Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Transportation
Thomas Sweeny was transported on the Regalia, departing 14th Mar 1826 and arriving 5th Aug 1826 with 128 passengers.
Sailed from Dublin on 14th March 1826. Arrived Port Jackson Wednesday 5th August 1826.
Regalia (generic)References
| Primary Source | NSW Convict Records |
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Convict Notes
The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), Tuesday 22nd April 1862, page 3 DEATH FROM NATURAL CAUSES.- An inquest was held on Saturday before James Thomson Esq., Coroner for the district at the Sportsman's Arms Inn Branxton on the body of Thomas Sweeney, aged about 70 years. It appeared that Sweeney who had been a shepherd, had during his life been frequently ailing. He had only recently been in Maitland Hospital. On Friday he called at Mrs Collins's at Black Creek, and seeming very unwell and feeble was asked to stay the night there. He did so and slept on a sofa in the kitchen. Towards daybreak he was heard coughing and moaning and at about six o clock was found dead by the woman who went out into the kitchen to make up the fire. Verdict-natural causes.
Tried and convicted in Fermanagh Ireland for the theft of cattle, sentenced to 7 years transportation. Left Dublin on 16th March 1826. Ship:- the 'Regalia' sailed with 130 male convicts on board of which 1 died during the voyage. Arrived on 5th August 1826. He was assigned to Alexander McLeod at Luskentyre in the Hunter Valley. In 1829 he was an accessory to a robbery there and was transported again to Morton Bay for 3 years. Whilst in Morton Bay, he was admitted to hospital 3 times for fever, eye trouble and dysentery. In 1832 he returned to Port Jackson on board "Governor Phillip" and interred on board the "Phoenix" until it was determined whether his 3 year sentence was added to his original one of 7 years or was run concurrently. Lucky for him the colonial secretary confirmed that the two sentences were concurrent and he was freed. In 1832 he was returned to Port Jackson (Sydney) and freed. Knowing the land in the Hunter Valley he returned there to resume what he knew best. He was a shepherd. Thomas only knew the surrounds of the Hunter Valley and immediately returned there, meeting up with the newly arrived free passenger Mary Gillespie, who was residing with her uncle and aunt Dominick Gillespie and Mary nee Munnelly. Dominick was also a shepherd working for Richard Jones, and it is thought that Thomas and Dominick, being in the same line of occupation would have known each other prior to Thomas's colonial conviction. As Thomas had advised via petition that he was married and with a family, he and Mary could not marry, his family could not be brought out at the Government's expense, due to his colonial conviction - therefore Thomas and Mary lived together as partners. Thomas died on 12th April 1862 at Black Creek, Branxton.
At the time of his conviction Thomas was married with three children. He then had between five and seven children by Mary Gillespie.
In 1833 Thomas married Mary Gillespie and died at Branxton NSW in 1862