Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
James Durning was transported on the Parkfield, departing 12th May 1839 and arriving 1st Sep 1839 with 242 passengers.
Built Isle of Man 1833. 496 tons. Voyage from Sheerness 15 May 1839 to Port Jackson, New South Wales 1 Sept 1839 - 109 days. (No deaths reported) 240 passengers. 31st Regiment, 6 women & 9 children.
Parkfield (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 91, Class and Piece Number HO11/12, Page Number 42, British National Archives, PRISONERS PETITIONS, HO 19/00047440. NSW Gov Gazette, 22 Sept 1843, p.1224. Liverpool Standard, Fri 1 June 1838 p.7. and Tuesday 12 June 1838, p3. Chester Chronicle, Friday 17 August 1838, p3. |
| Source Description | This record is one of the entries in the British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database compiled by State Library of Queensland from British Home Office (HO) records which are available on microfilm as part of the Australian Joint Copying Pro |
| Original Source | Great Britain. Home Office |
| Compiled By | State Library of Queensland |
| Database Source | British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database |
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Convict Notes
James Durning, aged: 19 years and born in County Armagh, Ireland, departed England on ‘Parkfield’ in June 1839, with a Life Sentence for manslaughter. It was recorded that he could read & write, however the1839 register of Ganymede hulk (where he was held prior for 8 months) recorded that he could neither read or write. He’d been a Carpenter’s apprentice for 2.5 years; was Roman Catholic; and single (but, again, the Ganymede hulk register in 1839 recorded him as being married). No previous convictions. Height 5ft 7in; Complexion: Ruddy & freckled; Hair: Dark brown; Eyes: Dark hazel; Marks or Scars: Yes. He was charged with five other Irishmen – Martin Murphy, James Macklin, Edward Connolly, Patrick Cumming and George McCarty – with the murder of a police inspector, but all were found guilty of manslaughter instead. All were given life – details of the crime below. A sixth man, Richard Moreland, was found not guilty. One month after his English trial, James Durning was taken from Kirkdale Gaol (located 2 miles from the centre of Liverpool) and deposited on board ‘Ganymede’ hulk, on 7 September 1838, together with two of his partners-in-crime Michael Murphy, 27, and George McCarty (18). The hulk register there recorded that he was a carpenter aged 18, could not read or write, and had a wife. His antecedents (ie whether convicted previously) were stated as “unknown”. After eight months on ‘Ganymede’ hulk he was disposed of to the ‘Parkfield” convict ship, on 7 May 1839. (British National Archives, HO9, ‘Ganymede’ register, 1837 – 1841) James Durning arrived in NSW on 1 Sept 1839 on ‘Parkfield’, together with a co-accused, Martin Murphy. Three other of their co-accused were sent on the ‘Gilmore’ to Tasmania in 1839 – James Macklin, Edward Connolly and Patrick Cumming. The final one, George McCarty was sent on ‘Layton’ to Tasmania also in 1839.
Born - Armagh County Ireland. Single - Carpenters apprentice.