Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
Peter Kelly was transported on the Westmoreland, departing 27th Apr 1838 and arriving 22nd Aug 1838 with 112 passengers.
The Westmoreland was a 405-ton sailing ship built in 1832 at Lynn, Norfolk, England. Four (4) sailings listed for her to transport convicts (and some free settlers and soldiers) to Australia - New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania). (Voyage in 1838 from Ireland to NSW is currently being compiled, incomplete list of persons to date.)
Westmoreland (generic)References
| Primary Source | NSW Gov Records. Irish Convicts. |
Claims
"Peter Kelly is my 4th Great Grandfather"
Photos
No photos have been added for Peter Kelly.
Convict Notes
The two reports above refer to a “Popish Plot” Miss Agnes Catherine Byrne wrote a letter, which was published in the local press in July, which caused some outrage at the time. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2551862?searchTerm=Agnes%20Byrne To read article published 18 July 1839 in the Sydney Gazette.
The late Popish Atrocity. SINCE the publication of our last number some additional particulars have reached us touching the two misguided wretches concerned in the late atrocious outrage at Parramatta. Both men, it seems, are convicts. assigned to private service in the district of Kissing Point, and both belong to the lowest class of Irish Roman Catholics. Their names are STEPHEN TROUGHAN, per ship Westmoreland, a native of County Cavan, Ireland, and PETER KELLY, also per ship Westmoreland, a native of the County of Dublin. Some disclosures made by the men since their confinement in Jail have created a strong suspicion that they were set upon their work of blood by a Popish fanatic resident in Parramatta, who was observed in earnest conversation with them on the morning of the day on which the outrage was committed, and who is known to have made use of threats against Miss BYRNE, which give a strong confirmation to the suspicion. Under these circumstances, and considering how desirable it is that the real culprit, and not his besottedly ignorant instruments, should be brought to punishment, we trust that the Magistrates of Parramatta will see it to be their duty to prevent Roman Catholic priests, or any other persons likely to exercise an influence on the minds of the prisoners, inimical to the interests of justice, from obtaining access to their cells until after their trial. We do not go quite so far as our contemporary The Australasian Chronicle in considering men all but caught in the fact " innocently accused," nevertheless we should be sorry to shut the prisoners out from the means of proving that they are so, or from providing for their defence. For this purpose it may be necessary that their friends should have access to them, but under the circumstances it seems to us desirable that no one should be allowed to see or converse with them unless in the presence of an officer of the Jail, and we cannot conceive that there is any necessity for clergymen of any persuasion, either Roman Catholic or Protestant, to have access to them at all. Sydney Gazette, 28 Sep 1839. Supreme Court. Stephen Trougher was indicted for an assault with intent to commit a rape on Agnes Catherine Byrne, at Parramatta, on the 22nd September last; and Peter Kelly was indicted for being present, aiding and abetting. A second count charged the prisoners with an intent to rob ; and a third was for a common assault ; to which latter count the prisoner Trougher pleaded guilty. Kelly pleaded not guilty. … The jury retired for nearly an hour, and found the prisoners guilty upon the third count. … The sentence of the Court was that they be worked in irons upon the roads twelve months each. The Australian, 7 Nov 1839.
Irish Convict Database by Peter Mayberry. Peter Kelly, age on arrival, 26, per Westmoreland (3) 1838, Tried at Wicklow, 1838, Life, for Robbery highway. DOB, 1812, Dublin Co. Catholic. Married, 1 male, 3 female children. Labourer.
Died at the age of 85 years at Caragabal NSW Buried: Caragabal, Morris Payne's Property, Weddin Shire NSW-Private Burial. [Western Champion Newspaper (Parks) page 6 under the heading 'GRENFELL' mentions the death of Peter Kelly a "an old colonist" and mentions him as being 86 yrs] Married 26th January 1846 at St John's Church, Parramatta, NSW Charlotte Gilbert, they had 1 daughter (Mary Ann Kelly, Mrs Hurel) and 4 sons Peter, John, Patrick & James)
23057 Kelly Peter - Westmoreland 1838. 1846 August Paterson MM. Obtained Ticket of Leave.
Born - Dublin County Ireland. Married 1 male 3 female children.