Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
Patrick Killeen was transported on the Hougoumont, departing 10th Oct 1867 and arriving 9th Jan 1868 with 281 passengers.
875 ton ship was built at Moulmein in 1852. http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/on-this-day-in-history-australias-last-convict-ship-docks.htm ---------------------------- Incorrect Image ....This is a four masted steel hulled Barque in the drawing , im surprised Australian Geo didn't do a bit more research on this .......The Hougoumont was a works ship on the Forth Bridge Project in 1885 ....the one potrayed as a drawing in Aust Geo is the later version of this ship.....the photograph i have attached is the correct and original convict vessel. --00-- 1867 "The hired convict ship Hougoumont, which has been taken up by the Government for the conveyance of a numerous party of convicts to Freemantle, Western Australia, left the Nore on October 1, and proceeded down Channel, after receiving on board 150 convicts from the establishments at Chatham and Millbank. The convicts from the Chatham establishment, at St. Mary's, embarked from the dockyard on board the paddle-wheel steamer Adder, Mr. W. J. Blakely, and were in charge of a numerous party of convict guards and wardens, all heavily armed. Among the convicts shipped were a party of fifteen Fenians, who were engaged in the late conspiracy in Ireland, together with the officers and crew convicted of scuttling the ship Severn, and some others who have achieved notoriety from their crimes. The Fenian convicts, like the remainder of the prisoners, were chained together in gangs, but it was observed that they were kept apart from the other convicts in a portion of the vessel by themselves. The steamer Petrel also took down a number of convicts from the establishment at Millbank for shipment on board the Hougoumont, in charge of a strong escort and convict guard. On Tuesday, October 8th, the Hougoumont arrived in Portland roads. Shortly before midday ninety convicts were marched down to the Government pier at Portland under a strong escort of the 12th Light Infantry. The party included twenty-three Fenian convicts, among whom it was said, was Moriarty. The Government steamer employed in the breakwater service was used for conveying the convicts on board the Hougoumont transport ship. The convicts were chained together on embarking, and on board the steamer a strong guard of marines from her Majesty's ship St. George was formed, and saw the convicts safely placed on board the Hougoumont. The Governor of the penal settlement at Freemantle, Captain Young, is on board the Hougoumont, and returns in that ship to his sphere of duty after paying a visit to his native land." Source: Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 19 Dec 1867, p4, English Shipping, available on Trove at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/28608271?searchTerm=hougoumont.
HougoumontReferences
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 93, Class and Piece Number HO11/19, Page Number 266 |
| Source Description | This record is one of the entries in the British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database compiled by State Library of Queensland from British Home Office (HO) records which are available on microfilm as part of the Australian Joint Copying Pro |
| Original Source | Great Britain. Home Office |
| Compiled By | State Library of Queensland |
| Database Source | British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database |
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Convict Notes
Epilogue: From Thomas Keneally’s (1998) “The great shame and the triumph of the Irish in the English-speaking world”, p621: “There were of course soldier Fenians in Western Australia who were either free or about to be: Patrick Killeen of the horse artillery, for example, who would spend the rest of his life, which did not end until 1925, in Western Australia working on outlying stations. A particularly pathetic aspect of his career was that he had applied to have his wife and children sent out to Australia, but his file in the Home Office showed that he had previously declared himself unmarried, a position which disqualified him from the privilege of reunion…”
A photo in the paper: 1913, 14 September: The Sunday Times (Perth) carried a page 3 photograph with the caption “PADDY KILLEEN, A well-known Armadale identity, and one of the last of the Fenians.” --00-- Death of a Fenian: 1925, 31 August: Patrick Killeen died at Claremont (Amos, p373; Frayne, 2018). His death was registered in Perth, no.1154 (WA BDM).
Working at Guildford: 1905, 6 May: From the WA Record, p17 – “The Fenian exiles”: Serious illness of Mr. Duggan. We regret to say that Mr. Thomas Duggan has become so seriously ill as to have necessitated his removal from the cottage in North Perth to the St. John of God Hospital, Subiaco. His condition was reported by his companion in exile, Mr. Keilley, who has been most faithful and assiduous in his attentions to Mr. Duggan while, they have been living together at North Perth. Dr. O'Connor at once directed his removal to the hospital. Two members of the Duggan Keilley Fund committee — Messrs. P. J. O'Connor and Grattan Grey — paid the old patriot a visit a few days ago. It was the intention of the Committee, at Mr. Duggan's request, to send him home to his relatives in Ireland (Ballinhassig, County Cork), by this month's trip of the Mongolia, advantage being taken of the circumstance that a grandson of Mr. Duggan is employed on that steamship, and would look well after his grandfather on his journey to his native land. We regret to say there is now little likelihood of this arrangement being carried out, and it is painful to think that the poor old gentleman appears destined never again to see his sons and daughters and his native land. For months past he has been, looking forward most ardently to this consummation of his hopes but now there appears to be little or no prospect of his wishes being realised. Messrs. O'Connor and Grey found him very weak, and in the course of conversation Mr. Duggan said that he had abandoned all hopes of ever seeing his relatives or native land again. To his friends it will be consoling to know that at St. John of God Hospital every care is being taken of Mr. Duggan. He has a splendid ward all to himself, and the good Sisters of the institution leave nothing undone that can minister to his comfort. Everything he requires is cheerfully supplied, and he wants for nothing that can make him feel that he is in the midst of sympathetic friends. Dr. O'Connor is also most attentive to his patient. Some days ago a case of grapes reached the "Record" office for the Fenian exiles from Mr. J. Lyhane, of Donnybrook. Some of the grapes were sent to Mr. Duggan at St John of God Hospital, and some to the cottage in North Perth. The exiles desire to express their gratitude to Mr. Lyhane for his welcome donation, and the Committee also return their thanks to that gentleman for his kindly act. Mr. Duggan being now at St. John of God Hospital, Mr. Keilley is the sole occupant of the cottage in North Perth. The other exile, PATRICK KILLEEN [my emphasis], is at present working for Mr. J. P. Doheny, at Guildford, and when he comes to Perth, he makes the cottage his home. With the exception of Mr. James Kearney, who we are glad to say is a prosperous farmer in the Lower Blackwood district, these three men — Messrs. Duggan, Keilley and KILLEEN — are the only members of the Fenian Brotherhood transported to Western Australia in 1868 who are now in the land of their exile. A few others are still in Victoria, New South Wales, and other parts of Australasia, but the four we mention are the only ones, now in this State out of the band of about sixty political prisoners who set foot on its shores in company with John Boyle O'Reilly thirty-seven years ago. Mr. Duggan is now in his 84th year. --0--
1905, 22 April: From the WA Record, p21 – “A good-bye to Mr Redmond at the Celtic Club”: “… During the course, of the proceedings, Mr. Patrick Killeen, one of the three exiled Fenians now living in the cottage erected for them at North Perth [with money raised by public subscription and on land donated by Mr O’Dea], was introduced to Mr. Redmond by Mr. J. P. Doheny. Mr. Redmond entered into a long conversation with Mr. Killeen, and expressed the pleasure he felt at meeting him.” (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/211978702/22978074) --0--
Footnote: The date of death on the above record is clearly an error. --00-- Patrick Killeen's convict record, compiled by Keith Amos (1987), pp372-73: Killeen, Patrick, b 1847, unmarried horse trainer, Dublin, then driver Royal Horse Artillery, illiterate, RC, convicted Dublin court martial 29/4/67 --'deserted to join a Fenian rising', concealing mutiny, 7 yrs penal servitude; 6 letters home, character good. Record: (1) Insolently refusing to mend his shirt, 11/6/68 - 3 days' bread and water. (2) Refusing to shave, 26/11/70 - cautioned and discharged. (3) Granted Ticket of Leave, 17/3/71. (4) Drunk and out after hours, 4/8/71 - fined 10/-. (5) Absent from district without leave, 7/8/71 - fined 10/-. (6) Drunk, 20/9/72 - 7 days' hard labour. (7) Out after hours, 28/9/72 - 1 month's hard labour at Fremantle prison. Ticket of Leave work: (1) Brickmaker for James Boucer, Toodyay, £2 per week, 21/3/71. (2) General servant for Rev. Patrick McCabe, Toodyay, 30/- per week, 13/4/71. [Father Patrick McCabe, a native of County Cavan, arrived from Ireland in about 1859. He ministered first in Champion Bay then moved to Bunbury parish in 1866. He was “a scholarly, energetic priest who covered great distances on horseback to tend to the needs of his parishioners. He was also busily involved rebuilding Bunbury Catholic Church in January 1869, but found the time to lay careful plans” for Hougoumont transportee and Fenian convict John Boyle O'Reilly's escape from WA aboard an American whaler (Amos, p188).] (3) General servant for Rev. M. Kirwan, Toodyay, 30/- per week, 1/6/71, 30/6/71. [Rev Mr Kirwan’s arrival in Perth, as one of 73 emigrants aboard the Strathmore, is reported in the Perth Gazette in November 1868.] (4) Labour for I. Griffin, Toodyay, 30/- per week, 9/8/71. (5) Reaping, thrashing, labouring, and general servant duties at Toodyay and York August 1871 to June 1874. Release: 1874, 12 June: Patrick Killeen received his Certificate of Freedom. --0--
From his Fremantle jail record: KILLLEEN [sic], Patrick, #9798, arrived 10 Jan 1868 per Hougoumont Date of Birth: 1847 Place of Birth: Dublin Date of Death: 31 Dec 1825 Marital Status: Unmarried Occupation: Horse trainer, soldier Literacy: Illiterate Sentence Place: Dublin Crime: Not informing on a brewing mutinous conduct Sentence Period: 7 years Ticket Leave Date: 17 Mar 1871 Certificate of Freedom Date: 12 Jun 1874 Comments: One of 62 Fenians transported on the Hougoumont, the last convict ship sent to Australia. Its arrival at Fremantle on 9 Jan 1868 signalled the end of transportation to this country. Brick maker, general servant, labourer, reaper, thresher. Ex Royal Regiment of Artillery (https://fremantleprison.com.au/). --0--
Footnote: Patrick Killeen, born 1848, was the son of Hugh and Bridget Killeen, according to his bio by Beth Frayne (2018) on the “Toodyay Historical Society and the Newcastle Gaol Museum” site. --0--
1868, 10 January: On arrival in WA, convict #9798 Patrick Killeen was listed as 20, single and a horse trainer. He was 5’5” tall with brown hair, grey eyes, a sallow complexion and of middling stout build. The “D” on his left side, “BC” on his right side and a cut on the right side of his nose were his distinguishing marks (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department Registers (128/40 - 43)). On his WA Convict Record, he was also listed as 20, single, illiterate, a Roman Catholic and a horse trainer. His crime was: “Having come to the knowledge of an intended mutiny in Her Majesty’s army and not having given information to his commanding officer”. There was no mention of his desertion. No details are recorded of his family or next of kin. His physical description was as above. His behaviour was described as “good”. In the normal course of events he would have been eligible for a Ticket of Leave in March 1871 (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; General Register for Nos 9599-10128 cont. (R16)). --0--
1868, 9 January: Off the coast of WA In “The escape of the Fenians, Western Australia, 17 April 1867”, Ormond Waters (1997, p100) describes the transportees’ arrival off the WA coast and their transfer next day to the mainland: “The Fenian prisoners were the last to be taken ashore from the Hougoumont in small boats and brought to ‘The Establishment’ as Fremantle Prison was called. One convict described the scene in a letter home: ‘Very early on the morning of the 10th, we were put on shore in Fremantle, and marched through the little town of that name to our destination, The Prison. Here we lay for some two days, going through the ordinary routine of prisoners on the first reception. Dressed in a suit of Drogheda linen, ornamented with a red stripe and black bands, typical of the rank we hold in the colony. To wit, convicts.’ The prison rules were harsh. There was a long list of offences, the penalty for which was death. Cells measured seven feet by four feet wide by nine feet high. Prisoners slept in hammocks.” --0--
Transportation: The so-called military offenders/military Fenians shouldn’t have been transported at all, had Colonial Office policy been adhered to, according to Keith Amos (1987). He says the process for selecting the Fenian transportees was conducted behind closed doors so little is known about it except that “only less troublesome Fenian rank and file were to be transported [or so the Home Office told the Governor of Western Australia]… but in fact this policy was only loosely adhered to” by the British authorities. Amos says: “Although none were Fenian leaders, most had been severely punished; half having been sentenced to life imprisonment. All but two were convicted between March and August 1866, following exposure by informants who alerted the authorities to the fact that Fenianism had established a considerable base among British regiments in Ireland and England. Six of the seventeen had been 5th Dragoon Guards: Thomas Delaney, William Foley, Martin Hogan, Patrick Keating, John Lynch and James Wilson (real name McNally). Three were from the 61st Foot: Robert Cranston, Michael Harrington and James McCoy. From the 24th Foot, were John Donoghue and Thomas Hassett; and from the Royal Horse Artillery, John Foley and Patrick Killeen. The others were Thomas Darragh, 2nd Queens; John Shine, 60th Rifles; James Kielley, 53rd Foot; and John O’Reilly, 10th Hussars. All seventeen military offenders had been convicted either of mutinous conduct or of failure to report knowledge of a mutiny to a commanding officer. Seven had committed the further sin of deserting to avoid apprehension. To identify this group and to remind them forever of their crime, a capital letter ‘D’, two inches in height, was engraved on the left side of their chests. The instrument used was an awl, and the scar was made indelible with Indian ink [28]. All the deserters bar one who received fifteen years [James McCoy], received death sentences – later commuted to life imprisonment. The other military offenders received sentences ranging from five years to life. When the Hougoumont was boarded, all the military Fenians were confined with ordinary convicts, whereas civilian Fenians were allotted separate quarters of their own. It would seem that this arrangement was at least a partial recognition that the civilian Fenians, all of whom were convicted either of treason-felony or high treason, were political prisoners rather than criminals - a concession that sympathetic Irish nationalists had earlier failed to gain official recognition of. Mutinous soldiers, on the other hand, were clearly regarded by the authorities as common criminals, and perhaps more dangerous ones in view of their training. Note 28: John Boyle O’Reilly quoted by James Jeffrey Roche, ‘Life of John Boyle O’Reilly’, New York, 1891, p. 329.” (1987, pp106-07). --00--