Patrick Minouge

71

Robin Sharkey on 10th December 2024

Pat Minogue was tried at the County Clare Lent Assizes held from Monday 8 March to Friday 12 March 1819. ( Dublin Journal, 24 Feb 1819, p.3 re county’s Lent Assize dates) He was tried for sheep stealing, found guilty and transported for 7 years on "Minerva" leaving Co Cork on 26 August 1819. From the ship’s indent his details were: Pat “Minouge”, Aged: 29 years Born at Clare. Labourer; Height 5ft 4& ¾ inches; dark ruddy complexion, Black hair, Blue eyes. IRISH CRIME Newspaper - ‘Kilkenny Moderator’, 20 March 1819, p.4 “ASSIZES INTELLIGENCE, Ennis, March 13 “Yesterday evening the criminal business of our assizes was concluded by passing sentence on the following persons, found guilty of various offences: … Michael Clancy, David Kennedy, Roger Hayes and PAT. MINOGUE, for sheep stealing (presented for mercy by the Grand Jury). To be transported for sevn years. The fact that these four men are all listed together with the same crime does not mean they were acting on the one crime – it was a convenient way of recording the same sentence given to people for the same offence. The Grand Jury had agreed to go ahead with the indictment for sheep stealing – it is a different jury (a “Petit” jury) which sits in court in judgement. Clearly the Grand Jury thought there were reasons for mercy for this crime. Perhaps it was a first offence for each of these four. David Kennedy and Roger Hayes did not get transported at all, so they perhaps sought to go into thte army instead (a common practice). As well, Pat Minogue and Michael Clancy were lucky – Pat Fitzpatrick and John Beatty who’d also stolen sheep were given the death sentence instead. Fitzpatrick received clemency and sailed on the Minerva for life, however Beatty did not arrive in NSW and was presumably hanged according to his sentence. In NSW Col Sec letter of 30 Dec 1819 records that he was forwarded to Parramatta for distribution. Listed as "Minage" In January 1822 he was attached to Wright's Gang that worked in the Domain at Parramatta, when he appeared before the Parramatta Bench of Magistrates on some minor charge. He was discharged to Mr Howell. {Col Sec correspondence, Letters 29 and 30 March 1822] In the Sept 1822 Muster he was in a road party working on the Richmond Road. May 1823 Letter (COl Sec's papers) he was on a lost f convicts assigned. It seems this was to Mr Oxley. Listed as 'Monouge', which sounds like his surname as he would speak it with an Irish accent. On return of convicts maintained and mustered by John Oxley; in 1823 and 1824. (written as 'Menouge'.) Oxley was exploring around NSW but his property was 'Kirkham' of about 1,000 acres near Camden, where Pat Minogue was probably located. CERTIFICATE of FREEDOM -granted to him on 30 March 1826, number 109/5081. The Sydney Gazette, 8 April 1826, p.3: "Public Notice. The undermentioned persons have obtained Certificates or Tickets of Leave during the last week, CERTIFICATES - 'Minerva' - Wm Regan, PATRICK MINENGE ..." Patrick Minogue came out the other side of his punishment. His fellow sheep stealer at Clare Assizes, also given seven years, did not. Michael Clancy received a NSW death sentence in 1822, was sent to Port Macquarie then to the notorious Macquarie Harbour in Tasmania for having run away, and was shot dead at Macquarie Harbour in 1825.

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Maureen Withey on 8th July 2021

Irish Convict Database, by Peter Mayberry. Patrick Minouge, alias Minogue, age 29, per Minerva I (2) 1819, Tried Clare Co, 1819, 7 years. DOB, 1790, native of Clare. Labourer.