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Note: EMIG circa 1884 to Sydney, NSW Australia from ENGLAND
Free BMD shows that Alfred Wilkinson Kirby's birth recorded in first quarter 1852 in the District of Pocklington vol 9d page 50
Death Certificate showed that his parents were William Wilkinson Kirby and Margaret Mary Kirby and that he was born on 25/12/1849 at Grimston. Details were supplied by one of his sons. Subsequent research has identified that there are some slight differences. The mother is known as Elizabeth in all church records and as Margaret in the Census documents. It appears that she was officially Margaret (but no mention of Margaret Mary any where but generally known as Elizabeth which accounts why the church records used that name).
Further Alfred was baptised as Alfred Kirby on 20 May 1852 and earlier baptisms make it obvious that there was no 18 month delay in baptisms so stated Date of Birth on death certificate is clearly wrong. Free BMD shows that Alfred Wilkinson Kirby was registered as a birth in the Mar 1852 Quarter (Pocklington District, vol 9d Page 50). Only recorded with family for 1861 census at Hanging Grimston and then simply as Alfred. (Born after the prior census and left home before next).
Alfred married in Knaresborough and was a draper in Leeds, West Riding Yorkshire, with 9 staff and 1 servant as at the 1881 census. Resided with wife and his apprentice draper and servant at 3 Virginia Tce, Leeds.
Alfred emigrated to Australia with his wife and children in about 1883 or 1884. His younger brother Henry accompanied him and married in Australia.
Alfred's primary occupation was as a mercer/draper. He developed the company of A.W. Kirby & Co, Rockhampton, Qld into a large emporium. He also bred horses allegedly imported from Kirby Underdale but, if he did use imports, the chances are that they came from the Stud Farm, North Grimston to which the family moved sometime after 1871 and before 1880. This was a horse breeding farm.
Baptism record shows parents as William and Elizabeth Kirby, Farmer of Hanging Grimston.
The following item appeared in "The Brisbane Courier" on Monday 29 June 1986. The was the liquidation of the partnership between the two brothers trading as Kirby Bros. The business, as a limited liability company, was continued as A.W. Kirby and Co.
"A petition for liquidation was filed at the Supreme Court yesterday hy Alfred Wilkinson Kirby and Henry Kirby, of Rockhampton, merchants, trading dn co-partnership as' Kirby Bros. The lia- bilities are estimated at £8915 18s. lOd."
Obituary from "The Brisbane Courier" Wednesday 8 October 1924
"At an early hour on Tuesday morning death claimed Alfred Wilkinson Kirby principal of the firm of A. W. Kirby and Co., of Rockhampton at the ripe age of 72. Mr. Kirby had been failing in health for some time, due to a seizure in December last, from which time he took but little interest in business affairs. Last Thursday he had another seizure, and to this he succumbed. The late Mr. Kirby was born at Grimston, Yorkkshire, in December, 1851. He learnt the drapery trade with Hough and Co., at Weatherby, severing his connection in 1872, to go to Leeds, where he opened a business as draper and manufacturer of cashmere stockings. In 1879 he married Miss Rhodes. In 1884, he decided to come to Australia, first going to Bathurst, where he joined the firm of Meagher and Co. In 1887 he landed in Rockhampton, and with his brother Henry, he acquired the business of Joshua and Davies. Mr. Henry Kirby subsequently retired and the business was converted into a limited liability company, when the present extensive premises were erected. Mr. Kirby was identified with many public bodies, including the Harbour Board, General Hospital (of which he was president at one time), Chamber of Commerce, and the Royal Society of St. George. He was also closely identified with the Campbell Street Methodist Church. He is survived by a widow and three sons."
Alfred Wilkinson Kirby of Mount Morgan was appointed as a Justice of the Peace in 1892.
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