Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
Eleanor Mcdonald was transported on the Lady Juliana, departing 31st May 1789 and arriving 3rd Jun 1790 with 247 passengers.
Launched 1777, 401 ton barque, built at Whitby, England. Departed Portsmouth, England on 29 July 1789, via Cape of Good Hope for Port Jackson, New South Wales, Australia on 3 June 1790. 1790 voyage carried 226 female passengers (convicts)- 5 of whom died on the trip. 6 children also on board. Significant because it was the first ship to bring all female women to the Colony.
Lady JulianaReferences
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 87, Class and Piece Number HO11/1, Page Number 18 |
| Source Description | This 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 Source | Great Britain. Home Office |
| Compiled By | State Library of Queensland |
| Database Source | British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database |
Claims
"5th great grandmother"
Photos
No photos have been added for Eleanor Mcdonald.
Convict Notes
Family connections for Eleanor (McDonald) are: McDONALD Eleanor (McDonald) was born about 1754. She was tried for stealing linnen sheets, on 6 11 1787, of James (Buttfield) on 12 12 1787 probably at Old Bailey, sentenced to 7years, held at Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 3 6 1790 after a voyage of 12months on Fleet ship LADY JULIANA-a ship with 228females who easily entertained the whole crew & also sailors at Teneriffe stopover. She married firstly David Kilpack) on 15 6 1791 at St Phillips CofE Sydney & produced 4children.>>> [Some details taken from this Website] David (Kilpack) was born about 1757. He was tried for stealing, on 18 1 1783 poultry of Charles (Pratt) of Clapton at Old Bailey on 26 1 1783, sentenced to 7years, held probably at London or Middlesex Gaol Delivery, & sent to Americas on 16 8 1783 on SWIFT; from which he escaped in a mutiny in early September & brought back to court. He was tried again for returning to UK probably at Old Bailey, on 10 9 1783, sentenced to death rescinded to Life, held at Middlesex Gaol Delivery and CENSOR hulk & arrived in NSW as a convict on 22 1 1788 on First Fleet ship SCARBOROUGH. In 1794 he was granted 30acres at Field of Mars, (near Pennant Hills). He was Free by Servitude by 1795. In June 1797 he was working as overseer for John (Mcarthur). He had been Pardoned when he died on 30 11/1 12 1797 age40 & was buried at St Johns CofE Parramatta. [Some details taken from this Website] .. >>>Eleanor (McDonald) married secondly Thomas (Higgins) on 1/31 1 1799 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. She was Free by Servitude by 1800. She is recorded in 1828 with her husband. She died on 28 9 1835 age81 mother of 5children & was buried with her first husband (Kilpack). Thomas (Higgins) was born about 1730/39/45. He was tried at Derby Assizes, sentenced to 14years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 26 6 1790 after a voyage of 6+months on Fleet ship SURPRIZE. He was Free by Servitude by 1800. He is recorded in 1828 with his wife. He was a farmer when he died on 2/4 4 1829 age84/9 at Parramatta & was buried at St Johns CofE Parramatta. [Some details taken from this Website] 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.
David Kilpack died November 30th 1797, leaving Eleanor with 3 young children (the youngest son, also David having died June 6th 1797. 18 months later, January 1799, she again married, this time to Thomas Higgins (Second Fleet Convict, 'Surprize', 1790). The couple had 1 child, Thomas Edward Higgins, born 1800. They can be located in the 1828 census, page 190. Thomas Higgins, 89, FS, Surprise, 1790 [H1710]; Eleanor Higgins, 74, FS, L. Juliana, 1790 [H1711]; both living with their son Thomas Edward Higgins, 28, BC, Settler, Field of Mars [H1709].
Trial of ELEANOR M'DONALD (t17871212-19). ELEANOR M'DONALD, Theft > grand larceny, 12th December 1787. 23 ELEANOR M'DONALD was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 6th of November last, four linen sheets, value 10 s. the property of James Butterfield . MARY PAGET sworn. I am servant to Mr. James Butterfield , in Shire-lane; On the 6th of November he lost four sheets; the prisoner was my fellow-servant ; I had information, that the sheets were at a pawnbroker's; she was only four days in her service. JOHN BOYD sworn. I am servant to Mr. Gates, pawnbroker, the corner of Bedford-street; on the 6th of November the prisoner came to pawn these sheets, and she was drunk; I stopped her and the sheets. (The sheets deposed to by Mary Paget , to be the property of Mr. James Butterfield .) These four sheets are my master's property; he bought them of Mr. Mitchel. PRISONER's DEFENCE. I do not know what to say. GUILTY . To be transported for seven years . Tried by the first Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Baron PERRYN.
Eleanor was witness to Mary Mullender's marriage to David Dunstan/Densham. Mary and Eleanor were transported on the Lady Juliana together.
There does seem to be a problem with the two Eleanors. The Eleanor McDonald who stole the watch was sentenced in Dublin and Transported on 'Queen' in 1791. She subsequently married Jonathan Griffiths (Convict, Scarborough, 1790) and had 9 children. (Check Jonathan Griffiths Australian Heritage - online)
Eleanor McDonald married David Kilpack,of the 1st fleet, who was convicted for life.They had 4 children,Martha,Elizabeth,Eleanor and David.
Eleanor McDonald was my great great great great grandmother. I was always led to believe she was convicted for stealing sheets.
It is my understanding that Eleanor McDonald on Lady Juliana was transported for stealing 4 linen sheets. Lady J had 243 female convicts Another Eleanor McD was on the Queen, and later went to Norfolk Island. Is it possible that the entry I have found here has confused the TWO women?
Eleanor was found guilty of stealing a Metal Watch, Chain and Locket valued at 6 guineas, property of Thomas Dalton.