Patrick Mcnamara

81

Gail Robyn Newman on 12th November 2022

Account of the Intended Mutiny On the 17th December William Rae and John Wallis gave details of the intended mutiny to the Governor - We have to inform your Excellency that in the course of our voyage hither we had the good fortune to discover a dangerous mutiny which was on the eve of breaking out amongst the prisoners, and but for timely prevention would certainly have ended in much bloodshed. For the information we are mainly indebted to a prisoner of the name of Francis Keefe who at the risk of his own life concealed himself whilst he wrote a short note containing the information. This plot from all the credible evidence we have been able to collect concerning it had been matured by a few of the worst of characters and they had even evinced some degree of cunning in poisoning the minds with the idea of money being on board which was to be distributed amongst those who should most distinguish themselves. Keefe is a man superior to most of the prisoners, has conducted himself with much propriety and some of the ringleaders have even attempted to invalidate his evidence. Situated as we have all been we should be guilty of an act of injustice if we did not recommend this man in the strongest manner to your Excellency 's notice. The names of the ringleaders were : Charles Devatt, gardener, tried 17th March 1823 at Longford and sentenced to transportation for life. Sent to Port Macquarie on arrival. Died 20 January 1824 at Port Macquarie. James Kelly, ploughs and makes butter. Tried Co. Carlow 27 March 1823 and sentenced to transportation for ten years. Sent to Port Macquarie on arrival. Patrick Brennan, ploughman from Co. Carlow. Tried 25 March 1823 and sentenced to ten years transportation. Sent to Port Macquarie on arrival. Denis Brennan, coalminer and soldier from Kilkenny. Tried 6 April 1823 and sentenced to transportation for life. Left arm lost below the elbow. Sent to Port Macquarie on arrival. Died at Port Macquarie 8 December 1824. James Lawler, ploughman tried in Co. Wicklow 24th March 1823 and sentenced to transportation for 10 years. Sent to Port Macquarie on arrival. William Cowen, gardener from Longford. Forwarded to Parramatta on arrival. Patrick Macnamara (no. 139). Coal miner and militia man from Kilkenny Tried 5th April 1823. Sent to Newcastle on arrival.

221

D Wong on 26th August 2015

There were three Patrick McNamara’s on this voyage - 1 tried Charleville,Cork - 1 tried Castlebar County Mayo and this Patrick McNamara tried at Kilkenny. The Leinster Journal 9/4/1823: Denis Brenan, Darby Dunne and Pat McNamara for assaulting the out house of Thos Gorman at Woollengrange on the 3oth August last - Same persons for a conspiracy to rob- Guilty- Death. Patrick's occupation was listed as a 'Soldier/Coal Miner/Militia man'. Patrick married Eleanor Murphy at Castlecomer, Ireland. Eleanor arrived free per ‘Joseph Banks’ in 1828 with children. C1823: Sent to Newcastle. 28/10/1824: Aged 37, natie of Kilkenny, 5'7" tall, light grey eyes, brown hair, swarthy complexion - Absconded from Government Employment at Newcastle. 1828, 1830 , 1831: Ticket of Exemption from Government labour – Allowed to reside with his wife, Eleanor. 1840: CP 26/9/1851: Patrick died. 1/10/1851: Maitland Mercury: On Monday an inquest was held at East Maitland on the body of Patrick McNamara. McNamara was an old man, addicted to habits of intemperance, and resided at Berry Park. On Tuesday the 23rd September, he was in East Maitland, being the polling day and got intoxicated. Late that evening he was taken charge of by three constables, being then very noisy. But instead of taking him to the lockup, they kindly took him to the house of a friend, Mr McLaughlin, wheelwright, with whose consent he was laid in the stable, on a platform, being made comfortable with bags, hay, and a man sitting up for some hours to see that he was all right. The next morning McNamara appeared to be still labouring under the effects of drink, and complained of pain and soreness in his belly, but refused to enter Mr. McLaughlin’s house. Mr. McLaughlin therefore sent word to his family and that (Wednesday) afternoon McNamara was taken home in a bullock dray, appearing to suffer much pain from the jolting. No medical man was however sent for, all parties appearing to think that McNamara was only suffering from the effects of drink. He still continued unwell throughout Thursday and in the middle of Thursday night he sent for some neighbours who came and saw him. About three o’clock on Friday morning McNamara was suddenly taken much worse, appearing speechless, and before his son could bring his neighbours in again he expired. A post-mortem examination was made by Dr Scott on Friday, when the only bruises visible were some on the knuckles and a cut on one knee, but none of them sufficient to have influenced his death. Death had been caused by inflammation of the intestines, which might have been, in Dr Scott’s opinion, caused by exposure to cold, or by a fall, or a bruise, and in either case would be much aggravated by intemperance. The jury returned a verdict of death from natural causes, accelerated by frequent acts of intemperance.

10

kathryn on 26th August 2015

Married Eleanor Rynlaz/ Rynar

10

kathryn on 28th September 2012

Arrived by Isabella (3) 1823 Married Eleanor Murphy