Anthony Fanning’s father was Patrick Fanning and his mother Margaret Cantwell from Lisdonowely, Co Tipperary Ireland. He was born in the Parish of Templetouhy, Co Tipperary, on 1 April 1849. He is related to the Bulla Fannings. His father, Patrick Fanning, was a first cousin of William Patrick Fanning, my great great grandfather, who emigrated to Victoria in 1841.
The ‘Highflyer” arrived at Moreton Bay in Queensland in 1878. Anthony was 29 and Patrick, his younger brother, was 18.
The complete passenger list for The Highflyer is on the Marlborough Family Heritage Facebook page.
Anthony became a shopkeeper in Kempsey and lived in Smith St Kempsey NSW. Patrick worked on the railways and died in Sydney in Dec 1910.
Anthony’s death certificate states he had been in NSW for 12 years so he did not stay in Queensland for long before coming to NSW. He married Amelia Lovell in Kempsey in 1883. She died in 1890 and he died the following year. They both died of Tuberculosis, or as it was called then, consumption.
The inscription reads:
Sacred to the Memory of
Anthony Fanning
Native of Co Tipperary Ireland
Who died 7th Sept 1891
Aged 42 Years
Also of His Wife
Amelia Fanning
nee Lovell
Who Died 21st Dec 1890
Aged 28 Years
United in Life by the bond of love
United they sleep in Death
Sweet Jesus May their souls in Heaven Above
Now breathe an eternal Breath
R.I.P
Anthony Fanning and Amelia Lovell are buried in West Kempsey Cemetery NSW. Amelia’s parents were Frederick Lovell and Elizabeth James and she was born in 1862 in Port Macquarie NSW. Below is an obituary fro Amelia’s father which gives some background information on the Lovell family of Kempsey.
