James GORMLY (1836

James GORMLY (1836 - 1922)

Stockman, Coachman, Mayor, Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council

Children	Self + Spouses	Parents	Grandparents	Greatgrandparents
Thomas James Louis Charles GORMLY (1860 - 1944) Patrick William GORMLY (1862 - 1863) James David GORMLY (1864 - 1942) Mary Alice GORMLY (1866 - 1958) Richard Ernest Joseph GORMLY (1868 - 1961) Walter John GORMLY (1870 - 1944) Laura Agnes GORMLY (1872 - 1942) Margaret Clara Alice GORMLY (1874 - 1965) Laurence Hubert GORMLY (1876 - 1927) Patrick William GORMLY (1879 - 1940)	James GORMLY (1836 - 1922) + Margaret Jane COX (1838 - 1917)	Patrick GORMLY (1797 - 1852)



		Mary DOCKRAY (1803 - 1852)

b. 24 Jul 1836 at Elphin, Co Roscommon, Ireland

m. 28 Dec 1858 Margaret Jane COX (1838 - 1917) at Albury, New South Wales, Australia

d. 19 May 1922 at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia aged 85

Near Relatives of James GORMLY (1836 - 1922)
Relationship	Person	Born	Birth Place	Died	Death Place	Age
Father in Law	Joseph COX	1805	Cashel, Co Tipperary, Ireland	23 Jun 1871	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	66
Mother in Law	Mary MALONEY	abt 1813	Co Limerick, Ireland	02 Jan 1881	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	68

Father	Patrick GORMLY	1797		25 Jun 1852	Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia	55
Mother	Mary DOCKRAY	1803		25 Jun 1852	Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia	49

Self	James GORMLY	24 Jul 1836	Elphin, Co Roscommon, Ireland	19 May 1922	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	85

Wife	Margaret Jane COX	28 Nov 1838	Cobarralong, New South Wales, Australia	21 Nov 1917	Holbrook, New South Wales, Australia	78

Son	Thomas James Louis Charles GORMLY	05 Jan 1860	Albury, New South Wales, Australia	08 May 1944	New Zealand	84
Son	Patrick William GORMLY	1862	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	13 Dec 1863	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	1
Son	James David GORMLY	15 Jan 1864	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	13 Jan 1942	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia	77
Daughter	Mary Alice GORMLY	1866	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	1958	Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia	92
Son	Richard Ernest Joseph GORMLY	13 Jul 1868	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	23 Aug 1961	Pymble, New South Wales, Australia	93
Son	Walter John GORMLY	1870	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	23 Feb 1944	Petersham, New South Wales, Australia	74
Daughter	Laura Agnes GORMLY	22 Jun 1872	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	15 Nov 1942	Randwick, New South Wales, Australia	70
Daughter	Margaret Clara Alice GORMLY	11 Sep 1874	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	06 May 1965	Caringbah, New South Wales, Australia	90
Son	Laurence Hubert GORMLY	11 Sep 1876	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	19 Nov 1927	Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia	51
Son	Patrick William GORMLY	1879	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	09 Aug 1940	Lindfield, New South Wales, Australia	61

Sister	Margaret GORMLY	1827	Elphin, Co Roscommon, Ireland	1906		79
Brother	Thomas GORMLEY	26 Dec 1834	Elphin, Co Roscommon, Ireland	1898	Hay, New South Wales, Australia	64

Daughter in Law	Lucy Ann Louise PENTLAND
Daughter in Law	May Mary FRIZE	1867	Maitland, New South Wales, Australia	26 May 1947	New Zealand	80
Daughter in Law	Maria POWER
Son in Law	Patrick Bede HEFFERNAN
Daughter in Law	Kathleen Katie FRIZE	1865	Maitland, New South Wales, Australia	13 Jun 1938	Annandale, New South Wales, Australia	73
Daughter in Law	Lucy Charlotte POST
Son in Law	Patrick Samuel KINSELLA
Daughter in Law	Annie Mary BRUNSKILL	1878	Kiama, New South Wales, Australia	20 Feb 1965	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	87
Daughter in Law	Ann M BRUNSKILL

Granddaughter	Lucy Vera GORMLY	1893	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	21 Sep 1921	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia	28
Granddaughter	Josephine A GORMLY	1895	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
Grandson	Oscar B GORMLY	1895	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
Grandson	Norman C GORMLY	1897	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
Grandson	Kevin GORMLY	1898	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
Grandson	Colin W GORMLY	1905	Waverley, New South Wales, Australia

Nephew	John MULLOY	22 Dec 1846		26 Dec 1846		0
Niece	Mary A MULLOY	22 Jan 1848	Appin, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew	James MULLOY	03 Nov 1850		Apr 1853		2
Niece	Sarah MULLOY	24 May 1853
Niece	Anne MULLOY	18 Apr 1855	Picton, New South Wales, Australia	04 Jun 1920	Condoblin, New South Wales, Australia	65
Nephew	Francis Joseph MULLOY	02 Dec 1858	Picton, New South Wales, Australia	30 Apr 1932	Yerong Creek, New South Wales, Australia	73
Nephew	Patrick John MULLOY	19 Aug 1861		27 Dec 1861		0
Nephew	James T MULLOY	1863	Windsor, New South Wales, Australia	1870	Windsor, New South Wales, Australia	7
Nephew	Thomas Lewis MULLOY	22 Sep 1865	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	1867	Gumly Gumly, New South Wales, Australia	2
Niece	Bridget Teresa MULLOY	15 Oct 1867	Gumly Gumly, New South Wales, Australia	Feb 1884	Yerong Creek, New South Wales, Australia	16
Niece	Jane MULLOY	1870
Niece	Jessie MULLOY	1873
Niece	Bridget Louisa RYAN	13 Dec 1846	Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia	16 Nov 1910	Coolamon, New South Wales, Australia	63
Niece	Mary Ann RYAN	19 Jul 1848	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	22 Apr 1893	Whitton, New South Wales, Australia	44
Nephew	Martin Matthew RYAN	15 Oct 1849	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	30 Nov 1908	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	59
Niece	Elizabeth Jane RYAN	08 May 1851	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	05 Jul 1915	Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia	64
Nephew	John Francis RYAN	13 Sep 1853	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	15 Feb 1927	Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia	73
Nephew	William John RYAN	10 Jun 1855	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	21 Feb 1905	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia	49
Nephew	James RYAN	1858	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	06 Jul 1899	West Wyalong, New South Wales, Australia	41
Niece	Isabella Mary RYAN	18 Oct 1859	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	28 Sep 1932	Campsie, New South Wales, Australia	72
Niece	Emma Jane RYAN	1861	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	02 Dec 1922	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	61
Nephew	George Phillip (Patrick) RYAN	15 Dec 1862	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	22 Aug 1935	Tumbarumba, New South Wales, Australia	72
Nephew	Joseph Henry RYAN	11 Sep 1864	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	18 Feb 1939	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia	74
Nephew	Edward Patrick RYAN	1866	Spring Gully, New South Wales, Australia	11 Jun 1928	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	62
Nephew	Thomas David RYAN	15 Feb 1868	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	07 Mar 1905	Darlington Point, New South wales, Australia	37
Nephew	Oliver RYAN	02 Oct 1873	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	12 Oct 1943	York, West Australia, Australia	70
Nephew	Charles Beechworth KING	20 May 1855	Beechworth, Victoria, Australia	1937	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia	82
Nephew	John Thomas KING	1856	Albury, New South Wales, Australia	20 Apr 1914	Tumbarumba, New South Wales, Australia	58
Niece	Emily Jane KING	1858	Albury, New South Wales, Australia		Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew	Henry Joseph KING	1859	Albury, New South Wales, Australia	1908	Albury, New South Wales, Australia	49
Niece	Mary Elizabeth KING	1861	Albury, New South Wales, Australia	30 Jul 1947	Drummoyne, New South Wales, Australia	86
Niece	Margaret Catherine KING	1862	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	1869	Young, New South Wales, Australia	7
Nephew	Alfred John KING	1864	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	1931	Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia	67
Nephew	Arthur Percival KING	1866	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	25 Nov 1928	The Rock, New South Wales, Australia	62
Nephew	Walter KING	1869	Young, New South Wales, Australia		Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Niece	Isabella Eliza KING	1870	Young, New South Wales, Australia	01 Aug 1960	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	90
Niece	Ada Ann KING	1873	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	1877	Victoria, Australia	4
Niece	Annie Eliza COX	1860	Oberne, New South Wales, Asutralia		Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew	John Joseph COX	1861	Oberne, New South Wales, Australia	02 Apr 1942	Adelong, New South Wales, Australia	81
Nephew	James Edward COX	1863	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	22 Feb 1944	Spring Creek, New South Wales, Australia	81
Nephew	Joseph William COX	1865	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	18 Sep 1953	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	88
Niece	Mary COX	1867	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	1892	Adelong, New South Wales, Australia	25
Nephew	Richard Thomas COX	1869	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	1935	Victoria, Australia	66
Nephew	Lewis COX	1871	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	1871	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	0
Niece	Margaret Alice COX	1872	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	18 Apr 1956	Moonee Ponds, Victoria, Australia	84
Niece	Sarah Bridget COX	1872	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	06 May 1960	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	88
Niece	Emily Isabell COX	1875	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	03 Jul 1954	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	79
Nephew	Thomas Louis COX	1877	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	23 Apr 1950	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	73
Nephew	David Patrick COX	1879	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	1940	Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia	61
Nephew	Frederick Livingstone COX	1882	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	abt 1940	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia	58
Nephew	Francis Lewis COX	1884	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	17 Jun 1949	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	65
Niece	Laura May COX	1887	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	19 Jun 1951	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	64
Nephew	Oliver Gormly COX	1889	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	19 Nov 1957	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	68
Niece	Isabella Burne COX	1890	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	21 Aug 1957	Ashfield, New South Wales, Australia	67
Niece	Eileen Stewart COX	1891	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	20 Sep 1961	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia	70
Nephew	Keith Patrick Livingstone COX	13 Aug 1892	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	22 Apr 1965	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	72
Nephew	Richard Lewis COX	11 Feb 1894	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	24 Dec 1963	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	69
Niece	Dorothy Mary Elizabeth COX	1895	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia		Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
Niece	Josephine Alice COX	1897	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	11 Jul 1954	Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia	57
Nephew	Claude McDonald COX	09 Nov 1899	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	24 Mar 1961	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	61
Niece	Margaret Edith Yolande COX	1901	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	23 Sep 1940	Lewisham, New South Wales, Australia	39
Niece	Lucy Agnes FITZGERALD			1965	Balmain, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew	Edward A FITZGERALD	1878	Tumut, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew	John Joseph FITZGERALD	1879	Tumut, New South Wales, Australia	1951	Bankstown, New South Wales, Australia	72
Nephew	Walter Augustine FITZGERALD	1881	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew	Edward Ashley FITZGERALD	1884	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew	Edward GERALD (Ned) FITZGERALD	1885	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
Niece	Mary A FITZGERALD	abt 1892	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew	Edmund Luke FITZGERALD	1894	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
Niece	Winifred R G FITZGERALD	1897	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

Sister in Law	Eliza COX	1828		17 May 1888	Malebo, New South Wales, Australia	60
Sister in Law	Isabella COX	24 Jul 1831	Coolready, Co Limerick, Ireland	13 Mar 1899	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	67
Sister in Law	Catherine COX	abt 1834	Ireland	10 Mar 1837	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia	3
Brother in Law	William COX	abt 1836	Ireland	18 Feb 1837	At sea	1
Brother in Law	David Daniel COX	16 Oct 1839	Cobarralong, New South Wales, Australia	24 Sep 1898	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	58
Brother in Law	John Matthew COX	20 May 1842	Toomat River, New South Wales, Australia	04 Mar 1909	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	66
Brother in Law	William COX	abt 1843		1914	Adelong, New South Wales, Australia	71
Brother in Law	Joseph COX	1847
Brother in Law	Richard Frederick COX	1848	Kyeamba, New South Wales, Australia	14 Nov 1927	Henty, New South Wales, Australia	79
Brother in Law	Laurence John COX	12 Jun 1849	Kyeamba, New South Wales, Australia	09 Aug 1933	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	84
Sister in Law	Bridget Mary COX	01 Jun 1851	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	10 Oct 1928	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	77
Sister in Law	Mary Martha COX	1856	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	30 Dec 1925	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	69
Brother in Law	Patrick MULLOY	1813	Swanlinbar, Co Cavan, Ireland	21 Sep 1884	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia	71
Sister in Law	Sarah POWER	27 Sep 1836	Prospect, New South Wales, Australia	25 Dec 1919		83

Events in James GORMLY (1836 - 1922)'s life
Date	Age	Event	Place	Notes	Src
24 Jul 1836		James GORMLY was born	Elphin, Co Roscommon, Ireland		71
1841	5	Immigration	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia	per 'Crusader'	71
25 Jun 1852	15	Death of father Patrick GORMLY (aged 55)	Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia		71
25 Jun 1852	15	Death of mother Mary DOCKRAY (aged 49)	Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia		71
28 Dec 1858	22	Married Margaret Jane COX (aged 20)	Albury, New South Wales, Australia		71
05 Jan 1860	23	Birth of son Thomas James Louis Charles GORMLY	Albury, New South Wales, Australia		71
1862	26	Birth of son Patrick William GORMLY	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia		71
13 Dec 1863	27	Death of son Patrick William GORMLY (aged 1)	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia		71
15 Jan 1864	27	Birth of son James David GORMLY	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia		71
1866	30	Birth of daughter Mary Alice GORMLY	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia		71
13 Jul 1868	31	Birth of son Richard Ernest Joseph GORMLY	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
1870	34	Birth of son Walter John GORMLY	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia		71
22 Jun 1872	35	Birth of daughter Laura Agnes GORMLY	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia		71
11 Sep 1874	38	Birth of daughter Margaret Clara Alice GORMLY	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia		71
11 Sep 1876	40	Birth of son Laurence Hubert GORMLY	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia		71
1879	43	Birth of son Patrick William GORMLY	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia		71
21 Nov 1917	81	Death of wife Margaret Jane COX (aged 78)	Holbrook, New South Wales, Australia		71
19 May 1922	85	James GORMLY died	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia		71

Personal Notes:

James Gormly settled in Wagga Wagga in 1854 where he bought land and entered into Mail Contracts. He became Mayor in 1885, and MLC for Murrumbidgee also in 1885. He lost his mother, father and 3 siblings in the Gundagai flood of 1852. More information available from contributors.

Sydney Morning Herald 5 Jul 1852
NEWS FROM THE INTERIOR.

(From our Correspondents.)

GUNDAGAI.

DREADFUL FLOOD, —SIXTY-FOUR LIVES LOST.

JUNE 28.—I beg leave to forward you a brief account of a dreadful flood we have just been visited with, at Gundagai. Though the river had been rising for some days previous, it was was not till late on the night of Thursday, the 24th, that any apprehensions were entertained of having a high flood. Several families on the lowest part of the town on the north bank of the river, moved during Thursday to a place of safety. That part of the town that is on the north bank, has suffered most ; it extends principally over a flat, separated from the high ground by a creek which rises very quickly, and long before there are any apprehensions, can only be crossed by boats or by swimming. Late on Thursday evening, the flat was covered, and preparations were made to withstand a flood. On Friday morning, about 9 o'clock, the water attained the height to which it rose last year. A boat came from the other side of the river about 9 A.M., to re- lieve Mr. Thatcher, whose family had taken to the loft. In recrossing the river the boat was swamped, and five children and one of the boatmen were drowned. From the fearful current, and the enormous logs that it was carrying down, it was impossible to attempt to take off any more that day. As night drew in the unavailing cries for assistance all around became fearfully harassing. Crash after crash announced the fall of some house and the screams that followed the engulphing of those who clung till the water attained its greatest height, about 11 o'clock at night, and began to fall at 3 A.M. on Saturday. Up to this time, about 34 houses had been washed away, and 60 lives lost. Numbers who were carried away by the stream, saved themselves by clinging to trees. I myself was on a tree from 11 on Friday night, until about 3 o'clock on Saturday afternoon. Many were so placed for two nights ; some of these were saved, though no doubt several perished from exhaustion. One melancholy instance is the fate of Miss Hemphill, who on Saturday night was alive in the tree, in which on Sunday she was found dead. Those on the high ground exerted themselves to the utmost. Two strangers manned a boat, and took several from the trees, myself amongst the number. The blackfellow "Jackey," belonging to Mr. Andrews, afforded in this respect the most valuable assistance, saving a great many lives. The scenes on the high part, where the remains of the inhabitants are congregated, is truly distressing. At every step you see some one lamenting the dead. Here and there the sor- rowing remains, of what three days before was a large and thriving family. Mr. Thatcher saved himself, but lost eight of his family. Mr. Lindley returned to-day from a journey to Yass, and found the whole of his family swept away. There are few that lived on the flat that have not to lament the loss of some relation ; nearly all are penniless. The distress that existed has been relieved, as much as possible, by the sympathy and kindness of those whose houses and property are uninjured. The generous hospitality of Mr. Norton, Chief Constable, will ever be remembered by those to whom his house became a home, when they were without shelter, and many almost penniless. Messrs. Caddington, Bourke, Boland, and others, with whose names I am unacquainted, excited feelings of the most lively gratitude by their sympathy and kind exertions to relieve all who came on shore. Mr. Morley distributed provisions and blankets, and ex- erted himself to the utmost in getting those saved who were placed in danger.

The following is the list of those who were drowned, amounting to sixty-four. The number of houses swept away about thirty-six.

Mr. and Mrs. M'Kenna, of the National School, and five children.

Mr. Hunt, saddler, formerly of Parramatta, wife, and four children.

Mrs. Lindley, of the "Rose Inn," and four children, old man, servant man, and woman, little girl, woman, and child.

Mr. Luff, of the Murrumbidgee, staying at the "Rose Inn."

Mrs. Thatcher, sen., Miss Thatcher, Mrs. Thatcher, jun., and five children.

Mr. Gormly, Mrs. Gormly, daughter, and two sons, and two girls (lodgers).

Mr. Scott, butcher, wife, and son, and boy (Castleton).

Mr. Gerard Hemphill, innkeeper, wife, and four children.

Mr. Egerton, tailor, and wife.

Mr. Morris, and two children.

Four strangers, staying at Spencer's Inn, from the " Lachlan ;

Williams, servant to Mr. Spencer.

Dr. Waugh's servant.

The following letter has been received by

the board of National Education :—

Gundagai, 28th June, 1852.

In the absence of the Local Patrons I do myself the honor to report to you, for the information of the Board of National Education, the death of Mr. and Mrs. M'Kenna, master and mistress of the National School here. On Friday night, the 25th instant, the Murrum- bidgee overflowed its banks, laying the whole of the town under water, when Mr. and Mrs. M'Kenna and five children, along with about 67 other inhabitants, were drowned.

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your most obedient servant,

D. SMITH, Hon. Secretary. W. C. Wells, Esq., Secretary.

Source References:

62. Type: Web Page, Abbr: Australian Dictionary of Biography, Title: Australian Dictionary of Biography Online Edition, Publ: ANU, Locn: http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/adbonline.htm

- Reference = https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/gormly-james-3641 (Name, Notes)

- Notes: James Gormly (1836–1922)
by Gordon Buxton

This article was published:

in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 4 , 1972
online in 2006
James Gormly (1836-1922), bushman and politician, was born at Foxborough Hall, Elphin, County Roscommon, Ireland, son of Patrick Gormly, grazier, and his wife Mary, née Docray. In January 1840 his parents and five children arrived at Sydney as bounty immigrants in the Crusader. They settled in the Illawarra district where James was lost in the mountains for forty-eight hours. In 1844 the family moved to Nangus on the Murrumbidgee and in 1849 settled at Gundagai. James had little education but helped to tend his father's stock and became expert in bushcraft. At 15 he briefly visited the Turon diggings. In the 1852 flood at Gundagai all the Gormlys were drowned except James and his brother Thomas. Next year they took stock to the Victorian markets and then had some success on the Victorian goldfields. On 28 December 1858 James married Margaret Jane Cox at Ten Mile Creek, Holbrook.

About 1854 Gormly had settled at Wagga Wagga where he won government mail contracts and soon had 300 horses and a large staff on 500 miles (805 km) of mail routes in western New South Wales; one of his coachmen was the Tichborne claimant, Tom Castro. In 1872 he sold out to Cobb & Co. and next year selected land for himself and six children near The Rock. In 1876 he moved to new selections and bought some freehold land. In 1875 he had leased Coronga Peak, 182,000 acres (73,654 ha) in the Bourke district; after adding fences and tanks he sold it at a profit and took up Wilga Downs, 256,000 acres (103,601 ha) on the West Bogan, which he also sold well. In 1882 he returned to Wagga Wagga, bought urban real estate and advanced his farming interests.

In 1875 he was foundation president of the Wagga Wagga Free Selectors' Association and in 1877 attended the conference of free selectors in Sydney. In 1883-86 he served on the Wagga Wagga City Council and was twice mayor in 1884-85. He also became president of the Mechanics' School of Arts and the Murrumbidgee Pastoral and Agricultural Association. In the Legislative Assembly he represented the Murrumbidgee in 1885-94 and Wagga Wagga in 1894-1904 and was a member of the Legislative Council in 1904-22. A protectionist and Irish Catholic, he advocated the cause of selectors and farmers' unions in parliament and carried his vigorous political campaigns to every small settlement by rail, coach or buggy. His speeches reflected his detailed and practical knowledge of matters affecting smallholders. An effective 'roads and bridges' member he carried three private Acts.

Gormly was an expert amateur rider and at 9 was reputed to have ridden in his first race at Gundagai. With Camel he won 22 races and came fourth in Wagga's marathon 'Ten Mile Race'. For over fifty years he was a member of the Murrumbidgee Turf Club, often acting as steward and handicapper, and in 1885 gave the club a gold cup; he was also president of the St Patrick's Day Race Club. He continued to ride in races long after he was in parliament. In 1913 he was foundation president of the Wagga Wagga and District Horse-breeders Association and often judged thoroughbreds at Riverina shows. In the early 1900s Gormly wrote many articles about his experiences for the local papers and in 1921 published his Exploration and Settlement in Australia. Small, wiry and energetic, he had great powers of endurance. He carefully nurtured his Irish brogue all his life. Gormly died aged 86 in Wagga Wagga on 19 May 1922 and was buried in the Catholic cemetery. Predeceased by his wife in 1917, he was survived by five sons and three daughters. His estate was valued at £14,000.

71. Type: Book, Abbr: Wagga Pioneers, Title: Pioneers of Wagga Wagga and District, Auth: Wagga Wagga & District Family History Society Inc, Publ: Wagga Wagga & District Family History Society Inc, Date: 2004, Locn: http://www.waggafamilyhistory.org.au/

- Reference = 131 (Death)

- Reference = 79 (Marriage)

- Reference = 79 (Name, Notes)

- Reference = 131 (Birth)

- Reference = 131 (Immigration)

90. Type: Book, Abbr: History of Wagga, Title: A History of Wagga Wagga, Auth: Keith Swan, Date: 1970

- Reference = p126, 164 (Name, Notes)

- Notes: During the 1870s, however, James Gormly began to emerge as a political leader. The son of Irish parents who settled near Gundagai in the late 1830s, he was one of two members of his family who survived the 1852 flood by clinging to a tree. He worked as a stockman, ran mail and coach services between Wagga Wagga and Balranald in the years 1858-72, grazed Darling River country and settled in Wagga Wagga in the 1870s with both farming and business interests. He was Mayor of the town in the 1880s, its representative in the Legislative Assembly for many years thereafter and then a member of the Legislative Council.

p164 There is other strong evidence that radical republicanism was exotic in Wagga Wagga. Arthur Rae served only one term as Labor Electoral League representative for the Murrumbidgee, failing at the elections of 1894. In that year for the first time Wagga Wagga was a separate single-member electorate, for which James Gormly, who had been a Protectionist M.L.A. for Murrumbidgee since 1885, was returned; and continued to be so until he decided to move to the Legislative Council in 1906. Arthur Rae's election, in fact, was the only break in Protectionist representation of the Murrumbidgee and Wagga Wagga electorates for the period 1885 to 1904, and must be regarded as a very special phenomenon caused by the peculiar strength of the A.S.U. in the district and the economic distress of the early 1890s.
In reality, the electors of Wagga Wagga preferred Gormly, who even by the early 1890s was almost a legendary local figure. At Gundagai in 1840; escaped the disastrous 1852 flood; mail con-tractor; noted horseman and rider in the Ten-Mile Race of 1868; sometime President of the Murrumbidgee Turf Club, Murrumbidgee Pastoral and Agricultural Association, the Mechanics' Institute and the Free Selectors' Association; Mayor of Wagga Wagga; and doubtless the list is not complete! G. L. Buxton in The Riverina 1861-1891 rightly points to the facts that Gormly was supported by the free selectors and by the significant Irish Catholic population? he maintained the Irish brogue until the end of his life although he arrived in Sydney as a four-year-old-but these explanations do not give full credit to his popularity with all sections of local society. As the Wagga Wagga Advertiser said in 1901, 'As regards the town... he has neglected no opportunity of bringing it into prominence and of obtaining from successive Governments due attention to local wants."

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