John Thomas ("Jack") HELY
- Born: 15 Sep 1833, Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia 14250
- Christened: 13 Oct 1833, Parish Of St. John, Parramatta, Co. Cumberland, New South Wales, Australia 14251
- Married: 22 Jun 1855, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 14246
- Died: 2 Jun 1914, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 13726
General Notes:
Relationship to compiler: great, great grandfather
Research Notes:
Employed at Birt's (later Kiss) Horse Bazaar in Pitt Street, Sydney, with William Felton Mathew*; both Hely and Mathew then came into the employ of William Brown* and his circus, training some of the animals including the famous horse with the golden shoes and touring Victoria and New South Wales; visited Wagga Wagga in 1851; and settled in the district about 1853. Married Elizabeth ("Betsy") Smart* at North Wagga Wagga on July 21, 1856. Stockkeeper for John Church* at "Pomingalarna" station near Wagga Wagga for several years (GH Sept 30, 1857; and WWA July 2, 1907); and then at The Rock for Susannah Brown*, William's wife. Then farmer on his own account at "Rose Farm", Urana Road; and all the members of his family were born there. Later took up a selection on "Pomingalarna" which he subsequently sold to Joseph Woods. Then came to Wagga Wagga and took over the licence of the Club House Hotel in Kincaid Street from 1879; this hotel was flooded to four feet in 1891 and the family had to take refuge in the hay loft. After 1884 Hely established a regular bus communication from one end of Wagga Wagga to the other i.e. from the Club House Hotel to Kerr's Wagga Wagga Hotel near the Railway Station, each hour of the day. Retired from the business c.1896; and ran the boarding establishment of "Millview" in Tarcutta Street. Loved horses; and his horses often won prizes at the show e.g. his handsome pair of cream coloured horses won first prize at the Hay Show in 1882 (WWA July 11, 1882); and he was a great horseman; appointed the driver to the Earl of Carrington when he visited Wagga Wagga in September 1890, Hely supplying the coach and horses and was presented by the Governor with a sovereign in appreciation. Keen interest in sporting affairs; donated trophies to the various cricket clubs; a prize cup for the best all round cricketer of the season, won by Walter Higgins* in 1884-85 (WWA June 23, 1885); also donated trophies for the Wagga Wagga Bicycle Club and in 1887 presented the Hely Challenge Cup to be played for by all football clubs within a radius of one hundred miles of Wagga Wagga (WWA May 19, 1887). Associatied with the Sons of Temperance, Wagga Wagga, in the 1870s and with the lodges of the town formerly the Oddfellows, later the Protestant Alliance Friendly Society and took a leading part in the formation of the Orange Lodge at Wagga Wagga; also belonged to the Masonic Order. Fell from his horse in 1909 while driving cattle from Lake Albert Road into town; broke his collarbone and two ribs and suffered shock (WWA Mar 30, 1909). Died on June 2, 1914 at the age of eighty, leaving a widow and seven children, four having predeceased him; buried Anglican Portion, Wagga Wagga Cemetery (WWA Jan 1, 1884; Oct 7, 1884; July 2, 1891; and July 2, 1907; DA Dec 30, 1911 and June 3, 1914; and NSW Dir, 1903). 8
Events:
1. Occupation: Famer, Publican/Boardinghouse Keeper, Wagga Wagga,
New South Wales, Australia.
Marriage Information:
John married Elizabeth SMART, daughter of William John SMART of Manchester and Mary Ann JONES, on 22 Jun 1855 in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 14246. (Elizabeth SMART was born on 11 Dec 1839 in Cook's River, New South Wales, Australia 14247, christened on 4 Oct 1840 in Parish Of St. James, Sydney, Co. Cumberland, New South Wales, Australia 14248 and died on 12 Oct 1926 in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 14249.)
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