James Joseph Priestley (1882 - 1949)

Ancestors

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Biography

James Joseph Priestley is born in 1882 in New South Wales Australia. His parents are Joseph Nix Priestly (1846-1927) and Rebecca Smith (1853-1916). It is likely that James is born in Failford (the family lives in Possum Brush which is beside Failford) although the actual birth registration is in Wingham which is about 30 kilometres to the north.

James’ family uses both the spelling “Priestly” and “Priestley” for surnames. James, himself, is shown as “Priest” on his birth registrations and “Priestley” on both his marriage and his death registration.

James marries Ruby Pearl Kindle (1899-1966) in Taree in 1920. Ruby’s step-father is George Duck, so Ruby’s name on the marriage registration is “Ruby P. Duck”

Little else is known about the lives of James and Ruby Pearl (where they lived, whether they had children). One source indicates that James is a timber worker (as was his father). James Joseph dies on December 13, 1949 in Kempsey, NSW and is buried in the Kempsey West General Cemetery. The cemetery stone spells the surname as “Priestley” (as does the death registration) but the announcement in the newspaper spells it “Priestly.” Kempsey is 282 kilometres via the Pacific Highway north of Newcastle.

Ruby Pearl dies on February 7, 1966 and she is buried in Woronora Memorial Park, Sutherland (a suburb of Sydney). Her surname is spelt “Priestley.”

Sources

[1] Stuart Gregory at http://stuart.scss.dyndns.info/FamilyTree/ He shows James Joseph Priestly born c1882 (no location), the son of Joseph Nix Priestly (1846-1927) & Rebecca Smith (1853-1916). He notes that the headstone for James Joseph spells the surname as “Priestley.” James married Ruby Pearl Kindle in c1920 in Taree, NSW. Ruby was born c1899 in Taree, the daughter of Elizabeth Mary Kindl (sic). James Joseph dies on Dec 13, 1949 in Kempsey, NSW. He is buried in the Kempsey West General Cemetery, Roman Catholic portion. This source contains a picture of the headstone: “James Joseph Priestley / Died 13 Dec. 1949 / Aged 67 Years” Ruby Pearl dies in c1966 in Sutherland, NSW.

[2] https://www.geni.com/people/James-Priestly/6000000050080805856 Oton Zagorc (manager) shows James Joseph Priestly born in Failford in January 1882. He died Dec 13, 1949 in Kempsey.

[2] NSW BDM registration #18251/1882 the birth of James J. Priest (sic) was registered in Wingham in 1882. His parents’ names were Joseph and Rebecca.

[3] NSW BDM registration #14594/1920 The marriage of James J. Priestley and Ruby P. Duck was registration in 1920 in Taree.

[4] NSW BDM registration #29500/1949 The death of James Joseph Priestley was registered in Kempsey in 1949. The names of his parents were Joseph and Rebecca.

[5] The Macleay Chronical (Kempsey, NSW), Wed 21 Dec 1949, pg 3 “Mr. James Joseph Priestly, of Tozer Street, West Kempsey, passed away on Wednesday last, aged 69 years. The funeral, under conduct of Messrs Harry B. & Jos T. Walker, took place on Thursday to West Kempsey Catholic cemetery, Rev. Father McEvoy officiating at a service in AH Saints Church and at the graveside “

[6] www.findagrave.com Memorial #159716694 (thanks to Stombell): Kempsey West General Cemetery, James Joseph Priestley , born 1882, death 13 Dec 1949 (aged 66-67), buried in RC section, son of Joseph & Rebecca.