1852-1947
Father
William Fitzgerald
Mother
Amelia Agnes Thompson
Siblings
Mary Jane Thompson (stepsister), Louisa Thompson, Matthew Thompson, John Henry, William, Henry James
Married
John Joseph Carney/Kearney
Children
Amelia, William Peter, Mary Ann, John, Joseph Henry, Catherine, David
Married
Children
Elizabeth, Agnes
Catherine’s Life
Catherine was born in Oswestry, Shropshire, England in 1853.
In the 1861 Census her father William was described as a Painter and Glazier as well as a Preacher in the Primitive Methodist, a religion that had its roots in Wesleyan open air preaching. In the 1851 Census he was described as a Power Loom Weaver.
Catherine was a domestic servant in the Goust Household in Chesire, the Head, Thomas Goust, a Cotton Produce Broker, according to the 1871 Census.
Catherine applied for assisted passage to Australia and arrived in Rockhampton on the ‘Scottish Knight’ on 9 April 1878. According to family lore, the Scottish Knight called into Rockhampton to replenish water supplies on its voyage down the east coast of Australia. One John Joseph Kearney was loading the water. They met, they fell in love and were married on 25 April 1878 in Rockhampton.
Catherine and John had a daughter, Amelia in Clermont, Queensland in November 1879, Amelia died at days old.
They moved south from Queensland and spent some time around the Uralla, NSW area with family.
Their second child William Peter was born in Wantiool Diggings in February 1881. By this time their Name had changed from Kearny (ships manifest) to Karney (marriage certificate) to Carney. All their children were registered under the Carney name.
Gold had been discovered in Junee/Gundagai districts and the Wantiool Diggings were proclaim as a gold field in September 1878. All of John and Catherine’s children were born there.
John Joseph died on 12 May 1889, leaving Catherine pregnant with 5 young children. Catherine then gave birth to twins on 12 October 1889. I am not sure how she coped.
Catherine married Thomas White, a brick-maker in 1892.
Thomas had been married to Catherine Ryder/Banwell, whose husband had died leaving her with seven young children in 1879. Thomas and Catherine had no children. Catherine Ryder died in 1888.
Catherine and Thomas moved to the Cowra/Canowindra district and had two daughters, Elizabeth and Agnes who both became Josephite nuns.
Thomas continued to be a brick maker and they moved around the region to where the ‘jobs’ were and where they could access suitable clay.
Thomas taught the Carney boys the art of brick making, and they went into the industry as well.
Thomas died in 1926.
Catherine continued to live in the district and was fondly remembered by her family. She was the only member of her family to immigrate to Australia. A very courageous woman.
Authored by Leah Burnheim in collaboration with Clare Sweeney