Matching family tree profiles for Captain Henry Wyndham O'Grady, Free Settler “Raleigh” 1852
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About Captain Henry Wyndham O'Grady, Free Settler “Raleigh” 1852
The West Australian Saturday 15 January 1898.
DEATH OF CAPT. H. W. O'GRADY.
ANOTHER OLD COLONIST PASSED AWAY. In shipping circles at Fremantle yesterday profound regret was expressed when it became known that Capt. Henry Wyndham O'Grady had died at the residence of his son-in-law, Mr. T. W. Whitely, in Tuckfield Street, East Fremantle. The deceased mariner, who was in his 60th year at the time of his death, was a well-known figure at the port, where he was widely respected. Some few months ago the deceased caught a severe chill while piloting a vessel down to Hamelin, which aggravated an old lung complaint he was suffering from. Shortly after his return from Hamelin he was forced to take to his bed, and phthisis setting in, he never rallied. His heart was considerably weakened by a racking cough, and his demise, which occurred at a quarter to 5 yesterday morning, was further hastened by a dropsical attack. Captain O'Grady was born in County Limerick, Ireland, in 1838, and was only 14 years of age when his parents emigrated to Western Australia. His father was the late John O'Grady, of the O'Grady's County Limerick, and the family landed at Fremantle from the fast clipper ship Raleigh on June 1st, 1852. Young Henry had an inherent love of the sea, and the voyage out accentuated his desire to take to a maritime life. Shortly after his arrival at Fremantle, Captain Thomas, then master of the schooner Empress, trading between Fremantle and Singapore, took him into his services as an apprentice. From that time right up till his death Captain O'Grady was never so happy as when at sea, and though Fremantle was always his home when ashore he was for ever longing to be afloat. In 1868 the deceased mariner obtained his master's certificate, and his first voyage as commander was one which will be well within the recollection of the old settlers. He was given the command of the schooner Lass of Geraldton, and his first trip was from Fremantle to Bunbury, The voyage was a most disastrous one.
When off Mandurah the little vessel was caught in a cyclone, and being a light ship with little ballast, she foundered in the heavy gale. Among those drowned, was the late Mr. George Shenton, father of Sir George Shenton, and the only survivors were the captain and one of the crew. These two had to swim eight miles to the shore through a heavy sea, and it was only bv the undaunted courage of Captain O'Grady that either was saved. For hours the two men were battling against the turbulent waves, and though his companion was frequently on the verge of giving up in despair. Captain O'Grady never for a moment lost hope, and he stuck to his mate throughout the terrible ordeal. When at length the shore was reached, both were in an exhausted condition, and from the long exposure he had undergone the captain con- tracted a cough which troubled him for the remainder of his life. Singular to relate, the sailor who was saved along with Captain O'Gradv from the wreck of the Lass of Geraldton after such a trying experience was drowned three months later in Fremantle Harbour when the harbour master's boat, which had put off to a ship in distress, was capsized and the crew (with the exception of one man) and Captain Harding, the then harbour master, lost their lives. Since his memorable experience in 1868 Captain O'Grady had the command of several vessels trading on the coast and between Singapore, Calcutta and Mauritius. For fourteen years he was in charge of the barque Amur, belonging to Messrs. Pearse and Marmion, of Fremantle, and trading between the latter port and Mauritius. He occupied his last position as captain at Singapore about six or seven years ago, when he relinquished the command of the steamer Nankow. For three years he held the position of pilot at Rottnest Island, and latterly he was engaged on and off in pilotage work on the coast. Deceased was a widower, his wife having predeceased him about six years ago, and he leaves a grown-up family of five daughters and three sons. The funeral will leave the residence of his son-in-law, Mr. T. Whitely, at 3 o'clock this afternoon.
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Captain Henry Wyndham O'Grady, Free Settler “Raleigh” 1852's Timeline
| 1838 |
January 1, 1838
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Limerick, Limerick City, Limerick, Ireland
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| 1868 |
1868
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Fremantle, WA, Australia
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| 1870 |
1870
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| 1871 |
1871
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Fremantle, WA, Australia
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| 1873 |
1873
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Fremantle, WA, Australia
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| 1875 |
1875
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Rottnest Island, WA, Australia
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| 1878 |
1878
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Fremantle, WA, Australia
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| 1880 |
1880
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Pinjarra, WA, Australia
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| 1883 |
1883
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Fremantle, WA, Australia
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| 1898 |
January 25, 1898
Age 60
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East Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia
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