John Murrell

343

Maureen Withey on 27th July 2020

State Records NSW Reel 6054 4/1758 John Murrell charged with perjury and to be flogged. The Court of Criminal Jurisdiction New South Wales Memorandum 2nd May 1822. John Murrell a prisoner of the Crown was placed at the Bar and having been heard upon the matter in charge the Court pronounced Judgment. That the Prisoner having in the opinion of the Court been proved guilty of suborning false witnesses in order to cause the conviction of innocent persons and thereby present the conviction of the Four persons yesterday convicted of the robbery and burglary committed on James McKenzie at Caddie near Windsor on 19 March last and having also on the trial of the said Prisoners with like intent been Guilty of most foul deliberate and malicious Perjury the Court do summarily adjudge, that the said John Murrell be kept in strict charge and that on such days respectively and at such hour as His Excellency the Governor in Chief may direct, be flogged at the Carts Tail on the bare back in and through the open street from the Market place in Sydney to the Gaol and afterwards in like manner from the further end of George Street Windsor to the Gaol at Windsor –a painted Board being affixed over the Cart with the words following “For foul and malicious Perjury and subornation of Perjury –to convict the Innocent and clear the Guilty of the Burglary and cruel personal violence committed on James McKenzie at Caddie” That the said John Murrell be also afterwards kept in His Majesty’s Gaol at Windsor for the term of fourteen days on bread and water and in solitary confinement, except as to being taken with a Wooden label with the like words as aforesaid affixed to his person round the Town of Windsor and afterwards remaining one hour standing in the centre of Thompsons Square in the said Town. And that upon the expiration of the said Fourteen Days, that the said John Murrell be sent to Port Macquarie for the residue of his Original Term of transportation. Signed John Wylde, Judge Adv. NSW ----------------------------------------- Note: For further information in regard to the trial mentioned above refer to The Sydney Gazette 3rd May 1822, which states John Murrell, a very old man was called on in behalf of the prisoners. His evidence went to criminate the approver Lenaghan, and two other men. Also stating the whole story was fabrication of Murrell. ------------------------------------------------ State Records NSW Reel 850 4/6360 25th July 1822 John Murrell per "General Hewitt" in Sydney Gaol Sentence to Port Macquarie for the remainder of sentence. State Records NSW Reel 6019 4/3864 30th July 1822 John Murrell Transported to Port Macquarie per Lady Nelson, Tried Sydney Criminal Court, 2nd May 1822, Sentence to Remainder of Original Sentence, Trade Sawyer, Per General Hewitt, Tried Chelmsford 8th March 1813, Life. State Records NSW Reel 822 4/6285 9th December 1826 John Murrell onboard the "Phoenix" Hulk as a Mechanic from Port Macquarie to be sent to Norfolk Island per "Wellington" 23rd April 1827 on board the Hulk to be sent to Port Macquarie Note: John Murrell one of many convicts being sent illegally from Port Macquarie to Norfolk Island as a good mechanic, per the Brig Wellington. The convicts on board seized the vessel and sailed to New Zealand where the crew of the Sisters, a Whaler, recaptured the Wellington. The Wellington and Sisters sailed back to Sydney 10th February 1827, with Cornelius Callaghan, James Bennett, John McGuinness and John Murrell on board the Sisters. ------------------------------------------------- 1837 General Return of Convicts page 447 Murrell John Age 84, per General Hewitt, 1813 assigned to Government, Port Macquarie Ticket of Leave 38/1136 – Dated 25th July 1838 John Murrell, General Hewitt. Remarks – Died 26th August 1841, Port Macquarie. Convict Death Record. John Murrell Died 26th August 1841, Age 84, Port Macquarie .

343

Maureen Withey on 27th July 2020

Assize Intelligence. At Chelmsford, John Murrel, for stealing the pocket-book of John Roberts, Welch drover, containing £800 in bank-notes, at Ingatestone Fair, was sentenced to be transported for life. Cambridge Chronicle and Journal, 19 March 1813. ----------------------------------------------------- Colonial Secretary Index. MURRELL, John. Per "General Hewitt", 1814; retransported from India as John Porter per "Hayeston", 1816 1816 May 10 - Convict runaway arrived safe from India per "Hayeston"; had assumed the name John Porter (Reel 6018; 4/3521 pp.67, 68) 1817 Sep 16 - On list of prisoners to be sent to Newcastle per "Mary"; listed as John Porter (Reel 6005; 4/3497 p.57) 1820 Aug 1 - On list of prisoners transported to Newcastle per "Lady Nelson"; listed as John Porter (Reel 6007; 4/3502 p.171) 1822 May 2 - Memorandum of the judgment of the Court of Criminal Jurisdiction against Murrell in a matter of perjury (Reel 6054, 4/1758 pp.91-91b; Reel 6017, 4/5783 pp.74-5) 1822 May 10 - Request for an explanation why the wishes of the Criminal Court in the sentence pronounced against Murrell were not carried fully into effect (Reel 6009; 4/3505 p.262). Reply, 11 May (Fiche 3052; 4/1831 No.317) 1822 May 15 - To be conveyed to Windsor and delivered over to the Bench of Magistrates; the Bench requested to take proper measures to carry the sentence passed by the Criminal Court into effect (Reel 6009; 4/3505 pp.283, 287) 1822 Jul 30 - On lists of prisoners transported to Port Macquarie per "Lady Nelson" (Reel 6019; 4/3864 pp.2, 364-5) ----------------------------------------------------- 1828 census at Port Macquarie. John Murrell, per General Hewitt, respited.