Margaret Sheedy per Surrey and
Preface by Jenny Fawcett Margaret Sheedy was born in Co Limerick c 1812. Information given on Margaret's convict records show that she married Matthew Callaghan [O'Callaghan] in c 1829 - 32 in Ireland, and a daughter [name unknown] was born also in this time frame. Syd Sheedy (probably) incorrectly states that Margaret was the daughter in law of Patrick Sheedy per Marquis of Wellington,and implies (also probably incorrectly) that her maiden name was Callaghan. Syd may have meant to connect Margaret Sheedy [nee Connor] to Patrick per Marquis of Wellington. This Margaret arrived as a convict on the Hooghly and was possibly the daughter in law of Patrick. In October of 1832 Margaret was convicted in Limerick City of having had stolen cloth and she received a seven year sentence of transportation. Margaret was described at this time as being stout made,having red hair and bluish eyes and a ruddy complexion.She was much freckled, and had a tattoo on the inside of her left arm of the initials MOC [probably her husband ? Matthew O Callaghan ?]. She was a kitchen maid by occupation at this time, and had no prior convictions. In November of 1832 Margaret departed Cork aboard the convict transport Surrey, and arrived in Sydney,New South Wales, on the 9th of April 1833. Around August/September of 1834 Margaret Sheedy was in the Female Factory at Parramatta when her son Alexander McManus was born. In 1835 Margaret applied for permission to marry Alexander McManus [aka as McClintock] but no permission has been located for the same.He is probably the father of her son Alexander. In Dec of 1835 Margaret was convicted of forgery at the Sydney Quarter Sessions and was to recieve a further sentence of 7 years to be served in a penal settlement in Australia. This is generally referred to as a "colonial sentence". At this time, Margaret wrote seeking permission for her son Alexander to be allowed to accompany her to the penal settlement, but no permission has been located. IN 1836 Margaret's daughter Mary Sheedy was born,and Margaret had her temporarily placed in the Roman Catholic orphanage at Parramatta until a later time. In 1839 Margaret was listed as having had served time at Moreton Bay and was recommended to be promoted to a first class prisoner which would allow her to be assigned for employment. In 1844 Margaret applied for,and received permission to have her daughter Mary returned to her, as Margaret was now in a position to provide the necessary requirements for her daughter's care, and at the time Margaret was living at Macquarie Street in Windsor. We will continue to gather information available, and welcome all contributions.
Irish husband Matthew [O] CallaghanMargaret Sheedy born: c1812. Co Limerick. parents: died: buried: arrived: transported per Surrey to New South Wales convict no 12. literacy; religon: Roman Catholic occupation: 1833.Kitchenmaid. [Ireland] married: in Ireland c 1829 [src: convict indent] spouse: in Ireland to Matthew Callaghan History 1829 according to the indent record of Margaret Sheedy aka Callaghan, she and her husband Matthew Callaghan were married around this time,most likely in Ireland and prior to her sentencing in Ireland. 1832 Margaret Callaghan,nee Sheedy was convicted of stealing cloth when trialled at Limerick City on the 8th October in 1832.Margaret was sentenced to transportation for 7 years.At this time Margaret was married and had one female child. Did the child come to Australia with her ? 1833 the convict transport Surry, arrived at Sydney with 141 female prisoners. The vessel of 363 tons was under the command of Captain Veale,and had departed Cork on the 5th of November 1832, arriving in N.S.W on the 9th of April,1833. Margaret's convict records:- Convict No: 12 Married with one female child. Age: 21 years. Native Place: Limerick Occupation: Kitchenmaid Crime: Stealing Cloth Trial Date: 8th Oct 1832.Limerick City.7 years. Prior Convictions: None Husband: Matthew Callaghan.about 4 years ago. Description: 5' 3 1/4, ruddy complexion and much freckled, red haired,bluish eyes, tattooed with MOC inside lower left arm,arms freckled,stout made. [src:page 223, no 706, file no 907, shelf x635 page 181, no 685, file no 905, shelf 4/4017 1834. c Sept.Margaret's son Alexander McManus is born [src: 1835 Dec 24th Letter as below].In the letter Margaret states in Dec 1835 her child is " sixteen months old", putting his birth c 1834, he was born whilst Margaret was "in the Female Factory at Parramatta " and the name of the child is "Alexander McManus". Margaret is alledged to have sought permission to marry in 1835 to Alexander McManus aka McClintock, so he is probably the father of Alexander McManus born cSept 1834. [src: letter..31/8321. shelf 4/2119.Mitchell Library] Alexander McManus arrived as a convict aboard the vessel Roslyn Castle (3) and he was 23yo in 1835.[so born c 1812]. 1835. Dec 21st. Margaret convicted in Sydney at the Quarter Sessions for Forgery. The source for this information is from her assignment list in 1839. Margaret seeks permission to have her child with her when transported for colonial conviction After being convicted of forgery at the Quarter Sessions on the 21st December, and whilst lodged in H.M Gaol in Sydney, Margaret wrote a letter seeking permission to have her 16 months old infant child kept with Margaret when she was transported [probably to Moreton Bay]. The letter is dated: 24th Dec 1835. H.M.Gaol Sydney and is addressed to; John Weston Esquire" Sir, Having had the misfortune of being convicted at the late Quarter Sessions,and sentenced to Seven years transportation to a Penal Settlement, and having a child about sixteen months old which was born in the female factory,Parramatta, who will be deprived of it's only natural protection in case of its being seperated from me, in being sent to a Penal Settlement, I would feel under a grateful obligation to you Sir, if you would be good enough to lay my case before the proper authority, so as I may be authorized to take the child with me. I beg further to add that previous to being convicted I was a prisoner of the Crown, and the name of the child is "Alexander McManus". I am Sir, your obedient humble servant Margt Shady." [src: AONSW.Colonial Secretary's Office. Letters In. 4/2337 36/56 ] Margaret's letter was forwarded to The Colonial Secty. by Sheriff [surname difficult to read].In his letter dated Jany 1st 1836, he enclosed the copy of Margaret's letter, and he stated that the gaoler estimated the infant to be about eighteen months old. There are notations [4] on this letter written by various government officials, in regard to precendents whereby children may or may not be allowed to take children with them to Penal Settlements, but no clear decision is recorded on this particular letter, so young Alexander's fate is undetermined from this source: [src: AONSW.Colonial Secretary's Office. Letters In. 4/2337 36/56 ] In 1835 Margaret applied to marry Alexander McManus aka McClintock [src: letter..31/8321. shelf 4/2119.Mitchell Library] c1836 daughter Mary Sheedy born. [src: petition 1844.age 8 years] 1839 Margaret,late of Morton Bay, recommended to be assigned The following source is from the AONSW, and is a List of female prisoners, late of Morton Bay,and now of Parramatta who were recommended to be transferred to First Class for assignment. Letter dated 29th August 1839. signed by ?S.Bell? the Matron of the Female Factory at Parramatta. Name: Margaret Sheedy Ship: Surry 6th Calling: Kitchen Maid By What Court: Quarter Sessions Where: Sydney Colonial Convictions: 21st Dec 1835 Offence: Forgery Sentence: 7 years a notation on the bottom of the page from Governer Gipps records: These women may be considered eligible for assignment but must not be transferred to the 1st Class,until some alterations shall be suffered in regard to rations, which I have long contemplated. 11th Sept 1839 [src:AONSW.In Letters. reel 2250. 4/2567.2 42/7195] 1842 Margaret receives her Ticket of Leave Syd Sheedy records in his manuscript that Margaret received her ticket of leave on the 22nd March 1842. Syd goes on to state "Margaret Sheedy per Surrey received her ticket of leave at Windsor. She was living with her uncle John Sheedy Mangles ..and his family. She was the daughter in law of Patrick Sheedy per Marquis of Wellington her husband had been killed in the Lodge fight in Ireland. As a result of the same fight her brother-in-law- John Sheedy Eliza 11 was transported as a White Boy. She was sentenced to seven years and her name was Margaret Gallaghan, a native of Limerick, and was 21 years old in 1833 [src:Sheedy Manuscript. page 102.] Syd may have incorrectly attributed the wrong Margaret Sheedy with being the daughter in law of Patrick per Marquis Wellington. It was possibly Margaret Sheedy nee Connor,per Hooghly rather than this Margaret per Surry Government records reveal Margaret received her ticket of leave in 1842. [TL 42/961] 1844 Margaret receives her Certificate of Freedom NSW Government records confirm that a Certificate of Freedom was issued to Margaret Sheedy on the 9th of April 1944.She was recorded as Margaret Sheedy, also known as Sheehy and Callaghan. [src: NSW Gov Website, Certificates of Freedom Index SHEEDY Margaret or Mary SHEEHY or CALLAGHAN, 44/0531 9 Apr 1844 arrived per Surry 1833 4/4390 1016 received TL 42/961 ] Margaret regains custody of her daughter Mary The following letter was written by Margaret Sheedy to the Honourable Colonial Secretary in an attempt to regain the care of her daughter Mary whom she had been unable to remove from the Female Factory at Parramatta upon her release from there. Letter dated 1st September 1844. Recieved at the Colonial Secretary's Office 3rd Sept. Margaret Sheedy's address was given as: Maquarie St Windsor. The Honorable Colonial Secretary etc etc. Applying for her Daughter Mary Sheedy from the Factory School. I most respectfully beg leave to state when I was attached to the female factory at Parramatta about three years ago,I have had my daughter Mary Sheedy under my control at that Establishment and being at that period unable to provide substance for her, I left her in care of Mrs Bell the Matron of the Factory. I further beg leave to state that I made application for her at the Nannery [Nunnery?] School a short time ago and I was informed to make application to your Honour for admission and the approval for the Restoration of my Daughter. Honord Sir, I hope you will give Permission to Grant me the favour of my Dr [dear?] child as I am at present able to make her comfortable,give her education and see her instructed in her Religious Dutys. Waiting your Kind Reply by action of post I have the Honour to be your very respectful servant Margaret Sheedy Macquarie St.Windsor. 1st Sept 1844. The Colonial Secretary's Office referred the matter to the Visiting Magistrate of the Factory, who replied on the 18th Sept that:- Margaret Sheedy, who is now free, was a well behaved hard working woman when she was at the Factory her daughter Mary Sheedy is 8 years of age and is at present in the Roman Catholic Orphan School. On the same day Margaret was informed that her daughter could be returned to her.The official notation on the records state: Let an order be given for the restoration to her of her child. G.G. [src: AONSW - Colonial Secretarys Office Letters In reel 44 6761] Children Mary Callaghan born c 1829 - 1832. Ireland. dau of Matthew Callaghan and Margaret Sheedy Alexander McManus born c Sept 1834.Female Factory Parramatta was alive in Dec 1835 when mother convicted in Sydney for forgery. probable son of Alexander McManus aka McClintock Mary Sheedy born c 1836.N.S.W in 1844 was in the Roman Catholic Orphanage associated with the Female Factory at Parramatta Family Researchers: Notes * = denotes mother listed as Sheedy
