Murdoch Mcaulay

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Summary

Born
Jan 1822
Conviction
Unknown
Departure
Jan 1853
Arrival
Apr 1853
Death
Jun 1886
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Personal Information

Name: Murdoch Mcaulay
Gender: Male
Born: 1st Jan 1822
Death: 22nd Jun 1886
Age at death: 64
Occupation: Miner

Crime

Crime: Unknown
Convicted at: Scotland. Edinburgh Court of Justiciary
Sentence term: 7 years

Voyage

Departed: 31st Jan 1853
Ship: Pyrenees
Arrival: 30th Apr 1853
Place of Arrival: Western Australia

Transportation

Murdoch Mcaulay was transported on the Pyrenees, departing 31st Jan 1853 and arriving 30th Apr 1853 with 296 passengers.

PyreneesPyrenees (generic)

References

Primary SourceAustralian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 93, Class and Piece Number HO11/18, Page Number 29 (16)
Source DescriptionThis record is one of the entries in the British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database compiled by State Library of Queensland from British Home Office (HO) records which are available on microfilm as part of the Australian Joint Copying Pro
Original SourceGreat Britain. Home Office
Compiled ByState Library of Queensland
Database SourceBritish convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database

Claims

"Murdoch Cameron McAulay was my great, great grandfather."

Mick Fitzsimons avatar
2
Mick Fitzsimons

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Convict Notes

Mick Fitzsimons avatar
2
on 15th September 2025

It is thought that somebody wanted Murdoch McAulay out of the way in Scotland, because Scottish courts rarely transported anyone to Australia. Anyone convicted of an offence, serious enough to be transported, would not get their Ticket of Leave, the day after arriving at Fremantle Prison. Murdo didn’t drown, he suffered from ‘miner’s phthisis’ (tuberculosis/silicosis), a debilitating lung disease from the silica dust and that of explosives in gold mines. When he had had enough and couldn’t go on, he went to a disused mineshaft on the hill above his home, tied a rope around his neck, the other end to a large rock and threw himself into the shaft. His wife never reported him missing for almost a week and his body was found shortly after.

Margaret Ritchie avatar
4
on 31st July 2017

Received TOL day after arrival at Fremantle Prison on 01/05/1853. Granted conditional pardon 19/08/1854 and settled in Andersons Creek (Warrandyte) Victoria. Committed suicide by drowning 22.06/1886. Married Margaret Cobey in Melbourne and moved to Andersons Creek. Had 3 children and was a pioneer of the area.