Noreen Mary Merrin
James Merrin > John Merrin > Charles Merrin > Noreen Merrin
Noreen Mary Merrin was my grandmother.
Noreen was born on 23 August 1906 at St Margaret's Hospital in Cleveland Street, Sydney. She was the only child of Charles Michael Andrew Merrin and his wife, Lavinia Jane Bennett nee Laws, who was known as 'Lillie'.
At the time of Noreen's birth, St Margaret's Hospital was a maternity hospital located on the corner of Cleveland and Elizabeth Streets in Strawberry Hills (Surry Hills). It was established as a 'lying-in home' for expectant mothers and was run by a Catholic religious order and I suspect the reference to Cleveland Street in the birth notice below indicates that Noreen was born there [1].
Noreen was born on 23 August 1906 at St Margaret's Hospital in Cleveland Street, Sydney. She was the only child of Charles Michael Andrew Merrin and his wife, Lavinia Jane Bennett nee Laws, who was known as 'Lillie'.
At the time of Noreen's birth, St Margaret's Hospital was a maternity hospital located on the corner of Cleveland and Elizabeth Streets in Strawberry Hills (Surry Hills). It was established as a 'lying-in home' for expectant mothers and was run by a Catholic religious order and I suspect the reference to Cleveland Street in the birth notice below indicates that Noreen was born there [1].
At the time of Noreen's birth, her parents were living at 11 Moorgate Street, Chippendale, possibly with other Laws family members, including Lillie's sister, Olive Laws. There are now modern apartments on the site of 11 Moorgate Street however it's likely that the house the Merrins lived in in 1906 was similar to the two-storey Victorian-era terrace houses which still stand in the surrounding streets.
Death of Father
In 1909, Noreen was living with her parents in a house at 18 Duxford Street, Paddington when her father died suddenly of acute pneumonia. It's likely the house was either owned or rented by her father's older brother, John George Merrin, who was still living there in 1917.
Residences
1909: 18 Duxford Street, Paddington (father's death notice)
1909-1930: no results from electoral roll search; probably Nelson Bay
1930: Pitt Street, Canley Vale; shop assistant (Gran was a market gardener) (electoral roll)
1909-1930: no results from electoral roll search; probably Nelson Bay
1930: Pitt Street, Canley Vale; shop assistant (Gran was a market gardener) (electoral roll)
1930: 40 Wemyss Street, Marrickville (letters from Norman) - looks like house is still there
Feb 1933: 65 Newington Road, Marrickville (letters from Norman) - looks like old semi on the corner still there
1933: 38 Wemyss Street, Marrickville; shop assistant (electoral roll) - looks like house is still there
Noreen and Norman married in 1934
1935: 8 Scouller Street, Marrickville; shop assistant (electoral roll) - house is still there
1936: 8 Scouller Street, Marrickville; shop assistant (electoral roll)
1937: 8 Scouller Street, Marrickville; shop assistant (electoral roll)
Jan 1938: 8 Scouller Street, Marrickville; home duties (letter from Joan)
Apr 1939: 8 Scouller Street, Marrickville; home duties (living there when Norman left)
Feb 1933: 65 Newington Road, Marrickville (letters from Norman) - looks like old semi on the corner still there
1933: 38 Wemyss Street, Marrickville; shop assistant (electoral roll) - looks like house is still there
Noreen and Norman married in 1934
1935: 8 Scouller Street, Marrickville; shop assistant (electoral roll) - house is still there
1936: 8 Scouller Street, Marrickville; shop assistant (electoral roll)
1937: 8 Scouller Street, Marrickville; shop assistant (electoral roll)
Jan 1938: 8 Scouller Street, Marrickville; home duties (letter from Joan)
Apr 1939: 8 Scouller Street, Marrickville; home duties (living there when Norman left)
Son Michael born 1937; Norman leaves 1939;
Dec 1940: 89 Burfitt Street, Leichhardt (from Military Allotments notice - Dad was 3 - new house on plot;
1943: 39 Cook Street, Arncliffe; home duties (electoral roll) - Dad was 6 - house is still there. Dad went to St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School
1949-1953: 39 Cook Street, Arncliffe; home duties (electoral roll, Dad's cadet tags) - Dad was 12-16. Dad went to De la Salle.
1954: 21 Cowper Street, Marrickville; winder (electoral roll) - Dad was 17 - house is still there
1958: 21 Cowper Street, Marrickville; winder (electoral roll) - Dad was 21
1958: 29 Liverpool Road, Ashfield; home duties (electoral roll) - Dad was 21 - looks like still there
1963: 29 Liverpool Road, Ashfield; home duties (electoral roll) - Dad was 26
Dec 1940: 89 Burfitt Street, Leichhardt (from Military Allotments notice - Dad was 3 - new house on plot;
1943: 39 Cook Street, Arncliffe; home duties (electoral roll) - Dad was 6 - house is still there. Dad went to St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School
1949-1953: 39 Cook Street, Arncliffe; home duties (electoral roll, Dad's cadet tags) - Dad was 12-16. Dad went to De la Salle.
1954: 21 Cowper Street, Marrickville; winder (electoral roll) - Dad was 17 - house is still there
1958: 21 Cowper Street, Marrickville; winder (electoral roll) - Dad was 21
1958: 29 Liverpool Road, Ashfield; home duties (electoral roll) - Dad was 21 - looks like still there
1963: 29 Liverpool Road, Ashfield; home duties (electoral roll) - Dad was 26
Death and Burial
Noreen died at Lyndhurst Nursing Home in Sydney on 20 June 1978 at the age of 71. She had suffered from Parkinson's Disease for about 10 years [5].
Noreen was buried at Macquarie Park Cemetery in Sydney on 22 June 1978. She is interred in the same grave as her mother, Lillie Merrin (née Laws), Grave No.58, Section FF3 [5].
Noreen was buried at Macquarie Park Cemetery in Sydney on 22 June 1978. She is interred in the same grave as her mother, Lillie Merrin (née Laws), Grave No.58, Section FF3 [5].
[1] https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/guide/nsw/NE00452
[5] death certificate (copy on file);
[5] death certificate (copy on file);