 76.

• Their eldest son James Owen was further down the street, also living on Tenth Avenue with his wife Shirley.  James's older brother, John Michael, was living on Fourteenth Street with his wife Myreen.

• James passed away in 1982 at the age of 78.