Paul Slattery

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 10th October 2020

New South Wales, St John’s Parramatta Burials. Name; Paul Slattery. Convict Of the Parish of Parramatta was buried April 17th, 1804 By Samuel Marsden

71

Robin Sharkey on 4th December 2016

CONVICT SHIP ATLAS II, Left Ireland May 1802 and arrived 30 Oct same year. Ship’s Captain Musgrave. [This is a different ship to ATLAS I which left Ireland in November 1801 and had a heavy death rate under Capt Richard Brooks.] ______________________________________ PAUL SLATTERY tried April 1800 for the murder of five men in the Boland Family on 7th March 1800 at Manister, near Croome in Limerick. Paul Slattery found guilty, sentenced to death, reprieved, transported on Atlas II aged 35 years. Arrived 30 October 1802. DIED and was buried at Parramatta on 17 April 1804. This was a month after the Irish uprising of March 1804. (Was he involved, perhaps wounded and died?). IRISH CRIME The murder of the Boland men was carried out by a huge gathering of hundreds of Irish, on the night of 7 March 1800, being WhiteBoys or united irishmen. Their committee had decided that John Boland should die because of the harshness with which he extracted tithe payments from the local peasantry as Tithe Proctor over several parishes. THE LIMERICK CHRONICLE. Wednesday 12th March1800. “It appears that at a late hour on Friday night a great number of villains, armed with muskets, swords and pikes, attacked the house of Mr. John Boland of Manister and demanded his arms; at he same time a considerable part of the Banditti, on horseback, were placed at a distance to keep watch. Mr. Boland with his brother James and his sons Mathew and James were in the house in bed (as were Mrs. Boland and her two daughters).On the first alarm the men got up and determined to defend their house and property with that spirit for which as yeomen and loyalists they were most remarkable. After firing a number of shots among the barbarous assailants (several of whom there is good reason to believe did execution) unfortunately for this brave family the house was thatched, and the wretches set the same on fire which caused them to come out. In consequence of which Mr. John Boland, his brother James and Mathew were butchered in a manner shocking to relate; the latter lived until next morning but died without giving an account of his murderers. It also appeared to the inquest that Edmond Boland, brother of Mr. John Boland, who lay in the neighbouring house was coming to the assistance of his family and was murdered between the bridge of Manister and the house, which was burned down. To add to this more than hellish outrage poor Mrs. Boland who with her daughters narrowly escaped from the flames, has become quite deranged and the recovery of the daughters still remains doubtful.” Following the murders General Sir James Duff, the Limerick commander, acted swiftly. First, he “issued a proclamation requiring all persons within the county of Limerick to post upon their doors a list of the inhabitants; and also that no personal any pretext whatever be absent from his house between the hours of seven at night and sunrise next morning” - Freemans Journal 1763-1924, Thursday, March 20, 1800; Page: 2 Then he established a court martial to try all the accused -this was underway by April 1800. Many men were charged. Henry Stokes, charged with Slattery in early April, and Patrick Sheehan, were hanged on 22 April. Paul Slattery was lucky to have been reprieved. John and William Collins were also sentenced in April to hang near the scene. Other men who were tried under Court Martial over a year later in June 2001, were sent on Atlas I in November 1801 .... unclear why Paul Slattery did not go on that ship or Hercules I of Nov 1801 when he had been tried earlier than them in April 1800, but was sent on Atlas II departing six months later in May 1802. Perhaps it took this long to get his reprieve. Freemans Journal 1763-1924, Tuesday, April 08, 1800; Page: 5 “On the 3rd ultimo General Sir J. Duff issued his orders, in consequence of which a General Court Martial on Tuesday Sen’night assembled at etc new barracks, Limerick for the trial of such persons as may be brought before them for rebellion. sedition or any crime connected there with. The Court being sworn, immediately proceeded to the trial of Henry Stokes and Paul Slattery upon the following charge: “That they on the night of 7th of March last, were present at atttacking and burning the house of John Boland of Manister, in teh county of Limerick, deceased and at the same time mudering the said Boland, his two brothers and two sons.” the court continued sitting until 3 o’clock same evening, examining witnesses for the prosecution, and at ten o’clock next morning resumed the trial which being finished, Patrick Sheehan was put on trial for same.” Others transported to NSW, being reprieved, not hanged were thre Ahern brothers - John (who died on the voyage of Atlas I after being severely flogged), Michael and Murtagh. Thomas Brown was also transported on Atlas I, but he had received a 7 year sentence.