Vert two lions rampant combatant or supporting a dexter hand couped at the wrist erect and apaumee bloody proper.

As early as 1127 Henry I used the lion as an ornament on a shield. Of the 918 bannerets of Edward II, 225 bore lions. The origin of the supporters is unknown. Some writers have set forth that they originated in the ceremonial

bearing of the knightly shield to tournaments and jousts by squires. It is probable, however, that they arose from the ornaments of the seal engraver and became heraldic from the practice of quartering. Supporters are now borne by all peers of Great Britain, Knights of the Garter, Knights Grand

Cross of the Bath, Nova Scotia baronets and chiefs of Scottish clans, and are also borne by many municipalities and the principal mercantile companies of London.

O'Reilly, in Irish O'Raghailligh, i.e. descendant of Raghallach, was until recently much more commonly found without the prefix O. Reilly and O'Reilly constitute one of the most numerous names in Ireland, being among the first dozen in the list. The bulk of these come from Cavan and adjoining counties, the area to which they belong by origin, for they were for centuries the most powerful sept in Breffny, their head being chief of Breffny-O'Reilly and for a long time in the middle ages his influence extended well into Meath and Westmeath. At the present time we find them very numerous still in Breffny, heading as they do the county list both in Cavan and Longford. In 1878 O'Reilly landlords possessed over 30,000 acres.

Five O'Reillys have held the Primacy as Archbishop of Armagh, notably Edmund O'Reilly (1606-1669) and Hugh O'Reilly (1580-1653); five were Bishops of Kilmore, two of Clogher and one of Derry; and another famous churchman was Edmund Joseph O'Reilly, S.J. (1811-1878). Edward O'Reilly (d. 1829) compiled a pioneer Irish-English Dictionary in 1817. In the field of patriotic endeavour we have John Boyle O'Reilly (1844-1890) the Fenian; Myels O'Reilly M.P. (1825-1880), who commanded the Irish Brigade in the Papal service; and Philip MacHugh O'Reilly (d. 1657), who, having been largely responsible for organizing the rising of 1641 in his own county of Cavan, fought under Owen Roe O'Neill and died in exile. In King James II's Irish army Col. Edmund O'Reilly's regiment of infantry included thirty-three officers and Col. Mahon's regiment sixteen officers called Reilly or O'Reilly. Many of these became Wild Geese. Count Don Alexander O'Reilly (d. 1797), after a distinguished military career in the French, Austrian and spanish service ended his days as Governor of Louisians in America. A good deal of unreliable material is to be found in print on the subject of the O'Reillys. It is therefore advisable to mention that an authoritative article on them appeared in the Irish Ecclesiastical Record Vol. 45-1935, Part 2), from the pen of Father Paul Walsh. In it that famous and almost legendary seventeenth century figure "Myles the Slasher" finds a correct place.

O'Reilly is occasionally found as a synonym of O'Rahilly, but this is merely an example of careless registration since O'Rahilly, which is O Raithile in Irish, has no connection with Breffny. It is true that the sept originated in Ulster but they have so long been associated with County Kerry and they must be regarded as Munstermen, especially as Egan O'Rahilly (1670-1726), greatest of Munster poets - by many regarded as greatest of all Gaelic poets - was of a family long established near Killarney.


Source: Irish Families-Their Names, Arms and Origins; Irish Academic Press Limited, reprinted 1991, by Edward MacLysagh.

Riley

The evidence for the earliest of our Riley connections in the Colony of New South Wales is difficult to unravel. There is argument, although no documentary evidence has been found, that John Riley [Snr] married Elizabeth Knowles c. 1850.

John Riley's children were:

The birth of John Riley [Jnr] generally coincided with the discovery of gold on the Peel River and subsequent proclamation of the Peel River Goldfield. The field included Duncan, Nundle and Dungowan Creeks about 45 km southeast of Tamworth in northern New South Wales. Discovery of gold at Hanging Rock and Nundle in 1851 brought an influx of miners who proved a boost to Tamworth's insecure economy and the Australian Agricultural Company was reformed as the Peel River Land & Mineral Company. As a result of the gold rush the Peel River Company took over some 300,000 acres along with 44,114 sheep, 171 horses, 270 cattle and all stores. It is evident that there was no question of the suitability of the area for pastoral purposes. Phillip Gidley King was transferred to the control of the new company.

What became of John Riley [Snr] and Elizabeth Knowles in as yet unknown. Nor is there any information as yet about the lives of Catherine Riley [born. c.1858] and William Riley [born. c.1864], siblings of John Riley Jnr.

John Riley [Jnr] married Sarah Edwards, daughter of Richard Edwards and Rosanna Real at the Courthouse, Roma, Queensland on 30th May 1876. At the time of their marriage John Riley was a stockman on Mitchell Downs, and Sarah Edwards was living with her family at Cattle Creek, near Roma. [Photo - The Edwards house at Cattle Creek near Roma, Queensland].

Sarah Edwards and John Riley's children were:

Sarah and John Riley eventually separated. Sarah may have married again possibly to Jenkins /Jinkins. In about 1930 Sarah Edwards Riley was said to be living with her granddaughter, Phyllis Denham in Charleville [may be the daughter of Catherine Riley.] There is a possibility Phyllis Denham moved to Toowoomba. Does anyone know of this person?

William Riley, eldest son of Sarah Edwards and John Riley [Jnr] married Annie Vincent, on 31st July 1898, daughter of Christopher Vincent and Annie O'Neil.

Annie Vincent Riley c1910

Christopher Vincent's parents were Christopher Vincent [Snr] and Sarah Wyse. Annie O'Neil was the daughter of John O'Neil and Norah Kelly, born in Borrisoleigh, Tipperary, Ireland c.1859. John O'Neil's trade was a shoemaker. It is probable that the O'Neil family lived in Nenagh Road or Larkin's Lane, Borrisoleigh in the Parish of Glenkeen.

However, it is most important at this stage to clarify that the name "Vincent" was the surname "given" to Christopher Vincent [Snr]. It is not the name he inherited.

Information held by the Greater London Record Office and obtained from the Thomas Coram Foundation for Children, London, now built on the site of the Foundling Hospital, reveals that Christopher Vincent was born on 6th January 1814 to Martha Lewis, aged 21 years. Martha came from the town of Montgomery, Wales and her parents are described as ‘poor but honest’. She moved to London to live with a woman she had known as a child in Wales, a Mrs. Watkins of Swallow Street. She obtained domestic work with Mrs. Marsh, 6 Polygon, Somers Town [now the London Borough of Camden]. Martha re-established a relationship with John Price, a stonemason. Price had also moved to London from Montgomery, to live at Little Brook Street. When Martha Lewis became pregnant to Price, Mrs Marsh arranged for her to stay with an elderly woman friend. Martha Lewis last saw John Price on 20th September 1813,at which time he is thought to have ‘gone to sea’.

As a single woman unable to support her child, Martha Lewis applied to the governors of the Foundling Hospital for her son to be admitted. Upon his admission, the child was given the name Christopher Vincent. He was fostered to Frances Eagle at Addlestone, Surrey where he remained until age five years. He then returned to the Foundling Hospital in Guildford Street, and stayed until he was apprenticed on 26th March 1829. The Apprentice Register notes that he was apprenticed to ‘Joseph Gurney of 56 St. James’ Street in the parish of St George Hanover Square, in the County of Middlesex, Tailor, to be instructed in household business’.

His apprenticeship was shortlived. The Old Bailey Session Papers (FM4 5846, 15th April 1830 p.329) show that barely twelve months later, Christopher Vincent, at the age of 16 years ‘was indicted on 11th April, 1830 for stealing one book value 1/- and one neck stock, the goods of James Thomas Spice, to which he pleaded guilty’. The circumstances surrounding the charges are not known, however, for his crime, he was sentenced to transportation to the Colony of New South Wales for seven years.

Following his conviction he was held in the London Gaol Delivery. Then on 4th September, 1830, he was confined on board the ship York, at Sheerness, at the mouth of the River Thames. The York (1) was 429 tons built at Southwick in 1819. There were 199 male prisoners and 40 guards of the 17th Regiment on board under Captain Daniel Leary and Surgeon Campbell France The voyage from London took 156 days, sailing via Teneriffe in the Canary Islands [Bateson 1959:301]. The York arrived in the Colony of New South Wales on 7th February 1831.

In the Convict Indents Christopher Vincent is described as aged 17 years, 4 feet 8 inches in height, black hair, hazel eyes and with a sallowed freckled complexion. The register notes he was ‘from London’, that he could read and write, and his occupation was a tailor, for one and a half years.

Upon arrival in the Colony of New South Wales, Christopher Vincent was assigned to Harry Marr of Sydney. By 1837, at the age of 23 years, he was granted his Ticket of Leave, and was a resident of the district of Sutton Forest (NSW General Return of Convicts for 1837 - No.26218 Ticket of Leave. p.147).

The children of William Riley and Annie Vincent were:

Inquest into the Death of Annie Vincent Riley

Annie Vincent Riley died in the Charters Towers hospital on 7th October 1916 as the result of burns, shock and heart failure. An inquest into her death was held on 17th October 1916 before Police Magistrate J.C. Linedale [QSA] Inquest No. 559/16]. The inquiry was conducted by Sub Inspector Ryan.

The evidence established that Annie Riley and her children had been living with Francis Henry [Harry] Hicks, a teamster, at his home at Wellington Flat for two years prior to her death. Following an argument on the evening of 2nd October, the living room curtains caught alight from a kerosene lamp. The argument was reported to be over the ownership of the house which Hick's stated he was purchasing from his mother. Annie's son, George Riley was

present and stated that his mother had sent his sisters, aged 13 [Myrtle] and 8 years [Kathleen] outside of the house during the argument. He further stated that Hicks had pushed his mother into the flames and that her clothes had caught on fire.

Annie Vincent, mother of Annie Riley, was living at Pyrites Road, Charters Towers, and stated that after the incident she visited her daughter in hospital before her death and that she believed that Hicks had pushed her daughter into the fire. No charges were laid against Hicks. At the time of her death in 1916, Annie Riley had two daughters and three sons - all living. The whereabouts of her husband, William Riley is not mentioned.

Fuller

Kathleen Riley married Bertie Francis Fuller in Townsville, Queensland.

Their children were:

The Ray Fuller Family Gregray, Ray, Maureen and Kathleen	Ray Fuller, David Fuller, Ray Stainkey, June Fuller, Jack Brown, Merle Stainkey Brown, Maureen Fuller

Bertie Fuller died in Townsville on 7th July 1944, aged of 37 years.

Lambert

Kathleen Genevieve Riley [late Fuller] married Alfred Francis Lambert, son of  John Lambert and Margaret Cummins at Townsville on 28th August 1945. 

Their daughter Jennifer Gail Lambert was born 19th September 1946. Kathleen Riley Lambert  died on 15th October 1960 at Richmond Queensland and was buried on 16th October in the Richmond Cemetery. Alfred Francis Lambert died 31st January 1972, at Townsville.

Jennifer Lambert married Michael Anthony MacLellan Tracey, son of John Robert Tracey and Catherine Cecilia MacLellan, on 30th April 1966, at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Townsville. 

Jennifer Lambert Tracey and Michael MacLellan Tracey, Townsville 1966.	Jennifer Lambert Tracey and Michael MacLellan Tracey, Canberra 1999.

They have four children:

Stainkey Brown Familes

Merle & Jack Brown at retirement celebrations as Mayor of the Shire of Richmond, Queensland	Wedding of Anne Stainkey and Ron Blackshaw  Richmond, Queensland, 14 October 1960
Wedding group; Ron Blackshaw, Anne Stainkey, Cecil Stainkey, Eunice Stainkey, - , Merle Brown, - , Jennifer Lambert & Narelle Brown [in front[, Richmond, Queensland, 14 October 1960	Jennifer Lambert,  Eunice Stainkey, Anne Stainkey & Merle Stainkey Brown, Richmond, Queensland, 14 October 1960
Merle Stainkey Brown, Myrtle Riley Stainkey,  Anne Stainkey and Narelle Brown Richmond, Queensland, 14 October 1960	Jack & Merle Brown, Ray Stainkey, Anne Blackshaw, Ron Blackshaw, Isabelle Stainkey & Cameron Lewis - 50th wedding celebrations, Richmond, Queensland

O'Neill 

O'Neill is in Irish O Neill, from the personal name Niall, possibly meaning 'passionate' or 'vehement'. The O'Neills were the leading family of the Cineal Eoghain, ruling the ancient territory of Tir Eoghain, comprising not only the modern Co Tyrone, but also large parts of Derry and Donegal. The first to use the name in recognisable hereditary fashion was what is now east Limerick, and died in 980. In the late twelfth century, as a result of the vicious struggle between the MacCarthys and the O'Briens for dominance in Munster, the O'Donovans were forced to migrate into the neighbouring county of Cork. There they gave the name of their kingdom to the modern barony of Carberry. 

Their territory comprised a large portion of this area reaching from the southeast coast almost as far as the modern town of Bantry. Their principal seat was at Castledonovan, in the centre of Drimoleague parish. The family remained powerful and prominent in the area down to the seventeenth century, when they played an important role in the defence of the Catholic and Gaelic Irish against the Cromwellian and Williamite campaigns. Like so many other members of the native aristocracy, the chiefs of the family were dispossessed in the punitive confiscation’s of the end of that century, but Colonel Daniel O'Donovan, the head of the family at that time, managed to regain some property in the area after the Treaty of Limerick, and re-established the family seat at Bawnlahan in the parishes of Myross and Vastlehaven. From him descends the current Chief of the Name, Daniel O'Donovan of Hollybrook, Skibbereen, Co Cork, the O'Donovan, recognised as such by the Chief Herald of Ireland. The most famous bearer of the name was John O'Donovan (1809-1861), founder of the Irish Archaeological Society, who virtually single-handedly laid the foundation for all subsequent study of Irish genealogy, history, language and topography.

Edwards

The parents of Sarah Edwards, wife of John Riley [Jnr], Richard Edwards and Rosanna Real, were married at the Court House at Drayton, Darling Downs, Queensland on 30th December, 1850. At the time of the marriage Richard Edwards was working as a stockman on Jimbour Station on the  Darling Downs.

Richard and Rosanna Edwards' children were:

Mary Ann Edwards, sister of Sarah Edwards, married Milo Sharpe possibly in Roma, Queensland about 1874. 

Their children were: