James Henry KEADY was the fifth child of John and Honora Keady, the first to be born in Australia.
James’ Baptism which took place in Melbourne on 16 January 1843 indicates that James was born 4 days before on 12 January. The witnesses/godparents were Darby Carty and Sarah Walters. Darby was possibly a close friend of the family or a relative as he had travelled to Melbourne on the same ship, the Frances, as John and Hanora in November 1941. (Second entry from bottom in Baptism record. John’s surname, Keady, spelt Cady.)
Background: Civil registration of Birth, Deaths and Marriages did not commence in Victoria until 1853. At the time James was born in 1843 Port Phillip was part of the Colony of New South Wales. Victoria was not proclaimed as a seperate Colony until 1851.
No records can be found of his early life but presumably he grew up on the banks of the Merri Creek, Pentridge (now Coburg).
In his early years the family home must have resembled a creche, and at times been a very sad place. Mary the twin of John Francis Keady had died in 1842 shortly after the family arrived in Melbourne. In quick succession four more children were born after James. First Michael who was born in 1844, but died only 9 months old in 1845, then William and Elizabeth in 1845 (possibly another set of twins) and lastly Catherine the youngest of the family in 1846.
James marries Margaret Rose McManus at Kilmore in 1874
James marries Margaret Rose McManus, described as a farmers daughter, on 8 September 1874 at St Patrick’s Church, Kilmore. James’ occupation on the marriage certificate at the time is given as Farmer and Winemaker.
Keeping up Family tradition – Hotelier at Murchison
For at least 3 years in the mid 1870s James is running a Hotel at Murchison, although he is not the owner.
It would seem that James has left his business at the pub by the late 1870s and is working on the land. At the Murchison Agricultural Show in 1878 James wins 2nd prize for both red and white colonial wine.
1880s – James and Rose establish a family
Life continues in the Murchison district and their family are born in the district. The children of Rose and James were”
- Hanorah, born 3 October 1880 in Murchison
- Annie, born 25 May 1882 in Murchison
- Leonard John (Leo) born 9 April 1884 at Murchison
- Margaret Frances born 1886 at Shepherds Flat
- Alberta Marie born 9 January 1889 in Shepparton
1890 Tragedy strikes the Family
Rose dies on 9 March 1890 in Mooroopna Hospital from Typhoid and Pneumonia, leaving James with 5 children to care for, including the infant Alberta who is barely 1 year old. Rose was only 42 years old at the time.
From records available for the children in their latter life, it would appear that four of the children, Hanora, Annie, Leo and Alberta were raised by Rose’s family, the McManus family. The fourth child Margaret Frances who was four years old at the time of her mother’s death was fostered by Daniel and Bridget Keady.
The relationship (if any) between James Henry KEADY and Daniel Keady still remains a mystery, but they were certainly close neighbours in the Murchison area. James Henry and Daniel had adjacent land holdings near the small settlement of Muddy Creek (now Moorilim).
Besides loosing his wife, James appears to have had some major financial setbacks at this time also, which might explain why he leaves the district and joins his two brothers Patrick and John Francis at Koetong.
Part 2 of James’s story will provide some detail of his land speculation activities and latter life at Koetong.
Keady Family in Victoria 