Agnes Neary
| Town/City | Brisbane Queensland |
|---|---|
| First name | Agnes |
| Last name | Neary |
| Country of Origin | Belfast Northern Ireland |
| Date of Birth | 1845 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1865 |
| Submitted by | Patricia McClafferty |
Story
We do not know why Agnes (Neary) and her husband Patrick Fox left Belfast in Ireland to travel to Australia. They departed from Greenoch, Scotland and arrived at Port Denison Rockhampton Queensland aboard the Wansfell on 10 March 1863. They had one child, a son named Patrick, who accompanied them.
There is no information on the journey, but Patrick senior died on 1 December 1864 and their son died on 5 March 1865.
On 15 January 1866 Agnes then married Charles Bowes who had also arrived in Rockhampton in the 1860’s from Rochemy County Monaghan Ireland, and they had 3 children – David, Mary and Patrick. In Qld Hotels & Publicans Index 1843-1900 Agnes Bowes is registered as the publican of the Bedford Arms Springsure Hotel.
There is no death certificate registered for Agnes Bowes. She probably remarried as there is a marriage recorded of an Agnes Emma Bowes marrying James Booker ion 1878, and a BDM death certificate for an Agnes Booker (Nery) in 1911.
Agnes must have had to work hard all her life, as well as suffering the loss of husband and son so soon after arriving in Queensland. She was also involved in giving evidence in the trial of a Chinese man, Kon Mow, who was accused and found guilty of attempting to poison her husband, Charles, because he was in love with her and wanted Agnes to run away with him.
Agnes seems to have overcome great tragedy while still a young woman, but got on with her life and made the best she could of it. She typifies the spirit of the early settler women who helped make this country a success.