Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
Michael Bennett was transported on the Chapman, departing 25th Mar 1817 and arriving 26th Jul 1817 with 202 passengers.
The Chapman ship was built at Whitby, England in 1777, rebuilt in 1811 and refurbed in 1815. Tonnage: 558 The 1817 voyage from Ireland to New South Wales, Australia is not yet fully recorded on this web site - currently being updated. A mutiny occurred on this voyage with 7 men killed and many others wounded. (200 male convicts embarked) 1824 voyage from England to Van Diemen's Land (180 male convicts). 1826 voyage from England to Van Diemen's Land (100 male convicts, 2 escaped). Royal Staff guards & 19 private passengers.
Chapman (generic)References
| Primary Source | Irish Convict Database, by Peter Mayberry Colonial Secretary's Letters regarding Moreton Bay. NSW Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Entrance and Description Book Sydney 1834-1838 |
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Convict Notes
Colonial Secretary Index. BENNETT, Michael. Per "Chapman", 1817. 1824 Jun 14 Sentenced to death. On return of prisoners tried before the Supreme Court of New South Wales (Fiche 3298; X727 p.1) 1824 Aug 17 Re commutation of his death sentence to transportation to a penal settlement (Reel 6017; 4/5782 p.96; Reel 6013; 4/3512 p.217) 1824 Sep 17 On list of convicts transported to Port Macquarie per "Sally" (Reel 6019; 4/3864 pp.486-7) --------------------------------------------------- MONDAY.—Michael Bennett, John Malone, and William Kenny were indicted for stealing, in the dwelling house of Mr. Edward Redmond, foods to the amount of 40s. Malone pleaded Guilty ; and Kenny was found Guilty. The other prisoner (Bennet) was acquitted. Sydney Gazette, 17 June 1824. (The above report is incorrect- it was Bennett who found guilty, and Kenny was acquitted) Supreme Court of Criminal Jurisdiction, Sydney. SATURDAY. - This day the Court assembled for the purpose of passing sentence upon the various prisoners that had been convicted during the Sessions; but His HONOR the CHIEF JUSTICE, was pleased to defer pronouncing sentence till Monday. MONDAY—After the above trial was over the following prisoners, who had been severally convicted during the Sessions, were placed at the bar for sentence : - Michael Bennet, John Malone, … -DEATH. Sydney Gazette, Thurs. 1 July 1824.
1835: A Michael Bennett, born 1772, aged 63 was admitted to Sydney Gaol. His record also states that he arrived per Chapman in 1815 – so both his age and arrival date do not match other records. However, his physical description is very similar to that on the Convict Indents of 1817: 5’4¾” tall with a dark complexion, brown hair and hazel eyes (see NSW Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Description Book Sydney 1835-1838). The following record is also for “our” Michael Bennett (Bonnett): 1835, 5 September: A Michael Bonnett, prisoner 2131, arrived per Chapman 1815, on Bond on arrival but now a Free man; native place Dublin; Catholic; carpenter; admitted by Sydney Police to be confined for 21 days or pay £4/3/6. He was released on 26 September 1835 (see NSW Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Entrance and Description Book Sydney 1834-1838).
TRIAL: Dublin City on 11 October 1816, found guilty of picking pockets and sentenced to 7 years’ transportation. In the interim, he was sent to Newgate prison (see NSW, Australia Convict Ship Muster Rolls and Related Records, 1790-1849; 1817 Chapman). On arrival in New South Wales, he was 22 years old, and stood 5’4” tall, with a pale dark complexion, brown hair and eyes (see NSW, Australia, Convict Indents, 1788-1842, Bound Indentures 1814-1818).
Mistake above, regarding his age and height as recorded at Moreton Bay. His age was 32, and his height 5 ft 4.
Michael Bennett was born in Dublin 1794. His trade was a cochmaker and carpenter. He was convicted at Dublin city in 1816. Michael Bennett was in Moreton Bay Penal establishment. The records show: he was 5 ft 61/2 tall, age 31, had a dark complexion, dark hair and hazel eyes. The date of his original conviction at Dublin city was 11 Oct 1816, and the sentence was 7 years. He was a carpenter. He had a Colonial sentence for 5 years from the Criminal Court in Camp-Town on the 7 Sept 1824 and left Moreton Bay for Sydney 10 Sept 1829. As a Crown prisoner, he was employed as a carpenter at Moreton Bay, which was still under construction, with several other men “Preparing work for the Erection and finishing of buildings etc 8 Henry Allen – carpenter 9 William Grady (Asia 2)– carpenter 10 Daniel Baker (Asia) – carpenter 11 Michael Bennett (Chapman)– carpenter 12 William Taylor (Agamemnon)– carpenter. This information was was on a quarterly return of prisoners for the period 25 Dec 1825 to 25 March 1826.