William Mckenna

26

Darren Mansfield on 12th February 2023

In 1820 William was sentenced for 7 years for theft of goods valued at four shillings and six pence in Armagh County Tyrone. He was 22 at the time. He arrived aboard the “Prince Regent II” in 1821. Prince Regent, 1820-21. On Tuesday arrived from Ireland, the ship Prince Regent, Captain Clifford. She left the Cove of Cork the 19th of September last, and brings, in excellent health, 144 male prisoners. Surgeon Superintendent, Dr. Taylor, R. N. The guard comprises 30 men of the 1st Foot (Royals), under orders of Lieut. Lewis. Sydney Gazette, 13 Jan 1821. Owen McKenna, possibly his brother aged 30, was also aboard the Prince Regent II sentenced for life. Owen McKenna was sent to Liverpool. William was sent to Paramatta by order 17th Jan 1821 and soon after was sent to work for Cornelius O’Brien at Illawarra (“Anyone with a name like Cornelius O’Brien must have been a paragon of respectability to get a good reference from John Dunmore Lang”) In 1821 while William is in the Illawarra (working on the road for Cornelius O'Brien who had in April 1821 discovered a new line of road to the Illawarra, collected £60 by public subscription, and by January 1822 had cleared a track from Figtree to Appin. It was used that year by Macquarie on his Illawarra tour, for which Cornelius acted as guide), Owen McKenna is recorded as employed at Sydney Hospital, or perhaps he is a patient. Owen received 100 lashes in 1823 for running away from his master Mr Doyle at Windsor. By 1824, William is recorded as working for William Kay at Campbelltown. He was granted his Certificate of freedom (his 7 year sentence ended) in 1827. In 1829 he received permission to marry Mary Mahony Convict aboard “The Brothers” arriving 1826. In 1828 he was 34 and working as a Tailor. Living in residence of James Derlind [?], Clarence St, Sydney. The Wedding Banns for William and Mary states that his present service was "for himself, Kent St Sydney....Good Character...Is a Tailor and has means to support a wife". By 1832 William was a tailor at 21 Kent St and was assigned convict Kelly Ann Burrell, a Needlewoman. 1842-1843 Kent St, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (William McKenna, living in a House at 21 Kent Street). William and Mary had 8 Children. Mary and William moved to Bathurst in about 1844 as his last child David McKenna 1 was born there the following year.

343

Maureen Withey on 10th September 2020

Irish Convict Database, by Peter Mayberry. William McKenna, age 22, Prince Regent II (1) 1821, Tried 1820 at Tyrone, 7 years. DOB 1799, native place, Caledon Armagh Co. Labourer. ---------------------------------------------------- Colonial Secretary Index. MCKENNA, William. Per "Prince Regent", 1821. 1821 Jan 17 - On list of convicts disembarked from the "Prince Regent" and forwarded to Parramatta for distribution (Reel 6007; 4/3503 p.50) -------------------------------------------------- 1828 NSW Census Index. William McKenna, age 34, F.S. Prince Regent 2, 1820, 7 years, catholic, Tailor, James Devlin’s, Clarence St., Sydney. -------------------------------------------------- NSW Permissions to Marry. 1825-1851. Permission 3 Mar 1829. William McKwenna, per Prince Regent 2, age 30, 7 years, Free, and Mary Mahoney, per Brothers 2, age 29, 7 years, bond. Rev. D. Power. R.C.C.