Robert Cranston

218

Dianne Jones on 22nd September 2021

1876 and later: Robert Cranston worked for a while as an assistant to O’Donovan Rossa in Clann na Gael [in America, the IRB or Fenian movement was known as Clann na Gael, Gaelic for the tribe or extended family of native Irish]. He married a girl originally from Stewartstown called Anne Mulgrew and eventually settled in Philadelphia. The story of Robert Cranston is told by Ciaran Fee in "Robert Cranston and the Catalpa escape", in The Bell, the Journal of the Stewartstown and District Local History Society, Vol. 10, pp 3-18 (http://www.hidden-gems.eu/Stewartstown - Robert Cranston.pdf). --0-- 1914: Robert Cranston died and was buried at the Holy Cross Redeemer Cemetery, Philadelphia (Fitzimons, p357). --00-- Footnote: In 2017, the Friendly Sons of St Patrick set out to raise money to erect headstones on the graves of Robert Cranston and Thomas Darragh: “None of the Catalpa Six ever returned to Ireland,” they say. “All remained until their deaths, in America… Thomas Darragh and Robert Cranston, both buried in Philadelphia, are still without tombstones. In James McNally Wilson’s name, we hope to raise sufficient funds, so we can honor these brave men with their long overdue grave markers.” (https://friendlysonsofsaintpatrick.com/2017/10/remembering-the-fenians-thomas-darragh-robert-cranston-102817/) Fundraising was still going on in 2018, it would seem, as suggested by this post on another site: “Robert Cranston: Buried in Philadelphia at Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery, 4268 Richmond St. No grave marker yet” (Ancient Order of Hibernians Division # 39, 2018).

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Dianne Jones on 22nd September 2021

1876, 9 September: From The Pilot, Boston: “THE RESCUED PRISONERS’ GRAND RECEPTION IN BOSTON On the 1st inst., a grand entertainment was given in Music Hall for the benefit of the released prisoners, who were present. The immense hall was crowded; nearly every seat on floor and galleries was filled. The stage was fitted up with a handsome proscenium, the Sheil Literary Institute playing the patriotic drama of Robert Emmet. The greatest credit is due to the management committee. Polite ushers were in attendance, and not the least hitch occurred in the whole evening's entertainment. The address was delivered by John E. Fitzgerald, Esq., who was greeted with thundering applause. He pictured in graphic words the condition of Ireland for centuries; while Poland and other struggling nationalities had been wiped from the map, the intense individualism of the Irish as a nation had preserved them. The movement for which these gallant fellows had suffered was the embodiment of the national idea. (Applause.) ... the demand for the appearance of the rescued prisoners was imperious, and had to be gratified, though it was intended by the committee that the men should not be paraded. But the call was so strong and kindly that the bronzed men appeared on the stage, and were introduced by Mr. Fitzgerald. The greeting they received will never be forgotten. It was plain how deep a chord their suffering and escape has struck in the Irish heart. They numbered six, though Mr. Wilson, one of the rescued men, was not present; his place was filled by Mr. William Foley, the ex-prisoner who arrived in this country about two months ago. The entertainment was a complete success; and, besides its value as a patriotic safety-valve, it will add a considerable sum to the testimonial to be presented to the ex-prisoners, to enable them to begin life in this new country under fair circumstances." --00--

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Dianne Jones on 22nd September 2021

1876, 17 April: The whaler Catalpa with the six military Fenians aboard sailed for America. At two o'clock on the morning of 19 August, 1876, the Catalpa anchored off Castle Garden, New York. --0-- 1876, 14 June: From the NSW Police Gazette, p189: “Extracts from the Western Australian Police Gazette… 10th May 1876 Absconders... Robert Cranston, Imperial Convict, Reg. No. 9702; arrived in the Colony per convict ship ‘Hougoumont’, 1868; received life sentence 26th June, 1866. Description: Middling stout, age 36 years, height 5 feet 6¾ inches, brown hair, gray eyes, oval visage, fresh complexion. Marks: Cross inside right arm; a farmer. Fenian. Absconded 8.30a.m. from Fremantle, on 17th April. Escaped from the Colony in the American whaler ‘Catalpa’, G. Anthony, Master." --00--

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Dianne Jones on 22nd September 2021

From his Fremantle jail record: CRANSTON, Robert, #9702, arrived 10 Jan 1868 per Hougoumont Date of Birth: 1840 [maybe] Place of Birth: Stewartstown, County Tyrone Marital Status: Unmarried Occupation: Labourer Literacy: Semiliterate Sentence Place: Dublin Crime: Mutinous conduct Sentence Period: Life 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. One of six Fenians, Robert CRANSTON (9702), Thomas DARRAGH (9707), Michael HARRINGTON (9757), Martin HOGAN (9767), Thomas HASSETT (9758) & James WILSON (9915) who escaped from Fremantle Prison on the US whaler Catalpa, 17 Apr 1876. Ex 61st Regiment of Foot (https://fremantleprison.com.au/).

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Dianne Jones on 22nd September 2021

1868, 10 January: On arrival in WA, Robert Cranston was listed as #9702, 26 years old, and a farmer and labourer (a notation refers to his former military rank); single, no children (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department Registers). This record also contains his physical description, including height of 5’6¾”, brown hair, grey eyes, fresh complexion and stout build. On the General Register, his mother Margaret living near Stewartown [sic], Co Tyrone, is given as his next of kin. He was able to read and write a little and was a Roman Catholic. He had twice been court martialled and he had been specially recommended by the Surgeon Superintendent for good conduct on the voyage. The same document also records that in the normal course of events Robert Cranston would have been eligible for a Ticket of Leave in May 1879 (see Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; General Register for Nos 9059 - 9598 cont., 9599 - 10128 (R15 - R16)). --0-- 1869, 5 February: Thirty five Fenians who had been transported to Western Australia (as well as others imprisoned in Great Britain) were given Free Pardons / “unconditionally discharged” by the House of Commons. Robert Cranston was not among them. He and the other 16 military Fenians at Fremantle were consigned to serve out their life sentences, or lesser terms up to 15 years, in WA. For a full list of those who received pardons, see the Melbourne Advocate, 22 May 1869, p4 (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/169267360?). --00--

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Dianne Jones on 22nd September 2021

1867, 16 April: After almost 7 months at Millbank, he was transferred to Chatham prison, east of London at St Mary’s Island in Kent. Chatham, a public works prison for male convicts, was notorious for riots in the 1860s (https://www.prisonhistory.org). --0-- 1867, 23 May: Five weeks later, Robert Cranston was sent south to Portsmouth, a convict public works prison, in Hampshire, where he was listed as prisoner #953. The record for his incarceration merely gives his name and dates of admission and departure. He remained at Portsmouth for just short of a fortnight (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951). --0-- 1867, 6 June: He was admitted to Dartmoor prison, at Princetown in Devon – along with Michael Harrington and James Kiely (see their pages on the Hougoumont roster). Dartmoor became a male convict public works prison in 1850 and within five years it was reserved for less able-bodied convicts (https://www.prisonhistory.org). There are no easily accessed inmate records for this time but Robert Cranston’s WA Convict Record shows he was received aboard the Hougoumont from Dartmoor prison. --00--

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Dianne Jones on 22nd September 2021

1866, 4 September: Robert Cranston was received at Pentonville, in north London. Prisoner #3953, it was noted on his record that a parchment copy of his discharge from the army was attached. He was listed as having been sentenced to penal servitude for life (UK Prison Commission records, 1770-1951). Completed in 1842, Pentonville was built “for the detention of convicts sentenced to imprisonment or awaiting transportation” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HM_Prison_Pentonville). --0-- 1866, 26 September: Robert Cranston was admitted to Millbank prison at Westminster in London, which served as a holding facility for convicted prisoners before they were transported to Australia. At Millbank, he was listed as a labourer and Private in the 61st Regt, No.1011. He was 24 [suggesting his birth year was about 1841/42], a Roman Catholic, single, not able to read or write, charged with “treason (felony) mutinous conduct” and sentenced to penal servitude for life. His previous convictions were listed as “Twice by CM” and his behaviour was described as “good”. His previous confinements at Mountjoy and Pentonville had amounted to a total of 22 days of separate confinement. Next of kin was his mother, Margaret Philom (?), of Cole Island, County Tyrone, Ireland (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Millbank Prison; Register of Prisoners 1866). Note: By the 1850s, Pentonville and Millbank were places for all male convicts to serve “their probationary term (now reduced to 9 months), after which they would be transported or sent to a public works prison. This function continued more or less (notable exceptions including the reception of military prisoners in the 1860s…) until the decision to remove it from the convict prison system in 1885” (https://www.prisonhistory.org). --0--

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Dianne Jones on 22nd September 2021

1866: More on Robert Cranston’s mug shot “from Mountjoy prison”... Fiona Fitzsimons (2016, History Ireland, 24(4), p29, http://www.jstor.org/stable/43823963) has questioned the attributed location of Mountjoy for many of the 1866 Fenian prisoner photographs now held in the NYC Public Library’s online collection. She says a check of online registers “clearly shows that many of these prisoners were actually held in Kilmainham and elsewhere”. However, Robert Cranston must have been at Mountjoy, at least in the immediate lead up to his removal from Dublin to England in early September. His transfer from there, along with that of six other men, was noted in the Pilot newspaper, of 29 September, p3: “Departure of Fenian Prisoners.— Thomas Darragh, Charles McCarthy, James Reilly, Thomas Chambers, Robert Cranston, Michael Harrington, and Joseph O’Reilly, the soldiers who were recently convicted of treason-felony, left Kingstown on Tuesday morning, per the steamer Connaught, Capt. Kendal, for Holyhead, en route to Pentonville Penitentiary, there to undergo their several terms of imprisonment. They were handcuffed two and two, and were in charge of Captain Farquharson, Deputy Governor of Pentonville Prison, and Chief Warder Maguire, of Mountjoy. A party of marines from the Royal George, under Lieutenant Tier, formed the escort to Holyhead.” (https://newspapers.bc.edu/) --0--

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Dianne Jones on 22nd September 2021

Court Martial contd: The trial of Private Cranston was resumed yesterday morning by the court-martial sitting in the Victoria Library, shortly before eleven o'clock. Private Abraham cross-examined by the prisoner. The last time I saw Doyle was this morning in the square of this barrack. There were five or six men present. I was enlisted in Lisburn. Were you in the habit of going to houses frequented by Fenians?—I was after Cranston spoke to me; I don't remember when I first went to any such house. I might have been in such houses before Christmas last, but I knew nothing of their character. I saw you at the Curragh, but I can't state in whose company, as I did not look after you to see in whose company you were. It was after the depot joined headquarters. I might have conversed and drank with you there, but I don't remember if I did. I have drank with hundreds, and I don't remember every man I drank with. To the best of my belief the conversation in the canteen at the Curragh took place more than a year ago. I understood that in case of a rising the Fenians of the 61st were to fight against the Queen, when Cranston told me so. I did not when in the canteen at the Curragh understand that the object of the Fenians was to put down the Queen's government and establish a republic. What did you then understand its object to be?—Well, I did not take any notice what it was to be then or understand anything about it. I used to hear several talking about Fenianism. I did not take any notice of it then. I was asked to become a Fenian and refused. Why?—Why, because I thought they were no good. I thought there was harm in them. When asked to join, I had no curiosity to learn their objects. After the conversation in the canteen at the Curragh, I thought they were not loyal subjects; but when they were all talking about Fenianism, and I did not know that it might not be a humbug, I think I gave information about the conversation in the canteen at the Curragh, but I cannot answer when. My commanding officer was Colonel Redmond, and I gave him information of everything that I knew, after Cranston spoke to me about the outbreak. I reported to him in Richmond barracks, and Cranston was there then. I think that was in January. I never made any report while I was at the Curragh myself. I had always plenty of conversation that I forgot. I reported all that I remembered. Will you swear that you ever mentioned to your commanding officer anything whatever about the conversation in the canteen at the Curragh?—No, I will not. I can swear that I reported to some officer. I cannot say whether it was the commanding officer or not. Do not you know you never did?—No, I do not. I think I made a statement to Captain Whelan. I made no statement in writing, because I can neither read nor write. The remainder of the testimony was largely by informers whom Cranston had induced to take the Fenian oath, and charged him with treasonable language." --0—

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Dianne Jones on 22nd September 2021

Court Martial contd: Cross-examined by the prisoner. I was last examined as a witness at Green Street. I don't know whether I was believed or not. Kearney was not tried for firing a shot at me. He was not acquitted. I was sworn a Fenian by Thomas Baines. The oath I took, as I remember, was as follows: ‘I, in the presence of the Almighty God, do solemnly swear allegiance to defend the Irish republic, now virtually established, to take up arms in its defense at a moment's warning, to defend its integrity and independence; and further to exterminate the Saxon out of the land, to keep all secrets and truths commended to me, and to obey my superior officers and those placed over me.’ I swore to defend the Queen against all enemies. Did you swear to fight against her?—I decline to answer that question. The deputy judge-advocate told the witness that unless he apprehended that what he should say in reply would subject him to a criminal prosecution he should answer the question. Witness. I understand you, sir. According to the Fenian oath I was sworn to fight against her, although in the heart I did not mean it. After swearing to defend her, and afterwards swearing to fight against her, say candidly whether anything you swear is deserving of credit or belief? Deputy Judge-Advocate. I think that is for the Court to infer. Witness. I decline to answer the question. The prisoner having pressed for a reply, the court was cleared, and, on reopening, the deputy judge-advocate announced the opinion of the Court to be that the question was as to a matter of inference, and not to be answered by the witness. Cross-examination continued. I was at the Curragh in March. I was sworn a Fenian in March, 1865. When did you first give information of an intended mutiny to your commanding officer?—I decline to answer that question. Deputy Judge-Advocate. You must answer it. Prosecutor. Answer the question. Witness. I gave information in March or April, I am not sure which, this year. Cross-examination continued. I decline for the safety of the officers to say to whom I first gave information. State under what circumstances, without mentioning names.—For the purpose of injuring the Fenians, and the leaders, and so forth, to the utmost of my power, I came forward from the motives of loyalty and love of justice. Re-examined by the prosecutor. I was, in fact, fired at, as I stated in my cross-examination. By the Court. The intentions to mutiny existed in the months of January and March, 1866, and the prisoner was aware of them. I was fired at and wounded, and the persons who did it were Fenians. Private John Abraham examined by the prosecutor. The witness being a little deaf, the questions were, by direction of the Court, read out near to him by Major Gordon. He deposed that he had been twenty-three years in the 61st Regiment. Some time since the 17th or 18th of January he met the prisoner, whom he had known close upon two years, at Hoey's public house. On that occasion there were present Private Harrington, Foley, Kenny, Priestly, Cranston, the prisoner, and Chambers, the deserter, all of the 61st, and a lot of cavalry of the 5th Dragoon Guards, and a good number of civilians, including one that he had enlisted in the 60th Rifles. Chambers shook witness by the hand and asked him how he was getting on, and he said very well, and asked Chambers how was he getting on, and he said very well, that he had drawn £10 6s. to-day, which was better pay than he had had when he was in the 61st. The prisoner and Chambers went out to the top of the stairs, and witness did not hear what passed between them. Had you ever any conversation on the parade-ground at Richmond barracks with the prisoner in February last.—Yes, I was on the parade-ground when the prisoner, Cranston, came up to me and said, ‘How are you getting on, countryman?’ ‘Very well,’ said I: ‘Cranston, how are you getting on?’ ‘First-rate,’ he said. I said, ‘I think things are very slow, or rather dull, this weather.’ ‘No,’ he said, ‘they are not; I think things are getting on very well, for there is going to be an outbreak in the course of two or three days, and I can destroy every rifle that is in the regiment.’ ‘Oh,’ said I, ‘that is easily enough done.’ Said he, ‘I will have a sworn Fenian to go into each room and to stuff the chambers of the nipples of the arms belonging to the soldiers who are not Fenians with fine sponge.’ He said that when we should be called out, we should get the word to load and the soldiers who were Fenians would fire over the heads of the civilian Fenians, and that the arms belonging to the soldiers not Fenians would then be all stopped. Of course he thought I was a Fenian at the time. At that time the sergeant-major gave the word to take up the covering, and interrupted the conversation. No other person was present at it, which to the best of my recollection took place about the 17th February. On the same evening I saw and spoke to Sergeant-Major Young of the 61st. A few other questions having been asked the witness, the court was adjourned to this morning at half past ten o'clock.