Summary
Personal Information
Transportation
John Usher was transported on the Medina, departing 5th Sep 1823 and arriving 29th Dec 1823 with 180 passengers.
Medina 1823. Surgeon’s Journal states: 27 August 1823; Received on board 180 male prisoners. 2: 5 September 1823; Got under way from the Cove of Cork and made all sail for ultimate destination. Two days before our departure 3 of the convicts were taken away in consequence of orders, and it was intended to have replaced them by others, but our short stay would not admit of it. The remaining convicts were 177. One convict died at sea. SHIP NEWS.—On Monday evening last arrived from the Cove of Cork, which she left on the 5th of September, with 176 male convicts, the ship Medina, Captain Brown. The guard comprises a detachment of the 40th, under orders of Lieutenant Gunning. Assistant Surgeon Coleman, 40th Regiment, comes by this opportunity The Surgeon Superintendent is Dr. Rodmell, R N. who was here before in the Mary transport. Sydney Gazette, 1 Jan 1824.
Medina (generic)References
| Primary Source | Irish Convict Database by Peter Mayberry. NSW 1828 census at Cooke |
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Convict Notes
Died at Parramatta Government Asylum, buried at St Patrick's Catholic Cemetery, Parramatta
John Usher arrived at Moreton Bay penal settlement 18th Apr 1835 per H.M. Colonial Brig, one of 53 male prisoners. “Governor Phillip.” John Usher, per Medina, Tried at Cork City, Spring Ass. 1823, Shop lifting, 7 years, Carter. Colonial Sentence: Gen. Sess. Sydney, 17 Jan 1835, Larceny, 7 years, Returned to Sydney, Nov 1839. Description: John Usher, native of Kerry, age 30, 5 ft 5 ¾ in, Sallow comp, dk brown hair, blue eyes. Catholic. --------------------------------------------------- John Usher stood indicted for stealing 2 coats, 10 yards cloth, 10 yards of shalIon, and a quantity of harness, and other properly of the goods and chattels of Edye Manning; and Edward Owen, for receiving part thereof knowing the same to be stolen. John Edye Manning, Esq., junior, sworn,-Some months ago a robbery was committed at Ultimo, where my family resides ; the stable was broken open and a quantity of harness, a side saddle, and two servant's coals, and other property stolen therefrom - I think the prisoner Usher was living at the Spinning Wheel; I went some time ago to the jail to Usher. By Mr. Rowe- I understood Usher knew about the circumstances connected with the robbery, and I went to the jail to see him, and look him into a private room, where he acknowledged to the robbery being committed at Ultimo. Re-examined by Mr. Garling- I stated to Usher what I had heard, and he then told me that he, and he alone, had stolen the property in question, and had taken them to the house of the prisoner, Owen, who lives about a quarter of a mile from Ultimo, and is a market gardener ; the shalloon and cloth now produced are the same I saw at the Police office, and I think they are part of the property stolen from Ultimo ; they appear to be part of the livery coats stolen ; when the coats were made, I observed one was made out of much lighter cloth, than the other, and I perceive the pieces of cloth now produced, do differ in colour. Cross-examined by Mr. Rowe- I am not a tailor; the shalloon was black, and the cloth was blue; the coats were belonging to the coachman ; I have seen them on the coachman a great many times; I have seen the shalloon in the inside of the coat; Usher, when he made the confession to me, told me he had no accomplice in the transaction. John O'Dowd, a conductor in the Sydney Police, sworn- I went to the house of Owen to search for some property that had been stolen from Mr. Manning; I found the property now produced in a loft, rolled up; Owen was not at home ; he had gone to market ; I went to the market to look for Owen, but he was gone away ; I did not see him till the next day. Cross-examined by Mr. Rowe – Owen did not run away ; he had full opportunity to do so if he had chosen ; Owen was not at home when the property was found in his house; any person might have placed the property where it was found as well as Owen ; there was a man in the house, and Owen's wife, either of ¡whom might have placed it there. Thomas Anderson, coachman to Mr. Manning, sworn- I accompanied the constables to the house of Owen, and there found the property now produced, consisting of pieces of blue cloth and black shalloon; it was just like the materials used in making the liveries of Mr Manning; I met Owen the next morning, and he told me before he was in custody he knew nothing of the robbery. Cross-examined by Mr. Rowe- I was not bred a tailor; I know a good coat from a bad one; it is a common thing for coachmen to have their coats lined with shalloon. Henry Stanton sworn -I was in the employ of Mr. Manning; some time ago I met the prisoner Owen and his wife on the road, they were quarrelling; I accompanied them to Mr. Manning's gate, when Owen struck his wife and knocked her down, she then said that Usher had stolen the properly from Mr. Manning and brought it to Owen's house, and if he, witness, did not inform Mr. Manning of it, she would come down in the morning and tell him herself; Usher told me he would pay my passage to the Derwent, as, if I were out of the way he had nothing to fear, and he might as well give me the money as pay it to counsel ; the harness now produced is the same I saw at Booth's on the day Owen was examined. Cross-examined by Mr. Rowe-I have lived with Mr. Manning 16 months; Booth told me he had purchased some harness which was found in his possession; I do not know how he (Usher) could be aware the harness was in Booth's possession ; I was at Moreton Bay 3 1/2 years ago; I was sent to this colony by the home government for 7 years, for a robbery committed in England. Mr. Hamilton of Pitt-street, deposed, that he lived with him in Captain Piper's service 6 years, and also to his general good character and conduct; John Edye Manning, Esq., Jun. was again put into the box, and distinctly swore to the collar as being his property. Verdict guilty against John Usher and Edward Owen, Sydney Gazette, 13 Jan 1835.
Warrants of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Indent No; 71 Offence; Larceny from shop
Irish Convict Database by Peter Mayberry. John Usher, age 20, per Medina (1) 1823, tried at Cork City, 1823, sentence 7 years. Native of Kerry, DOB, 1803. Trade – Carter. ------------------------------------------------- NSW 1828 census at Cooke, in household of farmer Jonathan Hassall and his family, resident at Mattavia. John Usher, age 25, G.S. per Medina 1823, sentence 7 years, employed as Labourer, Roman catholic. -------------------------------------------------- Colonial Secretary’s Index. USHER, John. Per "Medina", 1823 1824 Jan 6 On list of convicts landed from the "Medina" and forwarded to Minto for distribution (Reel 6012; 4/3510 p.132) -------------------------------------------------- Sydney Gazette, 11 May 1830. PUBLIC NOTICE. THE undermentioned Persons have obtained Certificates of Freedom during the last Week, viz:-- Medina, John Usher.