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Person Page 3,194

James Kessey1,1

b. 18 June 1858, d. 14 August 1944

Person Exhibits

Detailed biography

For a detailed biography of James Kessey click here.

Family surname

For more information about the Kessey surname click here.

Birth

James Kessey was born on 18 June 1858 at Burnt Flat in Bathurst. The surname on the birth certificate is spelt KASEY.2,1,3

Parents

FatherJohn Kessey (b. 1836, d. 18 March 1902)
MotherMary Ann Hanrahan (b. August 1828, d. 16 August 1907)

Family life

James Kessey and Mary Jane Press were married on 22 April 1890 at St Patrick's Catholic Church in Rockley.4,5,6,7 He and Mary Jane Press were divorced on 14 August 1915 in NSW. The divorce was numbered 298 of 1914. They remarried each other nine years later.5

Children with Mary Jane Press (b. 24 October 1867, d. 5 March 1951)

DaughterMary Grace Kessey+ (b. 1891, d. 14 October 1941)
SonJames Harold Alexander ("Harold") Kessey+ (b. 1893, d. 10 November 1957)
DaughterBeatrice Susan ("Beat") Kessey+ (b. 1895, d. 5 March 1951)
DaughterEmily Bernadette Kessey+ (b. 1896)
DaughterPhilomena E Kessey+ (b. 1898)
SonJoseph Aloysius ("Joe") Kessey+ (b. 1899, d. 1970)
SonJohn Horace Press Kessey+ (b. 1902, d. 1974)
SonHalvar Roy Kessey+ (b. 1 April 1905, d. 11 December 1981)
DaughterJean Alice Columbia Kessey (b. 1907)
SonHilton David Kessey (b. 1909, d. 1977)

Residence information

James Kessey purchased 40 acres of grazing land on 23 February 1882 in Swashfield.8 He sold 40 acres of land on 2 May 1889 in Black Springs. The price was 26 pounds.8 He lived in Brewongle, New South Wales, on 5 April 1891, census night. There was one other male in his household on census night.9 He and Mary Jane Press resided in Mount David, New South Wales, Australia, on 4 April 1901 The household consisted of 5 males (James, Harold, Joe and 2 guests) and 6 females (Mary Jane, Grace, Beat, Bern, Phil and 1 guest).10 He purchased Lots 36-7 Sec 1 & Lot 7 Sec 2 DP 3552 from the Mount David Gold Mining Company NL on 2 July 1901 in Mount David.11 He sold Lot 7 Sec 2 DP 3552 to Reuben Fairall on 25 February 1905 in Mount David. Mr Fairhall was the local blacksmith.12,13 He lived in Mount David, New South Wales, Australia, on 16 August 1907.14 He secured the issue of a Provisional Certificate of Title to Lots 36-6 Sec 1 DP 3552 on 19 July 1914 in Mount David. The Provisional Certificate of Title was required because James Kessey could not locate the original deed.15 He transferred the title to Lots 36-37 Dec 1 DP 3552 to his brother Phillip Kessey on 20 July 1914 in Mount David. This was part of a complex arrangement whereby Phillip Kessey loaned His brother James the money required to stave off his creditors after the sale of his hotel business at Mount David. In return, James transferred the land to Phillip who then provided a mortgage over it to the creditors until James was able to pay the balance of his debts.15 Philip Joseph Kessey gave a mortgage over Lots 36-7 Sec 1 DP 3552 to James Kessey's creditors on 7 October 1914 in Mount David, New South Wales, Australia.15 Philip Joseph Kessey re-mortgaged to a new mortgagee Lots 36-7 Sec 1 DP 3552 on 1 October 1915 in Mount David, New South Wales, Australia.15 Philip Joseph Kessey secured the discharge of the original mortgage over Lots 36-7 Sec 1 DP 3552 on 14 October 1915 in Mount David, New South Wales, Australia.15 Philip Joseph Kessey officially leased Lots 36-7 Sec 1 DP 3552 to Robert O'Rourke (with the approval of the mortgagee) on 20 August 1916 in Mount David, New South Wales, Australia.15 Philip Joseph Kessey secured the discharge of the mortgage over Lots 36-7 Sec 1 DP 3552 on 14 September 1917 in Mount David, New South Wales, Australia.15 Philip Joseph Kessey transferred the title for Lots 36-7 Sec 1 DP 3552 back to his brother James Kessey on 15 July 1922 in Mount David, New South Wales, Australia.15 James Kessey sold Lots 36-7 Sec 1 DP 3552 to his brother-in-law Joseph Press on 21 August 1923 in Mount David.15 He bought part of Lot 5 Sec 15 from Katerina Margaret Gibson ( at 7 Richard Street) on 22 June 1927 in Bourke, New South Wales, Australia.16 He puchased from William Wesley Gowes part of Lot 2 Sec 14 on 11 April 1928 in Bourke.17 He purchase part Lot 3 Sec 45 from the Public Trustee under s602 LGA on 13 July 1928 in Bourke.18 He bought Lots 15-17 Sec 36 and Lot 9 Sec 32 from the Public Trustee under s602 LGA on 11 October 1928 in Bourke.19 He purchased from Mary Kate Lee part of Lot 3 Sec 14 on 3 August 1929 in Bourke.20 He and Mary Jane Press resided at the Oxford Hotel in Bourke, New South Wales, Australia, in 1930.21 He provided a mortgage over the Mechanics Institute (Lot 1 Sec 5) on 30 November 1931 in Bourke.22 He was visit on 12 January 1933 in Oberon, NSW, Australia.23 He purchased Lot 1 Sec 42 from Francis Amos Kennedy on 22 April 1933 in Bourke.24 He purchased part of Lot 3 Sec 1 from the Public Trustee (s602 LGA) for 35 pounds on 14 March 1934 in Bourke.25 He purchased part of Lot 8 Sec 23 from the Public Trustee under s602 LGA on 14 March 1934 in Bourke.26 He purchased the Palais Royal and adjacent land from Williamson & Mayne on 22 May 1935 in Bourke.27 He purchased part of Lot 3 Sec 1 from James Henry Whitbread for 17 pounds on 7 September 1935 in Bourke.28 He and Mary Jane Press resided at 13 Sturt Street in Bourke, New South Wales, Australia, in 1936.29 He and Mary Jane Press resided at 13 Sturt Street in Bourke, New South Wales, Australia, in 1937.30 He (owing to the loss of the original) obtained a Provisional Certificate of Title for Lots 16-7 Sec 9 DP 1128 on 19 December 1940 in Mount Druitt.31 He and Mary Jane Press resided at 13 Sturt Street in Bourke, New South Wales, Australia, in 1943.32 He sold (via his Executors) Lots 15-17 Sec 37 to Leonard James Morris on 31 July 1950 in Bourke.33 He sold (via his Executors) part of Lot 5 Sec 15 to Ronald Douglas Adams on 5 April 1951 in Bourke.34 He sold (via his Executors) part 3 Sec 45 to Ivy Mabel Bye on 15 April 1951 in Bourke.35 He sold (via his Executors) Lot 1 Sec 42 to Charles Augustus Riley on 30 May 1951 in Bourke.24 He sold (via his Executors) part of Lot 3 Sec 1 to Margaret Caroline Bonser for 350 pounds on 21 September 1951 in Bourke.36 He sold (via his Executors) Lot 9 Sec 32 to Walter James Morris on 5 April 1952 in Bourke.33 He sold (via his Executors) part of Lot 3 Sec 1 to Walter Robert Bonser for 300 pounds on 24 September 1954 in Bourke.37 He sold (via his Executors) the site of the Palais Royal to Bob Furney P/L on 11 November 1954 in Bourke.27 He sold (via his Executors) part of Lot 3 Sec 1 to Samuel James Taylor for 380 pounds on 10 April 1959 in Bourke.38 He sold (as mortgagee, through his Executors) Lot 1 Sec 5 to Ethel May Parnaby on 13 May 1959 in Bourke.22

Working life

  • On 23 February 1882 James Kessey was a grazier at Conditional Purchase 19 of 1882 in Black Springs.8
  • On 22 April 1890 James Kessey was a farmer at Hillsborough in Black Springs.5
  • On 24 October 1891 James Kessey was a mail contractor in Brewongle. His tender of 49 pounds for the Brewongle and O'Connell mail service was accepted.39
  • On 11 January 1893 James Kessey was a granted a hotel license at the Railway Hotel in Brewongle.40,41
  • On 21 February 1894 James Kessey was a mail contractor in Brewongle. His tender of 49 pounds for the Brewongle and O'Connell mail service on six days per week was accepted. He also tendered successfully at 29/15/- for the twice-weekly O'Connell, Wiseman's Creek and Essington mail service.42
  • On 24 June 1895 James Kessey was a publican at the Railway Hotel in Brewongle.43
  • On 22 March 1898 James Kessey was a farmer supplying forage to the Police Force in both Hartley Vale and Lithgow.44
  • On 18 August 1899 James Kessey was a publican in Mount David.45
  • On 1 April 1905 James Kessey was a hotelkeeper in Mount David.4
  • On 12 September 1909 James Kessey was an auctioneer in Mount David. Kessey and Felthouse placed an advertisement in the National Advocate for a "Fat & Store Stick Sale". Items to be offered on Saturday Dec 11 at 1 oçlock included bullocks, cattle, calves, a bull, horses, ewes, mixed sheep and a good bullock wagon, cheap. Similar advertisements were placed In Oct 1909, Feb 1910 and Jun 1910.46
  • In 1913 James Kessey was an innkeeper in Mount David.13
  • He was retired on 3 January 1923 in Bourke, New South Wales, Australia.47
  • On 21 February 1923 James Kessey was a publican at the Oxford Hotel in Bourke.48
  • In 1924 James Kessey was a publican at the Oxford Hotel in Bourke.49
  • On 29 October 1928 James Kessey was a retired hotelkeeper.50
  • On 14 August 1944 James Kessey was a retired hotelkeeper in Bourke.7

Death

James Kessey witnessed the death of Mary Ann Hanrahan on 16 August 1907 at Hillsborough in Black Springs, NSW.14,6 He died from thrombosis of meserteric vessels on 14 August 1944 at age 86 at Bourke District Hospital in Bourke.7,51 He was buried on 15 August 1944 at Roman Catholic Cemetery in Bourke.7 He had his estate probated on 13 December 1946 in Bourke. His estate was valued at 5,441 pounds and consisted mainly of about 20 properties in Bourke, most of which were rented.52

Memorial

There is a memorial to James Kessey at Bourke Historical Cemetery in Bourke, New South Wales, Australia. Follow this link for information and images of his memorial.

Citations

  1. [S804] Ancestry.com, Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922
  2. [S453] Death Certificate, John Kessey, Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages, NSW, Vol 1902 No 2534.
  3. [S337] Birth Certificate Vol 1858 No 4602, James Kessey, (30 June 1858), NSW Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages.
  4. [S486] Birth Certificate Vol 1905 No 17192, Halvar Roy Kessey, (6 May 1905), NSW Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages.
  5. [S402] Marriage Certificate, James Kessey and Mary Jane Press, 22 April 1890, Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages, NSW. No 4634 of 1890.
  6. [S466] "RR: Hanrahan-Hogan Descendants Chart", unknown author; Fleming Family History Archive, Sydney.
  7. [S295] Death Certificate, James Kessey, Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages, NSW, Vol 1944 No 328.
  8. [S401] Deed: Kessey - Moran Land Transfer, Land Titles Office of NSW, No 868 Book 423 CP.
  9. [S704] James Kessey, 5 Apr 1891 Census NSW, London, Brewongle, Public Record Office.
  10. [S711] James Kessey, 4 Apr 1901 Census NSW, Kingswood, Mount David, Archives Office of NSW.
  11. [S748] Deed: Mt David Gold Mining Co - Kessey, Land Titles Office of NSW, Vol 1299 Fol 59.
  12. [S749] Deed: Kessey-Fairall, Land Titles Office of NSW, Book 1364 No 198.
  13. [S761] All, 1913 Electoral Roll, Kingswood, Mount David, Archives Office of NSW.
  14. [S463] Death Certificate, Mary Ann Kessey, Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages, NSW, Vol 1907 No 10401.
  15. [S750] Deed: Kessey-Press, Land Titles Office of NSW, Book 1605 No 204.
  16. [S738] Deed: Gibson - Kessey, Land Titles Office of NSW, Vol 4039 Fol 96.
  17. [S736] Deed: Gowes - Kessey, Land Titles Office of NSW, Vol 1310 Fol 217.
  18. [S746] Deed: Public Trustee - Kessey 13 Jul 1928, Land Titles Office of NSW, Vol 1050 Fol 26.
  19. [S743] Deed: Public Trustee - Kessey 11 Oct 1928, Land Titles Office of NSW, Vol 562 Fols 183 & 193-4; Vol 741 Fol 58.
  20. [S737] Deed: Lee - Kessey, Land Titles Office of NSW, Vol 2671 Fol 107.
  21. [S713] Kessey, 1930 Electoral Roll, Kingswood, Bourke, Archives Office of NSW.
  22. [S733] Deed: Group - Kessey, Land Titles Office of NSW, Vol 4500 Fol 164.
  23. [S885] Oberon, Bathurst Times, 12 Jan 1933.
  24. [S745] Deed: Kennedy- Kessey, Land Titles Office of NSW, Vol 1155 Fol 136.
  25. [S728] Deed: Public Trustee - Kessey, Land Titles Office of NSW, Book 1685 No 360.
  26. [S739] Deed: Public Trustee - Kessey, Land Titles Office of NSW, Book 2985 No 114.
  27. [S741] Deed: Williamson & Mayne - Kessey, Land Titles Office of NSW, Vol 4709 Fol 200.
  28. [S727] Deed: James Henry Whitbread - William Kessey, Land Titles Office of NSW, Book 1729 No 448.
  29. [S721] Kessey, 1936 Electoral Roll, Kingswood, Bourke, Archives Office of NSW.
  30. [S722] Kessey, 1937 Electoral Roll, Kingswood, Bourke, Archives Office of NSW.
  31. [S751] Deed: Blackwood - Kessey, Land Titles Office of NSW, Vol 2229 Vol 137.
  32. [S723] Kessey, 1943 Electoral Roll, Kingswood, Bourke, Archives Office of NSW.
  33. [S744] Deed: Kessey - Morris, Land Titles Office of NSW, Vol 4230 Fol 111.
  34. [S742] Deed: Kessey-Adams, Land Titles Office of NSW, Book 4046 No 206.
  35. [S747] Deed: Kessey - Bye, Land Titles Office of NSW, Vol 4186 Fol 246.
  36. [S730] Deed: Kessey - Margaret Bonser, Land Titles Office of NSW, No 947 Book 2189.
  37. [S731] Deed: Kessey - Walter Robert Bonser, Land Titles Office of NSW, No 429 Book 2344.
  38. [S732] Deed: Kessey - Samuel James Taylor, Land Titles Office of NSW, No 803 Book 2685.
  39. [S706] Successful tenderers, Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal, Part of the "Today's Telegrams" column, 9 Jan 1893, p2.
  40. [S705] Application for transfer, Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal, Part of the "Licensing Court" column, 9 Jan 1893, p3.
  41. [S707] Application for transfer; The power of mortgagees, Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal, Part of the "Licensing Court" column, 11 Jan 1893, pp 2-3.
  42. [S708] Mail contracts, Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal, 21 Feb 1894, p3.
  43. [S709] Licensing Court, Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal, 24 Jun 1895, p3.
  44. [S835] Forage Contract for Police, Government Gazette, NSW, 22 Mar 1898, p2399.
  45. [S710] Licensing Court, Bathurst and District Times, 18 Aug 1899.
  46. [S757] Kessey and Felthouse, National Advocate, 12 Sep 1909.
  47. [S604] Marriage Certificate, James Kessey and Mary Jane Kessey (Press), 23 Jan 1923, Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages, NSW. 1923/3952.
  48. [S712] Oxford Hotel, The Western Herald, 21 Feb 1923, p2.
  49. [S812] Various, Sands' Directory, p1280
  50. [S459] Marriage Certificate, Halvar Roy Kessey and Ena Ruby Murphy, 29 Oct 1928, Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages, NSW. 1928/19996.
  51. [S1033] "Story: Bricks at dead of night - by James Michael Fleming", circa 2009, James Michael Fleming (4 Currawang Street, Cammeray); Fleming Family History Archive, Sydney.
  52. [S729] James Kessey, Probate: Kessey, James NRS13660 27 7011 4-4-321091 (Probate), NSW Probate Office, Sydney.
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ContextCh forebears
Ch Kessey forebears
Grady clan
Hanrahan clan
Kessey clan
Pedigree Kessey
Last Edited21 June 2022