Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
John Mcelern was transported on the Castle Forbes, departing 3rd Oct 1819 and arriving 4th Mar 1820 with 143 passengers.
The Castle Forbes was a 439-ton merchant ship built by Robert Gibbon & Sons at Aberdeen, Scotland in 1818. She made two voyages transporting convicts from Ireland to Australia. Castle Forbes arrived at Port Jackson, New South Wales on 27 January 1820. After their arrival in Sydney, 136 men were sent on to Van Diemen's Land Colony (now named Tasmania), arriving in Hobart 1 March 1820. 4 men remained in New South Wales and 4 deaths recorded on this voyage. Alexander Pearce (the infamous bushranger) was one of these men. (Incomplete register of persons transported - records are currently being inputted)
Castle Forbes (generic)References
| Primary Source | Irish Convict Database by Peter Mayberry. |
Claims
No one has claimed John Mcelern yet.
Photos
No photos have been added for John Mcelern.
Convict Notes




Colonial Secretary Index. MCELEN, John or MCLARNAN. Per "Castle Forbes", 1820 1821 Feb 21 On list of prisoners transported to Newcastle per "Elizabeth Henrietta" (Reel 6007; 4/3503 p.142) 1824 May 31 Servant to John Browne. On list of nineteen convicts transported to Newcastle and not in returns; listed as McLarlman (Reel 6068; 4/1811 p.120) ----------------------- 21 Feb 1821. List of prisoners transported to Newcastle per "Elizabeth Henrietta" Jno McElern, alias McLarnan, Tried Criminal Court, Hobart Town, Jan 19 1821, 3 year sentence, Trade, Weaver, per Castle Forbes. Original conviction: Tried Downpatrick, Lent 1819, Seven years. ---------------------- Court of Criminal Jurisdiction. Thomas McElern, Charles Leonard, and Thomas Ryan, charged with entering the dwelling-house of, and robbing Edward Crowder, ferryman at Bluff Point, on the night of the 11th of September, and stealing a great quantity of articles the property of the said E. Crowder, were, in consequences of there not being sufficient proof as to their identity, acquitted, but ordered to be retained in custody. Hobart Town Gazette, 3 Feb 1821. (Reported as Thomas McElern) All three were sent to Newcastle, John McElern and Charles Leonard, (also transported on the Castle Forbes with McElern) for three years, and John Ryan, for 5 years.




alias McLarnan,




Irish Convict Database by Peter Mayberry. John McElern, age on arrival, 41, per Castle Forbes (1), 1820, Tried at Down Co., 1819, 7 years. DOB, 1779, native place, Down Co., Trade, Weaver Labourer.