Jane Byrne

74

iain Frazier on 15th February 2025

Family connections for Jane (Byrne) are: BYRNE Jane (perhaps Cody/Byrne) was born about 1763/72 in Carlow Ireland & became a soda water maker/servant. She had a first relationship with ??? (Molloy). She married secondly Edward (Byrne) seller of bottled porter, ale, cider and soda water. She attempted the murder by poison of Edward (Byrne) with the help of her son on 24 7 1820 (but see crime explanation for Jane (Byrne) on this Website). She was tried at Dublin city Ireland, sentenced to death reprieved to Life & arrived in NSW as a convict on 18 12 1821 after a voyage of 5months on JOHN BULL on which she was appointed nurse; she was Catholic sallow complexion dark brown hair dark hazel eyes. She was recorded in 1828 at Windsor with Constantine (Molloy). She was issued her Ticket of Leave on 29 4 1829 described as 5' pale wrinkled complexion dark brown to grey hair dark hazel eyes & again on 1 5 1830 for Hawkesbury. She was recorded in 1828 at Windsor with Constantine (Molloy). [Some details taken from this Website] Details of Jane (Byrnes)s family are given in entry for Constat (Molloy JOHN BARRY 1821) on 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.

341

Maureen Withey on 21st January 2024

The following convicts then received the awful sentence of the law, viz. ... Jane Byrne, and Constantine Molloy, for administering poison, with intent to kill Edwd. Byrne. ... Saunders Newsletter, 8 Nov 1820. Royal Mercy —His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant has been graciously pleased respite the sentence death and execution, pronounced on Jane Byrne and Constantine Mollov, mother and son, who were convicted at the last Commission, for having administered poison to Edward Byrne, with intent to kill him. We understand the wretched mother is be transported for life. Belfast Commercial Chronicle, 25 Nov 1820.

341

Maureen Withey on 4th November 2020

Jane and her son were transported for attempting to poison her husband. The case received widespread coverage in both the Irish and English press at the time. Part of a report in Saunders-Newsletter, 4 Nov 1820. Jane Byrne and Constantine Molloy stood capitally indicted for having feloniously administered quantity of corrosive sublimate, mixed with the Cincture of bark, to Edward Byrne, at Nassau street, on the 24-th day July last, with intent kill and murder the said Edward Byme. There was a second count laid in the indictment, charging both the prisoners with a conspiracy kill and murder the said Edward Byrne. Mr. Greene, on the part the prosecution, stated the case with great ability and effect, the particulars of which are given in the following evidence. Edwd. Byrne sworn, examined Mr. Greene— Is husband to the prisoner Jane Byrne, and stepfather to Molloy, the other prisoner; follows the same business that his wife did, in the sale of bottled porter, ale, cider and soda water, &c. on the premises occupied by his wife previous to his marriage with her; recollects the 24th of July last; was in bed; called his step-sun, Con., the prisoner, and asked was his mother within? he replied, she was not, he said give some of the bark mixture that is in the bottle the cupboard ; the prisoner took out the bottle, and was going fill a glass full, when witness observed don't fill the glass, give only half a one; Molloy replied, you had better take a whole one, it is not worth while dividing it: took only the half glass ; as soon as it was down his stomach he found himself very unwell, and got terrible fit .of vomiting ; got out bed, went down stairs, met his wife (the prisoner) who had just returned from Chapel, who upbraided him for not attending to the factory ; struck him a dreadful blow in the face with a jug, broke it on him; she had hold his hand and bit his thumb ; having extricated himself from the grasp, he was determined to give he was determined to give her a good “railing” (loud laughing); Complained to a person of the name of Quigley of illness, and the usage he had received ; (here it appeared that Quigley was a chymist, to whom Byrne had previously let the premises) who desired him to go upstairs bring down the bottle, out which had taken the mixture ; witness accordingly went up stairs and brought down the bottle ; prisoner Molloy attempted to prevent him, but was unable ; Molloy, when came down, exclaimed, Oh! mother, he has got the bottle ! !—the prisoner (Byrne) then made a kick at witness, in order to break the bottle, which was in his left hand great coat pocket ; gave the bottle to Mr. Quigley, who tasted part of the contents, and was convinced that it contained matter corrosive sublimate ; accordingly the witness and Mr. Quigley went Mr- Buchanan's, the Apothecary, from whom the bark had been obtained, in order to have the contents analysed; witness continued vomiting all the way, until he got medicine that gave him relief; his throat and stomach was all fire ; did not live on bad terms with his wife, but she was dissatisfied with him from the first week they were married ; his stomach all on fire ; she struck him several times with the handle of the pump, and threatened to take his life ; wished him out of the world as he was of use; (loud laughing,) was continually grumbling and growling ; never was pleased with him since their marriage ; desired her son (the prisoner,) to strike him ; took out broomstick, gave it to her son to beat him ; she wished to get shot of of him, as he was of no manner of use to her. Cross-examined by Mr. Bennett Was married before, but was never poisoned before; never said he was poisoned by Buchanan ; in a fortnight after his marriage he found himself ill; his stomach was continually turning; was not drunk the night he was poisoned ; only drank two dandies of punch; was discharged an Insolvent the August before he was married ; knows man of the name of Tallant; never told him he conveyed his property to his son-in-law ; he did convey his property to his son-in-law when his circumstances became embarrassed, was promised place in the Custom-House; has no ill will to his wife; always considered her industrious ; carried on business since his wife's imprisonment; does not know she is living on the gaol allowance; never sent her any money, she took plenty with her, and did not leave him a fivepenny piece ; was in Madam Stevens’s Hospital with pains in his bones; never had a lightness in his head; sent his wife's clothes to Newgate ; does not know man of the name of Crosbie , of South King-street; never said he had swelled legs, and put on two pair of stockings ; has no ill-will to his wife. John Goodall sworn, examined by Mr. Greene, apprentice to Mr. Ambrose, of St. Andrew street, apothecary ; knows the prisoners; saw Moloy on the 23d of July last, in Mr. Ambrose’s shop; wanted three pence worth of corrosive sublimate; asked him for what purpose ; said it was for a man afflicted with the venereal disease; prisoner then asked, if it was given in half pint of spirits would it kill a man and make him turn black; witness replied, that one sixteenth part of a grain was sufficient for a dose; Molloy paid for the medicine and then went off; saw Mrs. Byrne in the shop the Saturday before ; got some cream of tartar ; said she would like to give her husband a dose that would settle him, as he was always abusing her, and threatening to kick her and her son out. Cross-examined by Mr. Finlay.—ls two years apprentice to Mr. Ambrose ; it his duty to be cautious to whom he gives poison; Mr. Ambrose was much displeased with him; would not give the corrosive sublimate only he knew Molloy. Here the witness was going off the table, when it was intimated to the Counsel for the prisoners, that the expression of Mrs. Byrne relative to the dose, was not exactly explained; when Mr. Finlay called the witness back, in order to mention the exact words used by the prisoner, (Mrs. Byrne,) who said that it was a dose of jallop she mentioned. William Quigley sworn and examined, by Mr. Greene.—Knows the prosecutor, Mr. Byrne; saw him in Adam-court, Nassau-street, the morning of the 24 th of July last; observed his thumb bleeding; appeared much agitated, and was vomiting; when he mentioned the circumstance of his having taking the bark, witness desired him to bring down the bottle till he would examine it, which he accordingly did; tasted the contents, and was satisfied it contained particles of corrosive sublimate, but in order to be more clear on the matter, he and Byrne went to Mr. Buchanan the apothecary, in Grafton-street, when the substance of the bottle was analyzed; they had no doubt that it contained part corrosive sublimate ; often heard Byrne's wife scold him ; upon one occasion heard her say she married him to better her own condition, but that she was deceived. Cross-examined by Mr. Bennett, was a chymist ; studied chymistry in Trinity College five or six years; was merchant, is now engaged preparing mineral waters. George Buchanan sworn, examined by Mr. Greene—ls a surgeon and brother to the apothecary of the same name ; saw the bottle at his brother’s, analyzed its contents carefully ; was perfectly satisfied from the analysis there was corrosive sublimate mixed with the contents of the bottle; knew Byrne; saw him after he took the poison; was in great agony; had a burning pain in the throat and stomach ; attended him professionally to counteract the effects of the poison ; if he had not immediate medical assistance he must have died ; was in a very infirm state ; his eye-sight failed him. ..... -------------------------------------------------- John Bull – Surgeons’ Journal 1821. ADM 101/38/7/1 1821-1822 . The surgeon appointed Jane Byrne to be nurse on board: Folio 7: 11 August 1821; At 4am Great Salvage Island bore south 2 or 3 miles distant. Hove too off Teneriffe for the Quarantine Boatswain-having no bill of health we were not allowed to go on shore as we had proposed to send reports to our Government as well as to procure some wine for our mess. Therefore made sail again. Several of the women being seasick and not eating their provisions I appointed Jane Burne and made her furnish them with good gruel with wine etc. Folio 26: 2 November 1821; At 2:30pm the convicts reported that Jane Hamilton was beating her child threatening to murder it. They requested me to go and save the child, when going, I found Mary Day had forcibly taken the child from her, the head had been cut with a half pint tin pot and was bleeding very much. Took the child into the hospital, stopped the haemorrhage and dressed the head. Then left the child to the care of Jane Burne the nurse. ----------------------------------------------------- By 1828, Jane Byrne is living with her son, Contantine Molloy, in Windsor district. 1828 census Index. Constantine Moloy, age 23, John Barry, 1821, Life, catholic, Constable, Windsor district. Jane Moloy or Cody, age 56, G.S. John Bull, 1821, Life, catholic.

221

D Wong on 15th September 2019

Jane Byrne was listed as 58 years old on arrival. Transported for attempting to poison her husband. Born: Carlow, Ireland. Occupation: Sodawater maker/servant. Jane was listed as 58 years old, sallow complexion, dark brown hair, dark hazel eyes - From her TOL -- Jane was 5'0" tall, pale wrinkled complexion, dark brown to grey hair, dark hazel eyes - born 1775!! 1/5/1830: TOL Hawkesbury.

341

Maureen Withey on 2nd July 2019

The undermentioned female prisoners have obtained tickets of leave in compliance with the regulations of 29 April 1829, for good conduct in the situations respectvely stated, viz, County of Cumberland, Hawkesbury, Byrne Jane, John Bull, in service and married state. Reported in the Sydney Monitor, 28 April 1830.