Perkins Papers - Reily & Sons of Spring Creek have contributed to the Roman Catholic Church building fund very liberally. They have now donated a large stain glass window for the Chapel. The window has not arrived yet. In 1857 Gold was discovered at Mt Charcoal near Adelong. From  the reef between June 1857 and Sept 1850 12,000 tons of Quarts produced 60,000oz of gold. About the same time Reedy Flat (Batlow) was in a Gold Boom. Mr. R Riley then had a hotel and store at what was known as Reily’s Crossing on the Adelong Creek, it was first know as Black Springs. Some Years later Robert Downing brought the hotel.

Perkins  Papers 1853. The following Public Houses held licences, Milton Head Inn Gundagai North – Robert Reily. The  Diggers Arms Adelong Goldfields – Robert Reily. He was there in the gold boom days when Reedy Creek was in full swing.

Xmas sports at Adelong Creek a great deal of sports occurred at this diggings during the holidays organized p

Principally by mine host Mr Riely who presented 20 pounds to be contested for by several races of 5 pounds each. The races went   well and created a considerable amusement. Several footraces also took place, and the day passed in great good humour and the sports gave general satisfaction

After a long and successful run of business Robert disposed of the property by Auction. The family later moved to Cowra. Children all born at Maitland area.

Martha Sharp Harper Reily

Martha’s parents were Martha BURRELL (Convict) and Thomas Sharp (e) Soldier

Mrs Reily’s health having given anxiety she decided to go to Sydney for Medical attention. With her son, Robert she rode the whole distance. While under treatment, and feeling low spirited, she became dubious of recovering, and taking her son into confidence, she told him of three bottles of gold nugget which she had carefully hidden away in a hole under the floor of a certain room up at the Inn . “If anything should happen to me down here, those nuggets are to be yours, Robert,” she said. Happily however Mrs Reily recovered, and they rod home, a distance of well over 300 miles, rather a severe undertaking for a lady convalescent, but of such wonderful stamina and pluck were the pioneer women of Australia made.

Arriving home Mrs Reily at once went to see how the precious nuggets were faring. Alas! The hole was there but the bottles and their valuable contents were gone. Where they went and by whom extracted it was never learned.  

Children of Robert & Martha Reily  

1) JAMES MAGRANE REILY

James in 1839 – 1840 James then 19 years old was a young stockman working for Explorer Strzelecki on his terrible Gippsland Journey. James in 1854 married Elizabeth Boyd who’s father was a Convict who was convicted of being a Highwayman and received Life, in 1824 Thomas was an explorer with the Hume & Hovel expeditions Burra Creek.

Daughter MARTHA REILY	CHARLES SMILES

Jun 7 1873 History of Tumut unpublished works of Snowden

Charles Smiles married  at Rely’s crossing to Martha Sisley Magrain Reily daughter of R.M.Riley and the licensee of Rileys Gap Hotel. Mrs Smiles granddaughter of Thomas Boyd of Hume & hovel Expedition. In later years of their lives, Charles & Mrs Smiles lived on a property of about 50 acres between Lambie St & Spring Flat

MARTHA  MAGRANE  REILY and husband ROBERT FREEBODY

JOHN MAGRANE REILY 1835 - 1927 from a painting done by William Byrne Freebody brother of his Wife MATILDA FREEBODY