Patrick Keane

71

Robin Sharkey on 28th October 2014

Patrick Keane arrived on the Boyd in 1809 having been aged 24 when he left Ireland in 1808. He was tried with 22 year old Maurice Hickey who arrived with him. Both were given the death sentence, to be carried out on 7th May, for burglary & robbery on Thomas Sinnott of Waterford, and attempted murder. But they were reprieved less than a week beforehand. When Pat finally got a ticket of leave after year and years, in 1824 he only had it one month before drowning in a boating accident while our gathering grasses for selling. * Pat Keane was a tall man of nearly 6ft height * his calling was paper maker. * he was a native of Waterford. * Sallow complexion and dark brown hair going grey already when he was 40 years old in 1824. IRISH NEWSPAPER REPORTS OF CRIME: Finns Leinster Journal Sat 5 March 1808 On Saturday last Patrick KEAN and Maurice HICKEY were committed to Waterford Gaol by John Douse Langley Esq, charged with robbing and attempting to murder Thomas Sinnott, of Carriganure, in the County of Waterford. Freemans Journal Fri 25 March 1808 Waterford Assizes - Patrick KEAN and Maurice HICKEY were brought forward on a charge of burglary and robbery in the hose of Thomas Sinnott - Guilty. Sentence not given. Finns Leinster Journal Sat 20 April 1808 Patrick KEANE and Maurice HICKEY, found guilty last Assizes of burglary, robbery and an attempt to murder Thomas Sinnott of Carriganure, in the County of Waterford, and who were to be executed on Saturday, the 7th May have been respited until further orders. Freemans Journal Wed 16 November 1808 Sunday Morning [i.e. 13 November] the convicts for Botany Bay confined for some time past in th city and county jails of Waterford were sent for the Cove of Cork, under a military escort - one prisoner, of the name of Fleming, from Wexford, accompanied them: Maurice Hickey, (L) Patrick Keane, (L) James Swaine and Mary Hale, from the county jail - and John Read, from the city. In NSW Patrick Keane with two mates off the “Boyd” did a robbery the year after landing and got caught. He got 50 lashes for his efforts. 27 Oct 1810 Sydney Gazette Patrick McKane, John White; and Edward McHugh, found guilty of stealing wearing apparel, ___, 30 dollars, and sundry other property from the house of Richard Jennen, at Kissing Point, were sentenced. McKane and White to receive 50 lashes each and be confined to hard labour 12 months; and McHugh, being the most atrocious offender, to receive 100 lashes, and be confined to hard labour, two years. 1814 - Mustered at Liverpool an assigned to Mr Meehan (the surveyor) with some other convicts. 1816, July = assigned to Joseph Hatton at Kissing Point, an old emancipist married to an ex First Fleeter. 1817 - sent to Newcastle per the Mary. Bracketed with John Hennessy “Surry” - one year each. 1818 on return went back to Joseph Hatton. 1821 - transferred over to work for Patrick Troy, per "Providence" in 1811, convicted Waterford 7 yrs for taking arms. Troy's wife Elizabeth nee Smith, was the step-daughter of Joseph Hatton and they all lived on farms at Kissing Point. * 1823 official transfer of Pat Keane to Pat Troy, although he had already been working for him since 1821. APPLICATION FOR TICKET OF LEAVE, 1823 We hereby certify that Patrick Keane who came by the Boyd in 1809 has not been convicted of any crime or misdemeanour in this colony, but is to one’s certain belief, an honest, sober and industrious character, having served faithfully Joseph Hatton residing in the District f Kissing Point form July 1816 to December 1821 and Patrick Tray of the same District, from December 1821 until August 1824. Attestation by Joseph Hatton as 1st Master as to character of Patrick Keane for a ticket of leave. Attestation by Patrick Tray as 2nd Master as to character of Patrick Keane for a ticket of leave. Also chaplain JJ Therry and resident magistrate - J Morley?? Obviously they overlooked his 1817 misdemeanour and probably did not know about the 1810 event. But it worked! He got a ticket of Leave dated 10 August 1824. But he was only Free with his ticket of Leave for one month before he died in an accident while he was out working for himself, trying to make a living. Patrick Troy had probably loaned them his boat. From an advertisement placed in July 1827 by Troy for sale of the boat, it had an 18 ft keel, was close lined and had both sails and oars. Sydney Gazette dated Thursday 23 Sept 1824: Another wood-boat lost, with three poor men. - On Saturday se'nnight [18 Sept 1824] John Tierney, Thomas Finnegan, and Patrick Kane, who obtained their livelihood by bringing wood and grass to town in a boat - belonging to one Patrick Troy, were drowned near the arm of Broken-bay, owing to the upsetting of the boat, which was supposed to be heavily laden.-The oars and rudder, were picked up the same day, not fat from the spot where the hapless men met a watery grave.