Genealogy  

JOHN BUCKLEY was born in Ireland in 1835 and arrived at the Victorian Goldfields via America.
From Victoria he came to the Manaro, where he married Miss Catherine Lawlis, daughter of Patrick Lawlis, of The Peak. He shortly after settled at Myalla. where from 1863 till his death in 1913, he and his family resided and prospered. The sons who survive him are Cornelius (now an hotel-keeper in Bega), Charles, James, John, Jeremiah, Stephen (a dairy farmer in Bemboka) and William; his daughters being Mesdames John Burke, P. W. Burke, J. H. Thornton, and Julia Buckley.
"BACK TO COOMA" Felix Mitchell 1926 Page 74 - Transcribed by Pattrick Mould 2002

Photos of the old "Ti Tree" Property - now part of Bruce Haslingden's "Lincluden"

The Whole Family Steve, Con, Jim, Paddy, Jack, Charles Tom, Grandfather, Grandmother, Bill, Mary, Kate, Julia Sam and Nell

THE DESCENDANTS OF JOHN AND CATHERINE BUCKLEY
Transcribed from the Buckley Reunion Book by Rae Blyton 2004(nee Buckley) <ianrae-at-ozemail-com-au>

JOHN AND CATHERINE BUCKLEY AT MYALLA

John Patrick Buckley Snr was born on December 31, 1835 in Lacka South Glen, County Cork, Ireland, During the famine in Ireland caused by a potato blight he had gone to America when he was a teenager, with an uncle. Not finding that country to his liking he returned to the old home a few years later. To the best of our enquires we believe that John Buckley came into Australia through Adelaide. The "Lady Ann" despatched from Plymouth arrived in Adelaide on 2 October 1859. The list of emigrants on board shows No 110 BUCKLEY JOHN "Farm labourer" from Cork; Catholic aged 21 years

His obituary tells us that "he tried his luck on the goldfields at Bendigo and Ballarat, and then he went to Gippsland, eventually reaching Monaro" This has not been documented and it certainly could not have taken him long to reach Monaro as he met and married Catherine Lawless at St Patrick’s Church Cooma on March 26, 1864. This was only 10 months after he arrived in Australia. The marriage certificate tells us that his mother’s maiden name was Mary Bourke, and that at the time of their marriage they were both resident in the parish of "The Brothers" near Cooma. The officiating priest was Fr Patrick Newman, the witnesses David Roach and Mary Lawless.

Catherine was born in County Kilkenny in Ireland on December 15, 1847. The Mitchell Library records show that her family – Patrick (father) and Ellen (nee Roach, mother) both 35 years, with their 3 children – Catherine aged 11 years, Patrick aged 8 and Stephen aged 3 years – arrived in Sydney as assisted immigrants inwards to Sydney in the ship ‘Nimrod’ on April 7, 1859 The father was a labourer by calling and their native place and county was Ballyhaigh’ County Kilkenny. Both Patrick and Ellen’s parents were dead. They were all Catholics. Ellen Lawless had a brother, David Roach, in Cooma and their state of bodily health. Strength and probable usefulness in the colony was good.

Shortly after their marriage the couple settled at Myalla on a property called "Ti-tree" where John Buckley "put together a very comfortable property …. He was a very hard worker, and his success was the outcome of perseverance and thrift on the part of himself and his excellent wife. Like most Irishmen, he was most hospitable and big-hearted, and highly respected all over Monaro"- as reported in his obituary in the Cooma Mercury (the former Cooma-Monaro Express on March 19, 1913.

John and Catherine had 14 children – 9 boys and 4 girls – Patrick, James, John, Cornelius, Stephen, Mary, Charles, Thomas, Catherine, Jeremiah, Ellen, Julia, Johanna and William. All the children were educated at Myalla public school except Catherine who was educated in Cooma.

Johanna died from dysentery on February 8, 1887, 16 days after she was born.

Thomas died from heart disease quite suddenly on June 3, 1895 when he was 16 years old. He was staying with Patrick Manning and his family at Buckley’s Crossing (Dalgety) at the time.

Jeremiah (Sam) urged by his father to travel, went to China and there he joined the Police Force. He resigned and came home to visit his family in 1913 with the intention of further travel, taking a visit to his father and mother’s homeland of Ireland. He travelled – but not in the fashion intended. War broke out in the meantime and he enlisted with the Queensland Battalion – the 15th Australian Infantry Battalion. He was a private by rank No 1517. He was killed in action on October 31, 1915 in the Lone Pine Battle at Gallipoli.

Julia never married and died at aged 43 years on May 7 1928 at Goulburn. Julia suffered from deep depression associated, to some extent, with her inability to become a nun, at Wagga. She had spent some years in Kenmore Men6tal Hospital – the normal way for treating depression in those days. (After her death it was found an abscess on the brain had been the cause of the depression and fits.

The other 10 children married and raised families, and continued on the Buckley, Burke, Manning and Thornton names.

 As a result of hard work and wise planning by both John and his wife, he was able to provide sufficient monies to each member of his family to buy land in the district of Nimmitabel, with Myalla perhaps a little further out. The families who had dairying properties had to send their cream by rail to the Argyle Factory at Goulburn. With growing families able to help with the farm work, most of the men took the opportunity to boost funds by taking jobs as labourers and shearers, or carrying rock, sleepers and rails supplying their own horses and carts on the Nimmitabel – Bombala railway line in 1910-1911. The Freezing Works opened later and was supplied with local meat and also rabbits trapped locally – a good additional source of income.

All the families were respected citizens of the district. This is confirmed by press reports of farewells. Show time was big time in the area with all the families trying to outdo each other in the ring events and exhibits – represented in all sections.

All the children went to St Joseph’s Convent school, Nimmitabel with some continuing further schooling in either Sydney or Goulburn. Many older ones gave a great deal of thanks to the Sisters of St Joseph by name for their untiring efforts, not only in teaching them, but also in advising them to do all they could to further their own education, if and whenever they had the opportunity Of course many had such opportunities when, with large families and no jobs locally, farms were sold and families moved to the city. Mass was said regularly at the Buckley Myalla home. The Priest has always had a welcome in a Buckley home.

The family was, and is, clannish. They would gather at Myalla each year for Christmas and stay from Christmas Eve until New Year with much dancing, singing, cooking, drinking and minding of babies (The Buckley’s love to dance – it is part of their way of life)

Each year a fox hunt Ball was held at the home. Visitors would come in sulkies or on horseback early for the hunt with the Ball to follow. They would stay the night and leave after breakfast the following day.

Times were hard. Discipline was strict. The families were always eager to help each other such as at harvest time and time of sickness. The Buckley clan fought hard among themselves, but were extremely loyal to each other when the need arose.

There were some good sportsmen (footballers, foot runners, tennis players and horsemen) among them. They had good horses, in which they took a lot of pride. They were good riders; and Con, Jim and Jack all raced horses.

John Buckley visited Ireland twice during his life in Australia.

Catherine, his wife, died at the age of 51 years on June 12, 1899 from cancer of the liver. Not long after her death, John Snr moved from Myalla into Nimitybelle, leaving his property to James, one of his married sons, and portion of it later to Patrick, who was to marry in 1903. He spent his time between family, mostly his three daughters – Ellen (Mrs John Burke) Catherine (Mrs Patrick William Burke) and Mary (Mrs James Henry Thornton) who had an excellent nursing sense. He died of senile decay and gangrene of the feet at the age of 78 years on March 15, 1913. The couple are buried alongside each other in the Nimmitabel Cemetery.

Back to Nimitybelle Profile – The Buckley Family

John Buckley came to Australia in 1859. He married Catherine Lawless at St Patrick’s Church, Cooma on 27^th March 1864. Shortly after their marriage the couple settled at Myalla on a property called “Ti Tree” where John put together a very comfortable property. Like most Irishmen he was most hospitable, big-hearted and highly respected all over Monaro.

John and Catherine had 14 children, nine boys and 5 girls, two died in early childhood and Jeremiah was killed at the 1^st World War, ten married and raised families. So continued the Buckley-Burke-Manning-Thornton names.

As a result of hard work and wise planning by both John and his wife, he was able to provide sufficient money to each member of his family to buy land in the district. They all settle within 10 miles of Nimmitabel. The families who had dairying properties had to send their cream by rail to the Argyle factory at Goulburn.

With growing families able to help with farm work, most of the men took the opportunity to boost funds by taking jobs as labourers, shearers, or carrying rocks, sleepers and rail, supplying their own horses and carts on the Nimmitabel-Bombala railway line in 1910-1912

All of the children attended St Joseph’s Convent School, back in the 40’s there were 96 children at this school, 26 of these were Buckley’s.   But with big families and not much work locally, farms were sold and families moved to the Goulburn, Queanbeyan, Canberra, Moss Vale and Sydney.  Some of the next generation stayed around Nimmitabel, they married and raised their families, names which come to mind are Jerry, Jack, Con, Steve, Tom, Finnan Buckley, Bill and Frank and Rex Burke, Katie James, Doris Clear, Amelia Owers and Kitty Bales.

The families were, and are very clannish. They would gather at Myalla each year for Christmas, and stay from Christmas Eve until New Year with much dancing, singing, cooking, drinking and minding each other’s children  (The Buckley’s loved to dance, it was part of their way of life.)

Each year a fox hunt and Ball was held at the Myalla homestead. Visitors would come early in sulkies or on horse back for the hunt and the Ball to follow. They would stay the night and leave next morning.

The families were always eager to help each other such as at harvest time or in times of sickness. Times were hard, and discipline was strict.

There were some good sportsmen among them - footballers, foot runners, tennis players and horsemen. They had good horses in which they took a lot of pride, they were good riders and Con, Jim and Jack all had racehorses.

The Buckley name has been carried on over a century; there have been two Buckley Reunions in Nimmitabel in the last 25 years, with families coming from all over Australia. There are still 3 families in Nimmitabel Bernie and Val, Ron and Gwen, and Esther, with the Rayner and Blyton names been added to the clan through marriage. There are also several other descendants living locally.

 Showtime was a big event in the area with all the Buckley families trying to outdo each other in ring events and exhibits.   Interest in the annual show and horses in particular has been carried on to the present day by Bernie Buckley, a fourth generation to be involved.

4. CON BUCKLEY (Son of JOHN AND CATHERINE BUCKLEY) 

Con born on August 9, 1872 was the fourth child, and was the second to marry. He married Emily Jane Taylor at St Andrew’s Church Nimmitabel on August 24, 1898. Emily was the same age as Con. The family lived at "Summer Hill" near Bobingah, Nimmitabel, where Con bought some property. Afterwards they lived at "Chatham", Nimmitabel, which Con had built. Five girls and 1 boy were born to Con and Emily – Doris, Gladys, and Ethel. Maud, Vera and Cornelius. Con was a successful mixed farmer as well as a keen dealer, and a popular public figure in the district. The family moved to Bega in 1920 following the sale of the property and bought the Family Hotel where they, as a family, ran the business for some years – and again Con was prominent in civic affairs. In 1928 he went to Grafton and took out a lease on the Crown Hotel for 2 years. Before leaving Bega, Con and Emily were involved in a car accident on the Brown Mountain, and Con never did much good after that. He died on May 5, 1928 at the early age of 56 years. He was buried at Grafton. Emily kept the hotel for the last six months. All the family returned from the north. Emily did not make a home but lived for long periods with one and then another of the family. She was with Maud and Vera in Goulburn when she died on June 27, 1947.
PHOTOS

5. STEVE BUCKLEY (Son of JOHN AND CATHERINE BUCKLEY) 

Homestead and other Buildings of Mt. Emerald
From Steve Buckley and Annie Lynch

Family Gathering (Daniel Driscoll’s 80th birthday) From the back left  Edna Ingram, Basil Ingram, Les Poole Jack Burke Alice Ingram, Beth Allam……,…….Mary Burke, Michael O’Neill, Clandy Moore, Jerry and Isabel Buckley, Daniel Driscoll holding Isabel. Les Poole Paddy Mooney, Jack Ingram, Jack Buckley, Molly Driscoll, Bernie, Pat Tim, John Ingram From Steve Buckley and Annie Lynch	Jeremiah Buckley  Killed in action Gallipoli 31/10/1915 From Steve Buckley and Annie Lynch
Thomas O’Neill From Steve Buckley and Annie Lynch	Tim, Isabel, Bernie and Pat Buckley

Steve was born on November 19, 1873. He was the fifth child of John and Catherine,. He married Annie Lynch (born June 13, 1878) at Dalgety on April 23, 1902. They lived at "Norwood" Nimmitabel, where Steve had a farm. They had a family of 12, ten of whom – Eugene, Jerry, Catherine, Kathleen, Mary, Louise, Kevin (who died at 8 months), Phyllis, James Stephen (presumed dead on January 24, 1942 in Malaya during World War 11) and Les – were born when the family moved to Bemboka in 1921, and bought the dairy farm "Hillview". Dolour and Meg were born in 1921 and 1923. Steve and his family resided there until Steve’s death on July 8, 1944. Annie died on October 21, 1949 at Moss Vale. Stephen and Annie were a well respected and loved couple, both always ready to help others, Stephen worked on the Shire for many years in Bemboka and worked on the railway when in Nimmitabel

6. MARY BUCKLEY (daughter of JOHN AND CATHERINE BUCKLEY) 

Mary married John Manning at Myalla on October 19, 1898. Mary was the oldest girl and the sixth child of the family. John Manning’s parents had come from Portland USA. John and Mary lived at "Willow View" a dairying property, all the time of their marriage on part of the Michael Manning (his father) selection. Their five children were born there, four girls and one boy – Katie, Bell, Michael, May and Julia. After John’s death on January 23, 1907, Mary married James Henry Thornton at Bombala. They lived across the road from the old place. Mary and Jimmy had four children – 2 boys and 2 girls- Amelia, Stan, Buck and Marie.

Mary’s father John Snr, after selling his property at Myalla, and taking a second trip to Ireland to visit his family, lived with her. In fact, John Snr had chosen well because in later years he had along and painful illness and he could have none better than Mary with her natural nursing ability, to care for him. The family relied very much on Mary’s advice and help when anyone needed medical attention. This was especially valuable with the closest doctor 23 miles away in Cooma.

Mary died on October 12, 1946. Jimmy Thornton died on September 3, 1949.

7. CHARLES BUCKLEY (Son of JOHN AND CATHERINE BUCKLEY) 

  
Charles and Mary

Charles was the seventh child born to John and Catherine on July 10,1877. He married Mary Lewis at Nimmitabel on July 28, 1902. The couple lived in a house on the right-hand side of the railway line going towards Cooma about one mile out of Nimmitabel. There were six children – Marion, Grace, Valentine, Doreen, Jocelyn and Olga.

Charles like a lot of his brothers did quite a deal of shearing. The family lived to a big degree from their own parcel of land. When shearing was not in season he was a general labourer, sometimes on the Shire, and Department of Railways, building the line to Bombala.

The family moved from their small farm to Nimmitabel in 1923 and lived in Wolfe Street. In 1926 the family moved to Marrickville Sydney, but returned to Nimmitabel in 1928, except for Marion who had married in Sydney, and Grace who stayed there.

Mary died at the age of 52 years on July 16, 1936 at Nimmitabel. All the family in turn left Nimmitabel. Charles died at Nimmitabel on September 7, 1952, at the age of 75 years, while on holidays at Nimmitabel.

9. CATHERINE BUCKLEY (Daughter of JOHN AND CATHERINE BUCKLEY) 

Catherine married on the same day as her brother Charles, July 28, 1902 at St Andrew’s, Nimmitabel. She was the 9th child, the second girl, born on December 25, 1880. Her husband was Patrick William Burke, who was just a little over a year older than herself.

There were 3 boys and 6 girls in the family – Dorothy (Billie), Jack, Madge, Gus, Rex, Mary (Tont), Connie, Zoe and Gwen (Mickie)

Patrick owned "The Glen" for some time until he sold it to his brother John. The family then lived on the property "Willow Glen" Nimmitabel until 1925 when the homestead was burned down. The family lost everything. Included in the fire was the altar used to say Mass in the old family home at Myalla. There was also an old original family Bible. The few pages included in this booklet were part of the only few pages saved.

Patrick had conducted a mixed business farm until that time. They moved into the town for a short while then in 1926or 27 they went to Randwick to live for about 3 years. They returned to Nimmitabel, and lived in the town where Patrick did odd labouring jobs for some years. Then in 1941 they moved to Canberra. Catherine died after a long illness in 1954, and William died in 1968. 

11. ELLEN AGNES BUCKLEY (Daughter of JOHN AND CATHERINE BUCKLEY)

Back: Daphne, Bill, Annie
Front:  Kitty, John Burke,  Ellen [Buckley] Burke
Supplied by Rae Blyton nee Buckley

Ellen Agnes was the fourth youngest child born on January 20, 1884. She married John Thomas Burke, 2 years her elder, on August 13, 1908 at St Andrew’s Nimmitabel. The couple had three boys and three girls – Kitty, Bill, Frank, Annie, Daphne and John (who died when he was 2 years old) The children were born at the property "The Glen" Nimmitabel – down below the pumping station on the Bobundara Creek. In 1923/24 the family moved to a larger property at Cogill’s Flat on the Bega Road nine miles from town. They, like all the others, conducted a mixed farm. Afterwards the family moved back to town to Bombala Street below the Post Office for a short while. The couple retired to Moss Vale where Ellen died on April 15, 1960, and John died on October 3, 1970

14. WILLIAM BUCKLEY  (THE LAST OF THE TEN) (Son of JOHN AND CATHERINE BUCKLEY)

William and Catherine

William was the youngest child in the family and the last to marry. He was born on October 22, 1889 and was only 9 years old when his mother died. On the 15 April, 1912 he married Selina Blyton in Cooma.

The couple lived in a small house on his brother Con’s property. Shortly after, George, their first child was born, they moved to Goulburn. This was in 1914. Bill worked on the Railway. Jack, Granville, Kevin, Catherine, Audrey and Gerald were all born in Goulburn. Bill was only 51 years old when he died in Goulburn on 7 January, 1940.

Selina his wife, moved to Wollongong where she had the Illawarra Guest House. She later had flats at Woonona. After she raised her family and they had all married and settle down – Jack at Woomera, SA, then at Crookwell, George at Crookwell, Kitty at Tumut, Pope at Boorowa, Audrey at Crowther, Gerald and Kevin on the coast – Selina moved around among them, She died at Young on 11 October, 1975 aged 85 years.