Bartholomew COVENEY and Mary Ann HAYES

Rosewood History

Name: Bartholomew COVENEY
Occupation: Farmer; Boarding House Proprietor; Dealer
Birth: 1846 Kilpatrick, near Bandon, Cork, Ireland
Baptism: 18th October 1846, Innishannon, Cork, Ireland.  See his Baptismal Record
Land: 18th January 1876,  Homestead Selection, 38 acres agricultural and 162 acres pastoral: Franklyn (gained by ballot). £97/10 (Lot 45)  See Land Purchase
Land: 8th March 1876, Homestead Selection, 209 acres, Franklyn  £19/8 (Portion 84)  See Land Purchase
Land: 4th January 1884 – Certificate of Fulfilment of Conditions – 200 acres, Rosevale; 209 acres, Franklyn – granted
Land: 21st January 1902, Ipswich Land Offfice, Suburban Lot in County of Stanley, parish of Ipswich. (This portion was situated on the eastern side of the Bremer River, about a quarter of a mile northerly from Sadliers’s Crossing.) Portion 54, cost £12, containing 2a.1r. 23p.
Death: 19th July 1926, Rosewood, Queensland aged 80 years
Burial: 21st July 1926, Ipswich Cemetery
Religion: Roman Catholic
Father: William COVENEY (1783-1898 aged 115 years)  See William’s Obituary
Mother: Norry/Honora COGHLAN

Spouse: Mary Ann HAYES
Birth: 6th August 1853, Thurles, Tipperary, Ireland
Immigration: 18th August 1854, Genghis Khan arrived Moreton Bay from Liverpool 31st May
Death: 5th September 1932, Toowoomba, Queensland aged 79 years
Burial: Ipswich General Cemetery
Religion: Roman Catholic
Father: Michael HAYES
Mother: Ellen CALLAGHAN
Marriage: 19th November 1885, St Mary’s Catholic Church, Ipswich, Queensland

Children: 4
Mary Ellen COVENEY (1890-1957) = Thomas O’NEILL
Catherine COVENEY (1891-1971) = Hector Thomas ROSS
Bartholomew COVENEY (1893-1974)
Michael James COVENEY (1896-1952)

I’ve read that Bartholomew Coveney came to Queensland on the Golden Dream. The Golden Dream arrived 28th May 1863 at Brisbane Roads carrying 282 passengers from Liverpool and 339 from Cork, the latter coming under the auspices of Rev. Dr. Quinn’s Queensland Immigration Society. The Catholic population of Queensland, at the time of the 1861 census, was 7,676 out of a population of 30,059. Most of these were Irish born or the children of Irishmen. Dr. Quinn wanted that percentage to reach its maximum potential.

Unless Bartholomew was a stowaway, or he travelled under an assumed name, he is not listed among the passengers on the manifest I’ve been able to access, nor on the address written to Captain Griffiths and signed at sea by the intermediate and steerage passengers. Therefore I am reluctant to record his arrival on the Golden Dream as being accurate without sighting a record. I haven’t been able to find him in the immigration indexes either. In a letter written to Bartholomew from his father in Ireland in January 1891, William Coveney said he was writing to his son after his absence of almost 20 years.

In my work for this website it’s not possible for me to devote an unlimited amount of research time and resources to every unanswered question, so I welcome any information that confirms Bartholomew’s arrival on the Golden Dream or otherwise, at which time I will update this post.

Bartholomew, also known as Bart., had an older brother Thomas who arrived per Prince Consort in 1862 and was farming at Rosevale, and he had an older sister Catherine who arrived per Sunda in 1865. She married Michael Goggins and they lived in the Tannymorel district (Farm Creek, Warwick).

Mary Ann Hayes was only one year old when she immigrated with her parents. The Genghis Khan left the river Mersey at 8 a.m on 31st May 1854, crossed the Equator on 24th June, and completed her voyage from Liverpool to Moreton Bay in a record 75 days. It was reported that by far the majority came avowedly to better their pecuniary circumstances. The passengers were bought up to Ipswich by steamer.

The steamers travelling from Brisbane up the river to Ipswich by no means had clear navigation of the river in these days. It was not uncommon for a steamer to run aground. In trying to escape one obstacle, a steamer could unavoidably run foul of another. How tedious and annoying this may have been to immigrants who, after months at sea, just wanted to put their feet permanently on land. 

It wasn’t until the Mayor of Ipswich, Mr Benjamin Cribb, took up the cause in July 1865 at the same time as the first railway lines were being laid. He had seen with his own eyes the steamship Kate run aground in a shallow part of the river after trying to avoid an almost submerged object. It was in his opinion a subject of the greatest importance, for it was absolutely necessary for the prosperity of the district that the river should be kept free of all obstacles. He also wanted a permanent bridge to be constructed at the Brisbane end to replace a temporary drawbridge, which had become an intolerable nuisance, delaying steamers and passengers for half an hour while inconveniencing those who used the bridge. He said a ferry would have been a much quicker option for them. He wanted justice for Ipswich and he was successful in his agitations. River trips improved not only for immigrants but promoted the growth of recreational river excursions.

The Hayes family spent several years in Little Pocket in Ipswich before Mary Ann’s father, Michael Hayes, selected 97 acres 3 roods (Portion 24) on 22nd August 1870, in the parish of Ferguson. 

Bartholomew Coveney selected 409 acres of land at Rosevale in 1876 (Portions 45 and 84). His brother Thomas selected Portion 46.

In early May 1877, Bart. found that eight trees had been cut down from his selection (84). He took the culprit, William Burkitt, to the Ipswich Court for £5 damages, the value of the trees. Under Burkitt’s instruction the trees were cut down by John Sellars and Friedrich Wieland and taken onto Burkitt’s land and split into posts and rails for fencing. The bench found that there was no malicious intention on the part of William Burkitt, and dismissed the case. (1)

By 1883, Bart. had about twenty-six acres cultivated on this farm, much of it being a deep black sandy loam which produced excellent crops of either corn or potatoes. He married Mary Ann Hayes and bought her home in time for Christmas 1885.

At a meeting of the Mutdapilly Divisional Board in March 1888, the matter of repairing a culvert or bridge at Bart. Coveney’s place was discussed. The overseer’s report about it read as follows:-To put this bridge in passable repair it will require two piles driven, and backed up with logs, with wing logs on each side; the approach filled up and gravelled; also, the bank on the other side stopped from washing by being timbered up.

Cr. F. C. Kingston stated that the place was very dangerous. The Board was paying 10s. per week to Bartholomew  to allow those who would otherwise use the road to go through his property, so he wanted the work done asap. Tenders were called for Contract No. 13 – Driving two piles and other repairs to bridge, at Coveney’s, Rosevale.  (2)

In August, at another meeting of the Board, Bryan Wells the overseer, submitted a report re the gullies at Coveney’s stating that, as two bridges would be required, a deviation would be advisable if arrangements could be made with Bartholomew Coveney who owned the contiguous land. The clerk was instructed to talk with Mr. Coveney accordingly. (3)

Tenders were called for Contract No. 35 – Erecting two culverts. Six chains of forming and gravelling. Filling ruts, &c., at Hogan’s, Kelly’s, and Coveney’s, Rosevale.

In November this notice appeared in the Queensland Times. (4)

A labourer named Thomas Barry, who had worked for Bart. on his farm for 10s. per week with rations, sued him in the Harrisville Police Court for £10/15s. in wages allegedly due to him. Thomas claimed he had worked from 4th February 1889 until 4th July and only received 5s. when he left. Bart. had two witnesses and they endeavoured to prove that Thomas was not entitled to any wages. He maintained that Barry was engaged to work for his clothes and rations, with a few shillings thrown in when leaving the service. After hearing the evidence, the Bench awarded Thomas £2/15s. wages and 3s. 6d. costs.

It appears by the notice below, that the family were thinking of leaving Rosevale as early as 1897. In another similar notice in February 1898, additional information was given i.e. 30 acres were under cultivation (subdivided into two paddocks), which could be extended to a cultivation of 81 acres. There was a good house, kitchen, barn, stables and stockyard. The property was fenced and had every requisite for immediate farming, and could be taken with or without the standing crop.

Bart. and Thomas Hogan from Railway Street, Rosewood must have been friends. Thomas was a retired lengthsman on the railway. He found life hard after the death of his wife Harriet in 1894, and had been in failing health until he died in April 1903. A swagman named John Ryan had been living at the Hogan house for some time. When Bart. and Mary Ann were attending Thomas Hogan’s funeral in Ipswich, John Ryan stole one pair of blankets, a coat, a hat and other property valued at £2, the property of Bart. Coveney. Ryan took off for Laidley where he was soon apprehended and arrested. At the Rosewood Police Court he appeared before Messrs. M. Bensley and P. H. Adams. and pleaded “not guilty”. John Ryan stated on oath that the articles were given to him by Thomas Hogan prior to his death. After the evidence of Bartholomew Coveney (heir-at-law of T. Hogan), Mary Ann and the police, Ryan was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment with hard labour in Brisbane Gaol. (5)

Bartholomew was sole executor for Thomas Hogan’s estate. He inherited land described as Subdivision A of portion 106, county of Stanley, parish of Ipswich.

The Railway Boarding House and refreshment room (shop) were just up the road from the Hogan home, and around the corner in Albert Street. They were established by Mrs Elizabeth Lane on her land, Lot 30 of the Vance Estate in 1902. In July 1903, Bartholomew bought the property from Elizabeth Lane. He renovated the boarding house and continued operating it for that purpose. Fruit and refreshments were sold in the shop, adding meat at a later date.

Pieces of information gleaned from newspaper reports support William and Mary Dolling as being the tenants and managers of the boarding house for several years on Bart. Coveney’s behalf.

Bart. secured the right for two stalls at the Rosewood Sports on Monday, 9th November 1903. He supplied lunch at 2s. 6d. and 1s. 6d. and soft drink and fruit at town prices. If anyone wanted a place to stay, he had a boarding house near the railway station where meals were available at all hours and first class stables and paddocks to accommodate their horses.

At the 1906 Rosewood Show, Bart. won the weight-guessing competition when he guessed the exact weight of the bullock at 742lb. Mrs. H. Howell of Grandchester came 2nd with her guess at 743lb.

THE H.A.C.B. SOCIETY AT ROSEWOOD – 1909 (Wouldn’t it be good to see the original photo?)

Back row (from left to right): T. Tierney, M. Ringelstein, M. J. Carmody, R. Hogan, E. Howe, J. B. Sloane, C. Hagelemann, W. Price, G. Dale
Second row: B. Coveney, J. Redden (treasurer), W. Keane (vice-president), W. Bourke (president), Rev. Cashman, M. Bourke (past president), J. O’Shea (secretary), M. O’Shea.
Front row: D. Deberge, W. E. Sloane, J. Brown.

In 1909 another of Bart’s farms on the Rosewood-Mount Walker road was advertised for sale.

At the sale of Samuel Waight’s “Belmont Estate” in 1910, Bart. bought Lots 8, 9, 20, 24, 25 and 53.  BELMONT ESTATE

In February 1911 he sold the Rosewood-Mount Walker Road farm to Mrs. Edward Joseph Pender, the price paid being equal to those obtained for scrub farms in the district. Bart. gave up dairying and retired to Rosewood.

In March, Bartholomew and Mary Ann were among the residents who signed a petition urging the Council to apply to the Home Secretary to form an area embracing the township of Rosewood into a separate division with two representatives on the council. The other petitioners were W. J. Bennett, W. and T. T. Perrem, F. Glode, W. Berlin, W. Bade, E. J. Pender, J. F. Hall, M. Farrell, J. F. Collett, J. W. Evans, Mrs. E. Smith, Jeannie Pender, M. Bennett, George Brown, Samuel Wraight, W. E. Collett, Vaisey and Co., Bulcock Bros., Hall’s Limited, D. Akes, Wm. Ruhno, W. Walsh, J. Thompson and H. Collett.

At a meeting of the A. & H. Association in the Rosewood Farmers’ Hall on 13th April 1911, Messrs. B. Coveney, T. O’Shea, and C. Greet were proposed as new members.

Mary Ann Coveney also had a farm. She inherited her father’s farm at Lanefield (Portion 24) in 1896 and she purchased 64 acres of land adjoining that farm (Portion 1V) at a sale of Crown land held by Mr. M. B. Salisbury at the Lands Office in Ipswich on Tuesday 14th May 1907. (maps below).

Bart. bought the old court-house and police buildings at Rosewood for £34 and removed them to the farm. So the Coveneys had a farm at Lanefield where they ran dairy cows. In March 1922, Mary Ann wrote to the Council claiming 10s. for a kerb log taken from her property by the overseer.

In July 1911, Bart. bought the land (Lot 31) on the north side of his shop in Albert Street from Ellen Quinn, widow of William Joseph Quinn. William was a saddler in Ipswich and he had a branch shop in Rosewood until ill-health forced his retirement in 1901.

After Bart. bought the land, he engaged Norman Mackay to remove an old building that had been used as a dwelling from the property, and take it to the Lanefield farm. Mr. R. J. Murphy was employed to build a new house on the site. It was tenanted by William and Mary Dolling, who also ran this house as a boarding house until they ultimately moved to their own premises. After the Dollings left, Nurse Annie Hines operated a private hospital there for about a year, before it reverted to a residence.

In the early morning of 8th July 1912, Coveney’s shop was destroyed by fire. You can read an article about the shop and the fire, and see a map of the Albert Street properties in another post on my website. COVENEY’S SHOP

Bartholomew also acquired Lots 32 and 33, previously owned by Absolom Loney (now 25-27 Royal George Lane, Rosewood). Mary Ann bought Lot 29, previously owned by David Hopper and Robert Kelly (now 29 Railway Street). These lots were originally part of the Vance Estate.

At the Rosewood Police Court in January 1913, before Messrs. W. E. Collett and J. Muller, a prohibition order was taken out against Bartholomew Coveney for 12 months. (Prohibits the sale or supply of liquor to an individual and the consumption of liquor.)

Mary Ann put her farm at Lanefield up for sale in 1917. It did not sell and she still owned the property at the time of her death.

Bartholomew died in July 1926. The funeral service for this pioneer was held at St Brigids Catholic Church in Rosewood, the cortege leaving the Ipswich Railway Station at 11.45a.m. for the Ipswich Cemetery. Rev Father M’Kenna officiated at the graveside. Bart. was one of the foundation members of St Brigid’s branch of the H.A.C.B Society and several members in full regatta, marched before the hearse.

He was survived by his four children, two daughters Mrs T. O’Neil and Mrs H. Ross, and two sons, Bartholomew (bank manager, Nerang) and Michael (farmer, Rosewood). He left his sons £1850. His elder brother Thomas Coveney (Albion) and his sister Catherine Goggins (Warwick) also survived him.

Mary Ann was noted for her kind and charitable disposition. She outlived her husband by 6 years and died at her home in Albert Street in 1932. She had been in failing health for some time during which she had the spiritual ministrations of Rev. Father O’Rourke and the Sisters of Mercy. Her funeral took place from St. Brigid’s Church then continued via train to the Ipswich Cemetery.

She left behind her daughters, Mary Ellen O’Neill (Rosewood) and Catherine Ross (Mundubbera) and two sons, Bartholomew  (manager of the Commercial Bank of Australia, Monto) and James (Rosewood). There were also three or more grandchildren.

Mary Ann left her estate to Michael James Coveney and Mary Ellen O’Neill, part of which were Portions IV and 24, parish of Ferguson, and resubdivision 29 of subdivision 2 of resubdivision 1 of subdivision 2 of Free Selection 7L, parish of Walloon; both in the county of Churchill.

© Jane Schy, 2024

References:
Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915
Queensland, Australia, Passenger Lists, 1848-1912
Australia, City Directories and Almanacs 1845-1948: Bart. Coveney 1892 Farmer, Rosevale

Qld Towns Directory for Rosewood
1904 – Coveney Barth. bdg. house
1907 – Coveney Barth. bdg. house
1911 – Coveney Barth, farmer
1924 – Coveney Barth, dealer

Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980
1903 – Coveney Bartholomew, Mutdapilly, Farmer
Coveney, Mary Ann, Mutdapilly, Domestic Duties
1913 – Coveney Bartholomew, Rosewood, Farmer
Coveney, Mary Anne, Rosewood, Home Duties

(1) Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, Saturday 26 May 1877, page 4
(2) Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, Tuesday 20 March 1888, page 5
(3) Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, Tuesday 7 August 1888, page 3
(4) Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, Saturday 10 November 1888, page 2
(5) Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, Thursday 7 May 1903, page 3