Summary
Personal Information
Transportation
John O'neal was transported on the Baring, departing 31st Mar 1815 and arriving 7th Sep 1815 with 302 passengers.
Baring (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 87, Class and Piece Number HO11/2, Page Number 200 NSW Certificates of Freedom, 1810-1814, 1827-1867 |
| 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
At the Salford Quarter Sessions, held at the New Bayley, Manchester, the following prisoners were sentenced to be transported for seven years — John O’Neal, for stealing a watch; ... Manchester Mercury 8 Nov 1814. --------------------------------------------------- Irish Convict Database. John O’Neil, alias O’ Neal, age 21 on arrival, DOB, 1794, native place, Sligo., trade, tailor.
1841, 2 June: Arrived at Norfolk Island (see records below). 1844, 20 January: At Norfolk Island – John O’NEILL, per Baring, is on a list of prisoners who are deemed “Invalids and Ineffective” and recommended for removal to Sydney. He is described as “aged 72, much debilitated”. Note: As outlined above, this suggests his year of birth as about 1772, which contrasts with Mayberry’s Irish Convicts database and his Convict Indents record where it’s listed as 1794, and his Certificates of Freedom that state it’s 1792. Those records pointing to 1792 are in the majority to date, thus 1792 is listed as his date of birth in the summary section (see New South Wales, Australia, Convict Records, 1810-1891; Norfolk Island: Returns of Convicts to NSW, 1844-1845).
1835, 3 January: John O’Neil was admitted to Newcastle Jail; listed as from Sligo, a Catholic and tailor by trade. He was sent there from Paterson to be forwarded to the Supt of Convicts “to be identified”. He was sent to Sydney on 4 March; conduct described as “orderly” (see NSW Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Entrance and Description Book, Newcastle 1833-1837). 1838, 10 December: Admitted to Parramatta Jail from Windsor; sent to the Ironed Gang at Pennant Hills on 11 December (see Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Entrance Book, Parramatta 1838-1840). 1841, 10 April: John O’NEILL, per Baring, convicted in the Quarter Sessions, Sydney, and sentenced to 10 years for house breaking (see CoF 1834 and Norfolk Island records). 1841: Admitted to the Phoenix Hulk, John O’Neil per Baring, convicted at Manchester 1814 for larceny, 7 years; sent by Quarter Sessions, Sydney, on April 10 for stealing in a dwelling, and sentenced to transportation for 10 years (see Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Entrance Book, Phoenix Hulk, 1833-1848).
The rest of this contribution focuses on his life after Moreton Bay, 1833… 1834, 9 December: John O’NEAL per Baring was granted a third Certificate of Freedom No.34/1582; tailor, native place Sligo; originally tried at Lancaster 26 October 1814, convicted for larceny, and sentenced to 7 years’ transportation; at a colonial trial in the Sydney Supreme Court on 9 May 1827 he was sentenced to 7 years. Born 1792, 5’9½” with sallow complexion, brown hair and dark grey eyes; disabled in right arm (see NSW Certificates of Freedom, 1810-1814, 1827-1867, (NRS 12210) Butts of Certificates of Freedom 1834, December All Records).
Year of BIRTH: Different records (below) provide conflicting dates, including 1772, 1792 and 1794. Clearly, a difference of more than 20 years is a concern. The majority of records that list his age or year of birth support a date in the early 1790s as the most likely candidate. VERIFICATION: John O’Neal did receive a Certificate of Freedom No.27/3043, as he stated in his Affidavit. He was issued with a replacement CoF No.225/3453 on 29 March 1825. A notation on it says he had been sent to Port Macquarie by the Criminal Court, Sydney, on 14 March 1822, for three years for “divers [sic] offences” (see NSW Certificates of Freedom, 1810-1814, 1827-1867).
CRIME: Larceny (see NSW Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Entrance Book, Phoenix Hulk 1833-1848).
John o'Neal was on a List of 40 male convicts embarked on the Brig Kangaroo for the Derwent. 13th April 1816. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON13-1-1$init=CON13-1-1p56 No.6. John O’Neal, Baring, Lancaster Ass. 26 Oct 1814, for 7 yrs. tailor. Colonial secretary Index O'NEAL, John. Per "Baring", 1815 1815 Sep 15 - On list of convicts disembarked from the "Baring" and forwarded to Windsor for distribution (Reel 6004; 4/3494 p.176) 1819 Feb 18 On list of prisoners sent to Newcastle per "Lady Nelson" (Reel 6006; 4/3499 p.325) 1821 Jul On corrected list of prisoners who state their original term of transportation had expired; listed as O'Neil (Reel 6008; 4/3504 p.143) 1822 Feb 25-Mar 27 -To be transported for three years. In reports of prisoners tried at Court of Criminal Jurisdiction (Reel 6023; X820 p.39) 1822 Mar 20 - On list of prisoners transported to Newcastle per "Elizabeth Henrietta"; listed as O'Neill (Reel 6009; 4/3505 p.44) 1823 Sep 25 - On list of convicts removed from Newcastle to Port Macquarie per "Elizabeth Henrietta"; listed as O'Neill (Reel 6019; 4/3864 pp.426-7) 1824 Sep 27 - Returned to Port Macquarie on the "Sally" having given evidence in Sydney; listed as O'Neil (Reel 6068; 4/1815 p.497) 1825 Mar 29 - Former prisoner at Newcastle. Affidavit re loss of certificate of freedom (Reel 6028; 4/1690 p.113)
John O'Neil was working as a contable at Moreton Bay in 1833. Colonial Secretary - Letters relating to Moreton Bay. Letter dated 31 Dec 1833, from J.O. Clunie, Capt 17th Reg. Commandant, with a List of 3 Three Constables whose Term of Sentence expires at the following dates agreeable to P2 Para Settlement Regulations. Robert Holmes/ “Hadlow” John O’Neil/ “Baring” William Salmon/ “Tottenham”