THOMAS KELLY
Thomas Kelly was baptised on the 1st of January 1843 at Dualla, Ballysheehan, Tipperary, Ireland
sponsors were Thomas Quinlan and Catherine Mulloughny
He migrated to Australia on the ship The Rising Sun in 1858, at only 13 years of age, travelling with his brothers William and John, to arrive in Australia just in time for the wedding of their older sister, Alice to John Morgan.
In 1861 Thomas went to New Zealand possibly lured by the Gold Rushes there.
It seems he did quite well for himself in the Grey River area of the South Island West Coast.
Below is a map and some news articles about Noble's Rush of which Thomas was a discoverer in 1865.
sponsors were Thomas Quinlan and Catherine Mulloughny
He migrated to Australia on the ship The Rising Sun in 1858, at only 13 years of age, travelling with his brothers William and John, to arrive in Australia just in time for the wedding of their older sister, Alice to John Morgan.
In 1861 Thomas went to New Zealand possibly lured by the Gold Rushes there.
It seems he did quite well for himself in the Grey River area of the South Island West Coast.
Below is a map and some news articles about Noble's Rush of which Thomas was a discoverer in 1865.
Many thanks Rob Iles for the above map image. Rob visited the Noble's Rush area with Mary Stacey and Stuart Lavin, great-great-grandchildren of Alice Kelly, Thomas Kelly's sister.
Noble's Rush
From the book "The West Coast Gold Rushes" by Philip Ross May
There was confusion over the mining regulations. Nelson diggers had adopted the Old Collingwood regulations allowing seventy-two feet per man, and West Canterbury miners' rights were invalid in Nelson territory.
Regulations were eventually sorted and in August 1865 a series of rushes went off like fire crackers. On August 16 seven hundred men rushed the new ground in the Arnold River watershed, on the Canterbury side. The discovery was made simultaneously by a Maori party, and four pakehas - William Jenkins and his mates, who were granted the prospector's claim. One of the Maoris, Pauria, washed four ounces, sixteen pennyweights in half a day. Stores were dispatched up the snag-infested Arnold River, freight at £40 a ton notwithstanding. The diggings lay partly in the Arnold watershed and extended across broken hilly country into the headwaters of "New" River, a stream running due west to the coast.
Only a few days later Callaghan washed prospects of one to two pennyweights to the dish in a creek eight miles above the Twelve Mile. Blackett heard the mob go past his Twelve Mile camp at midnight. A few days more and Robert Noble was granted the prospector's claim on a tributary creek of the Big Grey, just above Mackley's station: five hundred men were there to see Noble's party of three win seventeen pounds' weight of gold in their first week's wash up; two others took three pounds' weight in one day. A week later Brandy Jack and six mates made their strike on a small creek four miles beyound the Ahaura river. Blackett could be forgiven for writing, "From all appearances the country is full of gold".
There was confusion over the mining regulations. Nelson diggers had adopted the Old Collingwood regulations allowing seventy-two feet per man, and West Canterbury miners' rights were invalid in Nelson territory.
Regulations were eventually sorted and in August 1865 a series of rushes went off like fire crackers. On August 16 seven hundred men rushed the new ground in the Arnold River watershed, on the Canterbury side. The discovery was made simultaneously by a Maori party, and four pakehas - William Jenkins and his mates, who were granted the prospector's claim. One of the Maoris, Pauria, washed four ounces, sixteen pennyweights in half a day. Stores were dispatched up the snag-infested Arnold River, freight at £40 a ton notwithstanding. The diggings lay partly in the Arnold watershed and extended across broken hilly country into the headwaters of "New" River, a stream running due west to the coast.
Only a few days later Callaghan washed prospects of one to two pennyweights to the dish in a creek eight miles above the Twelve Mile. Blackett heard the mob go past his Twelve Mile camp at midnight. A few days more and Robert Noble was granted the prospector's claim on a tributary creek of the Big Grey, just above Mackley's station: five hundred men were there to see Noble's party of three win seventeen pounds' weight of gold in their first week's wash up; two others took three pounds' weight in one day. A week later Brandy Jack and six mates made their strike on a small creek four miles beyound the Ahaura river. Blackett could be forgiven for writing, "From all appearances the country is full of gold".
Thomas married Juliana Bassett on the 5th November 1867
Juliana was born 1851 in England to Thomas Bassett and Harriet Maria nee Whitehall.
Juliana died on the 31st of December 1925 at Ohariu Valley, New Zealand
Juliana was born 1851 in England to Thomas Bassett and Harriet Maria nee Whitehall.
Juliana died on the 31st of December 1925 at Ohariu Valley, New Zealand
Thomas became a Justice of the Peace.
Newspaper Article in Wanganui Herald on 14th Dec 1892.
The following notice was in the Evening Post, Wellington on the 21st August 1905 regarding the death of Thomas Kelly's brother John of Yackandandah.
Thomas Kelly died on the 8th of November 1912 at Ohariu Valley, Wellington, New Zealand
Probate of Thomas Kelly of Ohariu farmer deceased.
Will of Thomas Kelly of Ohariu, Settler, dated 3 August 1906.
Note: This will comprises 5 pages and is very detailed. Only taken the pertinent information was transcribed.
He bequeathed to his wife Juliana Kelly all his furniture, goods, chattels, horses, cattle, sheep and other livestock carts and carriages. Also £50 to be given to her immediately after his death.
He bequeathed all other real and personal estate and effects to his nephew Alexander MORGAN of Johnsonville civil servant and Thomas BARRETT* the younger of Ohariu farmer (the Trustees) Upon Trust.
He directed that the Trustees above should allow his wife to occupy and use the dwellinghouse and land at Ohariu ‘upon which I am now residing or such other dwellinghouse and land I shall be residing in at the time of my death for the rest of her life.’
The Trustees were to convert the rest of his estate into money (he left detailed instructions about setting up a residency trust fund which I have omitted).
He bequeathed to his adopted daughter Johanna Margaret BARRETT** now living with my wife and myself as long as my wife shall remain my widow unmarried the sum of £52 per annum until she Johanna Margaret BARRETT shall marry. After her marriage the sum of £39 per annum in each case paid quarterly.
The trustees to pay the rest and residue of the income of the residency trust funds to his wife as long as she remains unmarried. If she remarries this income is to stop immediately with a single payment of £200 with no further claim on the funds.
After the death of his wife the trustees to divide the income between Johanna Margaret BARRETT and his niece Alice WINTER (the wife of Denis WINTER of Melbourne and the daughter of his brother John KELLY deceased), his nephew the said Alexander MORGAN and John MORGAN of Melbourne Hotelkeeper in equal shares.
On the death of any one of them (Johanna Margaret BARRETT, Alice WINTER , Alexander MORGAN and John MORGAN), ‘ leaving child or children en ventre sa mere or actually born or her surviving’, the income to devolve to that child or children in their stead.
In a codicil dated 15 July 1907 Thomas Kelly noted that, ‘John Morgan of Melbourne Hotelkeeper is now dead and has left no children surviving. His will was to be interpreted, ‘as if the name of the said John Morgan had never been inserted therein.’
Thomas Kelly died at Ohariu on 8 November 1912. A document in the probate noted that the correct name of Thomas Barrett the younger was Thomas Henry Joseph Barrett.
Value of estate was under £12,000.
******
Thomas and Juliana Kelly's adopted daughter is Johanna Margaret BARRETT.
Johanna, known as Dolly, was born in 1885 to parents Julia HEALY and James Edwin BARRETT.
She married Ashley Burton BINDON in 1910.
Will of Thomas Kelly of Ohariu, Settler, dated 3 August 1906.
Note: This will comprises 5 pages and is very detailed. Only taken the pertinent information was transcribed.
He bequeathed to his wife Juliana Kelly all his furniture, goods, chattels, horses, cattle, sheep and other livestock carts and carriages. Also £50 to be given to her immediately after his death.
He bequeathed all other real and personal estate and effects to his nephew Alexander MORGAN of Johnsonville civil servant and Thomas BARRETT* the younger of Ohariu farmer (the Trustees) Upon Trust.
He directed that the Trustees above should allow his wife to occupy and use the dwellinghouse and land at Ohariu ‘upon which I am now residing or such other dwellinghouse and land I shall be residing in at the time of my death for the rest of her life.’
The Trustees were to convert the rest of his estate into money (he left detailed instructions about setting up a residency trust fund which I have omitted).
He bequeathed to his adopted daughter Johanna Margaret BARRETT** now living with my wife and myself as long as my wife shall remain my widow unmarried the sum of £52 per annum until she Johanna Margaret BARRETT shall marry. After her marriage the sum of £39 per annum in each case paid quarterly.
The trustees to pay the rest and residue of the income of the residency trust funds to his wife as long as she remains unmarried. If she remarries this income is to stop immediately with a single payment of £200 with no further claim on the funds.
After the death of his wife the trustees to divide the income between Johanna Margaret BARRETT and his niece Alice WINTER (the wife of Denis WINTER of Melbourne and the daughter of his brother John KELLY deceased), his nephew the said Alexander MORGAN and John MORGAN of Melbourne Hotelkeeper in equal shares.
On the death of any one of them (Johanna Margaret BARRETT, Alice WINTER , Alexander MORGAN and John MORGAN), ‘ leaving child or children en ventre sa mere or actually born or her surviving’, the income to devolve to that child or children in their stead.
In a codicil dated 15 July 1907 Thomas Kelly noted that, ‘John Morgan of Melbourne Hotelkeeper is now dead and has left no children surviving. His will was to be interpreted, ‘as if the name of the said John Morgan had never been inserted therein.’
Thomas Kelly died at Ohariu on 8 November 1912. A document in the probate noted that the correct name of Thomas Barrett the younger was Thomas Henry Joseph Barrett.
Value of estate was under £12,000.
******
Thomas and Juliana Kelly's adopted daughter is Johanna Margaret BARRETT.
Johanna, known as Dolly, was born in 1885 to parents Julia HEALY and James Edwin BARRETT.
She married Ashley Burton BINDON in 1910.
Mrs Julianna Kelly nee Bassett died at Ohariu Valley on the 31st of December 1925
Ohariu Cemetery is the final resting place of Thomas and Juliana KELLY
Probate of Juliana KELLY of Ohariu widow deceased (died on 31 December 1925).
Will dated 5 April 1922:
To her brother John BASSETT of Ashhurst, the three photos of her mother, father and brother Frank. If the said John BASSETT predeceased her she bequeathed these three photos to her brother Thomas BASSETT of Carterton.
The photo of her late husband and herself, her piano, personal wearing apparel and trinkets to her sister Mary KILSBY of Koputuroa. If she predeceased her then these items were to go to her nephew Arthur KILSBY.
Her sewing machine to her sister Francis Mary BASSETT of Manakau.
Her silver watch, gold chain and gold bangle to her niece Mary ALDRIDGE of Palmerston North.
Her dinner set to her sister Josephine BRYANT of Manakau.
The two photograph enlargements of Leo BRYANT and Harry BATES to her nephew John BYRANT of Manakau.
Her silver ware comprising cruet set, silver teapot, sugar basin, cake stand and silver serviette rings to her nephews Hilton BASSETT and Frank BASSETT of Carterton. If the said Hilton BASSETT and Frank BASSETT cannot agree on the division of the silver her Trustees were to make the division as they saw fit.
Her marble clock and motor car and all equipment thereof to her chauffeur William SHAW provide he was still in her employ at the time of her decease. If not the motor car and all equipment were to fall into her residuary estate.
The residue of her estate was to go to Arthur KILSBY and Harry KILSBY both of Koputaroa, farmers, her executors and trustees Upon Trust to be converted into money and the balance divided after payment of debts and funeral expenses equally between Gertrude PATTERSON and all of the persons other than the said William SHAW who shall become entitled to any specific bequest under the provisions of the will.
In 2018 I visited Wellington, Johnsonville and Ohariu Valley. Stu Lavin told me the story about Thomas travelling over the hills along the Old Coach Road from his dairy farm at Ohariu to deliver milk to Johnsonville.
Will dated 5 April 1922:
To her brother John BASSETT of Ashhurst, the three photos of her mother, father and brother Frank. If the said John BASSETT predeceased her she bequeathed these three photos to her brother Thomas BASSETT of Carterton.
The photo of her late husband and herself, her piano, personal wearing apparel and trinkets to her sister Mary KILSBY of Koputuroa. If she predeceased her then these items were to go to her nephew Arthur KILSBY.
Her sewing machine to her sister Francis Mary BASSETT of Manakau.
Her silver watch, gold chain and gold bangle to her niece Mary ALDRIDGE of Palmerston North.
Her dinner set to her sister Josephine BRYANT of Manakau.
The two photograph enlargements of Leo BRYANT and Harry BATES to her nephew John BYRANT of Manakau.
Her silver ware comprising cruet set, silver teapot, sugar basin, cake stand and silver serviette rings to her nephews Hilton BASSETT and Frank BASSETT of Carterton. If the said Hilton BASSETT and Frank BASSETT cannot agree on the division of the silver her Trustees were to make the division as they saw fit.
Her marble clock and motor car and all equipment thereof to her chauffeur William SHAW provide he was still in her employ at the time of her decease. If not the motor car and all equipment were to fall into her residuary estate.
The residue of her estate was to go to Arthur KILSBY and Harry KILSBY both of Koputaroa, farmers, her executors and trustees Upon Trust to be converted into money and the balance divided after payment of debts and funeral expenses equally between Gertrude PATTERSON and all of the persons other than the said William SHAW who shall become entitled to any specific bequest under the provisions of the will.
In 2018 I visited Wellington, Johnsonville and Ohariu Valley. Stu Lavin told me the story about Thomas travelling over the hills along the Old Coach Road from his dairy farm at Ohariu to deliver milk to Johnsonville.