Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
Thomas Connell was transported on the Henry Porcher, departing 5th Aug 1825 and arriving 3rd Dec 1825 with 176 passengers.
1825 Journey. On Saturday morning (3 Dec) arrived from London and Dublin, the ship Henry Porcher, Captain John Thompson, with 175 male prisoners, having lost one man - the rest in good health. She sailed from London the 10th of July, and Dublin the 5th of August. The guard comprises a detachment of the 47th Regiment, under the orders of Captain Donaldson. The Surgeon Superintendent is Dr. CARTER, R. N. Sydney Gazette, 5 Dec 1825.
Henry Porcher (generic)References
| Primary Source | Irish Convicts to NSW, by Peter Mayberry at http://members.pcug.org.au; and NSW Convict Indents, 1788-1842; Bound Indentures 1823-1826 |
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Convict Notes
1834: Thomas CONNELL per Henry Porcher – his life sentence for stealing a horse would be served on Norfolk Island (see NSW Convict Records, 1810-1891; Norfolk Island: Returns of Convicts to NSW, 1844-1845). 1840, 20 February: On Norfolk Island, Thomas Connell’s life sentence was remitted to 15 years (see NSW Convict Records, 1810-1891; Colonial Secretarial Register of Sentences Remitted, 1838-1841).
1832, 21 July: Thomas CONNELL was sentenced at the Sydney Quarter Sessions to 12 months’ work on the roads in irons (see Sydney Gazette and NSW Advertiser, Tuesday 24 July 1832, p3). 1833, 9 February: Maitland Quarter Sessions – Thomas Connell was convicted of larceny, and sentenced to be worked in irons for six months (see The Sydney Monitor, p2). 1834, 2 August: From the Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, p2: “SUPREME CRIMINAL, COURT. FRIDAY, AUGUST 1. (Before the Chief Justice, and a Jury of Civil Inhabitants.) “Thomas Connell was indicted for stealing at Illawarra, one horse, of the value of £8, the property of the Reverend Frederick Wilkinson. The prosecutor deposed that the animal was stolen from a station at Wollongong on the day mentioned in the information, and that he did not see it again until it was shewn to him in the custody of the Sydney police. “William Mann, a horse-dealer residing on the Liverpool road, deposed that the prisoner sold him the pony which was subsequently claimed by the prosecutor, on the 12th April, for the sum of £7, which he paid him, taking his receipt for the payment, which was witnessed and signed by two persons named Smith and Whitehouse... “Thomas Smith, one of the subscribing witnesses to the receipt, which was produced in evidence and identified, deposed that on the morning of the 12th of April the prisoner came to his house, which is situated about eight miles off on the Liverpool road, and told him that he had just come down from the district of Illawarra; that he had stopped at Liverpool on his way, where he spent all his money; and that he now wished to dispose of his horse. He then promised the witness to remunerate him for his loss of time, if he would assist him to dispose of the horse, and Smith thereupon took him to Mann's, where the bargain was effected, and the pony delivered on payment of £7, which was paid in a five-pound note and two one-pound notes. “The witness, Smith, and the prisoner then proceeded in company to Sydney, where they regaled themselves at the Albion Inn, on the Market Wharf, where, to use the words of Smith, they became speechless drunk... “The prisoner in his defence called upon Mr. Taggart, the landlord of the Albion Inn, to shew that he had been robbed by Smith at that house, and that it was from a fear of prosecution for that offence, that he gave the testimony which he had sworn in court, but the prisoner failed in establishing anything like proof of this. Mr. Taggart, however, proved the important fact that the prisoner changed a £5 note in his house, and that he had also a £1 note in his possession. “The learned Judge in his charge, told the jury that if they disbelieved the witness Smith, they might dismiss his testimony from their minds, as though he had never been placed in the witness box, and apply themselves to the other parts of the evidence. “The prisoner was convicted, and sentenced to be transported to a penal settlement for the term of his natural life.”
1830, 25 December: From the Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, p3: “At the Hyde Park Police-office, on Wednesday, Thomas Connell, attached to the Commissariat department, was charged with stealing two shirts the property of the Crown, from the stores where he was employed in Darling Harbour. They were found on his person by Corcoran the constable, who took him into custody, and the sitting Magistrate, Captain Wilson, sentenced him to be transported for three years to a penal settlement.” 1832, 30 June: From the Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, p3: “Thomas Connell was charged with stealing three pair of trowsers [sic], the property of Mr. Isaac Simmons. The shopman deposed, that he observed the prisoner, who is also in the same employ, hide what appeared to be a roll of fustian in a back room ; he immediately looked at the shelf, and missing the trowsers, called the prisoner, who without waiting to be further spoken to, exclaimed, ‘So help me God, I know nothing about it.’ He then examined the spot where he first observed the prisoner’s motions, and found the three pair of trowsers. Connell, who protested his innocence, was committed for trial.” 1832, 20 July: Sydney Quarter Sessions – Thomas CONNELL – was indicted for stealing three pairs of trousers from Isaac Simmons at his shop in George Street, Sydney. Fellow employee Thomas Powiss told the court he had got Connell a job at the shop, as a tailor, only the day before the alleged theft. “He came to me and stated that he was starving,” Powiss said. “I accordingly spoke to Mr Simmons who gave him work.” Connell said “it was all humbug” and that he had no opportunity of concealing the trousers. He denied “ever being in a watch-house for drunkenness or other peccadilloes in his life, and said it was not likely he would soil his fingers with three pairs of common fustians. He had no witnesses to call; his home was Bathurst Plains.” Before the Jury retired, Connell addressed them: “Your Honour and gentlemen, the witness, when he accused me of stealing the trousers, put me into the parlour, until he went and roused his master up. If I had been a thief, I could have bolted like bricks, and no mistake, but I scorned to fly, conscious of my innocence.” The Jury returned a verdict of guilty. Connell was remanded.
1827, 13 July: He was discharged from the Hulk Phoenix and sent to Moreton Bay per the brig “Wellington”, arriving there on 20 July 1827 (see NSW Convict Records, 1810-1891; Phoenix Hulk: Discharge Book, 1825-1830; and “Moreton Bay Convicts” database by Kenneth J Lamb, Canberra 2013). 1827, 20 July: He arrived at Moreton Bay. On 27 December that year, he made the first and briefest of his two escapes. He was at large for 44 days (see “Moreton Bay Convicts” database by Kenneth J Lamb, Canberra 2013). 1828, 9 February: Thomas CONNELL was returned to Moreton Bay. 1828, 16 July: He absconded for a second time, but was caught and returned for the final time on 9 January 1829 (see “Moreton Bay Convicts” database by Kenneth J Lamb, Canberra 2013). 1828, 13 September: Thomas Connell was admitted to the Hulk; he was a runaway from Moreton Bay, apprehended at Port Macquarie and transported to Sydney per the schooner “Isabella” (see NSW Convict Records, 1810-1891; Phoenix Hulk: Entrance Books, 1825-1831). 1829, 9 January: Discharged from the Hulk to Moreton Bay. In all, he was away from Moreton Bay this time for 221 days (see NSW Convict Records, 1810-1891; Phoenix Hulk: Discharge Book, 1825-1830). 1830, 18 May: Thomas CONNELL was sent from Moreton Bay to Sydney, per “Isabella”. He was admitted to the Phoenix Hulk on 26 May (see Phoenix Hulk: Entrance Books, 1825-1831). 1830, 28 May: He was sent from the Hulk to Hyde Park Barracks (see NSW Convict Records, 1810-1891; Phoenix Hulk: Discharge Book, 1825-1830). 1830, 9 June: Thomas CONNELL was granted a Certificate of Freedom but it was not long before he was in trouble again (The Sydney Monitor (NSW : 1828 - 1838) Wed 9 Jun 1830, p3).
1825, 9 December: Thomas Connell is on a list of convicts forwarded to Parramatta for distribution; assigned to Hannibal Macarthur Esq (see NSW Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788-1856; Copies of Letters Sent Within The Colony, 1814-1827). NOTE: Hannibal Hawkins Macarthur, pastoralist, politician and businessman was a nephew of John Macarthur (see http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/macarthur-hannibal-hawkins-2388). 1826, 19 July: From the Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, p3: “PARRAMATTA POLICE. FRIDAY, JULY 14.—Thomas Connell, a prisoner, servant to H. McArthur [sic], Esq. appeared, charged by his overseer with proceeding to Sydney without leave. His overseer gave him a good character, and recommended him to the lenity of the Magistrate. Reprimanded and discharged.” 1826, 5 October: Sentenced by the Magistrate Lowe at Bringelly to two years for robbery. 1826, 20 December: Thomas Connell, per Henry Porcher 1825, Catholic, tailor, sentenced to two years' transportation, was admitted to the Phoenix Hulk (see NSW Convict Records, 1810-1891; Phoenix Hulk: Entrance Books, 1825-1831).
1825, 3 December: On arrival in NSW, Thomas CONNELL was 17 and a tailor by trade. He had been tried at Cork on 2 April 1822 and sentenced to 7 years’ transportation for stealing from a person. He was 5’6¾” tall, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes, light brown hair and was physically “very well” (see NSW Convict Indents, 1788-1842; Bound Indentures 1823-1826).
TRIED: 2 April 1822 (see NSW Convict Indents, 1788-1842; Bound Indentures 1823-1826).