Patrick Connery

71

Robin Sharkey on 10th February 2014

Pauric (Patrick) CONNERY, CRIMES: Taking forcible possession of property and breaking out of Clonmel Jail (17 August 1835) and Ballybricken Jail, Waterford (7 May 1836). There were three CONNERY brothers who gained hero status in Waterford for first resisting an eviction and then escaping from custody over it, the two of them being protected by the country people over three years while they were hunted from 1835 until 1838 for escaping from custody on their way to Cork and a 7 year transportation sentence. All had been involved in Waterford faction-fighting (including using shillelaghs at fairs). They were: 1. SEAN (James) Born approx 1806 2. PAURIC (Patrick) Born approx 1807 3. SEAMUS (James) Born approx 1810 * Parents Patrick & Mary Connery, nee Lynch. * Village of Ballyconnery nearby indicates the family had been in the area for centuries. * This Connery family lived near the town-land of Bohadoon, Bohadoon is in the Colligan valley on the slopes of the Commeragh mountains, then thickly wooded. The parents rented 20 acres of hillside land. * The Connerys were members of the local Poleen Faction - fighters at fairs etc AT Bohadoon - * The middleman Sir John Nugent Humble sub-let in small parcels to farmers. He placed a man named Maurice Hackett on the parcel next to the Connerys, supposedly to watch over them, and made him gamekeeper of an area up the mountain that had been Sean’s job. the feeling was that Humble wanted them off the land. * May 1831: John and James killed Hackett. They dressed as women and fired shots at him while he was walking in a field beside a relative who was ploughing. They missed, he ran but got him climbing over the wall into the wood. They bashed his head into the ground with the butts of their guns. Waterford Lent Assizes, 6th March 1834: SEAN (John) charged with murder of David Tobin who had been walking with Sean and others on 5th October 1833 returning home from Dungarvan market (about 7 miles) when he was hit by a stone on the side of his head, became paralysed and died two days later. NOT GUILTY SEAN (John) Charged with Manslaughter of Currane/Krehane whose head was bashed with sticks by a gang of men at the fair of Ballykeerogue on 2nd October 1833 so that he died two weeks later. He had been selling porter in a tent at the fair and Sean had taken a cart-load of beer to the fair to sell for a man in Dungarvan. Presumably economic rivalry was involved worsened by the fact that Currane was a member of the rival GOW Faction. Sean was NOT GUILTY together with 7 other members of the Poleen faction. (Waterford Mirror and waterford Chronicle, both 8th March 1834) Waterford Lent Assizes, 12 March 1835 3. SEAN (John) and SEAMUS (James) Both charged over the death of Maurice Hackett, bashed to death in a field four years earlier in May 1831 near the village of Bohadoon. They were charged with conspiracy to murder and shooting at Maurice Hackett. * NOT GUILTY on the conspiracy to murder charge * HOWEVER Seamus (James) was convicted of manslaughter of Hackett (shooting at him) on direct evidence that he was overheard to say that he had shot Hackett and that Hackett could not recover after what he had given him. * NOTE also the principal prosecution witness was Laurence Crotty who told police he recognised both Sean and Seamus but then in court claimed he did not know Sean. Therefore, he was convicted of perjury for this and transported for 7 years on the same ship as Seamus. * SEAMUS (James): Death recorded commuted to LIFE * Sent to NSW on the ship “Hive” departed May 1835, arrived December 1835. * The Connery boys had previously illegally put their cattle on 5 acres of land near the town land of Ballylemon Wood, illegally because they had no lease. * In July 1835 the land agent obtained an eviction order and served it on John & Patrick, with police protection, and with the land agent, a solicitor named Foley, immediately decamping to Dublin. * But Sean (John) & Pauric (Patrick) returned to the land with their cattle, reoccupied it, and scared off the man Foley had put there to watch over the land. * Soon they were arrested charged with taking forcible possession of 5 acres, but got bail with a forged bail bond. * 22 July 1835 HEARING at WATERFORD ASSIZES, the charge was changed to resisting a legal decree. * FOUND GUILTY and sentenced to 7 Years’ TRANSPORTATION ESCAPE and HIDING * 17th August 1835 - They escaped from the lock-up at Clonmel, Tipperary on their journey to Cork for a transport ship to NSW by getting over the jail wall; two other prisoners who were trying with them fell back in and were captured. While the Waterford Keeper in charge of them went off for the day, the Connerys had been allowed in the kitchen by the Clonmel keeper, where they had been able to break their shackles. They completely removed these at a nearby farmhouse. (Waterford Mirror, 23/8/1835) * They spent the next 7 months in hiding around Waterford with the help of the local people protecting them. * Captured at Patrick Conners’ hotel in Waterford town right opposite the military barracks, after they were recognised. * 7 May 1836 led a break-out from Ballybricken Prison in Waterford, releasing 7 other men also due to be moved the next day to Cork for transportation to NSW. * Were again in hiding around Waterford for two more years. * 27 March 1838 were informed on while at a farmhouse there was awry high reward on their heads. * 18 July 1838 appeared at Waterford Assizes on a new charge of jail breaking. They were sentenced now to 14 years’ transportation, and this time they could not escape * 24 August 1834, departed Waterford for transfer to more secure Kilmainham jail in Dublin and eventually Departed on the “Elphinstone” for NSW * Arrived NSW on 29 December 1838, three years after their brother Seamus (James). Patrick CONVICT LIFE IN NSW: INDENT of “Elphinstone” Both Patrick and his brother John listed as: “ RC, Single, Laborer, Co Waterford. Tried 16 July 1838; Offence - Gaolbreaking and forceable possession; 14 yr sentence.” Both had sallow and freckled complexions & both brown hair, * PATRICK aged 32 (est B 1806) no education (can’t R&W). Grey eyes. only a scar on thumb & outside small of right leg * JOHN aged 28 (est B 1810) COULD R&W. Hazel eyes. Many scars listed -forehead and back of right side of head; many scars on hands/fingers. Both brothers received the same sentence mitigations and worked in same place: * TICKET OF LEAVE - 8 August 1844 prisoners number 38/2703 (6 yrs after sentence) Ticket of Leave 44/2042 * Allowed to remain in Bathurst District on recommendation of Hyde Park Bench (of magistrates) dated April 1844 “FREE” LIFE IN SYDNEY from 1845: Working at Waterworks at Centennial Park * 14th April 1845 - Returned to Sydney while working at the Waterworks at Lachlan Swamp (written on Ticket of Leave). His brother also was moved to the waterworks at same time. * CONDITIONAL PARDON 20 Dec 1848 - noted as laborer, Offence: jail breaking and forcible possession, 14 years sentence. B 1806 SMH, Thursday, 8th February 1849 - “CONDITIONAL PARDONS. - His Excellency the Governor has directed it to be notified, that Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to authorise the issue of pardons to the undermentioned persons, on condition that they do not return to the countries or colonies from which they were respectively transported during, the remainder of the term of their respective sentences:—Pardons available everywhere, save in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Dated-20th December, 1848 ..… JOHN CONNERY, ‘Elphinstone’, PATRICK CONNERY, ‘Elphinstone’ “. * 1851 - Brother John died, aged about 45, leaving a young widow, Ellen, with son James (9) and pregnant with daughter (Mary Helen). * 1857 - brother James died, unmarried. * 1858 per City of Sydney Rate Assessment Books: 254 Clarence Street, Sydney, rates payable by Patrick Connery on a dwelling house owned by Thomas Lawleys. Gross annual value only £26 * 1858/1859 Post Office Directories - Patrick, woodcutter, South Head Rd, Paddington * 1858 Held a mortgage over “the house” of the publican Burke in Paddington. Paddy Connery had once bailed out Mrs Mary Burke when her husband had placed her in gaol once. * 1877: Lived at Harrington St, Randwick (Per post office directories) * DEATH 24 May 1880 Harrington St Randwick, “Road Contractor” INDECENT ASSAULT CHARGE DISMISSED * Charged that On 13th October 1859 at Paddington he unlawfully and indecently assaulted a 7 year old girl named Mary Ellen Burke upstairs at her father’s public house * Patrick knew the parents well as he actually y held a mortgage over the public house, and had once bailed out the mother , Mary Burke from jail when her husband had caused her to be coked up. * An older woman called Catherine Connolly was living at the pub and had been sent upstairs by the girl’s mother to ind her. She gave evidence that when she went into a room where there was only a basin stand and a box, Patrick Connery was there with the little girl sitting on top of the basin stand and then she “described c’stances which amounted to a direct proof of the charge”. * Mrs Mary Burke said Catherine Connolly was drunk that morning. * Catherine Connolly said Patrick Connery had been drinking that morning and was much the worse for liquor * 7 year old Mary Ellen “did not appear to have received any instruction whatever in religion, [consequently] her evidence could not be taken” [because she could not swear an oath] * Patrick Connery had no defence counsel and claimed originally when charged that this was a made-up affair between the mother/daughter/ and old woman Connolly. * The Judge directed the jury to find NOT GUILTY. For what reason?? * The judge, in discharging Patrick Connery, intimated that he “had no stain upon his character”.