Michael Comerford

343

Maureen Withey on 24th June 2023

Irish Convict Database, by Peter Mayberry. Michael Comerford, age 25, Per Java, 1833, Tried Kilkenny, 1833, Life, for Unlawful oaths. White Boy rebel. DOB, 1808, native place, Kilkenny. Single. Catholic. Trade: Servant Farm. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Was triid with William Lalor, Edward, Cody and John Madigan, who were all transported for Life. Lalor and Madigan were on Java, and Cody was arrived on Parmelia in 1834. He was mentioned in the Criminal Petition made on behalf of Edward Cody: Prisoner name(s): Edmond (Edward) Coady (Cody) of Ballyduan. Court and date of trial: Kilkenny [Ireland] Lent Assizes March 1833 (a 'Whiteboy'case). Crime: Whiteboyism: [house breaking armed with a scythe and powder horn] into the house of Mr Jones of Stranrahan in Ballyduan, Kilkenny on 5 March 1833. Initial sentence: Transportation for life. Gaoler's report: In New South Wales. Annotated (Outcome): 'Let the Law take its course'; nil. Petitioner(s): William Kinsella, Roman Catholic bishop; Two petitions from Ellenor Coady, mother of Ballyduan Kilkenny, one of which has ten character references and the other is undersigned by nine people. Grounds for clemency (Petition Details): Convict pleaded guilty; there was no trial; good character from childhood; was forced to take part by three others who were bad men and drunk; widowed mother depends on him for support; no previous offences; Lord Anglesey intended to discharge him but the Orange faction prevented him; the Judge in the case did not go into the evidence at all; the depositions are 'the whole truth'. Other papers: Copy information of John Coburn, Patrick Callinan and Alexander Baxter taken on 6 March 1833 by G Browne, Esquire; letter from Edmond O'Neill enclosing the above; letter from Robert Torrens, Judge; two depositions of Patrick Cody brother of Edmond that is not a 'Whitefoot' (22 March 1833); William Kinsella (Bishop) enclosing 2 copies of affidavits of Catherine Cody, sister, Eleanor Cody, mother of Edmond (25 March 1833); deposition of Ellenor Coady, Catherine Coady and Judith Coady stating that Edmond Coady was forced to join the Whitefeet (14 April 1835); letter from Peirce Butler forwarding the above affidavit and memorial and supporting the convict (17 November 1835); Lord Morpeth enclosing copies of recent documents (23 February 1836); letter from Lord Glenelg stating that the Home department is responsible for the outcome of the case (10 March 1836); note from Mr Drummond about the correspondence in the case (30 March 1836); letter from Lord Glenelg - Mr Finn should direct the memorial to the Home Department (17 August 1836); Pierce Butler asking Sir George Grey for the return of the papers relating to the case with a copy (28 March 1837); reply from Sir George Grey to the effect that Mr Fin 'may have overlooked them' or they may have been returned 'without his recollection of the circumstance'; Pierce Butler forwarding and supporting the memorial of the two young men; deposition of Ellenor Coady, mother, and Catherine White and Judith Coady her daughters (27 April 1837); Pierce Butler enquiring whether Lord John Russell has received any information from the Governor of New South Wales regarding the conduct of William Lawlor and Edmond Coady in the Colony (26 March 1838); John Street JP to whom Coady was assigned in New South Wales confirming Coady's good character and conduct while in the Colony (21 November 1837); letter from J McLean in the Principal Superintendent of Convicts Office enclosing the above; letter from R Snodgrass Government House, Sydney forwarding copies of the above 6 January 1838; letter from James Stephen forwarding the above; note from Mr Finn requesting an interview for himself and Colonel Poulter with Lord John Russell (undated); note from Mr Farley [mostly illegible]; two notes about the papers. Additional Information: Arrested with John Madigan, William Lalor (Lawlor) and Michael Comerford; was on the hulks at Cove. --------------------------------------------------------------------- The following persons—15 in number—left our County (Kilkenny) jail at an early hour Thursday morning, escorted by strong military party, on their way to the Cove of Cork, to put on board the Hulk there, previous to transportation :—Nicholas Tobin, found guilty of attacking the police under command of Major Browne—to transported for life. Stephen Brennan, for highway robbery—like sentence. Patrick Farrell and Richard Lynum, for assaulting Policeman—like sentence. Patrick Mullally, John Madigan, William Lalor, Michael Comerford, and John Fennelly, for administering unlawful oaths and other Whitefoot offences —like sentence. James Butler, Edmond Dowling, Martin Brennan, and Patrick Cody, for attacking the dwellinghouse of the Rev. John Kearney—to transported for years. Patrick Kennedy and William Egan, for attacking Michael Brennan, near Jenkinstown, like sentence. The above convicts, (10 out of in the county and 5 in the city, sentenced for transportation our late assizes) are, as yet the only prisoners ordered proceed to Cork. Why is this? We understand that Cody, one the four persons taken in arms Mr. Coburn, C.C., at the gate of Flood Hall, immediately preceding our late assizes, and sentenced transportation for that offence, has been respited. His associates are amongst the number of those enumerated above as having been transmitted to Cork. are not aware in what respect the offence Cody is distinguishable from that of his companions in arms.” He is, however, nearly related to a Priest at Thomastown —Kilkenny Moderator. Waterford Mail, 30 March 1833. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The following account details how he was taken. The Cody referred to must be Edward Cody. Capture of four Whitefeet.--Mr Coburn, C.C. with. a party of the Stoneyford and Knochtopher Police commenced about 9 o’clock on Tuesday evening patrolling the country in the neighbourhood of Ballylude, Killorkan, Derrynahinich, and Ballyconway. From the latter place he ordered the Knocktopher party to return to their quarters, and he proceeded with his own (six in number) on his way to Stoneyford. On arriving, at Mount. Juliet he heard a shot fired in the neighbourhood of Stutncarty, towards which place he instantly directed his course. When this active officer reached lodge gate of John Flood, Esq., at Flood Hall, (about 5 o'clock in the morning) he fell in with an armed party of five Whitefeet, who, he subsequently learned, had been after attacking the house of a farmer named Hanrahan, at Stumcarty. Mr. Coburn called on the boys to surrender, but they not only refused, but one of them snapped his piece at a Policeman; the latter promptly fired on them, which caused the fellows to take to their heels in double quick time; the Police at once pursued and in a short time succeeded in capturing four of them, together with a musket, a carbine, a pistol, a scythe, a large horn containing a quantity or powder, some flints and a steel. The 4 Whitefeet (one of whom is named Cody and is nephew to a Priest at Thomastown) have been safely lodged in our County Gaol. Mr. Coburn's party behaved with great determination and forbearance on the occasion. It is reported that the carbine and pistol belonged to some of the police who were murdered at Carrickshock. Kilkenny Moderator, 9 March 1833.