John Desmond

71

Robin Sharkey on 6th April 2016

John Desmond aged 50, was transported for life on “Friendship” after being found guilty at CORK in September 1798 (after the Irish Rebellion had been suppressed) of gathering arms during the rebellion). Freemans Journal, 4th October 1798 page 2 CORK, SEPT 26, “Last Monday our Assizes ended when the following persons received sentence: … John Desmond, together with Michael Connors, John Bresnahan, Patrick Doolin, James Curtin, Patrick Keefe, David Gibbon and Edmund Russell, for causing arms to be delivered to them by different persons, near Discarroll - to be hanged on Saturday 3rd November next.” John Desmond was the only one of these men who arrived in NSW - pardoned for transportation for life to NSW. William Desmond aged 20 was found guilty at the same Sept 1798 Cork Assizes for swearing illegal oaths and was sentenced directly to transportation for Life. They were probably father and son. He arrived on a different ship “Minerva” in January 1800, one month before John. Sadly, William Desmond died in NSW later that year, aged about 21 or 22. By the time of the 1806 Muster, John Desmond had taken up with Irishwoman Mary Shea who arrived on the Atlas 1 in 1802. She was 38 at the time and had been sentenced in Waterford for 7 years. They remained together until John’s death. 1800, 16th February - Arrival of “Friendship” Convict Indent 1806 Muster - John Desmond, ‘Friendship’ Rents 20 acres, Barrington's Farm. He had an employee, Bryan Kelly per “Brittania’. Of his farm, 11 acres were cultivated (wheat 4 acres, maize 2 acres, barley, 3 acres pasture, 3 bushels maize held,) and he had 10 male hogs 2 female hogs. One woman was off stores, employs one free man. Mary Sheay per Hercules [incorrect, it was Atlas 1] , P, Housekeeper lives with J Desmond. {Actually arrived on Atlas 1 in October 18020 1814 - Financial Difficulties and some form of judgement debt determined against him.Sydney Sydney Gazette, 15 January 1814 page 1 On MONDAY the 23d Instant, At Portland Head, on the Premises of John Desmond, at 10 in the Forenoon, THE PROVOST MARSHAL will Cause to be SET UP for SALE by PUBLIC AUCTION, a Quantity of wheat and other Effects, the Property of the said John Desmond (unless the Execution thereupon be previously superseded). Ticket of Leave number 152; 1814 - Tkt of Leave, Residence & mustered at Windsor. Off stores. Mary Shea per Atlas 1, lives with J Desmond, Windsor Off stores. Syd Gazette, 16 Mar 1816 p 2 - Subscriber at Portland Head/ Wilberforce etc to the Waterloo fund - 9 shillings. 1816 Conditional Pardon. records that “Trial Details not sent” “3 Sept 1816, Con Pard, Tried Co Cork, labourer. 5ft 5&1/2 inches, Fair complexion, silver-grey hair and bald, blue eyes. [ records"Died at Hawkesbury 14 Oct 1822”] 1816 - John Desmond of Hawkesbury is on list of persons who are to receive a land grant - 30 acres. Was recommended by Wm Cox. 1822 Muster - John Desmond; 7 years; Arrived per Friendship, Status: FBS Mary Shea 7 Yrs FBS, Windsor, servant to J Desmond. Tenant Resident; Total: 10 acres, Cleared: 10 acres, Cultivated, 7 acres wheat, 3 acres maize, 12 bushels maize held, 2 horned cattle, 12 hogs [ The land grant was formalised after John's Death - 30 June 1823 and it was in fact 40 acres described as being in the District of Kurrajong, bounded on the north by a creek (unnamed). DEATH 1822 Died: 14 Oct 1822, at Hawkesbury, NSW NSWBDM 5545/1822 V18225545 2B 1822 John DESMOND “age 72” DEATH Registered at St Matthews Church of England Windsor John Desmond, Free; Died 14 Oct 1822 Portland Head Aged: 72; Buried 16 Oct 1822 Windsor by Rev John Cross; Arrived per Friendship. Syd Gazette, 1825, 8 Sept p 1 - grants of land ready for delivery to the undernamed - John Desmond. His de facto wife, Mary Shea, remained on the land and in 1828 at the age of 60 she was farming it, recorded as being the Householder at Lower Portland Head and having 3 Government Servants (all male) one TL man and one servant FbyS as well as a young lodger born in the colony.