James Mcgrady

218

Dianne Jones on 17th January 2021

1835, 10 August: CERTIFICATE OF FREEDOM granted to James McGRADY, Certificate #35/862 (notation on ToL). 1846, 22 September: James died and was buried as James McGreavy at Christ Church Cathedral Cemetery, Newcastle, NSW. 1865, 9 December: Margaret died at Newcastle and was buried at Christ Church Cathedral Cemetery, Newcastle, NSW (www.findagrave.com/memorial/178444055/margaret-mcgreavy).

218

Dianne Jones on 17th January 2021

1821, 25 July: Both James and Margaret McGREEVEY, servant, were sentenced to 14 years’ in the Criminal Court, Sydney on this day. Margaret was sent aboard the Mermaid to Newcastle on 22 August 1821 (see New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788-1856; Copies of Letters Sent Within The Colony, 1814-1827). 1823, 25 February: Both James (per Chapman) and Margaret McGREAVY (per Elizabeth 1) were removed from Newcastle and sent aboard the Mermaid to Port Macquarie (see New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788-1856; Copies of Letters Sent Outside The Colony, "Foreign", 1814-1856). 1833, 1 March: James McGRADY granted a TICKET OF LEAVE #33/46; per Chapman 1817, native place County Roscommon; labourer; colonial offence – tried Sydney CC, 25 July 1821, 14 years; born 1784; 5’4¾” dark, ruddy complexion, black hair, grey eyes, lost front tooth in upper jaw. Was originally tried at Kilkenny City Spring Assizes 1816, 7 years. ToL for District of Port Macquarie (see New South Wales, Australia, Tickets of Leave, 1810-1869). 1835, 17 July: Margaret McGREEVY received her TICKET OF LEAVE #33/668 (see New South Wales, Australia, Tickets of Leave, 1810-1869 for Margaret McGreevy; Colonial secretary´s correspondence: ticket of leave muster roll (NRS 906); Ticket of leave muster roll, 1827-1857).

218

Dianne Jones on 17th January 2021

1815: James McGrady/McGreavy married Margaret Tynan (1792-1865) at Waterford, Ireland in 1815. They had a daughter, Mary Ann McGreavy (1815-1877), whose birth was registered at Waterford. 1817: James McGreavy was transported to NSW per Chapman, arriving on 26 July 1817. August 1817: Meantime, his wife Margaret McGreevey/McGreevy was sentenced at Cork in 1817 to 7 years’ transportation for larceny from a shop and arrived in NSW per Elizabeth I on 19 November 1818. She was 23 years old, according to the ship’s muster roll (see New South Wales, Australia Convict Ship Muster Rolls and Related Records, 1790-1849; 1818 Elizabeth I).

218

Dianne Jones on 16th January 2021

CRIME: James McGrady, a soldier's servant, whose age appears as 30 (in 1817) was found guilty of "burglary and felony" in Spring 1816 (see New South Wales, Australia Convict Ship Muster Rolls and Related Records, 1790-1849; 1817 Chapman).

342

Maureen Withey on 11th August 2020

Irish Convict Database by Peter Mayberry. James McGrady, alias McGreevy, alias McCreedie, McGreavy, age on arrival, 26. per Chapman (1), 1817. Trade – Soldier servant. Born 1791. Tried 1816 at Kilkenny City, 7 years. ------------------------------------------------------ Colonial Secretary Index. MCGREAVY, James. Per "Chapman", 1817. 1821 Aug 9 - On list of prisoners transported to Newcastle per "Elizabeth Henrietta"; listed as McGrady (Reel 6008; 4/3504 p.213) 1822 Nov 9 - Evidence re alleged rape of his daughter (Reel 6067; 4/1808 pp.367-82) 1823 Feb 25 - On list of convicts removed from Newcastle to Port Macquarie per "Mermaid" (Reel 6019; 4/3864 pp.394-5) 1824 Aug 2 - Prisoner at Port Macquarie. Affirming that John McKuen came on same ship (Reel 6068; 4/1815 p.435) -------------------------------------------------- also on the CSI is information abot his wife and daughter, Mary Ann: MCGREAVY, Margaret. Per "Elizabeth", 1818; wife of James. 1821 Aug 22 - On list of prisoners transported to Newcastle per "Mermaid" (Reel 6008; 4/3504 p.255) 1822 Nov 9 - Evidence re alleged rape of her daughter (Reel 6067; 4/1808 pp.367-82) 1823 Feb 25 - On list of convicts removed from Newcastle to Port Macquarie per "Mermaid" (Reel 6019; 4/3864 pp.394-5) -------------------------------------------------- MCGREAVY, Mary Anne. Of Newcastle; daughter of James and Margaret McGreavy; aged 7. 1822 Nov 9 - Evidence re alleged rape of (Reel 6067; 4/1808 pp.367-82) -------------------------------------------------- This is the first part of an article about James Nixon Brunker, published in The Voice of The North, 11 April 1932. JAMES NIXON BRUNKER By W. J. Goold One of the pioneer families of Newcastle were the McGreavy's, who, in the early thirties, kept an inn in Watt Street, on the site of the late Dr. John Harris' surgery. One of their daughters (Mary Ann) married James Nixon Brunker (Snr.), and went to reside in a little cottage in Watt Street, where Howard Smith's shipping offices are to-day. The cottage was built upon an allotment of land (No. 54), which had been granted to William Evans in 1824, and on April 13th, 1832, Mrs. Brunker purchased it for £100. A fortnight later (April 27th, 1832) this good lady gave birth to a son, who was destined to become a Minister of the Crown, and one of the leading statesmen of the Colony (the Honourable James Nixon Brunker). In early childhood he lost his father, who was drowned whilst attempting to cross the Cockfighter's Creek, near Wollombi. His body was recovered and buried in the Christ Church cemetery at Newcastle. Mrs. Brunker opened a small store in Watt Street, and faced the problem of providing for her young family with the courage that was characteristic of the pioneer women of Australia. For many years she successfully carried on this business, and gave her children a sound education. In a description of Newcastle in 1842, it states that there were nine stores in the township, the proprietors being Mrs. M. A. Brunker, Thomas Buxton, Thomas Bruce, Thomas Grieves, Samuel Higgenden, James Croft, Henry Usher and Mrs. Elizabeth Ronald. Young Brunker lived with his mother in Watt Street until he was 16 years of age. His early education was received at the hands of the Rev. C. P. N. Wilton, M.A., of Christ Church, who, though a stern and strict disciplinarian, was a very capable tutor. He was afterwards sent to Sydney to finish off at the old Sydney College. His mother was very anxious for him to join the legal profession, and on finishing his education he was placed in the office of Carr, Owen & Rogers,a firm of prominent Sydney solicitors. He did not stay long here, for on account of ill-health he was compelled to resign his position and return to his home at Newcastle. Here he obtained a position as clerk to Mr. W. H. Whyte, who was the leading butcher and stock salesman in the Newcastle district. In 1851, when only 19 years of age, he purchased the butchering business of Mr. Samuel Clift, at East Maitland, and took up his residence in the town which, in later years, he was so ably to represent in Parliament. Maitland at that time was of much greater commercial importance than Newcastle, and while Hunter Street, Newcastle, was little more than a bullock track, High Street, West Maitland was a busy, prosperous thoroughfare, lined with substantially built shops, inns, etc. The district was largely a wheat growing area, and adjacent to the township there were some 4367 acres covered with wheat, besides 2442 acres of maize, 416 acres of barley, etc. The township of West Maitland comprised some 652 houses, with a total population of 3132; in East Maitland there were 190 houses and 1100 persons. …. -------------------------------------------------- James and Margaret's daughter Mary Ann married James Brunker, and their son, James Nixon Brunker became a leading politician and a minister of the Crown. -------------------------------------------------- Death. Died, at his residence, Newcastle, Mr. James McGreavy, on the 21st instant, for many years an innkeeper in that town, aged 60 years. The Maitland Mercury, 23 Sep 1846. --------------------------------------------------- The Death of his wife Margaret: On the 9th December, 1865, at Newcastle, Margaret, relict of the late James McGreavy, and grandmother of James N. Brunker, East Maitland ; aged 68 years. -------------------------------------------------- A curious marriage notice and subsequent letter from James McGreavy. There must be a story behind this: MARRIED. On the 10th instant, at Newcastle, by the Rev. Mr. Dowling, Mr. James Cunningham, clerk of the colonial hospital at that place, to Mrs. M. A. Bruncker, daughter of Mr. James McGreavy. Australasia chronicle, 18 Aug 1842. ADVERTISEMENT. To the Editors of the Sydney Morning Herald. GENTLEMEN— Having observed in the Australasian Chronicle, of the 18th instant, the name of Mrs. M. A. Brunker, as having been on the 10th instant married to a person named Cunningham. I beg you will have the goodness to give such a report the most positive contradiction, by the insertion of this letter in your paper, which will counteract the effect intended to be produced by the malicious writer of the report referred to, which plainly evinces a malignancy of disposition only to be gratified by attempting injury to others. I sincerely pity those who permit themselves to be so far overcome by their envious, and malicious feelings as to be compelled by them to the assertion of a falsehood for gratification. I can assure the party their vain and fruitless attempts are pitied and forgiven, and from motives of charity alone, I will point out the way in which they may find some relief for their wretched and depraved minds. Let them make all the atonement in their power for the past, by seeking in future some more worthy and less disgraceful occupation than that of inserting lies in the Australasian Chronicle. I am, Gentlemen, your most obedient servant, JAMES McGREAVY. Newcastle. August 20. The Sydney Morning Herald, 25 Aug 1842. Maitland Mercury, 12 Dec 1865.