Thomas Kearney : Short Biography

Thomas was born as 'Kearney' in Lismullyduff, Donaghmore, Donegal, Ireland in 1817 but was at some stage changed to 'Carney'. The reason for the name change is not known - in any event, the spelling of Thomas' name to 'Carney' was done some time after his arrival as the New York Packet's log has him listed as Kearney.
A 19-year-old Thomas Kearney married 21-year-old Catherine Tinney in Lismullyduff around 1838.
A daughter was born in 1839, another in 1840 and finally Sarah born on 26 January 1841.
It may have been Catherine's pregnancy that caused Thomas to search for a better life for his family as he was a 22-year-old Agricultural Labourer when he applied for emigration to Australia. By the time permission came through for them to emigrate Thomas was 23 and wife Catherine 25 and listed as a farm servant and only daughter Sarah, aged 9 months was listed on the ship's log. Thomas' father Edward and mother Sarah were both living.

James Edward (Kearney?) and Mary Calive (could this be Carlin?) both of "Lismaladuff" certified his character and person. One would have been a relative as was the regulation then. His "state of bodily health and probable usefulness" was listed as "good". They were also listed as Roman Catholics but neither had a certifying registration of baptism.
The fare was £19 each and they were sponsored by John Miller Esq of Glasgow Fur Surance.
Both Thomas and Catherine were listed as being illiterate but this could have been because they spoke Gaelic.

The family boarded the barque "New York Packet" captained by Cpt Dorning, on 8 July 1841 at Downing, Greenock, Scotland. They were part of new emigrants from various callings - 46 Agricultural Labourers, 11 Carpenters, 3 Masons, 2 Shepherds, 1 Gardener, 1 Ploughman, 5 Blacksmiths, 1 Engineer, 1 Weaver, 18 House Servants, 3 Nursemaids, 9 Farm Servants and 1 House Servant sailing  via Jamaica and arriving in Sydney on Saturday 23 October 1841 to start their new life. On arrival to Sydney Town there were 23 passengers ill, so they were all put into quarantine but released later that day after being inspected by Arthur Savage, Health Officer and Medical Superintendent Dr John Acken. A story handed down by the family is that sadly Catherine had to throw overboard her good Irish linen due to the smallpox outbreak.

The family came to Port Macquarie where they settled for a time in the vicinity of Tacking Point Lighthouse. However, due to the infertile soil in the area, they went further up the Hastings River. The first stop was to Huntingdon where a big flood washed away their first crop of corn. 

Thomas then selected land at Gannons Creek which was well out of flood reach, not realising that the land was some of the poorest on the creek. It was here that Thomas built a rough slab hut with a floor of rough-hewn, pit sawn timber and a large open fireplace the full width of the shack. The Carney's grew corn and vegetables in the early years on their land.

While working contract on the section through the 'big scrub', Thomas was camped away from the home for six days a week. Catherine remained on her own with the children in the house at Gannons Creek. Ellen Francis was the first born in Australia in 1844, then came Thomas Edward in 1845, Mary in 1846, Rosanna in 1848, Catherine in 1850, Patrick in 1854 and finally Jane Matilda in 1856.

In 1861 Thomas had the contract to take the mail from Huntingdon to Port Macquarie. He made the return journey once a week by horseback for the sum of £28 a year. 

Thomas made the newspapers in 1862:

Sydney Morning Herald - Thurs June 26, 1862
MIRACULOUS PRESERVATION - 
A correspondent writing from Port Macquarie, under date the 16th instant, says : "A man named John Connelly was found in a state of great exhaustion, in a hollow tree in the bush, by Mr. Thomas Carney, of this place. It appears that the man left Tinonee, Manning River, on a Sabbath day, about twenty-six days since, taking with him three days' rations. When about ten miles from Tinonee he lost his way and wandered into the bush, not knowing where he was going. Of the twenty-six days he was lost in the bush, he was three days in a thick scrub, during which he subsisted on blackberries and green leaves. Having succeeded in making his way through the scrub, he travelled as long as he could, and when he could go no further he gave up all hopes of surviving, and took refuge in a hollow log, where he got some berries. In this log he lay for five days, during which time he had neither water nor food. On the sixth day he was found by Mr. Carney, in a state of starvation, bordering on total exhaustion - he being unable to crawl out of the log, or speak, or stand. The place where he was found is about two miles from the Broken Lagoon. Mr. Carney took him home and treated him very kindly, for which he deserves great praise."- Maitland Ensign.

Thomas again made the news in 1868 when he gound a body floating under a bridge at Hyndmak's Creek. It was reported and the body taken to his home about two miles away until police could arrive.

Life was definitely not easy for the Carneys. They made cheese for a while, milking about 35 cows once a day with the calves shut away at night in a paddock, owned by the Johns family, alongside the river. However, there was a sudden flood one night and the calves were washed away and drowned. The cows fretted, their milk dried and that was the finish of the cheesemaking.

On 1st February 1891 a non-official Post Office was opened at the Carney home at Gannons Creek with Thomas Carney Snr as Receiving Officer.
In this position he was paid an allowance of £5 per annum. Thomas Carney jnr's wife, Mary-Anne, was authorised to act as assistant from 25th February 1893 then on 1st April 1893 she took over as Post Mistress on the small allowance of £10 per annum. Thomas probably delivered mail to Barombin, Huntingdon and Hardies Plains. The office was closed on 11th August 1900 and no official reason was given for its closure.

Thomas Carney jnr and wife Mary-Anne lived with Thomas and Catherine. They had 11 children who were all born at Gannons Creek and delivered by Catherine.
Catherine died on 15 Jul 1901 aged 85 years and Thomas Snr, aged 86, followed on 4 March 1903. 
According to his death certificate Thomas is listed as an 86-year-old labourer who died of Senile decay in Wauchope. He had last been seen by Dr Doudney in December some four months previously so his health must have been relatively good.

Thomas and Catherine were both buried at Beechwood cemetery in the Catholic section. Rev Father Prendergast conducted the Roman Catholic service for Thomas with Robert Andrews and George Neal as witnesses.
All his children were still living with the exception of the two daughters who had died in their infancy.

Thomas' death was reported on page 2 of the local Port Macquarie News and Hastings River Advocate on 5 March 1903:
Wauchope: I have to note the death of Mr Carney, senr., which took place at his daughter's residence, Wauchope, on Wednesday, at the ripe old age of 86 years. Mr Carney was one of the pioneers of the Hastings river district, and was much respected by all who knew him. His remains were interred in the Beechwood cemetery, the funeral being a large one. Rev. Father Prendergast officiated at the grave.

Information researched by Robyn McNamara and is only for personal use - not to be copied and made public. Thomas and Catherine are my 2x great grandparents.