Mary Lyons

71

Robin Sharkey on 23rd January 2014

Mary Lyons, was aged 36 in 1810 when she left Ireland on the Providence. This was reasonably consistent with the age given in 1828 when she was said to be 53. Mary had stolen watches in concert with Mary Conners, but she had received the heavier sentence of being transported: FJ 24 March 1810, p 3: "Since the commencement of the Assizes at Limerick, the following persons were convicted in the City Court: Mary Conners and Mary Lyons for stealing watches etc from Mr Thos Walsh, Patrick St; the former to be confined 12 months at hard labour in the house of industry and the latter to be transported for seven years." * 1811 - arrived 2 July in NSW * 1814 - mustered at Liverpool, assigned to James Rand, off stores. * In 1817 Mary Lyons married James Dorr registered 1817 at St Luke's Anglican church at Liverpool. * 1822/1823 wife to J Dorr, residence at Windsor. Had a government servant (James Long) assigned to them. Mary’s Husband James Dorr: In 1814, James "Daw" or "Dorr", had arrived per ‘Surry’ and was that same year mustered at Parramatta, as a servant to Mr Hassall, off stores. James Dorr was a native of Essex and his trade was a Wheelwright. He had been transported for stealing a horse (per record of Conditional Pardon application in 1831 and record of the grant in 1834). Information from James’ Dorr’s 1819 petition for a Ticket of Leave: * By 1819 he was married to Mary Lyons, as he said he had a wife to Support. * He’d been in the service of Mr Rowland Hassall ever since he’d arrived in the Colony, in the District of Cook and conducted himself with propriety etc. * He was granted his Ticket of Leave based on this petition. Information from James’ Dorr’s 1825 petition for a Conditional Pardon: * James had been granted his Ticket of Leave in 1820 * By 1825 he and Mary had been leasing a farm in the District of Evan and growing tobacco on it. (In 1828 said it was 52 acres, all cleared and 40 acres cultivated). * His tobacco, he said, he cured and manufactured himself: “to considerable perfection, so much so that the last prize given by the Agricultural Society for that article was adjudged to him.” * That by industriousness he had acquired considerable property, his character was un-impeached since arrival in the Colony, and he was extremely desirous of a further extension of liberty. * He had lodged an earlier petition to which he’d received no answer. IN fact, the wheels had been in motion doing the rounds of the Magistrates offices to check that he had not appeared before them or was recorded in their books. * On 5th Nov 1825, the Secretary advised him in relation to his application for emancipation that he was referred to the Regulations of the Colony - meaning that he did not yet qualify. 1828 Census * 1828 Mary Dorr was reported as being aged 53, Protestant. She was Free by Servitude but her husband James was still on a Ticket of Leave. Therefore, Mary had greater freedom than he did. James Dorr was recorded as being aged 54, Ticket of Leave, farmer at Nepean River, Property: Westmore’s. He signed the Census return by making his mark. * The Dorrs, or Daws, had one government servant assigned to them in 1828, and had one worker who was free by servitude who’d been on the “Surry” with James. All on the farm are Protestant. They had 52 acres all cleared, and 40 cultivated. With 14 horned cattle and 3 horses they were probably reasonably comfortable as small-time farmers. * Also in 1828 Mary specifically was assigned the convict John Downes, from Co Clare who arrived per the "Marquis of Huntley" who'd arrived with his brother Michael who was assigned at the same time to Cap Brabyn of Windsor, who was a Windsor magistrate. * 17th January 1831, James petitioned again, seeking a Conditional Pardon. The record books recording his application stated that his crime had been horse stealing. His application was supported by the Rev Thomas Hassall, George Druitt, J Wright Esq and John McHenry Esq. Unfortunately Mary died before he was granted it in 1834. * Mary’s Death - Burial 5th June 1830 at Castlereagh. Registered at Christ Church Castlereagh as ‘Mary Lyons or Daw’ “aged 52”. * After Mary's death, John Downes was re-assigned because James Dorr was only a TL and Downes ahd been assigned to Mary and not to him * Finally, less than a year after after Mary's death James got approval on 28 April 1831, to marry convict Bridget Smith, aged 44, per "Brothers (2) in 1827 . James was aged 57, Bridget Smith 44. She was a Dublin house robber who was a native of Roscommon. Perhaps he needed a housekeeper, but Bridget was trouble from the start * she had one young child, claiming to be a "Widow". * Within at least 4 years James was advertising on 30 December 1835 that he would not be responsible for debts Bridget incurred because she had left him without reasonable cause. * She must have come back. Four years later, on the evening of 16th May 8137 she was sitting with Edward Kelly in a room of James' house when he had retired to bed, and James saw inappropriate behaviour between them. (Sydney Gazette dated7 August 1837). He went to intervene but his door between teh two rooms was fastened, so he tried to get into his own house through the window but was then struck by Kelly with a chisel. IN the end Kelly was found NOT guilty of the charges of assault with intent to kill and Bridget not guilty of aiding and abetting. After this it is unclear what happens to them all ..........