Michael Sheile

Level 347

Maureen Withey on 25th April 2022

https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON13-1-1P29 List of Convicts to VDL per Lady Nelson. (to NSW per Providence.) Edward Carrol, age 30, Tried County of Limerick, August 1810, Life. Bad. Michael Sheile, age 55, County of Dublin, October 1809, 7 years, Gardener. Joseph Lenaghan, age 27, County Westmeath, August 1809, 7 years. Good. John McCue, age 35, City of Dublin, Sept. 1809. 7 years. Francis McGavern, age 30, County Cavan, March 1809, Life, Good. Eleanor Doyle, age 20, City of Dublin, June 1810, 7 years, Indifferent. Judith Quinlan, age 19, City of Limerick, August 1810, 7 years, Very bad. Ann Byrne, age 30, City of Dublin, March 1809, 7 years. Mr Mills. Indifferent. Note underneath: N.B. Francis McGavern, mentioned in the extract above from the Indents of the Providence, is not embarked as had been intended, he having absconded. 29 June 1812. Signed Thos. Campbell.

Level 72

Robin Sharkey on 31st January 2015

REPORT OF CRIME OF MURDER Freemans Journal, Thursday 2nd November, 1809 page 3 John SINNOTT, James CONOLLY, Thomas SHIELDS, Christopher FINNEGAN were indicted for the murder of Thomas Cunningham in the month of May last, at Santry in the county of Dublin. The circumstances of this case were rather unusual. The prisoners at the bar, together with the deceased, an an approver of the name of Timothy Dwyer, in the month of May last, [1809] went out to commit robberies. In the evening of 25th of that month {may 1809] they stopped a jaunting car and were about to rob a man of the name of Kelsh who was upon it, when the pistol which Sinnot then had went off by accident, and the contents having lodged in the left breast of their companion Thomas Cunningham, he was brought up to the jaunting car of the man they stopped (who was acquainted with one of the robbers) to Kelsh’s house, where he languished about two hours and then died. The next evening Dwyer, the approver, with the two prisoners Conolly and Shields, came and tok the body away, it was buried in Glasnevin churchyard, but in the few weeks after, when doe robbers were apprehended in the country, this transaction came to light, the body was taken up and an inquest held. The evidence on the trial gave all the circumstances and facts in the clearest point of view and Lord Norbury, after laying down the law of the case, gave a most impartial charge to the jury, who retired for some time, and returned with a verdict against all the prisoners - GUILTY. Lord Norbury then, in a very impressive manner, pronounced the awful sentence of the law, pursuant to the statues, by which they are to be executed on Thursday next [ i.e 9th November ] and their bodies handed over to the surgeons for dissection. All the prisoners upon receiving sentence, conducted themselves in the most hardened manner, declaring their innocence, and calling the jury a set of perjured men

Level 72

Robin Sharkey on 4th February 2014

Michael Sheile or Shiel was 55 when he left Cork on the "Providence" in 1810. He was given a 7 years sentence of transportation as a reprieve from the death sentence, whichw as literally communicated at the last minute. Four men were saved from execution by being reprieved just five minutes before they were to be hanged in Dublin. All four sailed on the Providence to Australia, they were James Connolly, Christopher Finnegan, Michael Shiel and John Sinott. Freemans Journal (Tuesday) 31st October 1809 “The four unhappy men, namely Finnegan, Connolly, Shields and Sinnott who were found guilty of murder, at the Commission of Oyer and Terminer at the Sessions house in Green Street [Dublin] on Tuesday last [ i.e.24th October 1809] in consequence of a gun or pistol having gone off by accident, while they were in the progress of a felonious intent, by which one of their associates (Thomas Cunningham) was killed, and by the settled principle of law, amounts to a murder against all the parties concerned in such a felonious purpose, and who then were in pursuance of the statute sentenced to be executed and their bodies to be delivered over to the Surgeons in order to be dissected. ' When the Sheriff had arrived at Kilmainham gaol, on Thursday, [26 October 1809] with the order of respite, it was near one o’clock in the afternoon, (the hour appointed for their execution) where he found the unhappy convicts on their knees in prayer, accompanied by their Clergyman in that part of the gaol called the chapel, at which time they had received the Sacrament, and were prepared to be launched into eternity in five minutes; at the same time a detachment of cavalry was in waiting to preserve order; all the apparatus prepared, for putting into execution the dreadful sentence of the law, and carts provided for conveying their bodies to the College of Surgeons.” * 10 December 1810 -departed Cork Harbour for NSW * 2 July 1811 - arrived NSW * 29 June 1812 - sent to Port Dalrymple, tasmania, with 7 other convicts from "Providence": Edward Carroll (“bad” pencilled on indent); Joseph Lenaghan (“good” pencilled on indent); John McCue, & Francis McGaveren (“good” pencilled on indent); and 3women off the Providence: Eleanor Doyle (“indiffferent”), Judith Quinlan (“very bad”) and Ann Byrne (“Indifferent”) * Arrived Tasmania 12th July 1812 * Tasmanian Convict Records do not give any reference to this man's Conduct Record file. * No reference to his death registration. * On arrival in Tasmania in 1812 he would have been aged 57 years.