Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
Christopher Nowlan was transported on the Phoenix, departing 29th Aug 1826 and arriving 25th Dec 1826 with 191 passengers.
Built at Thames, England 1798. 589 tons.
Phoenix (generic)References
| Primary Source | NSW State Records 35/127 Ticket of Leave [4/4097; Reel 922] NSW State Records Recommended Conditional Pardon [4/4478; Reel 797 Page 171] NSW State Records 42/209 Conditional Pardon 1 Jul 1841 [4/4440; Reel 779 Page 459] |
Claims
"God-daughter to Beryl Elsie Carroll nee Nolan her GGrandfather Christopher (aka Christy) Nowlan."
Photos
No photos have been added for Christopher Nowlan.
Convict Notes
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12885924?searchTerm=Nowlan Link to the report of Nowlan’ s trial, and the tin box is mentioned as one of the pieces of evidence. Published in The Sydney Morning Herald, 17 March, 1846.
He was convicted for cattle stealing at the Maitland Circuit Court in 1846. He was sentenced to "fifteen years transportation beyond seas". He was transported to Tasmania on the Louisa in April 1846, and sent to Port Arthur. He received a Ticket of Leave in November 1852, and his Conditional Pardon was approved on 25 July 1854.
Christopher was 23 years old on arrival and was single. 1835: TOL Cassilis 1840: Application to marry Mary Edwards aged 15 (free). 20/1/1846: Admitted to Newcastle from Sydney: To be sent for trial for cattle stealing. 1/7/1841: Recommended for CP 1/7/1841: CP This was found on the NSW Gov. Records website: http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/publications/now-then-enewsletter/now-and-then-59-december-2012 Treasures in the records It is not that often that we come across objects when looking through State archives. Vicki Wilson (researcher and volunteer) was surprised to find a small metal box while researching Supreme Court Deposition papers [NRS 880]. Deposition papers are the trial papers of the Supreme Court; the cases relate to various crimes including murder, manslaughter, perjury and larceny. The small tin was discovered in the trial papers of one Christopher Nowlan - a convict who arrived on the Phoenix in 1826 - who was tried at the Maitland Circuit Court in 1845 for Cattle Stealing [9/6334]. So, why was the tin placed with these papers? Evidence of freedom The tin was presented as evidence during the trial. Sergeant William Lane of the mounted police, who arrested Nowlan, described in his statement that he questioned Nowlan upon arrest and asked him if he was a free man. Nowlan presented him with the tin as proof of his freedom; inside was a folder letter from the Colonial Secretary's Office, a reply to a petition for a Conditional Pardon. It was quite usual for a convict to carry his/her Certificate of Freedom, Pardon, or Ticket of Leave in case he/she was stopped and asked to present it. Sergeant Lane demanded, "Where is your freedom?" and Nowlan answered, "In Sydney!" The story goes that Nowlan had lost his freedom while on Parramatta road. When Lane asked how it was lost, Nowlan described in detail how he had been robbed by two men - one tall, one short and both armed with soldiers muskets and wearing Cabbage tree hats. Lane stated he thought it strange that Nowlan didn't go to Sydney for a replacement Freedom. Nowlan said he didn't care about it because he had the Government letter and he was using the letter as proof of his freedom. Lane checked the contents of the tin case which included the Government letter plus two tortoise shell lancets (cutting instruments [scalpels] with a double-edged blades - see photograph). 'There are photographs on the website which cannot be re-produced here'. This tin is an exciting find! Before reading the deposition we were wondering why it was within the court papers.The vivid description supplied by Sergeant Lane explains why the tin case was kept with the papers and painted a clear picture of the scene of the arrest.
Lived in the Cassilis District; Tried: Meath, Ireland; Convicted either Meath or Dublin