Witnesses to family events can shed light on extended family and friends. I have added articles about other Maher families (the Dookie Mahers and the Epping Mahers) that also had connections to Springfield, Kilmore and Lancefield in an effort to one day establish more precise family connections.

Here is a list of sponsors and witnesses named on baptism and marriage certificates for this family. (This is still a work in progress.)

1862 Thomas Maher & Catherine Costigan, marriage	Michael Behan Johanna Lawler
1863 Anne Maher, baptism Parents Thomas Maher & Catherine Costigan	Matthew Dwyer (1843-1921) Anne Maher
1864 Catherine Maher, baptism Parents Thomas Maher & Catherine Costigan	John Dwyer (1816-1901) Anne Dwyer (1845-1943)
1866 Mary Maher, baptism Parents Thomas Maher & Catherine Costigan	Edmond Farrell Mary Moylan
1868 Roderick Maher, baptism Parents Thomas Maher & Catherine Costigan	Charles Maher (1825-1902) Mary Dwyer (1848-1935)
1870 Sarah Maher, baptism Parents Thomas Maher & Catherine Costigan	Sarah Maher
1876 Patrick Buckley & Anne Hunter, marriage	Timothy Crough Catherine Hunter (1857-1891)
1884 Patrick Buckley & Maryann Scanlon, marriage	James Lyons Sarah Maher
1886 Mary Cantwell, baptism Parents Thomas Cantwell & Anne Maher	Kate Maher (1864-1931) Roderick (Rody) Maher (1869-1951)
1888 Elizabeth Cantwell, baptism Parents Thomas Cantwell & Anne Maher	Sarah Maher (1882-1936) Patrick Maher (1875-1966)
1889 Ellen Morley, baptism Parents Walter Morley & Mary Maher	Patrick Maher (1875-1966) Catherine Maher (1864-1931)
1890 Christina McLeod, baptism Parents William McLeod & Catherine Maher	Thomas Hunt Sarah Maher (1882-1936)
1891 Catherine McLeod, baptism Parents William McLeod & Catherine Maher	Roger (Rody) Maher (1869-1951) Johanna Mulvey (1871-1939)
1891 Catherine Morley, baptism Parents Walter Morley & Mary Maher	Johanna Maher (1872-1933)
1892 Thomas Graham Cantwell, baptism Parents Thomas Cantwell & Anne Maher	Robert Graham Annie Heffernan
1893 Alice Morley, baptism Parents Walter Morley & Mary Maher	Ellen Maher (1877-1921) John Fitzpatrick (1882-1960) (son of Mary Anastasia Dwyer)
1895 Roderick Cantwell, Parents Thomas Cantwell & Anne Maher	Edward Fitzpatrick (1879-1956) (son of Mary Anastasia Dwyer) Ellen Maher (1877-1921)
1902 Roderick Maher & Anne Buckley marriage	John Buckley (1881-1945) Margaret Maher (1888-1935)
1902 Thomas Michael Maher, baptism Parents Roderick Maher & Annie Buckley	Patrick Maher (1875-1966) Nellie Buckley (1849-1935)
1903 John Curry & Hanora Maher marriage	Michael Curry (either father or brother of John Curry) Johanna Maher (1872-1923)
1903 Richard Oswald Cantwell, baptism Parents Thomas Cantwell & Anne Maher	Margaret Maher (1888-1935)
1903 Patrick Maher, baptism Parents Roderick Maher and Annie Buckley	Mary Buckley (1859-1923)
Roderick John Maher, baptism Parents Roderick Maher and Annie Buckley	John Buckley (1881-1945) Catherine McLeod (1864-1931) (per proxy Christina McLeod)
1907 William Maher, baptism Parents Roderick Maher & Anne Buckley	Katie Cantwell (1883-1936) (daughter of Anne Cantwell, nee Maher) (per proxy Chrissie McLeod)

Timothy Crough (1853-1889)

Witness to the marriage of Patrick Buckley and Annie Hunter in 1862. Patrick Buckley’s obituary stated that he had been “in the employ of the late Mr James Crough, when that gentleman was resident at Bawnmore.”

THE LATE TIMOTHY CROUGH. There are very few old residents of Kilmore but will remember the late Mr Timothy Crough, whose remains were interred in the Kilmore Cemetery on Wednesday, 24th April. Thirty-two years ago when the Government of the country did not pay that attention to our wants which the people can demand from them today, the late Mr Crough, who was connected with the postal department in Ireland before he decided to try his fortunes in Australia, volunteered to give a house to house delivery of all letters and newspapers arriving in Kilmore, trusting for remuneration from the people whom he benefitted. So steady was his conduct and sterling his character that the most important commissions were entrusted to him and were carried out with a fidelity which gained him the confidence of all. After about two years of this important service, he was appointed first Government letter carrier at Kilmore. After about four years’ service in this capacity, he was appointed mail guard on the Sydney line, his section being from Seymour to Badaginnie-the worst patch of road, without exception, between Melbourne and Sydney. This position he occupied until the North-Eastern railway line was opened when he took charge of the travelling post-office between Melbourne and Longwool. This position he occupied till within about two years of his demise, when failing health caused him to relinquish it for the position of sorter in the General Post Office, retaining the salary and emoluments of his more active position. Continual failure of health caused him about five months ago to retire on an allowance, and since then he has been scarcely ever well. He died at the comparatively early age – for a man who had lived so steadily–of 56 years, and there is scarcely a doubt but that the hardship and accidents of his early coaching days told against him in the end and considerably shortened his days. Though the notice of his demise was a very short one to his Kilmore acquaintances, a very large number of vehicles and horsemen met the train conveying his remains from Melbourne at the Kilmore East station and followed them to the old Cemetery. The deceased gentleman was well liked and respected along the whole line from Benalla to Melbourne, and there are few who knew him but will have a kindly word for his memory. He leaves a large family, most of whom, however, are grown up. (Kilmore Free Press, 2 May 1889, p.2)

Dwyers (Anne, John, Mary, Matthew) and Fitzpatricks (Edward, John)

These seem to be all connected to another Maher family which may have been distantly related to Thomas and Catherine Maher – these are children of John Dwyer and Honora Maher (Hanora being the sister of Catherine’s former employer John Maher). Another of the Dwyer children, Mary Anastasia married Patrick Fitzpatrick and Edward and John Fitzpatrick were two of their children.

James Lyons (1834-1914)

Mr. James Lyons, a resident of Kilmore for about 66 years, died on Friday last after an illness of about eighteen months. The deceased who was about 80 years of age, reared a large family of eight sons and two daughters, some of whom are still living in Western Australia. He was a contractor for many years mostly under the local councils. He was a man, who in early life, was possessed of much sense of humour and full of anecdote. The remains we interred in the Kilmore Catholic cemetery on Saturday, Father Dolan attending to the solemn rites at the grave.(Kilmore Free Press, 14 May 1914, p.3)

Johanna Mulvey (1871-1939)

Johanna Mulvey was born at Kilmore in 1871 to John Mulvey and Mary Ann Hyland, and she died in Fitzroy in 1939. She married James Nugent in 1904, they resided at Essendon and had three children. In 1891 at the age of 20 she was a baptism sponsor of Catherine McLeod, daughter of William McLeod and Catherine Maher.
This is the obituary for her brother, James Patrick Mulvey, that gives an overview of the Mulvey family in the Kilmore district.

Another Kilmore identity passed to eternity on Sunday last, when Mr James Patrick Mulvey succumbed to a somewhat lengthy illness. He was born at Kilmore 74 years ago, being the only son of the late Mr and Mrs John Mulvey, who settled in the district about 80 years ago. They were engaged in farming generally and dairying in particular. After the demise of the parents, the family separated, Mr J.P. Mulvey carrying on the farm for a brief period. He eventually relinquished the rural life and took over the livery stables carried on by Mr Thomas Hammond, the stables being on the site now occupied by M. O. Burgess’ Rendezvous Cafe. Mr Mulvey conducted the business for many years, combining with it passenger traffic between Kilmore and Kilmore East railway station, also conveying the mails. At that period there were seven trips per day with horse-drawn vehicles. He was the first to introduce a motor bus for the conveyance of passenger but did not persist with it on account of the imperfection of the vehicle, which, at that time, was regarded as one of the best obtainable. Mr Mulvey retained the horses when using the motor, and carried on with them to the period when he sold out the business to Mr P. O’Connor. With rapidly increasing motor traffic the livery stable trade commenced to dwindle, and in a couple of years was practically a thing of the past. Soon afterwards it became a memory only, and the whole concern was sold off by auction. Some of the vehicles failed to attract purchasers and were left to fall to pieces. Mr Mulvey, having disposed of his local interests, removed to the metropolis, finally settling at Garden Vale. He had six sisters, four of whom survive, one (Margaret) being Sister St. Paul, of the Carmelite Monastery, Kew. Another (Johanna) is the wife of Mr J. Nugent, who carried on business at Kilmore as blacksmith, wheelwright and coachbuilder prior to his removal to Melbourne. A second sister (Alice) became the wife of Mr Thomas Hammond, who was a licensee of the Railway hotel, Kilmore, for a lengthy period, but relinquished the business and, with Mrs Hammond, transferred their abode to Western Australia, where they remained some years, subsequently returning to Melbourne. Another sister (Esther Ellen-Mrs McGrath) also, with her husband, made their home in Western Australia. Mr Muivey’s remains were brought to Kilmore on Monday and temporarily deposited in St. Patrick’s Church, if which he had been a devoted adherent during his long residence locally. A short service having been conducted, the remains were conveyed to the Kilmore general cemetery, where the interment took place in the Church of England portion, deceased being buried with his wife, who predeceased him many years ago. Rev. Father McHugh, P.P., read the burial service, and the mortuary arrangements were carried out by Messrs Beegan and Matthews in conjunction. Mr James Mulvey, solicitor, of Kilmore, and Miss M. Mulvey, of Garden Vale, are the surviving family, two others being deceased. (Kilmore Free Press, 26 Sep 1935, p.2)