John Sheedy (per Blenheim)and Bridget Shea
by Jenny Fawcett © 2003
John Sheedy. c1818-1899 Bridget Sheedy nee O'Shea Memorial Card Photo and photo of Bridget Sheedy nee Shea kindly supplied by Lesley I am particularly indebted to Mr John McInerny for his assistance with research of this family and for his generosity in making the same readily available.Also to Lesley, for her kindness in sending family photos and supplying information in relation to the family. John Sheedy, of Frogmore New South Wales. John Sheedy is generally accepted as the John Sheedy who arrived per Blenheim in 1834, with his brothers Roger and Thomas. These three boys who arrived per Blenheim are generaly acceted as sons of John Sheedy per Mangles and Mary Dinan. John Sheedy was born c 1818 in the Kilfinnan region of Limerick, Ireland, the son of John Sheedy and Mary Dinan. John jnr was only around six years of age when his father was transported to Australia in 1826 on a conviction of forgery. It was to be a further eight years (1834) before John was reunited with his father, having travelled with his brothers to New South Wales, followed shortly after by his mother,sisters and younger brother Michael. John had received correspondence from his father whilst still in Ireland. By 1843 John was in the Yass region of New South Wales, where his brother Michael was also to settle. In 1870 John was the first to mine for copper at Frogmore and in August of that year was reported to have been offered £2000 for his mining lease which was the most promising in the area at the time. In 1875 he opened another mine and by 1877 he had 40 men working the deposit. He had leased the mine out by 1878, when it became known as Bensusan’s mine. In that year he gave land and a generous contribution in cash for the building of the Roman Catholic Church in the village, which was opened in September, 1879. He built the hotel in about 1875 and it was run by his daughter Bridget and her husband Henry O’Neill. John Sheedy - born c: 1818. [*1828 petition] possibly Kilfinnan region Limerick. [ditto] parents: John Sheedy and Mary Dinan [*Syd Sheedy] religon: Roman Catholic occupation: 1880. wife noted as Hotel Keeper on death cert [#] 1899. Hotel Keeper [#] from Death Cert. literacy: death: 7th July 1899.Frogmore.N.S.W. burial: Frogmore.NSW.
Headstone for John and Bridget Sheedy, Frogmore Catholic Cemetery.The headstone is flat on the ground behind a newer replacement stone. Photo kindly supplied by Leslie.
Replacement headstone for John and Bridget Sheedy. son John added to headstone.Frogmore Cath.Cemetery shipping arrival: John,Roger and Michael Sheedy arrived NSW per Blenheim on the 14th Nov 1834, having departed Cork on the 27th of July previos. [src.SMH - 17th .Nov 1834.] married: Bridget Shea date: 5th Dec.1842.Galong/ Yass. N.S.W. [#][cert no:v1842 1732 92] Briget bc. 1819.Demiskey.Tipperary. parents: John/James Shea and Johanna Hickey died.20th July 1880.Frogmore.NSW. History: John Sheedy 1834.arrived Australia per Blenheim with brothers Roger and Michael. 1842 - married 5th December 1842 at Galong, N.S.W. Officiated by Father Charles Lovatt of Yass, 1870 - he was the first to mine for copper at Frogmore and in August of that year was reported to have been offered £2000 for his mining lease which was the most promising in the area at the time. In 1875 he opened another mine and by 1877 he had 40 men working the deposit. He had leased the mine out by 1878, when it became known as Bensusan’s mine. In that year he gave land and a generous contribution in cash for the building of the Roman Catholic Church in the village, which was opened in September, 1879. He built the hotel in about 1875 and it was run by his daughter Bridget and her husband Henry O’Neill. John's wife (Bridget) had a brother John Shea (m Margaret Godfrey) and their son Martin married Anne McInerney, hence the family connection with John McInerny. Children - known/assumed - needs confirming: __________________________________________________________________ Mixture of Official records and another Family Source, Mary Ann b 26th Sept 1843. [*FS][reg 1957 no 11579?#] d Feb 1906.. [*FS][Newtown, no 2378] m1. 1864. 29th March.Binalong to Michael Bourke [no 1589] m2. 1889.28th April.Burrowa to Thomas Williamson [no 3924?] buried: issue known [#] Roger Bourke John Bourke Mick Bourke Thomas [Stephen] Bourke Johanna Bourke m Cameron Mary Ann Bourke m Kelly William Bourke Johanna Sheedy b 9th Dec.1844.Yass NSW [cert no v1844 1931 62] d.Yass.infant. Bridget Sheedy b 7th March.1846.Yass NSW [cert no v1846 1863 63] d 3rd June 1926.Frogmore/Boorowa.NSW [no 9433] buried: Frogmore Cemetery Catholic. NSW. educated: Convent of Mercy.Goulbourn. m.1869,22nd Nov. to Henry O'Neill at Frogmore [*FS & 1797] m.1884,17th Feb.Burrowa to William Cassells [no 4048][Castles] note: Cassells owner of Frogmore Hotel. issue known [#] Julia O'Neill (m: James.J.J.Walsh of Taralga) Bridget O'Neill Michael I'Neill Mary O'Neill Henry O'Neill William John Joseph Cassells
Bridget O'Neill nee Sheedy notes: The marriage certificate* of Bridget Sheedy (no 4048) to William Castells shows the following information: Date and Place of Marriage: 17th Feb 1884 Church of Assumption Frogmore. Name & Occupation of Parties: William Castells, bachelor,Barman Bridget Sheedy, widow, Hotel-keeper, Both William and Bridget's residences were given as Frogmore. Oddly, not birth place was given for either William or Bridget, nor their parents names and ocupation. John Castells and Johanna Shea were the witnesses to the marriage, which was performed by Thomas (Lally or Long) R.C.Minister.
Ellen Sheedy b.20th August 1847 Calabash.Boorowa/Yass [*FS] [cert no v1847 1624 65] d.19th Feb.1935. Mascot.Sydney.NSW. or 1871.10th June,Binaling,Froghole,via Boorowa [no 2042] to Patrick Hannon issue known [#] Mary Hannon m Herbet Emanuel Bridget Hannon m Jack Rutledge Ellen Hannon m Robert Harper John Hannon Elizabeth Hannon Patrick Hannon 6 male infants all died presumably in infancy. [*FS] John Sheedy b 4th Sept.1859.Binalong.NSW [cert no 5360] d 27th Dec 1884.Burrowa.NSW buried.Frogmore Cath Cem.[near Boorowa]NSW [*FS] nm. _________________________________________________________________ Who are these children and who are their parents ? John Sheedy and Bridget: Mary Sheedy b 1857.Warwick.NSW [cert no 11579] Elenor Sheedy b 1858. Warwick.NSW [cert no 12797] __________________________________________________________________ Family Researchers/Informants: John McInerny is researching the Shea family. Bridget had a brother John Shea, born c 1825, who married Margaret Godfrey. Their son Michael Shea, born c 1848, lived Frogmore. died 9th Sept 1892.Frogmore. married Ann McInerny 1878. Burrowa. Arthur Holland. Eileen Williams. 33 Clarendon Rd., Stanmore 2048 Madeline Praskie (descendant of Jenry O'Neill and Bridget Sheedy) Notes * = sighted original record. *SMH = Sydney Morning Herald. newspaper published Sydney.NSW. *Syd Sheedy - manuscript in Mitchell Library re United Irishmen and Sheedy family members. *Petition. written by John Sheedy 1828.see same, *FS = family sources.[various family members] information not yet confirmed by J.Fawcett via official records.
