John (Age 29) Kelly

71

Robin Sharkey on 8th November 2015

There were three men named John Kelly, convict, on “Three Bees”. This is John Kelly, aged 29, [born about 1784] convicted at Dublin City, in March 1813 and sentenced to 7 years. Oof the other two, one was aged 70 and was a labourer aged 48) Indent of Three Bees - Personal particulars: Occupation: clerk; Native place: Roscommon Age: 29; Height: 5ft 5 inches; pale complexion, dark brown hair and grey eyes. 1814 Muster - This John Kelly and the other Three Bees’ John Kelly, labourer aged 48, were both assigned and on stores as Government servants mustered at Windsor, one to Thomas Quin and one to Mr Martin, but cannot tell which one is which. (Robert Martin was a free settler on “Experiment”, a tailor, who arrived in 1804 with his family and got a land grant at Windsor, and later had land at Richmond). July 1820 Petition “That petitioner’s inclination is to stay in the Colony and become a settler most humbly solicits YE With grant of such proportion of land as Your Exc shall deem Meet (??) I believe the petitioner to be a sober and orderly man William Cowper and John or J XXX JP COLONIAL CRIME _- TRANSPORTED to Newcastle Sydney Gazette Fri 8 March 1822: page 2 Peter Ryan was indicted for stealing two casks of pork, value £10, the property of Mr Joseph Underwood ; and JOHN KELLY was also indicted for receiving the same, knowing it to have been stolen. Guilty. 14 years transportation each. Reports of prisoners tried at Court of Criminal Jurisdiction Criminal Court Sydney , 7th March 1822 John Kelly, “Charged with feloniously receiving and knowing etc” “GUILTY” Name is linked with PETER RYAN who was charged with and found guilty of “Stealing two casks of pork the goods of Joseph Underwood “To be respectively transported to such place for the term of fourteen years” Peter Ryan was listed on the Elizabeth Henrietta as a cooper who had come free. 20 March 1822 - On list of prisoners transported to Newcastle on “Elizabeth Henrietta” Ships list of prisoners for Newcastle in March 1822:John Kelly found guilty at Criminal Court on 7 March 1822: Given 14 years. A CLERK off the Three Bees. Native of Dublin arrived March “1813” original sentence on arrival - Seven Years Relationship with Mrs Mary Storer (nee Hardy) As soon as Kelly had been sent to Newcastle, Mrs Mary Storer applied to travel to Newcastle. She evidently had commenced a relationship with John Kelly, clerk, as her more elderly husband, Thomas Storer, had died in July the year before [1821]. Mary Hardy she had married Thomas Storer in 1810, and he had three children by another woman in NSW Mary Kearns or Curran. Letter 1 April 1822 Col Sec to Major Morrissett, Commandant at Newcastle, includes name of Mary Storer as on of several people who have permission to travel to Newcastle. Letter 18 April 1822 letter from Robert Crawford for the Colonal Secretary to the master attendant at Sydney that “the bearer, mrs Storer, has permission to proceed to Newcastle per the brig, Elizabeth Henrietta”. IN April mrs Storer had requested permission ot extend the lease of her deceased husband’s blacksmith premises in O’Connell Street. 30th May 1822 Letter from Mary Storer requesting permission to go to Newcastle on “THalia” “It would be doing me particular kindness if you would grant me the indulgence to go to Newcastle once more by the “Thalia” and allow me to land there with my property which will be free of expense to government as I have something of particular importance to settle at that Settelement highly advantageous to my future interest. I remain, Sir, with the greatest respect, 31 May 1822 Letter from Goulburn to Major Morrisett: “I have the honour to advise that Mrs Storer has permission to proceed to Newcastle on the Brig “Thalia” for the purpose as she states of being married to a prisoner there. 28 June 1822 - permission to marry Mary Storer, free, at Newcastle: for marriage by Mr G A MIddletone by letter dated 28th June 1822 1822 Muster John Kelly, 3 Bees, Convict, Gov’t Employ, Newcastle 1823 - On list of convicts removed from Newcastle to port Macquarie 1824 - Clerk in Commisarriat Dept in Port Macquarie May 1824 - Wife Mary sent from Port Macquarie back to Sydney for having a bottle of spirits in her possession, unexplained. 4 May 1824 - Letter from Commandant at Port Macquarie, John Rolland, to the Col Sec “John Kelly is a clerk in the Commissary at Port Macquarie and his wife MARY is to be sent to Sydney for not adequately explaining how spirits came into her possession: “IN consequence of a bottle of spirits having been found on the person of Mary Kelly, a free woman, and wife to John Kelly a prisoner and clerk in the Commissariat Department, and of her not coming forward in a proper manner to prove from what source it was obtained, I have ordered her a passage in the Sally cutter for he purpose of being taken to Sydney 1825 Muster, John Kelly, Three Bs, Convict, 14 yrs, A/C Police Office (written above this: “say”?? “Newcastle”) 1826 -Back to Newcastle Sydney Gazette Sat 24 June 1826 page 1: Newcastle—John Kelly, Three Bees, to be Constable and Poundkeeper, vice Bell, resigned. 1827 - John Kelly removed from position of Constable and Poundkeeper at Newcastle, and replaced by john Duncan (per “Minerva”) (per Sydney Gazette Monday 15 January 1827 page 1) 1828 Muster - John Kelly, Three Bees, Watchman. [No other information]. Written over this entry is “DEAD April 1831” 1831 Assistant to Parramatta Bailiff, john Lackey. 1831 DEATH by Drowning in river: Sydney Gazette, 7 may 1831. p 2 The floods up the country, occasioned by the late heavy rains, have been productive of several melancholy accidents, and the following among the number : A man named JOHN KELLY, holding a ticket-of-leave, and filling the situation of assistant to Lackey, the Parramatta bailiff, was travelling on the afternoon of Sunday week, in the execution of his duty, accompanied by a friend. On arriving at the Cowpasture-bridge they observed the stream rushing over it with great impetuosity, but trusting to the strength of his horse, and anxious to proceed on his journey, Kelly pushed forward when the current instantly swept both animal and rider away, and both were drowned, while his companion had the melancholy scene to witness without being able to render any effectual assistance. The body was subsequently regained and decently interred. 1831 Convict Death Record :- John Kelly, age 50, Three Bees, buried 27th April 1831, Narellan. buried by Rev Hassall NOTE: As died in “Sunday week” per news article, this would be Sunday 24th April 1831