Neal Freal

341

Maureen Withey on 16th April 2022

Londonderry Assizes. Neal Freel, for robbing W. Harkin, to transported seven years. Belfast Commercial Chronicle, 8 Aug 1825.

341

Maureen Withey on 30th October 2019

Was sent to Moreton Bay penal establishment on board the ship “City of Edinburgh”, where a mutiny by the prisoners took place on 11 Jan 1829, resulting in the soldiers opening fire, and killed one prisoner. Six prisoners were injured and taken to hospital. An enquiry into the event took place and the mutineers were identified and punished. Neal Fraile is listed as wounded, and as one of the prisoners who took part in the mutiny, and was possibly punished by 50 lashes. The Colonial Secretary’s correspondence, dated 12 Jan 1829, has some details: Wounded (John Marr) & James Purcell John Fagan John Troy Wounded Neil Frail Letter re prisoners from “City of Edinburgh” involved in mutiny: Names in the margin: 1 Richard Gorman/ “Regalia” ] 2 John Jobson/ “Countess of Harcourt” ] 3 William Jackson/ “Regalia” ] wounded and removed to 4 George Luland/ “Fortune” ] General Hospital 5 Owen Mealey [also spelt Mealy]/ “Asia” ] 6 John Marr/ “Minerva” ] 7 John Fagan/ “Asia” ] 8 John Troy/ “Asia” ] 3 dozen lashes each 9 James Purcell/ Henry Porcher” ] 10 John Troy/ “Asia” ] 11 John Carroll/ “Ann & Amelia” ] 12 James Brady/ “Phoenix” ] 50 lashes each 13 Charles Fagan/ “Countess of Harcourt” ] 14 Henry Greenwood/ “Baring” ] 15 James Barlow/ “Speke” ] 16 John Stuart also Stewart/ “Recovery” (missing) ] sentenced by Messrs Bunn & Raine Esq JP 17 Neil Fraile/ “Regalia” ] omitted 18 Nicholas Fury/ “Countess of Harcourt” (50 lashes) Indicates Barlow was cause of mutiny. There was an inquest into the death of the prisoner who was killed: CORONER'S INQUEST. A Coroner's Inquest took place yesterday, at the Rose and Crown Tavern, Castlereagh street, to investigate the circumstances attending the death of John Jackson, one of the prisoners of the crown embarked on board the City of Edinburgh, destined for Moreton Bay, who was accidentally shot, when a serious tumult took place on board that vessel, on the 11th instant. It appeared, after a deliberate enquiry, which lasted three hours, that the deceased, although not immediately connected with the said tumult, which fact was gathered from the circumstantial and very convincing deposition of Mr. David Murray, in charge of the Phoenix Hulk, or prison Ship, that he was indiscriminately shot by one of the soldiers in the execution of his duty in older to subdue the serious and alarming tumult that then existed on board. The Coroner and Jury, under all the circumstances came to the following conclusion, "That the deceased died in consequence of a wound inflicted by a musket shot from one of the soldiers on duty, after a mutiny had actually existed for some length of time amongst the prisoners, and which they (the Jury), consider to be justifiable homicide. Sydney Gazette, 24 Jan 1829

221

D Wong on 18th November 2016

Neal was the brother of John Freel (Cambridge 1827) and James Freel (Morley 1828 7/1/1828 Sydney Gazette: Friel Neal, Regalia, Butcher, 23, Donegal, 5ft feet 8, hazle eyes, brown hair, ruddy freckled comp. from No. I Iron Gang. 2nd time of running. 25/8/1828 Sydney Gazette: Friel Neal, Regalia, 5feet 2½, hazle eyes, brown hair, ruddy freckled comp, from No. 20 Road Gang. 5th time of running. 1/9/1828: General Sessions, Bathurst: Hut robberies - 3 years. 24/11/1829: Sent to Moreton ay per 'City of Edinburgh'. At Moreton Bay, described as 24 years old, 5'8 1/2" tall, sallow complexion, dark brown hair, blue eyes, RC. 4/7/1832: Sent back to Sydney. 18/9/1832: COF 15/11/1832 Sydney Herald: Neal Frail was indicted for an assault, highway robbery, and putting in bodily fear John Lovitt, and stealing from his person one pocket, four pieces of paper, ten yards of tape, and eighteen penny pieces, and George Connor was indicted for being present, aiding, abetting, and assisting in the commission of the felony aforesaid, at Sydney, on the 25th October. The prisoners were acquitted and discharged. 22/6/1835 Sydney Herald: Bushrangers .-On Thursday evening last, a gang of bushrangers, consisting of seven men, made their appearance on the estate of R. Campbell, Esq., M. C, called Canterbury, distant a few miles from Sydney. On searching the cottage, which is occupied by a Mr. John Thom, they immediately commenced binding the inmates : a blanket was torn into strips-and, amongst the rest, Mr. Thorn was secured, tied hands and feet, and a guard placed over him. This ceremony finished, the robbers, in the most deliberate manner, packed up as much tea, sugar, and other provisions as they could conveniently take away. One of the fellows, who seemed to be foremost in the plunder, also robbed Mr. Thorn of about £9 in money, then tooktheir leave and made for the bush. Mr. Thorn, who had been left bound on the ground, hearing them leaving the place, commenced making efforts to disengage himself from the bands with which he had been tied, and, in doing which, overheard returning footsteps, and the voice of the leader exclaiming, " I'll finish the b--y b--r before we go." A loaded musket was in a corner of the house, which had escaped the notice of the robbers, with which Mr. Thorn determined to defend himself. As soon as the leader observed Mr. Thorn, he sung out "you b-r I'll do for you." " Will you," says Mr. Thorn, who immediately fired aud killed the ruffian dead upon the ground. The other fellows, observing their leader shot, scampered off into the bush, when Mr. Thorn reloaded his piece and followed them, and succeeded in regaining much of the stolen property. The dead man was after wards searched, and on his person was found the money he had recently stolen from Mr.Thorn. The fellow had on a pair of cheek trousers, beneath which wore also a pair of party-coloured ones, same as those worn in an iron-gang. The Police went out next morning, but lost the track of the robbers, and returned unsuccessful ; they are, however, supposed to be in the neighbourhood, as a horse was stolen, on Friday night, from the same estate on which the robbers had been the night before. The Police, in their search for these ruffians, picked up a man in the bush, who belonged to one of the road-gangs, and had a pass in his possession from the overseer, which allowed him to "go in search of stray bullocks in the bush"-or, in other words, a prerogative to plunder whoever he thought proper. (This bushranger was Neal Freel - as listed on the Convict Death Register.

62

Keith South on 6th April 2015

Neal was a native of Donegal, 22 and single. He was shot and killed at Canterbury, Nsw in 1835.