The Staley Family in Australia

Thomas Staley married Mary Ritchie in Scotland in July of 1787. Together they had 5 children that we know about, Margaret, Anne, Fortune, Jonathon and Thomas.

Anne died in Ireland in October 1842 at the age of 51. She had been married to a man named Thomas Greig. Her sister Margaret died in Scotland in 1836. Margaret had been married to one John McGee. Thomas emigrated to Jamaica where he died in 1818 two months before his 22nd birthday. Fortune died in Scotland in 1876, aged 78 years, but little is known of her.

The remaining sibling Jonathon was born on 9 July 1794 and married Mary Goldie in June 1820. Mary was born in Scotland in 1798 and died in Geelong, Victoria on 27 December 1854 a little over eighteen months after arriving in the colonies. Jonathon and Mary had many children and it was from these children that the long history of the Staley family in Australia began.

Jonathon died in Greenburn, Scotland in 1847. Mary and her seven surviving children arrived in Australia between 1848 and 1853. They didn't all arrive together but on at least 4 different vessels. 

The eldest child, Agnes, arrived in Victoria with her husband Daniel Blyth and two children on 18 October 1848 aboard the 'Tasman', a vessel of 567 tons. Mary along with children Allan, David Gray, Margaret and John arrived on a ship called 'Cambodia' (914 tons) on 31 March 1852. Another son, Robert with his wife Jane and two children, Elizabeth and Jonathan followed nearly six months later aboard a vessel called 'Bourneuf' (1495 tons) arriving on 3 September 1852. Finally Mary's eldest son, Thomas arrived with his wife Elizabeth and their five children, Jonathon, Mary, Elizabeth, Jane and Robert, aboard a very small vessel of 424 tons, the 'Reaper' on 2 August 1853.

Despite the hardships they endured, all survived the arduous voyage from England to Australia. However the same couldn't be said after they arrived. The records show that the family suffered many setbacks with a number of children succumbing to disease in infancy or their early years. Longevity, with a few notable exceptions, was difficult to attain.

The Staley family has been involved in walks of life in Australia. With some very eminent people among them. Their history is truly fascinating and continually unfolding