Thomas O'brien

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Summary

Born
Jan 1802
Conviction
Burglary (house breaking)
Departure
Apr 1837
Arrival
Aug 1837
Death
Unknown
Step 0 of 0

Personal Information

Name: Thomas O'brien
Gender: Male
Born: 1st Jan 1802
Death: Unknown
Age at death: Unknown
Occupation: Labourer - general

Crime

Convicted at: Ireland, Limerick
Sentence term: 99 years

Voyage

Departed: 19th Apr 1837
Ship: Calcutta
Arrival: 5th Aug 1837
Place of Arrival: New South Wales

Transportation

Thomas O'brien was transported on the Calcutta, departing 19th Apr 1837 and arriving 5th Aug 1837 with 342 passengers.

HMS Calcutta was the East Indiaman Warley (1795), converted to a Royal Navy ship. This ship of the line served for a time as an armed transport. She also transported convicts to Australia. The French Magnanime captured Calcutta in 1805. In 1809, after she ran aground during the Battle of the Basque Roads and her crew had abandoned her, a British boarding party burned her. In 1803 the Calcutta sailed into Port Phillip bay where at least 4 convicts escaped , in Sydney in April 1804 it was reported that 8 had died on the trip. Of the four known escapees one was shot on escape, 2 turned back after 2 days to reattach to the group at the camp in bay before the boat left , one continued on ...into Australia's history books. At least 13 convicts were transferred on to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania), Australia.The ship also carried officers, wives and free settlers.

CalcuttaCalcutta (generic)

References

Primary SourceIrish Convict Database, by Peter Mayberry.

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Convict Notes

Maureen Withey avatar
342
on 2nd June 2026

COUNTY ASSIZES CONVICTIONS AND SENTENCES. Sentence of death recorded John Finn, Thomas O’Brien, and Maurice Quinn, for burglary & robbery the house of John Foley, at Cregane; ... Kerry Evening Post, 18 March 1837.

Maureen Withey avatar
342
on 26th August 2025

John Finn, Maurice Quin, and Thomas O’Brien, were indicted for entering the house of John Foley at Gregane, in this county, on the ? of August, and stealing £4 16s. therefrom. The prosecutor being examined, identified  the prisoner as the person who. had entered his house, and assaulted him severely, striking him with stick, and knocking his brother down with a stone ; shot was fired into the house ; missed his money shortly afterwards; he arrested the prisoner, Quin, that night his own house, with Police-sergeant Leonard ; he had the money hid  under the bed. Mary Foley, wife of last witness, corroborated his testimony, and stated that her husband’s house was burned on Monday night last. Sergeant Leonard deposed that arrested the prisoner, Finn, at his father’s house, the night of the robbery. Sub-constable Heffernan proved the arrest of the prisoner, O’Brien, who had denied his name when first taken. James Carroll swore alibi for O’Brien.  An old woman swore an alibi for the prisoner Quin. James Russell, Esq. deposed that Quin had surrendered  himself voluntarily to him. The jury found the prisoners guilty.  Limerick Chronicle, 11 March 1837.  COUNTY ASSIZES CONVICTIONS Sentence of death recorded—John Finn and Maurice Quin, for burglary and … of John Foley, at Cregane; Limerick Chronicle, 15 March 1837.

Maureen Withey avatar
342
on 26th August 2025

Irish Convict Database, by Peter Mayberry. Thomas O’Brien, age on arrival, 35, per Calcutta II, 1837, Tried Limerick, 1837, Life for Burglary robbery. DOB, 1802, Native place, Limerick Co. Single. Labourer. Catholic.