WILLIAM WALSH – FORBES
On 5 September 1849 William Walsh was sponsor at the baptism of his nephew (Garrett Mallon) at Yass. On 27 November 1849 William Walsh of Bathurst married Mary Power of the Jugong (sic) district of Bathurst with Rev.V. Bourgeois officiating at St Michael’s Church, Bathurst. The witnesses were Michael Flanagan and Thomas Walsh. In 1850 he was living on the selection Dunderaligo, Yass and in 1854 William Walsh’s first son, Patrick was born. In 1855 William was sponsor at the baptism of his nephew, Patrick Hartigan, at Yass.
A further 12 children were born to William and Mary Walsh: Thomas (b.1856), Sarah (b.1858), Ellen (b.1860), Bridget (b.1862), William (b.1865), Margaret (b.1868), Kathleen (b.1870), Elizabeth (b.1874), Gertrude (b.1874), Mary (b.1876) and James (b.1878). They were all alive in 1905 when William died at West Wyalong where he and his wife had gone to live in 1903. Another female was listed as being deceased.
On 10 April 1866 Thomas O’Shaughnessy recorded that he met William Walsh at the Condamine River in Queensland where O’Shaughnessy was droving. When William came up to O’Shaughnessy’s camp riding his old grey horse, O’Shaughnessy thought William was a squatter coming to make him move on. Tom Walsh and Bill Curry were with William, having come from Cowra to buy cattle. They all camped together and no doubt told a few yarns around the camp fire.
The obituary of William Walsh’s brother (Patrick) in 1892 states that William was then living at Forbes and O’Shaughnessy’s diary records that he sent a telegram to William Walsh of Gulgo when Patrick Walsh died. In 1897 a letter from Thomas O’Dea, Limerick, comments that Uncle William’s daughters appear to be well educated and asks what business William has now and what his boys are doing.
The obituary of William Walsh who died at West Wyalong in 1905 states that William was formerly proprietor of holdings at Gulgo and Euabolong.
The Wyalong Advocate: Wednesday February 15, 1905
OBITUARY MR WILLIAM WALSH
“The Grim Reaper, whose hand spares not, nor does its heart pity, has again visited us, and it is with feelings of deep regret that we are compelled to chronicle the demise of one of the colony’s earliest settlers. We refer to the late William Walsh, of West Wyalong. Mr Walsh was a man of ripe years, being 82 years of age at the time of his death which took place on Sunday night last. Having been ailing from asthmatical trouble for some years, he took anything but a favourable turn some three weeks ago, and in consequence his end was not unexpected.
Deceased was born in County Limerick (Ireland) in 1823 and in 1846* (sic) landed in New South Wales and immediately entered pastoral pursuits. Like all of the earliest settlers, the late Mr Walsh carried on the avocation with no mean degree of success, but age and the dreaded droughts and floods compelled him to relinquish pastoral operations and some 2 years ago removed to West Wyalong. The deceased gentleman was well-known on the Lachlan and his many friends will regret to learn of the death of a good neighbour and friend.
In the early days Mr Walsh was proprietor of Gulgo and Euabolong holdings, but bank smashes and other unavoidable happenings told a tale. An aged widow and eight daughters and four sons are left to mourn the loss of a kind and gentle father and an ideal husband. Two daughters and one son reside at home and another daughter is the wife of Mr John Campbell, manager of the True Blue Mine. Sister Clava (Miss Sarah Walsh) of the Bathurst Convent is also a daughter of the deceased.
The funeral took place on Monday afternoon and was largely attended. The Rev. Father O’Shea and Father O’Dowd performing the last sad rites at the graveside. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved ones.”
* Should be 1844
WILLIAM WALSH DESCENDANTS
….. 1 William WALSH b: 1821 in Caherconlish, Co Limerick, IRE, Arr. Australia: 31 Jul 1844 “St. Vincent”, d: 12 Feb 1905 in West Wyalong NSW
….. + Mary POWER m: 27 Nov 1849 in Bathurst NSW
……….. 2 Patrick WALSH b: 1854
……….. 2 Thomas WALSH b: 1856
……….. 2 Sarah (Sr. Clava) WALSH b: 1858
……….. 2 Ellen WALSH b: 1860
……….. 2 Bridget WALSH b: 1862
……….. + John CAMPBELL m: 1900 in Sydney NSW ??
……….. 2 William WALSH b: 1865 in Forbes NSW
……….. 2 Margaret WALSH b: 1868 in Forbes NSW
……….. 2 Kathleen WALSH b: 1870 in Forbes NSW
……….. 2 Elizabeth F WALSH b: 1874 in Forbes NSW
……….. 2 Gertrude WALSH b: 1874 in Forbes NSW
……….. 2 Mary WALSH b: 1876 in Forbes NSW
……….. 2 James WALSH b: 1878 in Forbes NSW
……….. 2 Daughter WALSH d: Bef 1905