Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
William Begley was transported on the Henry Porcher, departing 5th Aug 1825 and arriving 3rd Dec 1825 with 176 passengers.
1825 Journey. On Saturday morning (3 Dec) arrived from London and Dublin, the ship Henry Porcher, Captain John Thompson, with 175 male prisoners, having lost one man - the rest in good health. She sailed from London the 10th of July, and Dublin the 5th of August. The guard comprises a detachment of the 47th Regiment, under the orders of Captain Donaldson. The Surgeon Superintendent is Dr. CARTER, R. N. Sydney Gazette, 5 Dec 1825.
Henry Porcher (generic)References
| Primary Source | Irish Convict Database, by Peter Mayberry. The Belfast Newsletter, Tuesday, March 29, 1825; p.1 |
Claims
No one has claimed William Begley yet.
Photos
No photos have been added for William Begley.
Convict Notes
The Belfast Newsletter of Tuesday, March 29, 1825; at p.1 had a slightly different version of what William Begley stole: Belfast Newsletter etc “Carrickfergus Assizes “William Begley, for stealing two horseshoes and some Smiths tools, the property of Alex McConnell, a blacksmith, about 2 miles from Belfast. The prisoner was apprehended, by watchman, coming into Belfast with his booty and taken to the police office where the prosecutor next day identified his property. Guilty. Transported seven years.” The Indent for convict ship ‘Henry Porcher’ recorded that William Begley was aged 54 years Born at County Antrim in Ireland, and was employed as a Soldier in the 56th Regiment. He was 5 feet 4inches tall. On landing in December he was forwarded to Parramatta for distribution. (Col Secretary’s papers). In the 1828 Census he was recorded as being 10 years younger than on arrival. 44 years(!), This age is likely an error by someone, since his age, later recorded on his certificate of freedom is consistent with his age on the indent. He was Protestant with a sentence of 7 years, and was resident at Bathurst, assigned to William Lawson. In 1830 he received a Ticket of Leave, Number: 30/0346, dated 18 June 1830, allowing him to remain in the District of Bathurst. His trade was labourer. Received his Certificate of Freedom dated 2 May 1832; Licence; Licence Number: 32/0392; Labourer; Age: 60 years. The death of a William Begley was recorded in the Church of England Tegister at Kelso (next to Bathurst) in 1858, supposedly aged 80 years. This is likely to be the same man.
William Begley, for stealing two sledges and four small hammers, and some iron, from a blacksmith’s shop, in the county Down. The prisoner was stopped with the goods by the watchman, as he was passing through Belfast, between 3 and 4 o’clock in the morning on the 18th Nov.—Guilty; to be transported for 7 years. Belfast Commercial Chronicle, 28 Mar 1825. ---------------------------------------------------------------- The under-named convicts passed through this town yesterday, from the county Antrim gaol, on their route to the hulk Essex, at Dunleary: John Bell, Michael Clarke, James Dogherty, Bernard Curley, or Dowdall, John Selby, Paul George Gibson, James Quinn, Patrick Brady, James Cassidy, Wm. Henny, James Gribbon, Thomas Boyle, William Begley, William McCafferty, Andrew McAllister. Eight of those convicts received sentence of death Belfast Commercial Chronicle, 23 April 1825.
Irish Convict Database, by Peter Mayberry. William Begley, age on arrival, 54, per Henry Porcher (1), 1825, Tried at Carrickfergus Antrim Co., 1825, 7 years. Larceny. DOB, 1771, Native place, Antrim Co. Trade, Soldier in 56th Regiment.