Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
Martin Murphy was transported on the Parkfield, departing 12th May 1839 and arriving 1st Sep 1839 with 242 passengers.
Built Isle of Man 1833. 496 tons. Voyage from Sheerness 15 May 1839 to Port Jackson, New South Wales 1 Sept 1839 - 109 days. (No deaths reported) 240 passengers. 31st Regiment, 6 women & 9 children.
Parkfield (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 91, Class and Piece Number HO11/12, Page Number 42. Liverpool Standard, Fri 1 June 1838 p.7. Liverpool Standard Tues 12 June 1838. Chester Chronicle, Friday 17 August 1838, p. 3 |
| Source Description | This record is one of the entries in the British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database compiled by State Library of Queensland from British Home Office (HO) records which are available on microfilm as part of the Australian Joint Copying Pro |
| Original Source | Great Britain. Home Office |
| Compiled By | State Library of Queensland |
| Database Source | British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database |
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Convict Notes
While Martin Murphy and James Durning were sent to NSW on ‘Parkdale’, three others of their co-accused were sent to Tasmania on the 'Gilmore’ in 1839 – James Macklin, Edward Connolly and Patrick Cumming. George McCarty was sent on ‘Layton’ to Tasmania also in 1839.
One month after his English trial, Martin Murphy was taken from Kirkdale Gaol and deposited on board ‘Ganymede’ hulk, on 7 September 1838. The hulk register there recorded he was a servant aged 27, could not read or write, and had a wife and four children. His antecedents (ie whether convicted previously) were stated as “unknown”. After eight months on ‘Ganymede’ hulk he was disposed of to the ‘Parkfield” convict ship, on 7 May 1839. (UK National Archives, HO9, ‘Ganymede’ register, 1837 – 1841)
Martin Murphy aged 28 on arrival in September 1839 on "Parkfield" after being found guilty in England. Born 1811 at Wexford Tried 9 August 1838 Lancaster Assizes, Guilty LIFE for Manslaughter Indoor servant, Cannot read or write, Roman Catholic, Married with four children - 2 male and 2 female children 5 ft 3&1/2 inch tall, Complexion: Sallow; Hair: Brown; Eyes: Brown; Marks or Scars: Yes 1846 Ticket of Leave Number: 46/1346 Year: 1846; Allowed to remain in the District of Scone; Recommended 1847 for Conditional Pardon. CIRCUMSTANCES OF HIS CRIME Arose out of a planned fight in a ring between Irishmen with wooden bludgeons, urged on by a large crowd, and the police attempting to break it up, a police inspector's death resulting. Liverpool Standard, Fri 1 June 1838 p.7 Summarising the newspaper report: A police officer, George Wharton, had heard that there was to be a fight in the neighbourhood of Windsor (Liverpool area) on the Monday previous, 27 May, and ordered other officers to prevent it. As a considerable body of men assembled near a tannery in a field near Windsor, two men stripped off and began preparing for combat. Officer Wharton and two other officers advanced, so the crowd moved off. But the crowd re-assembled in another field further away from town. As the police advanced again the mob retreated again but when they reached another field they prepared for a fight and stood their ground. When the police inspector commanded them to disperse every single man produced a bludgeon, and a couple of the men advanced and assaulted the officers with great violence. Some of the officers were so injured that they would not be able to return to work for a few days. At length the police gained the advantage and some of the ringleaders, and others present, were captured. A particular police officer, identified as No. 70, who had stood forward of the others claimed to identify all the men who were taken. He also claimed to have seen Patrick Canning (or Cumming) and Edward Connolly beat one or two officers. Another police officer identified Connolly as having a bludgeon in one hand and a large stone in the other that he threw at officers. This police officer also saw Martin Murphy instigating the crowd to action, urging them to “Stand boys” against the police. Police Officer 234 identified James Dunning who had a kind of bludgeon and beat the officer violently. Police Officer 273 identified Richards, who was out of custody on bail, using bad language, but not striking anybody. Policeman 250 pursued Graham Senior into a pond when Graham Jun called him to return and the officer took them both. Police officer 250 also swore to McCarthy being in the crowd. Two young brothers – gentlemen bystanders – identified both Canning and McCarthy. The Inspector was so injured that he could not attend the court. Murphy, Canning, Connolly and Dunning made the excuse that they had just been in the field merely by accident. They were fined £5 each, or in lieu, House of Correction for two months. The Grahams claimed to have been investigating the disturbance and McCarthy denied being there at all but Rickerby clearly identified him as being actively involved. They were discharged. However, unexpectedly, Inspector Ross worsened from his wounds, developed inflammation of his brain and died a week later on Wednesday 6 June. The whole overall situation was spelled out in detail in the report of the Coronial Enquiry , together with details of the post mortem and funeral in The Liverpool Standard, Tuesday 12 June 1838 p.3: Two other officers were on duty in Park Rd with inspector Ross, all wearing police uniform. On being apprised of the fight underway, went to help break it up. One officer went for more assistance. The crowd had formed a ring and wo men had stripped to fight each other, and they fought two or three rounds. Officer McWhan saw Cumming strike Inspector Ross twice on the head with a rough, prepared stick. Then Connolly, Murphy and Durning repeatedly struck and kicked the Inspector while he was injured on the ground, and he never got up. Cumming also struck and kicked Insp Ross once or twice while he was on the ground. The crowd beat the other officers off and they fled for reinforcements. On returning, the Inspector was unable to speak; the officers took some of the crowd who were standing around. The Coroner referred to the law book “Russell on Crime” that a party killing an officer in the discharge of his duty, knowing him to be a police officer, is guilty of murder. “The jury retired and in a short tiem returned with a verdict of “Wilful Murder’ against James Macklin, Patrick Cumming, Edward Connolly, James Dunning, and Martin Murphy as principals, and against George McCarty and Patrick Morland as aiders and abettors. The Liverpool Standard newspaper commented (12 June 1838) that “the prisoners, we believe, are all Irishmen in the humblest class of life. There is nothing indicative of ferocity or brutality in their appearance. They all behaved with remarkable composure, with the exception of Murphy, who shed tears in alluding to his wife and four children.” Chester Chronicle, Friday 17 August 1838, p. 3: On Tuesday 14th August, the men were tried in the South Lancashire Criminal Court. James Macklin, 23, Patrick Canning, 18, Edward Connolly, 21, James Durning 18, Martin Murphy, 26, George McCarty, 19, and Patrick Moreland, 20, pleaded not guilty to feloniously beating Inspector William Ross causing his death. George McCarty and Richard Moreland were charged with aiding and abetting. The jury found Moreland not guilty. They said they had some doubt about murder but found all the other prisoners guilty of a very aggravated case of manslaughter. Baron Alderson considered a severe sentence was required in these circumstances of great disorder and cruelty in attacking a person who’d been compelled to perform his public duty. All those found guilty were sentenced to transportation for life. However, only James DURNING and Martin Murphy have been found transported – both on ship ‘Parkfield’ (ref t the “Irish Convicts to NSW” Website )
Born - Wexford County Ireland. Married 2 male 2 female children.