Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
Arthur Devlin was transported on the Tellicherry, departing 31st Aug 1805 and arriving 15th Feb 1806 with 161 passengers.
The 'Tellicherry' - built in 1796 at Thames, England for the East India Company. 467 tons. One sailing to Australia - Ireland to New South Wales in 1805, arriving 1806. 125 (or 130) male and 35 female prisoners, 2 children - 6 deaths. Many on the men on board were political prisoners. Departed from Cork, Ireland. (The register of these persons is NOT yet complete on this website - a work in progress.) In 1807 the Tellicherry was shipwrecked off the coast of the Philippines. The men were rescued and made their way to Manilla.
Tellicherry (generic)References
| Primary Source | NSW Gov Records. Irish Convicts. |
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Convict Notes
Family connections for Arthur (Devlin) are: Some amendments added Nov 2025. DEVLIN/DAVELIN Arthur (Devlin/Davelin) was born about 1779 in Crone Red Cross Wicklow co. Ireland & became a labourer. He took part in armed opposition to British rule, not convicted but was captured as a political prisoner, given option w/5others of trial or exile for Life, held at Kilmainham prison & arrived in NSW as an exile on 15 2 1806 after a voyage of 5.5months on TELLICHERRY. He was living in Sydney when he married Priscilla (Morris,Squire-Mason age14 her first marriage) of Kissing Point on 2 4 1806 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. In May 1809 he was granted land. He was issued a beer licence in February 1811. In 1816 & later he was issued cattle by the Government. He died on 14 11 1820 age41/9 in Sydney father of 15children; on 22 11 1820 he was mentioned as shooting cattle w/1other of G (Johnston). Arthur (Devlin/Davelin) was son of Bryan (Devlin born 1755 Aughrim Ireland) & Winifred (Byrne born 1753 Cullentra Glendalough Wicklow) who produced 9other children-including Anne (Devlinn born 1780 who married William (Campbell).] [Some details taken from this Website] Priscilla (Morris) was born on 29 5 1792 & baptised on 19 8 1792 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. She was living at Kissing Point in 1806. She, as (Morris/Davlin), married secondly Thomas (Small) farmer on 17 12 1821 at St Phillips CofE Sydney & produced 8children. She received 30acres farm from her stepfathers Will in 1822 until her son reached 21years. She is recorded in 1828 at Kissing Point wither her father in law & her family. She produced 14children in her lifetime. Details of Priscilla (Morris)s family are given in entry for James (Squire CHARLOTTE 1788) on this Website. Arthur (Devlin) & Priscilla (Morris) produced 6children: 1.James (Devlin) was born in 1807-mother recorded as Priscill (Squire-Mason). He received 30acre farm from his grandfathers Will via his grandmother in 1822. He died on 5 11 1875 age about68. 2.Arthur (Devlin/Davelin) was born on 15 2 1811 & baptised on 30 7 1812 age17m at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He died on 5 11 1895 age84. 3.Mary (Devlin/Develin) was born on 11 10 1813 & baptised on 16 2 1817 age3 w/Patrick at St Lukes CofE Liverpool. (Noted Mary (Devlin) daughter of Arthur (Devlin) & Priscilla (Squires) is recorded also as baptised on 3 6 1820 at St Marys RC Hobart-recorded there-the ceremony was performed in NSW-an opportunity taken perhaps when Catholicism arrived in Australia] She died in 1835 age about21. .. 4.Patrick (Devlin/Develin) was born on 4 12 1815 & baptised on 16 2 1817 age16m w/Mary at St Lukes CofE Liverpool. He died on 19 8 1865 age49. 5.Ann (Devlin) was born on 18 10 1817 & baptised on 2 12 1817 at St Anns CofE Kissing Point. 6.Martha (Devlin) was born on 19 10 1819 & baptised on 9 1 1825 age5 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. Reference: Craig James Smee 'Births and Baptisms Marriages and Defacto Relationships Deaths and Burials New South Wales 1788-1830' ..a complete listing from church & other records in the early colony.
Arthur Devlin, was a child of Bryan Devlin (b. 1755 in Aughrim, Ireland)and Winifred Devlin (born Byrne), (born 1753, in Cullentra, Glendalough, Co. Wicklow). There were 10 children, including his sister Anne, born 1780, who later married William Campbell. Anne was a friend of Robert Emmet. Source: https://www.myheritage.com/names/anne_campbell
Colonial Secretary Index. DEVELIN, Arthur. Per "Tellicherry", 1806 1805 Aug 17 - On list of convicts embarked on board the "Tellicherry" (Reel 6028; 2/8283 p.37) 1806 Feb 22 - King to Marsden re transportation of Develin and his four companions without conviction; and their status in the Colony (Fiche 3289; 5/3822.2A pp.1-3) 1809 May - On list of all grants and leases of land registered in the Colonial Secretary's Office (Fiche 3268; 9/2731 p.176) 1810 Jan 29 - Memorial (Fiche 3003; 4/1821 No.90) 1810 Feb 12 - Petition for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3164; 4/1846 p.68) 1811 Mar 6 - Received beer licence in Feb 1811 (Reel 6038; SZ758 pp.181-2, 4) 1813 Jul 1 - Subscribed to fund for building a court house at Sydney (Reel 6043; 4/1728 p.136) 1816 Jun 22 - On lists of persons to be issued with horned cattle from the Government Herds (Reel 6038, SZ759 p.213; Reel 6031, 4/7028A p.33) 1816 Aug 10 - On return of horned cattle issued from the Government Herds between 8 May 1814 and 9 Jan 1819 (Reel 6048; 4/1742 p.46) 1819 Jan 9 - On list of persons indebted for cattle received from the Government Herds between 8 May 1814 & 9 Jan 1819 (Reel 6048; 4/1742 p.30) 1819 Apr 30 - On return of persons indebted to Government for cattle issued from the Government Herds, to be paid for in cash or grain (Reel 6048; 4/1742 p.254) 1820 Nov 22-Dec 14 - Charles Stevens convicted by Court of Criminal Jurisdiction of aiding Devlin in killing cattle of G Johnston (Reel 6023; X820 p.29) 1822 Apr 15, May - On lists of persons indebted to the Crown for livestock issued from the Government Herds and Flocks (Reel 6052; 4/1753 pp.117a, 119) ---------------------------------------------------- Obituary of his Son , Arthur Devlin, in 1893. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/68573188
DEPARTURE FROM IRELAND: Freemans Journal Tuesday 30 July 1805 page 2: "Thursday evening, Michael Dwyer, Martin Burke, Arthur Develin, Hugh Byrne and John Mernagh [sic], were conveyed from Kilmainham prison, by the Circular-road in carriages, and put on board an armed cutter in the river, which is to carry them to Cove, where a transport destined for Botany Bay, is ready to receive them."
After the death of Arthur, in 1820, Priscilla remarried to Thomas Small, the son of John Small (First Fleet Convict, Charlotte, 1788) and Mary Parker (First Fleet Convict, Lady Penryhn, 1788) and the couple had a further 8 children.
In the colony, Arthur married Priscilla Mason the daughter of James Squire (First Fleet Convict, Charlotte, 1788) and Elizabeth Mason (Convict, Mary Anne, 1791). Arthur Devlin of the parish of Sydney and Priscilla Squire of Kissing Point were married in this church by permission of His Excellency Governor King this second day of April in the year one thousand eight hundred and six by me Samuel Marsden. Both Arthur and Priscilla made their X marks in the register in the presence of James Holt who signed the register and Ann Lucas who made her X mark in the register.
Arthur, aged 27 of Crone Red Cross, Wicklow, Ireland was a rebel who was tried at Wicklow and transported aboard the ship 'Tellicherry' arriving 15 Feb 1806. Arthur had been exiled from Ireland in 1805, together with Michael Dwyer, leader of the Wicklow Outlaws and the other members, Martin Burke, John Mernagh and Hugh Vesty Byrne. To be sure, they had been given an option: “accept exile to Botany Bay or be brought to trial”. Given their armed opposition to British rule they knew that the outcome of a trial would be death by hanging. They arrived at Port Jackson on 15 February 1806 and shortly thereafter presented themselves to the Governor, Philip Gidley King, bearing a letter from the Chief Secretary, A Marsden, Dublin Castle, dated 17 August 1805. It read, “The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland has this day signed a Warrant for transmitting one hundred and thirty men and thirty six women now embarked on board the Tellicherry in Cork Harbour for New South Wales. Among the number are five men – Michael Dwyer, John Mernagh, Hugh Byrne, Martin Burke and Arthur Devlin who were engaged in treasonable practices here and who have requested to be allowed to banish themselves for life to New South Wales to avoid being brought to trial; and as it has been deemed expedient to make such a compromise with them, they are sent there. Not having been convicted they claim the advantage of this distinction, the effect of which is not, however, to prevent their being subjected to all the laws of the Settlement. And that any further indulgence is to be earned by their behaviour, of which there has been no reason to complain during the time of their confinement here.”
Husband of Priscilla (Manson) Small — married April 2, 1806 in Parramatta NSW. Father of James, Arther, Mary, Patrick, Ann and Martha. Died November 14, 1820 in Greater Sydney,
Born - Crone Red Cross Wicklow County Ireland. Prisoner from Ireland never tried in Ireland. Died - 1820 Sydney.