John Agnew

341

Maureen Withey on 1st August 2021

There is a Tasmanian Record for Henry Agnew, per Sea Horse, transported previously per Manlius https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON31-1-8$init=CON31-1-8p165 Indent https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON16-1-1$init=CON16-1-1p236 and https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON16-1-1$init=CON16-1-1p237 Police No. 1161. Henry Agnew, height, 5 ft 10, age 33, Labourer, Tried Melbourn, 15 Sept 1842, 7 years. Native place, Derry (Ireland), single, Catholic, cannot read or write, Offence- Perjury tried with F Bours on board, came out in the Manlius 14 years, got a Free Pardon for taking Bushrangers. Ship Character, Manlius & Sea Horse. Remarks: M (mother) Mary, (brothers?) John, James, S (sisters) Margt, Mary at Scotland. ————————————————————————— Henry Agnew had a brother John Agnew, who was transported per America, and then after committing a robbery in Melbourn, was transported to VDL per Flying Fish. The indent for John Agnew per Flying Fish has this information: Relationships : Wife Eliza at Port Philip, one brother Henry transported per Sea Horse now in the P. Bks. (Police Barracks?) See: https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON16-1-5 See pages 44 and 45. -------------------------------------------------- There is a Tasmanian Record for Henry Agnew, per Sea Horse, transported previously per Manlius https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON31-1-8$init=CON31-1-8p165 Indent https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON16-1-1$init=CON16-1-1p236 and https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON16-1-1$init=CON16-1-1p237 Police No. 1161. Henry Agnew, height, 5 ft 10, age 33, Labourer, Tried Melbourn, 15 Sept 1842, 7 years. Native place, Derry (Ireland), single, Catholic, cannot read or write, Offence- Perjury tried with F Bours on board, came out in the Manlius 14 years, got a Free Pardon for taking Bushrangers. Ship Character, Manlius & Sea Horse. Remarks: M (mother) Mary, (brothers?) John, James, S (sisters) Margt, Mary at Scotland. ————————————————————————— So, it appears that John's family may have been originally from Ireland, his brother Henry being born at Derry. Later the family moved to Scotland, when John was born, and, according to Henry, his mother, and sisters remained in Scotland.

341

Maureen Withey on 31st July 2021

Tasmanian Records. Indent for Flying Fish. CON16/1/5/Page 40 https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON16-1-5 See pages 44 and 45. Ship Character; Flying Fish and America. Offences: Transported for same offence as Connell. Stated I arrived at Sydney per America in 1829 and became free in 1835, 7 went to New Zealand per Dublin Packet where I stayed 3 years then returned to Sydney 7 went to Port Phillip & joined the “David Clark” for England but did not sail with her now tried for same as Connell, Rainier & Faulkland. There seems no doubt that this is the John Agnew who arrived per America. He has stated so in his own words.

7

Carol Gibson on 29th July 2021

I think that you have mixed this John Agnew with the one who arrived on The Pyramus in Van Deiman's Land.

7

Carol Gibson on 29th July 2021

This John Agnew did not go to NZ and perform the crimes listed in Australia. Certificate of Freedom 15 Sep 1838 no 38/833 Military 1840's • NSW With his regiment to control the convicts Military 1844 at age 31 Member of British 96th Reg of Foot. He served in England, Ireland and Scotland, in Halifax, Jamacia, East India and Norfolk Island. Marriage 2 Jan 1846 • Launceston, Tasmania, Australia Married Maria Drynan (1825–1882)

221

D Wong on 25th February 2021

National Records of Scotland Title Precognition against John Agnew for the crime of theft, habit and repute Dates 1828 Accused John Agnew, Age: 13, cotton piecer, Address: Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow National Records of Scotland Reference JC26/1828/278 Title Trial papers relating to John Agnew for the crime of theft, habit and repute. Tried at High Court, Glasgow Dates 15 Sep 1828 Accused John Agnew, Verdict: Guilty, Verdict Comments: Guilty in terms of own confession, Sentence: Transportation - 7 years Previous convictions: theft John Agnew was listed as 16 years old on arrival. Native Place: Glasgow. John could read, was 4'11½" tall, dark ruddy and pockpitted complexion, dark brown hair, dark grey eyes. Assigned to W. Booth, Airds. 15/9/1838: COF - Described as: 5'7¾" tall, dark ruddy and pockpitted complexion, black hair, dark grey eyes, eyebows meeting, nose broad, small diagonal scar left cheek bone, another left side of nose. 1/12/1843 Melbourne Times, Victoria: Highway Robbery.— An investigation of the robbery committed upon Mr Lang, which was postponed on Thursday morning in consequence of the absence of Mr Brodie the chief constable was proceeded with in the afternoon of the same day, when a female named Ann Dempsey was placed at the bar'- Constable Swindell having ascertained that Mr Lang met the lady on the night in question at the Golden Fleece and she being unprotected, the gallant butcher insisted upon escorting her home. No evidence, however, being adduced to identify her with the robbery, she was admitted as a witness against the four men who have been apprehended, George Falkner. John Agnew, John Raner, and Michael Connell, and at once identified them as the parties who assaulted and committed the robbery upon Mr- Lang, It appeared from, her statement that Mr Lang had just got his foot upon the threshhold of her door, when he was pushed down with considerable violence by the four ruffians, and dragged into the house ; she being alarmed ran for assistance, but on returning with the constables, the prisoners had disappeared. The prisoners belong to a gang, of scoundrels who come to town for the express purpose of committing robbery, and then proceed immediately to the bush, thus eluding the vigilance of the police. In this instance the booty which the thieves obtained was not so large as they anticipated, Mr Vinge perceiving that Mr Lang had taken rather more wine than usual after dinner, having fortunately induced him to deposit his watch (which the scoundrels had made a previous attempt to purloin) together with what money he had in his possession, with the exception of a little silver, in the custody of the Landlord. Considerable fears were expressed both by Mr Vinge and the chief constable that some violence would be offered to tbe girl, Ann D'Empsey, by other members, of the gang to which the prisoners belong, in consequence of her having given evidence against them, and it was ultimately arranged that she should be placed under the charge of some trustworthy person, Mr Brodie regretting that he was a single man, and lived in so censorious a world, or he should have been most happy to afford the Damsel the protection she required. 21/12/1843 Geelong Advertiser, Victoria: SUPREME COURT, CRIMINAL SIDE. On Monday last the Judge pronounced sentence upon the prisoners convicted at the last criminal sessions, as follows: -. Michael Connell, John Agnew, John Ryan, and George Falkner, for the robbery on Mr. Lang, Melbourne - Transportation for fifteen years. 1844: Arrived VDL per 'Flying Fish'. From his Indent on arrival in VDL, John stated that he was free in 1835 (found no other COF'S or TOL's in his records in NSW) and he then went to NZ per 'Dublin Packet' - he stayed 3 years and returned to Sydney. He then went to Port Phillip and joined the 'David Clark' for England but did not sail with her...he was then tried for robbing Mr. Lang. His Indent describes him as 32 years old, 5'8½" tall, a labourer, married with 1 child, wife Eliza at Port Phillip, illiterate and RC. (Have not found any marriage on the NSW, VIC or NZ BDM'S). 23/11/1848 The Britannia and Trades' Advocate, Hobart Town: John Agnew, who had been committed for the burglary at Mr. Dobson's, and Joseph Wilmot, also committed to take his trial on a charge of forgery, but the depositions in whose cases had been sent back by the Attorney General, with directions that the prisoners were to be dealt with summarily, were brought before Mr. Wilmot, sitting with a. second magistrate, Captain Miller, and sentenced to five years in chains each, with a recommendation for removal to Norfolk Island. 13/1/1855 The Cornwall Chronicle, Launceston: TOL - John Agnew, Flying Fish. 2/8/1856 The Cornwall Chronicle, Launceston: Recommended for a Conditional Pardon. 4/7/1857 The Cornwall Chronicle, Launceston: Conditional Pardon granted.