John Henry Priestley (1874 - 1961)

Born 14 May 1874 in Fullerton Cove, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah Elizabeth Smith — married 12 Apr 1900 in Stockton, New South Wales, Australia

Died 1 Dec 1961 at age 87 in Stockton, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

John Henry Priestley is born on May 14, 1874 in Fullerton Cove, New South Wales, Australia, the son of George Priestley (1840-1887) and Elizabeth West (1841-1930). Both parents were born in England and had arrived in Australia, with their parents, as children in the 1840’s. Fullerton Cove is across the river from Newcastle. John’s surname on the birth registration (in Newcastle) is spelt “Priestly.”

He marries Sarah Elizabeth Smith (1877-1962) in 1900 in Stockton, NSW (across the Hunter River from Newcastle). Not much is known about their life together (where they lived or what occupations they had). However, from information on their children, it is known that they moved around:

• child #1 – born in Wickham, NSW in 1901 (Wickham is a suburb of Newcastle)
• child #2 - born in Newcastle, NSW in 1903
• child #3 – born in Lismore district, NSW in 1906 (Lismore is 592 km north of Newcastle)
• child #4 & #5 – born in Ballina, NSW in 1910 (Ballina is abt 30 km east of Lismore)
• child #6 – born in Rous Mill, NSW in 1912 (Rous Mill is 15 km from Lismore)
• child #7 – born in Ballina, NSW in 1915 (Ballina is abt 30 km east of Lismore)
• child #8 – born in Nambour, QLD in 1918 (Nambour is 100 km north of Brisbane)
• child #7 – died in Bryon Bay, NSW in 1923 (Bryon Bay is 46 km east of Lismore)

At the time of his mother’s death in 1930, John is living in Stockton.

The following list is tentative list of the children:

• Ruby Priestley 1901-1992 + (1925) Ralph Turner 1900-1960

• Esther Elizabeth Priestley 1903-1993+ (1939) Eric Neil Hitchcock 1901-1981

• John Walsh Priestley 1906-1994 + (1935) Iris Gwenneth Rishworth 1908-1998

• Richard Priestley 1910-1910

• Mary Priestley 1910-1910

• Rex West Priestley 1912-1995 + (1936) Heather Beauley Osborn 1913-2005

• Frances May Priestley 1915-1923

• Jean Eileen Priestley 1918-2009 + (1945) Mervyn James Ogram 1919-2010

John dies on December 1, 1961 in Stockton. One source suggests he dies in Hamilton (a suburb of Newcastle). (It may be that John is living in Stockton in 1961 and the hospital in which he dies is in Hamilton?) He is buried in Newcastle Memorial Park. Sarah dies in 1962 and is buried with John.

Sources

[1] Newlin-Noakes family tree at https://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ shows John Priestley born 14 May 1874 in Newcastle, New South Wales. His parents were George Priestly [note spelling of surname] (1840-1887) & Elizabeth West (1841-1930). John marries Sarah Elizabeth Smith in 1900 in Stockton, NSW. Sarah was born in 1877 in Newcastle. John dies in 1961 in Hamilton, NSW. Sarah dies a year later in Newcastle. No children are shown.

[2] an entry at https://www.geni.com/people/John-Priestley/6000000008179699387 shows John Henry Priestley born on May 14, 1874 in Fullerton Cove, NSW (Fullerton Cove is just north of Newcastle). It shows his parents as George Priestley (note spelling) and Elizabeth West. It shows his spouse as Sarah Elizabeth Priestley (Smith) It shows his death on Dec 1, 1961 in Stockton, NSW. He is buried in Newcastle. It shows his children as (1) Ruby Priestley Turner 1901-?, (2) Esther Priestley 1903-?, (3) John Walsh Priestley 1906-1994, (4) May Priestley 1908-1908, (5) Richmond Priestley 1908-1908, (6) Rex West Priestley 1912-?, (7) Frances May Priestley 1915-? & (8) Jean Eleen Ogram (Priestley) 1918-2009. [Much of this information, including pictures, is from Joy Evelyn Priestley.]

[3] Helene Shepherd’s family tree shows John Priestley born 14 May 1874 in New South Wales. It shows he died on 01 Dec 1961. He married Sarah E. Smith in 1900. They had the following children: (1) Ruby 1901-? (2) Esther E. 1903-? (3) John W. 1906-? (4) Richard 1910-? (5) Mary 1910-? (6) Rex W. 1912-? & (7) Frances M. 1915-?

[4] Karen Eldridge “The Descendants of William West” at http://members.iinet.net.au/~rgkje/west.html She shows John Priestley (1874-1961) married to Sarah Elizabeth Smith (1877-1962). They have 7 children: (1) Ruby 1901-1992 + Ralph Turner 1900-1961, (2) Esther Elizabeth 1903-1993, + Eric Neil Hitchcock 1901-1981, (3) John Walsh 1906-1994, (4) Richard 1910-1910, (5) Mary 1910-1910, (6) Rex West 1912-1995 & (7) Frances May 1915-1923.

[5] NSW BDM registration # 15830/1874 The birth of John Priestly is registered in Newcastle in 1874. His parents are George & Elizabeth Priestly.

[6] Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 15 October 2018), memorial page for John Priestley (1874–1 Dec 1961), Find A Grave Memorial no. 193612129, citing Newcastle Memorial Park, Beresfield, Newcastle City, New South Wales, Australia ; Maintained by MrCG (contributor 49524149) . He is buried (or perhaps his ashes are) in plot Loggia Court 1 G/60.

[7] Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 15 October 2018), memorial page for Sarah Priestley (1877–31 Jul 1962), Find A Grave Memorial no. 193612130, citing Newcastle Memorial Park, Beresfield, Newcastle City, New South Wales, Australia ; Maintained by MrCG (contributor 49524149) . She is buried (or perhaps her ashes are) in Loggia Court 1 G/61.