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Michael Barron
'FROM MUNSTER TO MONARO' A History of the Michael Barron Family. By Ron Barron
(Last changed Wednesday May 30, 2012)

Descendants Report

 

Michael Barron About 1910	Michael and Agnes Barron with children Back left: Mary, George, Richard Middle left: Ethel Front: Emily (Margaret) and baby Tom 1909

Michael Barron arrived in Sydney on March 19th, 1888 aboard the Ormuz of Glasgow. He married Agnes Brosnan at Cowra Creek January 7th, 1892.

During the years 1892-1905 Michael though pursuing interests on a small scale as a farmer was also operating a crushing plant perhaps in partnership with his friend John Brosnan, no doubt a relative now from Michael’s marriage to Agnes. Later John Brosnan became a well known Monaro resident who owned and operated crushing plants at Captains Flat and on the Monaro. This speculation is confirmed by the fact that Lands office records reveal that in late 1908 Michael, then a grazier of Peak View, and a John Brosnan purchased two hundred acres along Yellow creek from Patrick Brosnan, Michael’s father-in-law. This land was transferred to Michael’s son, George, on April 14th, 1909, and back to Michael on March 17th, 1918. Prior to this, one hundred and twenty acres was acquired on April 30th, 1907 from a Rosalie Harnett.

In 1910 Agnes Barron commenced duties as Post Mistress of the Peak View Post Office which was operated from the family residence. Her resignation was tendered on February 25th, 1912.

Post office duties at Peak View were again taken over by Michael and Agnes on May 28th, 1918 until the end of 1920. Numerous extracts from a file held in the State Archives Sydney on the history of the Peak View Post Office during the time it was administered by Michael and Agnes reveal an insight into residents living in the area between 1910-1920, and post office procedures in those years.

Tom Barron recalled in 1992 some facts and stories about his father: “Dad was a mild type of man and not a wild Irishman; always wore a hat which he only removed at the table. He seldom talked about Ireland. The first house they lived in consisted of a kitchen, living room, three bedrooms and verandah. The verandah was made of weatherboard, the remainder was made of mud plastered over framework”.
 

Michael Barron (centre) with from L. son George, son-in-law William Darmody, unknown and son Tom Peak View 1922

Arthur Barron also mentioned in 1992 that his father “was a real Irishman, but at the same time a gentle person. He liked to have a good yarn but Ireland seldom came into the conversation. He enjoyed a game of cards and read a lot. One of his favourite pastimes was playing the violin. He would spend hours in a little room of the house practising, possibly not to the amusement of other family members. Dad enjoyed walking more than horse riding but used the horse and sulky for longer journeys. Once a month he would travel to Cooma for supplies, a journey which took two or three days. He also rode from Peak View to Majura to visit my sister Mary and her husband William Darmody”.

Simon Barron once told a very funny story concerning his Dad which occurred in the mid to late nineteen twenties on the property at Peak View. “Dad and some of the boys including myself had been working in a paddock some distance from home on a cold winter’s day. As darkness closed in, the tools were loaded on the cart and everyone climbed aboard to head homewards. No amount of coaxing by Dad would move the old horse, so not to be outdone he proceeded to gather a bundle of sticks which were placed on the ground under the horse’s tail. A match was struck and as Dad once more climbed aboard the fire increased and it was no time before the horse felt the heat and decided the game had ended.” This was no Halley’s comet streaking into the darkness but Michael’s means of motivation having the desired effect and the boys certainly thrilled to the ride at the same time having a lesson in horse management. Whether the sparks were coming from the horse’s tail or Michael’s mouth will always remain a mystery.

By the time Michael and Agnes resigned as Post Masters of the Peak View Post Office for the second time at the end of 1920 most of the children had grown up; some were married. On June 8th, 1925 his only child by his first marriage, Mai, married Eddie Cooke at Williamstown Co Waterford.

Early in the nineteen thirties there was depressing news for the family with great concern for Michael’s health. In the last weeks of 1932 or at the beginning of 1933 Michael entered Lewisham Hospital in Sydney for an operation. The Cooma Express newspaper dated January 23rd, 1933 relates the passing of Michael Barron but prior to his death he was devotedly nursed by the Sisters of ‘The Little Company of Mary’ including his own daughter Sr Mary Balbina. His passing, in the presence of his wife and family at Lewisham Private Hospital at the age of seventy-five, meant the end of an old and respected resident of Peak View.

Agnes Barron lived for another thirty years after Michael’s passing. She died in Cooma on November 11th, 1963.
 

Agnes Barron (wife of Michael) 1872-1963