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Mary Louisa Barnes,
the daughter of James and Nanny (née Dennis) Barnes and
the eldest of their very large family, was born on 8 May
1865 and died from ‘water on the brain’ on 22 January
1866. She was buried on the following day in ‘the Burial
Ground, Cooper’s Plains’. No undertaker or minister was
present at the interment which was witnessed by John
Dennis and Esther Ann Dennis (probably siblings of her
mother, although
the John Dennis referred to could be her maternal
grandfather).
The following details of Mary Louisa’s parents and
grandparents have been taken, in part, from an internet
website and would, therefore, require confirmation from
original sources. James Barnes, the son of James
and Prudence (née Matthews) Barnes, was born in St Leven,
Cornwall, on 4 July 1840 and christened in nearby Sennen
on 16 August 1840. He married Nanny Dennis in
Penzance, Cornwall, on 3 October 1863, shortly before
they left for Australia with the Dennis family on the
Flying Cloud.
James and Nanny’s children were as follows: Mary Louisa
(b. 8 May 1865), William James (b. 5 November 1866; d.
31 January 1943), Mary Louisa Prudence (b. 22 May 1868;
d. 26 December 1970), John Thomas (b. 2 October 1869; d.
29 March 1952), Benjamin (b. 24 February 1871; d. 28
July 1961), Isabelle Selina (b. 20 August 1872; d.
1939), Esther Ann (b. 23 September 1873; d. 9 November
1956), Annie1 (b. 20 February 1875; d. 4
April 1875), Annie2 (b. 16 March 1876; d. 12
July 1954), Ellen (b. 10 July 1877; d. 22 January 1919),
Lily Jane (b. 21 March 1879; d. 24 October 1970), George
Frederick (b. 10 December 1880; d. 9 February 1973),
Clara
Beatrice (b. 18 June 1882; d. 1 April 1967) and Minnie
May (b. 11 October 1883; d. 14 May
1937).
Of special interest to us among these children is
Mary Louisa Prudence Barnes who married Silas John
Everdell on 1 September 1887. He was the brother of
James Mogg Everdell who was buried in God’s Acre on 25
April 1869. Mary Louisa Prudence died at Woodhill near
Beaudesert after celebrating her 100th
birthday.]
James Barnes died in Flagstone, Queensland, on 20 July
1908, leaving a widow and a grown-up family of four sons
and eight daughters. He was laid to rest in the
Mundoolun Cemetery on the following day. The following
obituary appeared in the Beaudesert Despatch:
We much regret to record the death of another of our
sturdy old pioneers in the person of Mr. Jas. Barnes,
who passed away at his residence, “Tremayne,” Flagstone
Creek, on Monday last. The immediate cause of death was
heart failure, following an attack of influenza and
asthma. Mr. Barnes was a fine type of the good old
pioneers who have done so much to open up this State and
pave the way for those coming after them. Strong,
vigorous, alert and active, his 68 years of strenuous
life had made no visible impression on his hardy frame,
and those who met him but a week or two ago would
readily concede that he was yet good enough for many
years of active
usefulness. But, apparently, it was not to be; and,
after a brief illness, death claimed him and he entered
into eternal rest. The deceased was born at Land’s End,
Cornwall, on July 4th, 1840, and was the
second son of the late Jas. Barnes. Just before sailing
to Australia he was married to the second daughter of
the late John Dennis, (who died at Mundoolun), Sand
Creed [=Sancreed], Cornwall. He came out in the sailing
ship, “Flying Cloud,” and arrived in Brisbane in 1864.
The first few years were spent at Oxley Creek, Cooper’s
and Eight-mile Plains, and finally settled down in a
640-acre block at Mundoolun 32 years ago. He went in for
grazing at first but in later years dairying on a large
scale was carried on. Mr. Barnes leaves a widow and a
grown-up family of four sons and eight daughters to
mourn his loss.
In the early days Mr. Barnes was for some time engaged
as road ganger and overseer, under the Works Department,
prior to the enactment of the Divisional Boards Act, and
he also acted in a similar capacity under the Tabragalba
Divisional Board. He was one of the first members of the
Tambourine Board, and occupied a seat as representative
for five or six years. Up to last year he was an active
member of the committee of the Logan and Albert
Agricultural and Pastoral Society, when failing health
caused him to retire.
The funeral took place in the Mundoolun cemetery on
Tuesday last, and was attended by residents from all
parts of the district. The cortege left the residence of
the deceased at 11 a.m. and a brief service was
conducted in the church, the hymn “Jesus, Lover of my
Soul” being sung. The Reverend H. E. Hone conducted the
ceremony at the graveside, reading the beautiful and
impressive burial service from the Church of England
Prayer Book, after which the hymn “On the Resurrection
Morn” was sung; and so passes from our midst one who has
faithfully done his duty, leaving behind him a worthy
family to still further honour the name of Barnes in the
future history of the district. To the sorrowing widow
and family we extend our heartfelt sympathy in the
bereavement they have sustained.
Nanny Barnes
(née Dennis) was born in St Just, Cornwall, on 17 June
1843 and died at ‘Tremayne’, Flagstone, near Beaudesert,
Queensland, on 17 September 1924. Two days later her
remains were interred in the Mundoolun Cemetery. The
following obituary appeared in the Beaudesert Times:
It is with sincere regret that we have to announce the
death of Mrs. N. Barnes, which took place at her
residence, “Tremayne” Flagstone, on Wednesday evening 17th
instant. The deceased
lady had reached the age of 81 years, and had been
living in the Logan district for 60 years, and was
universally respected. She was the second daughter of
the late John Dennis, of Sancreed, Cornwall, England,
and came with her husband, the late James Barnes, in the
ship
Flying Cloud
in the year 1864. She was predeceased by her husband and
three daughters, and leaves a grown up family of four
sons and seven daughters to mourn her loss. She was laid
to rest beside her husband in the Mundoolun cemetery on
Friday morning at 11 o’clock. The Reverend J. Hardingham
officiated at the graveside …. |