Peter Flannagan

Note: The many variations of his surname are reproduced as they appear in the official and other documents cited in this bio. However, Hannagan, which originally appeared here on this site, was not sighted in any documents, so it has been removed.

COMMITTAL PROCEEDINGS: “WEDNESDAY.--Before the MAYOR, A. NICHOL, and RICHARD HOYLE Esq. BURGLARY. -- Lancelot Horn, Peter Flanagan, and John McLean were charged with breaking into the house of Mr Bishop, innkeeper, Spicer-lane, and stealing therefrom a gold watch, three bottles of spirits, 10s in copper, and some farthings. On the evening of the 6th inst., Mr Bishop’s premises were made secure by the servant girl, Mary Ann Sands. When she came down stairs in the morning she found the back doors open, but the front door remained fastened. She called Mr Bishop down stairs, and they struck a light and entered the bar, the door of which was standing open, although they had fastened it on the previous evening. The boxes and drawers were scattered about the floor; and it was discovered that the articles enumerated above were missing. About five o'clock on the same morning, the three prisoners, in company, were met by a policeman near to the Sallyport Gate; but, as he knew nothing of the robbery, he allowed them to pass on. Another policeman was passing along the Ouseburn Viaduct, between five and six o'clock on the same morning, when he heard a crash, resembling that of breaking glass. He asked a pointsman on the bridge who was breaking the bottles, and the latter replied that three men at the north side of the bridge had been drinking something out of bottles, and, after they had emptied, they broke them. The officer went in search of another policeman, but, on their return the prisoners caught sight of them, and ran in the direction of Jesmond, the policemen following. They managed to escape for the time by hiding in the woods around Shieldfield House. They were not seen again in Newcastle that day but, about 12 o'clock at noon, Andrew Skeen, a police-officer, saw McLean and Horn together in Clive-strect, North Shields. After leaving the street, and returning again in about half-an-hour, he saw Horn standing by himself. He afterwards received information that McLean was offering a watch for sale. He went in search of him, and, meeting him in Clive-street, he asked him what he had done with the watch. He replied that he had no watch. He was removed to the police station, and another officer went to Clive-street and took Horn into custody. Both prisoners were searched. On McLean 24s in silver was found, and on Horn 1s in copper. A watch had been sold by McLean to Mr Blackwood, jeweller, for 6s; the works being valueless. The watch was identified by Mr Bishop as the one stolen from his premises. The prisoners, who are bad characters, were committed for trial.” (Newcastle Courant, 31 May, 1861, p2 at https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000085/18610531/006/0002) --0--

TRIAL – Newcastle Summer Assizes, Guildhall, Tuesday 30 July, 1861: “BURGLARY IN SPICER LANE. Lancelot Horn (24), striker, John McLean (28), labourer, and Peter Flannigan (22), striker, were indicted for burglariously entering the dwelling-house of James Bishop and stealing therefrom the sum of 10s, a silver watch and other articles, on the 7th of May last... Mr Blackwell addressed the jury for the defence of his clients [McLean and Flannigan], and commented upon several discrepancies in the evidence which had been adduced for the purpose of connecting these men with the robbery. The jury, after a short consultation, returned a verdict of guilty against all the prisoners. Previous convictions for felony were proved against them as follows: -- Horn, 6 times, McLean 4 times and Flannigan 24 times. His Lordship commented in severe terms on the enormity of the offence committed by the prisoners, and taking into account their previous character, sentenced them to 10 years’ penal servitude each.” (Shields Daily Gazette, 1 August 1861, p6 at https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000285/18610801/023/0006) For the official trial record, see “England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892; England; Northumberland; 1861; image 13”. --0--

“REPORT OF THE WATCH COMMITTEE. The Mayor presented this report, which recommended that the sum of £1 be paid to P. C. Skeene as a reward for his conduct in apprehending Lancelot Horn, John McLean, and Peter Flanagan for burglary.” (North & South Shields Gazette, 29 August, 1861, p4 at https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000288/18610829/049/0004) --00--

JAILS: 1861, 31 May: Lancelot Horn, 24, semi-literate striker, John McLean, 28, semi-literate labourer, and Peter Flannigan 22, illiterate striker, were admitted to Newcastle upon Tyne Gaol. Among his many previous convictions, Peter Flannigan had been sentenced in 1854, at Newcastle Sessions, to 6 years’ penal servitude for larceny; while McLean had served 18 months for robbery with violence in 1858 (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Newcastle upon Tyne Gaol; Calendar of Trials; Undated; image 16). --0--

1862, June: Peter Flanaghan, inmate #4775, 22, and Lancelot Horn, inmate 4776, 24, were held at Chatham Prison. The behaviour of both men for the June quarter was listed as “good” and both were deemed “healthy” (England, Criminal Lunatic Asylum Registers, 1820-1876; Quarterly Returns of Prisoners in Convict Prisons; 1862; June; image 90) --0--

EMBARKATION: 1862, 1 October: “The convict ship York, having embarked prisoners at Portsmouth, sailed yesterday morning for Portland, Plymouth and Australia.” (London Evening Standard, p6 at https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000183/18621001/031/0006). The York sailed from Portland for the Swan River Colony on 8 October, 1862 (https://www.perthdps.com/convicts/con-wa31.html). --00--

IN WA: 1863: On arrival Peter Flannagan was listed as inmate # 6590, 24 years old; 10 years PS, tried Newcastle-on-Tyne, 1861, breaking, entering and stealing; labourer, single, no children; 5'4¾" tall, brown hair, blue eyes, long visage, fresh complexion, middling stout build; marks -- faint blue marks left arm (https://www.perthdps.com/convicts/con-wa31.html). His list of possessions on arrival was also recorded on 6 January, 1863. Called Peter Flennaghan (ex Chatham #4775) in this record, he had one book (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930 for Peter Flennaghan; Convict Establishment, Miscellaneous; Prisoners Property Book, 1861 - 1865 (V14)). --0--

Fremantle Jail record: FLANNAGAN, Peter; inmate #6590, arrived 31 Dec 1862 per York Date of Birth: 1838 Marital Status: Unmarried Occupation: Labourer Literacy: Semiliterate Sentence Date: 1861 Sentence Place: Newcastle upon Tyne, England Crime: Breaking, entering & stealing Sentence Period: 10 years Ticket of Leave Date: 30 Jul 1864 Conditional Pardon Date: 11 Jun 1869 Certificate of Freedom Date: 4 Mar 1873 Comments: Labourer, miner, wood cutter, general servant (https://fremantleprison.com.au/history-heritage/research/convict-database/). --0--

OTHER: Birth: 1838 Death: 22 January, 1877, at Narra Tarra, WA; accidently killed at Narra Tarra Mine. Convicted: Breaking, entering and stealing; sentenced to 10 years on 20 July, 1861, at Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England. He had been convicted previously. Literacy: Semi-literate Family Status: Unmarried OccupatioN: Labourer Transported: Per York arriving at Fremantle, WA, on 31 December, 1862. He had been collected from Chatham prison. Convict No.: 6590 Ticket of Leave: Granted on 30 July, 1864, at WA Conditional Pardon: 11 June, 1869 Cert. of Freedom: 4 March 1877 at WA [Note: This is after his death] (https://waconvicts.fhwa.org.au/g0/p264.htm#i6590). --0--

DEATH OF PETER FLANNAGAN: “PETER FLANIGAN, expiree, late 6590, accidentally killed, on 22nd ult. [January], at Narra Tarra Mine, Champion Bay, by a shot which deceased had put in missing fire, and on going to see to it, it exploded, killing him instantly. No inquest.” (WA Police Gazette, Wednesday, Feb 14, 1877, No 6, p23) The Narra Tarra lead mine, located within the old townsite of Protheroe, about 25km from Northampton and 430km north of Perth, was opened in 1870 and mined until 1884. It was reopened twice up to 1906, and again from 1913 to 1928. The mine produced more than 12,700 tonnes of lead (https://www.mindat.org). --00--

NEWSPAPER REPORTS OF THE FATAL ACCIDENT: “Fatal Accident.-- On Monday the 22nd ultimo, Peter Flannagan, a miner employed at the Melbourne and Champion Bay Co's. Lead Mine, at Narra Tarra, accompanied by his mate Jacob Appleyard, had been blasting in a drive off the main shaft, and, according to usual custom, after charging the hole with powder, Flannagan placed a lighted candle to the fuse, and, for safety, followed Appleyard up the ladder in the main shaft. Flannagan had ascended only a few steps when, for some unacountable reason, he returned. Appleyard noticing him descend the ladder, shouted out in alarm, ‘Where are you going Peter?’ Flannagan replied, ‘The light is out.’ These were the last words the unfortunate man uttered, as Appleyards's evidence proves that a few seconds from the time he spoke, the charge exploded, and death must have been instantaneous.” (The Western Australian Times, 6 February, 1877, p2 at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2977068) -- A man named Peter Flanagan has been killed in the workings of the Narra Tarra mine by the unexpected explosion of a blast.” (The Inquirer and Commercial News, 21 February, 1877, p1 at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66303787). --000--

NOTE: Year of Birth is taken from official records but day and month are not known. The latter dates have been entered as 01/01 because the site does not allow those fields to be left empty.