Francis Cleal

Francis (known as Frank) Cleal was born in 1872 near Inverell.  Frank became a jockey and rode at the Grafton races in the late 1880s, and then moved to Sydney where he married Jessie Pritchard in 1903. Frank was a well-known jockey who rode in the Melbourne Cup in 1893, and then in the early 1900s turned his attentions to training and bookmaking. 

Frank and Jessie had 5 children:

Doreen - born 1903, married Thomas Law in 1942

Hilda - born 1906, married John Carroll in 1927, and had children Edward George and Mary.

Frank - born 1908, died 1909

Ena - born 1911, married Joe Henry Carruthers in 1935

John Leslie - born 1916, married Iona Iris Drew (a widow with 2 children) in 1943 and they had a son, Kenneth (born about 1946). Sadly Iona passed away in 1951, and in 1957 John married Marilyn Freeman.

I have been unable to locate any descendants of Frank Cleal, and would dearly love to make contact with anyone who recognizes their family in this story.  The Cleal's are a large and interesting family, with many well-known sportsman in the clan, and I'm trying to put together a history of the family since Emanuel Cleals arrival in Australia. Any Cleal's out there that may be related, please get in touch with me: nicoledon@hotmail.com.