Summary
Personal Information
Transportation
Francis Mulligan was transported on the Mary, departing 25th May 1819 and arriving 26th Aug 1819 with 161 passengers.
Built 1811, Ipswich,England 361 tons. 1817 Journey On Monday arrived the ship Mary, Capt. ORMON, from Calcutta, with merchandize—Passengers, Captain FAITHFUL and Lieut. HAMILTON: this vessel has brought 6 male prisoners from India, destined for Port Jackson; to which place it is expected she will sail to-morrow. Hobart Town Gazette, 24 May 1817. Ship News. On Thursday arrived from Calcutta, via Derwent, the ship Mary, Captain Ormon, with a various cargo. -Passengers from Calcutta, Captain Faithfull and Lieutenant Hamilton:-The Mary sailed from Calcutta the 23d of February, and left the Pilot the 1st of March. Sydney Gazette, Sat 7 Jun 1817. -------------------------------------------------- Convicts who sailed on the 'Mary' direct from Ireland - 1819 & 1836 - are currently being listed, incomplete data to date.
Mary (generic)References
| Primary Source | NSW Convict Ship Muster Rolls and Related Records, 1790-1849; Irish Convicts to New South Wales 1788-1849, by Peter Mayberry |
Claims
No one has claimed Francis Mulligan yet.
Photos
No photos have been added for Francis Mulligan.
Convict Notes
NOTE: As detailed above, Francis MULLIGAN absconded three times from Moreton Bay! I only found out that amazing fact thanks to the generosity of Kenneth J. Lamb, Canberra (2013). His many records from the Moreton Bay Penal Colony are now available in Xcel files to download from the Queensland State Archives. However, I discovered this fabulous resource by accident. It’s such a shame that its existence is not up front, and centre – nay, trumpeted! – on the QSA site or the State Library of Qld’s site. Digital records are such an integral part of any research during COVID 19. I have no doubt that their role will be just as strong, and even magnified, if there is ever a post-COVID 19 time. I ask that QSA and other bodies of a similar ilk seriously consider how valuable online records are to our dedicated research. We can spread the word about their fabulous resources – be it for academic, government or private purposes. Come on! It’s time to step up, digitise and embrace creative commons. We “the end users” will salute you! Or, at least I will.
1864: Did Francis MULLIGAN die in 1864 at Armidale in NSW? NSW BDM has a record of death for a man of this name. I am positing it here – until someone else finds evidence to contradict it – that “our” Francis did die in the Armidale district in 1864, reg no 2645/1864. This Francis’s parents’ names are Michael and Catherine Mulligan. Fodder for another researcher? If so, good luck to you!
1830, 20 January: Francis MULLIGAN again ran away from Moreton Bay (date provided by Kenneth J. Lamb’s database available at the Queensland Government’s publications). 1830, 2 May: Francis MULLLIGAN was returned to Moreton Bay (date provided by Kenneth J. Lamb’s database available at the Queensland Government’s publications). 1832, 28 May: Francis MULLIGAN again ran away from Moreton Bay, for a third and final time. There is no record of his being caught or returned to this penal settlement. His record is impressive but it’s well below that of six achieved by John Ellis (6 abscondings) (see the date of FM’s abscondings – and those of Ellis - as provided by Kenneth J. Lamb’s database, which is available at the Queensland Government’s publications).
1828, 16 March: Francis MULLIGAN ran away from Moreton Bay (date provided by Kenneth J. Lamb’s database available at the Queensland Government’s publications). 1828, 13 September: Frans MULLAGHAN (Francis MULLIGAN) per Mary – admitted to the Phoenix Hulk as one of several prisoners who were “runaways from Moreton Bay, apprehended at Port Macquarie” (see New South Wales, Australia, Convict Records, 1810-1891; Phoenix Hulk: Entrance Books, 1825-1831). 1829, 9 January: Frans MULLAGHAN (Francis MULLIGAN) per Mary – discharged from the Phoenix Hulk and sent back to Moreton Bay (see New South Wales, Australia, Convict Records, 1810-1891; Phoenix Hulk: Discharge Book, 1825-1830). 1829, 24 January: Francis MULLIGAN was returned to Moreton Bay (date provided by Kenneth J. Lamb’s database available at the Queensland Government’s publications).
1826, 15 December: Fras [Francis] Mulligan – commuted from Death reduced to seven years; per Mary of London – was discharged to Moreton Bay per the Brig Mary Elizabeth (see NSW, Australia, Convict Records, 1810-1891; Phoenix Hulk: Discharge Book, 1825-1830). 1826, 28 December: Francis MULLIGAN, prisoner #865, arrived at Moreton Bay per Mary Elizabeth (see Kenneth J. Lamb’s database available at the Queensland Government’s publications, from Series ID 5653, Chronological Register of Convicts at Moreton Bay – the file extracts all the incidents of convicts absconding and analyses the amount of time that lapsed before absconders were returned).
1826, 22 November: From the Sydney Gazette, p3: “Supreme Criminal Court: Saturday, Nov. 18.-The following prisoners were placed at the bar, and received sentence. “Francis Mulligan for horse-stealing – Judgment of Death recorded…” 1826, 27 November: Fras [Francis] Mulligan received aboard the Phoenix Hulk – per Mary of London 1819; Catholic; tried by the Criminal Court, Sydney, on 15 November 1826; sentence of 7 years commuted from Death recorded; labourer; native place Co Dublin; originally tried at Kildare; offence – horse stealing; sentenced to Moreton Bay (see NSW, Australia, Convict Records, 1810-1891; Phoenix Hulk: Entrance Books, 1825-1831).
1826, 18 November: From the Sydney Gazette, p3: “Supreme Criminal Court. Wednesday, November 15. Before Mr Justice Stephen… “Francis MULLIGAN [my emphasis] was indicted for stealing a mare, the property of Joseph Hearn, at Liverpool, on the 9th of September last. “The Acting Attorney General stated the case, and called Joseph Hearn, who stated that he resides at Prospect, about three miles from the Orphan School Farm, near Liverpool; that a bright chestnut mare, fifteen hands high, rising four years old with silver mane and tail, the two forefeet brighter than the body, and a white streak down the face, his property, was lost sometime in the month of November last, from oft the Orphan School Run. “The last time he saw her on the run was in the latter end of August, and did not see her afterwards until he saw her in Sydney; the run from whence she was taken was enclosed by a four-grafted fence: she had been broken in by witness, and worked for about twelve months; witness lives some distance from the place, and cannot, therefore, say whether she might not have got out, but never heard that any of the fence was broken down; never offered her for sale, nor authorised any other person to sell her; witness has seen the mare outside of the Court this day, and is positive she is his property. “Cross-examined by Mr. Rowe: Witness is positive he never authorised any person to dispose of the mare for him; has lent her to a person named Mathew, an Overseer at the Orphan-farm, but never only on two occasions, and then she was to be used on the spot in gathering in the cattle; witness heard that she was lost about, the 17th of September; had not seen her since August; witness knows a person named Hodges, at Parramata; has been in his house; never made any sale of the animal there to any person; witness purchased her of Mr. Piesley, at Parramatta. “Thomas Buxton deposed that he resides on the Brickfield-hill, Sydney; on the 9th of September last, a man, named Powers, rode a mare into witness’s, yard, and said that a farmer named Reilly was coming down the hill immediately after him, to whom it belonged, and who wished to sell it; the prisoner at the bar, who was the person then called John Reilly, came in directly after, a little in liquor, and asked forty pounds for the mare; witness offered him thirty-five pounds, but as he was rather intoxicated, intended to conclude the bargain on the following morning; the prisoner agreed to take the thirty-five pounds, but wished to have the money then, in consequence of which, witness told him he would pay it instantly, provided he would mention any friend in town, to whom he was known who could take charge of it; the prisoner mentioned a person named Collins, a neighbour of Witness, and accordingly they went together to his house, and paid the prisoner the money in the presence of Collins, and a person named Passfield, taking a receipt for it, which was signed by the prisoner, in the name of Reilly; this occurred on Saturday, the 9th of September; on the following Monday witness was going through George-street, and, seeing the prisoner standing at the door of a person named White, went up to him to ask whether the mare had been in work, and if she had any faults, when, as he approached, and before he had spoken, the prisoner called out, “You are come to take me I know; it is a stolen mare”, and directly began to cry, and made towards the back door, at the same time offering to give witness back the money he had paid for it; he subsequently made his escape from the house, and witness ran after him, overtook him at some distance up George-street, and gave him in charge to a constable who was passing. “Cross-examined: On seeing witness coming up, the prisoner at once said the mare was stolen; witness had no conversation with him previously; witness did not ask, nor did the prisoner say how he knew she was stolen. “By the Court: Witness has viewed the animal at the door; it is the same he purchased from the prisoner. “William Collins deposed that he keeps the Royal Oak public-house, on the Brickfield-hill; knows the last witness, Buxton; remembers him coming to the house with the prisoner, who called himself Reilly, and asking if he would witness the buying of a mare; a man named Passfield was also present; witness saw Buxton pay the prisoner thirty five pounds, and receive a receipt drawn by Passfield, and signed by the prisoner in the name of John Reilly. “Thomas Buxton recalled, and examined by the Court: The prisoner was very much intoxicated on Monday when he said the mare was stolen; he did not say that he stole her, but that she was stolen. “Samuel Passfield corroborated the evidence given by Collins; a paper was handed to this witness, which he identified as the receipt which he had drawn at the request of the prisoner, and which was signed by him as John Reilly. “Robert Petit deposed that he lives at the Orphan-school farm, near Liverpool; knows the prosecutor Hearn; he was a labourer on the Orphan-school estate; witness knew him to be possessed of a mare, which was lost off the farm, and is the same now outside the Court. “The prisoner, in his defence, denied having any mare in his possession, and stated that he sold the one in question for some other person, but was so much intoxicated at the time, that he did not know what he was doing. Evidence were called as to character, from whom, however, on a cross-examination, the fact was elicited that a compromise had been offered to the prosecutor, on the part of the prisoner. “The Learned Judge summed up the evidence, and the Jury returned a verdict of Guilty. Remanded.”
1825: Francis MULLIGAN – Ticket of Leave #627/857 – Mary 1819, 7 years; labourer at Prospect (see NSW and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849, New South Wales General muster M-Z 1825). 1825, 10 March: Francis MULLIGAN – Certificate of Freedom #107/3335 – per Mary (1), 1819; tried at Kildare, Spring 1818; seven years; native place Co Dublin; labourer; 40, 5’5¼”, ruddy complexion, dark brown hair, hazel eyes (see NSW, Australia, Certificates of Freedom, 1810-1814, 1827-1867). NOTE: The age on this certificate does not match other records for his date of birth. In 1825, we should have been 25 or 26.
1819, 25 August: Francis MULLIGAN 20, 5’4¼”, dark ruddy complexion, black hair, hazel eyes, native place County Dublin (see NSW Convict Indents, 1788-1842; Bound Indentures 1818-1819).
1818, 25 July: Admitted to Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin; prisoner #3910; transferred by the Government (see Ireland, Prison Registers, 1790-1924; Dublin, Kilmainham, 1815-1910).