George Keene

343

Maureen Withey on 29th July 2022

SYDNEY GAOL, Dec. 28, 1824 THE undermentioned Prisoners, Runaways from Port Macquarie, having ESCAPED from the above GAOL, during the Night of the 25th ult; viz. ... GEORGE KEAN, per Elizabeth, 20 years of age, 5 feet 8 inches and a half high, hazle eyes, brown hair, fair ruddy complexion. All Constables, and Others, are hereby required to use their utmost Exertions in retaking and lodging them in the above Gaol. JOHN REDMAN, Gaoler. Sydney Gazette, 6 Jan 1825.

343

Maureen Withey on 29th July 2022

On lists of prisoners transported to Port Macquarie per "Lady Nelson"; listed as Keene, Date of Doc. 31/10/1823. George Keene, Convicted by the Bench, Sydney, 6 Oct 1823, Remainder of sentence. Labourer. Per Elizabeth (3), Original conviction, Gloucester, 29 Mar 1820, Life. --------------------------------------------------

343

Maureen Withey on 29th July 2022

Colonial Secretary Index. CAIN, George. Per "Elizabeth", 1820. 1823 Oct 31 On lists of prisoners transported to Port Macquarie per "Lady Nelson"; listed as Keene (Reel 6019; 4/3864 pp.84, 444-5) 1825 Feb 2 Convict runaway forwarded to Newcastle per "Mars"; to be kept at hard labour and in double irons (Reel 6014; 4/3513 pp.361-2) 1825 Mar On monthly return of prisoners punished at Newcastle (Reel 6023; 4/1718 p.201) 1825 Nov 14,19 On lists of runaways; escaped from Newcastle in the cutter "Eclipse" (Reel 6015, 4/3515 p.615; Reel 6063, 4/1784 p.307a) -------------------------------------------------- THE ECLIPSE; On Wednesday the 11th instant, at about the hour of ten o'clock in the forenoon, the cutter Eclipse, belonging to Messrs. John Atkinson and James Reibey, was piratically taken from alongside the Government Wharf, at the port of Newcastle, Hunter's River, by thirteen prisoners of the crown, three of whom are said to be seamen. They were facilitated in their escape by the sails being loosened to dry, and the master only being on deck at the time, so that they had only to put him below and slip the cable. There was a sentinel on duty at the wharf, when she began to move ; she was almost out of musket shot before suspicion was excite, and any alarm given; she was nearly round Nobby 's Island before a boat, properly manned and armed, could be got ready. The master and the crew were put into a boat, which was alongside belonging to the government, but this was not done until the vessel was well out at sea. At twelve o'clock she was just visible faraway, in the offing, steering North East. The provisions on board at the time consisted of two bags of bread, a cask of salt pork, a harness cask of beef, and a quarter of fresh beef, with about 80 gallons of water. Two puncheons of rum were landed from the cutter a short time previous to her seizure by the pirates. (Further particulars.) In less than two minutes the men had entire possession of the cutter. When she swung it was thought she had parted from her moorings ; but, on seeing the sails begin to be hoisted, it was immediately suspected what they were at, and alarm was given; but before Captain A. or Lieutenant Owen could reach the wharf she was running down the harbour with a fine fair westerly wind and ebb tide. Every effort was made to get a boat away in pursuit; but the boats crews being all convicts, did not hurry them selves to overtake her. However, they started with six or eight soldiers, under Mr. Owen's orders, but their expedition was fruitless, and they soon returned. The pirates put the master and his crew into a boat, and sent them on shore; and by three or four o'clock the cutter was out ot sight. The last time she was seen she was standing to the N. E., wind at west, and appeared to be hauling up north, under a press of canvas ; but being very crank, on account of the small quantity of coal on board, they were obliged to run her away large. We have no doubt, from all that can be learnt, that they intend for Timor. A person who was steward with Captain King (Jas. Johnston) in his voyage round this Island, is the navigator, and Wm. Tunnecliffe, who headed the party that ran away with Captain Allman's gig last January, is the Captain. There were no spirits on board, and consequently there is less chance of falling in with the pirates, as they will be kept sober. They were, employed in lading the vessel with coals ; for which service the owners were to pay so much per ton. Three of them had been ordered to be kept in gaol previous to their being transported to Port Macquarie but notwithstanding their being under sentence they were allowed to work in irons — their overseer had run away from Port Macquarie. The Australian, 26 May 1825. Accompanying the following list was a letter from the Colonial Secretary, dated 14 Nov 1825, to A. Hely, the Principal Supt. of Convicts. Sir, I beg to call your attention to the enclosed list of runaways, whose names have not, I believe, been published in the Gazette, and I solicit a statement of the reasons of these omissions to enable me to adopt measures to prevent their recurrence. Signed, F. Goulburn. List of Runaways specifying their names, ships, assignments and dates of desertion. All were assigned to Govt, Hunters River, and deserted on 11 May 1825. William Tunnecliffe, per Elizabeth, James Obery, Per Coromandel Charles Day, Per Lady Castlereagh John Patterson, per Guildford. James Johnston, per Larkins Lewis Collins, per Neptune Thomas Greenway, per Dick Danl. Delahantry, per Earl St Vincent Charles North, per Recovery Joseph Collins, per Medway William Wheatley, per Batavia George Cain, per Elizabeth Keane, Keen, from Gloucestershire George Spencer, per Shipley.

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 7th September 2021

1825 - New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters. 1825 Name; George Keene Age; No Details Class; Convict Vessel; Elizabeth - 1821 - Life Employment/Remarks; RUN; Away with the Eclipse Cutter - 11 May 1825.