Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Transportation
William Hennessy was transported on the Mary, departing 25th May 1819 and arriving 26th Aug 1819 with 161 passengers.
Built 1811, Ipswich,England 361 tons. 1817 Journey On Monday arrived the ship Mary, Capt. ORMON, from Calcutta, with merchandize—Passengers, Captain FAITHFUL and Lieut. HAMILTON: this vessel has brought 6 male prisoners from India, destined for Port Jackson; to which place it is expected she will sail to-morrow. Hobart Town Gazette, 24 May 1817. Ship News. On Thursday arrived from Calcutta, via Derwent, the ship Mary, Captain Ormon, with a various cargo. -Passengers from Calcutta, Captain Faithfull and Lieutenant Hamilton:-The Mary sailed from Calcutta the 23d of February, and left the Pilot the 1st of March. Sydney Gazette, Sat 7 Jun 1817. -------------------------------------------------- Convicts who sailed on the 'Mary' direct from Ireland - 1819 & 1836 - are currently being listed, incomplete data to date.
Mary (generic)References
| Primary Source | New South Wales, Australia Convict Ship Muster Rolls and Related Records, 1790-1849 Irish Convicts to New South Wales 1788-1849, by Peter Mayberry |
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Convict Notes
NORFOLK ISLAND. The last accounts from this settlement were of a very unfavourable nature. On the morning of the 19th June, a most daring act of piracy was committed by eleven of the prisoners, who succeeded in making their escape from the island. These men, who are stated to be of the most desperate and abandoned characters, contrived to elude the vigilance of the constables on duty in the camp, proceeded to the settlement, distant about a quarter of a mile, and by some means, which have yet to be explained, within a few paces of the guard-house, and close to the sentry, succeeded in launching a new whale boat, but just finished, into which they put a few articles (after a fruitless attempt to break open the stores close to the guard), and were actually crossing the bar when the first alarm was given, which was done partly by the pirates giving three cheers, and partly by the sentry alarming the guard, who fired two or three random, but ineffectual shots at them. … … The Commandant, who had turned out when the alarm was given, and was nearly the first man on the spot, then became seriously alarmed for the safety of Mr. Cunningham, the botanist (who arrived there in May), and three men who accompanied him on a botanical tour to Phillip Island a few days previous. … [The Commandant was right to be concerned, for the runaways had, in fact, plundered Cunningham’s camp for all they could carry away. They then bore out to sea and were never heard of again. Chris Ison] (Sydney Gazette 30 Oct 1830, p. 2.) ------------------------------------------------------------- THE undermentioned Prisoners having absconded from the Individuals and Employments set against their Names, respectively, and some of them being at large with stolen Certificates, and Tickets of Leave, all Constables and others are hereby required and commanded to use their utmost Exertions in apprehending and lodging them in safe Custody. … … Brown. William, Guilford (5), 26, button maker, Gloucestershire, 5 feet 5, hazel eyes, dark hair, pale complexion, from Norfolk Island. … Callaghan James, John Barry (2), 27, Labourer, County Monaghan, 5 feet 4 ½ in, brown eyes, light hair, sallow comp. from Norfolk Island. … Darcey or Dacey James, Richmond, from Norfolk Island. … Fallen [Fallon] Peter, Bencoolen, 28, Labourer, Dublin, dark blue eyes, flaxen hair, fair ruddy comp. from Norfolk Island. [Probably Fallon – death recorded at NI 19 June 1830] … Hennessy William, Mary (1), 25, Plaisterer, London, hazel eyes, brown hair, fair ruddy comp. from Norfolk Island. [from 31 Oct 1830 - … Handley Florence, Mangles (1), … [rest of entry is duplicate of Hennessy above]] … Hammond Thomas, Asia (2), 24, Glass blower, London, 5 feet 2 ½ in, dark eyes, brown hair, rudy comp. from Norfolk Island … Keilley Michael, Hooghley, 28, Ploughman, Dangannon, 5 feet 8, grey eyes, brown hair, fresh comp. from Norfolk Island. … Mignott Andrew, Marquis Wellington, 45, sailor, from Norfolk Island. … Wallis John, Countess Harcourt, 24, Gardener, Dublin, 5 feet 4, grey eyes, flaxen hair, ruddy comp. from Norfolk Island. …Walker William, Minerva (5), 31, Weaver, Lanark, 5 feet 7, hazel grey eyes, brown hair, fresh comp. from Norfolk Island. (Sydney Gazette 21 Oct 1830, p. 4.)
List of 33 prisoners transported to Port Macquarie on board Sally , dated 26 Nov 1823, Sydney. They did not proceed per Sally, but were forwarded per ship Lady Nelson, 17 Dec 1823. William Hennessy, tried Crim Court, Sydney, Oct & Nov 1823, Life sentence in double irons. Trade, Labourer. Per Mary (1) . Original conviction: at Cork, Lent 1818, 7 years.
Michael Duggan, George Wilson and William Hennessy, were indicted for robbing the house of Benjamin Jamison, at Prospect, and putting the inmates in bodily fear, and Patrick Maddock and John Cambridge, for feloniously receiving the property. All Guilty.—Remanded. Sydney Gazette, 9 Oct 1823.. Criminal Court. WEDNESDAY.—This forenoon all the prisoners who had been convicted and remanded during the sessions, were now brought up for the judgement of the Court. DEATH.—... Michael Duggan, George Wilson and William Hennessey. SEVEN YEARS.—... John Cambridge, Patrick Maddock, and ... The Sessions have terminated. Sydney Gazette, 16 Oct 1823.
We understand that William Henry, William Lovell, James Kellup, and Edward McMahon, all capital respites escaped from Port Macquarie, and retaken, will be brought before the Supreme Court, and judgment of death, pursuant to their sentence, prayed against them for being found at large. They formed part of the desperate gang of bushrangers which infested the neighbourhood of that penal settlement. Sydney Gazette, 11 Aug 1825. Supreme Criminal Court. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1825. Before the CHIEF JUSTICE. William Lovel, Edward Mahon, Samuel Phips, and Wm Henesy, were indicted for a highway robbery, on Thomas Shear, a soldier at Port Macquarie, on the 1st of June last. Thomas Shear examined.—Is a private in the 3d Regiment (Buffs) , was stationed at Rollin's-plains at Port Macquarie ; knows the prisoners, witness was proceeding on duty from Rollin's-plains to a place called Prisoners'-gardens, in company with a constable named Stewart, and was stopped by the four prisoners at the bar, and another, who rushed out from the bush, threw witness down, and tied his hands ; they were all armed with large knives ; they took his musket, some ammunition, and a small portion of provisions ; the constable, and one of the prisoners, had a struggle for the musket, during which time it went off. While the constable was down, the prisoner Henesy asked him why he discharged the musket and offered to stab him with a knife, but was prevented by out of the party named Brown. The prisoners detained witness, and the constable all night, till 8 o'clock the next morning, and then allowed them to depart. A party of soldiers were sent in pursuit of the prisomers, by whom Brown was shot, and the remainder apprehended. John Stewart, a constable, corroborated the evidence of the last witness. His Honor summed up, and the Jury returned a verdict of Guilty.—Remanded. Sydney Gazette, 6 Oct 1825. Wm. Ennesy, Wm. Lovell, Sam. Phipps, and Edward Mahon, (capital respites), convicted of an highway robbery in the district of Rawlins' Plains, at Port Macquarie. Sentence of death pronounced. The Judge intimated to the unhappy men that they must expect no mercy. The Australian, 20 Oct 1825. Colonial Secretary Index. HENNESSY, William. Per "Mary", 1819 1823 Sep 22-Oct 15 Sentenced to death; commuted to transportation to Port Macquarie. In reports of prisoners tried at Court of Criminal Jurisdiction (Reel 6023; X820 p.111) 1823 Oct 30 Re warrant for his execution (Reel 6011; 4/3509 p.490) 1823 Nov 1 Sentenced to death; reprieved (Reel 6070; 4/1265 p.40) 1823 Nov 3 Convicted, with a man called Wilson, of robbing Benjamin and Sarah Jameson (Fiche 3237; 4/1870 p.101) 1823 Nov 5,6 Re respite of his sentence (Reel 6011; 4/3509 pp.518, 532) 1823 Nov 6 Execution respited (Reel 6057; 4/1767 p.131) 1823 Nov 10 Re withholding of execution (Reel 6011; 4/3509 p.542) 1823 Nov 10 Tried in Sydney. Sentence commuted to transportation (Reel 6070; 4/1265 p.12) 1823 Nov 12 Capital sentence commuted (Reel 6069; 4/1817 p.28) 1823 Nov 26 On lists of prisoners transported to Port Macquarie per "Sally"; not conveyed per "Sally" but per "Lady Nelson" on 17 Dec 1823 (Reel 6019; 4/3864 pp.92, 452-3) 1825 Jul 25 Forwarded to Sydney from Port Macquarie for trial for desertion and highway robbery (Reel 6069; 4/1816 p.323) 1825 Sep 30 Sentenced to death. On return of prisoners tried before the Supreme Court of New South Wales (Fiche 3298; X727 p.13) 1825 Oct 15 Convicted of highway robbery; sentenced to death. On return of prisoners tried, convicted and sentenced by the Supreme Court (Fiche 3298; X730 p.19) 1825 Oct 24 Petition of George Stuart for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3252; 4/1875 p.219a) 1825 Nov 17 Death sentence commuted to transportation to Norfolk Island for life; to be embarked on the "Amity" (Reel 6015; 4/3515 p.624) -------------------------------------------------- FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1825. Before the CHIEF JUSTICE. William Lovel, Edward Mahon, Samuel Phips, and Wm Henesy, were indicted for a highway robbery, on Thomas Shear, a soldier at Port Macquarie, on the 1st of June last. Thomas Shear examined.—Is a private in the 3d Regiment (Buffs) , was stationed at Rollin's-plains at Port Macquarie ; knows the prisoners, witness was proceeding on duty from Rollin's-plains to a place called Prisoners'-gardens, in company with a constable named Stewart, and was stopped by the four prisoners at the bar, and another, who rushed out from the bush, threw witness down, and tied his hands ; they were all armed with large knives ; they took his musket, some ammunition, and a small portion of provisions ; the constable, and one of the prisoners, had a struggle for the musket, during which time it went off. While the constable was down, the prisoner Henesy asked him why he discharged the musket and offered to stab him with a knife, but was prevented by out of the party named Brown. The prisoners detained witness, and the constable all night, till 8 o'clock the next morning, and then allowed them to depart. A party of soldiers were sent in pursuit of the prisomers, by whom Brown was shot, and the remainder apprehended. John Stewart, a constable, corroborated the evidence of the last witness. His Honor summed up, and the Jury returned a verdict of Guilty.—Remanded. Sydney Gazette, 6 Oct 1825. -------------------------------------------------- Wm. Ennesy, Wm. Lovell, Sam. Phipps, and Edward Mahon, (capital respites), convicted of an highway robbery in the district of Rawlins' Plains, at Port Macquarie. Sentence of death pronounced. The Judge intimated to the unhappy men that they must expect no mercy. The Australian, 20 Oct 1825.
William Hennessy in the New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788-1856 Name: William Hennessy Event Date: 30 Sep 1825 Arrival year: 1819 Vessel: Mary Event Description: Sentenced to death. for highway robbery along with William Lovell, Samuel Phipps and .....Nelson On return of prisoners tried before the Supreme Court of New South Wales Comments: Per "Mary", 1819 Page: 13 New South Wales, Australia, Convict Death Register, 1826-1879 for William Hennessey At Norfolk Island. Col Sec letter no 30/888 dated 26/10/1830
1825: William or Walter INNESSY (HENNESSY) – convict – Mary 1819, 7 years; now life; Norfolk Island (see NSW and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849, NSW General muster A-L 1825).
1819: William HENNESSY 14, 5’0”, fair ruddy complexion, brown hair, hazel eyes, native place City of Cork (see NSW Convict Indents, 1788-1842; Bound Indentures 1818-1819).
CRIME: Larceny from a house (see New South Wales, Australia Convict Ship Muster Rolls and Related Records, 1790-1849)
TRIED: Lent 1818 (see New South Wales, Australia Convict Ship Muster Rolls and Related Records, 1790-1849).