The wanderings of John McCarthy

When you research a family story for a person living in the 1800’s and even into the early 1900’s you don’t expect a person to move very far in their life. There are some however that move due to circumstances such as running from the law, running from a family or external events such as the gold rush, land rush or fighting in a war .

Of all the people I have researched John McCarthy is far ahead of anyone in the number of places he has lived. When this happens it takes extra research and evidence to confirm it is the same person and not another person of the same name.

Here is the timeline of John McCarthy 1845 – 1911. Let me know if you have seen anyone with more home towns than John.

1845 – Darling Downs John McCarthy was born in 1845 on the Darling Downs at a time when it was a fledgling town. His father was a carpenter and workers were need to help build a settlement.

1849 – Yass John’s brother Patrick is born.

1853 – Kilmore The next three children are born here with the last child Thomas being born in 1858.

1860 – Cooma John’s mother Mary dies. His father returns to Queensland.

1877 – Young John marries Eliza Fox. The family don’t consider him good enough to be her husband. The gold rush attracted thousands to Young. John is still a miner at the time of their marriage. Their first four children are born in Young. The second daughter Francis dies at 20 months old in 1882.

1884 – Memegong Station near Young Child number six, Catherine is born on the property.

1885 – Dubbo The next two children, George and Clarinda, are born in Dubbo. Clarinda in 1889.

1890 – Peak Hill John deserts his wife Eliza and five children in the mining town and is chased by Police. He is believed to be in Brewarrina or Bourke. He is returned to Peak Hill and discharged. His son William is born in February 1891. It is unknown if he remains with the family. Eliza dies at Peak Hill in 1895. The children live with family in Young.

1901 – Longreach John changes his name and marries Sara Ottery at Longreach registry office.

1902 – Mount Marlow Sarah dies as they travel.

1906 – Morven John is on the electoral roll living at the Royal Hotel

1910 – Warwick John registers a birth of a son Francis Walter McCarthy who is born in 1908 in Inglewood. The mother is Elizabeth Petersen. He is living in Mitchell.

1911 – Mitchell The birth of John’s son with Elizabeth, Collin John McCarthy. He marries Elizabeth soon after. He is 68, she is 26. Elizabeth returns to her hometown of Mackay. John is in Mitchell and ill with turberculosis. He sends her a final letter signing off with love.

1911 – Goodna John is sent to Goodna Asylum to live his last days. His death certificate has enough details to match him to the father of the McCarthy children of Young.