Richard Scott son of George Scott and Margaret Sheedy/Sheehy
note: reference here to George Sheedy are still subject to research and may change at any time. Preface by Jenny Fawcett Richard Scott was born in c 1820 in Limerick,the son of George Scott and Margaret Sheedy/Sheehy. Richard had a possible brother George Scott and the two men were here in Australia and had links with Sheedy family members, and are included in the Sheedy stories for that reason. Richard Scott was in Melbourne by the year 1841.His arrival date as has not yet been ascertained. Richard married Ellen O'Connell in 1841 at St Francis Church in Melbourne. In 1846 their son Richard was born in Geelong and in 1848 their daughter Catherine was born in Port Fairy,indicating that Richard and Ellen had moved to the Port Fairy district by 1848. A George Scott was also at Geelong by the 1840's, though he was formerly "well known in Melbourne." George employed in 1850 one Patrick Sheedy [per Neptune] who had moved from Melbourne [where he ran hotels] to the Ashby/Geelong region.New records have been located which reveal that in 1851, Patrick Sheedy who was working as a barman for George Scott, in Geelong, and was involved in a court case whereby a young lady had been assaulted in connection with Patrick Sheedy being robbed of his wallet. The girl,Polly [Mary Burns], was a "lady of ill repute" who worked in a house ran by a Mr James Green,situate in Limerick Place, and as she was last seen with the man suspected of robbing Sheedy, the latter, in company with George Scott, visited the *business* house of the girl, and she was shortly after found to be severely injured,which she attributed to having been done by Scott, and pressed charges against him.Both Scott and Sheedy denied any responsibility for her injuries, and yet neither could account for same which occured at the time they were visiting, though they did state that they heard a quarrel as they approached the house, and two men were seen leaving by the from door. Scott was remanded to appear in court,harged with assault,and it was adjuged to be worth of a court trial.Scott's solicitor, in defense of Scott, stated that his character had been harmed by accounts in the newspapers, and he wanted all witnesses to appear to give their evidence. Polly Barnes very reluctant to appear as a witness, Pat Sheedy was also very reluctant to appear,the case created a lot of interest both in Geelong and Melbourne, where George Scott was well known,and after hearing all of the evidence in the Police Court,Scott was remanded with bail set.[and we are awaiting further research to determine the outcome of the case]. The 1851 Postal Directory of Victoria records:- George Scott. Licensed Victualler. Ryrie Street .Geelong. Patk Sheedy. Laborer. Off Ryrie Street.Geelong. Thos Bohanna. Boarding House Keeper. Ryrie Street.Geelong. [the latter being brother in law to Patrick Sheedy] George Scott's wife in later years made her way to Port Fairy and is buried in the Port Fairy cemetery. She may have came because Richard Scott was now living nearby at Crossley. Richard is foremost known at Fairy Hill, a property which was situate near the now Crossley Church and running south, owned at the time by Marcus Macartney, a large land owner in the Western district. Within a couple of year, Richard purchased land north of the Crossley church in what was formerly known as Steven's Kangaroo Flat farm,and Richard's area was generally denoted as " Scott's corner'. A property directly opposite Richard Scott was farmed by Michael and Matthew Sheedy who were from Co Clare.The former mentioned Patrick Sheedy who was employed by George Scott at Geelong was also from County Clare and he is a possible connection with Michael and Matthew Sheedy. Also in Port Fairy in 1854 was Thomas Sheedy of Limerick, who was later in the Colac region,and also Margaret Geary nee Sheedy sister of Thomas Sheedy. Margaret Geary seperated from her husband after he murdered a shepherd at Colac in the early 1850's, and after spending a short time at Port Fairy she went to Piggoreet, near Ballarat, where she died. At Piggoreet was Patrick Sheedy who as previously mentioned, arrived per Neptune and who had been in the employ of George Scott at Geelong. The family of Richard Scott have for many years also remained friends with the family of Patrick Sheedy who arrived as a convict per Ratcliffe in 1845. This Patrick escaped from Tasmania c1850 and was arrested at the Eureka Stockade rebellion. Also living at Eureka at that time was the former mentioned Patrick Sheedy per Neptune who had been employed by George Scott at Geelong. Patrick Sheedy per Neptune married Ellen O'Connell [note the same name as Richard Scott's wife] and remained in the Killarney district, south west of Tower Hill. Martin Sheedy, son of this Patrick Sheedy, also farmed in the Kirkstall region.Richard Scott born: c1820.Limerick.Ireland. [src:death cert age] parents: George Scott and Margaret Sheedy or Sheehy [src:death cert] died: 18th November 1879.Victoria. [dth cert no 10992] the Belfast Gazette of Nov 21st 1879 records the death of Richard:- Scott - At his residence, Crossley, on the 19th of November,Richard Scott. aged 59 years. May he rest in peace The Belfast Gazette of Nov 25th 1879 records:- Another of the pioneers of the district has gone over to the great majority. We allude to the death of Mr Richard Scott, of Crossley, whose obituary notice appeared in our last issue. Mr Scott settled at Crossley about 28 years ago, at which place he continued to reside until called awy to his long home. He was always held in high respect by neighbours and acquaintenances. The village now called Crossley was etter known until late years as "Scotts Corner'. buried: 20th of November 1879.Towerhill Cemetery. grave no 274,section A roman catholic section, and his resting place is marked with a gravestone,which records: Sacred to the memory of RICHARD SCOTT who departed this life 18th Nov 1879 aged 59 years, also to his beloved wife ELLEN died 4th July 1885 aged 68 years, also MICHAEL SCOTT died 7th December 1922 aged 72 yrs, also his beloved wife CATHERINE who died 26th June 1931 aged 65 years, and MARY SCOTT died 29th April 1925 aged 76 years, Requiescat in peace. Amen. buried with Richard is his grandson John [1883] and a stillborn grandson, son of Michael [1899] and and Richard's son Michael [1922] arrived: pre 1841? to Melbourne pre 1846 to Geelong c 1848 to Port Fairy. literacy: occupation: carpenter pre 1850's ? Farmer at Fairy Hill and Crossleyc 1850's onward. married: 1841 in Melbourne, St Francis RC Church [no's 35703/516 & 45/611] Ellen O'Connell [also O'Conner,Connell and etc] born c1817. [src:death age.] parents: John O'Connell and Bridget Sexton [src:death cert] died: 4th of July 1885. Kirkstall.Victoria [src:death cert] The Belfast Gazette of July 7th 1885 records: Yesterday a largely attended funeral wended its way to the Tower Hill cemetery, to deposit in its last resting place the remains ofone of the earliest residents of the Crossley district. The deceased was the widow of the late Richard Scott and mother of Mr Michael Scott, a member of the Belfast Shire Council. For many years Crossley was known as "Scotts Corner" the late Mr Richard Scott being one of the first landowners in that neighborhood. buried: Towerhill Cemetery,6th of July 1885. grave no 391, section A, roman catholic and her resting place is marked with a gravestone. History Richard Scott is noted in one local history book as being a carpenter by trade.It is of interest to note that George Scott who was in Geelong and employed Patrick Sheedy per Neptune had building contracts. 1854 Richard Scott is listed on the 1854 Rate Payers list for Belfast Road District as having Pasture Land in the Koroit region valuated at 16s 8d. 1868 In 1868,John Kane at Kangaroo Flat [Crossley]applied for a beer licence for a house [inn] situate at Kangaroo Flat on land rented to Kane by Richard Scott. [John Kane is probably John Keane ?] Richard's son Michael Scott was a giant of a man - literally, and was some 18 stone in weight and was well respected in the district. He was a member of the Belfast Road's board, and he farmed the well known "Ferndale" farm at Kirkstall.The Belfast Gazette Mr Richard Willing.the agricultural reporter for the leader thus refers to Mr M Scott's farm: Near Kirkstall, which is a township of the main road between Belfast and Penshurst,is Mr M Scott's "Ferndale" farm, comprising 110 acres of excellent land,of an estimated value of £40 per acre. This is considered one of the most comfortable and best improved holdings in the parish, the buildings being in advance of those usually found on holdings of this class. The dwelling is a substantial structure of Warrnambool sandstone, surrounded by a wide front verandah, in which is a choice collection of pot plants. The flower garden is nicely laid out and enclosed with neat picket fence, which has in its inner side a neatly trimmed hawthorn hedge. The soil alternates between a rich heavy black volcanic and a deep chocolate, the former growing by far the heaviest and best crops, the lighter land compensating for any deficiency of yield by its earliness,the potatoes being marketable at least a month before those grown on the heavier land. There is nothing calling for remark in the methods adopted for its treatment,the usual local practice, of alternate wheat and potatoe crops for four years, and then let out in grass for a similar period, having so far been followed with the most satisfactory results and this season yielded 11 tons per acres, which were selling at the time of my visit at £2 per ton in Belfast. Chevalier barley is another profitable crop it it escapes the frosts. This year it was,from this cause, a comparitive failure, but in a fair season 70 bushels is in an ordinary yield. Eight acres were under grass, which carried 50 head of cattle and 90 pigs.This latter class of stock has not been so profitable this season as previously ,but as they are prepared for market principally on clover and small potatoes 4 1/2 to 5d per pound leaves a fair margin for profit. A few good marees, both blood and draught are kept for breeding purposes, ads there is a wide choice of excellent sires in the district the younger are of superior quality. The draught colts from 2-3 years old realised from £25 - £35 each, and good upstanding hacks to £25. The favorite hack of the genial proprietor is an active grey, sired by the trotting pony Souter Johnnie, out of a half bred mare, and he carries his 18 stone burden stylishly, and without apparent difficulty. Children Known John Scott born 1846.Ballarat ? or Geelong.Victoria. christend St Mary's Geelong [no 1938/25] note:stated he was born Ballarat on marr cert. married: 1874 Vict to [no 446] Bridget Gleeson,dau of William Gleeson and Johanna Crowe Bridget died at Beech Forest in 1910 and is buried in the Towerhill Cemetery. died: 3rd of September 1883. [no 8113] buried:6th of September 1883. Towerhill cemetery, grave 257A.rc section. headstone reads: Sacred to the memory of JOHN SCOTT who departed this life on 3rd Sept 1883 aged 38 years, BRIDGET SCOTT died 19th Nov 1910 aged 59 years,MARY EMILY SCOTT died 6th Dec 1940 aged 57 years,WILLIAM JOHN SCOTT died 6th May 1943 aged 63 years,ROBERT RICHARD SCOTT died 1st May 1956 aged 40 years, Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling Catherine Scott born 1848. Port Fairy.Victoria. [no's 3531/41 & 46102/602] Mary Scott born c 1849 died: 1925.Koroit.age 76 years. cert no 5847 Michael Scott born c 1850. died 7th Nov .1922.Warrnambool. buried Towerhill Cemetery with father. farmed the well known "Ferndale" farm at Kirkstall. married Catherine Downey,dau of James Downey and Margaret Moloney. Catherine died at Kirkstall in 1931 cert no 5697 Richard Scott born 1853.Towerhill died 17th of July 1854. age 14 months buried Port Fairy Cemetery Ellen Sheedy born 1857.Fairy Hill.Towerhill.Vict [no 15830] 18/02/1857 Ellen SCOTT 0.1 Family Researchers: Notes * = sighted original record.
