William Holley/Holly/Hally

William Holley/Holly/Hally and his wife, Nancy Carey/Carew, arrived in Sydney, Australia, on the Helen on 21 July 1841, with children Richard (17), Catherine (16), John (13), Juliet (12), Margaret (10), Patrick (9), Thomas (6), Michael (4), and Honora/Nora (3/4 or 9 months). The surname recorded on the immigration record was Hurry, but family details, including the name used by the family once settled in Sydney, indicate it was Holley, Holly or Hally.

William was described as 38, a native of Golden, Tipperary, son of Richard, a farmer (dead), and Margaret Quinney/Cooney living there.

Nancy was 35, a native of Kilfeacle, Tipperary, daughter of Walter Carey, a farmer, & Judy Welch, both living there.

William was described on the immigration record as an agricultural labourer and Nancy as a housekeeper. They were Bounty Immigrants, sent out to Australia under a scheme whereby Settlers in N.S.W. were allowed to recruit their own workers in the U.K. Most employed agents to do so. The settler who wanted workers paid the Emigrants' passages. On arrival these workers were examined by a Board appointed by the Governor and, if the Board was satisfied, the settler would be issued with a Certificate entitling him to claim the Bounty money back from the Government.

It's not known where or for whom William and Nancy worked in Sydney but by 1844 they appear to have been living in Cook’s River (now St Peters), where another son, William, was born. No record of his birth has been found but he died on 17 January 1863 at St Peters, aged 19 years, of 'continued fever'. His brother Thomas was the informant. He was buried in the Catholic Burial Ground. Descendants of the family still live in Sydney.

William Holley senior died on 18 February 1884, said to be aged 93. He was probably born around 1795, and reduced his age on immigration to qualify for the Bounty scheme.

In 2014, online access to Tipperary church records became available and, while the records for Golden and Kilfeacle only begin in 1833, baptism records for the three youngest children – where the family appears as Hally – are recorded:

• In 1836, Thomas Hally was born to William Hally and Anne Carew, and baptised on 8 March that year. Sponsors (godparents) were Denis Ryan and Honora Ryan and the family was living in Springmount, a substantial estate owned by the White family, slightly to the north-west of the village of Golden.
• In 1838, Michael Hally was born (baptised 27 August with sponsors John Carew and Margaret Ryan); the family is recorded as living in Golden itself.
• And in 1840, Honora Hally was born (baptised 29 November with sponsors Jas Ryan and Julianne Walsh); the family was living in Golden-land.

The surname Ryan is prominent in sponsors for these Hally baptisms. More recently, DNA links have been found that hint at a strong family connection with Tipperary Ryans who emigrated to Australia and North America. The connection would be in the early 1800s – perhaps someone in Tipperary who can shed some light.