Thomas Barnes

5

Kathy Brennan on 13th September 2025

Ancestry Records England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892 Record for Thomas Barnes England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892 Aged 20, Denbigh County Sessions 2 July 1839, Larceny from the Person before convicted of Felony, 15 years Chester Chronicle 12 July 1839 Denbighshire Quarter Sessions Thomas Barnes was indicted for stealing 2s. 1 1/2d. from the person of Mary Evans.  He was found guilty and having been convicted, and there being two other charges against him at these sessions, which were not prosecuted, he was sentenced to transportation for 15 years. Ancestry Records England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892 Record for Thomas Barnes England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892 3 July 1838 - County Sessions Denbigh - Thomas Barnes - 18 years - Larceny - Sentence 3 Months - Twice Whipped From Convict Records on Ancestry New South Wales, Australia, Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930 Record for Thomas Barnes New South Wales, Date of Admission/Photo 1841 Gaol                       Gaol Location Newcastle              Newcastle New South Wales New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents, 1788-1842 Record for Thomas Barnes List of 305 Male Convicts by the Ship MAITLAND - John Baker Master Standing No. of convict - 40-1220 Indent No. - 62 Name - Barnes Thomas Age - 20 Education - None Religion - Catholic Single, Married or Widower - Single Children - Nil Native Place - Denbighshire Trade or Calling - Butcher Offence - House Robbery Tried - Where - Denbigh Quarter Sessions Tried - When - 2 July 1839 Sentence - 15 Years Former Conviction - None Height - Feet 5'     Inches 8" Complexion - Ruddy Color of Hair - Brown Color of Eyes - Brown Particular Marks or Scars - Two small scars on left side of forehead, raised mole on back of neck, long scar on back of left hand, two scars back of thumb, and one on little finger of same hand. 21984   Barnes  Thomas   Maitland 1840   1846 13 May   Murrurundi        Obtained Ticket of Leave 94889   Barnes  Thomas   Maitland 1840   1852 2 October   Murrurundi        Ticket of leave cancelled for being illegally absent From Website - Free Settler or Felon? Ticket of Leave Passport No. 46/569 10 June 1846 Name: Thomas Barnes Ship: Maitland Year of Arrival: 1840 Where Tried: Denbigh, Denbighshire, Wales When Tried: 2 July 1839 Sentence: 15 Years Ticket of Leave No. 46/707 Murrurundi Allowed to: Remain in the service of Mr Thomas Wiseman at Liverpool Plains for 12 months on the recommendation of Commissioner Mitchell Bench dated ---- Reg. (district) 40/4932 Ticket of Leave Passport No. 47/485 20 July 1847 Name: Thomas Barnes Ship: Maitland Year of Arrival: 1840 Where Tried: Denbigh, Denbighshire, Wales When Tried: 2 Jul 1839 Sentence: 15 Years Ticket of Leave No. 46/707 Allowed to : remain in the service of Mr Wiseman at Liverpool Plains for 12 months On the recommendation of Murrurundi Bench, dated ---- Reg. (District) 47/4983 Ticket of Leave Passport No. 50/765 6 November 1850 Name: Thomas Barnes Ship: Maitland Year of Arrival: 1840 Where Tried: Denbigh, Denbighshire, Wales When Tried: 2 July 1839 Sentence: 15 Years Ticket of Leave No. 46/707 Allowed to: Same as previously On the recommendation of (Murrurundi) Bench, dated ---- The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893) Saturday 15 April 1854 Maitland Quarter Sessions. Wednesday, April 12, 1854. (Before the Chairman, and Major Crummer, J. P., and Bourn Russell, Esq., J.P.) LARCENY. James Ball was indicted for stealing a watch, chain, and seals, the property of some person unknown, at Murrurundi, on the 30th January, 1854. Mr. Purefoy appeared for the defence ; attorney Mr. O'Meagher. The witnesses called were John M'Givney, Thomas Barnes, and Thomas M'Donald. Ball was at that time a constable in the Murrurundi police. About the end of January the Murrurundi police received in charge from a constable of the Tamworth police, a prisoner named Robert Ashley, alias Wee Waa Bobby, committed for trial on a charge of horse steal stealing, to forward down to Maitland, and with him received as supposed stolen property, to be also forwarded down, a gold watch and seals, a five barrelled revolver pistol and mould, &c. ; on the 30th January Ball was entrusted with Ashley, properly handcuffed, and the property, to take on to Scone, and leave them with the police there, taking a receipt. On the way to Scone, however, they mot with Barnes, at the Rising Sun Inn, and Ashley having known Barnes for years called on him for a character, and Barnes said he could give him a good character up to the time of the gold discovery ; Ashley then asked Barnes to lend him money for his defence, but Barnes said he had none with him to spare. Ashley said he had a watch and pistol which he could sell to Barnes if he would send money to him at Maitland, £10 being required; Ashley then produced a gold watch from his pocket, and Ball drew from his pocket a pistol ; Barnes asked Ball if Ashley could sell them, or if there was any charge connected with them ; Ball said he supposed Ashley could sell them, that he supposed they were his own ; Barnes then took the articles, and gave Ashley an order for £15 for the articles, addressed to a party at Maitland. Barnes, Ball, Ashley, and a man who was with the latter, took dinner together, Ashley having only one handcuff on ; and after dinner Barnes saw the three other men leave, Ball riding one horse, and Ashley riding be- hind the other man on another horse, Ashley still having only one handcuff on. Ashley made his escape before they reached Scone. Ball sent to Murrurundi a report of his escape, and next day Ball returned to Murrurundi, and reported the escape to chief constable M'Givney, and when Mr. M'Givney asked what he had done with the property as he had not got it, or had brought back a receipt for it, Ball said he had left it in Mr. Hyde's inn, the Highland Home. On the following day, however, on Mr, M'Givney's saying he was going to Scone, and would call at Mr. Hyde's tor the articles, Ball said it would be of no use to do so, that he did not leave the articles there, but would get them that day. A day or two after, from information, constable M'Donald was sent to the Hanging Rock, whether Barnes was on his way when met at the Rising Sun, and from Barnes he received the watch, pistol, &c, and brought them back to Murrurundi. The articles were now produced and identified. Mr. Purefoy contended that there was nothing to sustain the charge of larceny against Ball.  Ball being only a bailee, and no conversion to his benefit being in any way proved. The Chairman suggested a further difficulty, owing to the property being laid as that, of a person unknown, that there being no charge against Ashley in reference to these articles, but merely being detained as supposed stolen articles, they might fairly be assumed to be Ashley's property, until proved to the contrary. The Crown Prosecutor replied to both objections, urging that there was sufficient proved to make it a case of larceny against Ball. No proof was adduced of Ashley's claiming the articles as his own, and Ball was acting more in the character of a servant in his public character than of a bailee; whether the consideration ostensibly went to Ashley or to Ball, Ball was liable to the charge of larceny if he allowed the articles to be fraudulently disposed of. Mr. Purefoy, in reply, re-urged the objections. With a view to altering the indictment so as to lay the property as belonging to the Queen, chief constable M'Givney was recalled by the Crown Prosecutor. He said that neither Ashley nor any other person claimed the articles after witness had received them from the Tamworth policeman. The indictment was not altered. The court said the case must go the jury, but the points must be reserved. Mr. Purefoy addressed the jury for the defence, urging on them, as men of the world, that this was not a case of larceny against Ball, al- though he might have acted reprehensibly, in allowing his prisoner Ashley to sell them to Barnes. He put in a written character in favor of Ball. The Crown Prosecutor replied. The Chairman, in summing up, after explaining the law to the jury, left it to them to say whether the prisoner stood in the relation of "a servant to M'Givney, or simply in that of a bailee or person in trust; if they thought Ball stood in the latter position he would not be guilty of larceny by converting the articles to his own use unless he had the intention so to do when he received them ; if he was a servant the conversion at any time was larceny. The jury retired for a few minutes, and returned with a verdict of guilty, the jury regarding the prisoner as the servant of the chief constable. The prisoner was remanded for sentence. The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893) Wednesday 30 August 1854 Maitland Circuit Court Friday 25 August 1854 MURDER. Christopher Walsh was indicted for the murder of Mary Walsh at Lidney Park on the 24th March, 1854 Mr. Purefoy and Mr Faucett appeared for the prisoner; attorney, Mr. O'Meagher. The witnesses called were Joseph Neville, Ann Neville, Charlotte Campbell, Thomas Jones, and Dr. John Thomas Morris. The features of this revolting case were fully reported in the Mercury at the time of the inquest. Walsh was one of a number of tenant farmers on Lidney Park. below Morpeth, and was in possession of considerable means. He was a married man having four small children. He had given way to drunkenness rather frequently, and his wife also at times took liquor, but not much. Although the witnesses (neighbours) stated that no grounds existed for the imputation, as far as they knew. Walsh had at times, in his drunken moments, accused his wife of being unfaithful to him;  he had also frequently beaten her savagely, and had once driven her from his house, on the night of the 6th March, when she took refuge in the house of a neighbour, Mrs. Campbell, being the greatly bruised; the next morning she went and begged him to let her come home to her children, but he ordered he out again, and she returned to Mrs. Campbell's, and remained there sleeping with Mrs Campbell each night, for three days when Walsh sent for her and she returned home. On the evening of the 24th March Walsh returned home from Raymond terrace, and after midnight his next neighbours, Joseph Neville and Mrs. Neville, living ten or twelve rods off were aroused by a noise from his house, and on listening heard the sound of blows as if struck on a bag, and a loose plank in Walsh's floor springing with each blow; they heard also the voice of Walsh telling his wife to get out of the house and her voice begging for mercy for her sake and her child, and saying that she was unable to go out. At this time Mrs. Walsh was in the family way. Mrs. Neville deposed that she heard Walsh use the expression "I've often said I'd kick the bloody bastard out of you, and now I be d----d if I don't do it." Neville did not go to Mrs. Walsh's assistance, partly because his wife begged him not to, and partly because the sound of quarrelling and blows was frequent in Walsh's house. The noise continued for an hour and a half, accompanied with the cries of Walsh's children, and Neville and his wife retired to bed again before it ceased and Mrs. Neville waking an hour afterwards again heard the blows. The next morning one of Walsh's children went over to Neville's house, and Neville and his wife accompanied her back to Walsh's house, where they found Walsh just dressing himself outside; on looking inside they saw Mrs. Walsh lying dead on the floor of the first room, on her back, her shoulders, breast and legs were naked; to the remarks of Neville, Walsh replied that it was a pretty mess, and that his wife was dead, but that he did not do it, that she had been out somewhere in the night, he didn't know where; Neville told him in astonishment that he had heard the sound of blows in the night. Neville then left, and gave information to the   Landlord, Mr Hickey, and afterwards to the Raymond Terrace police. Walsh was apprehended in his own house about ten o'clock in the morning, by chief constable Jones, of Raymond Terrace. When first seen by Neville and his wife, the floor showed extensive marks of blood, partly cleaned by a mop and water, or some rags. They did not examine the body closely, but Mr. Jones found it showed extensive bruises, such as would be caused by a thick stick or a gun. Dr. Morris examined the body, at the inquest, about four o'clock in the afternoon, and found four contused wounds on different parts of the head, bruises on the back of each arm, and on the lower part of the back, and injuries on other parts, all of which were such injuries as would be caused by blows from a gun or similar instrument ; death was caused by extravasation of blood on the brain from the blows on the head ; the deceased was far advanced in pregnancy. Some of the contusions on the back might have been caused by falls, but not those on the head, because either of those would cause insensibility. In the house Mr. Jones found about two gallons of rum and above £100 in money ; and in a back skillion, in a dark corner, was a gun, with the stock recently broken in two, and a spot of blood on it. Walsh told Mr. Jones also that he did not do it. Walsh appeared in the morning as if recovering from drink, but his voice, as well as his wife's, sounded clear in the night to the Nevilles.   Mr. Purefoy addressed the jury for the defence. After forcibly commenting on the importance of the case, and on the duty of the jury to find their verdict solely on the evidence, he expressed an opinion that although the case was opened to them as one of murder only, he should be able to adduce evidence which would at least reduce the case from one of murder to manslaughter ; which would prove that the excessive violence of the husband, great as it was, had some considerable provocation, and was the result of sudden transport of temper, rather than, as presented to them, of deliberate barbarity. He should prove to them, by the evidence of a witness examined at the inquest, a farm servant of Walsh's, that when he returned, sober, from Raymond Terrace, he found his wife intoxicated, and was maddened by the fact. The evidence of Neville and his wife that the violence was heard by them as late as one o'clock in the night was not of much moment, for people suddenly aroused from sleep had little knowledge of the real time. And so also the evidence they gave of the language heard was subject to great doubt, from the distance between the houses. The prisoner could not be convicted of murder unless it was his predetermination to take life. There was even a possibility that the unfortunate woman's death was caused by falls. He called Thomas Barnes, who deposed that he was a farm servant of Walsh's, and remembered the day; in  the evening, when witness returned from his work to the house, he found Mrs. Walsh drunk, and lying on the floor ; witness got his supper and then went outside, and remained out until Walsh came home, between nine and ten o'clock, Walsh being then neither sober nor drunk ; Walsh went in, but witness did not till after having gone down to bring Walsh's things from the boat ; Walsh was then standing by the table, and his wife was on the sofa ; witness lit his pipe, and walked out, and slept out in the field, by a stump, fifty rods from the house ; did not hear any noise from the house during the night, and did not go to the house till the next afternoon, being away at a thrashing machine ; had never before seen Mrs. Walsh in liquor, out of reason. In cross-examination the witness explained that he slept out that night, as he had on previous nights, because he saw that Walsh had had liquor. Mr. Purefoy also called, as witnesses to character : Mr. Allan Hickey, Mr. James Campbell. Mr. Edwin   Hickey, and Mr. Samuel Dickson. Mr. A. Hickey gave Walsh the character of being an industrious man, a kind father, and an attentive husband. Mr. Campbell and Mr. Dickson said Walsh and his wife, when in Morpeth, appeared always affectionate and familiar. Mr. E. Hickey gave him a character similar to what Mr. A. Hickey had done. His Honor, in summing up, made similar introductory observations to this jury, as to that in the case of Graves, respecting the distinction between murder and manslaughter. In the present case, if the jury believed the evidence of Neville and his wife, they had strong proof of a deliberate act, repeated from time to time, and indeed he saw no other conclusion, if they believed the evidence, than that of willful murder. And he did not see how the case was altered in that respect, even if they believed Barnes, for the drunken state of his wife surely would not justify Walsh in beating her till she was dead, nor could such a death be regarded as manslaughter only. His Honor proceeded to read over the evidence fully. He then repeated his previous observations, telling the jury that in his opinion their verdict must be not guilty, or guilty of murder. The jury retired for three quarters of an hour, and then returned, and said they had not agreed, there being one dissentient from the opinion of the majority. The dissentient juror having explained his grounds for   thinking the crime only manslaughter, his Honor again explained the distinction between murder and manslaughter as applied to this case, and indicated the points in the evidence bearing on the question. The jury again retired, at ten minutes past nine o'clock, but had not agreed at half past nine o'clock, and were then locked up. At a quarter to eleven o'clock his Honor again entered the court, and sent for the jury, who were still in the same position, but his Honor having read over once more the law on the subject, the jury shortly afterwards became unanimous, and returned a verdict of guilty. The prisoner having been called up for judgment, addressed the court in a long and incoherent speech, in which he maintained that he was innocent as regarded intention to kill, and appeared to charge his wife with having been on intimate terms with Barnes ; he however gave no explanation of the immediate cause or the progress of the dreadful deed of that night. His Honor impressively addressed the prisoner, commenting on the barbarous nature of the crime he had committed, and expressing his full assent in the verdict of the jury ; and, holding out no hope of mercy in this world, he counselled the prisoner to lose no time in preparing for eternity. He then passed sentence of death on the prisoner in the usual form. The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW: 1843 - 1893) Sat 16 Feb 1856 HORSE STEALING. Robert Batty Johnston was indicted for stealing a mare or filly, the property of Daniel Murphy, in 1853, at the Wollombi. Mr. Pring appeared for the defendant; attorney, Mr, Mullen. The witnesses called were Daniel Murphy, Bryan Carroll, John Mason, William Thomas, and Richard Keating. Daniel Murphy had lost a mare which was branded JK on the near shoulder. That was not his brand, but the brand of Kelly. The mare was missed about two years ago. He saw her in Johnston's possession when he was breaking her in, and claimed her as his property. He denied this and said the mare was his own. The letter K had been turned into an R. The matter was reported to Mr. Allen, the chief constable, who would do nothing in it, and on applying to Major Sullivan he said it was a case of disputed property. Both Allen and Major Sullivan had since been dismissed. The mare was staked, and was a little the worse from it. Cross-examined: He could not have brought on the case sooner, because he could not get his witnesses. He did not know whether his witnesses were in Cockatoo or Cockathree, but he could not get them to appear. He never heard Mr. Wiseman say anything about the mare. --- Bryan Carroll identified the mare now produced and in the yard. It was Murphy's mare. Murphy's brand was a single D. He considered that the brand now on the mare was a defaced brand. --- John Mason had known Murphy for twenty years, and the mare was brought to his place at St. Dunstan's about four years ago. --- On a Sunday a man came and said the mare was staked, and he flogged her at Tremaine till the stake came out of her. She was staked inside the thigh of the near hind leg, The mare in the yard is old Murphy's JK mare. Cross-examined : Witness had never been at Cockatoo, but the prisoner had caused him to be sent to Sydney gaol, because a man had left a saddle and bridle in his house. --- Walter Thomas purchased the mare in June last from the prisoner, and gave him a grey horse worth £20 and £6 to boot. Richard Keating, constable, apprehended the prisoner. He said he had got the mare for sinking a well for Mr. Wiseman ten or eleven years ago. He believed the original K had been altered to R, and that the alteration bad been made with a piece of iron hoop. The mare was six or seven years old. For the defence the following witnesses were called: George Allen, William McFarlane, William Wiseman, Thomas George Wiseman, Thomas Barnes, and Thomas Crawford. George Allen, late chief constable at the Wollombi, had seen the filly in the possession of the prisoner for the last three years. The case was thought by the Wollombi bench to be one of disputed property. There was no decision on the matter. Cross examined: Major Sullivan was the principal police magistrate when he was chief constable. Major Sullivan made a charge against him, tried him, and dismissed him. Messrs. Crawford and Lindsay were on the bench, but Major Sullivan carried everything at the Wollombi. William McFarlane had known the filly as Johnston's for the last five years ; it was then branded JR, which was Johnston's brand. Witness brought her in from Mr. Rodd's farm two or three years ago, when getting in Mr. Rodd's horses ; she was among them ; he had no doubt about the filly. William Wiseman knew the filly ever since she was foaled ; Johnston got the mare's mother from his father seven or eight years ago ; the mother was then in foal ; the first time he looked at the brand was about three years ago, when Murphy and Johnston quarrelled. Thomas G. Wiseman had known the prisoner when in his father's service ; the filly had the prisoner's brand, but he had changed it since. Thomas Barnes was fellow servant with the prisoner at Mr. Wiseman's, and about ten years ago he purchased a mare that had several foals ; the last foal was branded J.R. Mr. Thomas Crawford did not consider that the brand was defaced ; it might have the appearance it had by being applied twice. The jury, having retired for more than half an hour, returned with a verdict of guilty, and the prisoner was remanded for sentence. The court then adjourned, at ten minutes past seven o'clock, till nine o'clock on Thursday morning. New South Wales Will Books 1800-1952 Transcription First name(s) Thomas Last name Barnes Death year 1912 Death date 09 Sep 1912 Occupation Farmer Residence Jacob & Joseph Quirindi NSW Instrument Will Will number 57856 Record set New South Wales Will Books 1800-1952 Category Life Events (BDMs) Subcategory Wills & probate Collections from Australia & New Zealand OBITUARY - MR THOMAS BARNES - FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 1912 - QUIRINDI GAZETTE Death of a Grand Old Pioneer. A few weeks ago we announced the illness of old Mr. Thomas Barnes, and reported his improvement.  But, unfortunately, the respite was but temporary.  It was a case of Old Age enforcing its inevitable claim, and through he remained conscious to the end our good old friend laid down life's burden in the presence of many of his loved ones on Monday last, having last month celebrated his 94th birthday.  Born in Liverpool, England, Thomas Barnes passed through London on his way to Australia on the day that the late Queen Victoria the Good was crowned.  For two years he remained in Sydney, and then went into the employ of the late Mr. Thomas Wiseman, whose home was then on the famous Wollombi.  While there he married a Miss Rachel Ware, who after 60 years of wedded life, survives as his widow.  It was while in the employ of Mr. Wiseman that he came to this district to Trinkey station, which was then owned by that gentleman.  Subsequently his wanderings took him to Wallabadah, then in the zenith of his glory, and when the Free Selection Act came into operation, he got the land fever, and with several other Wollombi mates of his early days, he selected the property which has been his home ever since.  Here he reared a family of 11 children, and at the time of his death his branches had extended from them to 53 grand-children and 23 great-grand-children, the old couple being comforted in their ripening years by the loving attention of one of their grand-children, Miss Ethel Barnes.  On Wednesday the remains of this grand old pioneer were laid to rest in an honoured grave in the Anglican portion of the local cemetery, the Rev. H. B. Madden conducting the service, and a large number of people following to pay their last respects to one who through the long years of his life had borne an unblemished character. To the aged widow and those who are left to mourn his loss and cherish his memory the deepest sympathy of the GAZETTE is extended. Note: Coronation of Queen Victoria 28 June 1838 in London.  Thomas Barnes would have been 20 years of age. The Armidale Chronicle (NSW : 1894 - 1929) Wednesday 18 September 1912 Items of Interest. Mr. Thomas Barnes, sen., aged 94, for over 50 years resident in the Quirindi district, died last week.

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Kathy Brennan on 24th July 2025

Thomas Barnes b. Aug 1818 Wrexham Wales, m. 1854 Rachel Ware, Wollombi NSW had 10 Children. They are my GG Grandparents. Was a Butcher for Mr Wiseman Wollombi. Worked as Labourer on Wallabadah Station NSW. Died 9 Sep 1912 Quirindi, Aged 94. I am descended from their Son Thomas John Barnes m. Emma Allsop, Their daughter Mary Elizabeth Barnes m. Herbert Vincent Brennan. Their son Ronald William Brennan m. Patricia Mary Cullen. I am their daughter Kathryn Ann Brennan.

221

D Wong on 3rd October 2018

Thomas Barnes was 20 years old on arrival in NSW - Native Place: Denbighshire. Thomas was illiterate, Catholic, single, 5'5" tall, ruddy complexion, brown hair and eyes, two small scars on left side of forehead, raised mole on back of neck, long scar back of left hand, two scars back of thumb, and one on little finger of same hand. 13/5/1846: TOL Murrurundi. 10/6/1846: TOL Passport ; On the recommendation of Commissioner Mitchell. 20/7/1847: TOL Passport ; Murrurundi Bench. 6/11/1850: TOL Passport ; Murrurundi Bench. 2/10/1852: Ticket of leave cancelled for being illegally absent ; Murrurundi