Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
James Kennedy was transported on the Governor Ready, departing 21st Sep 1828 and arriving 17th Jan 1829 with 201 passengers.
Governor Ready (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australia Convict Indentures (hand written)and Government Gazette (GG) |
Claims
"Sue McGuire, Family Tree. From my Grandmothers side of the family. By marriage only."
Photos
No photos have been added for James Kennedy.
Convict Notes
James Kennedy, (a perfect Mawworm in appearance) was indicted for stealing: a watch; he was one of the Lights of the New Reformation, and procured the situation of steward to Mr. Shepherd, of Mountpleasant, to whom he produced a forged character from the Ministers and Churchwardens of his Church.—Guilty. He was subsequently put to the bar, charged with stealing from the house of the Rev. Mr. Booker, to whom he said that he had been educated for the Catholic Church, but feeling conscious of the errors of Popery, he had expressed to his family his determination of reforming, and had consequently suffered the most cruel persecution from which he had just escaped. The Rev. Gentleman kindly received him, fed him well for eleven days, and was about making a public exhibition of his convert in Enniscorthy, when the delinquent decamped, taking with him a quantity of wearing apparel.—Guilty. Dublin Morning Register, 24 March 1828. *Mawworm - this word is used to mean a hypocrite, and was the name of a character in a play published in 1769, called the Hypocrite. In medical term, a mawworm is a parasitic stomach worm. This trial was widely reported at the time, in the Irish press, as well as English press, as it caused a lot of laughter and ridicule in the courtroom. The New Reformation was a fresh move trying to reunite Protestant and catholic Churches.
Government Gazette Wednesday 9 April 1834 stated that James Kennedy had escaped from Port Macquarie since 16 March 1834.
The Convict Indentures state that James Kennedy is 20 years old. He could read and write; religion Protestant; status single and a native of Wexford County. His occupation was as a Clerk, ploughs, reaps and labourer. He was convicted of house robbery at Waterford on 29 March 1828 and sentence to life. He had no prior convictions. Physical attributes - Height 5 feet 4 1/2 inches; complexion ruddy: hair dark brown and eyes hazel. Transport Number 148. Assigned to Mr Edward Cox, Mulgoa.