William was the youngest son of John and Honorah Keady. He was born in 1845 in Melbourne.
William would have spent most of his early life around Pentridge (Coburg area), between Sydney Road and Merri Creek.
Marriage
William married Catherine Priscella Julia “Kate” Hennessy on 16th May 1876 at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne. Kate was the daughter of James Hennessy of Nicholson Street, Carlton. Kate’s brother, Sir David Valentine Hennessy was a notable figure in public life at the time spending some time on Brunswick Council and was Lord Mayor of Melbourne from 1912-1917.
William and Kate seem to have had a rocky marriage. In 1887, William is charged with deserting his wife. The notice in the Police Gazette of February 16, 1887 says that William has been working in the Goulburn Valley for the last 10 years. The notice gives a good description of William.
A subsequent notice in the Victorian Police Gazette of the same year notes that William was arrested on 5 August 1887 in Fitzroy for deserting his wife.
In 1894 Kate lodges an application for divorce with the Supreme Court. It is understood that she was successful and they were divorced that year.
William’s marital status was a matter of concern to his father John. In John’s Will which he wrote in June 1884, just 6 months before his death on 21 December it would seem that John had lost contact with his son, William. John specifically writes in his Will that the Executors were not to give William any financial inheritance unless they are satisfied and had reliable proof that William was living with his lawful wife. Furthermore, John does not know where William is living.
To my son William Keady of ———————— in the said Colony —————— the sum of Two Hundred Pounds provided that my executors have satisfactory and reliable proof that he is living with his lawful wife at the time of my death and if not, the same is to be divided between my other four sons and two daughters share and share a like or their heirs and assigns.
(Extract from John Keady Will, 5 June 1884)
In latter years William seems to have had trouble with the “Drink”.
In 1902, at the age of 57, William is charged with breaking into the Mooroopna North Hotel and stealing 16 bottles of Ale and a bottle of Whiskey. At his trial on the 16 November, 1902 William pleads guilty, claiming that he was intoxicated at the time of the break-in. He was sentenced to a months jail on each of two charges. The notice of his discharge from jail indicates his occupation was, gardener.
There is limited information about his latter years, the last record in the electoral rolls shows him living in Windsor in 1925 with his occupation given as gardener.
William died in 1930 at 85 years of age. He was buried in a public grave at Springvale Cemetery on 19 August, 1930.
Keady Family in Victoria 