Bridget was born in Galway, possibly in Tynagh, in about 1822. In1841 she arrived in Australia as a bounty immigrant. On the journey out on board the "Wallace" she met Michael Madden, also from Galway. The passenger list indicates that she is unable to read or write, a house servant and a Roman Catholic. Bridget and Michael married in Melbourne in 1842 and had six children. One of their daughter's, Elizabeth, married John Doherty a native of Callan, Kilkenny.
In 1851 Bridget and Michael left Melbourne bound for Mia Mia where they took over the Mia Mia Inn. In 1855 tragedy struck with the death of Michael leaving Bridget to raise her children and run the Inn. According to all accounts she managed to run the inn in a through and business like manner.
In 1857 Bridget married Lars Frederick (Fred) Westblade. This union produced eight children. Fred died in 1898. In 1871 they leased the Inn to Bridget's daughter, Margaret, and her husband Thomas Dwyer, and retired to a property known as Flower Hill.
Bridget died at the age of 78 years in May 1900. In accordance with her wishes she was buried in the Kyneton cemetery alongside her first husband, Michael, her 11 year old son Thomas who died in a shooting accident in 1858 and her daughter Margaret. Bridget was survived by two of children Patrick and Elizabeth.
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1st Jan 1822 | |
| Date of Death | 1st Jan 1900 | |
