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KEENAN FAMILY in Australia
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Florence Lillico Keenan (nee Skien/Skein) (1886 - 1948)
Last updated 27July 2024
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Florence Lillico Skien (sometimes spelt Skein) was born 12 October 1886 in Tumut, New South Wales, and baptised 4 July 1887. Florence's father was Copeland Skien / Skein, farmer, (1841-1904) and her mother was Mary Annie Tomkins (1853-1913).
She married James Keenan (b.1864) on 14 April 1906 at The Mance, Tumut, NSW (Reg. no. 5535/1906). When they married James was 41 and Florence was 19 and had a 2 year old child. As Florence was underage, her mother formally consented to the marriage.
Florence Keenan, who in her later years suffered a mental illness, died at Batlow on 17 February 1948, aged 61 (reg. no. 6625/1948). Her death certificate states that the cause of death was "drowning by her own hands whilst of unsound mind". This was the finding of an inquiry held at Batlow on 27 February 1948 by Leonard Edwin Quarmby, JP, Coroner. Full details/transcripts of the inquiry may be found below.
Her body was found by her son, Wilfred Keenan. See news report "Batlow resident found drowned", from the Adelong and Tumut Express, Friday, February 20, 1948. The report reads as follows:
"Mrs Florence L. Keenan, 62, widow of the late Mr James Keenan of Batlow was found drowned yesterday morning in a water-race which passed at the rear of her property. Deceased was in her night attire and her shoes were found on the edge of the race. The late Mrs Keenan resided by herself, but her son Wilfred, who lives opposite, was in the habit of visiting her morning and evening. Finding her absent on Tuesday night, he contacted several of the neighbours, but was not concerned when he failed to locate her, thinking she was visiting friends. However when he found his mother still missing on Wednesday morning he immediately commenced to search for her. Finally, he discovered her body immersed in the water race about 100 yards at the rear of the house. The late Mrs. Keenan had been in ill-health for a number of years. She was a daughter of the late Mr and Mrs Copeland Skein, of Batlow, where she was born and resided all her life. There are four sons, Hector, Stuart and Wilfred (Batlow) and Frederick (Young) and two daughters, Muriel (Mrs Rupert Langford) and Edna (Mrs Harry Scheigel of New Zealand) surviving. Mrs W Johnson of Tumut is a sister."
A year later (15 February 1949) an In Memorium notice was inserted in The Tumut and Adelong Times by her daughter and son, Edna Keenan and Wilfred Keenan. It read: "In loving memory of our dear Mother, FLORENCE, who passed away February 18, 1948. Not a day do we forget you; In our hearts you are always near; We, who loved you, sadly miss you, As it dawns the first sad year." A family tree of the Skein family appears at on Geneanet.org at https://gw.geneanet.org/belfast8?lang=en&p=florence+lillicoe&n=skein
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Florence was buried at the Batlow Cemetery in the Presbyterian section, row E section 12.
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Coronial Inquiry into the death of Florence Lillico Keenan (nee Skien/Skein) of Batlow, NSW
Inquiry held on the 27th February 1948 before Leonard Edwin Quarmby JP
Documents obtained from NSW State Archives 24/7/2024
Document 1 - Deposition by Wilfred Keenan (son) of Batlow:
Text of deposition on 27/2/1948 by Wilfred ("Wis") Keenan of Batlow:
"This Deponent, Wilfred Keenan of Batlow, on this 27th day of February, 1948 on his Oath, saith as follows:
I am a Foreman, employed at the Batlow Packing House, and reside at Eurabbie Street, Batlow. The deceased, Florence Lilico was my mother. At about 6.30.a.m. on the 17th February, l took her breakfast across from my home to her house, as was my custom. The deceased seemed to be in her usual health. 1 did not have much to say to her. At about 5.30 p.m. the same day I took my baby across to see the deceased, but found that she was not there. I did not take any notice of her not being at the house, as she had a habit, when her mind was upset, of going to other relatives or friends homes, and they would bring her home at night.
I went to the house again at 7.30.p.m. before going to a meeting and found that she was still away from the house. I looked in again at 10•30.p.m.on my return from the meeting and she was still missing. I thought that deceased may have gone to the home of a brother, and I decided to see him at my place of employment in the morning.
I saw the brother at work the next morning, and he informed me that deceased was not at his house. I stayed at work until about 8.30.a.m. when I left and went home and made further inquiries from other relatives and neighbours, but obtained no information as to her whereabouts. One of my neighbours informed me that she saw the back door of deceased’s home open at 4.30.p.m and closed again at 5.p.m. on the 17th instant. When I could not locate the deceased with relatives or friends, and owing to the fact that she had previously threatened to throw herself in the dam, I obtained the assistance of Jack Harrap, and we went to the town water dam, where I saw the deceased floating face downwards in the water.
Jack Harrap went at once for the Police and I went to me home, and then accompanied the Doctor to the scene. The Police and Coroner arrived shortly afterwards and the body was removed from the water. I identified the body as that of Florence Lilico Keenan, to the Batlow District Coroner.
The deceased was 61 year of age, a native of Batlow, and was a widow. She owned no property and left no will. She was operated on at Wagga about 12 months ago for gall stones, when she seemed to improve mentally, but for the last four or five months her mental condition seemed to deteriorate. Deceased lost a daughter through diphtheria about 40 years ago and since then she has suffered mental lapses, which have been more noticeable during the last 10 years or so. She has threatened on numerous occasions to throw herself in the dam, in fact she has made this threat so often, which we did not take her seriously in that regard. Deceased was treated by Dr.Mason, of Tumut, and also by Dr.Mart1n of Wagga, many years ago, for mental disorders.
Signed: W Keenan. Taken and sworn by the deponent, on the date first mentioned above, before me, L E Quarmby JP, Coroner"
Document 2 - Deposition by John Harrap (case maker) of Batlow:
Document 3 - Deposition by John Smith (police sergeant) of Batlow:
Document 4 - Deposition by Allan Cumpston (doctor) of Batlow:
Document 5 - Findings of Coroner L E Quarmby JP of Batlow:
