Margaret SHEA was born in Macroom, County Cork, Ireland about 1819 to parents Thomas? and Honara SHEA.
On the 4th April 1836 Margaret was sentenced to 7 years transportation to the colony of NSW for the crime of stealing fowls. Convicted of the same offence was her mother Honora SHEA, widowed, sister Mary (aka Judith) SHEA and aunt Judith COAKLEY. The four women were transported aboard the barque 'Pyramus 2" departing Cork on the 20 Aug 1836, under Captain Livesay and Surgeon Obeadiah Pineos. The ship experienced violent seas after passing the Cape Lewin, and strong southerlies as it crossed the southern ocean.
"By the Pyramus we learn that the Earl Grey, for Sydney, arrived at Cork on the20th of August, the Eden and St. Vincent were hourly expected to take in Convicts for these Colonies. The St. Vincent sailed from Deal the 13th of August. Captain Livesay fell in with the Westmoreland, Convict ship, bound to Van Diemen's Land, about six weeks since, all well. The Pyramus experienced nothing but violent Northerly gales since passing Cape Lewin, until within the last week, when a southerly, breeze sprung up and continued the rest of the voyage. Captain Livesay is the same gentleman that formerly commanded the George Hibbert."
"The Sydney Herald 15 Dec 1836
The voyage took 116 days, and Pineo noted that the women were exceedingly troublesome, but not the hardened types as were the English convicts he had seen. The ship indent gives a description of each prisoner:
Margaret SHEA: Age 17 , neither read or write, Roman Catholic, single, from Cork, market girl, sentenced on 4 Apr 1836 for 7 years for stealing fowls, no former convictions, 5ft 2 inches tall, brown and freckled, brown hair, hazel eyes, noes a little cocked, small pockpit back of left hand,small scar right side of forehead. Daughter of No 36-581 (Honora)
The Pyramus landed at Sydney Cove on December 15th 1836. The females on board were quickly assigned as servants.
Colonial Secretary's Office,Sydney, 15th December, 1836.FEMALE SERVANTS.NOTICE is hereby given, that Families who are in want of Female Servants, maybe supplied from the Prisoners arrived by the ship Pyramus, from Ireland, provided they apply according to the established Forms, on or before twelve o'clock on Thursday, the 22d instant The Assignees will be required to enter into the usual engagement under a penalty of forty shillings to keep their servants for one month, unless removed in due course of law. Printed Forms of Application may be obtained at the Office of the Principal Superintendent of Convicts. By His Excellency's Command, ALEXANDER McLEAY". The Sydney Herald 22 Dec 1836
It is not known who Margaret was assigned to, but it was likely to be a household in the Camden area of NSW.
On the 2 July 1838 Margaret married Thomas WHEATLEY, who was an ex-convict. Thomas had been transported to NSW in 1831 aboard the "Eleanor" for the crime of machine breaking. He had been convicted of breaking into a carpet weaving factory and damaging the machines. Thiomas had recieved his pardon in Oct 1836, and was free when married.
Thomas and Margaret had a large family of 12 children.
1. George Wheatley (1839 -)
2. Elizabeth Wheatley (1840 - 1921) married William John LEDWELL 1856
3. Mary Ann Wheatley ( 1841- 1916) married Richard HOPWOOD 1861 and James TAIT 1876
4. Henry Wheatley (1843- 1912)
5. Margaret Wheatley (1846 - 1921) married Edward SEYMOUR 1874
6. Daniel Wheatley ( 1848 - 1886) married Catherine Elizabeth QUINLAN c 1871
7. Emma Wheatley (1850 - 1899) married William KNIGHT 1875
8. Jane Wheatley (1852 -1915) married William LITTLEWOOD 1867
9. Thomas Wheatley (1855 - 1933) married Martha Rebecca POLLOCK 1883
10. Sarah Wheatley ( 1858- 1860)
11. Ellen Wheatley (1860 - 1921) married John Thomas OGILVIE 1884
12. James Wheatley (1863- 1939)
Margaret died on 19 April 1897 of vaginal epithelioma. She was buried at The Oaks Cemetery , Camden NSW aged 78 years.
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1st Jan 1819 | |
| Date of Death | 1st Apr 1897 | |
