Margaret Gordon

53

Beth Taylor on 4th February 2026

TIMELINE NOTES: BC: 1775 Sentenced: 19/08/1813 at Northumberland Summer Assize to death for “coinage”, commuted to transportation for 7 years (Source: www.Ancestry.com England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-189, Class: HO 27; Piece: 4; Page: 191) Crime: Coining Previous Occupation: Servant Age on Convict Indent: 39 Ticket of Leave 955; & Certificate of Freedom 271 (indent) 1814 Muster: Margaret GORDON, con, Brox, off stores, to G Johnston Esq, Liverpool (3820) Owen Briarty; Arrived per Boyd, Status: C (Convict); Occupation/Residence &c, Mustered at Sydney, [Assigned] to G Johnston Esq; Victualling: Off Stores (5981) 1816, 16 Oct. – As McBrianty, Owen Brierty petitioned for mitigation of his sentence. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Petitions Fiche 3173; 4/1849 p59) [Also – “Owen Briety and Phillip Perry, for stealing out of the public stores;—to be sent to Newcastle for the term of 14 years.” Source: Sydney Gazette, 12/10/1816, p1S] 1819 – Daniel KELLY petitioned for mitigation of his sentence & stated that he had arrived Sydney 14 years ago (?) & had 2 motherless children to support. CP written. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Petitions Fiche 3197; 4/1859 p2) 1820, 1 June – Daniel Kelly, of Seven Hills, sent a memorial asking for land to farm & stated he was now free with 2 children. 40 acres written. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Memorial Fiche 3023; 4/1824B No. 415, p539) [Also document shows he received 40 acres at Kurrajong on 30/06/1823. Source: SRNSW Registers of Land Grants and Leases, 1792-1867, Series: NRS 13836; Item: 7/459; Reel: 2549) 1820, 12 July - Robert Brierty, son of Owen, was named in a memorial to the Male Orphan School for admittance, saying his mother had recently died at Richmond (written by John Howarth on his behalf). (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Special Bundle Reel 6040; 4/400 p21) 1820, August – Robert, aged 5, was admitted to the Orphan School. His father Owen was a prisoner at Coal River (Newcastle). (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Special Bundle Fiche 3307; 4/7208 pp5-6) 1821, Dec. – Owen was listed on a monthly return of prisoners punished at Newcastle & received 75 lashes for “inciting the gangs at Limeburners to mutiny & to quit their work before the usual hours of leaving”. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Special Bundle Reel 6023; 4/1718 p139) c1822 – Owen was on a list of prisoners at Port Macquarie, as Briety. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Letters Sent Reel 6019; 4/3864 pp342-3) 1822 Muster: Margaret GORDON, FBS, Brox, 7 years, govt servant, wife of D Kelly, Parra (A08313) & spouse – Daniel KELLY, CP, Indefatigable (?), life, landholder, Parra (A11886) & children – Aged 10 & aged 8 [whose children?] 1823-1825 Muster: 1) Margaret GORDON, FS, Brox, 7 years, wife of D Kelly, Wilberforce (22478) 2) Margaret COX (?), FS, Brox, 7 years, wife of David (?) Kelly, Wilberforce (16935) & spouse – Daniel KELLY, CP, Telicherry 1805, life, landholder, Wilberforce (27914) & children – Thomas 11 & Charles 9 – both BC [listed under Kelly] Owen BRIELY (?), con, Boyd, 1809, 14 years (?), govt employ, Port Macquarie (12996) [former lover of Margaret?] 1824, 6 April – Owen petitioned for mitigation of his sentence. He stated he had been a free man from 1815 & was a shop owner in Sydney before his arrest for stealing clothes. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Petitions Fiche 3239; 4/1872 p13) 1824, 23 Aug. – Daniel Kelly of Wilberforce, was directed by the Colonial Secretary, Mr Goulburn, to attend his office with the CP he held. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Letters Sent Reel 6013; 4/3512 p249) 1828 Census: Margaret KELLY, 50, FS, Brox, 7 years, cath (K0434) & husband – Daniel KELLY, 48, CP, Telicherry 1806, life, cath, landholder, Wilberforce *(K0433 – 50 acres, 2 horses, 38 cattle) & children – Thomas 17 & Charles 14 – both BC [Owen BRIERTY, Arrived per Boyne (sic) 4, 14 years; Householder; Household Return district: Port Macquarie (B2313)] 1831 – Owen BRIERTY was recorded in the Sydney Gaol Entrance book as arr per ship Boyd in 1809, was born in 1764, 5’3” tall, stout build, ruddy complexion, grey hair & grey eyes. (Source: SRNSW Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930, Series: 2517; Item: 4/6296; Roll: 855) 1833, Jan. – Owen BRIERTY was again listed in the Sydney Gaol Entrance book for 4 days in late January before being bailed for ₤50 & “discharged”. (Source: SRNSW Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930, Series: 2514; Item: 4/6434; Roll: 852) NSW BDM: 1) Daniel Kelly married Catherine Carr on 29 Aug 1810 at St Johns Parra. (V1810-1103-3A) She died aged 46 at Parra & was buried on 24 March 1821. (V1821-5017-2B) 2) Daniel Kelly, widower, marr Margaret Higgins (Gordon?) on 21/07/1821 at St Marys RC, Sydney. Witness: William Thompson; Witness: Sophia Thompson (V1821-141-127&128 & St Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral, Sydney NSW: Church Register - Marriages; ML ref: Reel SAG 7) [Note: No issue] 3) Daniel Kelly, a farmer of Pitt Town, died aged 79, at Windsor in 1853 & was buried on 3 Sept. The service was RC. (V1853-1238-119) 4) Margaret Kelly (nee Gordon) died ? Jess’ Girls – SAG:  1814 – Muster  1818 - wife of Owen Brierty  1822 – Muster  1825 - Ditto  1828 - Census  Indent – TL 955  4/1277 – with J. Davis. Robert Davis b 1817, mother Margaret, at St Philips. (V1817-4939-1B)  4/353 – Robert Brierty admitted to Male Orphan School in 1820, aged 5. He was discharged to McLaren of Sydney.  1828 – Owen Brierty at Port Macquarie. Robert Brierty apprentice to McLaren. Convict Records, Indent & COF: 1) Owen Brierty (or McBranty) arr NSW on 14 Aug 1809 on board the ship Boyd from Ireland. He had been tried at Donegal in March 1808 & received a 7 year sentence. He received his COF #1508 on 12/04/1831, described as a labourer, a native of County Donegal, born 1778, 5’4” tall, fair ruddy complexion, grey hair blue eyes, tattoos of a cross, IHS & a heart on upper arm & IMcB on lower right arm. He had a 14 year term from Sydney Criminal Court for “robbing HM Stores” & was “originally tried at Donegal March 1808” with a 7 year sentence. (Source: SRNSW Certificates of Freedom, 1827-1867, #31/297, Series: NRS 12210; Item: 4/4305; Roll: 987). 2) Daniel Kelly was tried at the City of Dublin in Feb 1803 & left Ireland on the ship Telicherry which arrived in Sydney on 15 Feb 1806. Daniel had a life term. CP – 1326. 1805, 17 Aug. – Daniel Kelly was on a list of convicts embarked on the Telicherry for NSW. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Special Bundle Reel 6028; 2/8283 p36) [Daniel was a future spouse of Margaret] Daniel received his CP on 31/01/1820 (listed as Daniel RELLY). He was a native of County Meath, labourer, tried Dublin 1803, arr Telicherry, 5’8” tall, dark sallow complexion, black hair and dark eyes. (Source: SRNSW Convict Pardons, Reel 774/ 4/4430, p148) Notes from the book “Journey to a New Life…” the story of the ships Emu & Broxbornebury by Elizabeth Hook (3rd ed. 2014). I am the author & can be contacted on tbeth3370@gmail.com for further info