John Sinnott

Level 72

Robin Sharkey on 31st January 2015

REPORT OF CRIME OF MURDER Freemans Journal, Thursday 2nd November, 1809 page 3 John SINNOTT, James CONOLLY, Thomas SHIELDS, Christophr FINNEGAN were indicted for the murder of Thomas Cunningham in the month of May last, at Santry in the county of Dublin. The circumstances of this case were rather unusual. The prisoners at the bar, together with the deceased, an an approver of the name of Timothy Dwyer, in the month of May last, [1809] went out to commit robberies. In the evening of 25th of that month {may 1809] they stopped a jaunting car and were about to rob a man of the name of Kelsh who was upon it, when the pistol which Sinnot then had went off by accident, and the contents having lodged in the left breast of their companion Thomas Cunningham, he was brought up to the jaunting car of the man they stopped (who was acquainted with one of the robbers) to Kelsh’s house, where he languished about two hours and then died. The next evening Dwyer, the approver, with the two prisoners Conolly and Shields, came and tok the body away, it was buried in Glasnevin churchyard, but in the few weeks after, when doe robbers were apprehended in the country, this transaction came to light, the body was taken up and an inquest held. The evidence on the trial gave all the circumstances and facts in the clearest point of view and Lord Norbury, after laying down the law of the case, gave a most impartial charge to the jury, who retired for some time, and returned with a verdict against all the prisoners - GUILTY. Lord Norbury then, in a very impressive manner, pronounced the awful sentence of the law, pursuant to the statues, by which they are to be executed on Thursday next [ i.e 9th November ] and their bodies handed over to the surgeons for dissection.All the prisoners upon receiving sentence, conducted themselves in the most hardened manner, declaring their innocence, and calling the jury a set of perjured men.

Level 72

Robin Sharkey on 4th February 2014

In Kilmainham Jail yard in Dublin in October 1809, four men had come to accept that they were very soon to die n the gallows in front of them. But they were saved from execution by being reprieved just five minutes before they were to be hanged. All four sailed on the Providence to Australia, they were James Connolly, Christopher Finnegan, Michael Shiel and John Sinott. Freemans Journal 31st October 1809 “The four unhappy men, namely Finnegan, Connolly, Shields and Sinnott who were found guilty of murder, at the Commission of Oyer and Terminer at the Sessions house in Green Street [Dublin] on Tuesday last [24th October 1809] , in consequence of a gun or pistol having gone off by accident, while they were in the progress of a felonious intent, by which one of their associates (Thomas Cunningham) was killed, and by the settled principle of law, amounts to a murder against all the parties concerned in such a felonious purpose, and who then were in pursuance of the statute sentenced to be executed and their bodies to be delivered over to the Surgeons in order to be dissected. When the Sheriff had arrived at Kilmainham gaol, on Thursday [26 October 1809] , with the order of respite, it was near one o’clock in the afternoon, (the hour appointed for their execution) where he found the unhappy convicts on their knees in prayer, accompanied by their Clergyman in that part of the gaol called the chapel, at which time they had received the Sacrament, and were prepared to be launched into eternity in five minutes; at the same time a detachment of cavalry was in waiting to preserve order; all the apparatus prepared, for putting into execution the dreadful sentence of the law, and carts provided for conveying their bodies to the College of Surgeons.” John Sinnott was aged 44 when he departed Cork in 1810 aboard the Providence Convict ship. 1814 Muster Mason Labourer, Off Stores, Sydney,(page 126, number 5604). Sinnott would have been working with his two of his three transported co-accused: Chris Finnegan who was also assigned as a mason’s labourer, and John Conolly, who was in fact a mason and working under Irish rebel overseer, John Dwyer at the Lumber Yard in Sydney. 1817 - 15th December. Now he is 51 years old. He sought mitigation of his life sentence, saying he’d been in government service ever since his arrival, that he was far advanced in years, and could produce the most unquestionable testimony of his sobriety, honesty and industry. Nicholas Delaney supported his application saying that “I know Petitioner since his arrival AND BEFORE and begs leave to recommend him to Your Exc’s consideration.” The Governor acred quickly on that application and granted him a Conditional Pardon in the very next round of pardon in Janaury 1818: * 1818: 31 January, Conditional Pardon no. 1026. 5 ft, 5&1/2 inches tall, fair ruddy complexion, sandy grey hair and hazel eyes. He was a Labourer, native of Dublin. * 1818, 4th May, With an eye to his future perhaps, and needing to be looked after, Permission was given to marry “Phillis” Gordon, convict per “Lord Melville”, at the Parramatta church of St John’s by Rev Samuel Marsden. PHILLIS GORDON was English, convicted at Devon, given 7 year sentence, and was aged about 32 (since 30 when departed Plymouth in 1816). She had only been in NSW for 15 months. It was recorded on the indent that she was the wife of Samuel Gordon of the UK. John possibly met her at the Female Factory since she had only arrived in February 1817. * UNlikely that they actually married because: * No registration of the marriage found, * and in July 1819 Phillis Gordon gave birth to a son who was fathered by John Bond. * In 1822 she was living as a servant to J Slade in Sydney who was probably James Slade of York Street, Shopkeeper. * In 1828 she lived as a housekeeper at Wallis Plains. 1822 Muster John Sinnott incorrectly recorded as per the Indian. Labourer in Parramatta. (page 436, number A19250). 1823 Muster, CP, employed by Dr D’Arcy Wentworth at Parramatta. 1828 Census: 78 y.o. living at Parramatta with Bernard Moran. John was Labourer, and of course, Catholic * Bernard Moran was a Providence transport, although recorded in 1810 as being 44, the same age as John Sinnott, was recorded as 58 ys in 1828 (more like 62) when Johnwas said to be 78 years. Bernard had obviously offered John a roof over his head. Moran had served his 7 years and by 1822 had a land grant at Liverpool, with 2 convict servants, one TL man and female convict servant. In 1823, Moran was recorded as being employed by Andrew Nash (who had over 1100 acres as well as a ticket of occupation out at Bathurst, but also had a public house at Parramatta which is probably where Bernard Moran worked). Bernard still held his land up to 1825 as he had signed a certificate attesting that Patrick Clarke had faithfully worked for him from August 1822 until 1825. and in 1828 Bernard Moran was a clerk living in Parramatta. Clearly, he’d taken John Sinnott in.