Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
James Kenny was transported on the Boddingtons, departing 15th Feb 1793 and arriving 7th Aug 1793 with 129 passengers.
The Boddingtons was Built in 1781. She departed Cork Ireland on 15 February 1793 bound for New South Wales.
Boddingtons (generic)References
| Primary Source | NSW Gov Records. Irish Convicts. NSW 1828 Census Index |
Claims
"James Kenny is my 5th Great Grandfather."
Photos
No photos have been added for James Kenny.
Convict Notes
The following correspondence in the Australasian Chronicle, Quoting a letter written by James Kenny to the Rev Robert Cartwright, shows that James Kenny was a well respected school teacher. To the Editor of the Australasian Chronicle. SIR--Through the kindness of friends I have seen your paper of the 23rd ultimo, in which I have read, under the head of "Original Correspondence," "Flogging men into Protestantism--another case," a letter, dated Goulburn, October 19th. 1841, signed "Observer" (not Lang's). In this letter I am held up to the world as having been the champion of persecution in this colony; and, although a "Christian minister," the inflictor of suffering for "conscience' sake." I abhor and detest the spirit of religious intolerance which you have so unmercifully and unjustifiably attributed to me; and must request that you will allow this letter, containing my defence, to occupy the same place in your columns as the one complained of; this I conceive I have a right to claim on the ground of common justice, and, allow me to add, with nothing less can I be satisfied. I knew the late Mr. Fitzpatrick well. He was, at the time named by your correspondent, my nearest neighbour; and, as I am reminded in conversing with his son, I rendered himself and his family some friendly offices, of which he ever seemed to retain a grateful remembrance, evidenced by a warm interest in my own and family's welfare, expressed by him on every occasion of my meeting him in Sydney or elsewhere. Judging, then, of this man's character, from all I can recollect at this distant period, I cannot suppose, nor do I believe, he was ever flogged on any account; and that he was ever punished by my order, in the slightest degree, I utterly deny. As your correspondent presumed that the case related by him must be well recollected by many now living in Windsor, I lost no time in addressing some of those who were most likely to give an impartial account of the distribution of justice in those days of religious persecution!! The following short reply from a respectable Roman Catholic schoolmaster, at the time and place alluded to, may perhaps be sufficient:-- "REVEREND SIR--I respectfully beg leave to state that in the year 1810, you found me, a Roman Catholic, keeping school at Wilberforce, contiguous to the town of Windsor, and which I continued so to do till August, 1815. During this period I never knew you, in any way, to persecute any individual on account of his religion; nor did I ever suspect you of making any difference between Catholic and Protestant, Churchman or Dissenter, in any of your magisterial decisions; but at all times you appeared equally desirous to promote the welfare of all classes of the community. --I remain, reverend sir, your sincere, humble, and obedient servant, "JAMES KENNY, Senior. "To the Rev. Robert Cartwright." Hoping for an early insertion of the above in the Australasian Chronicle, I remain, sir, your obedient servant, ROBERT CARTWRIGHT. Senior Assistant Chaplain. Goulburn, November 3, 1841. [As we have no object in view but truth, we most readily give insertion to the letter of our reverend correspondent, which certainly is a satisfactory disproof of his imputed connexion with the transaction referred to. That we, and probably also our correspondent, have been to that extent imposed upon, we have no doubt.--ED.] Australasian Chronicle, 11 Nov 1841.
NSW 1828 Census Index James Kenny, age 57, F.S. per Boddingtons, 7 years, Catholic. He is listed, grouped together with Francis Kenny, age 27, B.C. Catholic, Mary, age 23, James, age 25 and Mary aged 2, Occupation Farmer Lake George. Has 120 acres of land, all cleared, and 24 acres cultivated. He has 30 horses, 985 head of cattle and 2795 sheep.
Per Vol 01, Baptisms, 1790-1825; Marriages, 1789-1823; Burials, 1790-1825 for St John's Parramatta. "James Kenny Son of James & Ann Kenny was born Nov 9th 1803 and Christened Dec 4th 1803. Registered Dec 4th 1803 by me Samuel Marsden" In the same collection "Ann Kenny Convict aged__of the Parish Parramatta was buried Dec 19th 1803 Registered Dec 19th by me Samuel Marsden". I believe Ann most likely died from complications of child birth by the dates of these. It is surprising however that their son James was christened at St Peter's since James Snr. was Catholic, despite there being no Catholic Church. As yet I have found no records be it church or government on a marriage between Ann and James, or the births of their elder sons. Nor have I confidently found a surname for Ann.
The following are records found relating to James Kenny. Finn's Leinster Journal, August 20th 1791 "KILKENNY, ...This morning J. L. Kenny, was transmitted to Carlow, to take his trial there, for the robbery of Mr. Moran, of Leighlin-bridge." This is the only record I have found that discusses theft as the potential crime of the Kenny brothers, however, in all following news articles they are mentioned together, so I am unsure if this is the same J. Kenny. Finn's Leinster Journal, October 15th 1791 "KILKENNY, James and John Kenny, who were confined in Carlow jail since last assizes, under sentence of transportation, found means last night to effect their escape from thence, and have not since been heard of." Finn's Leinster Journal, September 26th 1792 "KILKENNY, Tuesday Evening, September 25. This day John and James Kenny, transmits from Cork, arrived here on their way to Carlow, from the gaol of which place they escaped some time since." Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser October 6th 1805 "John and James Kenny respectfully acquaint their Friends and the Public in genoral[sic], that they will open [sic] SCHOOL at Sydney on Monday the 30th instant, at No. 8, on the Rocks, at the back of the Residence of Mr, [sic] Henry Kable. Parents and Guardians who may please to place their Children under their tuition may rely on the strictest attention to their speedy improvement in Reading, Writing, Vulgar and Decimal Arithmetic, Mensuration(*), and Book-keeping according to the Italian mode." *This word appears as 'menturation' in the print available on trove, but I believe this is just a bad print of the medial s.
Family connections for James (Kenny) are: Some amendments added Aug 2025. KENNY ??? (Kenny) produced perhaps 2children: 1.John (Kenny) was born about 1770 in Carlow Co. Ireland & became a schoolteacher/master & baker. He was tried with his brother for robbery at Carlow Co., sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 7 8 1793 after a voyage of 6months on BODDINGTONS. He married Eleanor (Gallagher) on 19 3 1803. He had established a school with his brother at the Rocks by 1805. On 22 1 1807 he was tried for murder, on 10 1 1807, of Mary (Smith), sentenced to hanging on 24 1 1807 which was carried out, with the body suspended for the required time then moved to be hung in chains at Parramatta. [This event may be attributed to this person incorrectly; or perhaps a description of an unsuccesful hanging whereby the sentence has deemed to have been carried out even without resulting in death..Smees records do not indicate success/failure of hanging.] He is recorded on 30 7 1811 as school master & farmer with his brother at Wilberforce. He died on 11 2 1814 age44 as result of being bitten by 8' snake at Wilberforce. ..[Some details taken from this Website] ..Eleanor (Gallagher) arrived in Australia as a convict in 1801 on ANNE. ..Eleanor (Gallagher) does not have an entry on this Website as yet & the particular ship ANNE is not identified. .. 2.James (Kenny) was born about 1771 & became a school teacher. He was tried with his brother for robbery at Carlow Co., sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 7 8 1793 after a voyage of 6months on BODDINGTONS. On 30 12 1796 he is recorded as having land. He had a first relationship with Ann (Johnson) convict. He was Free by Servitude by 1800. In June 1809 he was recorded at Hawkesbury..>>> ..[Some details taken from this Website] ..Ann (Johnson) arrived in Australia as a convict. She died on 19 12 1803 (childbirth) & was buried, as Mrs Ann (Kenny), at St Johns CofE Parramatta. ..This Ann (Johnson) does not have an entry on this Website as yet. ..James (Kenny) & Ann (Johnson) produced 3children: ..1.Edward (Kenny) was born in 1798. He married Elizabeth/Louisa (Cassidy) on 29 6 1820 at St Marys RC Hobart-& recorded at St Marys RC Sydney. He died in 1824 age about26 father of perhaps 2children. ....Elizabeth/Louisa (Cassidy) was born in 1802. ....Edward (Kenny) & Elizabeth (Cassidy) produced 1child: ....1.John Joseph (Kenny) was born in about 1823 at Airds & baptised on 16 6 1823 at St Marys RC Sydney. .. ....[Noted an Edward (Kenny) is recorded as producing a child with Eliza (Bow):] ....[1.John Joseph (Kenny) was born about 1821 in Sydney & was baptised on 17 10 1821 at St Marys RC Sydney] ....[& a John Joseph (Kenny) is recorded as dying on 26 6 1823 at Airds & buried at St Marys RC Sydney] .. ..2.Francis (Kenny) was born in 1800. He was living in Sydney when he married Mary Ann (Byrne) on 19 1 1826 at St Marys RC Sydney & produced at least 2children. He died on 14 3 1839 age about38. ....Mary Ann (Byrne) was born on 31 1 1805 & baptised on 15 11 1812 age7 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She died on 15 2 1848 age43+. ....Details of Mary Ann (Byrne)s family are given in entry for Patrick (Byrne MARQUIS CORNWALLIS 1796) on this Website. ....Francis (Kenny) & Mary Ann (Byrne) produced at least 2children: ....1.Maurice Francis (Kenny) was born in 1826 & baptised on 25 3 1827 at St Marys RC Sydney. ....2.John Francis (Kenny) was born on 12 6 1829 at Argyle & baptised on 9/10 10 1829 at St Marys RC Sydney-Smees records show a second entry wit his mother recorded as Mary (Sykes). .. ..3.James (Kenny) was born on 9 11 1803 & baptised, as (Kennedy), on 4 12 1803 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He died on 21 11 1824 age21+. .. >>>James (Kenny) sought permission to marry on 28 2 1811; & married (his second marriage) Alice (Bird) on 4 3 1811 at St Matthews CofE Windsor He is recorded on 30 7 1811 as school master with his brother at Wilberforce on list of persons to receive land at Airds or Appin. His marriage with Alice (Bird) is recorded again on 19 6 1820 when he was age49-some marriages were reaffirmed in the Catholic Faith when celebrants became available. He died in 1843 age72 father of 3known children at Inveralochy Glen Kenny near Lake George Goulbourn. ..Alice (Bird) arrived in Australia as a convict in 1810 on CANADA. ..Alice (Bird) does not have an entry on this Website as yet. Reference: Craig James Smee 'Births and Baptisms Marriages and Defacto Relationships Deaths and Burials New South Wales 1788-1830' ..a complete listing from church & other records in the early colony.
Brother of John Kenny, also transported on The Boddingtons
The Colonial Secretary Index, 1788-1825, has information on this person as follows: KENNY, James. Per "Boddingtons", 1793 1796 Dec 30 - On list of all grants and leases of land registered in the Colonial Secretary's Office (Fiche 3267; 9/2731 p.90) 1809 Jun - On list of persons at the Hawkesbury who have received blankets as gifts from Colonel Foveaux (Reel 6040; 9/2673 p.135) 1810 Feb 3 - Memorial (Fiche 3005; 4/1821 No.171B) 1810 Jul 6 - Supplied H.M. Stores at Hawkesbury with maize (Reel 6042; 4/1725 p.304) 1811 Feb 28, Mar 1 - Re permission to marry Alice [Margaret] Bird at the Hawkesbury (Reel 6002; 4/3490D pp.130-1) 1811 Jul 30 - Schoolmaster at Wilberforce. On list of persons to receive lands in the new Districts of Airds or Appin, and in other parts of the Colony; at Kurry Jong (Fiche 3266; 9/2652 p.11) 1816 Nov 16 - On list of persons who came as convicts and who claimed they were free at the last General Muster, without supporting documentation (Reel 6038; SZ759 p.283)
Born - Carlow County Ireland. Died - 1843 Inveralochry Goulburn Glen Kenny near Lake George.