Matthew Cleary
Matthew was the son of Thomas Cleary and Mary Lynch. Matthew was born in Miltown Malbay in County Clare, Ireland on 1 December 1839, and he was raised in the area.
Matthew married Sarah (Sally) O'Brien in 1861 at Creegh, Co. Clare. Her parents were John O'Brien & Ellen Mullins. According to Sarah's death certificate, her father was a farmer. Sally was only 17 years of age so that indicates that her birth in Mullagh, Co. Clare, would have been in about 1844.
Information about their children is not certain, but probably names and ages were :
- James Cleary, born in Miltown Malbay on 5 January 1862 and died in the same year.
- Mary Agnes Cleary, born in Miltown Malbay on born 21 October 1863; other information provided separately.
- Michael Cleary, born in Miltown Malbay on 17 September 1865. He married Mary Baldwin, a widow (born Mary Donovan), on 28 May 1900 in the Catholic Cathedral in Perth, Western Australia. Mary had
3 living children from her marriage to Denis Baldwin. According to their marriage certificate, Mary was a hotel keeper in Boulder City in the Western Australian gold fields, and Michael was a miner. They moved to New South Wales where Michael was a farmer. Mary died in 1922 in Orange district of New South Wales. Michael was admitted to the Little Sisters of the Poor Home, at Randwick in Sydney, on 17 June 1939 and died there on 11 October 1943.
- Ellen Agnes Cleary, born in Miltown Malbay on 15 August 1867; other information provided separately.
- Honora Cleary, born in Miltown Malbay on 11 August 1869; died on board the ship Eastern Monarch off Townsville, Queensland, on 23 October 1883 and was buried on Magnetic Island (see below);
- Bridget Nora Cleary, born in Miltown Malbay on 28 September 1871; married Joseph George Newman on 12 February 1896. Children were Horace Wyben Newman (born 6 December 1896, never married) and Margaret Mary Newman (born 30 June 1905, never married). Bridget died 4 November 1929.
- Thomas Matthew Cleary, born in Miltown Malbay on 20 December 1873. Never married. Index of Mining Accidents records that Tom was involved in a mining accident on 26 August 1898 at Croydon where he worked for Mt Morgan Ltd. His death certificate records that he was a retired contractor. He died in Fairview Convalescent Home, Brisbane, on 10 January 1959.
- Catherine Cleary, born in Miltown Malbay on 5 August 1876; information provided separately.
- Margaret Imel Cleary, born in Miltown Malbay on 30 June 1879; information provided separately.
A family story is that Matthew was involved with the Irish Home Rule Movement and was supposed to have gone to confession and the priest contacted the Irish Police . The family left Ireland in a hurry. Another story is Matthew was sent to jail and on his release the band played.
The family emigrated to the colony of Queensland in Australia. They sailed from Glasgow on 20 July 1883 aboard the Eastern Monarch and arrived at Townsville on 23 October 1883. There was a measles epidemic on board and their ship was quarantined off Townsville. Here 14-year-old Honora died from enteric fever from the measles. According to the ship's diary she was buried on Magnetic Island the same day, 23 October 1883. Matthew's signature is found on his daughter's death certificate, showing that Matthew could write his signature.
One of the other passengers maintained a diary of the journey which conveys a wealth of information about the journey from Glascow to Townsville. See the diary of Charles Fleming which has been published by his great great grandson, Jim Fleming. The diary entry for the day of Honora's death is:
TUESDAY 23RD OCTOBER 96TH DAY
Cleveland bay, last night we did not sleep much as we were up every now and again looking for the lighthouse on cleveland cape sail was shortened so that would enter the bay in daylight, one of the single women about 16 years of age died this morning with fever and about 10 am a pilate with 4 men rowing came out and met usin the bay the first question he asked was if we had any distress on board the doctors answer was fever and chicken pox and as soon as the pilate steped on the ladder he ordered the men to cleare of and report our case, and about half past 11 the anchor was droped, i saw it raised when we were leaving greenock and i was on the forecastle this morning and saw it drop into the water it draged for a good bit and then it brought us to a stop and the ship swung round. and in the middle of the day the young womans corpse were taken in a boat to the Magnetic Iland and burried there the 2nd mate was in command, in the afternoon a small steamer came out to us with a doctor and several other on board also plenty of fresh beef and vegetables and potatoes they also handed us a few newspapers in which we saw the assination of carrey the informer, in the evening a small yaught came out and flung a rope up to us but they were immeadietly ordered away the pilate shouted if they came back he would put them in quarrantine, any letter that the little steamer took away had to be fumigated and at night it was cheary to see all the light s of the town, we are about 6 miles out from the shore. We are fully a week earliere than we were expected, the pilot says we have made the quickest passage that has been made to townsville.
The family went to far North Queensland to the Deighton River, near Laura, west of Cooktown, and over 300 km north of Cairns. In modern times few people live there, but in the 1880's it was part of the busy Palmer River goldfields. Matthew's wife Sarah died from consumption of the lungs (tuberculosis) in Deighton River on 25 November 1887, after 14 days sickness. There was a magisterial enquiry held the same day but no official record can be found at the Archives. Her age was then given as 40yrs. In 1888, Deighton River had 2 hotels - the construction of the Cooktown railway line and a bridge over the river.
In 1888, Matthew was a labourer. At a later time he was in Coen (250 km north of Laura). It it is thought he may have been mining there when he became ill. Matthew died at the Cook District Hospital in Cooktown on 22 September 1900 at 63 years of age. His death certificate records that he was a miner and died from malar fever; the certificate provides no information at all ab out family. Matthew is buried in the Cooktown Cemetery.
Thanks to Lyn Williams for providing much of the above information.
Lyn's husband, Terry Williams, is a descendent of Matthew Cleary
