Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Transportation
Michael Mckenna was transported on the Medina, departing 5th Sep 1823 and arriving 29th Dec 1823 with 180 passengers.
Medina 1823. Surgeon’s Journal states: 27 August 1823; Received on board 180 male prisoners. 2: 5 September 1823; Got under way from the Cove of Cork and made all sail for ultimate destination. Two days before our departure 3 of the convicts were taken away in consequence of orders, and it was intended to have replaced them by others, but our short stay would not admit of it. The remaining convicts were 177. One convict died at sea. SHIP NEWS.—On Monday evening last arrived from the Cove of Cork, which she left on the 5th of September, with 176 male convicts, the ship Medina, Captain Brown. The guard comprises a detachment of the 40th, under orders of Lieutenant Gunning. Assistant Surgeon Coleman, 40th Regiment, comes by this opportunity The Surgeon Superintendent is Dr. Rodmell, R N. who was here before in the Mary transport. Sydney Gazette, 1 Jan 1824.
Medina (generic)References
| Primary Source | http://members.pcug.org.au/~ppmay/cgi-bin/irish/irish.cgi |
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Convict Notes


1847, 25 January: Issued with a third CoF, No.47/97, born 1787. A notation says he was given 12 months’ jail on 3 February by the Sydney Quarter Sessions. Records show it was for larceny, again. Sentence with hard labour to be served at Sydney Jail (see NSW Criminal Court Records, 1830-1945; Returns of prisoners tried and convicted in Courts of Quarter Sessions, 1846-1848). 1847: Admission record for Darlinghurst jail lists him as born 1779, 5’6”, of stout build with a fresh complexion, grey hair and hazel eyes (see NSW Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Description Book, Darlinghurst, 1841-1849). 1847, 3 December: On a list of prisoners tried in Sydney, Michael McKenna per Medina (see NSW Criminal Court Records, 1830-1945; Quarter Sessions ALL; Index to Quarter Sessions, Criminal Cases, 1839-1888). 1848, 8 March: Convicted at the Sydney Quarter Sessions of larceny and sentenced to 12 months with hard labour (see NSW Criminal Court Records, 1830-1945; Returns of Convicts, ALL, Returns of prisoners tried and convicted in Courts of Quarter Sessions, 1846-1848).


1840, 5 January: Michael McKenna arrived on Norfolk Island (see NSW Convict Records, 1810-1891; Norfolk Island: Returns of Convicts to NSW, 1844-1845). 1844, 20 January: At Norfolk Island – Michael McKENNA, per Medina, convicted in the Quarter Sessions, Sydney, and sentenced to 7 years for obtaining goods, etc, is on a list of prisoners who are deemed “Invalids and Ineffective” and recommended for removal to Sydney. He is described as “aged 70 [born 1774], nearly blind, much debilitated” (see NSW Convict Records, 1810-1891; Norfolk Island: Returns of Convicts to NSW, 1844-1845). Note: The age does not gel with other official records that give his DoB as 1787. 1846, 9 December: Michael McKenna, free by servitude, was convicted for larceny at Port Macquarie, and sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment with hard labour to be served at Sydney Gaol (see NSW Criminal Court Records, 1830-1945; Quarter Sessions ALL Sydney Register of Cases, 1846-1853).


1839, 7 January: Sydney Quarter Sessions – Michael McKenna, free by servitude, was “sent to the House of Correction for six months’ hard labour, for larceny” (see The Sydney Monitor and Commercial Advertiser, Fri 11 Jan 1839, p2; and NSW Criminal Court Records, 1830-1945). 1839, 31 July: Admitted to Sydney Jail awaiting trial (see Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Entrance Book Sydney 1837-1841). 1839, 14 October: Sentenced by the Sydney Quarter Sessions to be sent to Norfolk Island for seven years for obtaining goods under false pretences (NSW Criminal Court Records, 1830-1945; Quarter Sessions ALL Index to Quarter Sessions, Criminal Cases, 1839-1888; and notation on his CoF, 1832).


1825 Muster: He is in Government employment at Port Macquarie (see NSW and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849; New South Wales, General muster M-Z 1825). 1830, 8 March: Granted a Certificate of Freedom No.30/98, which was returned mutilated and cancelled in 1832 (see below). 1832, 3 September: Replacement Certificate of Freedom No.32/829 – native place Monaghan; blacksmith; born 1787, 5’5½”, brown and pockpitted complexion, brown hair turning grey, grey eyes, scar on left eyebrow, and rather deaf (see NSW Certificates of Freedom, 1810-1814, 1827-1867; (NRS 12210) Butts of Certificates of Freedom 1832 September).


1824, 2 March: Convict servant of E G Cory, he is to be victualled from the Stores at Newcastle for six months (see New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788-1856). 1824, 29 April: Michael McKenna (McCanna), per Medina, assigned to Edward G Cory, was sentenced by the Newcastle Magistrates Court to 25 lashes for absenting himself (see NSW Courts Magistrates; Newcastle Police Court: 1823-1825, 1826-1827; and https://jenwilletts.com). 1824, September: Still assigned to John Cory, he was sentenced to 100 lashes for theft and attempting to set fire to his master's house and general misconduct. Edward Gregory and James Murphy were sentenced to 50 and 25 lashes for aiding and abetting Michael McKenna (see https://jenwilletts.com; and New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788-1856). 1824, 8 October: Listed as a blacksmith, an assigned convict tradesman whose master Edward Cory at Newcastle was a defaulter in payment for his labour (see NSW Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788-1856; Special Bundles, 1794-1825). 1824, 16 November: On a list of convicts transported to Port Macquarie per "Sally"; he is described as a labourer, and is to serve the remainder of his original sentence there (see NSW Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788-1856; Copies of Letters Sent Outside The Colony, "Foreign", 1814-1856).


1823: On arrival in NSW, Michael McKenna was 36 years old [born 1787]. A native of Monaghan, he was a blacksmith, facing a seven year sentence from his court appearance at Co Louth on 7 March 1823 (see http://members.pcug.org.au/~ppmay/cgi-bin/irish/irish.cgi). 1824, 2 January: Michael McKenna, 36, blacksmith; native place Monaghan; tried in Londonderry. Very well behaved on the voyage out. Assigned to Mr EG Cory near Newcastle on arrival, blacksmith (see https://jenwilletts.com).