Anthony Torpy

71

Robin Sharkey on 6th February 2016

Anthony Torpey was only 12 years old when convicted of larceny at Cork City in late March 1823 Spring Assizes. He was sentenced to transportation for seven years. Departed Cork in September 1823, arrived Sydney 29 December 1823. Torpey was very young and unable to stay out of trouble. WIthin 2 months he was sent to Port Macqaurie to serve out the rest of his sentence, although was somehow reprieved from that (based on his age?) but got regularly into trouble until sent to Norfolk Ireland, for 14 years, now aged only in his early twenties. this would have ensured he was hardened and could hardly have been a productive member of society at the end of that period. Warrants of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland” - 1823 “Medina”: Anthony Torpy. 12 years old, Larceny seven years, 4ft 5inches, hazel eyes, dark hair and dark complexion. Native of Cork City, Sentenced Spring Assizes 1823. NOTE -a 13 yr old Maurice Mahony was convted fo larceny at the same assizes. They must have become mates and in NSW in 1831 were indicted together for a robbery. February 1824 -On list of prisoners to Port Macquarie per “Lady Nelson” ; Anthony “TORPY” per Medina, Labourer, sentenced by D Wentworth Esq at Sydney on 9th February 1824 for “remainder of his sentence”. Would be aged only about 13 yrs now. Brought back from Port Macquarie ... When? 1828 - Anthony "Torpy" per Medina. At Bathurst. Aged 21 years. 7 yr sentence. Catholic. Shepherd. Em[loyed by Thomas Hobby Jr, residence at Fish River (not the property named "Evan") 7 July 1830 - Sydney gaol Entrance book. TORPAY Anthony per Medina. General Sessions Sydney Runaway from his Master. to Iron Gang for one month. Departed gaol: July 26 to Parramatta Sydney Gazette 30 April 1831 - Certificate of Freedom. July 1830 - With Jeremiah Mahony on burglary charge Sydney Gaol Entry Book: 2 July 1831: “Anthony “Tarpey”. Medina 1823,, 5ft 41/2 in Slender, Dark compexion, brown hair, black eyes. B 1807 [this would mean aged now 23 and was 15 years at 1823 irish offence, not 12 yrs] Sydney Gazette, 2 July 1831 p 3: Jeremiah Mahony and Anthony Forley, [TORPEY] two notorious characters, were placed at the bar, charged with a robbery on the premises of a person named Levey, situate opposite the gaol, in George street. From the evidence of several witnesses it appeared, that during the morning of Wednesday Mahoney went into Levey's shop to buy half an ounce of tobacco, and while there asked the lad in charge the price of some hats that stood exposed for sale, promising to bring some customers for one or two of them in the after part of the day ; accordingly, toward evening he again made his appearance with the other prisoner and a couple more companions, and, after bargaining for some time, expressed their dissatisfaction with them and walked off, taking advantage at the same time of the lad’s imperfect vision, which is much affected, to purloin one of the hats; he, however, missed it before they were well out of the shop, and ran to the door, but they had made good their retreat. In the course of the succeeding night they paid another visit, breaking open the shop door, and helping them-selves to four more hats, a shirt, and a pair of trowsers-valued together at two pounds six shillings-but not with the like success, their suspicious movements attracting the notice of the guard, who secured the worthies, together with their plunder. They now represented themselves as a couple of innocents, but their Worships seemed to entertain a somewhat different opinion, and, after saluting them as old acquaintances, committed them to take their trials for the offence. NO Record of their being found guilty. 1833 JUNE - JULY - Highway Robbery The Sydney Herald 1 July 1833: page 3 LAW INTELLIGENCE. ... .... the following prisoners convicted during the late criminal sittings were put to the bar, and received the judgment of the Court. - Anthony Torquay, for a highway robbery, death recorded, with an intimation from the learned Judge, that from the serious nature of his case he must make up his mind to be transported for life. Sydney Gaol Entry Book: 27 June 1833: “Anthony “THORPEY”. Medina 1824, B 1807, Bond, bond Native of Cork, labourer, catholic, Admitted 27 June 1833 from HM Gaol, Purpose: Ditto ditto [ Death Recorded) 14 years transportation Disposed of: Norfolk Island, 1st September 1833. Behaviour in Goal - tolerable Sent to NORFOLK ISLAND for 14 years for this robbery. The Commandant there was Major Morrissey. Torpey would have sailed on "Esther" leaving 5 Sept 1833 for Norfolk ISland. Sydney Herald 2 Sept 1833 p2: “ The latest accounts from Norfolk Island state, that the convicts at that settlement are dying rapidly from a fever which has lately become rooted there” and: “There are at present at Norfolk Island, six hundred and nine convicts under Colonial sentences. All long sentence men, are to be removed from Moreton Bay to that place.” This voyage of the ' Esther ' carried Justice Dowling and some jurors and court officials to hold the first 'circuit' sittings of the Supreme Crt at Norfolk Island, trying some prisoners for murder. Within a year, Torpey was in trouble again. Many prisoners on N.I were brought back to stand trial in September 1834 for trying to capture the island. There were 11 prisoners tried for the principal offence, but many trials for lesser involvement. Torpey was charged in a lesser matter, and was found not guilty. He was acquitted and went back to N.I. Sydney Gazette 27 Sept 1834 p 1 “7th Case, July 19, (bottom of 5th column) “John Cutbbort, James Lollyant, William McCullough, Patrick Mackay, Archibald M'Farlane, Hugh M'Veigh, William Murphy, Christopher Quin, John Sharpe, Anthony Torpey and Henry Williams, were indicted as accessories before the fact to Robert Douglass in the felony of which he was convicted on the 14th instant. They severally pleaded not guilty. The evidence in this case was of the same nature as that in the last case against Burke and others. The trial occupied nearly two days, and the jury having retired for about on hour, returned a verdict of guilty against M'Cullough, Murphy and Quin, and acquitted the other prisoners. 1848 - Torpey is finally back in NSW after 14 years on Norfolk.Initally sent to the Hulk. (NSW gaol records 1848, Prison Hulk) By now he would be aged only 36 based on his indent age of 12 yrs, (and 41 based on his 1828 stated age of 21 yrs) however he would be a person much debilitated by all those years of detention on N.I. Cannot find him in NSWBDMs after this, or in newspapers.