Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
Francis Reynolds was transported on the Henry Porcher, departing 5th Aug 1825 and arriving 3rd Dec 1825 with 176 passengers.
1825 Journey. On Saturday morning (3 Dec) arrived from London and Dublin, the ship Henry Porcher, Captain John Thompson, with 175 male prisoners, having lost one man - the rest in good health. She sailed from London the 10th of July, and Dublin the 5th of August. The guard comprises a detachment of the 47th Regiment, under the orders of Captain Donaldson. The Surgeon Superintendent is Dr. CARTER, R. N. Sydney Gazette, 5 Dec 1825.
Henry Porcher (generic)References
| Primary Source | Irish Convicts to NSW, by Peter Mayberry at http://members.pcug.org.au; and NSW Convict Indents, 1788-1842; Bound Indentures 1823-1826 |
Claims
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Convict Notes
1835, 20 June: Frances [Francis] REYNOLDS, having been convicted in the Supreme Court, Sydney, of forgery on 9 February and sentenced to life imprisonment, was sent from the Hulk to Norfolk Island for life on 20 June 1835 per the Governor Phillip. He was one of 70 convicts on board (see NSW Convict Records, 1810-1891; Phoenix Hulk: Weekly Transportation Entrance Books, 1834-1837). 1835, 1 August: Strangely, the following notice was published in the Sydney Monitor on this day, 42 days after his departure for Norfolk Island: “CAUTION. “THE Undersigned Free Man has by some accident lost his Certificate of Freedom, and hereby gives this Notice to Constables and others not to molest him on his lawful pursuits. “DESCRIPTION. “FRANCIS REYNOLDS per Ship Henry Porcher, Native Place, County Kildare, Trade, Groom and Horse-breaker, Age, 28 years [born 1807], Height, 5-ft 4-in, Hair, brown, Complexion, ruddy pock marked, Eyes hazel. General Remarks-Scar on the left eye brow, the right knee has been broken, also a scar on the breast.” --- 1887, 17 February: A Francis REYNOLDS who was found lying in a paddock near Maitland Hospital was admitted to Maitland Jail, being “of unsound mind”. He was remanded in custody by the Police Court to 25 February but died in Maitland Jail on 18 February 1887. An autopsy attributed the cause of death to “inflammation of the brain, probably brought on by excessive drinking and exposure to the elements”. It’s not clear that this man was “our” Francis Reynolds. The paper described him as an elderly man, “supposed to be a native of Ireland and about 50 years of age”. The estimated age is about 30 years out, but it’s possibly a poor estimate. The man’s death was registered at Maitland, #9988 (see NSW Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Entrance Book, Maitland 1884-1888; Maitland Mercury, 22 Feb, p5; Australia, Death Index 1787-1985).
1834, 5 November: Admitted to Sydney Gaol for trial before the Supreme Court. Transported to Hulk 10 February (see NSW Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Entrance and Description Book, Sydney 1834-1838). 1835, 7 February: From The Sydney Gazette and NSW Advertiser, Tue 10 Feb 1835, p2: “SUPREME COURT. “Before the Chief Justice and a Civil Jury. “Francis Reynolds [of Liverpool] was placed at the bar, charged with forging an order for the sum of £3 12s on one Thomas Hatfield on the 5th November, 1834. “Sarah Hatfield, the wife of Thomas Hatfield, deposed, that the prisoner came to her house in November last, and purchased some articles to the amount of £1 16s 6d., in payment for which he tendered her the order now produced. “The order was proved by several witnesses to be a forged one; and the Jury, without retiring from the box, pronounced a verdict of guilty against the prisoner. “Sentence, transportation for life to a penal settlement.” 1835, 10 February: Admitted to Sydney Gaol under sentence of transportation for life (see NSW Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Entrance and Description Book, Sydney, 1831-1847). 1835, 10 February: Francis REYNOLDS per Henry Porcher 1825, born 1804, 5’4¾”, stout make [build], sallow complexion, brown hair, grey eyes, admitted to Phoenix Hulk (see NSW Convict Records, 1810-1891; Phoenix Hulk: Weekly Transportation Entrance Books, 1833-1837).
1832, 28 February: Granted Certificate of Freedom #31/120. Age – 26. General remarks: “… was transported to Moreton Bay for three years by the Windsor Bench 16 Jan 1827 for pig stealing. Had six months added thereto by the Sydney Bench 2 Oct 1827 for absconding from Moreton Bay” (see NSW Certificates of Freedom, 1810-1814, 1827-1867; Butts of Certificates of Freedom, 1832, February). --- 1832, 28 April: Francis Reynolds appeared before the Sydney Quarter Sessions, his charge as follows: “Francis REYNOLDS stood indicted, for stealing on the 5th of March, one ‘piece of foreign money’ called a dollar, one other piece of foreign money, commonly called a half-dollar, two pieces of the current coin of the realm called shillings, and six other pieces of the current coin of the realm called pennies, the property of John Hannan. “The prosecutor, who is a youth, stated, that he went to a fruit stall kept by the prisoner to purchase a pennyworth of peaches; he took by agreement six, pulling off his cap to pay a penny for them, in which was the money stolen; on replacing it on his head, the prisoner said, ‘You've got seven instead of six’, knocked off his cap, and on the money being scattered about, picked it up himself. “A Constable corroborated part of his statement, adding, that on being accused, the prisoner denied having any money, but on searching him at the watch-house, the identical coins described by the boy were found clasped in his band. For the defence it was urged, that the prisoner was drunk when the circumstance occurred, and that the money was his own. Guilty. Remanded.” (The Sydney Gazette and NSW Advertiser, Sat 28 Apr 1832, p3)
1827, 21 April: Sent from Sydney Gaol to Moreton Bay penal settlement (see NSW Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Entrance Book, Sydney, 1825-1832). 1827, 30 April: Francis REYNOLDS arrived at Moreton Bay, per the “Alligator” (see Kenneth J Lamb, Canberra 2013, Moreton Bay Convict Movements). 1827, 16 May: Francis REYNOLDS absconded from Moreton Bay and was at large for 157 days, being returned on 20 October 1827 (see Kenneth J Lamb, Canberra 2013). 1827, 2 October: Admitted to Sydney Gaol – runaway from Moreton Bay; to be returned and six months added to former sentence. Sent 11 October to Moreton Bay where he arrived on 20 October (see NSW Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Entrance Book Sydney 1825-1832). 1827, 29 December: Francis REYNOLDS made another escape, and this time he was at large for 16 days. He was returned to the penal settlement on 14 January 1828 (see Kenneth J Lamb, Canberra 2013, Moreton Bay Convict Movements). 1828, 13 September: Francis REYNOLDS was admitted, as “a witness” [in a court case] to the Phoenix Hulk; he had been sent to Sydney from Moreton Bay per the Government schooner “Isabella” (see NSW Convict Records, 1810-1891; Phoenix Hulk: Entrance Books, 1825-1831). 1828, 26 September: Discharged from the Phoenix Hulk to the Iron Gang (see NSW Convict Records, 1810-1891; Phoenix Hulk: Discharge Book, 1825-1830). 1830, 20 August: Discharged from the Phoenix Hulk to Hyde Park Barracks (see NSW Convict Records, 1810-1891; Phoenix Hulk: Discharge Book, 1825-1830).
1827, 29 January: From “The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser”, Mon 29 Jan 1827, p3: “Police Report. TUESDAY, JAN. 16. – Francis REYNOLDS and John RYAN, belonging to the Government gangs at Windsor, were brought up on a charge of pig-stealing. The gangs are lodged now-a-days in the building called "The Old Hospital," formerly Tompson's brewery. “An estate of Geo. Thos. Palmer, Esq. is next adjoining, from which many "a young slip" has been removed to feed the unauthorised possessor. Although there are so many dogs in Windsor, that the puppies of the place have frequently threatened to present the nuisance at the Sessions, nevertheless, here came great support to their cause, and suspended their fate of dire suspension ; lo! the dogs awakened the servants, and the cries of one in distress were heard at a civil distance from the house. “‘Sister Cooper’, said Mick Brien, ‘they're at the pigs.’ “Cooper and Brien drew somewhat close to the spot whence proceeded the sound, but the pipe which had vented the inharmonious music, had lost its wind, and the notes betokened the sobbings of a dying pig. “It was evident the thieves had been into the swamp, and with the assistance of a dog, had caught a fine sow in pig; they had killed it, and were detected removing it within the limit of their convenience, accommodating the appetite and opportunity of refreshment to five minutes' notice. “There were three thieves seen in possession of the carcase; they all scampered off with the utmost dexterity, but their pursuers suspecting whither they hied, betook themselves thereto with all alacrity. “Under ‘poor Reynolds’s’ bed were found a pair of trowsers [sic] besmeared with blood, and a waistcoat having a knife in a pocket thereof, bearing a crimson token of the act and deed. “‘Little Ryan’, who attended not to the sympathy, mind your pockets, had very wittily pretended he was busy washing his clothes for next day, but one in the hut proved other little particulars of Ryan’s guilt; and they now become of the order of “unfortunate” for Port Macquarie, or elsewhere, as the case may be. “Nine witnesses were examined; and there did not seem any points of law, but what pointed at the prisoners direct; points as keen to the conscience as a well conducted needle to the end of a tailor’s thumb. “Sentence, each 3 years to a penal settlement.”
1825: On arrival Francis REYNOLDS, 18, was 5’4¼” tall, with a pale and pockpitted complexion, light hazel hair and dark brown eyes. He was described as being “very well” physically (see NSW Convict Indents, 1788-1842; Bound Indentures 1823-1826).
1825, 9 December: On a list of four prisoners from the Henry Porcher sent to Minto for “distribution”; assigned to William Howe Esq (see NSW Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788-1856; Copies of Letters Sent Within The Colony, 1814-1827). NOTE: William Howe (1777-1855), was born in Scotland and arrived in New South Wales in 1816 “as a free settler, with his wife and four children. Lachlan Macquarie granted Howe 3000 acres (1214 ha) at Minto which he named Glenlee… Samuel Marsden recommended him to Commissioner John Thomas Bigge as a man of honour and practical experience in agriculture, and Bigge later recommended Howe for the magistracy to which he was appointed in January 1820… [Howe] argued that agricultural pursuits were likely to reform the prisoners and urged that agriculture be encouraged by a better selection of persons to receive land grants and convicts” (see Parsons, V., “William Howe”, Australian Dictionary of Biography at http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/howe-william-2207). 1827, 16 January: Francis REYNOLDS was convicted at the General Sessions, Windsor, of pig stealing. He was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. Admitted to Sydney Gaol 17 January (see NSW Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Entrance Book, Sydney, 1819-1833).
OCCUPATION: Not "Not known"; just not listed on the options. He was a horsebreaker (see Irish Convicts to NSW, by Peter Mayberry at http://members.pcug.org.au).