Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
George Marley was transported on the Three Bees, departing 8th Dec 1813 and arriving 6th May 1814 with 221 passengers.
SHIP NEWS.—On Wednesday arrived the Catherine transport, Capt. Simmonds, with 97 female prisoners from Ireland; which she received at Cork, and afterwards went to Falmouth for convoy, whence she sailed for this Colony the 8th of last December. Yesterday arrived the Three Bees transport, Capt. Wallace, with 209 male prisoners, also from Ireland, but last from England having sailed in the same convoy with the Catherine, under protection of the Niger and Tagus frigates; which captured, off the Cape de Verde, the Ceres French frigate, rated 36, but carrying 46 guns, after an action of 15 minutes in which the Tagus only was engaged. Sydney Gazette, 7 May 1814.
Three Bees (generic)References
| Primary Source | Irish Convict Database by Peter Mayberry. Colonial Secretary Index. 1828 Census Index. |
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Convict Notes
Marley is often lauded for being the first Catholic schoolteacher in Australia and establishing the first offical Catholic school. Both claims are incorrect. Primary evidence confirms that the first Catholic school was established by convict priest, Fr James Harold in ca 1803 on Norfolk Island. Several schools led by trained Irish teachers operated in Sydney from 1805. The most notable was operated by Farrell Cuffe for more than 15 years, after which he removed to Wilberforce, where he and his wife continued the school for at least two more decades. Marley (incorrectly spelt Morley in much Catholic literature) was not a trained teacher and his Parramatta school collapsed in early 1823. Irish Catholic families chose to send their children to other, often Church of England schools, because of Marley's poor quality teaching.
George Marley was indicted for embezzling several sums of money, the property of Messrs. Fay, Grangler, and Hughes, of Navan, during the period he acted as their clerk in Drogheda by taking credit in his weekly accounts for money. The prisoner pleaded guilty and after received a lecture from the learned Judge, he was sentenced to seven years transportation. Belfast Newsletter 5 March 1813. ------------------------------------------------- Irish Convict Database by Peter Mayberry. George Marley, age 36, Three Bees (1814), Tried Drogheda Louth Co., 1813, 7 years, DOB, 1778, native place, Meath, Accountant. -------------------------------------------------- Colonial Secretary Index. MARLEY, George. Per "Three Bees", 1814. 1817 - Servant of Captain William Campbell; petition for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3179; 4/1852 p.229) 1820 - Memorial (Fiche 3025; 4/1824B No.479 pp.771-4) 1820 Aug 15 - Countersigned printed copy of Proclamation on the accession of King George IV; at Liverpool on 7 Aug (Reel 6049; 4/1745 p.167) 1822 Oct 10 - Schoolteacher at Parramatta. For financial assistance (Reel 6055; 4/1762 p.18) 1822 Nov 22 - Memorial applying for position as teacher at Roman Catholic School, Parramatta (Fiche 3050; 4/1831 No.240) --------------------------------------------------- 1828 Census Index. George Marlay, age 50, F.S. Three Bees, 1814, 7 years, catholic, Clerk to John McArthur, Camden district.