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The Dore sisters saga - Conclusion


This week we wrap up the tale of the Dore sisters, their husbands and their wives!


It’s fascinating to see how the lives of these individuals intertwined and how they left their mark in history. Mary McCluskey’s story is one of resilience and connection with her family despite the challenging circumstances. She chose to live with her nephew William Dunbar Junior after her husband Peter McCluskey’s well-known bigamy court case in 1881. Her decision to keep her married name throughout her life could have been influenced by various factors, including personal attachment or social considerations of the time.

After her husband Peter McCluskey passed away in 1899, he was known to be married but living separately from his wife. Although it’s not definitively mentioned, you assume that Mary might have been the wife he was living apart from.

Mary McCluskey and Peter McCluskey both found their final resting place at the Melbourne General Cemetery, sharing a burial plot. Interestingly, James Dunbar, another of Mary’s nephews, was buried with them 27 years after Mary’s burial, although his name doesn’t appear on the tombstone.

On the other hand, Anne Farrell, Peter McCluskey’s other wife, remains a mystery. Unfortunately, there is no available information about her life before or after her marriage. It’s not uncommon for historical records to have gaps, and this adds to the intrigue surrounding her story.

The intertwined lives of the Dore sisters, their husbands, and their extended families create a rich chronicle of history and human connections, revealing both the known and unknown aspects of their lives. It’s a testament to how individual stories can come together to form a larger narrative of a particular time and place.




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