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Famous Australians
Albert Barnett Facey, or A.B. Facey as he is known from his book "A Fortunate Life", was my 2nd cousin (three times removed) on my mother's side. My great-great-great grandfather, Edmund Facey, born 1813 in Cornwall England, was the older brother of Albert's grandfather, Thomas Facey b. 1815. My great grandmother, Mary Louise Facey, born in 1882 in St. Marys Ontario was A. B's second cousin.
Edmund and Thomas Facey were the two eldest of 11 children born to Edmund and Redigon (Aunger) Facey - an old Cornwall family. Four of the Facey boys and one daughter left home. Thomas, John and George Facey left Cornwall for Australia while Edmund and his sister Mary emigrated to Canada.
A.B.'s grandfather, Thomas Facey, left Cornwall in 1842. His brothers John and Edmund left Cornwall in 1852, two years after the death of Edmund Sr. George was next to leave in 1855 while Mary followed her brother Edmund to Ontario in 1867. I descend from Edmund who settled near Ingersoll, Ontario and died near St. Marys Ontario in 1899.
Thomas Facey arrived at Launceston on the Royal Saxon on 22 Nov. 1842. Three years later he married Betsy Keam (or Kean) at the Church of St. John in Launceston. In the 1850's Thomas moved his family to Victoria where he settled at Barkers Creek, about five miles north of Castlemaine. It is estimated that Thomas and Betsy had 14 children. Their third son, Joseph, born 1856, was the father of Albert Barnet Facey.
Joseph became a miner at Barkers Creek, Castlemaine and Footscray. In 1882 he married Mary Ann Carr and had seven children. Unfortunately, two years after his son Albert Barnet was born in 1894, Joseph died of typhoid fever. Abandoned shortly thereafter by his mother, Albert was raised by his grandmother Carr.
At the age of eight, Albert went to work. His book "A Fortunate Life" is his autobiography and tells the story of someone who is forced to make his way on his own at a very early age. Albert (Bert) joined the 11th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force on 4 January 1915 and fought at Gallipoli. He was wounded at this battle, and after convelescing near Cairo Egypt, returned to Australia in October of that same year. Here he met Evelyn Gibson, whom he married.
After WW1, Bert began making notes on his life and his experiences. His children urged him to submit his notebooks for publication. In 1981, when he was 87 years old, his book was published. It was the recipient of two prestigious literary awards, and was turned into a stage production. His story was also made into a four part mini-series shown on Australian and English T.V. in 1986. Albert was also nominated "Australian of the Year" in 1981. In 1982 he died. Bert and Evelyn's homestead near Wickepin is a tourist attraction, open to the public. |
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| These pages were researched and written by Brian Lee Massey & are Copyright © 1997 - 2007. This site may be freely linked to but not duplicated in any fashion without my consent. | Poppy graphic and poppybar graphic designed by Brian L. Massey and may not be used on other sites The Poppy is a ™Trademark of Dominion Command, Royal Canadian Legion, and is used on The Canadian Great War Homepage with their permission |
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