BRICK, HANDMADE
c. 1890 - 1916A red brick that was handmade by a Toodyay brickmaker by the name of John Riley.
His initials are in the brick.
Details
Details
Impressed on one side J R
John Riley was born in Staffordshire, England 24 Feb 1853. He arrived in the colony of WA by the ship Daylight in August 1875. He lived with his wife in Coogee, while working seasonally as a station manager in the Derby-Roebourne area. On Jan 13 he was involved in a conflict at Fitzroy River which resulted in the deaths of some aboriginal people. The birth of a daughter (Mary Ann) was registerd in Newcastle (later re-named Toodyay) in 1891. J. Riley was a known brickmaker in Newcastle by 1896. He died on 15 April 1916, aged 63, after an illness extending over a period of 3 weeks. (historical information courtesy of Beth Frayne)
NOT to be confused with two other John Riley's who were WA convicts: John Riley (1831- ) No. 3679 & John Riley (1835- ) No. 5851
