Robert May

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Dianne Jones on 10th March 2023

FREE PARDON: 1869, 5 February: ROBERT MAY was one of 35 Fenians who had been transported to Western Australia (as well as others imprisoned in Great Britain) who were given Free Pardons / “unconditionally discharged” by the House of Commons. For a full list, see the Melbourne Advocate, 22 May 1869, p4, at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/169267360?. —0— 1869, 9 October: From the Freeman’s Journal, p2: “ARRIVAL OF THE LIBERATED IRISH STATE PRISONERS IN SYDNEY. The Rangatira, with twenty five of the Amnestied State Prisoners on board, left Melbourne at about half-past four o’clock on last Saturday afternoon, but did not arrive in Sydney until some short time after eight on Tuesday morning. This detention was caused by a strong northerly breeze and head sea which the vessel encountered immediately on rounding Cape Howe. The Sub Committee appointed by the Central Committee of Sydney had secured apartments for them at the Italian Hotel, in north George street, and were at their post at the hour when the steamer was due. It had first, on the report of apprehended disturbance on the part of the Orangemen, been arranged that the subcommittee should engage a small steamer and take their friends off the Rangatira somewhere below Port Denison. This intention was abandoned because it might be subsequently alleged, by people who have shown some anxiety to misrepresent the real state of affairs, that the patriots were smuggled ashore. Accordingly the gentlemen deputed to receive the guests took their station on the wharf as soon as they learned that the steamer was coming up the harbour and awaited their arrival. The news of the arrival of “the Fenians” spread with astonishing rapidity in the vicinity, and crowds were immediately rushing to the water’s side to catch a glimpse of the much dreaded revolutionists. By the time time the men had disembarked there were some hundreds on the wharf. There was not even the semblance of a demonstration on either side, not a voice was raised not a gesture made. Indeed save and except the numbers present not the least difference could be noticed between the landing of the ex-prisoners and the landing of an equal number of ordinary immigrants from the neighbouring colonies. The men then marched four abreast to the carriages waiting for them and were driven off to the hotel abovementioned. None of them seemed much the worse for their imprisonment, and all of them declared that bad as penal servitude in Western Australia was, it was infinitely preferable to incarceration in any of the English prisons. They are chiefly from Cork and Limerick, with a few from Dublin, as will be seen by the annexed list. They are very favourable specimens of the young and intelligent Irishmen of the present day, and are evidently imbued with a manly and patriotic spirit. We understand that none of them care about remaining in the colony; the great majority of them will return home to Ireland, and the remainder of them will proceed by the first opportunity to San Francisco. We were highly pleased to see that they were accorded a genuine Irish “Cead mille failthe” without the slightest pretext being given to certain parties, who shall be nameless for the present, at all events, to cry out that a “Fenian demonstration” was taking place, or that “old sores”, whatever kind of wounds they may happen to be, were being ripped open once more. A constant tide of friends and sympathisers, anxious to clasp the hands of the patriots and to congratulate them on their release from their unmerited suffering, flowed through the rooms and threatened occasionally to become a decided nuisance to our gallant young countrymen. It must have been a great relief to them when the hand shaking terminated and they were allowed to retire and rest themselves after their protracted and disagreeable passage from the Sound. On one occasion two members of the detective force mingled with the throng in the room, and although they were instantly recognized there was no more notice taken of their presence than if they had been but a couple of cur dogs that followed the crowd. We regret that we are quite unable to say whether they were able to report anything important to their highly respected, intelligent, and efficient chief. Our friends are by no means confined in their movements, they ramble freely about the city, and so far as we can hear, they have been subjected to no unfriendly molestation or interference of any kind. Their quiet unostentatious and gentlemanly manner has favourably impressed both friends and foes, who have come in contact with them. We append a list of their names, place of birth, where convicted, and nature of sentence, which we make no doubt will prove interesting to many of our readers as by this means they can tell whether they have been acquainted in the old country with the prisoners, or their families:— 1. Mr. John Kenealy [sic], born at Newmarket, county Cork; convicted at Cork, December 1865; sentence, 10 years penal servitude. 2. Mr. Jeremiah O’Donovan, born at Blarney, county Cork; convicted at Cork, December 1865; sentence, 5 years penal servitude. 3. Mr. John S. Casey, born at Mitchelstown, county Cork; convicted at Cork, December 1865; sentence, 5 years penal servitude. 4. Mr. Michael Moore, born at Dublin; convicted at Dublin, December 1865; sentence, 10 years penal servitude. 5. Mr. Patrick Dunne, born at Dublin; convicted at Dublin, December 1865; sentence, 5 years penal servitude. 6. Mr. Denis B. Cashman, born at Waterford; convicted at Dublin, January 1866; sentence, 7 years penal servitude. 7. Mr. John B. Walsh, born at Dublin; convicted at Dublin, January 1866; sentence, 7 years penal servitude. 8. Mr. Patrick Doran, born at Dublin; convicted at Dublin, April 1867; sentence, hanged, drawn and quartered. 9. Mr. Eugene Lombard, born at Cork; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 7 years penal servitude. 10. Mr. Eugene Geary, born at Cork; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 5 years penal servitude. 11. Mr. David Joyce, born at Ballamacoda, county Cork; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, hanged, drawn and quartered. 12. Mr. Thomas Cullinane, born at Ballamacoda, county Cork; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, hanged, drawn and quartered. 13. Mr. Simon Downey, born at Cork; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 7 years penal servitude. 14. Mr. Morgan McSweeny, born at Cork; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 7 years penal servitude. 15. Mr. Denis Hennessy, born at Kilmallock, county Limerick; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 7 years penal servitude. 16. Mr. Maurice Fitzgibbon, born at Kilmallock, county Limerick; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 5 years penal servitude. 17. Mr. Thomas Daly, born at Kilmallock, county Limerick; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 15 years penal servitude. 18. Mr. John Sheehan, born at Kilmallock, county Limerick; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 7 years penal servitude. 19. Mr. David Cummins, born at Youghal, county Cork; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 7 years penal servitude. 20. Mr Michael Noonan, born at Kilmallock; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 5 years penal servitude. 21. Mr. Patrick Riordan, born at Kilmallock; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 7 years penal servitude. 22. Mr. Patrick Leahy, born at Thurles, county Tipperary; convicted at Cork [incorrect; Nenagh], May 1867 incorrect; 29/7/1867]; sentence, 5 years penal servitude. 23. Mr. Thomas Fogarty, Kilfeacle, county Tipperary; convicted at Cork May 1867; sentence, 5 years penal servitude. 24. Mr. ROBERT MAY [my emphasis], born at Drogheda; convicted at Dundalk, August 1867; sentence, 5 years' penal servitude. 25. Mr. Patrick Wall, born at Drogheda; convicted at Dundalk, August 1867; sentence, 5 years’ penal servitude. —0—

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Dianne Jones on 10th March 2023

From KW Amos, 1987, “The Fenians and Australia c1865-1880”, p375: May, Robert, born 1847, son of William, Unity Street, Drogheda, Louth; unmarried; spinning master, Drogheda, literate, RC, convicted Dundalk, 16/7/67: 'Was one of the mob assembled in arms in Drogheda market place on 5th March '67 - previously drilling'; treason-felony, 5 yrs penal servitude; Portland prison (#6329); Fremantle prison, Clarence road party, Perth prison, Bunbury depot (#9823); 9 letters home, character good. Record: (1) Refusing to join his party, 17/2/69 - 7 days B & W [bread and water]. (2) Refusing to join his party, 8/3/69 - 7 days B & W. (3) Refusing to join his party, 20/3/69 - 7 days B & W. Release: Free Pardon 15/5/69; sailed for Sydney on Rangatira 21/9/69, then to Ireland on Suffolk 26/10/69. --00--

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From his FREMANTLE JAIL RECORD: MAY, ROBERT; inmate #9823; arrived 10 Jan 1868 per Hougoumont Date of Birth: 1846 Place of Birth: Drogheda, County Louth Marital Status: Unmarried Occupation: Spinning master Literacy: Literate Sentence Place: Dundalk Crime: Treason Sentence Period: 5 years Comments: One of 62 Fenians transported on the Hougoumont, the last convict ship sent to Australia. Its arrival at Fremantle on 9 Jan 1868 signalled the end of transportation to this country. To New South Wales, 21 Sep 1869. Ex Mayor of Drogheda or North Dublin (https://fremantleprison.com.au/). --0--

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Dianne Jones on 10th March 2023

On arrival in WA, ROBERT MAY, convict #9823, was described as a spinning master in a flax mill, 21, single, no children, Roman Catholic, reads and writes; 5’6¼” tall with light brown hair, hazel eyes, fair complexion and "not very strong". Father – William, Unity Street, Drogheda (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; General Register for Nos 9599-10128 cont. (R16)). --0--

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Dianne Jones on 10th March 2023

Thomas Keneally (1998, p575) also describes the Hougoumont’s arrival off the WA coast, and Patrick Wall’s own descriptions feature in the telling: “The Fenians were landed with the other prisoners by way of barge on the sultry morning of 10 January 1868. Patrick Walle [sic], a Drogheda labourer who wrote stylishly, described the houses of the town of Fremantle as constructed ‘of all white sandstone, nothing is seen but white.’ Marching in early light through this pale-stoned, glittering landscape, on a coastline whose winter rains of less than twenty inches produced huge, hardy native forests but whose hinterland was, simply stated, a million square miles of desert, the prisoners entered through the main gate into an immense, high-walled parade ground, very sandy, and so on in through a farther gate which led to the cells. They were bathed, shaved and their particulars recorded. Clothing was issued—according to Walle: ‘A suit of Drogheda linen, ornamented with a red stripe and black bands, typical of the rank we hold in the colony, to wit—convicts.’” --0--

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Dianne Jones on 10th March 2023

OFF THE WA COAST: 1868, 9 January: From transportee accounts, Ormond Waters (1997, p100) describes their arrival off the WA coast and transfer next day to the mainland: “The Fenian prisoners were the last to be taken ashore from the Hougoumont in small boats and brought to ‘The Establishment’ as Fremantle Prison was called. One convict, Patrick Wall, who had been convicted at Drogheda along with Robert May, described the scene in a letter home: ‘Very early on the morning of the 10th, we were put on shore in Fremantle, and marched through the little town of that name to our destination, The Prison. Here we lay for some two days, going through the ordinary routine of prisoners on the first reception. Dressed in a suit of Drogheda linen, ornamented with a red stripe and black bands, typical of the rank we hold in the colony. To wit, convicts.’ The prison rules were harsh. There was a long list of offences, the penalty for which was death. Cells measured seven feet by four feet wide by nine feet high. Prisoners slept in hammocks.” --0—

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Dianne Jones on 10th March 2023

TRANSPORTATION: 1867, October: “The hired convict ship Hougoumont, which has been taken up, by the Government for the conveyance of a numerous party of convicts to Freemantle, Western Australia, left the Nore on October 1, and proceeded down Channel, after receiving on board 150 convicts from the establishments at Chatham and Millbank. The convicts from the Chatham establishment, at St. Mary’s, embarked from the dockyard on board the paddle-wheel steamer Adder, Mr. W. J. Blakely, and were in charge of a numerous party of convict guards and wardens, all heavily armed. Among the convicts shipped were a party of fifteen Fenians, who were engaged in the late conspiracy in Ireland, together with the officers and crew convicted of scuttling the ship Severn [only two were on the Hougoumont – Thomas Berwick and Lionel Holdsworth, each sentenced to 20 years for fraud], and some others who have achieved notoriety from their crimes. The Fenian convicts, like the remainder of the prisoners, were chained together in gangs, but it was observed that they were kept apart from the other convicts in a portion of the vessel by themselves. The steamer Petrel also took down a number of convicts from the establishment at Millbank, for shipment on board the Hougoumont, in charge of a strong escort and convict guard. On Tuesday, October 8th, the Hougoumont arrived in Portland roads. [Note: ROBERT MAY had been held at Portland jail, awaiting transportation. He was inmate #6329.] Shortly before midday ninety convicts were marched down to the Government pier at Portland under a strong escort of the 12th Light Infantry. The party included twenty-three Fenian convicts, among whom it was said, was Moriarty [not “the” Moriarty, though; this was Bartholomew Moriarty, an 18 year old mason]. The Government steamer employed in the breakwater service was used for conveying the convicts on board the Hougoumont transport ship. The convicts were chained together on embarking, and on board the steamer a strong guard of marines from her Majesty’s ship St. George was formed, and saw the convicts safely placed on board the Hougoumont. The Governor of the penal settlement at Freemantle, Captain Young, is on board the Hougoumont, and returns in that ship to his sphere of duty after paying a visit to his native land.” (Sydney Morning Herald, 19 Dec 1867, p4, at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/28608271). —00—

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Dianne Jones on 10th March 2023

From the Freeman’s Journal - Friday 19 July 1867, p4: “COUNTY OF LOUTH. (FROM OUR REPORTER.) DUNDALK, Thursday. -- Patrick Bird and John Colligan were indicted under the Whiteboy Act for assembling in arms. The prisoners were boys of 16 and 17 years of age. The prisoners pleaded guilty, and were sentenced to one year's imprisonment from the date of their committal in March last. The trial of Patrick Wall and ROBERT MAY [my emphasis] for treason felony was resumed. [Patrick Wall and Robert May were charged with being members of the Fenian Conspiracy, and having formed part of the body of 800 men who assembled at the Drogheda potato market on Shrove Tuesday night, when the constabulary were fired on. (Newry Examiner and Louth Advertiser, Saturday 20 July, 1867, p3)] Constable Cassidy proved the arrest of the prisoner Wall, in endeavouring to escape from the scene of the outbreak at Drogheda, on the night of the 5th March. Constable Murphy arrested May, lying on the ground, at the same place. The evidence of the existence of the Fenian conspiracy in Drogheda, and the details of the insurrection in that town on the night of the 5th March, and the outbreaks at Stepaside, Glencullen, and Tallaght was [sic] repeated in this case. Mr. Chadwick, the proprietor of the extensive flax-mills in Drogheda, was examined by the prisoners' counsel. He gave the prisoner Robert May an excellent character for industry and general good conduct. Patrick Marry was also examined for the defence. He deposed that Patrick Wall came into his house on the night of the 5th March in a state of intoxication; he had no firearms or other weapons with him; he left the house late at night, after he got sober, saying he was going home. John Farrelly was also examined for the defence. He was an intimate companion and friend of Marry’s and knew him to be a regular attendant to his religious duties, and knew that he belonged to no illegal society. Mr. Ferguson, Q.C., addressed the jury on behalf of the prisoners. Mr. Harrison, Q. C., replied on behalf of the crown. His lordship charged the jury, who returned a verdict of guilty. Lawrence Fullam, Luke Fullam, Robert May, and Patrick Wall were sentenced to 5 years' penal servitude each, and Christopher Byrne to two years' imprisonment without hard labour. A man named Patrick Conner, charged with uttering seditious language, was discharged, the crown offering no evidence against him. This concluded the business of the commission. (https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000056/18670719/023/0004) --0—

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From the Dublin Evening Mail - Thursday 18 July 1867, p4: COUNTY OF LOUTH. Dundalk, July 17.—Mr Justice George took his seat in the Crown Court at ten o'clock, when the trial of Luke Fulham and Laurence Fulham, charged with treason-felony, arising out of the Drogheda disturbances, was resumed. Messrs Joy, QC, Harrison, Q C, and R McDonnell appeared as counsel for the Crown; and Mr Monroe as counsel for the prisoners. Several witnesses having been examined as to the “Fenian risings" in different parts of Ireland on the night of the 5th March, concurrently with the rising in Drogheda, the case for the Crown closed. Mr Monroe then called upon the counsel for the Crown to address the jury, as he did not intend to into evidence on behalf of the prisoners. Mr Joy, Q C, on behalf of the Crown, said that this was not a case in which counsel for the Crown could forego their right to the general reply. Mr Monroe urged that no such right existed, except when the Attorney or Solicitor-General prosecuted in person. His Lordship said that his experience of the practice was otherwise, and he would not deprive the Crown counsel of the right of reply. Mr. Monroe then addressed the jury on behalf of the prisoners, and Mr. Harrison, Q.C., replied on behalf of the Crown. His Lordship charged the jury, who, after two hours' deliberation, returned a verdict of guilty against both prisoners, stating that their finding was based on the eighth, ninth, and tenth overt acts charged in the indictment. The prisoners were ordered to stand aside. Patrick Wall and ROBERT MAY [my emphasis] were next put forward, charged with having taken part in the rising at Drogheda. Messrs Joy, Q.C., Harrison, Q.C., and R. McDonnell, instructed by Mr. Parkinson, appeared for the Crown. Mr. Ferguson, Q C., instructed by Mr. Foley, appeared for the prisoners. The case is proceeding.” (https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000433/18670718/031/0004) --0-- --0—

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From the Dublin Daily Express - Tuesday 16 July 1867, p3: DUNDALK ASSIZES— This Day. (From our own correspondent.) (Special telegram.) Dundalk, Tuesday. The grand jury of the county of Louth have found true bills for treason-felony against Christopher Byrne, Luke Fullam, Lawrence Fullam, Patrick Bird, Patrick Wall, John Colligan, and ROBERT MAY [my emphasis]. The prisoners pleaded “Not guilty”. Luke Fullam and Byrne were then put on trial. They are defended by Messrs. Ferguson, Q.C., and Monroe. Mr. Monroe stated that Byrne withdrew his plea "not guilty," and pleaded “guilty." Counsel asked the court, in awarding punishment, to consider the fact of Byrne having suffered from gunshot wounds calculated to injure him permanently, his long imprisonment, the disappearance of disloyalty, and the growing spirit of tranquility in the country. Counsel examined Dr. Brunker and a witness to character. The Judge approved of the course adopted by counsel, read the informations, and directed the case to stand over till tomorrow, Luke and Lawrence Fullam were then put on trial. (https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001384/18670716/099/0003) --0—