Margaret Mckennell

53

Beth Taylor on 9th February 2026

TIMELINE NOTES: BC: 1778 Sentenced: 15/09/1813 Middlesex [see trial record below] to transportation for 7 years Crime: Feloniously stealing 1813 - MARGARET M'KENNEL, Theft > theft from a specified place, 15th September 1813. 922. MARGARET M'KENNEL was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 25th of July, a counterpane, value 5 s. a blanket, value 2 s. and a sheet, value 7 s. the property of Elizabeth Jewster, in a lodging-room . ELIZABETH JEWSTER. I let the lodgings to the prisoner; she was to give six shillings a-week; it was furnished with a bed and bedding, and every thing for her use. I let it to her about ten weeks before the things were missing. I missed a counterpane, blanket, and a sheet. I asked the prisoner where they were; she said they were gone to wash. Q. Did the prisoner ever leave her lodging - A. No. JOHN GEORGE. I am an apprentice to Mr. Cording, 163, Ratcliffe-highway. I produce a sheet and a blanket pledged by a woman; the woman came to the office. The prisoner acknowledged that she sent her with it, and the woman was discharged. Prosecutrix. It is my sheet and blanket. Prisoner's Defence. It was distress that made me do it. GUILTY, aged 36. Transported for Seven Years. Second Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Justice Dampier. (Source: Old Bailey on-line http://www.oldbaileyonline.org ) Previous Occupation: Housekeeper Age on Convict Indent: 36 Ticket of Leave 897; Certificate of Freedom 33/986 (indent) 1813, 20 May – John Swan was a landholder at Newcastle & was to settle his affairs in Sydney. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Reel 6066; p128) 1814 Muster: Margaret McKENNEL, con, Brox, off stores, wife to Patrick Carroll, Sydney (6844) 1819 – John Swan petitioned for mitigation of his sentence (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Fiche 3201; p50B) 1820, 24 June – John Swan supplied 155 bushels of wheat to Newcastle. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers) 1820, 22 Nov. to 14 Dec. – Margaret appeared before the Sydney Court charged with receiving stolen goods. She was found guilty & sent to Newcastle for 7 years. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Special Bundle Reel 6023; 4/6671 p21) 1821, 20 Jan. – John Swan’s wife & child drowned when their boat upset on 17 Jan. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Reel 6067; pp167-8) 1821, 26 Jan. – Margaret was sent to Newcastle on the ship Prince Leopold. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Letters Sent Reel 6007; 4/3503 p69) 1822, 28 June – John Swan, free, (listed as Sivan) & Margaret apply for permission to marry. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Letters Sent; Reel 6009; p381) 1822 Muster: Margaret McKENNEL, con, Brox, 7 years, govt employ, Newcastle (A15566) & her future spouse – John SWAN, CP, Coromandel, life, govt employ, Newcastle (A20488) [ John Swan, of Newcastle [NSW AUS]; Grant Resident, Cleared: 55 acres, Cultivated, 35 acres wheat, 2 acres maize, 3 acres barley, 1 acre garden & orchard, 6 bushels wheat, 250 bushels maize held, 2 horses, 21 hogs] 1823, 11 Jan – John Swan, a widower “with four small children to provide for”, sent a memorial to Governor Brisbane asking for an “extension of his Newcastle grant”. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Fiche 3072; pp907-10) 1823, June – John Swan was mentioned as being part of a group of farmers on the Hunter River whose maize was due [to be collected] (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Reel 6067; p71C) 1823, 17 & 27 Sept. – Richard Templeton. Servant to Thomas D Rowe. Recommended for a ticket of leave (SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Reel 6059; 4/1772 pp.149-50) [Future spouse of Margaret] 1823, 30 Sept. – Richard Templeton. Re his ticket of leave (SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Reel 6011; 4/3509 p.332) [Future spouse of Margaret] 1823-1825 Muster: Margaret McKENNEL, con, Brox, wife of J Swan, Newcastle “drowned” (? This was Mary, his 1st wife) (31249) & spouse – John SWAN, CP, Coromandel 1804, life, landholder, Newcastle (42241) & his children – John 14, Mary 12, Sarah 10 & Jane 8 – all BC 1824, circa June – John Swan employed Ralph Clarke to help build his house. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Fiche 3082; 4/1836B No.191 pp.857-9) 1824, 17 July – Swan, settler of Patersons Plains. Memorial for town allotment at Newcastle (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers Fiche 3112; 4/1839B No.953 pp.1057-64). Reply [as James], 5 Aug (Reel 6013; 4/3512 p.148) 1828 Census: Margaret SWAN, 48, FS, Brox, (S2988), wife to – John SWAN, 60, CP, Coromandel 2 1804, life, prot, Lemon Grove, Patricks Plains, *(S2987) [100 acres, 22 cattle, 2 horses, & 12 goats] & John’s children – John 17, Sarah 13, & Jane – all BC [Richard TEMPLETON, 46, GS, Shipley 1822, life, prot, clerk to Caleb Wilson (general dealer), George St, Sydney (T0297) – Richard was a future spouse of Margaret] 1828, 1 Aug. – John Swan was awarded a prize of ₤5 for his tobacco crop specimen by the “Farmers Club” at Patersons Plains. (Source: The Australian, 01/08/1828, p3) 1833 – Margaret McKennell, per ship Brox., received her COF on 30/08/1833. (Source: SRNSW Convict Certificates of Freedom, Reel 991, 4/4317, #33/986) [Note: Was this a replacement? Margaret was FBS in 1828] 1835 – Margaret McKennel, aged 51, came per "Brox" with a 7 year term, now free, applied to wed convict James Smalley, to Rev. Rusden at Maitland. James was aged 28, came per ship Heroine, 7 year term, now on bond. This marriage did not proceed. (Source: www.ancestry.com.au SRNSW Registers of convicts' applications to marry, Series: 12212; Item: 4/4509; Page: 206) 1836 – Permission was granted for Margaret McKennah (sic) alias Swan, aged 58, widow (per ship Broxbornebury, 7 years, now free), to wed Richard Templeton, widower, aged 52 (per ship Shipley 4, life, now TOL). The Minister who made the request on 10/08/1836 was Rev. Rusden at Maitland & permission was given on 19/08/1836. [Note: NSW BDM Index & Parish Record must be incorrect when they show “Melbourne” as place of marriage, also date…as Richard died in 1837.] (Source: www.ancestry.com.au SRNSW Registers of convicts' applications to marry, Series: 12212; Item: 4/4509; Page: 222) 1837 – Richard Henry Templeton, per ship Shipley 4, died in 1837 at Paterson on 3 March. The report was made by Edward Johnstone, Magistrate & cause of death not stated. (Source: SRNSW Convict Death Register, Series 12213, SR Reel 690) [Note: No record found on NSW BDM index 1864 – Margaret Templeton died at Nundle (near Tamworth) NSW, of natural causes, aged 87, on 11 June 1864. [info from Inquest papers - Shirley Coote, Gunnedah] NSW BDM: 1) Margaret married John Swan on 1 Oct 1822 at Christ Church, Newcastle. John Swan, Emancipist[?], Abode: Patersons Plains, Signed; & Margaret McKennell, Prisoner of the Colony, Abode: Patersons Plains, Signed; married 01 Oct 1822 Church, registered Christ Church of England Newcastle by Banns by G A Middleton; Witness: John Allen, Signed X; Witness: John Smith, Signed (V1822-3017-3B & Christ Church, Church of England, Newcastle NSW: Church Register - Marriages (Clergy Returns); SRNSW Reel 5003 Vol. 9) 2) No record found for death of John Swan in BDM Index. “On the 10th instant, at his residence, Lemon Grove, Patterson's Plains, Mr. John Swan, aged 64 years—twenty-one years an old established settler on the Patterson's River, he having left a wife and four children to deplore his loss, as well as his surrounding numerous friends and neighbours. In him was always found an affectionate husband, a tender and kind parent, and an hospitable benefactor to those who stood in need of his assistance.” (Source: Sydney Herald, 25/04/1833, p3) 3) Mary Anne Kennan (sic) wed Richard Templeton, both of Melbourne, at St Francis RC Church, Melbourne, Victoria on 10 April 1842. (V1842-1228-91). 1836 – Permission was granted for Margaret McKennah (sic) alias Swan, aged 58, widow (per ship Broxbornebury, 7 years, now free), to wed Richard Templeton, widower, aged 52 [54?](per ship Shipley 4, life, now TOL). The Minister who made the request on 10/08/1836 was Rev. Rusden at Maitland & permission was given on 19/08/1836. [Note: NSW BDM Index & Parish Record must be incorrect when they show “Melbourne” as place of marriage, also date…as Richard died in 1837.] (Source: SRNSW Registers of convicts' applications to marry, Series: 12212; Item: 4/4509; Page: 222) 4) Richard Henry Templeton, per ship Shipley 4, died in 1837 at Paterson on 3 March. The report was made by Edward Johnstone, Magistrate & cause of death not stated. (Source: SRNSW Convict Death Register, Series 12213, SR Reel 690) [Note: No record found on NSW BDM index] 5) Margaret Templeton died at Nundle (near Tamworth) NSW, of natural causes, aged 87, on 11 June 1864. [info from Inquest papers - Shirley Coote, Gunnedah] Jess’ Girls – SAG:  1814 – as McKenna, wife of Patrick Carroll  1818 – as McQuinnall (?), Mary, FF  1822 – Muster  1825 – con, wife of J Swan, Newcastle (drowned) [this was John’s 1st wife Mary]  1828 – Census  Indent – TL 897  Reel 1031 – convicted in 1820 for 7 years to Newcastle  Mutch – John Swan married Margaret in 1822 Convict Records for John Swan and Richard Templeton: John Swan arrived in NSW on the ship Coromandel 2 on 7 May 1804. He had been tried at Kent County GD on 14 March 1803 & given a life term. TL – 195. CP – 901. ALSO - John Swan, Sawyer, Convicted: Gaol Delivery/Assizes 14 Mar 1803 Kent (County) [KEN ENG] Life; Transported per Coromandel, Arrived 07 May 1804 Sydney; Conditional Pardon 1678 1821 - John Swan per ship Coromandel 1804 received a CP on 28/11/1821. Described as a butcher, with a life term, 5’5” tall, fait complexion, brown hair, grey eyes and “stout made”.(Source: SRNSW Convict Pardons, Reel 774, 4/4430, p184) Richard Templeton reached Sydney on the ship Shipley (4) on 11 March 1822. He had been tried at the Isle of Man GD on 21 July 1820 (see trial details below) & was given a life sentence. Richard was described as a native of Dublin, Ireland, aged 38, 5’9¾” tall, with pale complexion, brown hair & grey eyes. TL – 36/1222. 1820 Trial - Templeton was an attorney originally from Dublin, Ireland with “a family of respectability and opulence”. He had married an older widow, Mrs White, who had at least two children to her first husband, including a son Swithin and a daughter Susan. Richard and his wife had a daughter Maria Templeton who was raised in Ireland under the care of a nurse. Templeton was “confined for debt in Castle Rushen (Isle of Man) for upwards of two years, that he was subject to attacks which, under the direction of a medical attendant, rendered it necessary that some of the prisoner’s family should be permitted to sleep in the room with him at night ”. His stepson and daughter Maria would stay in the cell overnight and it was reported that Templeton raped his 12 year-old daughter on several occasions. The Jury pronounced Richard guilty as charged and “a sentence of death was passed upon him”, however his “previous good conduct and reputation” commended the Court to show mercy and the sentence was commuted to transportation for life. (Source: Newcastle Courant (UK), 19/08/1820, p2’ Carlisle Patriot (UK), 12/08/1820, p4 ; Lancaster Gazette (UK), 1820, undated) 1836 - Richard Henry Templeton, tried Isle of Man, arr per ship Shipley, received a Ticket of Leave #36/1222 for the district of Paterson (Source: SRNSW Convict Tickets of Leave, Reel 925, 4/4105) Notes on John Swan from Judith Williams: • bc 1769 Marden, Kent & married Sarah Kirby in 1791. Sarah remained in Eng & died in 1816, aged 42 • Their only child was Richard bc1792 Stockbury Kent • 1802 Trial record of John Swan (PRO) [Have copy] • 1806 – indentured servant to George William Evans (1780-1852), who arrived Buffalo in 1802 & was appointed Acting surveyor General prior to 1809. John Swan was a sawyer at Lane Cove • 1809 to 1811 – sawyer at Newcastle, cutting down cedar logs for govt • For good conduct he was given land at Pattersons Plains (Hunter Valley) of 600 acres where he grew wheat & sold salted pork • 1818 – he wed Mary Lowry, a convict who had arrived NSW in 1806 & the couple had 7 children • Mary & son Stephen, aged 3, drowned on 17 Jan 1821 when their boat overturned during a violent storm • John was left with 4 surviving children to raise – aged 9,7,5 & 3 • John marr Mary McKennell in 1822 • He received an AP [SRNSW says CP], on 28 Nov 1821, described as 5’5”, fair complexion, brown hair, grey eyes & “stout made” • He later had 180 acres & called his farm Lemon Grove • In 1828 he had 5 assigned servants [convicts] • In 1832 he was the official “pound keeper” • He owned Swan’s Inn • John died on his property 10 April 1833 & was buried in the Hinton Cem. He left a will leaving half of his property to his English son Richard, on condition he came to NSW. The other half was to his youngest daughter Jane. • All the property belonged to Margaret until her death, when the children would benefit. • Richard Swan arrived in Sydney in Feb. 1835 with his 2nd wife & children. • It appears that Richard “bought out” Margaret’s interest in the property. Notes: John Swan, Mary Lowery & Margaret McKennell [Lemon Grove] John Swan was one of the first settlers at Patersons Plains. A native of Maiden in Kent, he was tried in 1803, transported for life and landed in New South Wales as a convict on the Coromandel in 1804.[1] His wife Sarah and 12 year old son Richard remained in England. John was initially assigned in the Hawkesbury district where he became an experienced timber worker. In 1809 he was sent to Newcastle where his timber skills were put to good use.[2] In 1812 John Swan joined a team of timber cutters sent to procure a special order of Hunter Valley cedar logs. As reward for a job well done, Governor Macquarie permitted five of these men to establish small farms of their own in the lower Hunter Valley. They were John Swan (convict), John Reynolds (convict), John Tucker jnr (free), Benjamin Davis (convict) and George Pell (convict). John Tucker jnr initially settled on land allowed to his father. John Swan took up his land on the west bank of the river at Patersons Plains in 1812 and named his farm 'Lemon Grove'. His land was immediately north of Old Banks (see map). Swan delivered his farm's produce to the store in Newcastle and by 1813 sold surplus produce in Sydney. When Swan moved to his farm at Patersons Plains he took with him a partner, Mary Lowrey, and their son John Allen who had been born in Newcastle in 1811. Mary Lowrey (or Lowrie) had arrived in New South Wales on the William Pitt in 1806 with a life sentence following a conviction in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1803.[3] John and Mary married Mary in 1818, by which time they had five children - Mary born in 1813, Sarah in 1815 and twins Jane and Stephen born in 1818. In January 1821 John's wife Mary and son Stephen were drowned near Newcastle harbour.[4] In 1822 John married Margaret McKennell, a convict who had arrived in New South Waleson the Broxbornebury in 1814 following a seven year sentence at the Old Bailey in London in 1813 for theft (trial proceedings).[5] In 1820 Margaret was further convicted by the Court of Criminal Jurisdiction in Sydney for receiving jewellery and silk handkerchiefs stolen from the warehouse of Simeon Lord. She was sentenced to seven years in the penal settlement at Newcastle (her original sentence expired while she was in custody for the colonial incident) and this is how she came to meet John Swan.[6] John Swan received a conditional pardon in November 1821[7], and it appears he had not previously gained a ticket of leave (a 'ticket' was the usual first step towards emancipation for a convict serving a life sentence). By the end of 1822 John Swan had cleared 55 acres and planted 35 acres of wheat and a small area of maize and barley. He had 2 horses and 21 hogs.[8] According to Dangar's survey in early 1823, Swan and his family lived in a wattle and plaster hut and his farm improvements consisted of a log and thatched barn, stables, sheds and huts. It is interesting that Dangar valued the barn at £20 but Swan's residence at only £3.[9] By 1828 John Swan had cleared 70 acres of his 100 acre farm at Lemon Grove, and was running 22 cattle and 12 goats. He was assisted on the farm by five convicts assigned to him.[10] Swan was keen to retain his farm at Patersons Plains despite attempts by the Church and School Corporation to remove or relocate him.[11] In 1832 Swan was appointed pound keeper at Patersons Plains, succeeding Ralph Mills Clarke. John Swan died at Lemon Grove in 1833 aged 64, and the first title deeds to his farm were eventually issued to the trustees of his estate. After John's death his son Richard travelled from England with his second wife and 9 children to live at Lemon Grove, and Swan descendants held the estate until the 1950s. An old private burying ground on the farm holds about 14 interments of family members. Notes and references 1. He arrived on 7 May 1804 - Convict shipping indents 4/4004 [fiche 631] p179, SRNSW. 2. Walsh, Brian. European Settlement at Paterson River 1812 to 1822. Paterson: Paterson Historical Society, 2012. 3. Convict shipping indents 4/4004 [fiche 631] p215, SRNSW. 4. SG 27 January 1821 p3 5. The Proceedings of the Old Bailey 1674 to 1913 6. SG 25 November 1820 p3 7. Conditional Pardon 28 November 1821, 4/4430 [reel 774], 184, SRNSW. 8. Baxter, Carol (ed.). General Muster and Land and Stock Muster of New South Wales 1822. Australian Biographical and Genealogical Record, 1988. 9. As cited in The Settlers of Patersons Plains (see 2 above). 10. Sainty MR and KA Johnston (eds). Census of New South Wales 1828. Library of Australian History, 2008 (revised edition on CD). 11. Swan also wrote several letters to the Corporation seeking to rent or lease extra Corporation land on the west bank, adjoining Lemon Grove, see CS In-letters 9/2714, SRNSW. External links Index to the NSW Colonial Secretary's papers. There are several papers listed for John Swan and Margaret McKennell. See also • An overview of settlement at Patersons Plains up to the end of 1821. • Coote, SR 250 Years of Swan Family History. Gunnedah, 1985. • Hook, Elizabeth. Journey to a New Life - the Story of the Ships Emu in 1812 and Broxbornebury in 1814. Minto, 2000 (book) & 2006 (CD). Abbreviations sometimes used on this site: CS = NSW Colonial Secretary; HRA = Historical Records of Australia; LB = Letters to Benches of Magistrates, Justices of the Peace and Superintendents of Police; ML = Mitchell Library (State Library of NSW); NLA = National Library of Australia; NSWGG = NSW Government Gazette; PRO = Public Record Office, London; PSC = Principal Superintendent of Convicts; SG = Sydney Gazette; SH = Sydney Herald; SRNSW = State Records Authority of NSW; (Source: Website Paterson River History http://www.patersonriver.com.au/people/swanj.htm ) Notes from the book “Journey to a New Life…” the story of the ships Emu & Broxbornebury by Elizabeth Hook (3rd ed. 2014). I am the author & can be contacted on tbeth3370@gmail.com for further info

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 26th September 2020

1813 - New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents, 1788-1842. Age; 36 Est birth Year; 1777. Calling; Housekeeper. Date of Trial: Middlesex. 15 Sept 1813 1820 - To be transported to Newcastle for seven years. In reports of prisoners tried at Court of Criminal Jurisdiction 1821 - 26 Jan. On list of prisoners transported to Newcastle per "Prince Leopold" Comments: Per "Broxbornebury", 1814. Page: 69 1822 - 28 Jun. Re permission to marry at Newcastle John Swan .... Free Margaret McKennell - Convict per Broxbornebury Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950 Margaret Mckennell Spouse; John Swann Marriage; Hoxham, Newcastle, New South Wales 1822 1825 - New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, New South Wales. General muster. 1825 Wife to J Swann, Newcastle. Drowned 1835 - Second Marriage New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Convicts' Applications to Marry, 1826-1851 Marg McKennell alias Swann. Age 51. Birth Abt 1784. Broxbornebury. 7 years. Free. Maitland Spouse; James Smalley. Age 28. Heroine. 7 years. Bond Marriage 30/10/1835