Timothy Sullivan

341

Maureen Withey on 23rd August 2020

Colonial Secretary Index. SULLIVAN, Timothy. Per "Three Bees", 1814. 1817 Feb 14 - On list of prisoners to be sent to Newcastle per "Elizabeth Henrietta" (Reel 6005; 4/3496 p.4) 1818 May 5 - Request from his wife Catherine, residing at Newcastle, for permission to go to Sydney to collect money owing to her husband (Reel 6066; 4/1806 p.121d) 1819 Dec 23 - Prisoner at Newcastle. Petition of his wife Catherine for a pardon for Sullivan (Fiche 3203; 4/1861 p.2) 1820 Jan 8 - Of Newcastle. Re the remission of his sentence (Reel 6007; 4/3501 p.171)

29

Michelle Owl on 9th May 2020

Important Note: Timothy Sullivan, his wife Catherine Sullivan/Elliot was featured on Australia's "Who do you think you are?" - Kurt Fearnley is a Direct Descendant and you can follow their story online.

54

Phil Hands on 19th September 2017

Timothy, age 21, a labourer, had been sentenced to transportation for Life at County Kerry Assizes in August 1812 he would have been in custody for over a year before joining the ship. In all probability he had also walked in chains to Cork. Left England on 8th December 1813, for Cork. Ship:- the 'Three Bees' sailed with 219 male convicts on board of which 9 died during the voyage. Arrived on 6th May 1814. There is no record of a Surgeon accompanying the ship but Captain Jn. Wallis ensured that the prison, a specially constructed and barred area below decks, was cleaned and fumigated regularly and that prisoners were admitted freely to the deck when conditions allowed. At Rio, where the ship called to replenish water and supplies, the weather was extremely hot and the temperature of the prison fell six or eight degrees when the prisoners had left for the fresh air on deck. One man died of fever but there was no hint that the voyage was to be unhealthy, and when she sailed on February 17th 1814 the number of sick was among the 219 male prisoners was small. From Rio the 'Three Bees' headed for the southern Cape of Africa to pick up the prevailing westerly winds which circle the globe in the high Southern latitudes. They would carry her eastward before steering northeast for her destination Sydney. On February 27th, in the South Atlantic, a strange sail was sighted. Believing her to be an enemy - England was still at war with Napoleonic France and America, orders were issued for the convicts bedding to be brought on deck rolled, and made into a barricade. It remained on deck throughout the night and was drenched by heavy rain. Efforts to dry the bedding failed and it was returned to the prison, the convicts being warned not to use it. However, they disregarded the orders and as a consequence, it was believed, scurvy broke out, causing seven of the nine deaths recorded. On arrival in Sydney on 6th May 1814 after a voyage of 149 days many of the convicts required hospital treatment and were very badly affected by scurvy. Fourteen days later the 'Three Bees' caught fire at her anchorage near Government wharf in Sydney Cove. The fire rapidly got out of control and a degree of panic ensued among the residents of Sydney when rumour magnified the thirty casks of gunpowder aboard to 130. It was feared that an explosion would cause untold damage to the town and its occupants, especially as all her guns were loaded. The crew had no chance of fighting the flames so cast her adrift in the hope that she would drift on the wind out of the harbour. The first of her guns went off at about 5.30, followed quickly by the remaining fourteen as the ship slowly gyrated scattering cannon fire in all directions. Luckily nobody was injured but one ball smashed in a window of the resident Naval Officer's residence and damaged his writing desk. By 7.30 the 'Three Bees' had drifted onto rocks where her magazine exploded. She burnt throughout the night and by morning nothing remained above the waterline. Fortunately the convicts had been disembarked before the fire took hold. Aboard the Three Bees was a convict man, Timothy Sullivan, born around 1790 in County Kerry. Perhaps convict Catherine Ahern and Timothy had been previously acquainted or maybe they met after arrival. Whatever the case Catherine and Timothy formed a relationship almost immediately. Catherine gave birth to their first daughter Mary early in 1815. The birth of their second child, Norah Sullivan, followed in quick succession that same year. Daughter Margaret was born in 1819 and then Jane in 1820. Life was not easy for the family. Both Timothy and Catherine were convicted of a further offence. Timothy was sent to Newcastle and Catherine to the Female Factory at Parramatta. After her 3 month stint at the Factory Catherine and the children joined Timothy in Newcastle. It is documented that Catherine applied for permission to travel to Sydney to collect money owing to her husband. They were still living in Newcastle when the remission of Timothy's sentence was under review following Catherine's petition for his early release. He received his Ticket of Leave early in 1820. Times were to get even tougher. On the 14 October 1820 Timothy and another man were cutting grass on a farm at Hen and Chicken Bay at Parramatta River. William Challoner, the overseer, accused Timothy of stealing some clothing. The accusations were denied and when Timothy refused to return to the house with William he shot him. Timothy was admitted to the nearby Sydney General Hospital where he died from his wounds a few days later. Subsequently William was indicted for murder but was acquitted on the grounds that his actions were justifiable.