An Irishman in New Zealand

Some 16 years ago a Shakespeare's Birthday book came into my life. On MARCH 04 18161 was the birth of the owner Thomas Leslie Crooke. His parents the Rev Milward Crooke a Chaplain to the Armed Forces during the Crimean War. His Mother Emily Crooke ( whose family home is now The County Arms Hotel in Birr Offaly. Both his parents
 were from Birr Moor Park County Offaly. Thomas matriculated Edinburgh University 1882 as a Surgeon. Worked at the Royal Edinburgh Infirmary. Sailed the seas as a ships surgeon and in 1899 arrived and settled in Christchurch NZ as Senior Medical Officer at the Christchurch Hospital. He retired in to private practice in 1910 until his death in 1943. He married Janet Emily Smith daughter of Edward A Smith Royal Navy. During his life he amassed some 800-900 autographs in his Birthday Book. One in particular a great female Irish Poet Susan L Mitchel (Langstaff) Dec 05 1866 -1926 MARCH 04. who was engaged secretly to one of his brothers Military George Douglas Crooke( who died at war). From his immediate family to relatives, Edinburgh Colleagues, Medical Military, Musicians Poets Authors Artists Master Mariners to Tea Planters. Thomas Leslie Crooke March 04 1861 - 1943. Now 159 years ago. Thomas is interred in the Linwood Cemetery Christchurch NZ. A man whose life deserves to more than a headstone in one of our cemeteries. I feel privileged having his life through the Birthday Book in the palm of my hand and  many stories which could be told of those whom left their autographs. Nurses like Matron Lucille Pringle " The Pearl" and best friend to Florence Nightingale and Matron Frances  Elizabeth Spencer, Artist Captain Edwyn Frederick Temple ( Crimean War), Commodore Thomas Shailor Weston  Master S.S Ruahine whom Dr T L Crooked sailed the seas with on many epic journeys.The Irish family of Browne's whose son an Irish Composer died in WW1 and held Rupert Brooke as he passed away to stories of Harry Storey a great tea planter hunter in Ceylon. 
Dr Thomas Leslie Crooke  Surgeon Musician and was the family Doctor to my great grandparents form Ireland County Offaly Kinnitty and County Derry in Christchurch NZ.
I hope MARCH 04 is of some interest to many. From Shane Patrick Duffy Christchurch NZ.

Hi Shane,

That is an amazing book to own! Both Susan and Thomas' lives were such remarkable lives, filled with exploration and discovery, but also of going against established grains and contributing their talents to society in their own way, worlds apart.

Susan was of course good friends with William Butler Yeats and George Russel and her relationship with the latter, both professional and personal friendship, lasted her entire life.

George Crooke, her fiancé, died before they were married, and she herself suffered from tuberculosis.

And Thomas' himself came from an illustrious family as well, his great-grandfather was Bernard Shaw.

How did you manage to acquire this book, do you have any links yourself to any of the wonderful names in it?

Warm regards,
Cornelia

Cornelia It's been over a year since I've replied. March 2020 was a turmoil time in NZ with the lockdown but no excuse for me not paying more attention here. The Dr's Shakespeare's Birthday Book I found about to be thrown in the rubbish and rescued it.  this along with 2 other unrelated wee books from around 1880's printings,
The Birthday book was once sold at the Linwood Markets here in Christchurch NZ for the sum of $2 before it came to me. I sort of have a connection with then book and the Dr Thomas Leslie Crooke as he was the family doctor to my great Irish grand parents who immigrated to here. Samuel Dickey from County Derry ( Londonderry) and Hannah Bruce for Kinnitty in County Offaly around 1874 on the sailing ship The Eastern Monarch .My grand mother Bessie Clark (nee Dickey) and my own mum Iren Duffy (nee Clark) when a little girl. If not this connection it's been a very spiritual journey for me as it's like The Dr's book came into my life for a reason.
Kinnitty being very close to Birr in County Offaly where his parents Came from.
Sadly I can not get the help to publish a book on his life for over 17 years now I have owned the Birthday Book. I am not a writer or academic person. Just a person who decided to research his life and his Irish family heritage, I don't want Dr T L Crooke to be just another headstone in the Linwood Cemetery CHCH NZ,
Another separate unrelated  little piece of information about my great grand parents  Samuel and Hannah Dickey. Their Cottage named the Stewart St Cottage after where they lived is the Oldest cottage fully preserved at the Ferrymead Historical Park here in CHCH NZ. Thank you for reading after such a long waited reply. From Shane P Duffy.

Hi Shane,

We too can hardly believe that it was a year since we last heard from you, how time has flown and a lot happened!

Whether you consider it fate or coincidence, it would indeed seem that you were destined to find the book and the connection to your family here on the island of Ireland.

Thanks so much for finding the time to start your thread and update us about the circumstances around how you became its owner. It is also wonderful to hear that your ancestors have had their cottage preserved as an example of the homesteads created so long ago. 💚

Martin