Darby Hally 1830-1890
Darby has quite an elaborate tombstone erected over his grave at Hopetoun Cemetery. The tombstone gives his death date as 12.06.1890. It said he was 61 years old and a native of Co Galway.
The Vic bdm index gives his father as Darby. No doubt friends provided the information at the time of his death which may not have been totally accurate.
He is known to have been related to Patrick Hally who, with his wife Nora Eileen, raised his family – Dick, Edmund, Gavin and twins, Marguerite and Peter, in Bacchus Marsh. Patrick was a well-liked and respected railway employee. He knew his travellers well and many a resident was spared the embarrassment of being late for work because Patrick held up the train for them. Patrick was born Gerard Patrick Hally on 27.01.1906 at Castlemaine. He married Honora Eileen Whelan (who had Danish and Irish ancestors) on 12.02.1927 at St Francis’ Church, Melbourne. They were both 21.
Gerard Patrick’s father was Patrick Andrew Hally who was born on 06.05.1865 at Kirkstall, Victoria. He married Norah Davoren in 1899. Patrick Andrew Hally’s parents were John Hally and Mary Anne Crotty who married on 21.04.1864 at the Roman Catholic Church at Belfast (the early name for Port Fairy), Victoria. Their wedding certificate stated that they were both born in Co Tipperary. Both gave Kirkstall as their present residence. John’s usual residence was Yangery (near Koroit) and Mary Anne’s usual address was Belfast (Port Fairy). John was 30 when he married, making his birthdate about 1834.
It was thought that Darby Hally may have been a son of John and Mary Anne but Darby’s birth is much too early. It is more likely that he was the brother of John. John’s parents (and probably Darby’s parents) were Patrick Hally and Mary Luby from Co Tipperary. Patrick was a farmer. This makes the ‘native of Co Galway’ on his tombstone somewhat misleading for researchers.
Assuming Darby Hally was John’s brother, Darby would be a great uncle to Patrick Hally who lived and worked for several years in Bacchus Marsh and a great great uncle to Patrick’s daughter, Marguerite Hally who resides locally.
Darby’s immigration details have not been located. John’s record was probably the John Hally, age 23, Irish farmer, born about 1837, who arrived at Geelong on 19.12.1857 on the ‘Champion’.
HOPETOUN CATHOLIC CEMETERY 