Daniel Mackay

54

Phil Hands on 22nd April 2017

Tried and convicted of Grand Larceny at the Leicester Assizes on 18th March 1790, sentenced to 7 years transportation, sent to the prison Hulk 'Censor', moored at Woolwich prior to transportation. Left Torbay on 30th May 1791. Ship:- the 'Royal Admiral' sailed with 299 male and 49 female convicts on board of which 10 males and 2 female convicts died during the voyage and 1 male convict was reported to have escaped. Arrived on 7th October 1792. 1797 Daniel had finished serving his sentence. He had been convicted at Leicester to transportation for 7 years on 18th March Daniel appears to have become quite a well known inhabitant of Sydney town and the Sydney Gazette (which began publication in 1803) has numerous references. Daniel was advertising that he was the executor to the will of Mr George Wells of Hawkesbury (dec) in 1805, perhaps the first record of his association with the Hawkesbury district. The 1805-1806 Muster records Daniel McKay as free by servitude, occupation gaoler, with 30 acres farmland lease at Sydney. Judith Quinland ('Experiment I' 1804) was also recorded with two female natural children, lives with Daniel McKay as concubine, with condition described as EC (Emancipated Convict?). The farm of 30 acres has his 'wife', 2 children , five convicts and two free men employed, with a note of Purchase of Wells Richmond Hill. The convicts appear to be William Williams, prisoner indented to Daniel McKay, John Fisher, prisoner from the Royal Admiral, William Thoburn, prisoner, Ticket of Leave, William Wright, condition not recorded, as well as Owen O'Burn als Osburn prisoner, ticket of leave with an alias on the second line of Joseph Wright FBS. The two free men employed appear to be William Caswell, emancipated convict rents 6 acres McKay's Hawkesbury, with one convict, and Charles King, FBS In July 1807 he was offering a reward for the return of a cedar log with a conspicuous knot lost from the Hospital Wharf. Loss of timber must have been a problem as he published a warning to persons taking wood from his premises. It would appear that the cedar had come from the Hawkesbury, as he advertises the sale of a steel mill and boat from 'the farm of Daniel Mackay at Richmond Hill' in October. In February 1809 he advertises the sale of cedar planks at his house near the Hospital Wharf. Later that month he is granted a wine and spirit licence. There were two mighty floods in 1809. The first, in May, peaked at 48 feet at Windsor, the second, in August reached 47 feet, the third highest on record. Two massive floods in one year was beyond the anticipation and experience of the settlers and many who had survived earlier ordeals were now in dire straits. In August 1809 Daniel advertises for the return of a lost boat 19'6" in length, swept away in a flood from the 'Farm of Daniel McKay at Richmond Hill'. The Sydney Gazette records that Daniel Kelly had absconded from McKay's farm. It was around this time that Daniel ran foul of Samuel Terry. Terry had at least one Hawkesbury farm by 1809 as well as a hotel in Sydney. At this home away from home for Hawkesbury settlers, the guests ran up grog bills they could not pay. Their fuddled signatures of Terry's blank warrants of attorney allowed mine hosts to seize their farms. Daniel had prospered and bought an inn, which he transferred to Samuel Terry in 1810, and turned Richmond farmer. He was pursued by creditors throughout 1811, with numerous references to auctions in the Sydney Gazette. In 1813 he was gaoled for debt. The 1814 Muster does not record many details - Daniel McKay status free, landholder and Judith Quinlan, status free with 4 children (Mary, Elizabeth, Judith and John?). Returning to Richmond, Daniel swore that Terry had done him wrong and clung to the dregs of his respectability by subscribing to the Waterloo fund in Daniel Daniel died on 3 January 1819, recorded age 50 years, free. After Daniel's death Judith lived with William Bannister, a convict sentenced to 14 years and arrived on the 'Indian' in 1810. The 1822 Muster records Judith as being employed by William Bannister at Windsor, she had a Conditional Pardon and was living with four children, all born in the colony. By the 1828 Census Judith had taken Bannister's name and the family was living on Bannister's farm at Richmond. William was listed age 63, as free by servitude, a protestant, farmer with 40 acres cultivated. Judith was also listed at a protestant, age 45, with a conditional pardon. The children listed (all born in the colony) were Mary Bannister, age 9, Nancy Bannister age 6, Louisa McKay, age 18, and Hugh McKay, age 13. There were two 'Government Servants' also at the farm - Abraham Isaac aged 20 (Florentia 1827 14 years) and James Steward aged 24 (Ann & Amelia 1825 7 years.)