William O'Brien (1836 - 1873)

Born 1836 in Limerick, Ireland

Ancestors

Husband of Bridget Duggan — married 1865 in Fifteen Mile Creek, Victoria, Australia

Descendants

Died 1873 at about age 37 in Greta, Victoria, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Karen Mahony [send private message]

Biography

William was born in 1836. He married Bridget O'Brien 23 April 1865 Reg No 1824^[1]He passed away on the 27th August 1873 Reg No 7037^[2]. William had driven his 2 horse spring cart, from his farm to Wangaratta. Returning home about 5 pm one of the wheel of his cart hit a stump on the side of the road, causing him to be thrown out on his head and breaking his neck. His body was discovered the next morning where the accident happened and the horses were standing quietly by.

The following information was provided by Cecil O'Brien. 'The insights into the characters of James and William were gathered through reading the great and continuing lands dealings saga. All this is available at the Victorian Records Office. At the time it was readily available in the Melbourne office. Now it is at the North Melbourne Archives Office. Basically, James came out to Australia by himself, about 1854. What he did and where is unknown. However, about 1859, he sent 14 pounds to Ireland, as fares for his mother and brother William to come out to Australia. They all arrived at Greta in 1861.

James obtained a large block and raised plenty of cattle and sheep on it. He did not have a good name with the Colonial Government, as he became a couple of years behind with his rent. In fact, when the Lands Officer approached him about it, James threatened to move all his stock over the border into New South Wales.

In the meantime, William settled on a smaller block, developed it and obtained others. He was married on the original block and his mother came to live with him and Bridget. He obtained, (by annexation), a small block, initially for his mother to settle on, but it was to return to him when she died. This block was never developed. (At the time, a block had to be fenced, cleared, a dwelling erected, then inspected by the local police, before any license would be granted for it).

When William was killed, he had left no will, so Bridget applied for probation over all of William's properties. At the time she had four kids, one on the way and a fractious mother in law. Many letters passed backwards and forwards between mother in law, (who was illiterate, so James wrote most of the letters for her. Once or twice a solicitor from Wangaratta would write) and the Lands Board, over a period of years. Many lies were told by mother and son, so poor Bridget really had an uphill battle. When it appeared that Bridget had won the battle over the disputed block of land, the Lands Board woke up that it had some outstanding work on its hand, (2 years!!), so prepared the Licence in Mary's name, the Governor signed it, so Bridget lost.

(When you read the will of James, you see that he left nothing to his daughters and sons, but everything to his grandsons - the offspring of son William)

Victoria, Australia, Wills and Probate Records, 1841-2009 Name: William OBrien Record Type: Probates Death Date: 26 Aug 1873 Death Place: Greta Occupation: Farmer Grant Date: 3 Oct 1873 Grant: Administration Grant Recipient: Bridget OBrien

Sources

1. ↑ Vic BM
2. ↑ Vic BMD