Wymond Thomas Ogilvy Hamley (bef. 1818 - 1907)

Born before 30 Dec 1818 in Bodmin, Cornwall, England

Ancestors

Husband of Unknown Sen'thaliyah — married before 1862 (to about 1865) in British Columbia

Descendants

Died 14 Jun 1907 after age 88 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

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Wymond Hamley was featured in Victoria BC Customs House 1875-1898.

Biography

Wymond Thomas Ogilvy Hamley, the son of William Hamley and Barbara Ogilvy was christened on 30 December 1818 at Bodmin, Cornwall, England.^[1] In 1841, Wymond (age 20) and his family were living in Bodmin, Cornwall.^[2]

After completing school, Wymond served briefly in the Royal Navy, then entered Somerset House. Through his brother's connection with Lord Lytton, Wymond was given a post as the Collector of Customs for the fledgling colony of British Columbia in 1858.^[3] He remained a close associate of (then Colonel) Richard Moody during those early days in New Westminster. After the colonies of British Columbia and Vancouver Island merged in 1866, Wymond relocated to the new provincial capital in Victoria, where he remained in charge of Her Majesty's Customs . While active in Victoria, Wymond sat on the Legislative Council until 1871 when British Columbia joined the recently-confederated Dominion of Canada. He remained in his customs post until retirement in 1889.^[4][5]

In 1881, Wymond (age 60 and a collector of customs) and his daughter, Diana were living in Victoria, British Columbia (along with one servant).^[6] He later lived on his own^[7] or with servants.^[8]

Wymond enjoyed Victoria and its environs as it reminded him of his native Cornwall. After retirement he spent time gardening at his home at 37 Burdett Avenue (which was a gift from Baroness Burdett-Coutts, now a low-rise apartment block at the SE corner of Burdett & Quadra), which had a south-facing conservatory with a view of the Olympic mountains. An avid reader, he took regular bulk deliveries of several British periodicals including The Times Of London, Black & White, and The Spectator. Blackwood's was especially important as his brother wrote for them, but his favourite was The Review of Reviews. He was also in the habit of taking his horse and cart for a daily drive to Oak Bay then around Beacon Hill, and in his advanced years would sometimes nod off as the horse followed its regular circuit.^[5]

Wymond (age 88) died on 15 January 1907 at Victoria.^[9] His will was probated on 23 April 1909 in London, England.^[10]

Research Notes

Birth:

Baptism record: baptism on 30 Dec 1818

1841 census: age 20, birth year estimate: 1821

1881 census: age 60, birth year estimate: 1821

1891 census: age 72, birth year estimate: 1819

1901 census: age 82, birth year estimate: 1819, Birthdate record 30 Dec 1818

Death certificate 15 January 1907: age 88, birth year estimate: 1818.

1901 census: Year of Immigration 1858.

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism: "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, (FamilySearch Record: V5JS-NMZ : accessed 11 July 2023), Wymond Thomas Ogilvy Hamley baptism on 30 Dec 1818, son of William Hamley & Barbara, in Bodmin, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.
2. ↑ 1841 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1841," database, (FamilySearch Record: MQBQ-N41 : accessed 11 July 2023) FindMyPast Image, Wymond Hamley (20) in Bodmin, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. Born in Cornwall; citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
3. ↑ Lytton, sir Edward George Earle Bulwer to Douglas, sir James 23 September 1858, LAC RG7:G8C/6, 195. (2020, July 8). The Colonial Despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871:. https://bcgenesis.uvic.ca/B587021.html
4. ↑ Bosher, J. F., Imperial Vancouver Island: Who Was Who 1850-1950, Woodstock, Oxon, UK: Writersworld, 2012, pp 333, 334
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} "Mr. and Mrs. F. G. Pinder interview", BC Archives Item AAAB1451, June 21, 1962
6. ↑ 1881 Census: "Canada Census, 1881," database with images, (FamilySearch Record: MV63-SNN : accessed 11 July 2023) FamilySearch Image: S3HT-D4V9-W5F Image number 00301, Wymond Hamley (60), Collector Of Customs, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Born in England; citing Wymond Hamley, citing Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
7. ↑ 1891 Census: "Canada Census, 1891," database, (FamilySearch Record: MWKQ-MH4 : accessed 11 July 2023), Wymond Hamley (72) in Victoria City James Bay Ward, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Born in England.
8. ↑ 1901 Census: "Canada Census, 1901," database with images, (FamilySearch Record: KHVK-RKG : accessed 11 July 2023) FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSS1-L6H6 Image number 01815, Wymond Hamley (82), single head of household in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Born in England, Birthdate: 30 Dec 1818; Year of Immigration: 1858; citing p. 14, Library and Archives of Canada, Ottawa.
9. ↑ Death: "British Columbia Death Registrations," online database with images. Entry for Thomas Wymond Ogilvy Hamley; Registration: 1907-09-020286, 1907-01-15, Victoria, Age at Death: 88, Birth: Bodmin, Cornwall, England, Occuption: Retired Civil Servant. Death certificate Royal British Columbia Museum: BC Archives (search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Genealogy : accessed 11 JUl 2023).
10. ↑ Principal Probate Registry. Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England. London, England © Crown copyright. Wymond Thomas Ogilvy Hamley Ancestry

See also:

• "Hamley, Wymond Ogilvy" Colonial Despatches, August 29, 2020. [1]
• “Wymond Ogilvy Hamley.” Wikipedia, August 29, 2018. Wymond Ogilvy Hamley