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Thomas Kessey

b. 1833, d. 11 June 1903

Family surname

For more information about the Kessey surname click here.

Birth

Thomas Kessey was born in 1833 at Hoping Estate in Bathurst.1,2,3

Parents

FatherThomas Cassey (b. 23 March 1794, d. 22 July 1882)
MotherJudith Grady (b. 1815, d. 1 February 1883)

Family life

Thomas Kessey and Sarah Ann Grose were married on 29 December 1856 at St Matthews Church of England in Windsor.1,4,5,2,3

Children with Sarah Ann Grose (b. 7 June 1838, d. 24 January 1889)

DaughterMaryAnne Kessey+ (b. 1859, d. 27 January 1900)
DaughterLouisa Kessey+ (b. 26 January 1861, d. 2 June 1927)
SonWilliam Thomas Kessey (b. 1863, d. 26 January 1943)
DaughterEmily Theresa Kessey (b. 13 April 1872, d. 30 April 1872)
DaughterEva Maud Kessey (b. January 1876, d. 13 August 1877)

Residence information

Thomas Kessey purchased two Town Lots on 5 October 1854 in Dubbo. He paid 8 pounds and 4 shillings for the land on the corner of Macquarie and Talbragar Streets.6 He lived at Post Office Store in Wanaaring on 5 April 1891. His household included 5 males.7

Involvement in crime

Thomas Kessey was involved in robbing (with arms) the Orange and Bathurst mail coaches on 18 June 1864 in Bathurst.8 He was admitted to Bathurst Gaol on 12 July 1864 in Bathurst.9 He was the subject of a house search by Senior Constable Armstrong and Constable McCarthy on 31 July 1864 in White Rock. The police found a shirt marked George Hayes and a pair of boots. The police later gave evidence that Kessey was then arrested and admitted to possessing firearms but they weren't where he said. (This is strange because Thomas Kessey was in Bathurst Gaol on the day in question.)8 He was subject to another house search by Senior Constable Armstrong and Constable McCarthy on 10 August 1864 in White Rock. This time the police allegedly found a hat and mask that, it was implied in court, had been used in the mail coach robberies.8 He was indicted for having (on 18 June last), while under arms, waylaid, stopped, and robbed the Orange and Bathurst mail coaches on 17 October 1864 in Bathurst. Thomas Kessey, Frederick Peisley and Shadrach Grose were charged with robbing the Bathurst - Orange mail coaches in June 1864. Despite the fact that all three were identified by George Milne, Peisley and Grose were acquitted while Thomas Kessey was found guilty. He was sentenced to ten years hard labour on the roads. At the same session of the Circuit Court, James Kessey was charged with robbery under arms (in company with others) of Hugh McKinnon. He was found guilty and sentenced to ten years hard labour on the roads.8,10,11 He was admitted to Darlinghurst Gaol on 17 October 1864 in Darlinghurst.12 He and James Kessey were discharged from Bathurst Gaol on escort to Darlinghurst Gaol on 20 October 1864 in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia.9 Thomas Kessey was transferred as a prisoner to Cockatoo Island on 6 November 1864 in Darlinghurst.12 He was discharged from prison in October 1871.13

Working life

  • On 29 December 1856 Thomas Kessey was a carrier in Bathurst.5
  • On 30 April 1872 Thomas Kessey was a horse driver at Nanima in Wellington.14
  • On 13 August 1877 Thomas Kessey was a stockman at Bora Station in Dubbo.15

Death

Thomas Kessey died from heart failure and senile decay on 11 June 1903 at age ~70 at O'Connell Street in Parramatta. A magisterial enquiry into his death took place on 11 June 1903.1,16,3 There was a funeral for Thomas Kessey on 13 June 1903 in Rookwood Cemetery, NSW, Australia. He is buried in Plot 178, Sec P, Portion M2 at Rookwood Cemetery.1,17

Citations

  1. [S403] "Kessey family facts", circa 1991, Gardiner (303 Birdwood Terrace, Toowong Qld 4006); Fleming Family History Archive, Sydney.
  2. [S871] Birth Certificate 4745/1861, Louisa Kessey, (30 June 1858), NSW Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages.
  3. [S875] Death Certificate, Thomas Kessey, Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages, NSW, 430/1903.
  4. [S611] NSW Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages, Index to NSW Marriages, (Registry of BDM.)
  5. [S870] Marriage Certificate, Thomas Kessey and Sarah Ann Grose, 29 Dec 1856, Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages, NSW.
  6. [S811] Sale of Land by Auction, accessed; 22 September 2018; p415
  7. [S1749] Thomas Kessey household, Wanaaring, 5 Apr 1891 Census, NSW, Bourke, NSW Records Authority.
  8. [S776] Monday October 17, Sydney Morning Herald, within the column headed "Bathurst Circuit Court", 22 Oct 1864, 4.
  9. [S773] Thomas and James Kessey, Gaol Admission: Bathurst, Kessey brothers 1864, 24 Oct 1842
  10. [S777] Return of Prisoners Tried at the different Circuit Courts 1864, Police Gazette, NSW, December 1864, p353.
  11. [S778] Bathurst, The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser, Part of the "Telegraphic Intelligence" column, 20 Oct 1864.
  12. [S775] Thomas and James Kessey, Gaol Admission: Darlinghurst, Thomas and James Kessey 1864, 17 Oct 1864
  13. [S865] Beverley Johnson, Shadrach Henry Grose & Julia Healey: Beverley Johnson, 2018.
  14. [S873] Death Transcription, Emily Theresa Kessey, Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages, NSW, 7131/1872.
  15. [S874] Death Transcription, Eva Maud Kessey, Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages, NSW, 5045/1877.
  16. [S612] NSW Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages, Index to NSW Deaths, (Registry of BDM.)
  17. [S890] Various, Australian Cemeteries Index, (Reg & Jean McDonnell.)
Click on any citation number above to view details of the source document and, possibly, access an image of the source.
ContextGrady clan
Kessey clan
Last Edited22 March 2023
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