RootsChat.Com

Thanks for this speedway ace.

The early history of motorcycling has often been neglected with the result that many accepted 'facts' are now having to be corrected. This has come about thanks mainly to the internet communication of dedicated people interested in the history of the engineering and sport of motorcycles.

In the recently published biography FRANKLIN'S INDIANS, much of Billy Wells career is featured along with many previously unpublished photographs of him.
Happy New Year
Bad Bill

Hi KathBMC
The location of the farm once occupied by William Bradley and until recently known as 'Kittys', is now owned by the T* family. This farm only came into their possession fairly recently. The previous owners were the Kennedy family. I recently asked an elderly neighbor if he could shed any light on who had lived in the old house and he told me he'd never heard Willie Kennedy (the previous owner) call the place anything other than 'Kittys'.
I don't think their is any doubt this is indeed the location from where your ancestor left to go to America.
With any luck the R.C. records on microfilm will show the relationship of the three men living in the townland of the Erganagh in 1858. The most important of these is if Mary's great great grandfather was John Bradley AND if he was a close relation to your William Bradley.
I was involved in writing a biography on Charles B. Franklin called 'Franklins Indians'. This book has only recently been published after many years of research. One of the most difficult pieces of information to uncover only came to light when I hired a professional researcher.  Perhaps if you don't want to go down the DNA route, this may be the best option.
As I sit writing this message, Marys husband has just driven into my next door neighbors yard!
Bill

Hi KathBMC
I've spent a bit of time trying to figure out if you are indeed related to Mary. Her great great grandfather is very very likely to have been the John Bradley, a tenant farmer on this 30 acre farm in 1858. The Cassidys now own this land. In addition to John Bradley, only two other families with the name Bradley lived in the townland of the Erganagh at this time. One was Dominick Bradley, the other was a William Bradley who must have been your ancestor. It may be that  these Bradleys were related to one another, perhaps brothers. Unfortunately, despite my research I couldn't prove this.
I now know for sure where William Bradley lived in 1858. This dwelling was only wallsteads until recently when the farmer removed the remaining structure and returned this to farmland. This particular old dwelling was known as 'Kittys'. In an earlier message I suggested that this lady may have been Kitty Convery. This is incorrect. The lady who once lived here was called Kitty Crilly.
Should you or your family decide to come for a visit, I would be more than happy to show you the site where William Bradley had his farm in 1858.
A few years ago, my brother was contacted by a gentleman in Canada of the same name who wanted to find out if they were related. They both decided to undergo the new DNA test. This cost a few hundred pounds but did indeed prove beyond doubt they were related. I suspect that for you to prove a relationship beyond doubt with Mary Cassidy, this DNA test may be the only foolproof way because the local Roman Catholic Church was burned in the early 1800's destroying most, if not all, birth marriage and death records. The burning of the Four Courts in Dublin during the Civil War destroyed these records also. This is why genealogy in the Kilrea area (in the R.C. population) is so difficult.
Bill

Hi Sue,
I will be glad to help.

Billy and Clara were photographed on the deck of the Lusitania on their way to the U.S. in 1915. This boat was sunk on the return journey to Liverpool.
In all, Wells made as many as 30 voyages between the U.S. and U.K between 1906 and 1924.
Billy and Clara's first born was called George Hendee Wells as a tribute to his employer George Hendee, boss of the Hendee Manufacturing Company. (This business was later renamed 'The Indian Motocycle Company' ).
G.H. Wells died last year. There is a DVD/Video featuring this wonderful old gentleman. He appears for a few minutes in 'Old Indians Never Die'. This is still available at Duke Video.
I also have live pictures of Billy Wells ( a few seconds) in an early film of a motorcycle organisers meeting. This is copyrighted so may be costly to reproduce.

The reason for Billy Wells coming to Britain in the first place is that he was a motorcar salesman. This didn't work out so he returned to the U.S.  He was at a loose end when he bumped into George Hendee his old pushbike racing rival who, when discovering Wells was out of work, offered him a job selling Indian motorcycles into the British Isles. Wells accepted the job and returned to London where he set up the 'Indian' franchise on the Euston Road.

As I've already mentioned, there's loads more info on this subject contained in the new Charles Franklin biography, 'Franklin's Indians'.

Sue, should you wish to speak to me directly, I would have no objections.
Regards
Bad Bill