Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Transportation
Bridget Byrne was transported on the Rolla, departing 4th Nov 1802 and arriving 12th May 1803 with 161 passengers.
On Thursday arrived the Ship Rolla, Captain John Cummings, from Ireland, with Prisoners of both sexes, viz. 119 Men and 37 Women: Seven of whom died on the passage; and the day after her arrival landed some of those who were weakly, at the General Hospital. She left Ireland the 4th of November, arrived at Rio de Janeiro on the 15th of January, sailed from thence the 6th of February, and in 95 days after came to an anchor in Port Jackson. During the latter part of the passage she experienced much bad weather; in the course of which, she sprung her main?mast and carried away her main?yard. She brings, for the use of Government, 234 pieces of Pork, 686 Casks of Flour, and 11 Tons of Sugar. Sydney Gazette, 15 May 1803.
Rolla (generic)References
| Primary Source | Freemans Journal. 16 July 1803 Star (London) Monday 20 June 1803 Saunders Newsletter and Daily Advertiser, Wednesday 29 June 1803 |
Claims
"She is my 5th great grandmother"
"My 5th Grandmother"
"Progenitor of Power Family in Australia"
Photos
No photos have been added for Bridget Byrne.
Convict Notes
Until May this year this record showed that Bridget's crime was 'unrecorded'. The references from Mayberry and Baxter supports this. The National Archives of Ireland advise that the conviction records from 1801 were burned in the 1922 Four Courts fire and that the source of evidence should be newspapers from that time. The sources provided from Freemans Journal, the Star (London) and Saunders Newsletter from June and July 1803 give that Bridget Byrne was convicted in Dublin of possession of items that could be used for forgery and was sentenced to transportation. As she was the only person of that name transported to Australia prior to 1815 this is evidence that is the person that is buried in Parramatta cemetery. As the sentence was passed after she arrived in Australia this is evidence that she was transported under the Insurrection Act of 1796 and convicted after transportation. A victim of the legacy of Ireland's violent colonisation by British law.
Irish Convict Database, by Peter Mayberry. Bridget Byrne, alias Burne, per Rolla, 1803, Tried Meath, 1801, Life. DOB, 1773, native place, Meath. Spouse, m 1804 at Toongabbie, Morgan Power, per Britannia I (1797) Died, 1820, at Seven Hills. Present in various indents; Present in 1811 Muster; Mentioned in Smee and Selkirk & Provis- Pioneer Register, Vol 1; Donohoe- Catholics of NSW, page 348.
Arrested for the murder of "King's Man" by hitting him in the head with a rock in a sock
Defacto relationship with Morgan Power
Family connections for Bridget (Byrne) are: BYRNE Bridget (Byrne/Burne) was born about 1773. She was tried at Meath co. Ireland in 1891, sentenced to Life & arrived in NSW as a convict on 12 5 1803 after a voyage of 7months on ROLLA. She married Morgan (Power) in 1804 & produced 2children. She was recorded as wife of Margan (Poor) at Parramatta in 1806 & as Bridget (Burne) convict 7years in 1811. She died on 25 11 1820 age47 as an emancipist. [Some details taken from this Website] Morgan (Power/Poore/Poor) was born about 1760 perhaps at Dirrelossery near Roundwood co.Wicklow Ireland. He was tried for sheep stealing/possession at Wicklow co. Ireland in April 1796, sentenced to death reprieved to Life with 7years hard labour & arrived in NSW as a convict on 27 5 1797 after a voyage of 5.5months on BRITANNIA. He worked on Government farm at Toongabbie until 1800, where he became overseer of Government cattle farm. He married Bridget (Byrne/Burne) in 1804. He was Free by Servitude by 1805. In 1806 he was recorded at the stockyards Parammatta, in 1811 as Morgan (Poore) & in 1814 as Morgan (Poore) landholder off stores. He was issued his Conditional Pardon on 31 1 1813. He died on 8 12 1885 age65. [Some details taken from this Website] REFERENCE: Craig James Smee 'Births and Baptisms Marriages and Defacto Relationships Deaths and Burials New South Wales 1788-1830' ..a complete listing from church & other records in the early colony.
In the colony, Bridget married Morgan Power (aka Poore) (Convict, Britannia, 1797). They married 1804 at Toongabbie, Sydney. Morgan and Bridget had two sons; Timothy 1805 and Morgan 1808.
Baxter, Carol; Muster of New South Wales; 1806: [Ref A0622] Burne, Bridget, Rolla, with Morgan Poor in Parramatta. Baxter, Carol; Muster of New South Wales; 1811: [Ref 0791] Burne, Bridget, Rolla, Tried 1802, Trim, 7 years. (PRO n1436)
Tried & convicted in Meath Ireland in 1801 & sentenced to transportation for life. Left Cork Ireland on 4th November 1802 aboard the ship 'Rolla' sailed with 127 male & 37 female convicts on board of which 8 male convicts died during the voyage. Arrived in Sydney on 12th May 1803.