John Brunker

341

Maureen Withey on 4th November 2022

Convicts for Botany Bay. On Saturday last in the afternoon, the following convicts were conveyed from Newgate on 18 cars, each car containing four persons, to be put on board a transport for Botany Bay: Patrick Neelan, Richard Hudson, William Roberts, William Muns, Henry Porter, Thomas Daniel, Thomas Dillon, John Flinn, James O’Neill, James Gavin, John O’Connor, alias Fawcett, John M‘Hugh, Alexander Brazill, Edward Madden, Hugh Finegan, James Doakes, Arthur Newcome, Timothy M'Kenna, Edward Moriarty, Patrick Bray, James O’Brien, John Glynn, Edward M‘Donnell, Edward Garret, Edward Brennan, William Kinlan, John Wallis, John Carroll, Charles Fagan, George Grimbrook, Joseph Tighe, James Downes, John Mangan, Francis Thorpe, Patrick Mitchell, John Caimac, Thomas M‘Karroll, Thomas M‘Bride, John M'Cabe, Edward Sullivan, John Reilly, Thomas Smith, James Kenny, George Farrell, John Sullivan, Owen O'Neill, John Feeny, Thos. Smith, John Lynch, James Gogarty, John Baker, Thos. Mohan, Mathew Doyle, Charles Kelly, Patrick Doyle, John M‘Donnell, Edward Walsh, alias Byrne, John Downes, John Cochlan, Thomas Brereton, alias Doyle, Patrick Byrne, John Noonan. The above convicts are under sentence of transportation for seven years each. The following for passing and uttering forged notes, for fourteen years each : Michael Quinlan, Denis Byrne, John Brunker, and John Browne. The following five persons who were capitally convicted and received sentence of death, have, through the humanity of his Excellency, had their sentence commuted to transportation for life : to Thomas Kearney, Lawrence Tyrrell, Henry Barns, Thomas Connor, and Cornelius Cullen, 7. Each convict was provided with new cloaths, and a ticker bag, in which were the following extra articles: one shirt, one stockings, and one handkerchief. At o’clock the cars moved off, under the Royal Dragoon Guards. The Hon. Sir Wm. Smith, rode with the convicts to the water side, attended by Mr. Bourne, Governor of Newgate, and his Deputy, Mr. Gilbert, arrived at the Pigeon-House, they embarked boats which conveyed them to the brig Mary that lay out a little in the bay; a party of Grenadier Guards was on board the vessel which was to have sailed on Sunday morning, but in consequence of the state of the wind, had not till Monday for the Cove of Cork, from whence convicts will be transmitted to Botany Bay, not to New Zealand, as was rumoured. On their departure from this city they made their acknowledgements in the most grateful manner to Mr. Bourne and Mr. Gilbert, for the humane treatment which they received whilst in their custody, and the exertions to render the voyage comfortable. They presented a most cleanly and orderly appearance. The Rev. Mr. Gamble attended the prisoners and saw them on board. They expressed thanks to all the officers of the prison. Saunders’s News-Letter, Wed 17 July 1822. These men had all been convicted in the City of Dublin Courts. The men who were convicted in the county of Dublin were sent separately from the County gaol at Kilmainham.

341

Maureen Withey on 11th August 2020

On Sunday last as peace officers Meates and Short were going up Great Britain-street, on some occasional business, they saw a man of the name of John Brunker (against whom information had been lodged for uttering forged notes in various parts of this city) coming out a huxster's shop ; these active officers immediately took him into custody, brought him to Marlborough-street office, searched but but did not find a thing on him; they asked where he lodged? he said he had no lodging, subsequently admitted he lodged in Johnson’s in Great Britain-street, they went to his lodgings, there were three women there, one of whom was his wife; searched the apartment very minutely, but did not discover anything. The officers then brought their prisoner to the Head Office, who underwent a full examination before the Magistrates, who fully committed him for trial at the ensuing Sessions. Saunders News-Letter, 15 Dec 1819. John Brunker, for felony of a Bank note, value 1l, the property of William Maguire, who stated that he was a patient in Richmond Surgical Hospital; prisoner was also patient; got leave to go out one day, witness requested him to bring him change of a pound which he gave him, but _____ never returned—The prisoner was acquitted. Saunders News-Letter, 23 Dec 1819. John Brunker was tried for having in his possession, and for uttering two forged notes. The uttering of said notes by the prisoner having proved, and Clerk the Bank having deposed to them being forgeries, Brunker was found Guilty.—The prisoner advocated his own cause. Saunders News-Letter, 23 April 1822. The following for passing and uttering forged notes, for fourteen years each: ... John Brunker, ... Saunders News-Letter, 17 July 1822. -------------------------------------------------- Irish Convict Database by Peter Mayberry. John Bunker, age 34, per Countess of Harcourt (2) 1822, Tried at Dublin City, 1822, 14 years, DOB 1788, native place, Monaghan Co., Trade: clerk. -------------------------------------------------- Colonial secretary Index. BUNKER, John. Per "Countess of Harcourt", 1822. 1823 Dec 24 - On lists of prisoners transported to Port Macquarie per "Sally" (Reel 6019; 4/3864 pp.98, 458-9). -------------------------------------------------- 1828 NSW Census Index. John Brunker, Per Co. Harcourt, sentence 3 years, King George Sd? --------------------------------------------------

108

Nell Murphy on 31st December 2018

John BRUNKER was convicted at Dublin City, Ireland in 1822 for uttering forged notes. He was employed as a clerk. 14 yr transportation sentence. Sent to New South Wales, Australia per the ship 'Countess of Harcourt' 1822. Details, upon arrival: aged 34 yrs; stout build; blue eyes; brown hair. 1823: overseer at Parramatta Hospital, NSW. (ref. NSW State Archives)