James Macknell

3

Mark Edmunds on 30th January 2026

NSW Bdm DC 216-/1836 V20

75

iain Frazier on 21st April 2024

Family connections for James (Macnell) are: Some amendments added Aug 2025. MACKNELL/McNEAL James (McNeal/Macknell/Macneall) was born about 1770/4 at Reading Berkshire & became a labourer & chape filer. He was tried first for burglary of Richard (Martin), on 3 12 1797, & stealing silver spoons etc at Old Bailey on 10 1 1798, held probably at London/Middlesex Gaol Delivery & at Newgate & found not guilty. He was tried again for burglary of James (MacLaurin), on 3 6 1778, & stealing silver spoons etc at Old Bailey on 4 7 1778, sentenced to death respited to Life, held probably at London/Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 26 7 1799 after a voyage of 9months on HILSBOROUGH; the ship was riddled with typhoid & bad management; he was 5'5" dark complexion brown hair grey eyes. He was Free by Servitude by 1808 & married Mary Ann (Lawes age15 her first marriage) on 18 2 1808 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. [Some details taken from this Website] Mary Ann (Lawes) arrived in Australia as a servant in 1806 on SINCLAIR.>>> James (McNeal) & Mary Ann (Lawes) produced 1child: 1.John James (McNeal) was born on 8/ 4 1808 & baptised on 16 4 1821 age13 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. .. >>>Mary Ann (Lawes) had a second relationship with D'Arcy (Wentworth his third relationship). She produced 9children in her lifetime. D'Arcy (Wentworth) was born about 1763 maybe in Ireland; & lived in 'high society'. He was romantically associated with future author Jane (Austen) whom he married firstly (1of3) about September 1789. He was rejected by the (Austen) family & became the inspiration for 'Darcy' in 'Pride & Prejudice'. He was tried on suspicion of highway robbery, in October 1789, at London, held in Newgate & released on 9 December 1789. On 12 12 1789 he arranged passage to New South Wales on the NEPTUNE. He arrived in NSW as an official on 26 6 1790 after a voyage of 6months on NEPTUNE; a voyage noted for extreme brutality of prisoners with a high death rate; with a questionable background; he was sent to Norfolk Island as assistant surgeon on SURPRISE arriving on 7 8 1790. [A D'Arcy (Wentworth), born in Ireland) is recorded with NSW Corps as assistant surgeon & superintendent of convicts from NEPTUNE 1790-same fleet] He had a second (2of3) relationship with Catherine (Crowley). In December 1791 he was assistant at Queenborough where he was granted 60acres. He had 60acres, plot no.88 on west coast, when he left Norfolk Island with his family on HMS RELIANCE on 19 2 1796, to Port Jackson. However, he is recorded as assistant surgeon on Norfolk Island in February 1805. In 1816 he was charged with writing & distributing verses critical of officers (actually written by his son) & much discusion ensued as to whether this important man would be tried. He died as D'Arcy (Wentworth) Esq on 7 7 1827 age64 father of 11children at Home Bush. [Catherine (Crowley) was born about 1768/72. She was tried for theft of clothing etc from her employer at Staffordshire Assizes in July 1788, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 26 6 1790 after a voyage of 6months on Fleet ship NEPTUNEalso; a voyage noted for extreme brutality of prisoners with a high death rate. She was sent to Norfolk Island on SURPRISE on 7 8 1790 taking her son William Charles. She left Norfolk Island with her family on HMS RELIANCE on 19 2 1796, to Port Jackson. She later moved to Parramatta where she died as an emancipist on 6 1 1800 age28/32 & was buried at St Johns CofE Parramatta; she was moved later to her partner D'Arcy (Wentworth)s burial site (at Home Bush?).]. [Some details taken from this Website] [D'Arcy (Wentworth) & Catherine (Crowley) produced 4children: ] EXPLORER [1.William Charles (Wentworth) was born on 7/17 8 1790 on Norfolk Island (or Sydney as mentioned on this Website, or at sea on SURPRISE off Norfolk Island as also mentioned on this Website). He was taken to Norfolk Island by his mother on SURPRISE & returned to Sydney with his parents on HMS RELIANCE on 19 2 1796. In 1813 he accompanied William (Lawson) & Gegory (Blaxland) in finding a route through the Blue Mountains to pastures beyond. He was recorded in 1826 & 1829 as a Barrister & had a first relationship with Sarah (Cox) whom he married on 26 10 1829 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. He became maybe editor & publisher of Australian newspaper.>>> [..Sarah (Cox) was born in 1804 in the colony-she may 1of2 found:] [..A.Sarah (Cox) may be the daughter of Francis (Cox) & Sarah Pitt (Edge)] [..Details of Sarah (Cox)s family are given in entry for James (Shears SCARBOROUGH 1788) on this Website.] [..B.Sarah (Cox) may be the daughter of James (Cox ADMIRAL BARRINGTON 1791) & Mary (Burke born in 1809.) [....[James (Cox) does not have an entry on this Website as yet] .. [..William Charles (Wentworth) & Sarah (Cox) produced 3children: ] [..1.Thomasine (Wentworth) was born on 18 12 1825 & baptised on 15 1 1826 at St James CofE Sydney. She died in 1829 age about3.] [..2.William Charles (Wentworth) was born on 26 12 1827 at Petersham & baptised on 22 1 1828 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. He wrote verses in 1816 that were critical of officers & distributed them clandestinely (wrapped in waterproof & placed where they could be anonymously found-as was a common practice); he was in England before he could be punished-his father was charged without anyones knowledge of the true author.] [..3.Fanny Catherine (Wentworth) was born on 20 11 1829 & baptised on 22 1 1828 at St Phillips CofE Sydney.] .. [>>>William Charles (Wentworth) had a second relationship with Jemima (McDuel). He died on 20 3 1872 age81 father of at least 4children.] [..Jemima (McDuel) was born on 5 11 1796 in Windsor & baptised on 21 10 1816 age19 w/Lydia, Elizabeth at St Phillips CofE Sydney. She married firstly Edward (Eagar-Pardoned-his first marriage) on 10 7 1815 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. She died on 9 1 1867 age70 mother of at least 5children. [..Details of Jemima (McDuel)s family are given in entry for William (Eaton ADMIRAL BARRINGTON 1791) on this Website. [..William Charles (Wentworth) & Jemima (McDuel) produced at least 1child:] [..1.Henry (Wentworth) was born on 4 11 1830.] .. [2.Martha (Wentworth) died age4m of fever. [3.D'Arcy Derwent (or was he D'Arcy Dorset) (Wentworth) was born on 23 6 1793 on Norfolk Island. He left Norfolk Island with his parents on HMS RELIANCE on 19 2 1796, to Port Jackson. He became a Major with 63rd Regiment. He died on 21 7 1861 age67 perhaps in Tasmania & was buried at his fathers burial site (at Home Bush?).] [4.John Matthew (Wentworth) was born on 13 6 1795 on Norfolk Island. He left Norfolk Island with his family on HMS RELIANCE on 19 2 1796, to Port Jackson. He died on 20 2 1820 age24.] .. [a (Wentworth) went to Vic/NSW about 1844] .. Mary Ann (Lawes/McNeil/Neal) & D'Arcy (Wentworth) produced 8children: 1.George (Wentworth) was born on 7 11 1810 & baptised on 22 12 1810 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. He had a relationship with Maria (Ryan/Kelly). He died on 23 9 1851 age40. ..George (Wentworth) & Maria (Ryan/Kelly) produced at least 1child: ..1.Anne (Wentworth) was born on 3 2 1829 & baptised on 6 4 1829 St Marys RC Sydney. 2.Martha (Wentworth) was born in 1813. She married at age15 John (Reddall) on 12 3 1828 at St Peters CofE Campbelltown & produced at least 1child. She died on 1 1 1847 age about33. ..John (Reddall) was born about 1808 in England. He was brought to NSW by his family on 30 9 1820 after a voyage of 4.5months on MORLEY. He was recorded in 1829 as a gent. ..Details of John (Reddal)s family are given BELOW.] 3.Sophia (Wentworth) was born on 4 11 1816 & baptised on 9 12 1816 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. She died in 1878 age about61. 4.Robert Charles (Wentworth) was born in 1818. He died in 1878 age about60. 5.Charles John (Wentworth) was born on on 9 2 1819 & baptised on 13 4 1819 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. He died on 12 3 1854 age35. 6.Mary Ann (Wentworth) was born in 1823. She died in 1870 age about47. 7.Catherine (Wentworth) was born in 1824. She died in 1898 age about74. 8.D'Arcy Charles (Wentworth) was born on 15 3 1828 & baptised on 14 3 1828sic at St Phillips CofE Sydney. He died on 1 5 1866 age38. Noted a Maria (Wentworth) married Patrick (Connolly) surgeon & produced Jemima (Connolly) born in April 1830 in Sydney & baptised on 23 5 1830 at St Marys RC Sydney. & a Patrick (Connolly) died on 27 7 1830 in Sydney & was buried at St Marys RC Sydney. REDDALL Thomas (Reddall) married Isabella (???). He arrived in NSW as a chaplain with his family on 30 9 1820 after a voyage of 4.5months on MORLEY. Thomas (Reddall) & Isabella (???) produced 9children: 1.John (Reddall) was born about 1809 in England. He was brought to NSW by his family on 30 9 1820 after a voyage of 4.5months on MORLEY. He married Martha (Wentworth age15) on 12 3 1828 at St Peters CofE Campbelltown. He was recorded in 1829 as a gent. ..Martha (Wentworth) was born in 1813. She died in November 1847 age about34. ..Details of Martha (Wentworth)s family are given ABOVE see McNEAL. ..John (Reddall) & Martha (Wentworth) produced at least 1child: ..1.Cornelia Honoria Henrietta (Reddall) at Upper Minto was born on 21 6 1829 & baptised on 23 7 1829 at St Peters CofE Campbelltown. .. 2.Thomas (Reddall) was born in 1810 in England. He was brought to NSW by his family on 30 9 1820 after a voyage of 4.5months on MORLEY. 3.Luke (Reddall) was born in 1811 in England. He was brought to NSW by his family on 30 9 1820 after a voyage of 4.5months on MORLEY. 4.Isabella (Reddall) was born in 1812 in England. She was brought to NSW by her family on 30 9 1820 after a voyage of 4.5months on MORLEY. 5.Caroline (Reddall) was born in 1815 in England. She was brought to NSW by her family on 30 9 1820 after a voyage of 4.5months on MORLEY. 6.Clara (Reddall) was born in 1816 in England. She was brought to NSW by her family on 30 9 1820 after a voyage of 4.5months on MORLEY. 7.Amelia Louisa (Reddall) was born on 18 9 1820 & baptised on 3 11 1820 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. 8.Elizabeth Newton (Reddall) was born on 3 12 1822 & baptised on 12 7 1823 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. 9.Julia (Reddall) was born on 20 7 1824 & baptised on 20 1 1825 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. References: 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. Irene Schaffer & Thelma McKay 'Exiled Three Times Over! Profiles of Norfolk Islanders Exiled in Van Diemens Land 1807-1813' James Hugh Donohoe 'Norfolk Island 1788-1813-The People and Their Families' Reg Wright 'Forgotten Generation of Norfolk Island & Van Diemens Land' Pamela Statham 'A Colonial Regiment-New Sources Relating to the New South Wales Corps-1789-1810' Clem Sargent 'Colonial Garrison 1817-1824-48th foot Northamptonshire Regiment in the colony of New South Wales'

45

Margaret Weston on 23rd August 2021

James MackNeall was born 1770 in Reading, Berkshire, England. The first we find James recorded is 7 December he appears in the Court Records: His trial was held over until 10 January 1798 before: Thompson Name: James McNeall, age 27 5/5” tall; Dark complexion; brown hair; grey eyes; Reading Berkshire, by Trade he was a labourer and chape filer. (a chape is a metal plate or mounting at the end of a sheath or a scabbard, a sliding loop on a belt or strip, back piece of a buckle). What place committed: Newgate. By Whom: Staples; The Crime: Tried at Old Bailey, London. Accused of housebreaking (breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Richard Martin of Brook-street, Ratcliff , no person being therein, about the hour of four in the afternoon, of the 3d of December, and stealing four silver tea spoons, value 6s. a pair of silver tea tongs, value 3s. a pair of silver kneebuckles, value 2s. and fifteen pounds in money, a bank-note, value £5, another bank-note, value 2ls and another bank-note, value £1 the property of the said Richard Martin). Found not guilty. His second appearance in court is on 4th July 1798: Tried at Old Bailey, London. Accused of housebreaking (breaking and entering the dwelling-house of James MacLaurin , about the hour of four in the afternoon of the 3d of june, no person being therein, and stealing six silver teaspoons, value £1. 6s. 6d. a pair of silver sugar-tongs, value 8s. 6d. a pair of silver shoe-buckles, value £1. 6s. a pair of shoe-latchets, value 12s. a silk cloak, value £3. 3s. two gowns, value £ 2. 10s. and two petticoats, value 20s. the property of the said James; five linen shirts, value 1l. 5s. and two pair of silk stockings, value 3s. the property of john duff ; and two guineas in money). Found guilty. Sentenced to death. This sentence was respited on 4th August 1798 to Transportation, and he was delivered on board the Hillsborough on 18th October 1798, to serve a sentence of 21 years.