Family background
Joseph Nicholas (or Nicholson) Jolly was born on 17 May 1843 to Henry and Eleanor Jolly (the birth certificate notes the surname as Jolley). He married Mary Ann Scanlon in 1864 and they lived in Wilson Street Newtown by 1874. He and his wife were living at 3 Augustus Street, Enmore at the time of his death from nephritis on 18 April 1897, aged 54. He was survived by his wife Mary Ann, sons and daughters, and was buried at Waverley Cemetery.
Occupation & interests
Jolly was a Master Painter. He worked as a painter in Regent Street Paddington in the early 1870s. He was in business with fellow Newtown alderman Charles Lane until 1878 when they dissolved the partnership. Their business was at Central House on King Street. Jolly was declared bankrupt in 1892, due to sickness. His debt was discharged in 1893. At that time he was noted as an oil and colour merchant at 281 King Street, Newtown.
Community activity
Joseph Nicholas Jolly was a Justice of the Peace (J.P.). He was a member of the Manchester Unity Oddfellows’ Loyal St John’s Lodge, and secretary of the Newtown & Camperdown Volunteer Fire Brigade.
Local government service
Joseph Nicholas Jolly was an alderman on Paddington Council in 1871-72. He was an alderman on Newtown Council from 1885 until his resignation in February 1892, representing Kingston Ward. He served as Mayor in 1889, and as returning officer in various years. He was elected once more as an alderman in 1896 and died while in office in April 1897. He was frequently absent from Council through ‘severe indisposition’ for two months during his mayoral term and in his last two years.
References
Biographical information for this alderman was originally researched by Mark Matheson for the Newtown Project Website. Further information about this alderman was compiled in collaboration with Woollahra Library and Information Service.
‘Advertising’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 7 March 1878, p. 1 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13409202
‘Our Metropolitan Suburbs: Newtown’, Illustrated Sydney News, 27 June 1889, p. 18, http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/63621712
‘Bankruptcy Court’, The Sydney Mail and NSW Advertiser, 7 May 1892, p. 1074 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162180471
‘Municipal Matters’, The Australian Star, 19 May 1892, 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article229575910
‘In the Supreme Court of New South Wales. In Bankruptcy’, NSW Government Gazette, 28 June 1892, Issue No. 469, 5273, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222970347
‘Family Notices’, The Daily Telegraph, 20 April 1897, 8, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article238409459