Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
John Williamson was transported on the Lady Kennaway, departing 27th Oct 1834 and arriving 13th Feb 1835 with 307 passengers.
The 'Lady Kennaway' was built in Calcutta in 1817. A large ship of 584 tons. Transported convicted prisoners to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) in 1834, via Cork, Ireland. Other voyages, to New South Wales, in 1836 and Van Diemen's Land in 1851. Image acknowledgement to Grosvenor Prints. Painted by J.W. Huggins.
Lady KennawayReferences
| Primary Source | http://members.pcug.org.au/~ppmay/cgi-bin/irish/irish.cgi?requestType=Search&ship=Lady+Kennaway+(1)+[1835] |
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Convict Notes
1840, 5 January: John Williamson arrived on Norfolk Island (see New South Wales, Australia, Convict Records, 1810-1891; Norfolk Island: Returns of Convicts to NSW, 1844-1845). 1844, 20 January: At Norfolk Island – John WILLIAMSON, per Lady Kenaway [sic], convicted in the Supreme Court, Sydney, on 11 November 1839, and sentenced to 15 years for entering a dwelling and putting in fear, is on a list of prisoners who are deemed “Invalids and Ineffective” and recommended for removal to Sydney. He is described as “aged 40, chronic disease of the stomach” (see New South Wales, Australia, Convict Records, 1810-1891; Norfolk Island: Returns of Convicts to NSW, 1844-1845). Note: He would have been 36/37yo.
1839, 13 September: He is listed as John Williamson, Lady Kenneway [sic] (Life) - [runaway from] Road Party No. 3 (see Sydney Monitor and Commercial Advertiser, p2). 1839, 12 November: From the Australasian Chronicle, p4: Michael Dacey, James Bryan, William Lingard, Robert Taylor, Samuel Faith and JOHN WILLIAMSON [my emphasis; all were convicts on the run] were indicted for breaking into the house of Henry Allen, at Port Macquarie, on the 19th of June last, and for striking and assaulting the said Henry Allen, and stealing from his house several articles. Bryan pleaded guilty – the rest not guilty. Henry Allen deposed that he resided at Port Macquarie; that he knew the whole six; they came to his house on the evening of the 30th June. Four of them came first, and were soon after joined by the other two. Lingard and Bryan came into the house; they then took hold of him, and said, “You are our prisoner.” Bryan had a stick in his hand, the other had a tomahawk. They then took a fowling-piece, pistol, flasks, rings, &c. and handed them out to the others. They came in shortly afterwards with a man named Barber, one of his servants, as prisoner; he could not say which of them brought him in. He then lifted up a poker to defend himself, but had to give in. He was afraid they would murder him. He called on Barber to assist him; he did not do so. The whole six then came in; they broke open chests and drawers, and took whatever they wanted. He thought they had robbed him of above £20. They took his pantaloons and boots off. They staid [sic] about four hours, made tea, and baked bread, which they partook of. They then tied Mr. Allen to the bed-post, telling him “it was his own fault, if he had not resisted they would not have used him so”; after which they left. The other witnesses corroborated Mr. Allen’s testimony. The Jury found them guilty. They were sentenced to be transported for 15 years to a penal settlement.
1835, 4 March: While the Lady Kennaway sailed to VDL, a group of military convicts on board was sent on to NSW. A total of 32 military convicts’ names appear on Peter Mayberry’s site “Irish convicts to NSW” as having been landed in NSW from Cork via Hobart Town in 1835, arriving on 4 March (see Sydney General Trade List, Sat 7 Mar 1835, p3). All bar three had been court martialled in Ireland, for offences ranging from mutiny to desertion, to stabbing a soldier and larceny from government stores. The others were tried in Corfu and Hobart (see http://members.pcug.org.au/~ppmay/cgi-bin/irish/irish.cgi?requestType=Search&ship=Lady+Kennaway+(1)+[1835]). John WILLIAMSON was listed as 26 on arrival in NSW. A labourer from Kinloch, Scotland, he was 5’9¾” tall with a freckled complexion, dark brown hair and grey eyes (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON18-1-10$init=CON18-1-10p142).
1833, 12 June: John Williamson, "deserter from the military", was sent from Cork City Jail to the Military Hospital (see Ireland, Prison Registers, 1790-1924; Cork City 1830-1834). 1834, 13 April: John WILLIAMSON was court martialled at Limerick, for mutiny, and sentenced to life. A soldier from Perthshire, Scotland, he was also a blacksmith’s labourer and farm labourer. He was born in 1809 and was single (see http://members.pcug.org.au/~ppmay/cgi-bin/irish/irish.cgi). 1834, 13 April: John Williamson was admitted to Cork City Jail – prisoner #444, 27 years, born 1807, military convict 69th Regiment; he was sent to the Convict Hulk on 16 April 1834 (see Ireland, Prison Registers, 1790-1924; Cork City 1819-1846).