Early descendants of this family tree (reference Ches03) lived at Hurdsfield and later at Macclesfield and starts with the death of Jasper Hulley in 1778. It is likely that he is a descendant of the One House family of Rainow, because several males were given Jasper as a first name. This was derived from the marriage of John Hulley of the One House (born 1590) to Katherine, daughter of Jasper Willott of Titherington. Their first son (born 1622) was named John, after his great grandfather and father; and their second son (born 1625) was called Jasper, after his maternal grandfather.
This family tree contains the details, as far as I have researched them, of the following two individuals that make fascinating reading:
Robert Churchman Hulley born at Frodsham in 1809 the son of Thomas Boydell Hulley and Elizabeth Nevitt Hulley nee Bennett. Robert came from a medical family with his great grandfather a Surgeon Apothecary and Man-Midwife; his grandfather a Surgeon; and his father another Surgeon. Even his uncle was a Chemist and Druggist. Robert attempted to aspire to the same professional heights as his relatives and claimed that he had been trained in medicine at Glasgow University, later changed to Edinburgh. However he failed his Interview at the Apothecaries' Hall for a Certificate of Qualification. In spite of this setback, he continued to call himself a Physician and evidently ignored repeated attempts by the Medical Directory to reveal his qualifications. Further details of his life and adventures are shown in his Notes.
John Hulley was born 1832 at Liverpool and was a nephew of RC Hulley and a much more likeable and successful person than his uncle. John was very keen on all things to do with physical education and organised the Liverpool Olympic Festivals of 1862, 1863, 1864 and 1865. He opened the Liverpool Gymnasium in Myrtle Street in 1865, and was one of the 'Three Wise Men' of the foundling Olympic Movement, the other two being Dr. William Penny Brookes of the Wenlock Olympian Society and Mr. E.G. Ravenstein, president of the German Gymnastic Society, London. On 7 November 1865 the inaugural meeting of the National Olympian Association was held at the Liverpool Gymnasium, Myrtle Street under John Hulley's chairmanship. Initial members included Messrs Brookes and Ravenstein and this organisation was the forerunner of the International Olympic Committee and was established over 35 years before the first of the 'modern Olympics' in 1901. Further details of his short life in Liverpool are shown in his Notes.
August 2009 - latest developments
The location of Georginia Theodosis Jolliffe (daughter of John Hulley, the Liverpool Gymnasiarch) and her husband William Thomas has been found on the 1901 census. They were living at Mount Alwyn, Burton, Flintshire with 5 servants to attend to their every need!
A 20th century descendant of this FT has been found. Michael Hulley, son of Ronald Jasper Hulley and Jean (nee Staniforth) was born in 1960 at Barton Registration District in Lancashire. If anyone knows of the present location of Michael - or his descendants, please contact me.
July 2009 - latest developments
The re-dedication ceremony for the grave of John Hulley (1832-75) was held at Smithdown Road cemetery on Sunday 14 June 2009. There will be a full report on the www.johnhulleymemorialfund.co.uk website.
March 2009 - latest developments
A considerable number of newspaper reports concerning Robert Churchman Hulley has been added to his Notes These cover the period 1865 to 1873 and include several articles from the "Porcupine" - a type of off-beat satirical weekly news and comment magazine published in Liverpool. The introduction into Liverpool by John Hulley of the "two-wheeled velocipede, now called the bicycle" is featured in newspaper reports dated January 20th, and April 19th 1869 and a Bicycle Tournament was held at the Liverpool Gymnasium on April 24th 1869. Also found is the fascinating account of his on-off-on marriage to Georgina Bolton whose father, a wealthy Liverpool merchant, objected strongly to the union even as far as to lock her in her bedroom on her wedding day! The full story is told in various publications on July 16th, 17th and 19th 1869. Ladies Evenings at the Gymnasium were introduced by John Hulley in 1870, with admission, which were by invitation, strictly confined to "the lady friends of the pupils and gentlemen who were of the medical profession."
September 2008 - latest developments
A website has been established to cover the gymnastic career, the founding of the British Olympic movement in 1865 and death of John Hulley, born in 1832. After the re-discovery of his gravestone in Smithdown Road cemetery, Toxteth Park, Liverpool, it was decided to set up a memorial fund for its renovation and re-instatement. Full details are shown at www.johnhulleymemorialfund.co.uk.
Terry Jackson has sent details of the Bromley-Davenport papers relating toRobert Churchman HulleyNotes(nee Garner) born 1795 and her son John 1826. These are shown in their Notes.
May 2008 - latest developments
Additional information has been gleaned from 19th newspapers particularly for Robert Churchman Hulley and Notes, the Liverpool Gymnasiarch. The grave of the latter has been located in Smithdown Road Cemetery, Liverpool. It is slighty damaged but most of the inscription is readable.
A Chancery case of 1855 involving Robert Churchman Hulleyand Notes the LIverpool Gymnasiarch and his sister Robert Churchman Hulleyconcerning the Will of Notes who died in 1845 at Manchester has been found and further research will be necessary to establish the outcome. The university and ecclesiastical career of Robert Churchman Hulleyborn 1867 has also come to light.
Full details are shown in the Notes of the above persons.
March 2008
The Robert Churchman Hulley for Robert Churchman Hulley have been considerably expanded because of access to a website showing 19th century newsapapers. This was a free trial site and was only available for a limited period.
His Robert Churchman Hulley now include his attendance at several Chartist, Zoological Gardens, Oddfellows and St John's Ward meetings, where he tried to be nominated as a councillor. The most important find was a summary account of his Insolvency hearing at Lancaster Assizes in December 1851. Also added to this tree are further details of Robert's fatherNotesand Robert's brother Robert Churchman Hulley. See their Notes for the details.
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