1836 – 1907
Father
Mother
Mary Ann Regan
Siblings
Martin, John, Hugh, James, Daniel, Patrick, Mary
Married
Stephen Malone
Children
Catherine (Katy) Mary Carney – unknown father. Malones – Bartle, Un-named male, Ann, Emily, Maud, Margaret K McCarney (all children died in infancy).
Catherine’s Life
Catherine was the first daughter of Hugh Carney and Mary Ann Regan. They were both from Ireland. Hugh had been convicted of Insurrection and transported to New South Wales as a convict in 1821 leaving Mary and son Martin to follow him over in 1828 when he received his Ticket of Leave.
The family took up land near Tuena and seven more children were born.
Catherine’s father died in October 1844, she was only eight years old, her older brother Martin had married, and her mother was left with the remaining seven children aged between 14 with the youngest only a few months old.
Mary, Catherine’s mother, married again in 1846. Her new husband, Peter Fitzgerald, an Irish Convict with a life sentence, arriving in 1823. This bought further misfortune to the family. Fitzgerald wanted her land and treated the family abominably. ‘He was cruel to the children, and it is reputed that on one occasion he starved them for three days while they had to watch him eat.’ Catherine recalled to her granddaughter, Eileen Waterford/MacPherson.
Catherine also recalled to Eileen ‘Once, when I was about 10, I was cleaning out the pig sties when a buyer and Fitzgerald rode down, the buyer said ‘You are too nice a little girl to be cleaning out your father’s pig sties’ to which I replied ‘There is not one drop of his blood in my veins and if there was I would let it out’ – a precursor to the determination that she displayed in later years.
The children left home as soon as they were able. Catherine moved to the Singleton district where she obtained work at ‘The Chain of Ponds’ Hotel between Singleton and Muswellbrook. It was here that she met William Waterford (I) and his wife Elizabeth Hunt who owned the hotel. William was publican of this hotel from 1850 to 1854, He had moved the licence from The Farmers Arms, Murrundi to this spot. The first link with the Waterfords was forged. Note – there was a cellar underneath the building with barred windows to hold convicts overnight.
Catherine’s daughter Catherine Mary Carney (Katy) was born at this time in January 1860 in Muswellbrook. It was about this time that William and his new wife, Eliza, and their son William returned to Australia. It could be surmised that as they were then living at Dunedoo, they may have assisted Catherine as she as she moved to Mudgee with Katy around that time where she continued to work in the hotel industry. Catherine married Stephen Malone at Mudgee in 1865. They had five children, but all died in infancy.
Catherine and Stephen embarked on Hotelier business, with Stephen being the licensee of ‘The Shamrock’ in 1867, the ‘Farrier’s Arms’ from 1868-1875, and finally the ‘Farmer’s Arms’, which they built, from 1876 until Stephen’s death in 1891 when Catherine became the licensee. The Farmer’s Arms was renamed the ‘Town Hall’ to reflect that it was across the road from the Town Hall.
By this time the Waterfords were situated on “Moreton Bay”, Dunedoo and their friendship continued with the young Katie and William Waterford (2) becoming firm friends, William had made up his mind at 15 that he would marry Katie. They eventually did in 1886.
By 1896 William Waterford, Catherine’s son-in-law, took over the licensing with his wife Katie Carney. Hotels in Mudgee flourished at that time due to the Western Gold Rush. They had sold Moreton Bay and were looking for another path.
Catherine died in Mudgee in 1907. She was a true pioneer who prospered despite the adversity she encountered. She was respected and loved.
Authored by Paula O’Connor E&OA