Summary
Personal Information
Transportation
Ellen Maher was transported on the Roslin Castle (Roslyn Castle), departing 28th Oct 1835 and arriving 25th Feb 1836 with 165 passengers.
Built in Bristol, England. Launched in 1819. 450 ton ship. Five voyages to Australia transporting convict persons. Children of convicts were also transported but considered "free settlers" and not listed by name. The 1832/33 & 1835/36 voyages do not yet have complete lists of passengers - currently being updated. Please note this if searching for individual persons.
Roslin Castle (Roslyn Castle) (generic)References
| Primary Source | https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10519282 |
Claims
"Direct Descendant"
Photos
No photos have been added for Ellen Maher.
Convict Notes
Medical Journal of the Roslin Castle 1836: Folio 26: Ellen Maher, aged 22, Convict for life; disease or hurt, uterine and ovarian disease. Put on sick list, 16 December 1835. Discharged to factory at Parramatta, 2 March 1836. The surgeon found her laying about the deck and was told that she was continually fretting over the execution of her brother for murder two years previously. She had had some part in the crime but her sentence was commuted to transportation. She was very desponding and wishes for a speedy death to release her from her feelings'. She was found to have a tumour in the hippogastric region, where she had been kicked two years previously trying to escape from the police. 27/3/1837: Permission to marry Hugh Tunney (Minerva 1819) aged 44 and free - Ellen was 25 and on bond. 1837: Married Hugh TUNNY at St. Mary's, Sydney. No children listed on NSW BDM - following were listed on Ancestry websites: 1837: Mary Ann Tunney 1840-1906: Catherine Tunney 1843-1895: Bridget Tunney. 1857: Hugh Tunney died at Tumut, NSW. 15/9/1886: Ellen died of TB, at Gladesville, NSW. Originally buried in the grounds of the Gladesville Hospital but was then transferred to the Fild of Mars Cemetery, Ryde, NSW.
Tried at Trim at the Meath Assizes for the murder of Owen M'Enroe who had been a joint tenant with her father at Toneyowen Upper on land owned by the Duke of Buckingham. The Mahers were dispossessed by the Duke's land manager and they blamed M'Enroe for it. The murder was committed at the father, Edward, urging by Ellen and her two brothers, Patrick and William. Ellen and Patrick held the unfortunate man by the arms as William beat his brains in with a lead pipe. The father was acquitted while the three children were found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. William and Patrick were hanged and Ellen was informed she had been reprieved for a week. She subsequently had her sentence commuted to Life and was transported to Sydney on board the Roslin Castle in 1835.