Philip O'hara

342

Maureen Withey on 5th October 2022

Irish Convict Database, by Peter Mayberry. Philip O’Hara, age on arrival, 28, per Earl St Vincent (3) 1823, Tried 1822 at Sligo Co., for Burglary felony, Life. DOB, 1795, Native place, Sligo Co. Trade, Reaper. --------------------------------------------------- Colonial Secretary Index. O'HARA, Philip. Per "Earl St Vincent", 1823. 1823 Sep 15 On list of convicts landed from the "Earl St Vincent" and forwarded to Parramatta for distribution (Reel 6011; 4/3509 p.241) 1824 Nov 12 On list of prisoners assigned (Fiche 3291; 4/4570D p.94) 1824 Dec 4 Servant to Mr G Blaxland; runaway. On return of proceedings of the Bench of Magistrates, Parramatta (Reel 6023; 4/6671 p.62) -------------------------------------------------- Possibly his death? On Tuesday week a Coroner's Inquest (composed of 12 inhabitants of Parramatta) sat at the Government Wharf, Kissing-point, on the body of a man that had been drowned on the previous Sunday. His name was Phillip O'Harra, government servant to a gentleman, about three miles from that part of the river. A fellow servant, it appeared, had been ordered to go and remove a boat from the end of the wharf to another place, about 300 yards away, as a more secure place. The deceased (without leave) went with him, and on their way to the river called on an old man, uncle to the deceased, then greatly intoxicated. They all went to the Government Wharf, where the deceased began to undress himself to bathe, while the other two men were engaged in removing the boat, and in the attempt got her aground. Requiring assistance, the deceased was hailed to come to their aid, who was at that moment seen washing himself at the end of the wharf, but being locked for again, he in a few minutes had disappeared, which occasioned one of the men (the uncle) to leave the boat and go to the wharf, to ascertain the cause ; but the old man first went to a small hut to light his pipe ; however he reached the wharf before the other man, who had also proceeded to the spot, and on finding the clothes, but not the deceased, they agreed to take his apparel, and go home and give information of the loss of the man. On their way they met Mr. Holy, the superintendent, who, on hearing the strange story, urged them to return and assist in recovering the man ; they however, declined, and went away homewards. The body was found next day by some blacks, floating about the middle of the river. The jury, after hearing the testimony of a very respectable witness, gave their verdict, "the deceased had met his death by being drowned accidentally." The Australian, 13 Jan 1825.