Matthew Sheedy & Bridget Power
		 by Jenny Fawcett

Matthews arrival in Victoria is not yet known though he is possibly the
Matthew Sheedy who arrived in 1860 on board the British Trident  
(B 176 002). This Matthew was 27 years old and arrived in April of that 
year to Melbourne.

Matthew Sheedy resided in the districts east and west of Tower Hill in 
South West Victoria, his father Michael later joining him.

Matthew's marriage to Bridget Power is incorrectly listed on the BDM indexes 
in Victoria as HOWARD, but  Power is her correct maiden name.

It is known that Matthew's father Michael Sheedy
was here in Victoria also, and at this stage we have no other 
definite relatives for this family known to be in Victoria, 
other than tentative links.

As we obtain further information we will add to Matthew's story.

Matthew Sheedy
born:		c1841.				  [src: death cert]
parents:	Michael Sheedy and Honora Farrell [src: death cert]
						  [mrr cert ?]
died:		1888. age 47. 8th of December.	
		death by fall from horse.
		note.inquest available.no 1548.
buried:		Colac Cemetery.with wife Bridget, son Matthew
		and granddaughter Rosanna.

arrived:	
    
literacy;	

occupation:	Farmer at Towerhill,and Yangery.Victoria.

married:	Victoria, 1863.			[cert no 01500]
	
spouse:  	 Bridget Power
	    	 born c 1841.
	    	 parents: John Power and Bridget Wall  [src:death cert]
	    	 died: 1907, OCt 21st.
	    	 buried:22nd Oct. Colac Cemetery.with husband.

History

1870. The Belfast Gazette of Dec 15 1870 states
Government Accounts.
Money for the following is now lying at the Belfast Reciept and Pay 
Office.
M.Sheedy. [this may refer to Matthew or to Michael]

1871. Matthew is listed in the 19th Century Wharehouse Books held
at the Victoria Police Historical Society, information has not
yet been obtained from that source as to Matthew's charges.
 source: Gibson Index. Matthew Sheedy.Koroit. 11th Feb 1871. 

The reference is probably to a court case that Matthew was involved
in when his haystack was destroyed. The Belfast Gazette of
February 16th states :
John Wilkinson was charged with setting fire to a hay stack
at Towerhill, belonging to Mr Matthew Sheedy. Particulars of this
case appear in our police record. A verdict of not guilty returned.
On a second charge of prisoner and wife, for Arson, withdrawn.]
Towerhill is a common name for the district surrounding the old
volcano, and probably here refers to his land at Crossley [formerly
Kangaroo Flat's or Steven/Stephen's farm.

A map of the that region shows Michael Sheedy and Matthew Sheedy
owning two blocks of land
Michael's block is shown as 5 acres,3 roods and 17 perches,
on plan of Portion 18, Parish of Koroit. Matthew's block
adjoins Michael's and is shown as 5 acres,1rod and 5 perches.
_____________________________________________________________
<- to Kirkstall				->to Koroit
_________________________  ___________________________________
			| |
			| |John McCarthy and John Gills Land
			| |
			| |James Brennan's land
			| |
			| |Michael Ryan's Land
	Road 	->|	| |
			| |__________________________________
	X		   Matthew Sheedy's Block
	Richard Scotts
	Block	  	 ____________________________________
	      
			   Michael Sheedys Block

			   ________
				   |
                                   |_________________________
			| |
			| | John O'Sullivans Block
			| | 
			| |Patrick Hennessy's Block
			| |
			| | Michael Garner? and Margaret Nolan

		X
		THIS AREA IS HERE IS ABOUT WHERE THE CROSSLEY
		HOTEL KNOWN AS THE SHAMROCK NOW STANDS.
		South of this is Crossley Church and Hall and
		then road runs due south to Killarney and joins
		the Princes' Highway which runs east to W.bool
		and West to Port Fairy.

1874,In Jan 1874,Matthew is shown on the rates valuations 
for the Parish of Warrong, Shire of Belfast, as owning a house and 
twenty acres. +
By October, Michael and his father Matthew were listed as 
disenfranchised, which meant they were no longer listed as
ratepayers in the shire. ++

1875.Four days after Christmas 1875, M.Sheedy 
[Matthew or his father Michael ?] was fined for furiously riding 
through the streets of Koroit.
A fee of 10 shillings or 48 hours in gaol was imposed.
{src: Belfast Banner, Dec 29th, 1875}

1878
The Koroit Sentenil deatils the sale of Matthew
and Martin Sheedys land near Crossley.edition date
April 18th 1878.
Land Sale by Jellie and St Quentin [auctioneers.
On Account of MR MATTHEW SHEEDY ,allotment on Steven's 
Kangaroo Flat farm, containing 4 acres, 1 rood and 2 perches
thereabouts, opposite Mr Scott's ground and adjoining Mr
John Sullivans. Fenced and permanent water hole. The land
is at present under potato crop. Mr Sheedy's father having
sold his adjoining land the above will be pressed to be
sold. Terms 1/3 cast etc. 

1881 An infant child of Matthew Sheedy's was buried in
the Towerhill cemetery, grave 336,section A {common grave}
on the 31st of October. Matthew was listed as living at Yangery,
[east side of Towerhill} and it is worth noting that when 
Michael Sheedy died in 1895 , his usual residence was given as Yangery.
This little infant was buried at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, the
father Matthew having been in at 9am in the morning to arrange the
burial details of his child.

1885. In 1885,a Richard Love appeared in a court case
at Port Fairy in regard to his having alledgedly stolen a
bull from William Bellman of Nullawarre. Richard claimed to
have purchased the animal from Matthew Sheedy of Koroit.
The Belfast Gazette gave details of the case:_
Belfast Assizes Court
Thursday Oct 8th 1885
Before His Honor,Mr Justice Higginbotham
Richard Love appeared on Bail charged on two counts of
stealing a bull, and receiving the same. The prisoner pleaded
not guilty..The crown prosecuter detailed the particular of the
case...the prosecutor William Bellman, a farmer residing at Nullawarre,
some 22 miles east of Warrnambool, in July last missed a bull he owned
and was running with his cattle on the Barren Plains. AFter making
enquiries he found the bull in the possession of Mr Johnston, a
farmer living at the caves near Cobden. Thompson had purchased
the animal from the accused {Love} who had a selection near Brucknell,
when lost the animal was unbranded and when found he was branded "L"
which had been placed upon him by the accused.
The prosecutor Bellman it appears, bought the bull from Rowan, a 
farmer at Allansford, who bought him from Matthew Sheedy,a farmer
at Koroit, who originally obtained him when a calf by swapping
a heifer calf for him with Mr Kane, a neighbouring farmer.
During all these ownerships, the anim remained unbranded, and was in
that condition when Bellman lost him on the Barren Plains....
The witnesses both for the prosecution and the defence seemed
very hazy about dates although they all agreed to respective
ownerships owned by the parties.....Love was found not guilty..

The Mr Kane referred to here in the case is probably John Keane,
whose property in 1870's backed onto Michael and Matthew Sheedy's
property west of Crossley at the place previously known as
Kangaroo Flats.

1886	Hannah Sheedy* (daughter of Matthew) sues for maitenance.
		(src: BG Oct 22nd 1886)
		"An affiliation case was heard at the Police Court ,Koroit,
		on Wednesday last, and created some interest. A modest 
		looking young woman named Hannah Sheedy sued Patrick Cusick,
		aged 20,of Lake Bank Koroit, for the maintenance of her 
		illegitimate child. Mr Ardlie appeared for Miss Sheedy and
		Mr Powling for the defendant. Evidence was given relative
		to the relations of the prosecutrix and the defendant,
		showing that since the month of October 1885 they had been
		on intimate terms and the result had been the birth of the
		child. An order ? against Cusick to pay 7s 6d per week to 
		support the child, and to find a surety of twenty five pounds
		for the fulfilment of the same."

		Hannah's baby was a little girl called Catherine, sadly she
		died in 1887 aged only five months, and was buried at Port Fairy.
		(cert no 458.)
		*Note: Hannah also recorded as Norah and Hanorah/Hanora etc.

Around the 1885 time frame, it appears that Matthew moved to the Colac district, 
and he died there in 1888 after a fall from a horse and was buried in the Colac 
Cemetery. His wife  Bridget died in 1907 and is buried with her husband.


Children known
		

Michael Sheedy		born 27th April 1864. Koroit.
			bapt: 1st May 1864. Koroit. Rev Stack.
			godparents: William Wall & Mary Power
			died: 1949
			buried: Colac Cemetery 26th April 1949
			married: Sarah ?

Elizabeth Sheedy	born 27th June 1865.Tower Hill.
			bapt: 16th July 1865.Koroit. Rev Stack
			godparents: John Wall.Honoria Wall
			died 25th of Feb 1876.
			buried: Tower Hill cemetery.

Honora Sheedy		born 4th Dec 1866.Yangery.
			bapt: 9th Dec 1866. Koroit. Rev Parle
			godparents: Keiran Power.Mary Power
			died:
			married: 1887 to James Moran

Matthew Sheedy		born 11th Nov 1869.Yangery.
			bapt:28th Nov 1869.Koroit. Rev Moore.
			godparents: Pat Power. Norah Broderick.
			died: Aug 1896. 
			buried: Colac.Vict.
Bridget Sheedy		born 23rd April 1871.Tower Hill
			bapt:7th May 1871.Koroit. Rev O'Dowd
			godparents: John Wall.Bessy Wall.
			married: 1895 to Michael Ryan of Koroit.

Margaret Sheedy		born 24th Oct 1872.Koroit.
			bapt:3rd Nov 1872.Koroit.Rev O'Dowd
			godparents: William Power.Ellen Broderick
			died:
			married: 1899.Edmund Ryan of Koroit.

stillborn infantJohn Sheedy		born 27th APril 1875.Koroit
			bapt:9th May 1875.Koroit.Rev O Dowd
			godparents: George Gooden. Mary Gooden
			died: 1948
			buried: Colac.12th July 1848.with Hanora.
			married: 1902 Honora Ryan of Koroit.

Elizabeth Sheedy	born:Oct 5th 1876.Koroit.
			bapt:Oct 18th.1876.Koroit.Rev O Dowd
			godparents: WIlliam Power.Mary Power
			died:
			married: 1912.William Ritchie of Crossley

Anne Sheedy		born 14th March 1878.Koroit
			bapt:7th April 1878,Koroit. Rev Herbert
			godparents: William Wall. Ann Wall
			died:
			married: 1905 to Michael Carmody of Woodford

Ellen Sheedy		born 19th March 1880.Koroit
			bapt:18th April 1880.Koroit.Rev O Dowd
			godparents: JohN Wall .Hanora Wall
			died
			married: 1903 Martin Ryan of Koroit.

Stillborn Infant	born 31st Oct 1881.Yangery.
			died 31st Oct 1881.Yangery
			buried: 31st Oct 1881.Towerhill Cemetery
				grave 336. section A.RC

Thomas Patrick Sheedy   born 11th June 1883,Koroit.
			bapt: 24th of June 1883.Koroit.Rev O'Dowd
			godparents: Thomas Dowd. Mary Wall
			died: 29th of May 1971. 
			buried: Colac Cemetery
			married:1907 to Florence Gamble of Elliminyt

Family Researchers:
descendent: June Kearney. 

Notes
* = sighted original record.
+ = source: Belfast Banner, 20th Jan 1874.
++ =source: Belfast Banner. Oct 6th. 1874.