Frederick BAILEY ( 1859 - 1946 )
Born: 28 Sep 1859 - Bothwell, Tasmania, Australia
Died: 1st October 1946 - St Helens, Tasmania, Australia
Father: Thomas Arthur BAILEY (1826 - 1920)
Mother: Mary Ann BARBER (1829 - 1872)
Wife: Mary Ann Elizabeth Jones (1864 - 1933)
Died: 13 July 1933 - St Helens, Tasmania, Australia
Married: 29 January 1886, Georges Bay, Tasmania, Australia |
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Frederick BAILEY ( 1859 - 1946 )
Frederick Bailey moved to George’s Bay and became involved in community events.
On the 6th June 1885 the Mercury newspaper reported news from St Marys: The sports held on the 25th, consisting of foot races and shooting at bottles were fairly successful, sportsmen entering into the amusement, particularly the shooting, with great zeal, the chief prize consisting of a fat pig valued at £7 was won by Mr. F. Bailey of St Helens, who also won a watch valued at £3 15s. 1
George’s Bay
Bye the bye I was looking at a chaise cart yesterday that has just been built by Mr. Baily [sic], one of our blacksmiths in this place, and I can only say, that for neatness and workmanship altogether, I have rarely seen one that could beat it. In fact, I believe that it is almost too good for the roads as they are at present.
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The following year Fred married the daughter of a blacksmith, Mary Ann Elizabeth Jones. At the time of his marriage Fred had established himself as the town’s blacksmith. He first went into business with Edward and Peter Johnson as general blacksmiths, wheelwrights and undertakers. The partnership was mutually dissolved in September 1890 leaving Bailey as sole proprietor. 3
The 1900 Wise Trade Directory records Frederick Bailey, a blacksmith living at St Helens. 4 Fred and Mary Ann raised a large family, but tragically lost several children in infancy, also a son Arthur was killed in the Great War and their daughter Mary died at the age of 22 years.
F. BAILEY
General Blacksmith, ST HELENS
Mr Bailey is the oldest business man in St Helens, and is a native of Tasmania. He has been 63 years in the Blacksmithing trade, having served his apprenticeship at Kempton (Green Ponds). He first came to the East Coast in 1879, and worked on the Anchor and Full Moon tin mines until 1883, when he set up business for himself in the St Helens township, and has remained there ever since without a break.
Mr Bailey is one of the most competent all round Blacksmiths in the state, and there is not one branch of the trade that he is unable to cope with, he handles all kinds of work including the following-implement making and repairing, spring making, tyre cutting and shuting, shoeing, etc., etc.
Mr Bailey is also the local Undertaker, and all business transactions receive his own personal attention.
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On the 13 July 1933 Fred’s wife Mary Ann died as a result of horrific burns she received while putting wood on the open fire.
Severely Burned
A serious burning accident occurred at St Helens late yesterday afternoon, the victim being Mrs. Bailey wife of Mr. F. Bailey, blacksmith. She had been sitting darning near an open fire, and becoming cold stood nearer to it for warmth, she became faint, and fell forward into the fire. Her screams quickly brought her husband and son, who were working a short distance away, and they were severely burned about the hands trying to remove her burning clothes. Mrs. Bailey received severe burns about the body, face and arms, and her condition is very serious.
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BAILEY. - On the 13th July, 1933, at her residence, St Helens, Mary Ann Elizabeth, dearly beloved wife of Frederick Bailey, sen., aged 66 years (Result of burning accident)
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Fred skills were called upon to provide funeral service to the St Helens community, constructing the coffins by hand and providing horses for the funeral cortege. A horse drawn hearse was purchased from Finney’s and provided many years’ service until the popularity of the motor vehicle saw it replaced. Algie served his apprenticeship under the watchful eye of his father. After his father’s death Algie carried on the business.
The top hat worn by Fred was sent out from Christies of London and still remains in the family today. Algie died suddenly in October 1974 and with no undertaker in the town Daryl carried on the family tradition which passed to his son Stephen. In 1984 the Bailey family of St Helens celebrated 100 years as undertakers in the township. To coincide with the celebrations funeral directors from Australia met in St Helens for their annual conference. A barbeque was held the next day and Daryl Bailey was presented with a cake in the shape of a coffin, the celebrations where attended by more than 50 members of the Australian Funeral Directors Association. 8 The business was sold in 1992 and underwent a name change ending a family dynasty of 100 years as undertakers in Tasmania. For many years the horse drawn hearse was on display at Entally house, but under the guidance of Stephen Bailey has been restored and returned to its rightful place. The hearse is now on display at the museum in St Helens and inside the hearse is a hand crafted coffin made by Algie.
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Obituary
MR. FREDERICK BAILEY
Mr. Frederick Bailey, whose death occurred at his home, St Helens, last week at the age of 90 years, first went to the St Helens district in 1879. He had lived for a time at Blue Tier, where he worked for the late Mr. J. C. MacMichael. Later he moved to St Helens and started a blacksmithing business.
A keen gun shot, Mr. Bailey on one occasion beat two champion shooters from Hobart and the Midlands.
There was a large attendance at the funeral, which took place at St Helens. The service was conducted by Rev. C. Nicolas.
Chief mourners were Messrs. Syd., Fred, Les, Jack and Algy Bailey (sons), Edwin Bailey (brother), J MacMichael (son-in-law), Arthur, Walter, Tom, Edgar and Dave Bailey (nephews), Fred, Wink, Darrel, Raymond, Keith, Lawrence and Edgar Bailey and J MacMichael (grandsons).
Pall bearers were Messrs. W. Cleland, A. White, A. Morling and A. Richards.
Funeral arrangements were by C. T. Finney and Sons, Launceston.
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References
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Mercury, 6 June 1885 |
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Tasmanian News, Mon 14 Jul 1884, p.3 |
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Daily Telegraph, 6 Sep 1890, p.1, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article150351350 |
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1900 Wise Trade Directory |
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Advertisement, Examiner, Saturday, 12 March 1932, p.27 |
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Examiner, 13 Jul 1933, p.6, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51830338 |
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Death & Funeral notice Mary Ann Elizabeth Bailey, 14 Jul 1933, p.1. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51830406 |
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1984, newspaper article |
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Photo, Hearse, St Helens, G. Atkinson, 2005 |
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Obituary, Mr. Frederick Bailey, Examiner, Wednesday 9 Oct 1946, p.6.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article96478501 |
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