SOLLEY Co-ordinator’s Report August 2019

George Solly By George Solly

We welcome back Karen Farebrother as a returning member. Since the last Journal we have information on Australian and Scottish Sollys.
Scottish Solleys – William Solley 1795? – 1854
Richard Solly originally posted information on the Forum in January 2014, which he has now updated:
Good Morning – I thought that perhaps after the passing of so many years a short update might be in order.
William Solley was born 1796 in Tongland, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland to James Soley, an ex soldier of the Kings own Dragoons (b1756 in Sandwich Kent) and Elizabeth Gibson (b1753 in Parton Kirkcudbrightshire). In 1814 William too is now a soldier in the 3rd Light Dragoons (ex Kings Own) and recorded as a labourer, he is 5′ 7 3/4″ tall, Hazle (sic) eyes, fresh complexion, dark brown hair, and round of face and had enrolled in Workington on the 26th November 1814. Whilst in service in Ireland he met Juliana (or Julia Anne) Morran the daughter of James and Janet Morran and born about 1805 in the parish of Ramore (now Rathmore) in Co Kildare (no actual records of Julia or her parents have been found in Irish records so far). They had eight children but didn’t officially marry until 1846 after William was discharged in Kirkcudbrightshire.
They lived a lowly life with William passing on 3rd August 1854 but Julia survived as a laundress until 25 April 1872 in New Glloway, Kirkcudbrightshire. A recent search for her resting place has been unsuccessful, my hope is that she is with her husband in Balmaclellan. I would love to have met these people.
Australian Sollys
Sole Society member Tony Solly enquired about Henry Solly and Ann Colyer and their family in Australia, 1840. This is what he said:
I am putting my family tree together and have details from when my
great-great-great grandfather moved to Australia with his spouse and children.
His name is Henry Solly / spouse is Ann Colyer. They came to Australia in 1840 and settled in Leasingham, South Australia.
I have quite a lot of information regarding the Solly clan here in Australia but very little about the UK.
Also Reuben Solly came here in the same year and both lived in the area within 20 km of each other yet I cannot find a reference to Reuben Solly in the Henry Solly history.
Any information or detail would be greatly appreciate.’
I replied with this information gathered from research:

  1. Reuben Solly, 1811 – 2.11.1874 Watervale South Australia (SA)
    m. Charlotte Perry 1825-1911(prev. married to X. Wheller, died before 1849). She the daughter of Robert Perry, married at  Penwortham SA 24.09.1850
    They had 2 children:
    Mary b Wakefield SA 03.07.1853 – 1933, Reuben b Wakefield SA 25.05.1857 -1919
  2. John Solly 1771? b. Ash, Kent
    m. Mary Stanton b1771 on 06.01.1795 Walmer, Kent
    Their child, Henry Solly b. 13.04 1800 Canterbury bap 11.05.1800, mar. Ann Colyer 07.02.1827, Hackington, Kent.  Ann was born 10.06.1801 New Romney, Kent (parents unknown) She died 1889. Henry died Leasingham SA 14.12.1866.
    Henry & Ann had ten children:
    Jane b. Margate 27.10.1827 d. 1905
    Eliza Ann b. 08.02.1829 Margate d. 1905. m. 01.12.1847 Charles William Walton in Adelaide, 3 children
    Henry b. 07.01.1831 Canterbury, d. 1901
    Mary b. 26.03.1833 Canterbury d. 1871
    Elizabeth b. 1834 Canterbury d. 1873
    John b. 04.08.1834 Canterbury d. 1896. Twin of Elizabeth?
    Stephen b. 14.01.1836 Canterbury d. 1914
    Anne b. on board Royal Admiral 21.09.1840
    Thomas b. 12.04.1842, Port Road, Adelaide, d. 1896
    Helen b. 25.11.1844 Port Road, Adelaide d.1919
    Sorry can’t go back further than John Solly or Mary Stanton.  John was born in Ash next Sandwich, Kent where my line of Solly’s come from and the earliest Solly I have got is Peter Soly b. about 1400.
    Hope this helps.