CORNELIUS DRISCOLL
Cornelius married Mary McConnell in the Bathurst district in 1862. Their children included:
- Cornelius - born 1864, Muckerawa. Wellington district
- Edward J - born 1867, Wellington
- Annie M - born 1872, Gulgong
- Agnes Mary - born 1874, Gulgong
- Mary - born 1876, Gulgong
Before moving to the Gulgong district, Driscoll conducted a hotel at Stuart Town (then known as Ironbarks). The following reminiscence, first written around 1900 by M. J. Hennessy, records that move:
Gulgong in the Roaring Days Liveliest Spot in Australia.
In 1868 Cornelius Driscoll had the licence for the Warburton Hotel at Two Mile Flat near Guntawang. It was one of only 5 hotels in the vicinity of today's town and preceded the 1870 find that started the gold rush....brought back to memory the forms and scenes of the early 'seventies, when Old Gulgong was the liveliest spot on this continent of ours. Well I remember the night I put up at the Royal Oak in Wellington with Con Driscoll, who was then on his way from the Mookerawa to start in business at the new Eldorado [ie Gulgong]...I intended accompanying him, and did go as far as Nanima, when I was bailed by Mr. Aarons, who was then the Squire of Nanima, to show me about sixty head of cattle he had for sale. I became the purchaser and this stopped me from proceeding further with good old Con Driscoll. However, in a few weeks after this I visited the field, when the population was estimated at something like 40,000.Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Mon 1 Oct 1923 Page 3
In 1871 he relocated the Warburton Hotel to Queen Street Gulgong. There was also a "Driscoll's Hotel" run by James Redmond at "Gulgong Gold Field" operating in the same year (this may have been the Guntawang hotel still in operation).
Driscoll's Warburton Hotel, 1872 Advert
Source: The Gulgong Mercantile Advertiser No 7, Thursday September 28, 1871 from Colleen Proctor
Source: The Gulgong Mercantile Advertiser No 7, Thursday September 28, 1871 from Colleen Proctor
The sickness now prevailing in this locality is something frightful to contemplate, and appears to be on the increase. On Sunday there were five funerals, and several on Monday, and in the evening we were told by a medical man that three others had succumbed during the day. It is an exhaustive fever, but lacks several of the characteristics of typhoid. It is what is generally called colonial fever. Amongst others buried on Sunday was Mr. C. F. Wirkers, of Pyrmont, Sydney-a gentleman who has resided here about five months, and was the proprietor of quite a number of town allotments and mining shares. He died at Driscoll's Warburton Hotel, at 2 o'clock on Saturday morning.
1872 - [MEETING]
A preliminary meeting was held at Driscolls Warburton Hotel, on Saturday night, to consider the most appropriate way of celebrating the great festival of St. Patrick. The attendance was good, and, after a little discussion, it was decided to hold another meeting on Thursday night.
Source: The Irish Citizen (Sydney, NSW : 1871 - 1872) Sat 10 Feb 1872 Page 81872 - [INTRUDER]
John Frazer, alias Lewis, alias Hatfield, alias Frenchy, charged with being illegally on the premises of Cornelius Driscoll, has been arrested by Detective Hannan. Sentenced to six months imprisonment in Mudgee Gaol.
Source: New South Wales Police Gazette and Weekly Record of Crime (Sydney : 1860 - 1930) Wed 14 Feb 1872 [Issue No.7] Page 46
1875 - HOSPITAL ANNUAL MEETING.
1876 - [NEW MAGISTATES]
1877 - NOTICE.
The annual meeting of the subscribers of this institution took place at Driscoll's-Warburton Hotel on Monday evening, T. A. Browne, Etq., warden in the chair. The report of the committee of management and the treasurer's report for the last year was read. The report of the committee was adopted, but through the unavoidable absence of the treasurer, L. S. Donaldson, Esq., the treasurer's financial statement was postponed until a future meeting of the subscribers. The meeting then proceeded with the election of officers and committee for the present year, and a ballot being taken, the following gentlemen were duly elected:-
- President, T. A Browne, Esq., warden;
- Vice-President, R. Rouse, Esq., J.P., Guntawang;
- Treasurer, A. M. Homer, Esq.;
- Secretary, Dr. W. Ramsay;
Committee, A. McCulloch, John Scully, Mark Smith, Robert Collin, Edward Thomas, J. Andrews, Michael M. O'Neill, Charles Cassel, Robert W. Heard, John Macdonald and Samuel Green.
There were two applicants for medical officers, Drs. Bennett and McMullen, the former gentleman being elected. A. vote of thanks was accorded to the chairman, Mr. Browne, and the meeting was then brought to a conclusion.
Source: Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1875) Sat 30 Jan 1875 Page 41875 - EXECUTOR
In the will of James Redmond, late of Gulgong, Cornelius Driscoll was one of the executors and the Reverend John Donovan, the other.
Source: New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900) Tue 9 Feb 1875 [Issue No.31] Page 411
1875 - DANIEL O'CONNELL CENTENARY.
A large meeting, to make arrangements to celebrate O'Connell's Centenary, was held at Driscoll's Warburton Hotel on Thursday morning last. Mr. William Murphy, of the firm of Booth and Co., occupying the chair. That gentleman, in a short and appropriate speech, opened the proceedings by stating that he yielded to no one in his admiration of O'Connell. The services of that illustrious Irishman were not simply confined to Irishmen and Catholics, but all humanity. He advocated the emancipation of the Jews as well as Catholics, and he was an ardent supporter of the great and distinguished Wilberforce in his advocacy of the abolition of slavery. They could therefore, confidently appeal to all creeds and classes to support the present movement. O'Connell was contemporary to another eminent Irishman, Wellington, and notwithstanding the vast military services of that celebrated General he had no doubt posterity would award the palm to O'Connell as the greatest patriot and benefactor.
It was then proposed by Mr. C. Driscoll, seconded by Mr. Cotton, 'That they celebrate the Centenary by a procession and picnic to the race-course, and by a ball in the evening.' A committee was then appointed to arrange all matters in connection with the celebration, and to act in conjunction with the Home Rule committee. Another motion was unanimously passed, 'That the surplus funds be devoted to the local hospital.' Another very large meeting was held on Monday evening at the same place, and a working and ball committee was appointed. It was decided that Mr. Gormley, of Tallewang, be invited to deliver an oration on O'Connell at the racecourse immediately after the arrival of the procession on the ground. This affair is likely to be a great success, and an immense concourse of people to expected on the occasion. All the friendly societies are invited to co-operate, and also the children of the various schools.
1876 - [NEW MAGISTATES]
Last Thursday’s Gazette contained a long list of newly appointed magistrates and we are glad to find that at last Gulgong can boast of a real live JP which is not a civil servant. The two fortunate recipients of this much-coveted honour—why we know not—are Mr Plunkett and Mr Cornelius Driscoll. The former gentleman is everybody knows not new to the office, having done good service as a magistrate in the early days of this goldfield when the ‘Mining Appeal’ was a local institution in great request. Mr Plunkett’s experience of the duties of the office, coupled with his undoubted ability will make his return to the Bench a public benefit in many ways. Mr Driscoll’s elevation from the ‘Bar’ to the Bench will no doubt prove beneficial to suitors as the scarcity of magistrates to transact the business of the Court of Petty Sessions regularly and methodically has been for years a want which is now happily provided for. We were in hopes that at least half-a-dozen magistrates would have been appointed to Gulgong. We hope now to hear of the Court being opened at 11am prompt.
Source: GULGONG EVENING ARGUS - Saturday October 7, 1876
We the undersigned, have this day entered into partnership as general storekeepers and produce dealers in Gulgong, under the style and firm of Young and Driscoll.— Dated this 1st day of August, 1877.
C. DRISCOLL.
Source: New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900) Fri 10 Aug 1877 [Issue No.259] Page 31081878 - GULGONG. Thursday.
Mr. Cornelius Driscoll, J P., one of the oldest and most highly respected of our townsmen, is dead.
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Fri 1 Feb 1878 Page 5
Mr. Cornelius Driscoll, J P., one of the oldest and most highly respected of our townsmen, is dead.
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Fri 1 Feb 1878 Page 5
1878 - DEATH - DRISCOLL
On the 31st ult., at the residence of his brother (Mr. Jas. Driscoll, of Sydney), CORNELIUS DRISCOLL, Esq., J.P., of Gulgong, aged 43 years, brother of Mr. D. DRISCOLL, of this city. Requiescat in pace.
1878 - [DEATH - DRISCOLL]
There was general regret in town on Thursday morning last, when the sad intelligence was circulated that Mr. Cornelius Driscoll, of Gulgong, and well known in Mudgee, had died that morning in Sydney. Few men have ever commanded more general respect than did the deceased, and it is needless to remark that his demise has been deplored by all who knew him.
Source: Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919) Sat 9 Feb 1878 Page 38 In the Supreme Court of New South Wales. ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION. In the will of Cornelius Driscoll, late of Gulgong, in the Colony of New South Wales, storekeeper, deceased.
NOTICE is hereby given; that at the expiration of fourteen days from the publication of this notice in the Government Gazette, application will be made to this Honorable Court, in its Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, that probate of the last will and testament of the said Cornelius Driscoll, deceased, may be granted to Mary Driscoll, his widow, James Francis Plunkett, and Robert Brown, the executrix and executors named in and by such will.—Dated this 9th day of February, 1878.
Source: New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900) Tue 12 Feb 1878 [Issue No.49] Page 649
