A Kealy in Cairns

When I announced on Facebook in September that I was in Cairns, Queensland one of my Kealy cousins sent me a message:

"Hi Jill

While in Cairns are you going to visit William Kealy’s grave? I’m pretty sure it is at the Pioneer Cemetery."

William Thomas Kealy (courtesy R. Gallagher)

Although I had William Thomas Kealy in my database I didn't know his story and how he was related to me. My database told me that William Thomas KEALY is 1st cousin twice removed of Jill Patricia CURRY. William was the Great-Uncle of the cousin who had contacted me. 

William Thomas Kealy relationship to my Dad, Allan Curry

I did a further bit of searching and responded to my cousin:

"I've worked out where it is, less than a km away. Found a grave number on local history site. Will try to walk that way tomorrow."

Within ten minutes of our arrival at the McLeod Street Pioneer Cemetery I had located the grave marker thanks to the excellent information provided in a gazebo at the cemetery.

Gazebo at cemetery  with details of interments and cemetery history

William Thomas Kealy on interment list

Diagram showing location of William Thomas Kealy's grave

William Thomas Kealy - Grave marker

I was thrilled to be able to send these photos to my cousin. Meanwhile one of my genimates who is a member of the Cairns Family History Group saw our messages on Facebook was able to provide me with some further information. That's Genearosity in action. 

William's ordeal was reported in the local press.

As this next report in The Cairns Morning Post  is difficult to read I am pasting a transcription below:

 SCRUB ACCIDENT.

At 3 o'clock on Wednesday after-noon the Ambulance Brigade received word from thc Cairns Tramway sta-tion- master, Mr. J. Brown, that a man named W. Kealy had been in-jured whilst falling scrub on Mr. A. J. Draper's selection at Babinda; The senior bearer at once proceeded, to Aloomba by tram with the little to meet the injured man who was being conveyed slowly in, and the Super-intendent also drove out to Nelson in the field wagon.  

Particulars re  (next section too blurred to transcribe) »rtliiiE the accldonf. slate dat Point but the giant of the" forc"5t~ I when descending, struck another tree and rebounding suddenly hit Kealy in the stomach, causing severe and painful injuries. His mates, who were not far off,- ran to his assist-ance and hot fomentations were ap-plied to ease the pain of the sufferer but notwithstanding this his agony was terrible.An improvised stret- cher was made and the sufferer ac-companied by 13 of his mates was carried 71/2 miles to Harvey Creek where a pump car was requisitioned. 

The party eventually reached Al-oomba where the senior ambulance bearer was met and the sufferer brought on to Nelson which was reached at 8 p.m. The patient was in excruciating pain the whole time and Dr. .Knowles, who was at the Mulgrave at the time advised the removal of Kealy to Cannon's Hall where morphia- was injected. The surgeon and ambulance bearers stayed with the unfortunate man the greater part of the night' but to-wards morning he appeared 'some-what relieved and gained a little sleep. 

At 6.30 a.m. yesterday, a start was made for Cairns and three hours later the patient was admitted to the hospital. Kealy is about 33 years of age and has a wife; and fam-ily at the Hunter River, New South Wales. Much appreciation is due to Dr. Knowles who immediately, when, apprised of the accident, left a local function and exerted every effort, to relieve the intense agony, of the suf-ferer. The residents of the little township also showed their practical sympathy by rendering all possible assistance to the surgeon and am-bulance.

1908 'SCRUB ACCIDENT.', Cairns Morning Post (Qld. : 1907 - 1909), 14 August, p. 5. , viewed 23 Nov 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39410855

1908 'THE " POST " SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 1908.', Cairns Morning Post (Qld. : 1907 - 1909), 15 August, p. 4. , viewed 23 Nov 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39410880

1908 'FATAL ENDING.', Cairns Morning Post (Qld. : 1907 - 1909), 17 August, p. 5. , viewed 23 Nov 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39411026

As this next report in The Cairns Morning Post  is difficult to read I am pasting a transcription below:

THE LATE W. KEALY.

In connection with the death of William Kealy, under distressing circumstances, as the result of a

tree-felling accident at Babinda Creek recently, it may be explained that the young man was 

unmarried, and as a matter of fact, at the time of his death was engaged to be married. 

This will serve to contra-dict a statement that the man was

married, having a wife and family in New South Wales. He was a native of the Hunter River district

and his father and mother are both living at Dungog on the Hunter. We conversation yesterday with 

Mr. Her-bert Tucker, one of his mates for the past nine years, a "Post" repre-sentative was informed 

that "Billy" Kealy, as he was popularly known was a steady, decent, 

and respectable young fellow, a favourite with every-body, and a staunch comrade. He

had been in Queensland between two and three years, having been about six months in the

 Cairns district, and at one time worked on the Town Council. Latterly, he, with Mr. Tucker

and others, had a contract clearing some sugar land for Mr. A. J. Draper at Babinda Creek, and

were by the latter insured under the Workmen's Compensation Act, so that the parents of poor Kealy

 will receive a substantial sum to com-pensate them in a small measure for the loss of an affectionate

son.

1908 'THE LATE W. KEALY.', Cairns Morning Post (Qld. : 1907 - 1909), 18 August, p. 4. , viewed 23 Nov 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39411114

1908 'Family Notices', Cairns Morning Post (Qld. : 1907 - 1909), 23 September, p. 4. , viewed 23 Nov 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39413512

Remembering Thomas

Back in March I was correcting some text on Trove and came across this article so I scheduled it to appear on Thomas' anniversary. Thomas Osborne died 72 years ago on 31 August 1948.

1948 'SWALLOWED DENTAL PLATE', Goulburn Evening Post (NSW : 1940 - 1954), 31 August, p. 1. (Daily and Evening), viewed 26 Mar 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article103720405

GeniAus - #AtoZChallenge - Q is for Queensland

During April 2020 the month of this #AtoZChallenge I will be sharing short posts on some of the 2,000+ descendants I have identified of my 3x Great-Grandmother, Elizabeth Phipps. 

Elizabeth Phipps 1785-1869 was a convict who was transported from England to New South Wales in 1814 per Wanstead. 

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Several  of Elizabeth's descendants wandered over the border to Queensland. James Edward Magick was born in Queensland in 1898.

Several newspaper articles record James' early death.

1918 'The Killarney Fatality.', Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld. : 1909 - 1954), 2 February, p. 7. (DAILY.), viewed 08 Apr 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119924862

This next article is difficult to read on the screen to the text of the full article is attached below the snip from the newspaper.

1918 'FATALITY AT KILLARNEY', Warwick Examiner and Times (Qld. : 1867 - 1919), 2 February, p. 5. , viewed 08 Apr 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article82844684

FATALITY AT KILLARNEY

A FALL FROM A HORSE

Our Killarney correspondent writes: About 5 p.m. on Thursday, James Maggick, in company with John Keogh, was riding down Kirk Hill, when James Magick's horse gave a side buck and fell with its rider. The horse then rolled right over him. Several rushed to the- spot, and on lifting Magick up it was found that he was unconscious and was excessively bleeding from the mouth and nose. Dr. Harlin quickly arrived on the scene, and found that the young man's neck was broken. The deceased was a son of Mrs. James Higgleton, and grandson of Mr. E. Hansen, and was only 190 years of age. He chiefly followed the occupation of horse-breaker, and was considered one of the best horsemen on the Downs. Deceased, by his quiet, manly, character, was universally respected in this district, the whole of which sympathises with the bereaved mother.

1918 'A KILLARNEY FATALITY.', Darling Downs Gazette (Qld. : 1881 - 1922), 1 February, p. 4. , viewed 08 Apr 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article171762817

I love to connect with cousins and fellow researchers. Should you find any errors in my post or have additional information please contact me. 

GeniAus - #AtoZChallenge - H is for Harriet

During April 2020 the month of this #AtoZChallenge I will be sharing short posts on some of the 2,000+ descendants I have identified of my 3x Great-Grandmother, Elizabeth Phipps. 

Elizabeth Phipps 1785-1869 was a convict who was transported from England to New South Wales in 1814 per Wanstead. 

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Harriet Westbrook , born on December 10 1816, was Elizabeth Phipp's daughter. Tragically Harriet's life came to an early end in 1831.

1831 'THE HOP CROPS.', The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), 10 March, p. 2. , viewed 03 Apr 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2199481

Harriet was laid to rest in St Peter's Church of England Cemetery, Richmond on March 7, 1831.

The Historic St Matthew's Cemetery - Photo Jill Ball

The Historic St Matthew's Cemetery - Photo Jill Ball

Trove Tuesday

I have found numerous references in Trove that indicate that many of my ancestors had an affinity for hard liquor. I was therefore delighted to read of his sober state in a report of an accident my 2x Great Grandfather, Patrick Curry, had along the road near Berrima in 1859.

1859 'BERRIMA.', Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1875), 13 September, p. 10, viewed 12 January, 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60399233

Transcript:

BERRIMA.            

The Goulburn Herald of Saturday supplies the fol-   lowing:--      

A report, was prevalent here, which I, regret to say     turns out to be too true, that a young man, named Patrick Curry, junior, of Camden, son to Patrick Curry,

senior, an old and very much respected colonist of the same place, met with a very, serious accident on his way from Sydney, where he had been for loading, by the wheel of his dray passing over his body. The medical man in attendance has but very little hopes of his recov- ery. This is one of the instances in which accidents of this nature cannot be attributed to intoxication, for I have been informed the young man was perfectly sober.

I am pleased to report that Patrick must have recovered as he lived until 1896 when his cause of death was Liver Disease!

Pink Toe

I've already mentioned that I broke my toe while climbing back on to the vessel we were schnorkelling from in the Seychelles. Thanks to the ship's doctor for his care and hot pink bandage. Thanks also to the  Regent GM for taking care of the medical bill - that removed some of the ouch for us.

Footwear for the moment are my ugly tourist sandals!

Pretty in Pink

Trove Tuesday - Burns

Years ago I read in Alan Atkinson's Book, Camden: farm and village life in early New South Wales, about the story of a young Curry ancestor who was tragically burnt to death in a house fire.

When Trove came online I found newspaper reports that gave me a fuller picture of the accident. I won't paste a copy of the articles to this post as their copy quality is poor but I will paste a transcription of this article:

1862 'CAMDEN.', Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1875), 9 May, p. 5, viewed 16 September, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60475137

MAY 7TH -FATAL ACCIDENT.- A little child, only
sixteen months old, named; Ellen Currie, daughter of  Daniel Currie, farmer, of Cobbitty Paddock, near Cam-

den, was burnt to death during the absence of her mother,  on Sunday last, the 4th instant. The mother had shutdeceased and another child up in a room, while she wentto the paddock for the cows, and it would seem that theelder child managed to open the door which led to theroom in which was the fire. The poor woman, on herreturn, found the child in flames, running to meet herabout a rod from the house, and so severely burned, thatdeath terminated its sufferings shortly after. A magis-terial inquiry was held on Monday, by W. Antill, Esq.,brother of our district coroner, and a verdict of acci-  dentally burnt returned.

On the weekend I was doing some more Curry research and found an article about another Curry Infant, Doris Maude Curry, who is the first-cousin once removed of Ellen Curry (1861-1862) mentioned in the previous article. Doris was my second cousin twice removed and Ellen was my first cousin three times removed.

1918 'CHILD SUCCUMBS TO BURNS.', The Bathurst Times(NSW : 1909 - 1925), 18 July, p. 2, viewed 16 September, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article121229751

And here is a transcription of that article:

Doris Maude Curry, infant daughter  of Mr. Thomas Joseph Curry, of Hope'sCreek, near Oberon, who accidentallysustained injuries through burning, hassuccumbed. It appears that the deceased was left in the kitchen with heryoung brother, aged three years, whilstthe mother was engaged outside feeding fowls. Therewas an open fire in  the Kitchen at which the child's' cloth-ing caught fire, after which the two

children ran to the front door of thehouse, and by their cries attractedtheir mother's attention. Mrs. Curryran to the assistance of tho child,took her in her arms and immediatelywrapped a 'blanket round the childwith the object of extinguishing theburning clothing. A realtive namedGeorge Roberts who was riding past atthe time, was attracted by the criesand smoke issuing from the front door.He assisted the mother in renderingfirst aid, and subsequently conveyedthe sad news to the child's father, whowas engaged at Tillsbury — about four

or five miles distant. The' father returned with all haste, and upon seeingthe condition of the child at once conveyed her in a sulky to Oberon, whereshe was rendered every possible attention by Dr. E. E. Griffiths .Upon' ar-rival at the doctor's surgery, the child  was found to have extensive burns  about the face, abdomen, and legs, andto be suffering very much from shock.