Rosewood History Qld.
Rosewood Pioneers

Bernard SLOANE, Mary Ann GALLAGHER, Margaret DWYER

© Jane Schy 2022
First published 17th August, 2022

Name: Bernard SLOANE aka Barney
Occupation: Bricklayer; Carrier; Proprietor of the Rising Sun Hotel
Birth: c.1822,  Belfast, Antrim, Ireland
Immigration: 9th March 1833,  the Surrey 11 (Convict Ship) arrived Port Jackson, New South Wales
Land Purchase: 17th July 1858, 42 acres at Jeebropilly, Churchill, New South Wales (at the Six-mile near the main Toowoomba road)
Death: 27th February 1888, Rosewood, Queensland, Australia aged 66 years 6 months.
Cause: Heart Failure
Religion: Roman Catholic
Burial: 28th February 1888, Ipswich General Cemetery
Father: Peter SLOANE (Cooper)
Mother: Catherine LINNE

1st Spouse: Mary Ann GALLAGHER
Occupation: Child’s Maid/Nurse Maid
Birth: c.1821 Castletown, County Tyrone, Ireland
Immigration: 31st May 1841, the Moffatt arrived at Sydney Cove, New South Wales from Plymouth 4th January
Death: 14th December 1857, Laidley Creek, Queensland aged 35 years
Burial: 15th December 1857, Ipswich Cemetery
Religion: Protestant
Marriage: 25th May 1842, St Michael’s Roman Catholic Church, Kelso, Bathurst, New South Wales
Father: William GALLAGHER
Mother: Jane (possibly IRWIN)

Children: 7
Peter SLOANE (1843-1923) = Emelia YOUNG
Jane SLOANE (1844-1854)
William SLOANE (1845-1911) = Mary Ann MCNAMARA
Patrick SLOANE (1846-1884?)
Catherine Isabella Agnes SLOANE (1847-1900) = Michael PENDER
Rose Anna SLOANE (1850-1938) = George James BRASSINGTON
Patrick William SLOANE (1851-1857)
Jane Anne SLOANE (1854-1935) = John KNOX

2nd Spouse:  Margaret DWYER
Occupation: Kitchen Maid (1841); Proprietor of the Rising Sun Hotel
Baptised: 27th April 1823, Bansha and Kilmoyler, Tipperary, Ireland
Immigrated: 11th March 1841, the Glenswilly arrived at Sydney Cove, New South Wales
Death: 20th August 1907, Rosewood, Queensland, Australia aged 84 years
Burial: 22nd August 1907, Ipswich General Cemetery
Father: William DWYER (Farmer)
Mother: Cath LANDERS
Marriage: 8th August 1859, St Mary’s Catholic Church, Ipswich (Rev W. McGinty)

Children: 2
Jeremiah Bernard SLOANE (1863-1919) = Catherine FARRELL
Mary Ellen SLOANE  (1865-1948) = Michael FARRELL

Bernard aged 10, his brothers Patrick aged 14 and Charles aged 12 and his sister Catherine aged 7, landed at Port Jackson on 9th March, 1833 with their mother Catherine. They were passengers on the “Surry 2”, one of five ships that bought female convicts to Sydney in 1833. They were among the free settlers on board the ship and came to join their father Peter, who had been convicted for counterfeiting a Scotch bank note with intent to defraud certain of his Majesty’s subjects.

Peter was sentenced to transportation for life and arrived in 1823 on the Convict ship “Regalia”. He was assigned to Catherine shortly after she arrived in May 1833. Catherine must have bought some land because being assigned meant that a convict was sent to work for a private landowner, usually far away from Sydney. They lived in the Hunter Valley. In July 1841 they were living at Muswellbrook when Peter was granted a Conditional Pardon.

At some stage Bernard, aka Barney, went to Bathurst, probably for work. There were other Sloane’s in the district. One was a very large landholder, James Sloane, who farmed sheep at Warwick Plains. It would be interesting to know if there was any connection at all.

It was here that Barney met and married Mary Ann Gallagher.

Mary Ann Gallagher, aged 20, arrived in Sydney in 1841 under the care of her cousin James Gallagher, a Farm Servant aged 21. James could read and write and Mary could read. The records show their religion was Protestant. On board the Moffatt were 321 immigrants under Captain Gilbert. The Moffatt was used as a convict ship and also as an immigrant ship and sailed to the Australian colonies between 1834 and 1842.

Some interesting things accompanied them on the voyage. One was a letter from R. Bourke, Esq., (an agent in London) to Mr. R. Therry. Esq., Secretary to the Statue Committee, informing him that their statue and granite pedestal were completed and ready for shipping. It was a colossal bronze statue of Lieutenant General Sir Richard Bourke by eminent sculptor Edward Hodge Bailey and it was to be erected at Sydney as a tribute to Bourke’s administration from 1831 to 1837.

There were also some Hereford bulls on the ship which had been bred in Durham. They were described as really splendid animals. It was deemed important in that an infusion of Hereford blood could improve the Colonial stock and they were highly sought after.

James and Mary Ann travelled to the Bathurst area to settle. Mary Ann Gallagher married Bernard Sloane there in 1842.

Eventually, Barney and Mary Ann and their infant son Peter, moved from Bathurst to Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, Queensland which at that time was a very busy centre. Charles and Patrick came with them. South Brisbane was practically the terminus of all the country.

Barney was a bricklayer by trade, Patrick was a cooper and Charles was a butcher. Boiling down establishments were trading well and provided plenty of work for the brothers. Messers McKenzie & Co, John Campbell, and Robert King were proprietors of three of these. “Boiling down” involved rendering fat from animal carcasses to produce tallow, which was used to make soap and candles etc.. Sadly, Patrick died at Kangaroo Point about September 1844.

The other brothers found themselves in strife on 26th July 1848.
Assault – William A. Biggs charged Bernard Sloan, Charles Sloan, and William Weston with assaulting him, on Wednesday the 26th ultimo. The parties all reside in South Brisbane. It appeared from the evidence of Michael Slavin, that in the morning of the day in question he went to nail up some palings which separates his ground from that of Thomas Boyland, and while in the act of doing so the defendant, Bernard Sloan, jumped across the fence, knocked him down, and kicked him; the defendant Weston, to whom Slavin appealed for assistance, urging Barnard Sloan to continue kicking him. Subsequently, the complainant Biggs arrived, and commenced dragging Sloan off Slavin, which induced the active hostility of Weston, who struck Biggs, and a tussle ensued between them in the course of which Weston came to the ground. Shortly after this, when Weston had again got upon his legs, Mrs. Slavin came to the rescue, and assisted Biggs in dragging Bernard Sloan off her husband. While a boy went after, the constable, Barney Sloan struck Biggs two or three times. Weston then called Charles Sloan, who caught Biggs by the hair, and knocked him down. Afterwards Weston held Biggs by the hair while the two Sloans kicked him, and a general melee seems to have taken place, until the rumour that the constables were approaching induced the defendants to desist. Such is the substance of Slavin’s statement. The defendants severally denied its truth, so far as the aggression was said to be on their side, which they attempted to shift to that of the complainant and Slavin. They were sentenced to pay a fine of twenty shillings each, and to find sureties to keep the peace for six months. [1]

About 1850 the Sloanes came to Ipswich and started a butchering business on the corner of Brisbane and Ellenborough Streets, the future site of the Queensland Times (newspaper).

Barney and Charles sold their business to a carrier, Michael Ford, for a team of white bullocks which Ford referred to as his “white mice”. Ford then established his butchering business on the corner next to Steven’s Saddlery Emporium.

The family moved across to the other side of Brisbane Street to the land where Messrs Bostock, auctioneers, later established their premises. They lived in a wooden cottage on the site where Mr Thomas Palmer operated his wine rooms. T. H. Palmer’s Wine Crypt was on the corner of West Street and Brisbane Street (the future site of Golebys). Barney and Mary Ann had eight children. Barney’s parents came up from Sydney and his father established a cooperage on the property.

Barney and Charles became carriers traveling out to the Condamine. Barney was trusted by all of the storekeepers and consequently spent a lot of time heading out west.

Their parents returned to Sydney where their father died in 1855, followed by their mother in 1856. Then Barney’s wife died in December 1857. Mary Ann’s death was try result of an accident that happened a few yards from Laidley Creek. She was thrown from a dray and one of the wheels passed over her ankle completely shattering it. Mary Ann was taken to a nearby hut and Dr. Challinor was sent for. He found that it would be necessary to amputate her leg below the knee. She suffered for 20 days before she finally succumbed to the consequences of her injury. One can only imagine what medical treatment and pain relief was available in 1857.

Her funeral attracted some interest as reported in the Moreton Bay Courier, 19 December 1857.
Mrs B. Sloane who had her leg shattered by a dray, a short time back, as noticed in a former communication, died on Monday morning; she was buried yesterday. At the funeral a scene of confusion was occasioned by an injudicious attempt on the part of Rev. Mr. Deacon to conduct the burial service in a catholic enclosure. It appears that some of the family are catholics and some protestants. Mr. Deacon was requested to officiate on this occasion, and entered the ground for that purpose, but as he was about to commence speaking, he was interrupted by several persons and compelled to leave the place. It is very clear that the friends of the deceased were decidedly in fault. If they wished for the services of a protestant minister, they had no right to make use of the catholic buying-ground. Had they thought of this in time, the unseemly and annoying occurrence might have been prevented.

Barney bought 42 acres of land at Jeebropilly in July 1858 (Portion No 99) and later acquired Portion 100, a total of 92 cares.
He married again in 1859, the same year that his brother Charles died.

When his new wife Margaret sailed for Australia on 26th November 1840, England was rejoicing at the birth of Queen Victoria’s and Prince Alfred’s first child. Princess Victoria Adelaide Mary Louisa was born just days before Margaret sailed. While the Glenswilly was anchored in Lavender Bay at Sydney Cove, a boat capsized near the ship. Two two women and a boy were rescued and bought to the ship but the two men didn’t make it.

Barney and Margaret (pictured in main photo) shifted their residence further down Ellenborough Street and two more children were born. The family stayed there until the Southern and Western Railway was built and, as a consequence, they needed to move their carrying business westward. They ended up in Dalby where Barney kept the hotel, the “Sportsman’s Arms” in Cunningham Street (12th May 1874 -1876). His son Peter continued with the carrying business. Peter eventually bought the “One Mile Hotel” in West Ipswich in January 1896 and ran it until 190, after which he lived privately next door to the hotel.

Opposite Zaunders’ corner stood the Sportsman’s Arms, kept by P. Dowling, and afterwards by Barney Sloan, a bullock teamster, who came from Ipswich. “Barney” was a great character, and was very proud of the high quality and genuineness of his rum. He ultimately returned to Ipswich. [The Dalby Herald,  23 December 1926]

Barney came to Rosewood in January 1880 after he purchased the Rising Sun Hotel. He ran it until he died in 1888. He left the hotel to Margaret and Jeremiah (Bernard jnr): Subdivisions 1 and 2 of portion 274, county of Churchill, parish of Walloon and £603 to Peter Sloane, of Blackall, and Jeremiah Bernard Sloane, of Rosewood Gate.

After his death his widow Margaret became the Licensee until she passed it over to their son Jeremiah Bernard and his wife Catherine nee Farrell. Bernard jnr ran the hotel until his death in 1919, after which Catherine “Cissy” took over.

Margaret Sloane passed away in August 1907.

The sudden death of Mrs M. Sloane (mother of Mr B. Sloane, of the Rising Sun Hotel in this township) came as a great shock to her many friends, for, though she had been ailing for about a week with bronchitis and influenza, her demise was not expected.

The deceased, who was a native of Balsh, Ireland, was married in Ipswich, in 1861, to the late Mr. B. Sloane, by the Rev. W. McGinty. They came to Rosewood in 1880 and took over the Rising Sun Hotel from Mr T. Brennan, now of Calvert, who had leased it from its then owner, Mr. J. Ryan. Mr. Sloane sen. died eight years afterwards.

Mrs Sloane leaves one son and one daughter, the former being the well known hotel proprietor, and the latter is Mrs M. Farrell, also of Rosewood. Besides these there are several step children of whom Mr Peter Sloane, of the One-Mile, Ipswich, is one.

The internment took place on Thursday last at the Ipswich Cemetery. There was a large concourse of mourners and the last sad rites at the graveside were performed by the the Rev. W. Cashman. The coffin, which was of polished cedar, beautifully mounted with silver, was carried to the hearse by members of the local Hibernian Lodge and as the cortege neared the State School, the children attending it were lined up in the grounds and stood in respectful silence until it had passed- a little token of kindly sympathy by Captain Watkins (head teacher) which was appreciated by the sorrowing friends.

The deceased was of a quiet retiring disposition, but was very warm hearted and will be much missed by her circle of intimate friends.

Telegrams of sympathy were received from Mr. J. Pender (Chairman of the Rosewood Shire Council) and Mrs J. Walsh (of Warwick). Handsome wreaths were sent by the following: The local Hibernian Lodge, Mr and Mrs J. Farrell, Mr and Mrs W. E. Thomas and family, Mr and Mrs Burns, Mr and Mrs Jardine, Mr and Mrs Sorrell, Mr and Mrs Reddan, Mr and Mrs Crane, Mr and Mrs Lound, and Mr and Mrs Thompson. [2]

More on the Sloanes:-
Charles Sloane married Elizabeth Ann GRAY in 1845 at Kangaroo Point. They lived in Brisbane Street, Ipswich and had four children. Charles died in 1859 and is buried in the Ipswich Cemetery.
Catherine Ballah Sloane married John BARNES in East Maitland in 1841. They came to Queensland and lived in Mary Street, Ipswich. They had no children but fostered the first born daughter (Jane) of Charles and Elizabeth. Catherine died in 1872 and is buried in the Ipswich Cemetery.

More on the Gallaghers:-
Mary Ann’s cousin James Gallagher married Elizabeth Scott in the Wesleyan Methodist Church, Hill End, Bathurst in 1851. He had selected land at Capertree, about an hour away (nowadays) from Bathurst. James and Elizabeth Gallagher’s home at Capertree was known as “Airly”.

The spelling of the surname was also recorded as Galagher in records. James and Elizabeth are buried in the Gallagher family private cemetery at Capertree. James’s parents were Patrick and Margaret.

Mary Ann’s brother, also named James Gallagher, a Farm Servant aged 20, and wife Jane nee Young, arrived on the Brothers 11th March 1841. His religion was also recorded as Protestant. He farmed and died at “Rock Vale”, Myall Creek near Bingara in 1876. Jane died at Warialda in 1892.

References:
[1] Moreton Bay Courier (Brisbane, Qld), Saturda,y 5 August 1848, page 2
[2] [Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, Tuesday 27 August 1907, page 4]
Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915
New South Wales, Australia, Assisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1828-1896
Australia, Convict Records Index, 1787-1867
Queensland Registry Birth, Marriages, Deaths
New South Wales Registry Birth, Marriages, Deaths
Trove – National Library Australia
Ipswich City Council Cemetery Records
Australian Electoral Rolls