Last Lock-up Keeper: Patrick Joseph Daley

Patrick’s career is an interesting one and one worthy of mentioning. Born on the 18 July 1864 at Ulmara near Grafton, NSW, he was fifth child of William Daley (1840-1917) and Mary Elizabeth Malone (1835-1935). William and Mary had twelve children.

Mary’s parents were Phiillip Malone (1810-1882) and Maria Carroll (1808-1891) and together they had six children. Both Phillip and Maria arrived as Irish assisted passengers in 1856.

William Daley & Mary Elizabeth Daley above

Patrick married Madeline Kate Rauchle known as Del, on the 21 August 1893 in Narrabri.

Madeline was the daughter of Augustus Freidrich Rauchle (1838-1908) and Honor Ann

O’Halloran (1834-1928) together they had nine children, six of whom died under four years old.

She was born in Orange, NSW on the 23 July 1872.

On the right Augustus Rauchle. On the left Honor Ann Rauchle nee O'Halloran, daughter Madeline Daley nee Rauchle, granddaughter Eileen Hanrahan nee Daley. ​

Patrick and Madeline had 11 children. The first five were born in Mudgee, the first, Henri only live for one year, and the fourth Vincent lived till three. The remainder of the children were born in Sydney, three of whom died young.

He was well known in and around Mudgee and was involved in the search for the bushranger and murder, Jimmy Governor and of Jacky Underwood who was housed in the Mudgee Lock-up.

He never backed down from making an arrest and one incident where a ‘giant’ of a German went berserk, armed with a butcher’s knife. Patrick and the German got into a struggle in some dense bush with Patrick able to overpower the man and arrested him.

Patrick with his children and grandchildren

Patrick died on the 24 January 1935 and was buried in the Roman Catholic Church Portion, Section 18 Ordinary, Row 12, Waverley General Cemetery, NSW.

Madeline died on the 16 July 1957 and was buried in Roman Catholic Church Portion, Section 18 Ordinary, Row 12, Waverly General Cemetery, NSW with Patrick.