Agnes Carran

Signed family name

Carran

Signed given name

Agnes

Given address

Dome Valley

Sheet number

379

Town/Suburb

Dome Valley

City/Region

Auckland region

Notes

Biography contributed by Bernadette Siebert

Agnes Mahoney was born on 1 June 1851 on Kawau Island, the eldest child of James Mahoney and Agnes nee Craig.

Her future husband Daniel Carran was born in 1835 on Rushen, Isle of Man, son of John and Jane Karran. They immigrated in 1840 to Sydney, Australia and then came on to Russell, Bay of Islands in the Chelydra the next year. He spent some time on the goldfields in Gabriel's Gully and other places. Around 1870, he moved to the Dome Valley, Warkworth and took up a section of land for farming and orchards. He was a good hand with the pit saw and helped to saw the timber for several of the houses in Dome Valley. He also took several contracts, road making, and bridge building.

Agnes and Daniel Carran married 3 March 1875 in St Paul’s, Auckland. They had three girls and three boys. One of the twin boys, Henry Nelson, died aged two months and was buried with his Mahoney grandparents.

Agnes (1876–1961)
Mary (1877– )
Daniel James (1879–1967)
Avalin Sutherland (1880–1963)
Henry Nelson (1880–1880)
Ellen (1882–1957)

Agnes took a keen interest in horticulture and was a well-known competitor at the Warkworth annual flower shows. When Daniel was over 60, he began a new venture, buying an established butcher’s business in Mahurangi. In 1919 he died at his home, aged 84 years. He was buried in the Kaipara Flats Cemetery. His obituary stated, 'He was of a genial, sociable disposition, and had a wide circle of friends. He was fond of a good yarn, and hours could be spent listening to his thrilling stories of the early days. About two years ago he had a stroke and has been practically an invalid ever since.'

After his death, Agnes moved to East Tamaki, Auckland to live with her unmarried daughter Agnes, until her death in 1935, aged 84. In her will Agnes her whole estate worth 900 pounds, to her daughter Agnes with whom she was living. She was buried with her husband Daniel in the Kaipara Flats Cemetery. The headstone reads, in part, 'They were of the very best this world contains'.