Patrick Sheedy (Trooper/Mounted Police)
Preface by Jenny Fawcett The history and background of Patrick (Trooper) Sheady is still being compiled. Little has been established in relation to his family or birthplace. We know that by 1839 he was a Lance Corporal in the 50th Regt and was stationed at Bathurst. He was in that year sentenced to six months gaol at Newcastle due to an incident arising when Sheedy arrested an overseer (Baddely) and forced him to walk back to town, as part of an ongoing fued between the two men.Sheedy was placed on trial and two other troopers perjured themselves to support Sheedy, who was up against Magistrates such as the notorious Colonel Morrisett Patrick Sheady was then (in 1839) noted as a zealous and active Mounted Trooper. Even whilst on bail in relation to his charges his captured some notorius bushrangers. But he was also noted as having a violent temper when aggrieved. A Lieutenant Cobban applied for a remission of Sheedy's sentence, but the charged found against him remained.Faulkner and Doolan, the two troopers who perjured themselves for Sheedy where both convicted. A year earlier (1838) Corporal Sheedy of the Mounted Police arrested Bryan Flannigan near Mudgee for the murder, and is probably the same Patrick Sheady. In 1852, a Patrick Sheady,(aged 24..so born 1832) former Mounted Trooper in NSW applied to join the Victorian police force, but was rejected. He would be too young to the Patrick Sheady who served in 50th Regt,unless he was lying about his age. It is not known if Trooper Sheady is the same Patrick Sheady who married in Sydney on the 7th Oct 1850, at St Marys Church, to Mary Ann Hallinan.No other records in relation to this couple can be found. But this Patrick Sheady who married, is a relative of Bridget Sheedy (m Isaac Bennie) who is alledged to be the daughter of Patrick Sheedy per Marquis Wellington (and thus one of the six alledged *brothers* transported to NSW from Ireland. The Patrick Sheady who married in 1850, stated he was from Bathurst, and given his tendency to spell his surname Sheady, as well as being from the Bathurst region, it is possible he is the same as Trooper Sheady. Patrick Sheedy Born Parents Religon: Shipping Arrival Occupation 1839. Lance Corporal Mounted Police. (50th Regt) Bathurst District. 1850. Mounted Police. Yass District. death: buried: married: History 1834 Patrick Sheedy.Member of the Mounted Road Patrol Police NSW. source: McClelland, James "The Great Book of Personal Pride, Integrity, Gallantry and Service: Police Officers of NSW 1789-1988." It is not known if this is the same Patrick Sheedy. 1838 Corporal Sheedy (sic) of the Mounted Police, arrested Bryan Flannagin (near Mudgee ,NSW) for Murder. (see) www.law.mq.edu.au/scnsw/Cases1838-39/html/r_v_flannigan__1838.htm " Corporal Sheedy - I belong to the Mounted Police; I recollect going to Kinnerly's station and saw the bodies; I was sent off immediately to apprehend the prisoner; I came up with him at the Murrumbi Creek, about seven miles from Kinnerly's; he told me he was going to see a friend of his, and that when he had seen him, he should die happy; the prisoner was on his knee near a hut striking a light; thinking he might have some firearms, I said, hold up your hands, you murdering thief; he said, if he had taken their lives, he was not going to take mine; I said, I would take pretty good care of that; I secured him and took him to Mudgee; I asked him what he had murdered the people with, and he said with an axe which he had thrown into the river; I had blackfellows searching for the axe for two days, but there was a large quantity of timber in the river and they could not find it; the prisoner told me he had supper with them that night, and could not sleep; in the morning he got up and murdered the stockman, and had to pull him out of bed to get the axe out of his head; that the little black boy who was with him in bed was frightened and ran away, he said he then went into the hut, and as he could not see which way Nagle and his wife laid their heads, he chopped about until he killed them; there were some cuts in the bed ticks as if some blows had missed the bodies; he said he could get no rest on account of Nagle, and I asked him why he had killed the man and not the woman; and he said he might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb; he said he was guilty of it, and willing to die; he was sufficiently in his senses to lead me astray; I did not know the road, he said, he did, and he led me astray. " 1839 Feb 25th. Patrick Sheady indicted for assaulting Charles Henry Baddely at Bathurst on the 11th January 1839 Private Patrick Sheady, 50th Queens Own Regt. attached as Lance Corporal to the Mounted Police.Applies for Mitigation of Sentence. (src: AONOSW. Letter to the Colonial Secty at Sydney, dated 13th APril 1839,from a Lt in the Mounted Police.(Cobban) Denied by be Colonial Secretary April 24th 1839. AONSW. Ref 39/4232/ "MITIGATION OF CORPORAL SHEADY'S SENTENCE Sydney 13th April 1839. Sir, I have the honor to report to you for the information of His Excellency The Governor that the Soldier named in the margin (Private Patrick Sheady, 50th Regt) was tried at the Quarter Sessions at Bathurst for an assault and sentenced 6 months to Newcastle Gaol and to pay a fine of Five Pounds to the Crown. I beg to state until this unfortunate ocurrence, he had been successful, steady and zealous in the performance of his Mounted Police Duties, and his conduct in general was soldier like in Quarters, he as distinguished for his great activity and gallantry, for which he holds his present rank in the Corps and he has given general satisfaction to the Inhabitants of the District. I should consider his removal a loss on account of so many young Hands in the Bathurst Division, and having only two old hands and himself who has any knowledge of the Bush and places likely to be the haunts of Bushrangers and Runaways. Even when on Bail he suceeded with the assistance of two troopers in capturing a notorius party of bushrangesr which had been committing outrages in the District for a considerable time previous. There existed between the person assaulted and the Corporal a bad feeling for some time previous, and from the way I have heard him to talk of the Mounted Polilce, I have no doubt his manner was aggravating to the Corporal who is a man of Violent temper when annoyed. May I request that you will be pleased to recommend him to the Clemency of His Excellency the Governor for a Mitigation of his Punishment. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your Most Obedient Humble Servant. G.G.? Cobban. Lt.Mt.Police. ? in Major N? Absence. Noted on Page. Private Patrick Sheady. 50th(Queens Own Regt) attached as Lance Corporal to the Mounted Police. The Chairman of the Quarter Sessions is requested to report the principal circumstances of the case proved against the prisoner. NC 15th April 1839. Noted: I inform Lt Connan, that having enquired into the case, and received the report of the Chairman of Quarter Sessions, I regret I can make no remission in Patk Sheady's sentence. C.S April 24th. The Chairman (W.M.Manning) had enquired into Sheady's conviction, and filed the following report, which probably swayed the Col.Sec.'s decision.! " Sydney. April 22nd 1839 I regret to say that upon reviewing the cirumstances of this case, I feel myself obliged to report very unfavourably. The defendant, from some private motive and without ever making any pretence of having any public ground, handcuffed a respectable person named Baddley, Superintendant to Mr Liscombe, at his farm near Bathhurst, and having caused him to be thrown from his horse by roughly seizing the bridle, drove Mr Baddley into Bathurst on foot before himself and two troopers of the Mounted Police. The case was greatly aggravated by the false evidence which the defendant procured to be given at the trial by one Falconer, one of the above mentioned Mounted Policemen. Falconer was committed for perjury, and is to be tried at the approaching Sessions of the Supreme Court. The quality of this man's evidence was placed beyond a doubt, and it was equally clear that he had been suborned by the defendant. The District magistrates present, named Col.(?Moupet) Capt. Piper 2 (?) sheet, Blair, W.Lawson junr and Ranken(?) considered that the conduct of the Mounted Police generally towards the civilians of the District had lately been such as to render an example absolutely requisite: and we should undoubtedly,under all circumstances, have awarded a more severe sentence, had not Major Bowler and Lieutenant Sayers (?) given the defendent the character of a remarkably zealous and active Mounted Policeman. W.M.Manning. Chairman. " NOTE BY J.FAWCETT.FALCONER is recorded in the Supreme Court records at FAULKNER and Baddely as BADDELLY. Fawkner's trial gives further insight into SHeady's conviction www.law.mq.edu.au/scnsw/Cases1838-39/html/r_v_faulkner__1839.htm) R. v. Faulkner Supreme Court of New South Wales before : Dowling C.J., 15 May 1839 Source: Sydney Herald, 17 May 1839[1] "Wednesday. -- Before the Chief Justice and a Military Jury. John Faulkner,a soldier,was indicted for perjury.The information set forth that,at the Court of Quarter Sessions held at Bathurst, on the 25th February,one Patrick Sheedy was indicted for assaulting Charles Henry Baddely,at Bathurst, on the 11th January,when the prisoner swore that on the occasion referred to,Corporal Sheedy never touched Mr.Baddely's bridle so as to make his horse rear;nor was Mr. Baddely thrown from his horse;nor did Sheedy order him and the other man to handcuff Mr. Baddely -whereas in truth and fact, &c. It appeared from the evidence of Mr. Baddely,Superintendent to Mr. Liscombe,that on the 11th of January,he had been to Bathurst to report that his place had been robbed by bushrangers,and was on his return home,when he was overtaken by Corporal Sheedy and Troopers Faulkner and Coolan, of the Mounted Police;Sheedy rode alongside of him and laid hold of the bridle,which caused his horse to shy and throw him; upon getting up, he asked what was the matter,when Sheedy said he had been long looking for him,and ordered the other policemen to handcuff him,which they declined to do,when Sheedy got off his horse and put the handcuff on one hand,saying that would do to disgrace him; they then took him to Bathurst;Sheedy refused to let him ride,and one of the troopers led his horse.When they got within a quarter of a mile of Bathurst,Sheedy said he would ride on & report the circumstance to the officer,which he did;and the troopers allowed Mr. Baddely to mount his horse.Upon arrival at the officer's quarters at Bathurst, Mr. Cobban was ill and could not be seen,but the Magistrates were then sitting,and Mr. Baddely went into the Court with the handcuff on and made his complaint to Colonel Morrisset,who issued a warrant for Sheedy, and he was committed to take his trial at the Quarter Sessions. At the trial, Faulkner was called for the prisoner, and negatived nearly the whole of Mr. Baddely's evidence. The Jury found Sheedy guilty,and he was sentenced to pay a fine of £20, and be imprisoned for six months; and Faulkner was committed to take his trial for perjury. Trooper Doolan corroborated the evidence of Mr. Baddely; but gave his testimony in a very prevaricatory and unsatisfactory manner.Guilty -- To be transported for seven years." Notes [1] See also Sydney Gazette, 18 May 1839; Australian, 16 May 1839. 1846 source: Maitland Mercury. 8th Feb 1846. Bathurst - Peter the Black - charged with rape and robbery.... "..Much Credit is due to Sergeant Sheady of the Mounted Police in ferretting out and brining forward evidence of this man's depradations and crimes......" 1850 Jan 18th 1850. Patrick Sheady (sic) late Trooper in the Mounted Police, appointed as Ordinary Constable in the Yass Mounted Police Force. (src: Letter from the Bench at Yass, to the Colonial Secty in Sydney, reference no 50/150,dated 10th Jan 1850. AONSW. 4/2884 "The Bench at Yass, to the Honorable The Colonial Secretary, respecting vacancies in the Yass Police Force. No 50/2 Yass Police Office 10th Jan,1850. Sir, with reference to your communication of the 24th December last relative to the vacancies in the Yass Police Force, we have the honor to state that there is one vacany for an ordinary constable at present, and that there will be two other vacancies for ordinary constables at the end of this month in the Police Force here. The Bench wouldr equest the favour of His Excellency filling up these vacancies as early as possible, and that the Bench may be advised thereon for their guidance. We have the honor to be, Sir, Your Most Obedient Servant For the BEnch (J.M Masson ? J.P) note..this is difficult to read. noted also on the page is notes over a period of time. No 49/168 (probably refers the CS letter in Dec 1849) Patrick Lawlor, John Stafford Patrick Sheady (sic) LATE TROOPERS IN THE MOUNTED POLICE TO BE APPOINTED. 19th. (initialled) Bench. Parties informed 18th Jan 1850) 1850.Copy of the Marriage Certificate of a Patrick Sheady of Bathurst, to Mary Ann Hallinan.
CHILDREN
