Thomas Foran

342

Maureen Withey on 18th October 2025

Colonial Secretary Index. FORAN, Thomas. Per "Archduke Charles", 1813; Government storekeeper at Bringelly 1813 Feb 19 On list of convicts disembarked from the "Archduke Charles" and forwarded to Parramatta for distribution (Reel 6002; 4/3491 p.400) 1817 Jan Re permission to marry at Parramatta (Reel 6005; 4/3495 p.434) 1817 Dec Petition for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3177; 4/1851 p.112) 1821 Petition for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3207; 4/1862 p.66) 1822 Petition for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3217; 4/1865 p.59) 1822 May 24, Nov 22 On list of persons receiving an assigned convict (Fiche 3290; 4/4570D pp.6, 80) 1823 Feb 12 Re his position as Government Storekeeper (Fiche 3289; 4/2772.2A p.5) 1825 Nov To be granted a conditional pardon; appears as Farns (Fiche 3292; 4/6974.1 pp.48, 75)

342

Maureen Withey on 5th July 2021

1828 NSW Census Index. Thomas Foran, age 44, TL, Archduke Charles 1813, Life catholic, overseer & tenant Capt King, Cabramatta district. Mary Foran, age 43, Northampton, 1808, 7 years. Children, all born in colony, catholic, Thomas, age 11, Catherine, 9; Helen, 7; John, 4; and James, 2.

342

Maureen Withey on 23rd February 2021

Image Source: Familysearch. Image No 13. Marriages within District of Parramatta at the Church of St Johns. 1817, Thomas Foran, convict, per Archduke Charles, age 30, and Mary Leonard, convict, per Northampton, age 38? (age not clear to read), Feb 3rd 1817, by Banns, both of Parramatta.

105

Denis Pember on 17th September 2015

Thomas' date of birth is difficult to ascertain. In the 1828 census he was given age 44, therefore dob C1784. On his trial details he was stated to be 29 in 1811 therefore dob C1782. On his marriage he was recorded as age 30 in 1817, therefore dob C1787.

7

Robin on 2nd October 2012

TO SItE ADMINISTRATORS: please note "Kildare" is spelt wrong in the choice of conviction locations, and that the Archduke Charles is not included on your shipping list. The "ArchDuke Charles" left Cork Harbour in Ireland in May 1812 and arrived at Sydney in February 1813. She had the longest voyage of any convict ship because she had damaged her rudder at sea shortly after leaving Rio de Janeiro and had to put into the Cape of Good Hope for repairs where she remained for nearly three months before departing again. Thomas Foran had been convicted in March 1811 at the Kildare Assizes in County Kildare Ireland, was transported over a year later and arrived in NSW 2 years after conviction. He was aged 30 years on his arrival but his crime was not stated. He was sent from his transport ship with a group to Parramatta for assignment; here he was assigned to work for the government and was an overseer of government cattle at Bringelly. He married Mary Leonard, known as "Bridget" in February 1817 at Parramatta, and they had their first child together, called Thomas, in 1817. Bridget had arrived in June 1815 on the "Northampton" after being convicted at the Old Bailey with her mother (Mary Dunn) in May 1814 of coining. She was sentenced to death but transported for life, bringing her small daughter called Mary Leonard aged 1 -2 years, and this girl was raised with Thomas' family as his own, she being called Mary Foran on the muster documents and at her marriage to William Rushton in 1829; being only referred to as Mary Leonard in the 1828 Census in her employer's record. Thomas and Bridget had five of their own children together, born on the South Creek: Thomas in 1817, Catherine in 1819, Helena in 1822 (called "Eleanor" on her marriage and "Ellen" at her death); John in 1824 and James in 1826. Thomas gained his Ticket of leave in 1817 and his Conditional Pardon in 1822, working after that as an overseer and tenant of Captain PP King at South Creek in the colonial District of Cabramatta. His wife Bridget died of unknown cause in 1831 and was buried on 18th February 1831 (per Register of Convicts' Deaths) at Narellan. Thomas then died himself the following year in 1832. He was aged about 47 or 48 years.