Dominic Mccurry

75

iain Frazier on 16th October 2023

Family connections for Dominic/k (McMcCurry) are: McCURRY Dominic/k (McCurry) was born in Londonderry co.Derry Ireland about 1861. He was tried as an Irish Rebel at Londonderry Ireland, sentenced to Life & arrived in NSW as a convict on 26 6 1802 after a voyage of 7months on HERCULES. He is mentioned on 27 8 1807 as one of witnesses denouncing insurrection attempts by other Irish rebels in NSW, by which he was given a Free Pardon. He married as an emancipist Sarah (Arndell/Arnel her first marriage) on 9 8 1813 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. In January 1822 he was providing wheat to government from his property at Seven Hills.>>> [Some details taken from this Website] Sarah (Arndell/Arnel) was born on 7 1 1796 & baptised on 17 5 1796 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She married secondly Lancelot Edward (Threlkeld his second marriage) in 1824 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She died on 20 12 1853 age57 mother of at least 4known children. .. >>>Dominic/k (McCurry) is recorded in 1828 with Absolute Pardon as farmer at Seven Hills-a Protestant - with Mary (Murphy) age60 Free by Servitude. ..Mary (Murphy) was born about 1768. She arrived in NSW as a convict 7years on 25 6 1809 after a voyage of 5months on EXPERIMENT; she was Protestant. She is recorded in 1828 as housekeeper with Dominic (McCurry) at Seven Hills. [a Mary (Murphy) is recorded as dying on 7 6 1830 at Seven Hills & buried at St Marys RC Sydney] ..Mary (Murphy) does not have an entry on this Website as yet-added by me. .. What seems wrong here is that Dominic becomes a Protestant by 1828 & is recorded then as from ATLAS (where he is not listed). Reference: 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.

343

Maureen Withey on 22nd August 2021

Irish Convict Database by Peter Mayberry. Dominic McCurry, age on arrival, 41, Hercules I 1802, Tried at Londonderry, 1801, Life. Irish Rebel. DOB, 1761. Native place, Londonderry Derry Co. Present in 1811 muster. Mentioned in Anne-Maree Whitaker’s “Unfinished Revolution.” --------------------------------------------------- In 1807 there was a trial held, in which Dominic McCurry gave evidence, which was reported as follows in the Sydney Gazette, 7 June 1807: Court of Criminal Jurisdiction. Michael O'Dwyre, Hugh Byrne, Martin Burke, John Mernar, Thomas McCann, William Morris, Arthur Develyn and Walter Clare, were put to the bar and indicted for conniving and intending to disturb the peace of this colony, by instigating many persons to revolt from their allegiance, and to rise in open rebellion, which meant to overthrow His Majesty's Government therein, as well upon the 27th day of August last as at other subsequent periods, prior to the prisoners being taken into custody. The evidence on the part of the Crown was clear and connected. It appeared upon the most respectable testimony, that the conduct of many of that defendants or prisoners who had been exiled for treasonable and seditious practices, had been untoward and highly disrespectful to their masters, at and about the above stated period; and that from this sudden change of conduct, in addition to the various informations that were communicated by persons whose veracity was to be depended on, no other inference was deducible than that the projected insurrection was upon the very point of bursting forth, and that the devoted victims to delusion and artifice were confident of a successful issue. The prisoners were allowed every assistance requisite to their defence; which after some exculpatory argument, concluded generally with a point blank denial of the charge. The Court was then cleared; and after a minute revision of the evidence, re-opened; when Thomas McCann and William Morris were found guilty, and the others acquitted.—The prisoners were taken from the bar, and ordered to be brought up to receive their sentences the following day; Thomas McCann and William Morris were again brought forward, and addressed by the Judge Advocate; who remarked to them, that notwithstanding the malignity of the crime they were convicted of upon, testimony clear and incontrovertible, yet the penalty incurred thereby did not extend to the lives of the delinquents ; but the security of society from such foul, sanguinary, and abominable devices, rendered necessary the most exemplary punishment : "The Court did therefore adjudge and sentence them to receive one thousand lashes each; the Court recommending further, that as delinquents of the most dangerous principles and character, be removed by the most speedy conveyance to some remote place, where the baneful influence of their detestible principles might not be disseminated among other ignorant & credulous persons." In pursuance of their sentence, the prisoners having received a part of their corporal punishment, have been sent away to different settlements, where the remainder will be inflicted. Sydney Gazette, 7 June 1807. --------------------------------------------------- In her book, "Unfinished Revolution: United Irishmen in New South Wales, 1800- 1810", Anne Maree Whitaker writes: "The hearing of the first day was nearly at an end, and so far nothing had been proven except that there were rumours of a rising. At this point the first of three major prosecution witnesses was sworn. Dominic McCurry had been tried in Derry in April 1801 and transported on Hercules the following years. McCurry stated that he had run into Dwyer while driving some pigs near his home at Constitution Hill (Toongabbie), and that Dwyer had struck up a conversation with him in which he claimed a rising was planned and that 100 to 150 pikes had been made. Dwyer cross-examined in person and began by asking when their encounter had taken place. McCurry replied that it was in the morning, a day or two before or after Christmas. Dwyer then asked if he was alone, and McCurry agreed he was, although there was a man some distance away. The next question related to previous meetings between the two, which McCurry stated occurred in Parramatta when they had several times bough half a pint of whiskey from Graham’s man Thomas Bartlett and drunk it together. This ended McCurry’s evidence and, it being three o’clock, the Court adjourned. ... The first witness on Tuesday 12 May was the artist John William Lewin, who said McCurry had worked for him from about September 1803 until December 1804, and seemed very conscientious and honest. Sergeant trotter of the New South Wales Corps, another of McCurry’s previous employers, also gave a favourable opinion of him. On the other hand, Surgeon Thomas Jamison, called as a third character witness gave a very cautious testimony. ... (Dwyer called witnesses to discredit McCurry and Grady and to demolish their evidence.) page 157. The last witness of the day was Bryan Donnelly (Anne), a rebel leader from Castlebar, County Mayo. He testified that McCurry had perjured himself in a previous case over a debt he owed to Donnelly. This concluded the fourth day of the trial." -------------------------------------------------- In the same newspaper, the following announcement of Free Pardons for McCurry and another witness at the trial, Daniel Grady, appeared. IT having appeared to His Excellency that notwithstanding the merciful intentions of our Most Gracious SOVEREIGN in permitting persons to be sent to this Colony who have forfeited their lives, and others to expiate the offences they have committed against the laws of their country, under most benign and peculiar ??? the encouragement of better conduct and virtue ; yet some designing men have endeavoured to subvert the Government of this Colony, and meditated an attempt at mallacie, and the undoing of much ??? which they were receiving most gracious indulgences, And whereas all those calamities would have taken place but for two men, Dominick McCurry and Daniel Grady; who shuddering at such attempts, did give information whereby the offenders were apprehended and the ???ery prevented. His Excellency, thereby taking into his most serious consideration the loyal dispositions of these men, does grant unto each of them, the said Dominick McCurry and Daniel Grady, a Free Pardon. By Command of His Excellency, E. Griffin, Sec. Government House Sydney, June 4 1807. Sydney Gazette, 7 June 1807. --------------------------------------------------- COMMISSARIAT OFFICE, JAN. 3, 1822. THIRTY BUSHELS of WHEAT will be received into His Majesty's Magazines, from each of the Undermentioned Settlers, on the Days set forth.— And, it is to be noticed, that additional Lists will be published from Time to Time, of all those Persons who have already tendered, and Opportunities afforded of furnishing further Supplies, in Proportion to the Number of Acres they may have under Cultivation. PARRAMATTA, JAN. 11. D. McCurry, Seven-hills. Sydney Gazette, 4 Jan 1822. -------------------------------------------------- 1828 Census Image, (Familysearch) Householder, Dominick McCurry. Dominick McCurry, age 67, A.P., Atlas, 1802, Life, Farmer, Resident at Seven Hills, protestant. Mary Murphy, age 60, F.S. Experiment, 1808, 7 years, Housekeeper, Protestant. Farm name, D. McCurry’s, Seven Hills. Has 1 horse and 4 cattle. Dominic signed form with his mark X. Note: The census lists his ship as Atlas, not Hercules.