The Sheedy Diaries

Presented by Jenny Fawcett's Sheedy Speak Profiles.
The Sheedy Diaries/Manuscript Throughout the research on the Australian branches of the Sheedy families [including Silk and McNamara families] you will often see reference to the Sheedy Diaries or the Sheedy manuscript. These are the common titles given to a manuscript which is lodged with the Mitchell Library in Sydney, and which was created by Sidney Harold Sheedy,[generally referred to as "Sid Sheedy."] The technical title for the manuscript created by Sid Sheedy is: "Sidney Harold Sheedy Papers. History of the Sheedy Family c 1800 - 1946, including a history of the Society of United Irishmen 1791 - 1863, " compiled by S.Sheedy 1966 - 67. " [ML MSS 1337] Sidney's manuscript is complimented by his other works "Sidney Harold Sheedy: Notes on political offenders.' [ML Doc 563] "Sheedy Family - Records of births and deaths of members of the Sheedy family 1832 - 94" [ML Doc 158] "Sheedy Family - Biographical notes on the sheedy family compiled by S Sheedy. 1962. [As 1901/1] "Sidney Harold Sheedy: Start of Colonial Police - From Michael Sheedy's diary: To commence the history of the civilian police in the convict colony of NSW. Official History." 1968 [ML MSS 1560] "Sidney Sheedy - List of passengers, mainly wives and children of convicts who arrived in Sydney on the ship Thames 11th April 1826" [ML MSS 730] Most people tend to lump the entire set of records together and generally call them Sid Sheedys papers, the Sheedy diaries, etc. Where I refer in these Sheedy Family Profiles to the 'Sheedy diaries' I am referring to the foremost mentioned manuscript being a history of the Sheedy family as given by Sid Sheedy. [ML MSS 1337] This manuscript was compiled by Sid Sheedy and are supposed to include a truthful account of the Sheedy families in New South Wales, in particular six brothers and their convict history and some family background,as well as a history of the United Irishmen and some of their activities in Ireland and Australia. The basis for the manuscript was a supposed diary held by James Sheedy [Mcnamara], which was alledged to have started c1803, and was later updated by his alledged brother Michael Sheedy. Sidney Sheedy claimed that he was given permission by his family [the keepers of the said diaries and other family records] in the 1960's to compare family information with that available at the Mitchell Library. James Sheedy's diary is supposed to contain information on the activities of the Sheedy men in the United Irishmen's Society, originally formed in Ireland. The Sheedy brothers are supposed to have been active in the society in Ireland and when they were convicted and transported to Australia, they are alledged to have continued their activity in the society, which was renamed the International Society of United Irishmen. James Sheedy is alledged to have been nominated as the secretary for the Society and was to have carried on that position here in Australia. I will not go into the history of the United Irishmen and their political agitations at this time. I need to say that whilst I believe there is some possibility to James Sheedy's diary being authentic, until such a period of time that researchers are allowed access to the diaries and family papers, none of the information can be deemed 100% reliable, rather it should be used as a guide to proving or eliminating family branches.Sid may well have tainted HIS manuscript by trying to prove the family stories. There are some serious discrepencies that appear in Sid's research, which has misled some branches of the Sheedy family literally up the wrong family tree.This is probably due to the lack of information available at the time of Sid's initial work despite his endeavours. I will outline these discrepencies as I provide a profile on each of the Sheedy families, but I must state I am happy to be challenged on any point. Many of Sid's errors have been carried on in particular by a handful of researchers into the Sheedy families, to the point that many people who contact me today insist that because a piece of information is in the Sheedy manuscripts, then it must be true.I would like to give a couple of examples here of errors,and will continue to document any possible discrepencies, ONLY to rightfully attribute the correct family members to their respective branches. Before I do this, you need to know the six Sheedy men who are attributed by Sid as being brothers: James Sheedy [McNamara.] transported per Tellicherry as James Sheedy McNamara Timothy Sheedy transported per Providence Michael Sheedy transported per Earl St Vincent Patrick Sheedy transported per Marquis of Wellington known as Patrick Sheedy aka Sheehy. John Sheedy transported per Mangles George Sheedy. transported per Southworth The other thing you need to know is that Sid Sheedy claims that the Sheedy families in NSW [meaning the Six Brothers] were originally SHEEHY families, whilst my research indicates that the Sheedy's belonged with the McNamara clans, and used that surname at times as an alias.[also the accompanying Silk surname] quote:- [my source: a photocopy of the Sidney Harold Sheedy Papers.] being the Sheedy family history [ML MSS 1337] Sidney Harold Sheedy Papers History of the Sheedy Family c 1800 - 1946, including a history of the Society of United Irishmen 1791 - 1863 Page numbered 8:- " The history of the Sheedy family is also the history of the Sheehy family. The name Sheehy being the original family name. As Sheehy of Limerick the family needs no introduction to readers of early Irish History. The proof of both these families can be found at conclusion of family history in the registrar of Births and marriages held by the Registrar General's office of Births Deaths and Marriages " Sid Sheedy also claimed in his manuscript that the family of Thomas Sheedy and Catherine Costello belonged to the Six Brothers. Researcher, Mrs Val Thompson,claims to have proven through extensive research that the information Syd gave was incorrect, and Thomas did not belong immediately to the Six Brother's families. I was working on this family from a different angle and collated a lot of information on Thomas Sheedy, and the information combined produces a far different account then Sid's. We may still be in error and we hope that research will establish the correct history of each family. Example of Discrepencies between Sid Sheedy's research and the information made available by Jenny Fawcett using primary sources Sid Sheedy claimed in his manuscript that John Sheedy per Mangles was married to a Mary Faraday, but I have a copy of John Sheedy's petition written in 1828 to the Governer of N.S.W which shows quite clearly that his wife's name was Mary Dinan, the letter was written in a practised hand and signed by John Sheedy, who gave a lot of detail in his petition in regard to the family, including his marriage,children's names and etc. I have queried several descendents with this information but I continually am led back to a handful of people who have continued the Sid Sheedy account that John's wife was Mary Faraday. Notes:
Back to Sheedy Profiles

Presented by Jenny Fawcett's Sheedy Speak Profiles.

The Sheedy Diaries/Manuscript


Throughout the research on the Australian branches of the
Sheedy families [including Silk and McNamara families] you will
often see reference to the Sheedy Diaries or the Sheedy
manuscript.

These are the common titles  given to a manuscript which is 
lodged with the Mitchell Library in  Sydney, and which was created 
by Sidney Harold Sheedy,[generally  referred to as "Sid Sheedy."]

The technical title for the manuscript created by Sid Sheedy
is:  "Sidney Harold Sheedy Papers.
        History of the Sheedy Family c 1800 - 1946, 
	including a history of the Society of United Irishmen 
	1791 - 1863, "
	compiled by S.Sheedy 1966 - 67. " [ML MSS 1337] 

Sidney's manuscript is complimented by his other works
"Sidney Harold Sheedy: Notes on political offenders.'  [ML Doc 563]
"Sheedy Family - Records of births and deaths of members
                 of the Sheedy family 1832 - 94"        [ML Doc 158]
"Sheedy Family - Biographical notes on the sheedy family
		compiled by S Sheedy. 1962.		[As 1901/1]
"Sidney Harold Sheedy: Start of Colonial Police - From 
                Michael Sheedy's diary: To commence the
                history of the civilian police in the convict 
                colony of NSW. Official History." 1968  [ML MSS 1560]
"Sidney Sheedy - List of passengers, mainly wives and children of 
                convicts who arrived in Sydney on the ship
	        Thames 11th April 1826"                  [ML MSS 730]

Most people tend to lump the entire set of records together 
and generally call them Sid Sheedys papers, the Sheedy diaries,
etc.

Where I refer in these Sheedy Family Profiles to the 'Sheedy diaries'
I am referring to the foremost mentioned manuscript being
a history of the Sheedy family as given by Sid Sheedy. [ML MSS 1337]

This manuscript was compiled by Sid Sheedy 
and are supposed to include a truthful account of the Sheedy 
families in New South Wales, in particular six brothers and
their convict history and some family background,as well as
a history of the United Irishmen and some of their activities
in Ireland and Australia.

The basis for the manuscript was a supposed diary held by
James Sheedy [Mcnamara], which was alledged to have started c1803,
and was later updated by his alledged brother Michael Sheedy.
Sidney Sheedy claimed that he was given permission by his family
[the keepers of the said diaries and other family records]
in the 1960's to compare family information with that available
at the Mitchell Library.

James Sheedy's diary is supposed to contain information on the 
activities of the Sheedy men in the United Irishmen's Society,
originally formed in Ireland. The Sheedy brothers are 
supposed to have been active in the society in Ireland and
when they were convicted and transported to Australia, they
are alledged to have continued their activity in the society,
which was renamed the International Society of United Irishmen.

James Sheedy is alledged to have been nominated as the secretary
for the Society and was to have carried on that position here
in Australia.

I will not go into the history of the United Irishmen and their
political agitations at this time. I need to say that whilst I 
believe there is some possibility to James Sheedy's diary being 
authentic, until such a period of time that researchers are allowed 
access to the diaries and family papers, none of the information can
be deemed 100% reliable, rather it should be used as a guide
to proving or eliminating family branches.Sid may well have tainted
HIS manuscript  by trying to prove the family stories.

There are some serious discrepencies that appear in Sid's research, 
which has misled some branches of the Sheedy family literally 
up the wrong family tree.This is  probably due to the lack of 
information available at the time of  Sid's initial work despite
his endeavours.

I will outline these discrepencies as I provide a profile on 
each of the Sheedy families, but I must state I am happy to be
challenged on any point.

Many of Sid's errors have been carried on in particular by a
handful of researchers into the Sheedy families, to the point
that many people who contact me today insist that because a
piece of information is in the Sheedy manuscripts, then it must
be true.I would like to give a couple of examples here of
errors,and will continue to document any possible discrepencies,
ONLY to rightfully attribute the correct family members to their
respective branches.


Before I do this, you need to know the six Sheedy men who
are attributed by Sid as being brothers:

James Sheedy [McNamara.] transported per Tellicherry
  	 as  James Sheedy McNamara
Timothy Sheedy transported per Providence
Michael Sheedy transported per Earl St Vincent
Patrick Sheedy transported per Marquis of Wellington
  	 known as Patrick Sheedy aka Sheehy.
John Sheedy  transported per Mangles
George Sheedy. transported per Southworth


The other thing you need to know is that Sid Sheedy claims
that the Sheedy families in NSW [meaning the Six Brothers]
were originally SHEEHY families, whilst my research indicates
that the Sheedy's belonged with the McNamara clans, and
used that surname at times as an alias.[also the accompanying
Silk surname]
quote:- [my source: a photocopy of the Sidney Harold Sheedy Papers.]
being the Sheedy family history  [ML MSS 1337]

Sidney Harold Sheedy Papers
History of the Sheedy Family c 1800 - 1946,
including a history of the Society of United Irishmen 1791 - 1863
Page numbered 8:-
"
The history of the Sheedy family is also the history of the 
Sheehy family. The name Sheehy being the original family name. 
As Sheehy of Limerick the family needs no introduction to readers 
of early Irish History. The proof of both these families can be 
found at conclusion of family history in the registrar of Births 
and marriages held by the Registrar General's office of Births 
Deaths and Marriages " 

Sid Sheedy also claimed in his manuscript that the family of 
Thomas Sheedy and Catherine Costello belonged to the Six Brothers.
Researcher, Mrs Val Thompson,claims to have proven through 
extensive research that the  information Syd gave was incorrect, 
and Thomas did not belong immediately to the Six Brother's families.
I was working on  this family from a different angle and collated 
a lot of  information on Thomas Sheedy, and the information combined
produces a far different account then Sid's.
We may still be in error and we hope that research will 
establish the correct history of each family.


Example of Discrepencies between Sid Sheedy's research 
and the  information made available by Jenny Fawcett using 
primary sources

Sid Sheedy claimed in his manuscript that John Sheedy per Mangles
was married to a Mary Faraday, but I have a copy of John 
Sheedy's petition written in 1828 to the Governer of N.S.W 
which shows quite clearly that  his wife's name was Mary Dinan, 
the letter was written in a practised hand and signed by 
John Sheedy, who gave a lot of detail in his petition in regard 
to the family, including his marriage,children's names and etc.
I have queried several descendents with this information but
I continually am led back to a handful of people who have continued
the Sid Sheedy account that John's wife was Mary Faraday.


Notes:

Back to Sheedy Profiles