Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
Denis Cashman was transported on the Hougoumont, departing 10th Oct 1867 and arriving 9th Jan 1868 with 281 passengers.
875 ton ship was built at Moulmein in 1852. http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/on-this-day-in-history-australias-last-convict-ship-docks.htm ---------------------------- Incorrect Image ....This is a four masted steel hulled Barque in the drawing , im surprised Australian Geo didn't do a bit more research on this .......The Hougoumont was a works ship on the Forth Bridge Project in 1885 ....the one potrayed as a drawing in Aust Geo is the later version of this ship.....the photograph i have attached is the correct and original convict vessel. --00-- 1867 "The hired convict ship Hougoumont, which has been taken up by the Government for the conveyance of a numerous party of convicts to Freemantle, Western Australia, left the Nore on October 1, and proceeded down Channel, after receiving on board 150 convicts from the establishments at Chatham and Millbank. The convicts from the Chatham establishment, at St. Mary's, embarked from the dockyard on board the paddle-wheel steamer Adder, Mr. W. J. Blakely, and were in charge of a numerous party of convict guards and wardens, all heavily armed. Among the convicts shipped were a party of fifteen Fenians, who were engaged in the late conspiracy in Ireland, together with the officers and crew convicted of scuttling the ship Severn, and some others who have achieved notoriety from their crimes. The Fenian convicts, like the remainder of the prisoners, were chained together in gangs, but it was observed that they were kept apart from the other convicts in a portion of the vessel by themselves. The steamer Petrel also took down a number of convicts from the establishment at Millbank for shipment on board the Hougoumont, in charge of a strong escort and convict guard. On Tuesday, October 8th, the Hougoumont arrived in Portland roads. Shortly before midday ninety convicts were marched down to the Government pier at Portland under a strong escort of the 12th Light Infantry. The party included twenty-three Fenian convicts, among whom it was said, was Moriarty. The Government steamer employed in the breakwater service was used for conveying the convicts on board the Hougoumont transport ship. The convicts were chained together on embarking, and on board the steamer a strong guard of marines from her Majesty's ship St. George was formed, and saw the convicts safely placed on board the Hougoumont. The Governor of the penal settlement at Freemantle, Captain Young, is on board the Hougoumont, and returns in that ship to his sphere of duty after paying a visit to his native land." Source: Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 19 Dec 1867, p4, English Shipping, available on Trove at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/28608271?searchTerm=hougoumont.
HougoumontReferences
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 93, Class and Piece Number HO11/19, Page Number 260 |
| Source Description | This record is one of the entries in the British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database compiled by State Library of Queensland from British Home Office (HO) records which are available on microfilm as part of the Australian Joint Copying Pro |
| Original Source | Great Britain. Home Office |
| Compiled By | State Library of Queensland |
| Database Source | British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database |
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Convict Notes
--00-- FOOTNOTE: Denis Cashman kept a diary of his voyage to Western Australia on the Hougoumont. Those who are interested in reading it might like to start with a review by Conor Johnston (https://www.jstor.org/stable/41274172?read-now=1&refreqid=excelsior:c54fd17080b68831c4c96a8ac19ba97b&seq=6#page_scan_tab_contents). Johnston, Conor, and C. W. Sullivan. Review of FENIAN LIFE ON THE CONVICT SHIP “HOUGOUMONT,” by Fenian Diary. Hungarian Journal of English and American Studies (HJEAS) 8, no. 1 (2002): 269–74. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41274172.
OBITUARY - From the Catholic Press, 13 March 1897, p13: DEATH OF DENIS B. CASHMAN. Mr. Denis B. Cashman, the well-known Irish Nationalist, died suddenly at his home on Worcester Street, Boston, on Friday evening, January 8. He was born in Waterford about 55 years ago. When the Fenian movement began he entered it heart and soul. The inevitable informer pointed out one after another leader of the branch to which Cashman belonged, and each in turn was pounced upon by the police and delivered over to the law. Although to be elected a local "Centre" was equivalent to being marked for imprisonment, young Cashman did not hesitate to accept the perilous office with the usual result. He was railroaded through the courts, and received a heavy sentence. In view of his youth, however, the prosecuting attorney said to him: — "You are a young man, and naturally impulsive. We will give you the opportunity of pleading guilty to a minor offence." "No," replied young Cashman, " if I had my life to live over I would do it again. I am willing to die for Ireland." He went into exile along with John Boyle O'Reilly, and other military and civil convicts, leaving behind him a young wife. After serving over two years in the penal settlements of Western Australia, he and other political prisoners were pardoned, and by their own choice landed in San Francisco. Coming thence to Boston, he received, through the influence of Mr. O'Reilly, a position in the wholesale department of the book and publishing establishment connected with "The Pilot", of which Mr. Patrick Donahoe was publisher. In this capacity he showed much ability and enterprise, and he also contributed at times to "The Pilot", being a facile writer as well as a vigorous speaker. After the fire, which destroyed "The Pilot" establishment on Franklin Street, he assisted materially in reorganizing the wholesale book department in a new building on Boylston-street. Subsequently he was made the head of the Water Waste Department at City Hall, in which position he continued for some years, until a change of system brought about a reorganization. For a few years past he was connected with the insurance business. Mr. Cashman was a man of large heart and generous impulses, warmly devoted to his native land, firm in the friendships which he made during the common struggle for liberty in the old Fenian days. The affection with which he was regarded was shown by the large number of mourning friends who came from far and near to pay their last tribute of love at his grave. Mr. Cashman was buried on January 11 from the home of his son, Mr. W. P. Cashman, of Brighton, the funeral services being held in St. Columbkille's Church, and very largely attended. Among those present were representatives of the Irish Charitable and the Fenian societies, and a number of prominent gentlemen. The remains were interred in Holyhood Cemetry, Brookline.
IN AMERICA: Denis Cashman is named in this republished letter, written by John B. Walsh, one of his fellow Fenians who also received a free pardon and went to America, per the Baringa, in 1879. It was republished in the Freeman’s Journal, Sydney, Sat 2 Jul 1870, p13: NEWS OF THE RELEASED IRISH POLITICAL PRISONERS. The "Boston Pilot" — per favour of Mr. John Boyle O’Reilly, the military political prisoner who escaped from Western Australia — publishes the following letter received by that gentleman. We regret the want of success which met those [15 men who went to America aboard the Baringa] who expected to find happy homes in California: “34, Minna street, between 1st and 2nd streets, San Francisco, Cal., March 9, 1870. MY DEAR O’REILLY,— It was more by chance than good luck I happened to hear of your being in New York, and so I write to be one of the first to congratulate you on your escape from Western Australia. Of course we were aware of your escape, but did not know in what quarter of the world you were. The majority of us thought you were soldiering down in South America, but I am very glad to find you are better off. Before we left Western Australia we visited the boys in prison; they all seemed to be in pretty good health — that is as far as health in a prison goes — and spirits. I give you, on the other side, the names of those here with me, those in prison in Fremantle, those gone home, those free in Western Australia, and of our soldier friends still prisoners in bush parties, and out on a ticket- of -leave. I am afraid there is but very little chance of their getting out. On the road up from Perth to King George’s Sound we met a few of our military friends, stationed in different bush parties on the road; they all seemed to be in good health and spirits, except [James] Wilson. He looked like a man that had to put up with a great deal of annoyance, as I believe he has, from his warder, who is continually reporting him for the slightest cause. Martin Hogan is up in the Champion Bay district. I did not see [Patrick] Keating, neither do I know where he is; but I heard that he and [Patrick] Killeen were working in different parties on the York road. [Michael] Harrington is somewhere about Northam; Keeley [James Keily/Kiely] is in some other quarter. With the exception of those, I have seen all the others. Although we had a police escort, we managed to speak to the boys ‘for a’ that.’ We had rather hard times after getting out of prison; some of us had to go miles away into the infernal bush, where I suppose we would be now, only for the noble-hearted Irishmen and women in the Australian colonies. You would not believe how kind they were to us. I could not find words enough in the dictionary to express their goodness; where-ever we went we found them the same… Had we stayed in Sydney we would have all got first-class situations from the wealthy Irishmen there; but like fools, as we were, nothing would do us only to come out to this place, where we are loafing about for the last six or seven weeks, and can’t get employment. Were it not for the money we got in Australia we would be ‘hard up’ indeed; some of us would be off soldiering for Uncle Sam — perhaps down in Arizona, or some other place — by this time. There are only five or six out of the fifteen of us at work. Since I made out the list, I have learned from a letter received by Denis Hennessy from Western Australia, that Hugh F. Brophy was to start for home the following mail, and that James Flood was about going to New Zealand. That is all the news from that benighted land. Send all the news from home, as I have not had a letter from any one since last August. We do not know how the wind blows in that quarter. Letter from M. Cody yesterday. Father Lynch gone home to Ireland for twelve months. Father McCabe, of Bunbury, in his place. Hoping soon to hear from you, I am yours, very sincerely, JOHN B. WALSH.” LIST… In San Francisco, California: John Keneally, Patrick Doran, Denis B. Cashman, Patrick Dunne, Denis Hennessy, Thomas Fogarty, Eugene Geary, David Cummins, Michael Moore, DAVID JOYCE, Patrick Leahy, John Sheehan, Maurice Fitzgibbon, John B. Walsh, Patrick Wall. In Prison in Fremantle, West Australia: John Flood, 15 years, Corn. D Keane, 10 years, J. Edward Kelly, life imprisonment, Daniel J. Bradley, 10 years, Michael Cody, 20 years, Thos. Baines, 10 years, Thos. Fennell, 10 years, James Kearney, 7 years, Geo. Connelly, 15 years. Gone Back to Ireland: Thomas Daly, Morgan McSwiney, Jeremiah O’Donovan, Michael Noonan, John S. Casey, Thomas Cullinane (alias Bowler) Eugene Lombard, Patrick Riordon, Simon Downey, Robert May. Free in Western Australia: Hugh F. Brophy, Cornelius O’Mahony, Joseph Noonan, Jeremiah Aher, James O’Reilly, John Goulding, Thomas Duggan, Laurence Fulham, James Flood, Luke Fulham. Our Military Friends Prisoners in different Bush Parties, and on Ticket of Leave in Western Australia: Sergeant Major [Thomas] Darragh, life, 11th Regiment. James Wilson, life, 5th Dragoon Guards. Martin Hogan, life, 6th Dragoon Guards. James Mecoy, 15 years, 61st Regiment. Patrick Keating, life, 5th Dragoon Guards. Thomas Delaney, 15 years, 5th Dragoon Guards John Foley, 7 years, Royal Horse Artillery. Thos. Hassett, life, 24th Regiment. J. [John] Shine, 20 years, 60th Rifles. Patrick Killeen, 7 years, Royal Horse Artillery. Michael Harrington, life, 61st Regiment. Robert Cranston, life, 61st Regiment. — Keely [James M. Kiely], life, 53rd Regiment. On Ticket of Leave: William Foley, 5th Dragoon Guards. John Lynch, 5th Dragoon Guards. John Donoughue, 24th Regiment. --00-- In America, Denis Cashman worked with John Boyle O'Reilly on the Boston Pilot newspaper (KW Amos, 1987, "The Fenians and Australia c1865-1880").
1869, 21 September: John Casey sailed on the SS Rangatira from Albany for Sydney, via Melbourne (see Western Australia, Australia, Crew and Passenger Lists, 1852-1930; Albany, 1872). 1869, 5 October: The SS Rangatira’s arrival in Sydney was reported in the Freeman’s Journal, on 9 October, p2: “ARRIVAL OF THE LIBERATED IRISH STATE PRISONERS IN SYDNEY. The Rangatira, with twenty five of the Amnestied State Prisoners on board, left Melbourne at about half-past four o’clock on last Saturday afternoon, but did not arrive in Sydney until some short time after eight on Tuesday morning. This detention was caused by a strong northerly breeze and head sea which the vessel encountered immediately on rounding Cape Howe. The Sub Committee appointed by the Central Committee of Sydney had secured apartments for them at the Italian Hotel, in north George street, and were at their post at the hour when the steamer was due. It had first, on the report of apprehended disturbance on the part of the Orangemen, been arranged that the subcommittee should engage a small steamer and take their friends off the Rangatira somewhere below Port Denison. This intention was abandoned because it might be subsequently alleged, by people who have shown some anxiety to misrepresent the real state of affairs, that the patriots were smuggled ashore. Accordingly the gentlemen deputed to receive the guests took their station on the wharf as soon as they learned that the steamer was coming up the harbour and awaited their arrival. The news of the arrival of “the Fenians” spread with astonishing rapidity in the vicinity, and crowds were immediately rushing to the water’s side to catch a glimpse of the much dreaded revolutionists. By the time time the men had disembarked there were some hundreds on the wharf. There was not even the semblance of a demonstration on either side, not a voice was raised not a gesture made. Indeed save and except the numbers present not the least difference could be noticed between the landing of the ex-prisoners and the landing of an equal number of ordinary immigrants from the neighbouring colonies. The men then marched four abreast to the carriages waiting for them and were driven off to the hotel abovementioned. None of them seemed much the worse for their imprisonment, and all of them declared that bad as penal servitude in Western Australia was, it was infinitely preferable to incarceration in any of the English prisons. They are chiefly from Cork and Limerick, with a few from Dublin, as will be seen by the annexed list. They are very favourable specimens of the young and intelligent Irishmen of the present day, and are evidently imbued with a manly and patriotic spirit. We understand that none of them care about remaining in the colony; the great majority of them will return home to Ireland, and the remainder of them will proceed by the first opportunity to San Francisco. We were highly pleased to see that they were accorded a genuine Irish “Cead mille failthe” without the slightest pretext being given to certain parties, who shall be nameless for the present, at all events, to cry out that a “Fenian demonstration” was taking place, or that “old sores”, whatever kind of wounds they may happen to be, were being ripped open once more. A constant tide of friends and sympathisers, anxious to clasp the hands of the patriots and to congratulate them on their release from their unmerited suffering, flowed through the rooms and threatened occasionally to become a decided nuisance to our gallant young countrymen. It must have been a great relief to them when the hand shaking terminated and they were allowed to retire and rest themselves after their protracted and disagreeable passage from the Sound. On one occasion two members of the detective force mingled with the throng in the room, and although they were instantly recognized there was no more notice taken of their presence than if they had been but a couple of cur dogs that followed the crowd. We regret that we are quite unable to say whether they were able to report anything important to their highly respected, intelligent, and efficient chief. Our friends are by no means confined in their movements, they ramble freely about the city, and so far as we can hear, they have been subjected to no unfriendly molestation or interference of any kind. Their quiet unostentatious and gentlemanly manner has favourably impressed both friends and foes, who have come in contact with them. We append a list of their names, place of birth, where convicted, and nature of sentence, which we make no doubt will prove interesting to many of our readers as by this means they can tell whether they have been acquainted in the old country with the prisoners, or their families:— 1. Mr. John Kenealy [sic], born at Newmarket, county Cork; convicted at Cork, December 1865; sentence, 10 years penal servitude. 2. Mr. Jeremiah O’Donovan, born at Blarney, county Cork; convicted at Cork, December 1865; sentence, 5 years penal servitude. 3. Mr. John S. Casey, born at Mitchelstown, county Cork; convicted at Cork, December 1865; sentence, 5 years penal servitude. 4. Mr. Michael Moore, born at Dublin; convicted at Dublin, December 1865; sentence, 10 years penal servitude. 5. Mr. Patrick Dunne, born at Dublin; convicted at Dublin, December 1865; sentence, 5 years penal servitude. 6. Mr. DENIS B. CASHMAN, born at Waterford; convicted at Dublin, January 1866; sentence, 7 years penal servitude. 7. Mr. John B. Walsh, born at Dublin; convicted at Dublin, January 1866; sentence, 7 years penal servitude. 8. Mr. Patrick Doran, born at Dublin; convicted at Dublin, April 1867; sentence, hanged, drawn and quartered. 9. Mr. Eugene Lombard, born at Cork; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 7 years penal servitude. 10. Mr. Eugene Geary, born at Cork; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 5 years penal servitude. 11. Mr. David Joyce, born at Ballamacoda, county Cork; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, hanged, drawn and quartered. 12. Mr. Thomas Cullinane, born at Ballamacoda, county Cork; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, hanged, drawn and quartered. 13. Mr. Simon Downey, born at Cork; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 7 years penal servitude. 14. Mr. Morgan McSweeny, born at Cork; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 7 years penal servitude. 15. Mr. Denis Hennessy, born at Kilmallock, county Limerick; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 7 years penal servitude. 16. Mr. Maurice Fitzgibbon, born at Kilmallock, county Limerick; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 5 years penal servitude. 17. Mr. Thomas Daly, born at Kilmallock, county Limerick; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 15 years penal servitude. 18. Mr. John Sheehan, born at Kilmallock, county Limerick; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 7 years penal servitude. 19. Mr. David Cummins, born at Youghal, county Cork; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 7 years penal servitude. 20. Mr Michael Noonan, born at Kilmallock; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 5 years penal servitude. 21. Mr. Patrick Riordan, born at Kilmallock; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 7 years penal servitude. 22. Mr. Patrick Leahy, born at Thurles, county Tipperary; convicted at Cork [incorrect; Nenagh], May 1867 incorrect; 29/7/1867]; sentence, 5 years penal servitude. 23. Mr. Thomas Fogarty, Kilfeacle, county Tipperary; convicted at Cork May 1867; sentence, 5 years penal servitude. 24. Mr. Robert May, born at Drogheda; convicted at Dundalk, August 1867; sentence, 5 years penal servitude. 25. Mr. Patrick Wall, born at Drogheda; convicted at Dundalk, August 1867; sentence, 5 years penal servitude.” --0--
CONVICT RECORD, WA: Convict #9685 (1) Insolent conduct, 4/5/68 - 3 days B & W. (2) Clandestine correspondence, 4/11/68 - 6 days B & W. (3) Obstinately and insolently refused to salute the Superintendent, 11/11/68 - dismissed, as he stood at attention (Convict Department, Registers, General Register for Nos 9059-9598 cont., 9599-10128 (R15-R16)). --00-- FREE PARDON: 1869, 5 February: Denis Cashman was one of 35 Fenians who had been transported to Western Australia (as well as others imprisoned in Great Britain) who were given Free Pardons / “unconditionally discharged” by the House of Commons. For a full list, see the Melbourne Advocate, 22 May 1869, p4, at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/169267360?. 1868, 15 May: He received his Free Pardon from RM Swan. --0--
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Cashman, Denis, b 1842, married to Catherine (b 1842), 2 Barkers Street, Waterford; 3 children: William 4 yrs, Arthur 2 yrs, David 1 yr; clerk, literate, RC, convicted at Dublin 19/2/67: "An attorney's clerk - one of the Edward Power Circle - an intelligent young man of considerable influence in the Conspiracy - He pleaded guilty under the erroneous impression that he would be leniently dealt with"; convicted of treason-felony, 7 years penal servitude. Fremantle prison, West Guildford road party (9685); 6 letters home, character indifferent (KW Amos, 1987, "The Fenians and Australia c1865-1880"; and Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers, General Register for Nos 9059-9598 cont., 9599-10128 (R15-R16)). --0-- JAIL RECORDS: Kilmainham, Dublin - admitted 12 January, 1867: Denis Cashman, prisoner #34, aged 27, born 1840 at Dungavan, Co Waterford, Ireland; charged with treasonable practices, found guilty of treason-felony; fair hair, grey eyes, fresh complexion, 5'8¼"; Roman Catholic, able to read and write; law clerk; committed for trial 12 January, 1867; appeared 11 February before the Commission, Dublin, sentenced by Baron Fitzgerald to 7 years' penal servitude. Removed to Mountjoy on 26 February, 1867 (Ireland, Prison Registers, 1790-1924; Dublin, Kilmainham 1850-1871). Richmond-Bridewell, Dublin - admitted 11 February, 1867: Denis Cashman, #47, notation that he was one of 13 prisoners who were "confined in Kilmainham Gaol, passed through here when being brought to Court for trial" for treason felony (Ireland, Prison Registers, 1790-1924; Dublin, Richmond (Bridewell) 1861-1880). Richmond-Bridewell, Dublin - admitted 19 February, 1867: Denis Cashman, #101, "brought in custody from Kilmainham Gaol and [indistinct] there to after sentence" on a charge of treason felony to which he pleaded guilty; sentenced on 19 February to 7 years' penal servitude by the Commission, Dublin, before Baron Fitzgerald (Ireland, Prison Registers, 1790-1924; Dublin, Richmond (Bridewell), 1855-1878). Millbank, London - admitted 23 March, 1867: Denis Cashman, #3127, law clerk, 27 years old; married, 3 children; reads and writes well; treason felony, 7 years' penal servitude; received from Mountjoy prison, Dublin, having served 1.4 months of separate confinement; wife Catherine Cashman, 5 Preston Street, Dublin; Roman Catholic. Sent to "ship Hougoumont for W Australia" on 30 September, 1867 (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Millbank Prison, Register of Prisoners, 1866-1867). Fremantle, WA - admitted 10 January, 1868: CASHMAN, Denis, #9685, per Hougoumont. Date of Birth: 1842 Place of Birth: Waterford Marital Status: Married, 3 children Occupation: Clerk Literacy: Literate Sentence Place: Dublin Crime: Treason Sentence Period: 7 years Comments: One of 62 Fenians transported on the Hougoumont, the last convict ship sent to Australia. Its arrival at Fremantle on 9 Jan 1868 signalled the end of transportation to this country. To New South Wales, 21 Sep 1869 (https://fremantleprison.com.au/) --00--