Thomas Sheedy and Catherine Walsh

Presented by Jenny Fawcett's Sheedy Speak Profiles.
Thomas Sheedy and Catherine Walsh Preface by Jenny Fawcett Thomas Sheedy was born c1838 in the Kilfinan/Mahoonagh district in Limerick,Ireland. He arrived in Tasmania whilst a young boy in company with his brother William aboard the convict ship Elizabeth and Henry in 1845.. This vessel was a transport ship for convicts and aboard was their father Timothy Sheedy who had been convicted in Limerick for Larceny the year previous after being arrested at Kilfinan. Whilst in the Limerick gaol, Timothy Sheedy had petitioned the Governer in Ireland to allow him to bring two of his sons with him, as his wife Ellen [nee Brown] and he had five of their nine children dependent on them for support, and these two sons,Thomas and William, had pleaded with their father to be allowed to come with him to Tasmania. The Governer's reply details his dour agreement to allowing the two boys to accompany their 50ish yo father to Tasmania.William was about 9 years of age and Thomas about 7 years.The Elizabeth and Henry departed Dublin on the 15th of Feb 1845 and arrived at Hobart Town on the 9th of June of that year. What became of the two boys Thomas and William upon their arrival in Tasmania is still uncertain. or indeed if they actually came with their father. Their father Timothy was foremost assigned at Port Cygnet,and emerged from the gang there on the 9th Oct 1846. On the 14th October he was stationed within the prison barracks at Hobart Town but it is not known if the boys were still with him, in the care of others and or working. It was quite common for young boys to be employed in this era of colonial history. From 1846 - 1851 Timothy was primarily stationed at the Prison Barracks and was employed working for others. His conduct sheet shows an exemplery record until October 1851 when he had a short term in hospital and was then convicted for keeping a disorderly house. He recieved a three month term of imprisonment. In July 1854 Timothy recieved a certificate of freedom, and he continued to remain in Tasmania until c 1871. In 1850, Timothy's daughter Margaret Sheedy married at Hobart to Patrick Geary.Margaret's death certificate shows her parents as Edward Sheedy and Ellen Brown but it is unlikely that her son knew her correct parents names.Margaret's son John Sheedy died at Port Fairy in 1854 and the informant on the death certificate is Thomas Sheedy, uncle to John Geary, and that signature matches that of Thomas Sheedy m Catherine Walsh, who filled in Timothy Sheedy's death certificate, confirming that Margaret Sheedy was a sister to Thomas. Around 1851/52, Margaret and her convict husband Patrick Geary moved to Melbourne, and then on to the Colac district. Thomas Sheedy and his brother William were not long after also in the Colac district, but in 1854 it is known at Thomas Sheedy was a householder in Port Fairy. 1851/52 saw the beginnings of the gold rushes in Victoria, and it would be most probable that Thomas and William joined the thousands who made their way to the goldfields.The largest town nearby to Colac is Geelong, and it it here that possible connections to other family members have their roots. Based in Geelong was a man by the name of George Scott. George is first known in Melbourne and by the mid 40's he was in Geelong, he had building contracts there and also ran hotels. At one of these hotels he employed Patrick Sheedy who arrived per Neptune in 1841 { married to Bridget Ryan.} George Scott had a brother Richard Scott, and they were the sons of George Scott and Margaret Sheedy/Sheehy. George Scott and Patrick Sheedy Neptune appeared before the courts in Geelong on a charge of having assaulted a prostitute who was alledged to have knowledge of a stolen wallet belonging to Patrick Sheedy. At the time,Patrick was working as a barman for George Scott. Prior to this, Patrick had worked or owned hotels in Melbourne. In the mid 1840's Richard Scott, brother of George, had moved to the Port Fairy region, and settled at what is now known as Crossley but which was previously known as Scott's corner for many years. Prior to Scott's arrival, it was generally referred to as Tower Hill. In 1854,Thomas Sheedy appeared as a godfather at the christening of Margaret Berry {Barry ?}whose parents Thomas Berry and Catherine Fitzgerald were residents at Tower Hill. The christening took place on the 23rd of December 1854, just a matter of weeks after the Eureka Stockade rebellion. At the Eureka Rebellion was another *Patrick Sheedy,convict per Ratcliffe* who was arrested for his involvement at Eureka but who was released due to lack of evidence. This Patrick Sheedy per Ratcliffe immediately arrived or returned to the Tower Hill region upon his release, and remained in this region. He was here by Jan of 1855 andhe married in June of that year to Ellen O'Connell,and they are the ancestors of Jenny Fawcett. Patrick Sheedy and Ellen O'Connell remained at Killarney {south of Tower Hill} and they went to great lengths to hide the convict background of Patrick Sheedy. Also at Eureka was Patrick Sheedy per Neptune. He is the same Patrick Sheedy who was formerly living at Geelong and in 1854 he was actually a resident at Eureka, with his wife and children. This Patrick Sheedy is the one who was formerly employed by George Scott as a barman. This Patrick Sheedy shortly afterwards went to live at Piggoreet, near Ballarat with his wife and children. In the meantime, Margaret Geary nee Sheedy,daughter of Timothy and sister to Thomas and William, had been working at Ti Tri creek near Colac where her husband Patrick Geary was employed as a shepherd on a farm there. Geary murdered a fellow shepherd and he escaped detection for that crime for many years though suspicion initially rested upon him. About 18 months after the murder of Brookehouse,Patrick Geary was arrested for horse theft near Colac.He was sentenced to 7 years detention, and his wife Margaret Geary nee Sheedy promptly moved to Port Fairy. In 1855 her son John Geary died at Port Fairy, and the informant on the death certificate was his uncle Thomas Sheedy,Margaret's brother. After the death of Margaret Geary's son John Geary at Port Fairy in 1855, she moved to Ballarat and then to Piggoreet,where, as previously metioned,Patrick Sheedy per Neptune was living. Piggoreet was not a populous region, and it would seem significant that Margaret moved to that region where Patrick was living.As previously shown, Patrick was in Geelong working for George Scott and who lived at Eureka, and who married Bridget Ryan. It will be seen that Margaret's husband, Patrick Geary, used the alias' Ryan and Sheedy when he went on a horse stealing spree in the 1860's. The connections between the families are still tenuous and under investigation. Patrick Sheedy per Neptune claimed consistently to have been born in Co Clare c 1825, at Clunalare?, and his parents are recorded as Michael and Honora Sheedy.. Timothy Sheedy {m Ellen Brown} has recorded on his convict indent that he had one brother still alive,whose name was Michael Sheedy. As early as 1861 there was a Michael Sheedy at Tower Hill. He was born c 1811 co Clare ?,his arrival date in Australia is still unconfirmed. Michael Sheedy was initially living at Allansford, outside of Warrnambool.Shortly after,Michael Sheedy moved to the region known as Kangaroo Flat to a propery opposite Richard Scott [son of George Scott and Margaret Sheedy] at Crossley - Tower Hill and he and his known son Matthew Sheedy farmed that region for some ten years. Around 1871 Michael and Matthew Sheedy sold their land at Tower Hill [this is around the time that Timothy Sheedy arrived over from Tasmania to Victoria] and Matthew is know to have moved to Colac around the late 1880's.. Also at Colac at this time is Thomas and William Sheedy, sons of Timothy Sheedy. Michael was living at Yangery in 1891 when he was admitted to the Warrnambool Hospital where he died in 1895,but as a staff member of the hospital filled in the death certificate, there is little defining information in relation to Michael. It is stated on the certificate that he was born in Co Clare, if this is so, then he may not be the brother of Timothy Sheedy, but perhaps a cousin. But it also stated on the death certificate that Michael was not married and had no children, but we know this to be inaccurate, as I have a newspaper advertisement which states that Matthew Sheedy was selling his land at Scotts corner as his father Michael had sold his also.I also have the land titles records and other information to confirm that Michael was indeed Matthew's father. So basically we can assume that the hospital informant on the death certificate of Michael Sheedy knew nothing about him and therefore the information on the certificate is unreliable. Matthew Sheedy's information relates that his parents were MIchael and Honora [Farrell] Sheedy Between 1871 - 1881,there arrived another Sheedy at Colac. His name was Michael Sheedy [SILK,] he was the son of Timothy Sheedy and Ellen Brown. and he now used the alias of SILK since his arrival in Australia. Previously travelling from Ireland to England, Wales ,and later on to South Australia before arriving in Victoria, Michael had always used the surname Sheedy, but upon his arrival here he used the common alias for Sheedy, that being Silk. Marion La Rioj, descendent of Timothy Sheedy, was aware through oral family stories, that one branch of their family had changed their name to Silk [note..several of the NSW families also used the alias Silk.] Thomas Sheedy,son of Timothy Sheedy and Ellen Brown,is known to have been in Colac at least by 1859, some four years after being in the Tower Hill - Port Fairy region.On the trial records of Patrick Geary, husband of Margaret Sheedy, it states that Patrick Geary was known to have been in the company of a Thomas Sheedy.. May 3rd 1859 saw the marriage of Thomas Sheedy at Colac to Catherine Walsh. Thomas' brother William Sheedy was also in the Colac region, and in 1879, a William Sheedy was convicted at Colac for assault. + This William was born in c 1834 at Limerick, [which is consistent with him being the son of Timothy Sheedy and Ellen Brown*,and thus the brother of Thomas Sheedy]. He was a roman catholic, 5'6 1/4, medium weight and had a fresh complexion and blue eyes, grey hair. His occupation was as labourer.His records stated he had arrived free to Australia, [as opposed to being an ex convict] which would also tally with information supplied. He had a scar on his left foot and could neither read nor write.The shipping arrival is not consistent with what is known with our William, but no other William Sheedy is known in that region at this point in time, so he may have lied about his arrival date, the ship is recorded as being the Anglo* so this will bear some investigation. Also convicted with William was Patrick Kinsella, who arrived in 1855. The newspapers will eventually reveal a better account of the events, and hopefully determine if he is indeed the brother of Thomas. William was convicted on the 2nd of May 1879 for assault and threatening language. He was tried before the Colac Petty Sessions and recieved a sentence of 6 months in default of surieties. This may account why his brother Michael Sheedy decided around this time to use the Silk surname ! Thomas took over a blacksmith's shop in Colac in 1867, purchased the land and built a house. The shop burnt down in 1887 and Thomas retirned in favour of his son Patrick. In 1871, when Timothy Sheedy died, Thomas was the informant on his father's death certificate, and named his siblings as Ellen, Margaret, James, John, Michael, Timothy, Patrick and Thomas Sheedy.Of these we know that Patrick and William where also in Australia along with Thomas. Timothy could not put ages to Ellen,Margaret, James,John or Michael. Thomas Sheedy* born c1838.Kilfinan/Mahoonagh Limerick .Ireland parents: Timothy Sheedy and Ellen Brown. death: 20th April.1899. at 15 Enokecie Street, North Melbourne.Vict. buried: 22nd April 1899.Melbourne Cemetery. arrived: 1846.Tasmania per Elizabeth & Henry c1846 - 1859 to Victoria. married: 3rd May 1859. Colac.Vict.Australia spouse: Catherine WALSH Children: - 8 on death certificate. James Sheedy born: 1860.Colac [no 8165] died: 1921.Melb East. [no 15012] married: 1894.Mary Gellie [no 6360] Elizabeth Sheedy born 1864.Colac [no 1492] died: 1875.Colac. [no 12695] Catherine Sheedy born 1862.Colac. [no 7411] died: 1947.Footscray [no 6033] married 1900. John.Wm.Ainger [6967] Patrick Thomas Sheedy born: 1866.Colac. [no 7347] died: 1952.C.ham. [no 2372] married: 1893.Mgt Southern [2637] Mary Sheedy born: 1867.Colac. [no 20897] died: 1902.Killarney.Vic [no 6086] married: 1895.Jacob Mills [608] source:newspaper titled: PORT FAIRY GAZETTE, edition date March 31st 1899 "Yesterday morning, a former resident of Killarney, Jacob Mills, blacksmith, was brought before Mr.P. Tennyson, JP, at the Port Fairy court, charged with an offence under the Insolvency Act. Accused, who had been arrested at Trentham, where he was said to be passing under an assumed name, was remanded to appear at the ordinary sitting of the Court on Friday next. Bail was allowed, himself in Ł50 and two surities of Ł30 each or one of Ł100. This being obtained, he accused was liberated." (note..at this time JAMES SHEEDY of Killarney was also living at Trentham.James was the son of Patrick Sheedy/Ellen O Connelly.) source: newspaper titled "PORT FAIRY GAZETTE" edition date: April 11th 1899. Tues "Port Fairy Court of Petty Sessions Robert Ireland v Jacob Mills. Mr E.W.Powling for the informant, asked to be allowed to withdraw the case. M Boyde appearing for the defendent, agreed to this course." Thomas Sheedy born: 1869.Colac [no 7767] died: 1872.Colac. [no 9194] Margaret Josephine Sheedy born 1871.Colac. [no 8060] died: 1959.Kew.Vict [no 6484] Ellen Agnes Sheedy born 1873.Colac [no 15463] died: 1962.Bund.Vic [545] married: 1895. Andw Walker [no 2234] Bridget Sheedy born 1876 Colac [no 15061] died: John Sheedy born: 1878.Colac. [no 7991] died: it is not yet known if the following report alludes to this John Sheedy, or the son of Pat Sheedy/Ellen Connell of Killarney,nr Port Fairy. Maybe John had come over Port Fairy to bail out his brotherinlaw Jacob Mills,?,as John was arrested at Port Fairy on the 2nd of April, and Mills had been bailed out by someone who was prepared to pay the security ,on the 30th. "source: newspaper titled Port Fairy Gazette April 7th 1899.(Friday) A young man named John Sheedy, who was arrested by Constable Simpson last Sunday evening upon a charge of insulting behaviour in Cox Street, upon the same night, was brought up before Mr.W.Earle, JP on the following day, and discharged upon payment of a fine of 2s 6d in default 48 hours imprisonment." William Sheedy born: 1881.Colac [no 1635] died: 1913.Melbourne East.Vic [6392] Robert Sheedy born: 1882.Colac [no 8175] died: Elizabeth [Bessy] Sheedy born: 1884.Colac. [no 23484] died: 1885.age 6 months. [no 4684] Family Researchers: This Family has been the subject of extensive research by:- Marion La Rooij [pronounced La Roy] Her address is :- 66 Montague Street. North East Valley. Dunedin. 9001 and Jenny Fawcett Descendant of Timothy & Ellen Sheedy:Craig Sheedy Notes * = sighted original record. + = VPRS 515 /29 no 17315 @ - VPRS 30/p Unit 64.file 2 - 236 - 10
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Presented by Jenny Fawcett's Sheedy Speak Profiles.

Thomas Sheedy and Catherine Walsh
Preface by Jenny Fawcett

Thomas Sheedy was born c1838 in the Kilfinan/Mahoonagh district
in Limerick,Ireland. He arrived
in Tasmania whilst a young boy in company with his brother 
William aboard the convict ship Elizabeth and Henry in 1845..
This vessel was a transport ship for convicts and aboard
was their father Timothy Sheedy
who had been convicted in Limerick for Larceny the year previous
after being arrested at Kilfinan.

Whilst in the Limerick gaol, Timothy Sheedy had petitioned
the Governer in Ireland to allow him to bring two of his
sons with him, as his wife Ellen [nee Brown] and he had
five of their nine children dependent on them for support, 
and these two sons,Thomas and William, had pleaded with their 
father to be allowed to come with him to Tasmania.

The Governer's reply details his dour agreement to allowing the
two boys to accompany their 50ish yo father to Tasmania.William
was about 9 years of age and Thomas about 7 years.The 
Elizabeth and Henry departed Dublin on the 15th of Feb 1845
and arrived at Hobart Town on the 9th of June of that year.

What became of the two boys Thomas and William upon their arrival 
in Tasmania is still uncertain. or indeed if they actually
came with their father. Their father Timothy was foremost 
assigned  at Port Cygnet,and emerged from the  gang  there on the 
9th Oct 1846. 
On the 14th October he was stationed  within the prison barracks at
Hobart Town but it is not known if the boys were still with him,
in the care of others and or working. It was quite common for young
boys to be employed in this era of colonial history.
From 1846 - 1851 Timothy was primarily stationed at the Prison 
Barracks and was employed working for others. His conduct sheet shows
an exemplery record until October 1851 when he had a short term in 
hospital and was then convicted for keeping a disorderly house.
He recieved a three month term of imprisonment.
In July 1854 Timothy recieved a certificate of freedom, and he 
continued to remain in Tasmania until c 1871.

In 1850, Timothy's daughter Margaret Sheedy  
married at Hobart to Patrick Geary.Margaret's death certificate
shows her parents as Edward Sheedy and Ellen Brown but it is 
unlikely that her son knew her correct parents names.Margaret's
son John Sheedy died at Port Fairy in 1854 and the informant
on the death certificate is Thomas Sheedy, uncle to John Geary,
and that signature matches that of Thomas Sheedy m Catherine 
Walsh, who filled in Timothy Sheedy's death certificate,
confirming that Margaret Sheedy was a sister to Thomas.

Around 1851/52, Margaret and her convict husband Patrick Geary 
moved to Melbourne, and then on to the Colac district.
Thomas Sheedy and his brother William were not long after also 
in the Colac district, but in 1854 it is known at 
Thomas Sheedy was a householder in Port Fairy.

1851/52 saw the beginnings of the gold rushes in Victoria, and it
would be most probable that Thomas and William joined the thousands
who made their way to the goldfields.The largest town nearby to 
Colac is Geelong, and it it here that possible connections to other
family members have their roots. Based in Geelong was a man by
the name of George Scott. George  is first known in Melbourne and
by the mid 40's he was  in Geelong, he had building contracts
there and also ran hotels. At one of these hotels he employed
Patrick Sheedy  who arrived per Neptune in 1841
{ married to Bridget Ryan.} George Scott had a brother
Richard Scott, and they were the sons of George Scott and Margaret
Sheedy/Sheehy.  George Scott and Patrick Sheedy Neptune 
appeared before the courts in Geelong on a charge of having 
assaulted a prostitute who was alledged to have knowledge of a 
stolen wallet belonging to Patrick Sheedy. At the time,Patrick was
working as a barman for George Scott. Prior to this, Patrick had
worked or owned hotels in Melbourne.

In the mid 1840's Richard Scott, brother of George, had moved to
the Port Fairy region, and settled at what is now known as Crossley
but which was previously known as Scott's corner for many years.
Prior to Scott's arrival, it was generally referred to as Tower Hill.

In 1854,Thomas Sheedy appeared as a godfather at the christening
of Margaret Berry {Barry ?}whose parents Thomas Berry and Catherine
Fitzgerald were residents at Tower Hill. The christening took place
on the 23rd of December 1854, just a matter of weeks after the 
Eureka Stockade rebellion.  At the Eureka Rebellion was another
Patrick Sheedy,convict per Ratcliffe  who was arrested for
his involvement at Eureka  but who was released due to lack of 
evidence. 
 This Patrick Sheedy per Ratcliffe immediately arrived or 
returned to the Tower Hill region upon his release, and remained in 
this region. He was here by Jan of  1855 andhe married in June of 
that year to Ellen O'Connell,and they are the ancestors of Jenny 
Fawcett. Patrick Sheedy and Ellen O'Connell remained at Killarney
{south of Tower Hill} and they  went to great lengths to hide 
the convict background of Patrick Sheedy.

Also at Eureka was Patrick Sheedy per Neptune. He is the
same Patrick Sheedy who was formerly living at Geelong and in 
1854 he was actually a resident at Eureka, with his wife and
children. This Patrick Sheedy is the one who was formerly employed
by George Scott as a barman. This Patrick Sheedy shortly afterwards
went to live at Piggoreet, near Ballarat with his wife and children.

In the meantime, Margaret Geary nee Sheedy,daughter of Timothy and
sister to Thomas and William, had been working at Ti Tri creek near
Colac where her husband Patrick Geary was employed as a shepherd on
a farm there. Geary murdered a fellow shepherd and he escaped 
detection  for that crime for many years though suspicion initially 
rested upon him. 
About 18 months after the murder of Brookehouse,Patrick Geary 
was arrested  for horse theft near Colac.He was sentenced to 7 years 
detention, and  his wife Margaret  Geary nee Sheedy promptly moved 
to Port Fairy. In 1855 her son John Geary died at Port Fairy, 
and the informant on  the death certificate was his uncle 
Thomas Sheedy,Margaret's brother. 


After the death of Margaret Geary's son John Geary at Port Fairy in 
1855, she moved to Ballarat and then to Piggoreet,where, as 
previously metioned,Patrick Sheedy per Neptune was living.
 Piggoreet was not a populous region, and it would seem 
significant that Margaret moved to that region where Patrick was 
living.As previously shown, Patrick was in Geelong working for 
George Scott  and who lived at Eureka,  and who married 
Bridget Ryan. It will be seen that  Margaret's husband, 
Patrick Geary, used the alias' Ryan and Sheedy when he went on 
a horse stealing spree in the 1860's.

The connections between the families are still tenuous and under 
investigation.
Patrick Sheedy per Neptune claimed consistently to
have been born in Co Clare c 1825, at Clunalare?, and his parents
are recorded as Michael and Honora Sheedy..


Timothy Sheedy {m Ellen Brown} has recorded on his convict indent
that he had one brother still alive,whose name was Michael Sheedy.


As early as 1861 there was a Michael Sheedy at Tower Hill. He
was born c 1811 co Clare ?,his arrival date in Australia is still 
unconfirmed. 
Michael Sheedy was initially living at Allansford, outside of
Warrnambool.Shortly after,Michael Sheedy moved to the region known
as Kangaroo Flat to a propery opposite Richard Scott [son of
George Scott and Margaret Sheedy] at 
Crossley  - Tower Hill and he and his known son Matthew Sheedy
farmed that region for some ten years. 
Around 1871 Michael and Matthew Sheedy sold their land at
Tower Hill [this is around the time that Timothy Sheedy arrived
over from Tasmania to Victoria] and Matthew is know to have moved
to Colac around the late 1880's.. Also at Colac at this time is 
Thomas and William Sheedy, sons of Timothy Sheedy.

Michael was living at Yangery in 1891 when he was admitted to the
Warrnambool Hospital where he died in 1895,but as a staff member of the
hospital filled in the death certificate, there is little defining
information in relation to Michael. It is stated on the certificate
that he was born in Co Clare, if this is so, then he may not be 
the brother of Timothy Sheedy, but perhaps a cousin.
But it also stated on the death certificate that
Michael was not married and had no children, but we know this to
be inaccurate, as I have a newspaper advertisement which states
that Matthew Sheedy was selling his land at Scotts corner as his
father Michael had sold his also.I also have the land titles records
and other information to confirm that Michael was indeed Matthew's
father.
So basically we can assume that the hospital informant on the 
death certificate of Michael Sheedy knew nothing about him and
therefore the information on the certificate is unreliable.

Matthew Sheedy's information relates that his parents were
MIchael and Honora [Farrell] Sheedy


Between 1871 - 1881,there arrived another Sheedy at Colac. 
His name was Michael Sheedy [SILK,]
he was the son of Timothy Sheedy and Ellen Brown.
and he now used the alias of SILK since his arrival in Australia.
Previously travelling from Ireland to England, Wales ,and later
on to South Australia before arriving in Victoria, Michael had
always used the surname Sheedy, but upon his arrival here he
used the common alias for Sheedy, that being Silk. 
Marion La Rioj, descendent of Timothy Sheedy, was aware through
oral family stories, that one branch of their family had changed
their name to Silk [note..several of  the NSW families also
used the alias Silk.]

Thomas Sheedy,son of Timothy Sheedy and Ellen Brown,is known
to have been in Colac at least by 1859, some four years after
being in the Tower Hill - Port Fairy region.On the
trial records of Patrick Geary, husband of Margaret Sheedy,
it states that Patrick Geary was known to have been in the
company of a Thomas Sheedy..

May 3rd 1859 saw the marriage of Thomas Sheedy at Colac
to Catherine Walsh. Thomas' brother William Sheedy was
also in the Colac region, and in 1879, a William Sheedy
was convicted  at Colac for assault. +
This William was born in c 1834 at Limerick, [which is
consistent with him being the son of Timothy Sheedy and
Ellen Brown,and thus the brother of Thomas Sheedy].
He was a roman catholic, 5'6 1/4, medium weight and
had a fresh complexion and blue eyes, grey hair. His
occupation was as labourer.His records stated he had
arrived free to Australia, [as opposed to being an 
ex convict] which would also tally with information
supplied. He had a scar on his left foot and could 
neither read nor write.The shipping arrival is not
consistent with what is known with our William,
but no other William Sheedy is known in that region
at this point in time, so he may have lied about
his arrival date, the ship is recorded as being the
Anglo so this will bear some investigation.
Also convicted with William was Patrick Kinsella, who 
arrived in 1855.
The newspapers will eventually reveal a better account
of the events, and hopefully determine if he is
indeed the brother of Thomas.

William was convicted on the 2nd of May 1879 for assault
and threatening language. He was tried before the Colac
Petty Sessions and recieved a sentence of 6 months in
default of surieties.

This may account why his brother Michael Sheedy 
decided around this time to use the Silk surname !

Thomas took over a blacksmith's shop in Colac in 1867, 
purchased the land and built a house.
The shop burnt down in 1887 and Thomas retirned in
favour of his son Patrick.

In 1871, when Timothy Sheedy died, Thomas was the informant
on his father's death certificate, and named his siblings
as Ellen, Margaret, James, John, Michael, Timothy, Patrick
and Thomas Sheedy.Of these we know that Patrick and William
where also in Australia along with Thomas. Timothy could
not put ages to Ellen,Margaret, James,John or Michael.



Thomas Sheedy* 	

born		c1838.Kilfinan/Mahoonagh Limerick .Ireland
parents:	Timothy Sheedy and Ellen Brown.
death:		20th April.1899. at
		15 Enokecie Street, North Melbourne.Vict.
buried:		22nd April 1899.Melbourne Cemetery.

arrived:	1846.Tasmania per Elizabeth & Henry
		c1846 - 1859 to Victoria.

		
married:	3rd May 1859. Colac.Vict.Australia
spouse: 	Catherine WALSH
			

Children: - 8 on death certificate.


James Sheedy 	born: 		1860.Colac	[no 8165]
		died:		1921.Melb East.	[no 15012]
		married: 	1894.Mary Gellie [no 6360]
		
Elizabeth Sheedy born		1864.Colac	[no 1492]
		 died:		1875.Colac.	[no 12695]
			   
Catherine Sheedy born		1862.Colac.	[no 7411]
		died:		1947.Footscray	[no 6033]
		 married	1900. John.Wm.Ainger [6967]

Patrick Thomas Sheedy 
		born:		1866.Colac.  	[no 7347]
		died:		1952.C.ham.	[no 2372]
		married:	1893.Mgt Southern [2637]

Mary Sheedy 	born:		1867.Colac.	[no 20897]
		died:		1902.Killarney.Vic [no 6086]
		married:	1895.Jacob Mills [608]
		
		source:newspaper titled: PORT FAIRY GAZETTE, 
		edition date March 31st 1899
		"Yesterday morning, a former resident of Killarney, 
		Jacob Mills, blacksmith, was brought before Mr.P.
		Tennyson, JP, at the Port Fairy court, charged with 
		an offence under the Insolvency Act.  Accused, who 
		had been arrested at Trentham, where he was said 
		to be passing under an assumed name, was remanded 
		to appear at the ordinary sitting of the Court on 
		Friday next. Bail was allowed, himself in Ł50 and 
		two surities of  Ł30 each or one of Ł100. This 
		being obtained, he accused was liberated."
		
		(note..at this time JAMES SHEEDY of Killarney was
		also living at Trentham.James was the son of
		Patrick Sheedy/Ellen O Connelly.)

		source: newspaper titled "PORT FAIRY GAZETTE"
		edition date: April 11th 1899. Tues

		"Port Fairy Court of Petty Sessions
		Robert Ireland v Jacob Mills. Mr E.W.Powling for
		the informant, asked to be allowed to withdraw
		the case. M Boyde appearing for the defendent, 
		agreed to this course."


Thomas Sheedy 	born:		1869.Colac	[no 7767]
		died:		1872.Colac.	[no 9194]

Margaret Josephine Sheedy 
		born		1871.Colac.	[no 8060]
		died:		1959.Kew.Vict	[no 6484]
			   
Ellen Agnes Sheedy 
		born		1873.Colac	[no 15463]
		died:		1962.Bund.Vic	[545]
		married:	1895. Andw Walker [no 2234]
			   
Bridget Sheedy 	born		1876 Colac	[no 15061]
		died:

John Sheedy 	born:		1878.Colac.	[no 7991]
		died:
		it is not yet known if the following report
		alludes to this John Sheedy, or the son of Pat
		Sheedy/Ellen Connell of Killarney,nr Port Fairy.
		Maybe John had come over  Port Fairy to bail
		out his brotherinlaw Jacob Mills,?,as John was 
		arrested at Port Fairy on the 2nd of April, 
		and Mills had been bailed out by someone who was
		prepared to pay the security ,on the 30th.

		"source: newspaper titled Port Fairy Gazette
		April 7th  1899.(Friday)
		A young man named John Sheedy, who was arrested by 
		Constable Simpson last Sunday evening upon a charge 
		of insulting behaviour in Cox Street, upon the same 
		night, was brought up before Mr.W.Earle, JP on the 
		following day, and discharged upon payment of a fine 
		of 2s 6d in default 48 hours imprisonment."
			   
William Sheedy 	born:		1881.Colac	[no 1635]
		died:		1913.Melbourne East.Vic [6392]
			   
Robert Sheedy 	born:		1882.Colac	[no 8175]
		died:
			   
Elizabeth [Bessy] Sheedy 	
		born:		1884.Colac.	[no 23484]
		died:		1885.age 6 months. [no 4684]


Family Researchers:
This Family has been the subject of extensive research by:-
Marion La Rooij [pronounced La Roy]
Her address is :-
66 Montague Street. North East Valley. Dunedin. 9001

and Jenny Fawcett

Descendant of Timothy & Ellen Sheedy:Craig Sheedy

Notes
* = sighted original record.
+ = VPRS 515 /29  no 17315
@ - VPRS 30/p Unit 64.file 2 - 236 - 10

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