Roger Sheehy

71

Robin Sharkey on 14th January 2015

SPECIFIC 1810 CRIME IS OF THEFT of SADDLES: Limerick Chronicle of 8 Sept 1810 - “Denis SHEEHAN, John SHEEHAN, Roger SHEEHY, and Jos. DONOGHUE, for stealing saddles etc from the Stables of the Rev Mr Bruce, to be transported for 7 years.” This was likely to have been an agrarian-activity as it was a group stealing the saddles and horse-related equipment as that was a common practice when agrarian groups went out at night attacking a property. This seems more especially likely given the victim is a Magistrate. The charge has been framed as theft only.

71

Robin Sharkey on 15th January 2014

Roger Sheehy was 22 years old when he was convicted in August/september 1810 and sent by November the same year to the Provident convict ship in Cork Harbour off Cove. He led a good life in NSW and became a respectable farmer on the Hawkesbury with land of his own. He even donated land in 1839 for the building of a sandstone chapel -Our Lady of Loretto - about 5kms above St Albans (per Hawkesbury People History pages) CRIME: Freeman's Journal dated 4 Sept 1810: (reporting on sentencing at Cork's County Court Assizes starting at the end of August and into September: "Denis Sheehan, John Sheehan, ROGER SHEAHY [Sheehy on ship] and Joseph Donoghue, [ship muster: Donagher / Donaghoe; John] GRAND LARCENY, to be transported for seven years." *1814 NSW Muster - [called 'SHEHAN'] Assigned to "James Reese" mustered at Windsor off stores. This is actually the famous JAMES RUSE who also had another convict assigned with him in 1814, Daniel Reed per the "Surry". Hopefully Sheehy and Reed listened and learned about the Colony and how to succeed at farming from James Ruse! 1820 memorial - said he has been free upwards of three yeas and conducted himself with sobriety and industry ... and so seeks a grant of land. Macquarie wrote on side of letter "30 acres". Roger was on his way! - Granted land on the First Branch of the Hawkesbury River (per his own statement in memorial of 1825) - 9 Sept 1825 Memorial - Said he had cleared ten acres of the grant on the First Branch of the Hawkesbury, "built a house thereon and other necessary erections" and resided in the premises, and "have the present lands in cultivation". He "therefore respectfully solicits the usual indulgencies on receiving and improving land." THESE WERE that the settler and his family and servants would be victualled from government for 6 months ... Richard Woodbury, District Constable, noted that he had inspected the land on 9 Sept. * 23 Sept 1825 - Colonial Sec confirmed to the Dep Commissary General that Roger "SHEA" and his wife, child and convict servant named George Ward who had arrived per 'Royal Charlotte' were to be victualled from the store for 6 months from that date. ROGER's WIFE * Roger's wife was called Ann and in 1828 Census claimed to be off the "Francis & Eliza" (arrived 1815). * Roger was witness in 1817 to a marriage between Robert Hobbs and Sarah Wright at Windsor, and another witness was "Ann" McGuire. This is likely to have been his wife. Both Roger and Ann made their marks instead of signing their names as witnesses. Robert Hobbs was an English convict who had also settled around Webbs Creek/Portland Head area. * There is no Anne with a surname M on "Francis & Eliza", only a Mary Maguire that is similar. * "Mary Maguire" on the ship's indent was listed as being aged 29. She would then be aged 42 in 1828 when Ann said she was 37. * All Anns on the "Francis & Eliza" have been accounted for as all being married to other men by 1822 (Byrne, Cullen, Emmerson and Ryan) or Ann O'Brien being 50 in 1815 as being too old and was in the Rocks in 1823. * In 1823 Roger was the baptism sponsor for RObert Hobbs' son. John Hobbs, who was listed as being 13 years old when he was baptised. * 12 February 1822 Baptism (and 1822 BDM registration) of JOHANNA SHEEHY to Roger Sheehy and Ann Marginn(?) . Baptism sponsors were John and Elizabeth Cullen, registered St Mary's Catholic chapel. * 1825 Muster amalgamation named as SHEEHY, and Johanna his daughter listed as aged 5 years. * 1823 baptised at Pitt Town: Roger Sheehy. Presumably this was a child of Roger and Anne's and may have died as not appearing in 1828 Census. * 1828 Census name written as 'SKENE' Roger aged 43, Ann aged 37, both Catholic and work at labour, residing at Lower Portland Head. This would appear to be at the land he was granted on the First Branch of the Hawkesbury. * 1828 Roger had three Free-by-servitude workers in his household. Joseph Moore aged 40, per Tottenham in 1818, John Reynolds aged 43, per Mariner in 1816 and Thomas Faulkner per "Adamant' in 1821. All three were Protestant. DEATH of ANN Ann Sheehy died 10th March 1855 aged 66 years. She is buried in the Loretto Catholic Cemetery, at upper Macdonald River. Her headstone states that she was a native of Armagh, Ireland. Next to her grave is Roger's. DEATH Roger Sheehy died in 1858 at McDonald River, which is north of Wiseman's Ferry. McDonald River is where his daughter and son-in-law Johanna and Richard Jurd, lived. He is buried at Loretto Catholic Cemetery, Upper Macdonald River. "SACRED to the Memory of Roger Sheehy who departed this life June 17th 1858, aged 72 years." *"Empire" 26 August 1858, Supreme Court Notices re Will of Roger SHEEHY, late of Macdonald River, farmer, notice is given that probate will be granted to his daughter Johanna Jurd of St Alban's Widow, DAUGHTER JOHANNA Johanna married a local Hawkesbury River boy, Richard JURD on 25 May 1839 at St Albans. She was probably aged 17, he was aged 22. He was one of nine children to London born convict father Daniel Jurd who had arrived in 1802 on "Perseus"; while his mother Elizabeth Johnson was born in the colony in 1796. * Johanna and Richard Jurd had six sons - and one daughter who died aged 3 days (from Richard Jurd headstone). * Richard Jurd died aged only about 40 on 23 June 1856 of typhus fever. He was a farmer and innkeeper of the "Settlers Arms". Johanna was 36. Her father died two years later. * Then Johanna remarried, aged 38, to John Joseph Delander in 1859. His Father Joseph Delander was a convict arriving in 1815 and his mother was Mary Ann Izzard, BC in 1813, and Joseph Delandre had been the licencee of the public house called "St Patrick" at Windsor from 1831. Johanna, with John Delander, went on to have at least three more sons: *William Delander 1860 * Edwin Delander 1863 * Roger Delander 1866 * Johanna died 12th August 1897. Her headstone states that she was 77 years old, meaning she was born in 1820, not 1822. She is buried at Loretto Catholic Cemetery, Upper Macdonald Road, Upper Macdonald. NSW (near St Albans)