Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
John Kinsella was transported on the Surrey Or Surry, departing 14th Jul 1816 and arriving 20th Dec 1816 with 150 passengers.
Built at Harwich in 1811 a square-rigged transport ship of 443 tons and copper lined she had two decks with a height between decks of 5 ft. 8 ins. In 1818, she had a major refit increasing the decks (and convict carrying capacity) to three. She was owned by the London firm of F. & C.F. Mangles.
Surrey Or Surry (generic)References
| Primary Source | Irish Convict Database by Peter Mayberry. |
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Convict Notes
Colonial Secretary Index. KINCELLA, John. Per "Surrey" (2) 1819 Apr 15 On list of prisoners sent to Newcastle per "Elizabeth Henrietta" (Reel 6006; 4/3500 p.80) 1820 Nov 22-Dec 14 Sentenced to death; commuted to transportation for life. In reports of prisoners tried at Court of Criminal Jurisdiction (Reel 6023; X820 p.23) 1821 On list of convicts at Port Macquarie (Reel 6019; 4/3864 pp.344-5) 1821 Jan 26 On list of prisoners transported to Newcastle per "Prince Leopold" (Reel 6007; 4/3503 p.70) 1821 Apr On monthly return of prisoners punished at Newcastle (Reel 6023; 4/1718 pp.127-8) ---------------------------------------------------------------- 26 Jan 1821. On list of prisoners transported to Newcastle per "Prince Leopold" John Kincella, Tried at Criminal Court, Sydney, 22 Nov 1820 – 14 Dec 1820. Life. Per Surry 2, Labourer. tried Original conviction: Tried Dublin, July 1815, 7 years.
Colonial Secretary Index. KINSELA, John. Per "Surrey", 1816 1820 Oct 4 To the magistrates of the various districts re his escape from Newcastle (Reel 6007; 4/3502 p.303) 4 Oct 1820. To the magistrates of the various districts re his escape from Newcastle Sir, I have the honor to inform you that early in the morning of the 30th ulto., Private Thos. Greenway of the 48th Regiment who was on Guard on HM Stores at Newcastle, deserted from thence with three convicts, namely: James Chamberlain, per ship Fame, James Kelly, per Elizabeth, and John Kinsela, per 2nd Surry, having first broke open the said stores and plundered them. This soldier has carried off his arms and ammunition and the whole party are supposed to have proceeded to Windsor. You will please to give early instructions to the Constables in your districts to be on the look out to apprehend these men. (Signed) J F Campbell, Secty. --------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCIPAL SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE, Sydney, 7th Oct. 1820. THE under-mentioned Prisoners having absented themselves from their respective Employments, and some of them at large with false Certificates, all Constables and others are hereby required to use their utmost Exertions in apprehending and lodging them in Custody: ... James Chamberlain, JamesKelly, and John Kinsela, from Newcastle ; ... Sydney Gazette, 7 Oct 1820. Criminal Court.—Thursday, Nov. 29. John Kinsela and James Chamberlain, were indicted on two charges; namely, with having stopped and robbed upon the King's highway, John Watkins, a constable, of a pistol; and secondly, with having prevented the same at the constables who had afterwards endeavoured to retake them, with threats to fire if they persisted in the attempt. The prisoners were fugitives from Newcastle; and found shelter and concealment on and about the estate of a Gentleman at Castlereagh, of which information was sent to the Magistrates of Parramatta, by whom constables were sent out and they were apprehended; they were handcuffed together, and delivered into the charge of the prosecutor Watkins, to be conducted into Parramatta ; but one of them managing to extricate himself from the hand-cuff, they both determinately demanded the pistol, which being given up, they threatened the life of the prosecutor, should he attempt to impede their escape, telling him that they would leave the pistol for him at a place they described near the toll-gate, where he would find it by nine at night. The prosecutor went accordingly, but it had not been left as promised to be. The next day three armed constables went in pursuit of them ; and they were discovered in the bush by the smoke from their fire, and one of these pursuers deposed in evidence, that he had known the voice of Kinsela as they approached ; and seeing him, unperceived, with a pistol in his hand, he levelled his piece and fired at him, the contents lodging in his arm, whereupon he and his companion were both secured, and the pistol found loaded upon the half cock. The unhappy man, Kinsela, has since endured seven or eight weeks of dreadful torture, and his emaciated and apparent state, of suffering at the bar, excited much the commiseration of the auditory. His Honor the Judge Advocate examined this witness in the strictest terms on the motives that had induced him to fire on the prisoner before he had challenged, him, and commanded him to yield himself up : to which he replied, that having himself been at Newcastle in an inferior capacity at a time when the wounded man was, he had an opportunity of ascertaining his character to be desperate, and his agility great; and that he was at the instant convinced that there was no means of securing him while he was armed, without imminent danger of their own lives. The evidence for the prosecution being closed, the prisoners were left to their defence ; in which they varied considerably from the statements exhibited against them. They denied the taking of the pistol from the witness John Watkins, by force, or that they had presented the pistol at any body ; but averred that it had been given up to them on their request, and that they had shook hands at parting; Kinsela also supplicating mercy from the Court on account of his long protracted and extreme bodily suffering. The defence concluding, His Honor summed up the evidence, and expatiated at length upon the leading facts, submitted the ultimate question to the consideration of the Court ; who returned a verdict pronouncing the prisoners Guilty upon both charges. Sydney Gazette, 9 Dec 1820. CRIMINAL COURT. -Thursday. The following prisoners that had been tried and convicted during the sessions, and who were remanded for sentence, were placed at the bar to receive sentence; which was as follows: John Kincela, for shooting at a constable, … SEVERALLY RECEIVED SENTENCE OF DEATH ! James Chamberlain, … —life to such part of the Territory as HIS EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR may think proper to direct. Sydney Gazette, 16 Dec 1820.
Irish Convict Database by Peter Mayberry. John Kinsella, age on arrival, 20, per Surrey I (2) (1816), Tried Dublin City, 1815, Life. DOB, 1796, Native place, Dublin City, Labourer.