Daniel Grady

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Maureen Withey on 12th September 2021

Anne-Maree Whitaker writes: Daniel Grady (Atlas II) Born in about 1785, Grady was tried in Limerick in December 1801. He was one of the main informers in the Dwyer trial in 1807, for which he received an absolute pardon. A landholder in 1814, by 1828 he was a servant at Castle Hill.

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Maureen Withey on 22nd August 2021

The 1807 Trial, in which Daniel gave evidence, as reported in the Sydney Gazette. Court of Criminal Jurisdiction. Michael O'Dwyre, Hugh Byrne, Martin Burke, John Mernar, Thomas McCann, William Morris, Arthur Develyn and Walter Clare, were put to the bar and indicted for conniving and intending to disturb the peace of this colony, by instigating many persons to revolt from their allegiance, and to rise in open rebellion, which meant to overthrow His Majesty's Government therein, as well upon the 27th day of August last as at other subsequent periods, prior to the prisoners being taken into custody. The evidence on the part of the Crown was clear and connected. It appeared upon the most respectable testmony, that the conduct of many of that defendants or prisoners who had been exiled for treasonable and seditious practices, had been untoward and highly disrespectful to their masters, at and about the above stated period; and that from this sudden change of conduct, in addition to the various informations that were communicated by persons whose veracity was to be depended on, no other inference was deducible than that the projected insurrection was upon the very point of bursting forth, and that the devoted victims to delusion and artifice were confident of a successful issue. The prisoners were allowed every assistance requisite to their defence; which after some exculpatory argument, concluded generally with a point blank denial of the charge. The Court was then cleared; and after a minute revision of the evidence, re-opened; when Thomas McCann and William Morris were found guilty, and the others acquitted.—The prisoners were taken from the bar, and ordered to be brought up to receive their sentences the following day; Thomas McCann and William Morris were again brought forward, and addressed by the Judge Advocate; who remarked to them, that notwithstanding the malignity of the crime they were convicted of upon, testimony clear and incontrovertible, yet the penalty incurred thereby did not extend to the lives of the delinquents ; but the security of society from such foul, sanguinary, and abominable devices, rendered necessary the most exemplary punishment : "The Court did therefore adjudge and sentence them to receive one thousand lashes each; the Court recommending further, that as delinquents of the most dangerous principles and character, be removed by the most speedy conveyance to some remote place, where the baneful influence of their detestible principles might not be disseminated among other ignorant & credulous persons." In pursuance of their sentence, the prisoners having received a part of their corporal punishment, have been sent away to different settlements, where the remainder will be inflicted. Sydney Gazette, 7 June 1807.

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Maureen Withey on 22nd August 2021

Irish Convict Database by Peter Mayberry. Daniel Grady, alias Gready, age on arrival, 17, Atlas II 1802, Tried at Limerick, 1801, Life. Irish Rebel. DOB, 1785. Present in 1811 muster. Mentioned in Anne-Maree Whitaker’s “Unfinished Revolution.” ----------------------------------------------------- A trial took place in May 1807 regarding an attempt to bring about a rebellion earlier in the year. From Anne-Maree Whitaker’s “Unfinished Revolution.” " The second main prosecution witness then took the stand. He was 22 year old Daniel Grady (of McGrady) of Atlas II, tried in Limerick in December 1801. He said he had been informed of a planned rising about a week before Christmas 1806, by shipmate Thomas Connell, from Clonmel, County Tipperary. Two days later he reported the conversation to his master John Ramsay, who sent him to magistrate John Harris. Grady testified to a series of conversations during January 1807 with Walter Clare, Michael Dwyer, and two men who were not on trial, Daniel Sleaven (Slaven/Sladen), a Dubliner from the Tellicherry, and Michael Dowdall (Dowdle), a Wicklowman from Atlas II. --------------------------------------------------- Daniels giving of evidence resulted in him being granted an Pardon, as reported in the Sydney Gazette, 7 June 1807. IT having appeared to His Excellency that notwithstanding the merciful intentions of our Most Gracious SOVEREIGN in permitting persons to be sent to this Colony who have forfeited their lives, and others to expiate the offences they have committed against the laws of their country, under most benign and peculiar ??? the encouragement of better conduct and virtue ; yet some designing men have endeavoured to subvert the Government of this Colony, and meditated an attempt at mallacie, and the undoing of much ??? which they were receiving most gracious indulgences, And whereas all those calamities would have taken place but for two men, Dominick McCurry and Daniel Grady; who shuddering at such attempts, did give information whereby the offenders were apprehended and the ???ery prevented. His Excellency, thereby taking into his most serious consideration the loyal dispositions of these men, does grant unto each of them, the said Dominick McCurry and Daniel Grady, a Free Pardon. By Command of His Excellency, E. Griffin, Sec. Government House Sydney, June 4 1807. -------------------------------------------------- 1828 NSW Census Index. Daniel Grady, age 43, A.P. Atlas 2, 1802, Life, catholic, Servant Thos Best/ Birt? Castle Hill district. Has 50 acres of land, 12 of which are cleared and 11 cultivated.