Bernard Fox : Short Biography

Bernard (Barney) FOX was born 24 June 1832 at Clontyclay, near Clonmore, parish of Dungannon/Killyman, County Armagh, IRELAND. Bernard's parents were Patrick FOX (c 1805-1839) a bricklayer and his wife, Fanny (Euphemia) McELINDON (c1810-1840) of Derrycrew.

Bernard had one sister Catherine FOX/GRAHAM (b c1830 Armagh d 29 Jan 1920 Drummoyne NSW) and one brother, John FOX (b 20 Sep 1835). Their father, Patrick, died in September 1839 and their mother, Fanny, was murdered on 27 May 1840 near their home at Derryhubert.  A reward of 100 pounds was offered for the conviction of the murder of their mother, but no one was ever found.

The three young orphans Catherine 10, Bernard 8 and John 7 entered the Armagh Union Worhouse on 17 February 1842. They are recorded as- orphans from Killyman Parish and were in a healthy condition on their arrival. The children lived in the workhouse for years before Catherine sailed per EARL GREY to the colony of New South Wales arriving on the 6 October 1848. She married the widower/baker Archibald GRAHAM on 14 Oct 1852 in Sydney and two years later on 26 Sep 1854 paid a deposit of 5 pounds to sponsor her brother, Bernard, to New South Wales. Catherine had eleven children to Archibald GRAHAM (miller in Dapto and Wollongong) as well as raising his children from his marriage to Mary CAMPBELL.

Bernard FOX  arrived in Syney per the COMMORDORE PERRY on 1 May 1856. On 11 May 1858 Bernard purchased 60 acres of land at Goondarin Creek near Wollongong. He married Eliza KEARNEY (b 11 Nov 1833) on 17 May 1858 at the old St Marys Cathedral in Sydney. Eliza was the daughter of Daniel KEARNEY a farmer from Corrinshigo, west of Newry and his wife Sarah CAMPBELL. Eliza was also an orphan and had also sailed as part of the Earl Grey scheme.

Bernard and Eliza's first child, John, was born in Sydney before the family moved to Goondarin Creek where seven more children were born. The family moved to The Lodge at the Crossroads at Kembla Grange and their eldest son, John, died there in a housefire while Eliza and Bernard were out milking the cows. 

On 26 April 1876 Bernard purchased a large lot in Swan Street Coniston, opposite the cemetery. His cows often grazed in the cemetery and locals often referred to the cemetery as "Barney's Field". 

Eliza died at Swan Street on 12 Nov 1903 one day after her 69 birthday. Bernard divided his land and sold it to his three surviving sons, Archibald, Thomas and William. Bernard FOX died 3 October 1909 at Swan Street and was buried in his "field" across the road on 5 October 1909. Unfortunately, his gravesite was not recorded and there is no monument, however it was thought to be in the first row facing Kenny Street. 

Children of Bernard FOX and Eliza KEARNEY-

1. John FOX b 1859 Sydney d 19 May 1869 Kembla Grange

2. Daniel FOX b 28 June 1861 West Dapto d 22 Feb 1862 West Dapto

3. Patrick FOX b 8 April 1863 Macquarie River d 10 July 1901 Gladesville

4. Archibald Francis FOX b 16 June 1865 Mount Keira d 28 May 1949 Wollongong m 8 Feb 1900 Wollongong Ann Jane SWEENEY

5. Thomas Joseph FOX b 9 Nove 1867 Mount Keira d 18 Sep 1942 Wolloongong m 19 June 1897 Woonona Elizabeth MCGUIRE

6. Catherine A FOX b 21 Nov 1869 Mount Keira d 7 Nov 1902 Wollongong m 1897 Newtown Samuel V. WALLACE

7. Eliza Jane FOX b 13 Dec 1871 Mount Keira d 22 Oct 1937 Darlinghurst m [1]  25 May 1892 Wollongong Alfred WEEKES m [2]  22 Dec 1910 Balmain Francis William RUMBLE

8. William John FOX b 5 May 1874 near Tom Thumbs Lagoon d 10 Sep 1954 Wollongong m 27 Jan 1900 Catherine GOUGH