John Ryan

343

Maureen Withey on 24th April 2022

Irish Convict Database by Peter Mayberry. John Ryan Peters, alias Ryan, per Providence I, 1811, Tried at Tipperary Co., 1809, Life. Spouse, m Mary (Unknown). (Lists as a reference: “Catholics of NSW”, -Donohoe: page 344.)

71

Robin Sharkey on 3rd February 2015

IN IRELAND John Ryan, Peter, was transported on “Providence’ convict ship from Ireland aged reportedly 37 years in December 1810 - transported for life to NSW. He had been sentenced to DEATH in March 1809 for the murder of John Grace. HIS NAME Ryans were so numerous in County Tipperary, and first names used from such a small supply, that there were dozens and dozens of Ryans with the same name. To overcome the problem of identifying who was who, a Ryan typically had an additional "family name”, like a nickname, added to identify them, and distinguish them from neighbouring families. . This convention can even be found recorded in church registries. This ‘Providence’ convict was recorded in the Irish newspapers as: “JOHN RYAN, PETER,”. This meant his name was probably JOHN RYAN and he was of the branch from “Peter” Ryan. Everyone in his local area would have understood this differentiation. It was so well accepted in Tipperary that names were officially recorded this way. This naming convention was not understood by those outside the system so that in NSW his name was recorded variously as: * “John Peter Ryan” - the Muster books from 1816 to 1821; * “John Ryan Peter” in his Ticket of Leave and Conditional Pardon as though his surname was “Peter”; and * “John Bryan Peters” in 1823 Muster * possibly finally at his death as “John Peter”, although direct connection to this death record as yet unproved. IRISH NEWSPAPER REPORTS He was to be executed but was respited within the last 24-48 hours. One newspaper source (4/4/1809) reported his execution was to be Tuesday 28th March. A later one reported it was to have been Monday 1st May. Freemans Journal, 4th April 1809: CLONMEL, March 27th John Ryan, Peter, found guilty of the murder of John Grace, to be executed tomorrow. Freemans Journal, Saturday 6th May 1809 John Ryan, Peter, - who was to have been executed at Clonmel, on Monday last, pursuant to sentence at last Assizes, for murder, was respited until further orders. Who was John Grace? It appears he was a Caravat: Finns Leinster Journal, July 23rd 1808 John GRACE of Tullarone in this County [i.e. Limerick] was committed to our County Gaol by Js Strangeway Esq, charged on oath with tendering unlawful oaths to one of His Majesty’s subjects, thereby compelling him to be “true to Captain Thumper, or John Doe”. If John Grace was a Caravat then it’s possible that John Ryan, Peter, was from an opposing gang, the Shanavests. LIFE IN NSW 1814 - Recorded as John “Parkes”, at Lane Cove. The government had Grass cutting gangs and sawyer gangs at Lane Cove. Since in 1836 he described his trade as “Sawyer” this is probably what he was doing in Lane Cove. Settler and Convict Lists, Musters 1816 “Peter John Ryan” Govt Labour, Sydney 1817 “Peter John Ryan” Govt Labour 1818 “Peter John Ryan” Govt Labour 1819 “Peter John Ryan” Govt Labour 1821 “Peter John Ryan” Govt Employ 1823, “John Bryan Peters” Sawyer, Sydney, Tkt of Leave Gazette, 20 Nov 1823: "The undermentioned persons have obtained … Tickets of Leave in the last week: Tickets of leave - Providence - JOHN RYAN PETERS, Parramatta. Colonial Secretary’s Office, 19th November 1823" Reissued Ticket of Leave 4 October 1828 (Issued In lieu of no 644/864 dated 13 Nov 1823 returned mutilated and cancelled) Trade - sawyer Trial March 1809 Native place and trial place -co Tipperary Sentence: Life Born: 1781 Details: 5ft 4 &3/4 in, Dark Ruddy Complexion, Dark brown hair and grey eyes 1828 Census - not recorded in the Census under any name such as “John Peter” or “John Ryan” or “Peter Ryan” 1836 CONDITIONAL PARDON: Native Place: Tipperary, Trade: Sawyer BORN: 1781 (i.e. 55 yrs then) Personal Details: 5ft 4 &3/4in /dark brown hair /grey eyes/ dark ruddy complexion AGES: He said for 1823 TL and for 1836 pardon that he was born in 1781. He would then be 29 years on departing Ireland (not the Indent’s 34 yrs) and 55 on his 1836 ConditionalPardon. In 1850 he would be 79 years so this person may well be him: NSWBDM registration no: 1086/1850 V18501086 117 John Peter death ..”age 80” . Registered Sydney.