John Harney (abt. 1840 - 1889)

Born about 1840 in County Cork, Ireland [uncertain]

Husband of Joanna Annie (Regan) Harney — married 30 Aug 1864 in Cork City, Cork, Ireland

Descendants

Died 8 Sep 1889 at about age 49 in Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia

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Biography

This profile is part of the Harney Name Study.

From his death record, John Harney's parents were John Harney and Mary Flannigan, thought to be from Galway, Ireland. See Research Note below.

John Harney he married Joanna Anne O'Regan aka Regan on 30 Aug 1864 at St Patrick’s, Cork City, Cork, Ireland. John Harney was one of the first -if not the first- pioneer to settle in the Sarina district of Mackay. John was born in Cork in 1841, the son of John Harney, a soldier, from Ballinasloe, Galway. Annie was born 13 Jun 1837, the daughter of Timothy Regan aka O’Regan and Ellen Ahearn. Annie was baptized on 17 Jun with sponsors: Timothy Cremen? and Joanna Keily.

In those early days, John Harney took an active part in public affairs, and occupied the position of Mayor of Mackay in 1885. A 1912 publication “The Jubilee of Mackay” published by the Daily Mercury in August 1912 states the following: “Mr. John Harney was a resident of Mackay until his death in 1889. He followed up stock and agricultural pursuits, holding properties in the Plane Creek district previous to the Central Mill being erected there. Mr. Harney took a keen interest in everything connected with Mackay, and was for a number of years a member of the Town Council, occupying the Mayoral chair in 1885; also member of several local public bodies. Some of his family are at present residing this district.”

Death records show he died 8 Sept 1889 and was buried in the Roman Catholic Section #1 (Row 14 Plot 28) of the Old Mackay Cemetery. The following inscription was recorded by members of the GSQ Mackay: “In Loving Memory of /JOHN HARNEY / died 8 - 1889, age 49 years/ Also his wife /ANNIE / died 10-12-1905, age 68 years.”

Children of John and Anne include:

• John (1865-1935);
• a daughter who died in infancy;
• Patrick Frank (c.1871-1939);
• Eleanor Mary "Nell" Harney, a music teacher;
• Maurice (1877-1935); and
• Edward Farleigh Harney (1880-1939).

His obit is found on Find-a-Grave as follows:

Messrs. C. Wade Brown and John Harney (of the firm Wade Browne and Harney) arrived in Mackay in 1868, taking over Bolingbroke Station, where they resided for about 12 years, when the property was disposed of to the present owner, Mr. Graham Turner. Mr. Wade Browne left for England in 1880, remaining there for six years. On his return to Mackay he followed up agricultural pursuits, was a director and shareholder in the Racecourse Central Mill, and took an active interest in all local concerns. Mr Wade Browne's name has always been remembered in Mackay as a staunch supporter of every charitable and deserving movement. He is at present living at Medlow, New South Wales. Mr. John Harney was a resident of Mackay until his death in 1889. He followed up stock and agricultural pursuits, holding properties in the Plane Creek district previous to the Central Mill being erected there. Mr Harney took a keen interest in everything connected with Mackay, and was for a number of years a member of the Town Council, occupying the Mayoral chair in 1885; also member of several local public bodies. Some of his family are at present residing in this district.

It is with feelings of regret that we have to record the death of Mr. John Harney which took place in town yesterday afternoon. Mr. Harney had been for some time in failing health, and recently came to town in order to be able to have medical advice, which however was unavailing to stay the progress of his malady. For some days past he was in a critical condition, and he finally succumbed yesterday afternoon.

In Mr. Harney's death, the district loses one of the pioneers of Mackay, and a gentleman who was for many years associated with the progress of the place. He was for a considerable period a member of the Municipal Council and passed the Mayoral chair, and subsequently to this he took up his residence at his property near Plane Creek, since which time he became a member of the Pioneer Divisional Board, a proof that in his later years he was by no means inclined to retire from the duty of taking his part in local public affairs.

It was during the time when he was in the Council that the Central Mill movement was initiated and he took an active share in it, becoming one of the shareholders and a director of the Racecourse Central Mill. In his public capacity he made few, if any enemies, his genial temperament causing his strongest opponents to feel friendly towards him while differing from him on points of public policy, and privately he was highly esteemed by a large circle of friends and acquaintances who will sympathize sincerely with his bereaved widow and family on the loss which they have sustained. The Mackay Standard, Monday Evening, September 9, 1889.

Name: John Harney. Born abt 1840. County Cork, Ireland.

Died 8 September 1889. Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia. Obituary in The Mackay Standard, Monday Evening, September 9, 1889.

Residence Barrack Stream, Cork, Cork, Ireland.

Buried Mackay, Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia.

Marriage St Patricks, Cork City. Witnesses: Timothy O'Regan and Ellen Cosgrove. 30 Aug 1864. Cork City, Cork, Ireland.

RESEARCH NOTES: Australian records show the parents of John Harney to be John Harney and Mary Flannigan. A search of Cork, Ireland records cannot confirm this. Instead there is a John Harney born in 1841 in Cork City, the son of John Harney and Honora Buckley.

There is a person named Mary Flannigan born 26 Mar 1803, St Mary's, Cork city, Cork, Ireland, the daughter of Jms. Flannigan and Honor Sheehan. Further research is need to confirm if she is the mother of John Harney.

Sources

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/193794045/john-harney . A photo of John Harney is published on findagrave.
• Civil Registration Marriages Index, 1864, Cork, Ireland. Vol. 15, p.108, FHL Film Number 101249.
• Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 30 Aug 1864, Cork and Ross, St Patrick´s, Cork city, Ireland