Shipping Intelligence. Arrivals, The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, 5 March 1853, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article685214:

March 2.—Thomas Chadwick, barque, 461 tons, Captain Richardson, from the Downs 4th November. Passengers—[...]Very Rev. Dr. Gregory, Rev. Dr. Grant and servant, Rev. Messrs. Murphy, McCarthy, Welsh, Phelan, Tworney, Rockliff, [...]

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Bundarra, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 12 November 1862, p 5, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article115428770:

(From a Correspondent)
Long threatening comes at last—our esteemed beloved Pastor, Father McCarthy, is on the eve of leaving the district of New England, where he has laboured for a number of years in the discharge of those laborious duties connected with his sacred calling.—His generous heart and gentlemanly bearing gained for him the respect of all classes in the Northern districts. May his future mission be such as will allow the Rev. gentleman to devote more of his time to the pulpit, of which he is an ornament. In the Lecture Hall Father McCarthy was brilliant for the advancement of science and education. The district to which he is going may well be proud of having so distinguished a clergy- man as the Rev. Father McCarthy. It was a source of much pleasure to the Catholics of Bundarra and surrounding districts hearing Father McCarthy celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and preaching on last Sunday perhaps for the last time. In the morning he celebrated Mass at the residence of M. Kelly, Esq., Stoney Creek, after he rode 12 miles for the same purpose to Bundarra.

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Changes in the Roman Catholic Church, Sydney Mail, 15 November 1862, p 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166693355:

We are informed, from a reliable source, that the following changes are about to take place. [...] The Rev. Mr. McCarthy will take charge of the Carcoar mission in place of the Rev. Mr. Murphy—this mission including the Lachlan gold-fields, and the appointment to date from the 1st instant. The Rev. Mr. Dunne is to be stationed in West Maitland, with the Rev. Mr. Phelan, under Dean O'Connell; whilst the Rev. Mr. Murphy, from Carcoar, will replace the former at Singleton.—Armidale Express, November 8.

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The Albury Banner and Wodonga Express, 19 March 1864, p 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article264153575:

We are informed that his Grace has decided to make the following changes amongst the clergy, and that instructions have been issued to each to proceed with as little delay as possible to their respective destinations:—The Rev. Dean Sumner to Sacred Heart, in place of Father Sheridan, who goes to Lyndhurst, to take charge of that establishment. Father Corish takes charge of Bathurst, and Father Timothy McCarthy supplies Father Corish's place in St. Benedict's. Father Donovan, of St. Benedict's, goes to Orange, and Father Athy returns to Sydney. Father Duigan, of St. Patrick's, goes as assistant priest to Father O'Brien, of Braidwood. Father Conway, of Sacred Heart goes to St. Patrick's; Father O'Neill, from Tumut to Carcoar, in place of Father McCarthy. We believe there will be other changes, but the above are the only ones yet decided upon.—Freeman's Journal.

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The Late Very Rev. Dean McCarthy, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 25 October 1879, p 16, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110562108:

The colonists of Australia generally will read, with profound regret and sorrow, the announcement of the death of Dean McCarthy, which took place at his sister's residence, near Cork, on the 25th of August last.

This sad item of news appeared in the Cork Examiner towards the end of August. The fact was only briefly announced, but, no doubt, we will receive full particulars of this most unexpected event by the incoming mail. He died where he was born fifty years since, and is buried in the church in which he was baptized.

The Dean was perhaps the best known and most popular priest on the Australian Mission. The name of "Father Tim" will be remembered in the Northern and Western districts as long as the present generation lasts; and doubtless many pleasing facts, illustrative of his benevolence, and kind heartedness will be transmitted to the generations after us. Who can read, for instance, the interesting letter of our Armidale correspondent, on our 9th page, and not join in the prayer —"May that good man's soul rest in peace. Et memoria ejus esto in perpetuum" ?

"There are residents in this district now," says our Armidale correspondent, "who well remember Father McCarthy meeting a poor tramp upon one occasion, whose boots were completely worn out, and who was suffering much pain from blistered feet. The charitable heart of Father McCarthy was at once touched by the poor fellow's sufferings, and in an instant the priest's boots were transferred to the weary traveller's feet, and the rev. gentleman had to ride home, a distance of some miles, in his socks. On another occasion, in the Tamworth district, a poor man who had a certain journey to perform in a given time pleaded so earnestly that Father McCarthy gave him his horse, saddle, and bridle, and tramped on foot himself to the next stage." The writer of this could give similar instances of generosity on the Dean's part whilst in charge of the Carcoar mission.

The late Very Rev. Dean McCarthy was born at an eventful period—the year of the granting of Catholic emancipation in 1829. Descended from the "McCarthy Mores," he inherited the genius and religious instincts of his noble race. His parents placed him at Carlow College, which is affiliated to the London University, intending to educate him for the Bar; but religion in that time-honoured institution, which had given to the world its Doyles, Delaneys, and Cahills, took him captive, and led him within the sanctuary of the Church. This event happened in 1852, when he was ordained, and shortly afterwards he sailed for Australia with Abbot Gregory, the Vicar-General of the archdiocese. After a protracted voyage of nearly six months; he arrived at Sydney on March 2nd, 1853, and was appointed to the mission of New England and Liverpool Plains. For this mission he seemed to be specially cut out by Nature, as he was a splendid horseman, and possessed wonderful powers of endurance. Numberless are the local reminiscences of his escapes from floods and other dangers during the ten years he did missionary duty in the New England district. Equally numerous and well recorded by the squatters and settlers of the vast region he had to traverse— from the Macquarie to the Manning one way, and from the Liverpool Range to McPherson's Range on the other—are his acts of generosity and self-abnegation akin to those referred to by our Armidale correspondent.

In 1863 it was deemed advisable to transfer the Dean from Armidale to Carcoar, a district which was at that time over-run by bushrangers. Ben Hall and his party were all-powerful from Bathurst to Forbes, and the police authorities found themselves unable to check the lawless desperadoes. It was then that "Father Tim" came upon the scene. It was rumoured at the time that Archbishop Polding had sent him to the outlawed district at the special request of the Government, but—be that as it may—the fact became soon apparent that his presence there had a deterrent effect on the spread of bushranging.

It is well known to many in the western district that several young men who sympathized with Hall and his associates, and who gave them active assistance, were induced to abstain from so doing by the advice and persuasion of the good Father. He was constantly on horseback, both by day and night, and had many moonlight stealthy interviews with the bushrangers, in the endeavour to win them back to society. It was on one of those occasions that Vane consented to surrender. He came into Bathurst in company with the Dean, and gave himself up to the police magistrate, Dr. Palmer. The other members of the gang promised to leave the country as soon as possible, but before any of them could do so, the avenging Nemesis had them in her grasp. Gilbert, Burke, and O'Malley were shot dead, and of the redoubtable band Hall alone remained. He had gone back to Forbes. Thither, Dean McCarthy followed him, and they had a final interview about eighteen miles from the town. It was then agreed on that the Dean should get him out of the country. Hall only stipulated for one month longer, promising to go no more on the roads. The spy he had in pay to watch the police betrayed him, and before the month was out he was riddled with bullets. So ended bushranging in the western districts, and then ended at the same time Dean McCarthy's ministry in the West.

St. Benedict's Church was the next scene of his missionary labour. Here he worked with the same unwearied zeal he had shown elsewhere. In 1874 he was appointed Dean of St. Mary's Cathedral, which position he held up to the time of his departure from the colony through loss of health. When illness fell upon him it was found that, owing to his boundless charities, he was penniless. This fact becoming known, a meeting of his numerous friends took place, and a few days afterwards close on £1000 was handed to him for the purpose of defraying his expenses to Europe and back. On that occasion the following address was read on behalf of the subscribers to the fund:—

"Very Reverend and Dear Sir,—We the undersigned colonists, who have learned to know and respect your many sterling qualities, and your great missionary labours, beg leave to present you with an address and testimonial. We earnestly desire, on the eve of your departure for Rome, to record our estimate of the zeal, liberality, and generosity, which have marked your long and eventful career. During more than a quarter of a century you uniformly succeeded in fulfilling the duties of your sacred office, without wounding the religious feelings or impugning the conscientious convictions of those who do not belong to your communion; and hence men of all shades of opinion, and of conflicting political views, have joined in paying this tribute to your enlightened and unsectarian philanthropy. We sincerely hope that your visit to Europe may, whilst affording you pleasure, benefit your health. We shall watch with interest your progress through "the dear old land," and your return to the colony (which we fondly trust may be at no distant period) will be hailed with joy by all classes and creeds. Accept, Very Rev. and Dear Sir, this spontaneous and cordial offering, and do not estimate the extent of our regard and esteem by its amount. Gifts borrow much of their value from the spirit in which they are tendered:

"'Tis not to cost in friendship's eyes a gift its value owes, For oft we prize a trifle high when 'tis the heart bestows." "Wishing you a prosperous voyage and speedy restoration to your wonted energy and strength, we bid you an affectionate farewell."

In the wise dispensations of Providence, the sincere hope of his friends of his speedy return to the colony for which he laboured so well, so long, and disinterestedly has been blighted. The genial smile and kindly act, which were characteristic of the good "Father Tim," will, alas! be missing for the future. We can now only pray that the Merciful Father of us all will reward eternally, with bliss perennial, the subject of this notice.

Since the sad and mournful intelligence has reached us, special Masses have been offered up for the repose of his soul in almost every church in the archdiocese, and at St. Mary's—of which church for many years the deceased clergyman was Dean—the celebrants of the usual daily Masses wore mourning vestments of purple and black silk. On Sunday it was publicly announced that a Dirge and Requiem High Mass would be sung in St. Mary's pro-Cathedral on Wednesday morning at 9 o'clock, and at the time appointed a very large congregation, numbering over two thousand persons, amongst whom were many very old and dear friends of the late lamented Dean, assembled within St. Mary's to be present at the solemn service. In order to invest the occasion with that impressiveness and solemnity so characteristic of all the beautiful and imposing ceremonies of our Holy Church, the whole of the spacious Sanctuary was hung with heavy folds of deep black. The High Altar was also draped with black. In the body of the Church a catafalque, surrounded by six lighted tapers, was erected, at which the final absolution was given. The whole of the sombre decorations were effected by Father Sheridan, assisted by Mr. James Ryan, sacristan, and that rev. gentleman is to be complimented on the admirable arrangements. The sanctuary windows were darkened, in fact nothing was neglected that could have heightened the impressiveness of the ceremonies; and when the sweet mournful music of the Dirge was being sung by the whole of the clergy, the scene on the Sanctuary was, indeed, a soul-stirring one. His Grace the Archbishop of Sydney presided at the throne. His Grace, as well as the whole of the clergy who assembled in such large numbers to do honour to the memory of their departed brother, seemed very much affected during the service. The ceremonies commenced with the chanting of the Dirge, or Office for the Dead. The singing was really excellent, and few there were that were not moved by its plaintiveness, especially when the vast body of chanters took up the dolorous strains of the cantors; then a rich flood of sorrowful music swept through the church. Besides his Grace we noticed in the sanctuary—the Right Rev. Monsignor Lynch, Very Rev. Dean Dwyer, Dean O'Connell, Dean O'Brien, Dr. Gillett, Dean Kenny, Dean Sheridan (Vicar-General), Rev. Placid Quirk, M.A., Rev. Fathers P. J. Mahony, Jas. Sheridan, McCarthy (St. Benedict's), Taylor, Gough, P. Ryan, San Mortino, Collins, J. J. Carrol, Gerrard, O.C., J. Fleming, C. McCarthy, Dalton, S.J., Cone, S.M., P. Foley, S.M., Hanrahan, O.S.F., Holohan, O.S.F., M.H. Ryan, P. Leonard, J.P. Fitzpatrick, Ambrosoli, P. Young, J.J. Garvey, Garavel, P. Carroll.

When the last notes of the Dirge had died away the Solemn Requiem was commenced. The Very Rev. the Vicar-General (Dean Sheridan) officiated as celebrant, with Father Fleming as deacon, and Father Collins as sub-deacon. These three clergymen wore superb vestments of black silk relieved with gold ornamentation. The singing, during the mass, was very fine indeed. Deans O'Connell and Dwyer, and Fathers Placid Quirk and Taylor being the leading singers. At the conclusion of the Requiem the Very Rev. Monsignor Lynch proceeded to the pulpit and there delivered a brief but truly eloquent and most impressive panegyric upon the late lamented Dean of St. Mary's, in which the Monsignor spoke with such pathos and tenderness that many of the congregation were moved to tears. The rev. gentleman himself, although he spoke with power and fervour, evidently felt the loss of his dear friend and companion very keenly. After Monsignor Lynch's most touching discourse, the Archbishop proceeded to the catafalque, which was now surrounded by the clergy, and pronounced the Absolution. A procession was then formed, and the clergy re-entered the sacristy, and the solemn ceremonies were ended.

We must not omit to mention that the bellringers of St. Mary's belfry rang a muffled peal till late on Tuesday evening, and also on Wednesday morning.

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T.W. Campbell, The Priests of the Diocese of Armidale: A Necrology, Braddon ACT, 2005:
McCarthy, Timothy

Born in Farliston, Parish of Ballinhassig, County Cork, Ireland 1827. After completion of his schooling he studied law for three years before commencing studies at St Patrick's College Carlow in January 1847. Originally enrolled for the diocese of Hyderabad, India, he transferred his enrolment to the Sydney archdiocese. He was ordained at Carlow in October 1852, and arrived in Sydney on 19 March 1853. In August 1853 he was sent to Armidale to commence a mission station. He travelled extensively as far west as Wee Waa, and to centres such as Bingara, Warialda, Gunnedah, Tamworth. He was transferred to Carcoar in late 1862 and replaced in Armidale by John Lynch. In 1864 he was again transferred, to St Benedict's church, Broadway and, after five years in that parish, became Administrator of St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, then Dean of the cathedral in 1874. He suffered a breakdown in early 1878 and retired to live privately in Sydney. He returned to Ireland with Matthew Keoghan in an attempt to recover his health in mid 1878, but died in his sister's home in Farliston, Ireland on 25 August 1879. He was buried in the Farliston churchyard.
(Sources: T&CJ 18 Oct 1879 p 733, FJ 6 Oct 1900 p 5, NSW Legislative Assembly Votes and Proceedings 1877/8 Vol 2 p 929, Heaton, G&S, Farrell, Doody, MDHC A-Z Mc33).

(Reproduced by permission of Tom Campbell.)