William McCREADY
| Town/City | Marayong 2148 |
|---|---|
| First name | William |
| Last name | McCREADY |
| Country of Origin | Ireland |
| Date of Birth | c1785 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1823 |
| Submitted by | Leslie de Belin |
Story
William McCREADY was apparently born in County Down, Ireland, about 1785. In 1822 he was still living in Ireland, and working as a butter and cheese maker. He was of average height, being 5ft 7in, had a dark complexion, and dark hazel eyes. He was Prostestant by religion. On 13/7/1822, William appeared before County Antrum Court (Ireland), and was sentenced to 7 years transportation. His crime is unknown. He may be identical with William McCREEDY, 45 old (b.1777), who is recorded on the 1822 Irish Petition Records as a widower with four children, and convicted of the offence of Possessing Forged Notes. On 5/4/1823 he sailed from Cork, Ireland, aboard the convict ship, “Recovery”. The Master was William FOTHERLY, and the Surgeon, Peter CUNNINGHAM. There were 180 male convicts aboard the ship, and all apparently made the voyage, which lasted 116 days, arriving in Sydney on 30/7/1823.
On 4/8/1823, William McCREADY, was assigned to the Bathurst area for distribution. It wasn’t long before William matched up with another prisoner, Mary CLARK, and on 2/1/1824, he sought permission to marry her at Castlecreagh, which he did on 4/2/1824. During the 1825 Convict Muster, both he and Mary were listed in the employment of John McHENRY and Robert CRAWFORD. On 20/10/1825 they were both listed on the Government Return as servants employed and maintained by John McHENRY. In 1827, William’s daughter, Marriane was born in Sydney. His occupation at that time was a gardener. The 1828 Census shows William as being assigned to Richard LANG, of Cambridge Street, Sydney.
On 20/8/1833 both William and Mary McCREADY received their Tickets of Leave, and were allowed to remain in the District of Penrith.
Nothing more is known of William until his death at Castlereagh on 1/12/1856. The cause was not stated, though he had been suffering from an illness for 18 months, and was being treated by Doctor Thomas WILLMOTT. At the time he was a labourer, and his landlord, Alexander FRASER, was the informant on the Death Certificate. His death is probably related to two entries in the Penrith Dispensary Register of Patients of the Penrith Benevolent Asylum. On 21/2/1851 he is shown as suffering from rheumatism, and 16/12/1856 he is shown as suffering from paralysis and bed sores with remarks “died”.
William McCREADY was buried at Castlereagh on 3/12/1856. The cemetery was visited in 2001, and seen to be in some disrepair. No headstone for William was found.