Frances Pickering, was believed to be the daughter of Gilbert Pickering, Bart. of Carlow who was a cousin to John Bernard. In Burke's Landed Gentry she is referred to as Elizabeth Pickering.

Children of John and Frances:

• Mary Bernard, 1768, Baptised in Carlow 10th Dec 1768.

• Frances Bernard 1769 Baptised 30th Dec 1769  *

• Jemma Bernard 1771 Baptised 1st July 1771.  Married Bagnall Gurley in Carlow 26th Feb 1793. He was born to Thomas Gurley in 1771 in Carlow. He died in 1796.  * 

• Joseph Bernard (b. 1772).  Joseph was married 14 April 1795 it is likely that he waited until he received his inheritance at 22.  Joseph married Rebecca Margarette Smyth (dau of Ralph Smyth of Milford. Co Tipperary);

 (* Neither Frances or Jemma were mentioned in their father's will, dated 1791)

John Bernard did not marry Frances Pickering until he was 50 years old. He had an illegitimate child prior to his marriage. In John's will he refers to his "natural son John

"The phrase "natural son" in a will meant an acknowledged child of the testator who had been born out of wedlock. The only meaning the phrase had in the law in that context back then was "a bastard; a child born out of lawful wedlock."    http://www.legalgenealogist.com/blog/2012/03/28/the-natural-son/ .

There is the baptism of a John Pickering (father also John, mother Mary) 27th Aug 1757 in St Leonard's Shoreditch, England. This is possibly John's "natural" son.

  John Bernard died in 1789 in Co. Carlow.
    "In Carlow, Capt. John Bernard Esq.. - Near Tullow",
    Publication: Freemans Journal 1763-1924*; Date: Nov 24, 1789;

Although no mention is made of properties in England it is clear from his will that he had some. His will was found in the English National Archives. Will proved 1791.   John left many bequests to his nephews and nieces, children of his brother Thomas. He left nothing to his daughters Frances (may have been deceased) or Jemma (who was definitely living).  It was also noteable how little he bequeathed to his brother William and his  sister Mary's eldest children John, Thomas and Mary  In his will John refers to his "sister" as Mary Humphrey. Mary Bernard married firstly Thomas Bennett and had children Mary, John, Thomas, Ann, Sarah, Grace, Jemima and Julia Bennett. Thomas Bennett died at 46. Mary (Bernard) Bennett later married Mathew Humfrey.

Joseph Bernard, father of John and William left his estate to be equally divided between the two brothers. In 1779 in  Articles of Partition (1) John agreed to be cede the estate to William. Which may explain why so little was left to William in his brother John's will. He bequeathed a lease for land in Tinriland to his son Joseph. This is the same place which is referenced by John Bernard, his ancestor in 1619.  John Bernard was a very wealthy man leaving thousands of pounds in the 1700s to his children and nephews and nieces.

Joseph Bernard (son of John and Frances) married Rebecca Smyth in 1795. Rebecca was the daughter of John and Anne (Bernard) Hall of Dublin.  Joseph and Rebecca lived in Green  Hills, King's Co. and had three children:

• Thomas Bernard, born about 1796. Died before 1834.
  

• Elizabeth-Frances Bernard born about 1797. She married James William Cusack, son of Athanasius Cusack and Mary Ann Rotherham, in April 1818. Elizabeth-Frances died when she was quite young (in her 30s) on 4 September 1837, but had already established a family of six children (4):
  

• Henry Thomas Cusack b. 20 Oct 1820,   d. 6 Jan 1865. He was a Barrister

• Sir Ralph William Cusack b. 16 Nov 1821,  d. 3 Mar 1910   He was a Barrister and also chairman (1865-1905) of the Midland Great western Railway of Ireland

• Mary Ann Cusack  b. 7 Sep 1823,  d. 8 Oct 1906             

• James William Cusack  b. 6 Aug 1824, d. 2 Oct 1868. He was an in MD Dublin

• Elizabeth Jane Cusack   b. 10 Oct 1828   d. ?

• Thomas Bernard Cusack  b. 11 Dec 1831,  d. 14 Feb 1864

• Margaret born about 1799. Married Thomas Bunbury (son of Benjamin Bunbury Isaac) in December 1816 (2)
  

    Rebecca and Joseph separated in 1805 and Rebecca kept custody of the children (3).  Her will was dated May 1834. Mentions her father, the late Ralph Smith of Milford, her brother Ralph and her mother Eliza. She makes bequests to her two daughters: Elizabeth Frances Cusack and Mary Bunbury. She wished to be buried near her son in Ballingarry. She appointed as trustees: Jame William Cucack and Thomas Bunbury.

Rebecca's husband Joseph Bernard pre-deceased her

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