Michael Sheedy, an Irish Entrepreneur
Michael Sheedy was born in Kilfinane, Limerick, Ireland in 1824 , the son of John Sheedy and Mary Dinan. John Sheedy was convicted of forgery and transported to New South Wales in 1826 aboard the transport ship ‘Mangles'.
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He petitioned the Governor of NSW in 1828 for permission to have his family join him in NSW and they arrived in 1834.
Michael married Margaret McIntyre at Yass in 1849. She had been born in Caven, Ireland to John and Margaret McIntyre. Her father’s occupation was stated as a farmer.
Michael’s wife Margaret came to a sad end when she died, on 13th August,1859 , as a result of injuries received when kicked in the side by a man, named Hugh Smith. Michael and Margaret were living at Woolshed Creek, Ovens at the time and it appears that Margaret, whilst in a state of intoxication, struck Smith who retaliated by kicking her in the stomach. Margaret was pregnant at the time and died from the resultant internal injuries.
Hugh Smith was charged and found guilty of manslaughter with a recommendation for mercy because of great provocation. Margaret’s death certificate states that she and Michael had two children, Michael (6 years )and John Ormond (18 months).But years later on Michael senior’s Death certificate, the informant is Roger, a third child, who was born in 1854.
Michael was described as a ‘bit of a rouge'. In October 1851 Michael was charged with selling a stolen heifer to ‘Martin the publican at Yass ', he was well known in the Yass and Boorowa districts and held a butchers license for Binalong.
On an eventful day for the history of Young in June 1860, Michael Sheedy was a member of a horse mustering party employed by James White, the first white settler on Burrangong. Under the supervision of Dennis Regan, James White’s manager, the party were erecting stockyards.Alexander, an American negro, noticed the similarity of the place to other gold bearing areas. Alexander, the Yankee, Frank Smith and Robert Hunt decided to wash for gold and found good traces. The place where they found gold was on the creek south of where the bridge in Campbell Street is now.
The Yass Courier reported on the 1st August 1860 that Mr Michael Sheedy had called at their office to show a very good sample of gold procured from Lambing Flat. Sheedy being an entrepreneurial type had obtained equipment and other supplies from Binalong and sold them to the diggers.At the time he made the report to the Yass Courier there were about 50 persons at Lambing Flat, this would soon change.
Alexander the Yankee had left the district for some unknown reason so Michael Sheedy made a claim for the reward. Many people disputed Michaels claim, including Dennis Regan, but as no others came forward the reward was paid. Michael died at Young, of heart disease, on 1st June 1880, aged 56 years and was buried in the Young Cemetery.