Presented by Jenny Fawcett's Sheedy Speak Profiles.

John Sheehy aka Keane (per BRAMPTON)

Preface by Jenny Fawcett.(with special thanks to Bernadette Symons,descendent of John Sheehy Keane,and to Mary Ann Morris,descendent of John Keane (not Sheehy) for assisting in sorting out the history of these two men of similiar ages who both arrived on the same ship to New South Wales.) John Sheehy Keane was born in Co Kerry c1800, the son of Patrick Sheehy and Rebecca Cronan. He was married in Ireland to Honora Carroll and had a child with her.They remained behind there when John,convicted at Tralee in May 1822, was transported to New South Wales where he arrived in April 1823 (aboard the convict transport Brampton).He petitioned in 1825 for his family to be sent out to him, to no avail, he then later remarried in NSW in 1832 to Catherine Brown (a convict transported to NSW per Palambam).His brother Roger Sheehy was later to emigrate to NSW with his family, and settled in the same region as his brother near Burragorong. John Sheehy had four surviving children, Roger, Sophia, Susannah and Mary Jane., it is not known what became of his child born in Ireland nor his wife Honora Carroll. John's petition of 1825 states that he was married in the parish of Ballylongford, that the postal town was Listohill in Co Kerry, and the minister was Revd John Wickson.
The "TOPOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF IRELAND (1837) by Samuel Lewis shows that BALLYLONGFORD was a town in the parish of AGHAVALLIN, in the barony of IRAGHTICONNOR, Co of Kerry, and in the province of Munster. It lay 4 miles west by south from Tarbert, and in the 1820's contained 1300 inhabitants. "..this town is situated on the road from Tarbert to Ballybunnian, at the head of an estuary or creek of the river Shannon, and contains about 300 houses. Its position is favourable for the export trade, the creek forming a port for lighters which carry corn and turf to Limerick: ..a fair or market is held every alternate Thursday, chiefly for pigs and cattle..Petty Sessions are held every Monday, and once in three weeks, a baronial court for the manor of Carrig-a-foile; and here is a station of the constabulary police. The parochial chuch is situated about 1/4 mile to the north of the town, but having been condemned unworthy of repair it is expected that a new church will be shortly built. The R.C chapel in the town is a spacious slated building with two galleries, erected in 1806...near it is a large building for a school, lately erected..there is also a dispensary. In the vicinity of the town, but in Kilnaughton parish, are the extensive ruins of Lislaghtin abbey...." The "Listohill" of John's petition is probably LISTOWEL,which according to the previous source is a post town and parish"..in the barony of IRAGHTICONNOR, Country of Kerry, and province of Munster. It is 171/4 miles north east from Tralee, and 134 from Dublin, on the road from Tarlee to Tarbert. In the 1820's there was some 4957 inhabitants.The town is situated on the right bank of the river Feale,..the parish comprises 7009 statue acres.. remarkably fertile and the neighborhood is celebrated for producing wheat of superior quality...the seat of the Right Hon.Maurice Fitzgerald, Knight of Kerry, is partly within this parish but chiefly in that of Finuge.." note..John Sheehy's petition mentions Fitzgerald." John Sheehy (Keane) is a telling example of the difficulties in tracing convicts with similar names! John was transported to New South Wales aboard the Brampton in 1823 and it was noted that his name was John Sheehy also known as Keane. Aboard ship was another convict also of the name John Keane.Both these men were of similar ages and occupations,but could only be distinguished with the information that John Sheehy was from Co Kerry and John Keane from Tipperary. Both men were to receive their Certificates of Freedom at a similar time and both men married women called Catherine. So it became important to ensure that all details were known in relation to both men, so that they could be clearly distinguished.It can now be quite clearly proven that John Sheehy Keane married Catherine Brown, and John Keane married Catherine Fogerty/Hennessy. Confusion surrounding the spouses of the two John Keane's began recently with a search of the (NSW) CONVICT PERMISSION TO MARRY INDEX (cd rom by Lesley Uebel). This index revealed two marriages of John Keanes per Brampton; one for the year 1832 when a Catherine Fogarty (convict per ASIA,1830) applied to marry John Sheehy (also known as Keane, ) the second for the year 1833 when Catherine Brown (convict per Palambam) applied to marry John Keane. Upon enquiry to Leslie she informed me that the original application stated John Sheehy's name to be William Sheehy Keane per Brampton( and that she made an assumption that this was in relation to John Sheehy Keane per Brampton.).But research shows that there was no William Sheehy/Keane who arrived as a convict on the Brampton and that John Sheehy/Keane married Catherine Brown, not Fogarty. Subsequent research by Bernadette Symons reveals that John Sheehy, aka Keane,was originally married in Ireland to Hanora Carroll, and then remarried in NSW to Catherine Brown per Brampton, not Catherine Fogarty per Asia). Bernadette has been very thorough in obtaining original records which show quite clearly that John Sheehy/Keane married Catherine Brown.) Access to the original applications to marry (below)to date reveal no application for a William or John Sheehy Keane..Both applications located at this point in time only show that two men named John Keane were given permission to marry.Further research confirms that John Sheehy Keane, who arrived per Brampton, married Catherine Brown in 1832, and that John Keane, who also arrived per Brampton married Catherine Fogerty in 1834. On official government records (such as Musters, Permission to Marry,colonial convictions, assignments etc) a convict is usually recorded by his name, ship and convict number (amongst other details). From these and like official records we can trace some of the history of the two John Keanes, and determine which should be accorded certain individual family history.As will be shown below, this information along with the death certificates of John Sheehy Keane and his wife Catherine Brown, will prove beyond doubt, that John Sheehy Keane, who arrived as a convict per Palambam was indeed married to Catherine Brown, and not Catherine Fogerty as stated on the indexes of Lesley Uebel A search of the Marriage Index for NSW (official government records)shows that indeed Catherine Fogarty and John Keane (sic) were married in 1832 in the Abercrombie District/ Bathurst. (Church of England cert no v1832 1169/16).The marriage was performed by Revd. Keane at Bathurst. The same source also shows that John Kean and Catherine Brown were married in 1834 at Parramatta,by the Reverend Marsden. (Church of England, St Johns, cert no v1834 1091 18) Faye Sheridon kindly went to the Archives Office of New South Wales and accessed a series of records (REELS 722 and 724). Reel 722 is a list of applications for marriage by Banns.This reel has the application of Catherine Fogarty to marry John Keane. Reel 724 has reference to the application by Catherine Brown to marry John Keane. Neither of these two sources positively identify which of the two John Keane's is John Sheehy Keane,if at all. Reel 722. LIST OF PERSONS APPLYING FOR THE PUBLICATION OF BANNS,at ? Name: JOHN KEANE CATHERINE FOGARTY AGE: 31 17 WIDOWER etc. BACHELOR SPINSTER SHIP ARRIVED BY: BRAMPTON ASIA Year of Arrival: 1823 1830 Sentence: 7 7 Free or Bond: Free Bond Present Service: (?stockman to Mr Hannam? Wm Lable (?Cable?) Character Leave Given Note: -There is another couple's application also on this particular page..Samuel Fenton and Charlotte Anderson. of Bathurst Plains). -John and Catherine's details each are then struck over / as such, the next couple were not. -John's details for service are not clear..stockman appears clear enough by the employers name is not certain. Oddly, all other information for those mentioned on the page are quite clear..just John Keane's employment details are faint. Reel 722.LIST OF PERSONS APPLYING FOR THE PUBLICATIONS OF BANNS AT ST JOHN'S CHURCH ,PARRAMATTA 4TH FEBRUARY 1833 Name: John Keane Catherine Brown Age: 32 22 Widower etc: Bachelor Spinster Ship Arrived by: BRAMPTON PALAMBAM Year of Arrival 1823 1831 Sentence: 7 years Life Free or Bond: Free Bond Present Service: Farmer-M(B)urrygorang(?) assigned to Philip Keefe at Burragarang (?Burragorong) character: Good Good Remarks: The two men (includes Michael Flynn who was applying to marry Mary Maloney) appears able to support their wives when married. The two women are assigned to their respective masters who have given their consent. signed by Samuel Marsden. Senior Chaplain. an attachment dated March 1833 reads: JOHN KEANE per BRAMPTON 7 years -Free - it is not stated whether he was married or single at home (meaning Ireland - JF) to Catherine Brown of Palambam, life, is stated single. Michael Flynee per John 1, 7 years fee, is stated single to Mary Maloney per hooghley 3, 7 years, is stated single. From the above source, we cannot still determine which are the respective John Keanes.Further information sent by Faye Sheridan were marriage certificates for the two parties. 1832.marriage of John Keane or Kane to Catherine Fogerty no 89. JOHN KEANE OR KANE (sic) of the Parish of Bathurst and CATHERINE FOGERTY or HENNESSY of the Parish of Bathurst were married in this place of Worship by banns with consent of Government this Fourth Day of September in the year 1832 by me JOHN ESPY KEANE Chaplain. This marriage was solemnized between us: JOHN KANE CATHERINE FOGERTY or HENNESSY (her mark) in the presence of THOMAS CUMMINGS OF BATHURST HENRY H FLEMING OF BATHURST 1834.marriage of John Keane to Catherine Brown no 452 JOHN KEANE, 32,BRAMPTON, of the Parish of COWPASTURE and CATHERINE BROWN, 22,PALAMBAM, of this Parish of PARRAMATTA married in this Church by Banns with consent of The ? Government this TWENTY SECOND DAY of JANUARY in the year 1834. by me Samuel Marsden, Senior Chaplain. This marriage was solemnized between us: JOHN KEANE Catherine Brown (her mark) in the presence between us : JOHN WHITEHEAD ? The official marriage certificate for Catherine Fogarty/John Kane appears to confirm the marriage of that couple at Bathurst, by the Reverend Keane. (Cert no 1169 Vol 16 states:) Grooms Name: John Kane OF Parish of Bathurst Marital Status Not Stated Brides Name Catherine Fogerty or Hennessy, Her Mark (x) of Parish of Bathurst Marital Status Not Stated. When Married: 4th Sept 1832. Where Married: Parish of Bathurst Consent: Government Minister John Espy Keane Witnesses: Thomas Cummings of Bathurst Henry.H.Flemmings of Bathurst. So now the surname of Hennessy is introduced for Catherine Fogarty. according to a family member..Catherine's father and brother were also sent out to NSW as convicts. A descendent of John Keane/Kain/Cain and Catherine Fogerty/Hennesy sent a copy of the christening record of their son Thomas at Bathurst. Cert no 298 Vol 129 shows: Child.Christian Name: Thomas (Cain) When Born 30th October 1832 Date of Ceremony 28th October 1833 Where Ceremony Performed: Bathurst Where registered: Not Stated Parents: Father: John Cain (sic) (SHIP _BRAMPTON) Mother: Catherine Hennessy (SHIP ASIA OF LONDON) Abode: Not Stated Profession; Not Stated Sponsers: John Read Mary Dwyer By whom ceremony performed: Not Stated Roman Catholic From the above sources we can only safely say that Catherine Fogerty, a convict who arrived per Asia (5th voyage) married a John Keane (convict per Brampton) in September 1832, that at the time she was obviously expecting her son as he was born in October 1832, she had obviously been married before (hence the Hennessy alias) and that in 1832- 1833 this couple resided in the Bathurst district. Catherine Brown (convict per Palambam) also married a man named John Keane, who too had arrived as a convict aboard the Brampton, and this couple ,though applying to marry in early 1833, did not marry until January 1834.at Parramatta, at which time John was a farmer at Murrygorang/Burrygorang and Catherine was an assigned servant to Philip Keefe. The death certificates of John Sheehy Keane and his wife Catherine Brown prove beyond doubt, that John Sheehy Keane, who arrived as a convict per Palambam was indeed married to Catherine Brown, and not Catherine Fogerty as stated on the indexes of Lesley Uebel. John Sheehy (aka Keane) death details,from his certificate, are as follows: CERT NO: 1324 DATE AND PLACE OF DEATH 15th June 1877, Burragorang NAME AND DESCRIPTION: John Sheehy. Farmer. SEX AND AGE: Male. 77 years. NAME AND OCCUPATION OF FATHER Patrick Sheehy. Farmer. NAME AND MAIDEN NAME OF MOTHER unknown Cronan INFORMANT P.Taylor. Farmer. WHERE/WHEN BURIED: 17th June 1877. Burragorang. UNDERTAKER W.TAYLOR NAME AND RELIGON OF MINISTER No Minster WITNESSES TO BURIAL R.W.Crawfield and John King jnr WHERE BORN Co Kerry, Ireland HOW LONG IN AUST.COLONIES 55 years PLACE OF MARRIAGE Parramatta AGE WHEN MARRIED unknown Spouse: CATHERINE BROWN CHILDREN OF MARRIAGE Living: Roger (37), Sophia (34) Mary Jane (31) Deceased: Four males. *note.Susannah has been left of the list. The Convict Indents (kindly supplied by Peter Mayberry) also confirm that John Sheehy Keane was from Kerry, (John Keane is shown consistently as being from Co Tipperary) Name: John Sheehy Keane John Keane aliases: Sheehy/Keane Kean/Cain/Keen/Cane/Kain/Kane Birth year 1798 1801 Birth Place Kerry Tipperary Ship: Brampton. Brampton. Year Arrived: 1823 1823 Trial Date 1822 1822 Trial Place: Kerry Co Tipperary Co Sentence 7 years 7 years Occupation/Trade Carter/Reaper Buttermaker/Reaper/Ploughman John Sheehey or Kean John Keane Where convicted: Co Kerry Where convicted: Co Tipperary When: Special Assizes 1822 When: Special Assizes 1822 7 years 7 years Native Place: Kerry Native Place: Tipperary Calling: Reaper & Carter Calling: Ploughs Reaps Makes Butter Age: 25 Age: 22 Height: 5'6.5" Height: 5'5.5" Complexion: Fresh Freckled Complexion: Fresh Hair: Brown Hair: Dark Brown Eyes: Grey Eyes: Grey TL : 27-666 (From SRNSW Fiche No 649 fiche 2 of 5 1822-1823 (4/4008) page 303 Page 301.) Catherine Sheehy nee Brown's death details,from her certificate, are as follows: CERT NO: 9062 DATE AND PLACE OF DEATH 4th July 1878. Burragorang NAME AND DESCRIPTION: Catherine Sheehy. Farmer's Wife SEX AND AGE: Female. 64 years. NAME AND OCCUPATION OF FATHER Patrick Brown. Farmer. NAME AND MAIDEN NAME OF MOTHER Catherine ? INFORMANT Roger Sheehy. Son.Burragorang. WHERE/WHEN BURIED: 7th July 1878. Burragorang. NAME AND RELIGON OF MINISTER No Minster WITNESSES TO BURIAL John King and William Taylor WHERE BORN Dublin Ireland. HOW LONG IN AUST.COLONIES 44 years in New South Wales PLACE OF MARRIAGE Parramatta NSW. AGE WHEN MARRIED unknown Spouse: John Sheehy CHILDREN OF MARRIAGE Living: Roger (36), Sophia (34) Susananah (30) Mary Jane (28) Deceased: Four males TIMELINE 1822 May.John Sheehy tried at Tralee. 1823. April 28th. John Keane and John Sheehy Keane amongst those convicts landed from the Brampton at Sydney. John Keane was sent to Bathurst and John Sheehy Keane to Minto. (src:Index to Colonial Secretarys Papers AONSW) John Keane 1823 Apr 28 On list of convicts landed from the "Brampton" and forwarded to Bathurst for distribution (Reel 6010; 4/3508 p.196) John Sheehy, aka Keane, 1823 Apr 28 On list of convicts landed from the "Brampton" & forwarded to Minto for distribution (Reel 6010; 4/3508 p.196) 1824 Musters show John Sheehy Keane living still at Minto John Sheahey/Shehea,(sic) aka Keane 1824 On list of assigned servants mustered in the employ of William Howe of Minto; in 1824. Appears as Sheahey (Reel 6062; 4/1781 p.393b) 1824 Sep 25 Servant of William Howe. On return of punishments ordered & inflicted at Campbelltown Court; appears as Shehea (Reel 6023; 4/6671 p.28) 1825 Musters show John Keane (not Sheehy) living still at Bathurst and John Sheehy Keane petitioning for family to be brought to NSW.Note.. John Sheehy Keane living at Macquariefield, near Liverpool. John Keane 1825 On list of convicts mustered in the employ of Thomas Hawkins of Bathurst in 1823 and 1824 (Fiche 3135; 4/1842A No.367 p.379) 1825 Aug 25 Convict in the service of Thomas Hawkins of Bathurst at the last two musters (Reel 6015; 4/3515 p.212) John Sheehy, aka Keane 1825 Nov 7. Of Macquariefield, near Liverpool. Petition for free passage for his wife Honora Carroll & family (src: AONSW Fiche 3287; 4/1112.1A pp.333-5) "TO HIS EXCELLENCY SIR THOS BRISBANE, K.C.B, CAPTAIN GENERAL AND GOVERNOR IN CHIEF OF THE TERRITORIES OF NEW SOUTH WALES & TS DEPENDENCIES. The Humble Petition of John Sheehy That your Humble Petitioner was tried at Tralee in May 1822 and received sentence of Transportation for 7 years, and arrived in this colony per ship Brampton in April 1823. That your Excelleny's petitioner wsa not guilty of any crime or misdemeanour since his arrival in this colony, intends to become a resident of the colony and is ? of being enabled to support his family independent to Government, hopes your Excellency will be graciously pleased to allow petitioner's wife and child he left behind him to come out to this colony and for such an act of your Excellency's petitioner as in Duty Bound Will Pray JOHN SHEEHY Macquariefiled, near Liverpool. The attachment to John's petition reads: Honora Carroll - petitioner's wife. married by the Revered Thomas McDonough K.C.C. The Revd John Wickson Rector of the Parish Maurice Fitzmaurice J.P Ballylongford - Parish Listohill - post town Kerry - country Ireland. The statement of memorialist is in my opinion, correct. 7th Nov. 1825. John Joseph Thomas. R.C.C. and then a notation by the Govt:"In List sent home 23 March 1827" 1827 John Keane (no Sheehy) granted a Ticket of Leave. Last name: Keane First name: John Ship: Brampton Year: 1823 Native place: Trade or calling: District: Ticket no.: 27/666 State Records shelf ref: 4/4065 State Records reel no: 910 1829 August 27th.John Sheehy Keane granted Certificate of Freedom Name: KEAN John SHEEHY Date of Ticket and no. 29/0847 27 Aug 1829 Ship: Brampton 1823 State Records Shelf Ref: 4/4299 985 (src: CERTIFICATES OF FREEDOM INDEX AONSW) August 31st. John Keane granted Certificate of Freedom Name: KEANE John Date of Ticket and no: 29/0858 31 Aug 1829 Ship: Brampton 1823 State Records Shelf Ref: 4/4299 985 TL 27/666 (src: CERTIFICATES OF FREEDOM INDEX AONSW) The Sydney Gazette (edition date Sept 19th 1829) confirms the Certificates of Freedom issued to both John Keans;- " Public Notice The undermentioned Persons have obtained Certificates of Freedom Brampton - John Sheehy or Kean - John Keane. (c thirty other ex convicts also mentioned) (src:J.Fawcett collection.) 1832 LIST OF ALL FEMALE CONVICTS ASSIGNED AND TRANSFERRED FROM THE 1st TO THE 31st OCT.1832. SG.Dec 20th 1832. 1595.CATHERINE BROWN. Palambam.Dairy. to Phillip Keefe.Burragarang. 1833 Catherine Brown,convict per Palambam,aged 22 ,life sentence, bonded servant applied for permission to marry John Keane . (sic)aged 32, per Brampton, 7 years. Free.to be married at Parramatta by Revd Marsden. marriage confirmed: 1834. St Johns Church of England, Parramatta, Cert no V18341091/18 1877 John Sheehy dies at Nattai River,Burragorang.(burial place was covered by the Warragamba dam) NSW (source: Family Notes) is he John Sheehy, died Picton 1877, son of Patrick. cert no 8324 1878 Catherine Sheehy nee Brown dies Burragorang Valley,NSW (src:family notes) I am particularly interested in John Sheehy Kean per Brampton, as a Mary Sheedy (aged 50 and alledged widow of Patrick Sheedy/Sheehy,convict per Marquis of Wellington and one of alledged six brothers transported to NSW for political offences) married a John Guinane, also from the Brampton, and I suspect there is a family connection between Mary and John Sheehy.But then again..there was a Patrick Sheedy AND a Patrick Sheehy on the Marqis of Wellington which need sorting out !! Family Researchers/Informants: Notes * = sighted original record. *FS = family sources.[various family members] information not yet confirmed by J.Fawcett via official records.
Back to Sheedy Profiles