Michael Robert Hickey : Short Biography

Michael was born in County Clare, Ireland. He migrated to Victoria, Australia in the 1880s with a brother and sister but their parents stayed in Ireland.   He had paid for his own passage.  He was apprenticed as a plumber.

Michael (27) married Annie Welham (21) in a registry office at 146 Gore Street, Fitzroy.  The marriage certificate lists him as a timber salesman and a bachelor and lived in West Melbourne, and Annie as a machinist and a spinster and she lived in Carlton.  Michael was literate and they both signed the marriage certificate.  The witnesses were Francis Barry and Norah Barry.  Michael's parents were shown as John Hickey, Carpenter, and Margaret Slattery. Annie's parents were shown
as William Whelan, Master Mariner (surname was spelt incorrectly and occupation was incorrect) and Catherine Moore.

They apparently lived in Port Melbourne before moving to the Werribee Farm. In January 1898, when sons Thomas & Edward were born (these were twins) Michael was aged 41 years and listed as being born in County Clare, Ireland.

Michael died at 6 Market Rd Werribee aged 84 years.  His occupation is given as 'labourer'.  The cause of death is listed as Cardiac Failure over the previous one year and Myocardial Degeneration over the past 3 years.  He had been suffering from senility for the past three years.  His parents are listed as John Hickey, carpenter, and Margaret Slattery.  He is listed as having been born in County Clare Ireland and as having been living in Victoria for 69 years.  It is stated that he married in St Francis church, Melbourne aged 27 years, to Annie Whalen.  Children are listed as Henry John (dec); Margaret aged 57, Katherine (dec), Frederick (dec), Eileen aged 51, Robert Michael aged 50, Charles aged 47, Edward aged 45 and a twin, George (dec), Kathleen (dec), Nellie aged 43, Thomas aged 45 (twin), Clara aged 37.  The informant was Michael Robert Hickey.  Michael was buried at Werribee cemetery on 5th June 1943.