Henry Grady

Henry Grady was aged about 18 when in 1798 he raped a married woman on a march after the battle of Vinegar Hill, together with William Fitzgerald. They were soldiers i the Limerick Militia (i.e. they were not rebels). Both were found guilty at the Limerick Assizes in October 1798, ordered for execution one week later but reprieved to be transported for life, sailing on "Minerva" in 1799: "At the assizes in the County Kilkenny, Henry Grady and William Fitzgerald, privates in the Limerick Militia, were convicted on the clearest evidence for a rape on the body of Joan Doyle. It appeared that on the night of 20th August last [ i.e. 1798] as they were on their march after the battle of Vinegar Hill, they halted at a little town called Gowran. They went into the house the prosecutrix and demanded a drink of milk; the poor woman with great cheerfulness went into her room to get it, when she was immediately pursued by the prisoners, seized and carried into a haggard, and there each of them abused her - it appeared they were both armed, and that each stood guard for the other, and held the unfortunate husband - they were ordered fore execution the 17th instant (October). [Belfast Newsletter 1738-1890, Friday, October 19, 1798; Page: 3]

____________________________ NSW - Arrived January 1800 IrISH CONSPIRACIES From Jen Willetts site: “ Nine months later in September 1800 an Irish conspiracy was uncovered. The plan was to overturn the government by putting Governor King to Death and confining Governor Hunter. The rebels were to meet at and take Parramatta and then before day light take the Barracks at Sydney. And afterwards to live on the Farms of the Settlers until they heard from France where they had intended to dispatch a ship. The rebels were well armed with pikes and were to be joined by soldiers who it was planned would take the guns to South Head and other places of security. When the plan was revealed, Governor Hunter ordered an enquiry and many [Irish] were questioned. Punishment for the perpetrators was harsh.” By the time enquiry was held on 1 October ten men had been arrested. Grady was not one of these. Another seven men implicated by the depositions were not brought before the enquiry but were given 100 lashes each, several at Parramatta. On Norfolk Island, 53 irish men had arrived earlier in June 1800.Probably, Henry Grady was one of these, transported for a seconf offence in teh colony, rather than one of the uprising conspirators. On 21 October the Buffalo sailed for Norfolk Island with the Irish prisoners who were implicated in the Sydney conspiracy (possibly 35 men based on William Maum’s estimate of numbers). They arrived on Norfolk Island in November and started planning for a rising on Christmas Day and recruiting, led by John McLean, an Irish June-arrival. NORFOLK ISLAND CONSPIRACY At least ten from the conspiracy were involved in the planning, they recruited five soldiers on N.I. and selected a willing leader early. They had 80 or 90 pikes and hoped for 50 men. One of the organising committee was Edward Tutty who was the housemate of Henry Grady. In mid December after an organising meeting, at which some indicated a thirst for bloolshed, Tutty told Grady of the plans [Supreme Court: AONSW 5/1156 pp138, 142, 144, 146, 148, 149, 152.] Henry Grady had been sworn on Norfolk Island as a United Irishman by the leader Peter McLean. He was much agitated and the next day went as an informer to tell Lt Gov Foveaux of the plan. Pikes were found where he reported. He reported that the leaders were Peter McLean, the main recruiter, and John Houlahan, pike making organiser. These two were taken from church that morning. Judge Advocate Hibbins did not know how an indictment could be framed against them - what the capital offence could be - so Foveaux and his officers, undeterred, agreed that an example had to be made, or consequences could be fatal. The two men were hanged two hours later without trial. Other Irishmen questioned - and who were themselves flogged along with others - had incriminated McLean but only Henry Grady had implicated John Houlahan. INFORMING REWARD Henry Grady was given a Conditional Pardon for his informing, on 14 February 1801. He got an absolute Pardon a month later on 23 March 1801. Foveaux wrote to King, “Encouragement to such people is ever well bestowed”. SOLDIERING Grady enlisted in the NSW Corps while still on Norfolk Island, in May 1801, as a Private. He probably had little alternative but to side with government as a soldier. He was recorded as being on Norfolk Island each year until 1804. then Foveaux removed part of the establishment to Port Dalrymple and Foveaux left for England because of ill health. ( he had severe asthma) in 1805 - 1807, he was with Foveaux's detachment (but Foveaux was in England!) 1809 - Foveaux / Lamb; 1809 Detachment McArthur; 1810 Detachment 6 Co; 0-5-1810 to UK. When Macquarie arrived with most of the 73rd Regiment at the beginning of 1810, the NSW Corps had been re-styled as the 102nd, and were ordered to return to England in the ships that had brought out the 73rd ('Dromedary' and 'Hindostan') They left on 12th May 1810. MARRIAGE -Before they left for England, Henry Grady officially married his de facto spouse, Catherine Carty or Carter on 26th February 1810, at 9:30am. Registered St Philips Church of England. He signed his name, she made her mark. Witnesses were: Thomas Colter, Signed X; William Weatherall, Signed; (possibly a veteran soldier) and Thomas Taber, (church clerk). They had been together since at least 1806 Muster when recorded as living together . Catherine "Carty" per "Rolla" in 1803 aged about 22 on arrival in 1803. ________________________ So Grady left NSW with his regiment the 102nd, old NSW Corps. He had been an informer against his Irish fellows although it appears he was concerned about the consequences of blood shed in the Norfolk Island plans. He never came back to NSW again.