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Bond of Friendship Margaret Duffey - Northumberland

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Margaret Duffey

Date of Trial: 24 July 1816

Where Tried: Berwick upon Tweed Borough Gaol Delivery

Crime: Coining

Sentence: Life

Est YOB: 1773

Stated Age on Arrival: 45

Native Place: Belfast

Occupation: Servant

Alias/AKA: Margaret Duffie, Mary Duffy

Marital Status (UK): Married – Bernard Duffy

Children on Board: 4

Surgeon’s Remarks: Insolent and indolently inclined

Assigned NSW or VDL NSW

Preamble

Margaret Duffey1 did not face her trial alone. She was one of a group of five prisoners who were tried together on

24 July 1816. The Berwick Advertiser published a detailed account of the trial.

BERWICK SESSIONS

At a General Gaol Delivery holden for this Borough, on Wednesday last, before the Rev. Joseph Barnes, Clerk,

Mayor, Christopher Cookson, Esq. Recorder, and William Grieve, Esq. John Clunie, Esq. David Stow, Esq. And

William Pattison, Esq. Six of his Majesty's Justices of Gaol Delivery for the said Borough, the following Prisoners

in the Gaol of this Borough, viz.:- James Moen, Mary Moen, Barnard Duffey, Margaret Duffy [sic], and Maria

Courtney, were severally indicted for High Treason, in feloniously and traitorously forging and counterfeiting one

piece of false feigned and counterfeit Money and Coin, to the likeness and similitude of the good legal and

current Money and Silver Coin of this Realm, called a Sixpence. To this indictment the Prisoners pleaded Not

Guilty.

Mr Losh then addressed the Jury on the part of the Crown. After commenting at some length on the importance,

in a Country of such vast commercial concerns as this, of preserving the Coin from adulteration, shewing the

propriety of vesting the power of issuing the Coin in the Crown, and the antiquity of the provisions of the law for

punishing offenders against this branch of the Royal prerogative, he proceeded to detail the material facts of the

case. The following witnesses were then examined :-

Wm. White, Plasterer.- On 8th Feb. last, about six in the evening, in consequence of some information he had

received that some persons suspected of coining, lodged in Mary Anderson's, in Walkergate Lane, he went in

company with Jos. Park into the yard in which the house is situated, and getting on an old wall, a short distance

from the window of the room upstairs, where prisoners lodged, he saw prisoners Margaret Duffey, Mary Moen,

and Maria Courtney, sitting around a table, upon which there was a candle, close to the window. Margaret Duffey

had her back to the window, and was clipping something with a pair of scissars [sic]. Mary Moen and Maria

Courtney, were also sitting. Barnard Duffey and James Moen standing behind them with their faces to the

window: Duffey holding a cup, Moen a gallipot - James Moen received from Maria Courtney pieces of metal,

apparently counterfeit coin, which he dipped into the cup and returned to her, and she rubbed them between her

finger and thumb; this was repeated frequently. Mary Moen was engaged in the same way, handing the pieces

to Maria Courtney, who handed them to J. Moen. Mary Moen and Maria Courtney examined some of the pieces,

and gave them again to Barnard Duffey, who put them in the cup and returned them again. Mary Moen and

Maria Courtney then went out; witness followed them. Saw Mary Moen go into the shop of Isabella Johnson, in

Castlegate; Maria Courtney remaining on the outside. Witness saw her give to Isabella Johnson in payment of

what she bought, two sixpences. On her coming out, witness went in and asked to see the sixpences; found

them counterfeits; marked them and returned them to Isabella Johnson. He then went back to the house, where

he found Mr Park at the door, who accompanied him to Castlegate, where they found and apprehended Mary

Moen and Maria Courtney, and took them to Isabella Johnson, who immediately identified Mary Moen as the

person who gave her the sixpences. They were afterwards committed. On searching them there were found


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upon them a quantity of bread, sugar, tea, and tobacco.

Joseph Park confirmed Wm. White's testimony so far as he was present. On White seeing prisoners engaged in

the room as before stated, witness went to the Mayor, and by his orders got Messrs Wilson, M'Gall, and Hope,

constables, and Messrs Alex. Thomson, Wm. Jameson, and Charles Ferguson, to accompany them to the house

where prisoners lodged. They all went up stairs but witness and Ferguson. Witness guarded the door. While

doing so a man came down stairs and wished to go out. Witness ordered him back. He went into the lower room.

Eliz. Simpson was then standing by, and said that he was the head of the gang. Eliz. Ormston was then standing

at the door of the lower room, where the man entered. Could not say that it was either of the male prisoners.

Shortly after White came for him. He left Ferguson to guard the door, and went with White to Castlegate, where

they proceeded as before detailed by him. All the persons who went up stairs were severally called to prove

what took place there. The facts stated by them were - that on going in the prisoners were standing, and

appeared somewhat confused; they were all delivered into the custody of Hope till their persons and the room

were searched. Here were found on Mary Duffey a pair of scissars, a small empty glass phial, a pocket-book

with a copper door-plate; and on James Moen a quantity of white powder which he said was starch. - A file, the

teeth of which were full of copper, was found on the mantle-piece. There were found in some straw in the room,

3 pieces of copper coloured to the resemblance of sixpences, 9 polished and ready for colouring, 3 cut and

rounded, and a cup containing the substance for colouring; another pair of scissars were found on the table, and

some clippings of copper on the floor - the edges of the scissars were tinged with copper.

The file, 2 pairs of scissars, phial, clippings and pieces of copper and colouring materials, were produced by

M'Gall, and identified.

Mary Anderson, widow, keeps a Lodging House in Walkergate Lane. Prisoners Barnard Duffey, Margaret Duffey,

and Maria Courtney, came to her house on Sunday 4th February, last, and asked for lodgings she let them two

beds in the upper room. On the day following James and Mary Moen, came, they were at first down stairs, they

asked whom witness had up stairs, she told them Barnard Duffey, and his family, they did not say that they knew

them nor when they afterwards went up stairs to sleep, did it appear so to witness who shewed them the room.

They remained in the room up stairs with Duffey, and his family till apprehended. The room contains four beds,

prisoners had three, the other bed was during several of the nights the prisoners were there occupied by some

other persons, but prisoners had always the room to themselves during the day, witness was not often up, when

there never saw any thing like a manufacture of counterfeit coin. Prisoners did not appear to follow any trade,

no person making combs or mending umbrellas lodged there at that time.

Thomas Hope, is a Parish Constable; part of his duty is to visit the lodging houses. On the day preceding, that

one on which prisoners were apprehended, on going in the evening to Mary Anderson's, he saw prisoner Barnard

Duffey, cutting with a pair of scissars a round piece of copper, about the size of a large sixpence out of a piece

of thin sheet copper, about half the size of his hand, he seemed much confused on observing witness, and

attempted to conceal from him what he was doing, by slipping the articles down by his side, on witness asking

what he was doing, he said he was doing nothing, witness said no more but left the room. He also gave evidence

as to the search of the house. Prisoners would not have been allowed so long in town, but for the severity of the

weather at the time.

Isabella Johnson, keeps a small grocer shop, in Castlegate. On 8th of February last, Prisoner, Mary Moen, came

into the witness' shop and asked for some tea, sugar, and bread, which witness sold her, prisoner gave her two

sixpences in payment, witness returned her the overplus in copper, shortly after Mary Moen went out, William

White, came in and asked to see the sixpences, witness shewed them, he said they were counterfeit, put a mark

on them, told her to take care of them and went away. He afterwards came back accompanied by Mr Park,

bringing with them Mary Moen, and Maria Courtney. Mary Moen admitted that she paid witness two sixpences

but questioned the two produced being the same. Messrs White, and Park, then took the prisoners away. She

is positive as to Mary Moen, being the person, and that the sixpences she now produces are those she got from

Mary Moen. On first receiving them she put them into a small cup in the counter drawer, in which there was then

only one sixpence which was uncommonly small, and from which she could easily distinguish them. On being

desired by White to take care of them, she wrapped them up, and has kept them so ever since.

William White on being again called, identified the sixpences produced as the same shewn him by Isabella

Johnson, on the 8th February.

Robert Lough, Tinsmith, Berwick. A few days before prisoners were apprehended, Mary Moen and Maria


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Courtney, came to witness’ shop, and asked for some sheet copper, which they said was for covering the backs

of combs, witness sold them some of about the thickness of a shilling, and received 7½d for it. They came back

the next day for more, but witness not having any but large sheets would not cut them for so small a quantity,

they did not say it was to mend umbrellas.

Elizabeth Simpson, washerwoman, lives in the front house, in Walkergate Lane, in the yard adjoining which Mary

Anderson's lodging house is situate, was at home on the 8th February last, when prisoners were apprehended,

was during the time in the yard standing near Mr Park, who guarded the door, saw prisoner Barnard Duffey,

come down stairs, Mr Park ordered him back, he went back into the house, but witness could not see where,

witness told Mr Park, he was the head of the gang.

Elizabeth Ormston, seaman’s wife; is a daughter of Mary Anderson, was in the house at the time of the search

on the 8th February, was during part of that time, standing at the door of the lower room, while there Barnard

Duffey, came down and wished to go out. Park ordered him back, he then went into the lower room, witness

heard him say “my God where shall I go,” she never saw him after. He could only get out by the window into the

back yard, from which he might escape either into Walkergate Lane, or the High Street.

Mr Caleb Edward Powell, from the office of the solicitors to the mint, has had very long experience in conducting

prosecutions of this description, and in the course of that time, has had opportunities of becoming acquainted

with the implements usually employed by persons in counterfeiting the coin. The implements and colouring

matter produced are complete for the purpose, he described the different stages of the pieces produced by Mr

M'Gall. The two sixpences produced by Isabella Johnson, witness thought might have imposed on very good

judges, and had they not been scratched by Mr White, might still do so.

Mr John Nichol, one of the Moneyers of the Mint, proved these sixpences to be counterfeited, and that they were

never issued by the Mint.

The evidence for the prosecution here closed, and the prisoners having no defence to make, the Learned

Recorder then proceeded to sum up and comment upon the Evidence, in an able, clear and perspicuous manner,

when the Jury retired for a few minutes, and returned with a Verdict of Guilty against all the Prisoners. Mr

Recorder then in a most impressive and affecting manner, pronounced Sentence of Death upon each of the

unhappy prisoners. A most heart-rending scene now took place, the mutual recriminations of the unhappy

culprits, and their frantic appeals for mercy, formed a spectacle much more easy to be conceived than described.

And it was not until a considerable degree of force was used by the proper Officers, that the unfortunate Convicts

could be removed from the Bar.

The Death Warrant for their Execution was then Signed and Sealed by the Magistrates there assembled, and

delivered over to the Coroner, ordaining him to carry the dreadful Sentence of the Law into Execution, on

Saturday the 24th of August next, should the Royal Mercy not intervene.

We are happy however to understand, that the Justices of Gaol Delivery with those feelings of humanity for

which our Worshipful Bench of Magistrates have been so long distinguished, and “which becomes even a

throned Monarch better than his Crown,” have represented the case of the unhappy Convicts to his Royal

Highness the Prince Regent, and have recommended the Prisoners to the Royal Mercy.

This Trial which was conducted with much solemnity, occupied the attention of a very crowded Court for nearly

seven hours, and appeared to make a most serious impression upon all who were present.2

At the conclusion of the July sessions a report on what was to become known as ‘the Sixpence Trial’, was prepared

by James Barnes, Mayor of Berwick, Christopher Cookson, Recorder of Berwick, and the sessions’ judges and

submitted to the Home Office. The report concluded with the justices’ recommendation referred to above.

The justices do not think good government of the Borough requires the infliction of the punishment of death being

carried into effect. Initial sentence: death. Recommendation: mercy.3

On 5 August 1816 Lord Sidmouth issued a memorandum from Whitehall to the Major of Berwick upon Tweed, the

Coroner and others whom it may concern, directing that

… the Execution of the Sentence of Death passed upon James Moen, Mary Moen, Barnard Duffey, Margaret

Duffey, and Maria Courtney, now in the Gaol at Berwick upon Tweed, be Respited until further signification of

his Royal Highness’s Pleasure.


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P.S. you will acknowledge the receipt hereof by return of Post.4

The memorandum was followed by another, addressed to ‘Our Trusty and Welbeloved, the Mayor, Recorder and

Justices’ etc. which conveyed the news the prisoners were hoping for.

Whereas James Moen, Mary Moen, Barnard Duffey, Margaret Duffey, and Maria Courtney were at a Court of

General Gaol Delivery holden at the Tolbooth of the Borough of Berwick upon Tweed in and for the said Borough

on Wednesday the 24th day of July last, tried and convicted of having feloniously and traitorously forged,

counterfeited and coined one piece of false feigned and counterfeit money and coin to the likeness and similitude

of the good, legal and current money of silver coin of this Realm called Sixpence and had Sentence of Death

passed upon them for the same. We in consideration of some favourable circumstances humbly represented

unto us on their behalf are graciously pleased to Extend Our Grace and Mercy unto them and to Grant them Our

Pardon for their said crime on Condition of their being transported to the Coast of New South Wales, or some

one or other of the Islands adjacent for and during the Term of their respective natural lives. Our Will and

Pleasure therefore is that you do give the necessary Directions accordingly and that they be inserted for their

said Crime on the said Condition in the first and next General Pardon that shall come out for the Northern Circuit

– And for so doing this shall be your Warrant Given at Our Court at Carlton House the 16th day of August 1816

in the 56th Year of Our Reign.5

Extract - Plan of Berwick upon Tweed highlighting Walkergate Lane/High Street/ Castlegate and Tolbooth [12]6

The coiners, and particularly the men of the group, could consider themselves lucky. In this case public (and

judicial) sentiment reflected a more lenient attitude, but coining was still on the statute books as a treasonable

offence. But clearly they had been prepared to take the risk and, indeed, if the weather had been more favourable,

they would have quickly moved on, hopefully before their fraudulent dealings were discovered. Theirs’ was a

typical cottage industry set up, different members of the group being responsible for the various stages involved

in creating and then distributing the fake currency. And if Mr Powell, Solicitor to the Mint, is to be believed, to the

untrained eye the fake coins were not easy to detect. This group of coiners also fitted the profile identified by one

commentator who holds that

The Irish network was quite skilful in how they made profit and got rid of their counterfeit goods.7

But once tried and convicted, the women were returned to the Berwick Gaol and the men sent to the hulks. It

would be some time before they all met up again.


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Margaret Duffey (formerly Courtney), born at Belfast, Co Antrim, Ireland, was stated to be 45 (est yob 1773), and

able to offer services as a servant, when she arrived at Port Jackson on 14 January 1818 after the long and

troubled voyage on the convict transport Friendship, during which she had, according to Surgeon Superintendent

Peter Cosgreave, been conspicuously insolent and indolent.8 Also on board with her were, and classed as free

passengers, were four of her children – Ann, Rosanna, Bernard and Catherine. Daughter, Maria Courtney, a

convict in her own right, made up the Duffey family group. Another member of the family who had been arrested

and charged with the crime of coining was John Duffey. However, the charge against him was dropped – ‘not

found’ – and he did not accompany the other family members to New South Wales.9

The indent noted that she was ‘Margaret ux Duffy’, the ‘ux’ being Barnard Duffey who was already in the colony,

and the person with whom Margaret and her children were hoping to be reunited.10 It will be recalled that when

the coining ‘factory’ was raided Barnard made a run for it, escaping through a window into the back yard. He

headed off south in the direction of Hexham where he was apprehended and placed in the House of Correction,

charged with having assaulted a poor woman who had been his travelling companion. When he was identified as

one of the Berwick-upon-Tweed coining gang he was extradited to Berwick and committed there for trial.11

Following the trial, 50 year old Barnard Duffey together with James Moen, was removed from Berwick and taken

onto the hulk Justitia on 10 October 1816. Their offence was recorded in the hulk register as ‘High Treason’. Four

months later they were taken from the hulk and delivered to the convict transport Shipley which departed England

on 18 December 1816 carrying 125 convicts. A relatively speedy passage found the vessel at Port Jackson on 24

April 1817.12 The last entry of the Surgeon Superintendent’s journal was made on 2 May 1817.

This day the whole number of Soldiers, Passengers and Convicts embarked together with three children of

soldiers born during the passage were landed in good health.13

Thus, having been mustered and disembarked, the Shipley’s convict contingent was dispersed to their various

places of assignment. Of the 125 convicts landed, and as listed in a directive from the Colonial Secretary to the

district magistrates, 27 were to be sent to Parramatta, 30 to Windsor, and 11 to Liverpool. Barnard was one of

those sent to Windsor.14 According to the indent, on arrival Barnard was 45 years old, a flax dresser by trade, 5’

6¾” tall, with a fair ruddy complexion, grey hair, and grey eyes.15

An 1819 convict listing records Mary (Margaret) as having 4 children, a husband, and another convict daughter,

and being off the Stores and Single. 1820 and 1821 find her in the Government Factory. The 1822 muster is

decidedly confusing but does show that husband and wife were living at Windsor and that Barnard had been

assigned as a government servant to his wife Mary who is classified as CF – came free!16 Any hope that the Duffey

family might settle down and make the best of their new start in life was dashed by the following news item of 9

October 1823.17

The last matter dealt with at the sessions was to pass sentence on the thirty-four prisoners who had been

convicted and remanded. Twenty-one of them were sentenced to death, including Barnard Duffy.18 A flurry of

correspondence to and from the Colonial Secretary’s office ensued.


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On 30 October the Colonial Secretary wrote to John Thomas Campbell, Provost Marshall of The Territory.

Sir

Herewith I have the Melancholy Honor of enclosing warrants for the execution of the three unhappy Criminals

named on the Margin.19

One of those named was Barnard Duffey. The following day Barnard presented a petition to ‘His Excellency Sir

Thomas Brisbane Captain General and Commander in Chief’.

The Humble Petition of Bernard Duffy a Prisoner under the Sentence of Death in H.M. Gaol of Sydney

Most Humbly Sheweth

That your Humble Petitioner was convicted at the last Sessions held at Sydney for having an Improper

Connection with the Persons who perpetrated the Robbery of Mr. Edward Smithall [sic] and received Sentence

of Death.

That your Petitioner arrived in this Colony by Shipley 1st in 1817 and trusts that his uniform behaviour [from?]

which to that period has been such as will be an inducement to your Excellency to take his Request into your

most [Serious?] Consideration.

That your Petitioner solemnly assures your Excellency that it is his first offence since his arrival in this Colony

and humbly implores your Excellency to use your Powerful Influence at the Throne of Mercy in his Behalf.

That your Petitioner has a Wife and five children whose sole Depend in him and on that account trust your

Excellency will consider with that Delicacy which is the concomitant of a feeling mind and alleviate in some

Degree the Sorrow of a Family which his imprudence has [hurried?] down, without your Excellency’s

Interposition, the [Gulf?] of Irretrievable Misery.

That should your Excellency think your Humble Petitioner worthy a Reprief [sic] of his Fatal Sentence trusts that

by Persevering attention to the duties of Virtue and Religion your Excellency shall never have cause to regret

complying with this appeal to your Excellency’s Generosity.

Appended to the petition was a supporting document signed, surprisingly perhaps, by the victim of the burglary –

Edward Smith Hall, Esq.20 His recommendation for mercy for Duffy was based on the fact that no weapons or fire-

arms were used in the burglary, and that evidence in court indicated that no resistance or violence had been

intended. Underneath the signature ‘E.S. Hall, Prosecutor’ was the following note signed by John Joseph Therry.21

Having had frequent communications with and been present at the trial of the Prisoner Duffy, I am enabled to

certify that Mr. Smith Hall’s statement is perfectly correct & therefore presume to hope that his recommendation

may be graciously received by a Humane & Merciful Governor.22

Notwithstanding the petition and the intercession by the two colonial notables, Judge Advocate John Wylde was

not swayed. On 6 November 1823, at 2 o’clock, he dashed off a note conveying his opinion to the Colonial

Secretary.

Sir

In acknowledging, almost at the moment of receipt, your letter of this day’s date, covering memorials in favour

of two Criminals ordered for execution tomorrow [Bernard Duffy and George Wilson], I hasten in duty to suggest,

that on the perusal no new Circumstances or Trait whatever, as I am aware of, appears developed in them,

which was not fully known and had [heard?] in Judgment, before the warrants of Execution were ordered to be

made out:- I find myself therefore most painfully, as totally unable to submit any single new additional

Observation or in any way further to assist upon Cases, on which indeed the most fit scrupulous Investigation

and the most mature consideration on the part of His Excellency the Governor, seemed to me to have been

previously and most anxiously bestowed.23

However, and fortunately for the condemned, other decision-makers were persuaded towards a more merciful

outcome. On 10 November the Colonial Secretary responded to the Judge Advocate’s ‘hand-washing’ ruling.

Sir

I have been directed by the Governor to have the honor of acknowledging his receipt of your letter of the 6th Inst,


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leaving to the discretion of his High Privilege the withholding the Execution of the Criminals Henry Wilson &

Duffy:- in consequence of which His Excellency’s pleasure has been expressed to me to insert their names in a

Warrant commuting to hard labour for Life in double Irons at Port Macquarie their Capital Sentences.24

Barnard Duffy was one of the 33 prisoners on the schedule drawn up by Jailor, John Redman, for the information

of Captain Allman, Commandant at Port Macquarie. They were due to be transported on the government cutter

Sally, leaving Sydney on 26 November. However, the Sally was requisitioned for another task, and the prisoners

were subsequently forwarded to Port Macquarie on 17 December on the brig Lady Nelson.25

So by the end of 1823 Barnard was on his way to Port Macquarie, but where did that leave his wife and children?

By this time the older daughters Margaret and Ann were married women, and Rosanna had acquired a partner.

Therefore, still in the care of their mother were the younger two children, Catherine and Bernard Jnr. On 9 January

1824 Robert Crawford of the Colonial Secretary’s Office sent a brief memorandum to John Nicholson, Master

Attendant, Port Jackson.

Sir

I have to request that Mary Duffey and her two children Catherine and Bernard may be allowed to proceed to

Port Macquarie by the first convenient opportunity.

Three days later the Colonial Secretary wrote to Captain Allman at Port Macquarie advising him that the

government cutter Sally is being dispatched to Port Macquarie with a contingent of male prisoners. He also notified

the Commandant that –

Sir

Mary Duffey with her two children have permission to proceed by this opportunity to join her husband, Bernard

Duffey.26

The 1825 general muster finds three of the Duffy family together. But son Bernard has not been found.27

Coincidentally, Rosanna Duffey’s partner Edward Mackin was also at Port Macquarie, having arrived there in

October 1823 to serve the same sentence as Bernard Duffey – death commuted to life, working in double irons.

It is possible that Rosanna was also at Port Macquarie in 1825 (see section on Rosanna below). Only Barnard

Snr has been found in the 1828 census, serving a respite sentence at Port Macquarie. However we know that his

wife and youngest daughter were also still at the penal settlement. It was at Port Macquarie that Catherine met

William Rolfe, another convict who had reoffended and who had been sent to Port Macquarie to work off a 7-year

sentence, and they were married there in 1831.

Meanwhile, the expansion of free settlement into the Port Macquarie district forced the hand of the colonial

authorities to consider other options, appropriately remote and forbidding, for accommodating prisoners. Captain

Smyth, then Commandant at Port Macquarie, received a letter dated 23 July 1830 from the Colonial Secretary.

Sir

With reference to the Correspondence which has already taken place respecting the throwing open of Port

Macquarie I now do myself the honor to inform you that the Lucy Anne, by which Vessel this Letter is to be

conveyed, proceeds for the purpose of removing such Prisoners as are intended for Norfolk Island. The Master

has been apprised of the Private Signal proposed in your Letter of 6th May last and it is hoped that the whole

arrangements may be carried into effect without confusion or difficulty.

You will be pleased therefore to forward by the Lucy Anne the whole of the Capital Respites … If any of them

have Wives or Children at Port Macquarie they are to be allowed to embark with them .28


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So, by the end of July 1830, Barnard Duffey (and Edward Macken) was no longer at Port Macquarie. At about the

same time concern about Margaret Duffey’s state of health was the subject of correspondence between the offices

of the Colonial Secretary and the Port Macquarie Commandant. Aged 64, but looking much older, she was

apparently very infirm and rather than choosing to yet again follow her husband, Margaret sought to stay at Port

Macquarie with her daughter Catherine and wished to be issued with a Ticket of Exemption.29 Her wish was

granted – in December 1830 she was granted permission to live with her daughter at Port Macquarie. An updated

Ticket was issued in January 1832 with the endorsement ‘District - Sydney with her daughter Catherine at No 92

Kent Street’.30

It is interesting to note that Margaret Duffey is another example of ‘fluid’ ages. On arrival her age was recorded

as 45, giving an estimated year of birth of 1773. In 1830 she was described as being aged 64, which suggests an

estimated year of birth of 1766. Both Tickets of Exemption, and a Ticket of Leave issued in September 1833

(33/571), state that Margaret’s year of birth was 1767 – which is most likely closer to the truth.31

Tickets of Exemption from Government Labor and Ticket of Leave issued to Margaret Duffy

A further record suggests that Margaret Duffey was born about 1767 and that she was 74 when she died in 1841.32

The NSW BDM lists two Mary Duffy deaths registered in 1841. One does not specify an age; the other gives the

age at death as 87.33 Another source gives 16 November 1841 as the date of Margaret Duffy’s death.34

Meanwhile, how had Barnard Duffey fared? The following item appeared in the Shipping Intelligence column of

The Sydney Herald of 19 July 1832.35


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One of the male prisoners was Barnard Duffey and on his return to Sydney he was ordered to the Hyde Park

Barracks.36 In 1833 Barnard at last received some good news – he was granted a pardon for his colonial offence.37

Barnard was now able to enjoy some time with his family – perhaps joining his wife and family members at

Clarence Street? If so, the reunion was a brief interlude in the incorrigible career of this husband and father. By

early 1836 Barnard was in trouble once more. On 29 February he had been detained in the Sydney Gaol on some

unspecified charge for which he was sentenced to 6 months with the Iron Gang and confined to Carters Barracks.38

While he was held in the Sydney Gaol his description was recorded for the criminal files. He was a stoutly-built

man, standing at 5’ 6½”, with a sallow complexion, grey hair, blue eyes, and stated to be 78 years old.39 However,

according to his death, registered in the name of Bernard Duffy, he was 84 when he died and was buried on 14

March 1838.40

As for his wife, there are problems in establishing Barnard’s year of birth. When he was doing time in 1816 on the

Justitia his age was recorded as 50 or perhaps 58 [ ] (est yob 1766 or 1858). He was younger – aged 45 - on

arrival in Sydney in 1817 (est yob 1772). In gaol in 1836 he was stated to be 78 (est yob 1758) and at death 84

(est yob 1854).

Margaret Duffey was one of the few Friendship women who were permitted or chose to be accompanied by

members of their family. I wonder if such an indulgence would have been granted if she had not had a husband

already in the colony. And it was this husband who was primarily to blame for disrupting whatever plans and hopes

Margaret might have harboured for the family’s future in its new surroundings. Within a short time of arriving


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Margaret saw her older daughters find partners/husbands. She was particularly close to her youngest daughter,

Catherine, a special bond perhaps forged through their time together at Port Macquarie, and it was in Sydney with

Catherine that Margaret spent her final years. Margaret acquired a number of grandchildren but, apart from

Catherine’s children, distance and failing health might have precluded Margaret from getting to know them. On

the other hand, through family history, the Duffey descendants no doubt got to know much about their

grandparents.

Ann Duffey

As Ann Courtney, this young woman had been one of the Duffy clan who had been arrested and charged with the

treasonable crime of coining, but in her case the verdict was ‘not found’ and she came to the colony as a free

woman. Just over a year after her arrival in Sydney Ann, together with Charles Evans, sought permission from

the Governor, through William Cowper, Assistant Chaplain, for permission to marry. Advice that the application

was successful was sent from the Colonial Secretary’s Office by ‘return post’ on 1 March 1819.41

On 22 March Charles Evans, aged 23, a bachelor then of Sydney and a carpenter by trade, married Ann Duffey

a 22 year old spinster. The marriage was registered at St. Philips Church of England and witnessed by the bride’s

sister and brother in law – Mary [Margaret Courtney] and Dennis Hammill. The groom was the only member of

the wedding party who was able to sign his name in the register.42

At the August 1817 Warwick Assizes sentence of death was passed on brothers ‘West Evans and Charles Evans,

for burglary in the dwelling house of John Thompson, of Warwick’.43 Fortunately for them their sentences were

commuted to transportation for life and they were sent to the hulk Justitia to await allocation to a convict transport.44

On 21 November the brothers were transferred to the transport Neptune which departed the Downs on 20

December 1817 and arrived at Port Jackson on 5 May 1818.45 The indent describes Charles as a 20 year old

carpenter and joiner, 5’ 8¾” tall, with a fair ruddy complexion, dark brown hair and hazel eyes.46 His skills were in

demand and on arrival he was consigned to government employment in the lumber yard.47

In March 1823 Ann Evans sent a petition to the Colonial Secretary seeking to have her husband taken off stores

and assigned to her.

The humble Petition of Ann Evans a Free Woman

Most respectfully states,

That you Petitioner’s Husband Charles Evans arrived in the Colony Per Ship Neptune (1) under sentence of

transportation for Life, and has remained in Government Employ ever since his arrival and now working in the

Carpenters Shop at H.M. Lumber Yard.

That your Petitioner having one child to support, most respectfully beg the usual indulgence of taking her

Husband off the Stores.

Your Petitioner most humbly prays that you will take into your humane consideration the length of time her

husband has remained in Government Employ, together with the customary indulgence which Wifes [sic] have

(from the regulations of the Colony) of obtaining their Husbands off the Stores and be pleased to allow her the

benefit of such indulgence, and for such mark of your kindness Your Petitioner will ever be bound.48

Processing of this petition was stalled while the colonial officials checked on Ann Evans’ status. The following is

extracted from advice conveyed to Colonial Secretary.

But with respect to Ann Evans formerly Ann Duffy, and who was married in this country to Charles Evans, it


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appears that she came with her Mother Mary Duffy, in the Ship Friendship, but whether free or not I cannot say

from the following ambiguous remark in the copy of that Ship’s Muster, now in the Superintendents’ Office here,

viz “Mary Duffy her Four Children on board besides a Daughter a convict” and does not name either [sic] of the

children.49

Of course, had the authorities taken the trouble to check their records (assuming there was some at least

rudimentary filing system) they would have found the answer in the Evans/Duffey marriage application. Ann,

emphasising the fact that she was a free woman, sent a further petition dated 18 May 1824.

The humble Memorial of Anne Evans Free

Most Respectfully Sheweth,

That your Memorialist’s husband Charles Evans is at present in Government Employ and works in H.M. Lumber

Yard.

That your Memorialist has a helpless family on her hands and wholly dependent on the exertions of her husband

for the support of herself and Family Humbly prays Your Honor will take Memorialist’s Case into your humane

Consideration and be pleased in your goodness to acquiesce to the Favor she solicits to being permitted to have

the services of her husband for the support of herself and infant Family.50

In support of her petition Ann included a number of testimonials from leading men of the colony. For instance, her

employer, John Redman, had found her to be faithful and honest. Another attested to Charles Evans’ satisfactory

conduct. The petition was referred to Acting Chief Engineer Major Ovens, who supervised the convict gangs, for

his consideration. Ann, and Charles, would have been disappointed with the decision. Charles’ skills were so

much in demand that he could not be released from his work at the Lumber Yard. However, as a concession,

Charles was granted ‘the privilege of sleeping out of Barracks’.51

At least three children were born to Ann and Charles Evans. The child referred to in the first memorial was in fact

their second child, George. Their first child, Ann had been born on 4 May 1821 but only survived for eleven weeks.

She died on 20 July 1821 and was buried two days later, the burial registered at St. Philips, Sydney.52 George

was born on Boxing Day 1822 and baptised on 26 January 1823. William Evans was born on 14 October 1824

and baptised on 16 January 1825.53

The 1825 general muster has an entry for an Ann Duffy who arrived free on the Friendship but who is listed as

the wife of John Duffy, living in Sydney – possibly a clerical error. For the same muster Charles Evans is still

employed as a government employee. The two Evans sons have not been located.54 It is as Anne Duffy that wife

and mother is included in the 1828 census, in the household of John Spinks at Wallis Plains (where her sister

Rosanna and brother-in-law were also living). There is no sign of Charles Evans. Two young native-born boys –

George Evans, 6, and William Evans, 4, were lodging with a William French in Castlereagh-street, Sydney.55

As early as May 1820 Charles had his first documented run-in with the colonial authorities. The nature of his

offence was not stated but the Gaol records show that it merited 50 lashes and confinement to barracks.56 The

crime, for which on 6 February 1827 he was sentenced to three months with the Iron Gang, was ‘Suspicion of

escaping the Colony’.57 If this was so, did he intend to take his wife and two children with him? Could Charles

have been the Charles Evans, Carpenter, who, in November 1827 took on Charles Evans, Shingler, in what The

Monitor described as a ‘Pugilistic Contest’ between ‘these two brothers in name and cousins in profession’.58

We can place the Evans family at Parramatta in 1832 because on 7 April Charles Evans was granted a Ticket of

Exemption from Government Labor. This Ticket (unlike a Ticket of Leave) did not allow a convict to be self-

employed or to own property. Rather, it was used as a form of assignment, the holder being required to reside

with the person and in the district specified on the Ticket. In Charles Evans’ case this meant living at Parramatta

with his wife and two children. As noted on the Ticket, it was torn up when Charles was granted a Ticket of Leave

in September 1833.59 Initially he was restricted to the Parramatta District, but subsequently, as indicated by the

notation in the margin, this was altered to Goulburn.60


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In February 1838 Charles again spent a short time in the Sydney Gaol, sent there by the Parramatta Police Office,

to await trial on a charge of having received an ox stolen by one Robert Henshaw. Henshaw was sentenced to

be transported for life; Charles was acquitted but was remanded on other [not specified] charges.61

It was at Goulburn that Charles Evans died suddenly and unexpectedly on 11 January 1841.62 The inquest into

the circumstances of his death found that he had died accidently by drowning.63 His widow Ann survived him by

just short of twenty years. How and where she lived during this time is uncertain but she died, an inmate at the

Benevolent Asylum, on October 4 1860. She was buried two days later at the Camperdown Cemetery, Newtown.64

Son George Evans predeceased his mother by nine months. He died at Goulburn at the young age of 37 on 28

January 1860.65

William Evans, otherwise known as William Arthur Evans, also spent his life at Goulburn. It was there that he

married Mary Clark in 1851 and where they raised their family.66 Mary Evans died in February 1873. William died

at his residence in Faithfull-street on 2 January 1890.67


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Rosanna Duffey

Rosanna was born about 1804 in Ireland and would have been about 14 when she arrived at Port Jackson in

January 1818. It is not until the 1825 general muster that we have a definite ‘sighting’ for Rosanna – she is listed

as ‘Wife of Ed Mackin, Richmond’.68

Edward Macken – another Irishman - had arrived in the colony in February 1813 on the Archduke Charles one of

the last convict ships to carry both male and female prisoners. He had been tried and found guilty at Co Down

and sentenced to 7 years’ transportation.69 In 1814 he was mustered at Windsor, assigned to a Mr. G.T. Palmer.

Also mustered at Windsor in 1814 was Eleanor Matthews, another convict who had arrived by the Archduke

Charles and who was described as ‘Wife to Edward Macken’, her status also for the 1816 Settler and Convict

List.70 It would be interesting to know if Edward and Eleanor were acquainted, perhaps partners in crime, before

they embarked on the Archduke Charles. Edward Macken’s name was included in a list of persons to receive

grants of land in 1818. On the recommendation of the Rev. Marsden, Edward was given a grant of 30 acres.71

By the time the 1822 muster was held Edward was a free man and a landholder at Windsor. His partner, under

the name Eleanor Matthewson had also gained her freedom and was recorded as still living with Edward.72

Edward and Eleanor had apparently gone their separate ways by the 1825 muster which finds Elenor Matthewson

[sic] living with William Elliot at Bringelly and Edward McKin [sic], apparently a free man (and by 1825 he would

have completed his original sentence of 7 years), residing at Port Macquarie.73

But, referring back to the 1825 record for Rosanna, if she was ‘the wife of Edward Macken’, why were they not

recorded as living together? In fact, Rosanna Duffy and Edward Macken had become very well acquainted by at

least mid-1823, resulting in the birth of daughter Mary at Hawkesbury on 6 February 1824. According to the

following record, Rosanna Duffy was living at Port Macquarie when the child was baptised in June 1825.74


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1824 had been an eventful year for Rosanna and, more particularly, for Edward. On 25 August, and listed as

Machin, Edward had been sentenced to death at the Supreme Court of New South Wales for cattle-stealing.75

Notwithstanding this sentence and no doubt keen to see the couple regularise their relationship as man and wife,

and as parents of a daughter, John Joseph Therry included the names of Edward Macken, convict per ship

Archduke Charles, and Rosanna Duffy, free, in a ‘List of persons praying the permission of his Excellency the

Governor to be united in marriage according to the rites and ceremonies of the Roman Catholic Church’ for which

the Governor’s approval was forthcoming on 4 October.76 But it is not clear that the wedding actually occurred. On

28 October the Sydney Gazette reported that Edward, and a number of other unfortunate men who had been

capitally convicted, were to have their sentences commuted to transportation for life. It was, as the newspaper

commented, a win-win solution for the convicted men and the colony.

These unfortunate creatures have thus [been] afforded another opportunity of even becoming useful in that

station of society to which crime had reduced them; but let that be as it will, time is thus beneficently granted,

and perhaps unexpectedly, “to work out their salvation with fear and trembling;” whereas, had the sentence of

the law been carried into execution, exiled society would have been deprived of their future exertions, and they

might have died in their sins! We esteem our Government best.77

Edward was also one of the ‘unfortunate’ but now reprieved men temporarily held at the Sydney Gaol who, on 25

October, petitioned that they be sent ‘to His Majesty’s penal Settlement on the north west Coast of this Colony,

Called Cape Moreton Bay’. However, this request was denied and on 28 October Edward found himself on board

the colonial cutter Sally bound for Port Macquarie.78

The 1828 census reveals yet more complications in the lives of Rosanna Duffey and Edward, whose surname for

this census was recorded as McKen. He was simply recorded as ‘Respite, Port Macqe’. Rosanna, under the name

Rose McGennis was found in the household of John Spinks, a currier, at Wallis Plains [now East Maitland].

Furthermore, she was listed with a two-year old Margaret McGennis, which begs the as yet unanswered question

as to where was daughter Mary, born in 1824? 79

It was as Margaret Magenniss that the birth of this little girl, born in December 1826, was registered in 1827, the

parents being recorded as Richard Magenniss and Rosanna who had married the previous August.80

So, whatever the nature of the relationship between Rosanna and Edward, by 1823-24 they had parted ways. In

1830 Edward Macken was one of the respites who were shipped out to Norfolk Island as Port Macquarie wound

down its operations as a penal settlement, and in November 1839 he was one of the seventy commuted prisoners

brought to Sydney on the Governor Phillip and placed in the Sydney Gaol while his future was determined. He

may have served out the balance of his conviction term Cockatoo Island. He may also have been the Edward

Macken charged at Parramatta in 1845 with cattle stealing. According to one source Edward died at Liverpool on

13 February 1866 and he may be the subject of a NSW BDM registration for an Edward Makin who died at the

age of 99.81


- 15 -

Having ‘dispatched’ Edward, we can now return to the complicated life of Rosanna Duffey aka Rose McGennis.

Rose and her daughter were just two of the people included in the 1828 Spink family household at Wallis Plains.

One of these was Rose’s sister, 30 year old Ann Duffey; another was Thomas Doyle, aged 29, who had arrived

on the Guildford in 1818, but who was now free by servitude. But no census record has been found for Richard,

the father of Margaret and the husband of Rose. The reason for this is possibly revealed by a further baptism

record for baby Margaret. Was the Thomas Doyle of the Spink household actually Richard Magennis?82

Three more children were probably born to Richard and Rosanna – John in 1828; Catherine in 1831; and Richard

in 1834.83 Interestingly, Richard and Rosanna renewed their vows at a Roman Catholic ceremony in St. Mary’s

Cathedral, Sydney, in 1832. Richard died on 4 November 1836 and was one of the first people to be buried in the

Glebe Cemetery, East Maitland.84

Following Richard’s death Rosanna formed a relationship with a William Norton whom she married in 1837, and

by whom she had two children – Robert in 1836, and Ellen in 1838, their births registered at West Maitland.85

William, a waterman by calling, had been tried at London in May 1830 and found guilty of burglary and sentenced

to transportation for life. He arrived on the York. He obtained his conditional pardon in August 1852, and probably

left for the gold fields immediately after. He died at Sofala in 1854.86 The Skinner Family tree ascribes a boy Daniel

Rylands, son of John and Rose, born at Macdonald River in 1842, as being a son of Rosanna, though, I have not

found anything to verify this birth, or any marriage between Rosanna and John Rylands.87 However, in 1854

Rosanna Norton married a man named John Smith at Maitland who may have been the subject of an inquest

(natural causes) and burial, aged 64, on 24 July 1857 at Campbells Hill Cemetery, Maitland.88 It was as Rose H

Smith that Rosanna’s death was registered at East Maitland in 1877, and Rose Hannah Smith that she was

recorded as having been buried at Campbells Hill Cemetery.89

A headstone has been erected in her honour, the inscription more correctly records her age at death, but the date

year of death does not tally with the death registration.90

In

Affectionate Remembrance

of

ROSANNA SMITH

Who departed this life

June 27th 1876

Aged 73 years

Also commemorated is John James Shaw Quinlan, a great grandson of Rosanna, who died aged 5 months on 22

May 1883.91


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Headstone – Rosanna Smith & great-grandson

Mary Ann Makin

It was as Mary A Macken that the first child of Rosanna Duffey married in 1842, the groom being Lewis Jones,

and the marriage being registered in the ‘Black Creek; Bulwarra; Cloden; East Maitland; Hinton; Hunter District;

Maitland; Morpeth; West Maitland’ district.92

Between 1843 and 1863 ten children were born to Lewis and Mary Ann – Edward, 1843; John, 1845; Thomas,

1847; Lewis, 1849; Turon, 1851; William, 1854; Mary Ann Catherine, 1856; Rosanna J, 1859; Harriet M, 1861,

Emily F, 1863. A son was still born 1866.93

On 11 May 1835 Londoner Lewis Jones, aged 19 and a black lead pencil maker by trade, had been tried at the

Old Bailey for picking pockets, found guilty and sentenced to seven years’ transportation. He arrived in the colony

in 1836 on the Recovery. He was granted his certificate of freedom in 1842. Along with so many others, Lewis

Jones tried his hand at gold digging and, unlike so many, was relatively successful. His son born in 1851 was

given the name Turon after the place where his father had found a particularly rich deposit of gold. Lewis

subsequently reinvented himself as a publican, being granted the license of the “Rose and Crown” in Maitland in

1853 and thereafter the “Prince of Wales” at Newcastle in 1858.94

It was at the “Prince of Wales” that Lewis Jones died on 2 June 1870. The Newcastle Chronicle of 7 June reported

on his funeral.95


- 17 -

He had drawn up his will in February 1870. The picker of pockets had done rather well for himself, leaving an

estate valued at £900.96 His widow survived him by nine years. According to the informant, Turon Jones, his

mother Mary Ann had been unwell for some time before she died at the age of 56 on 14 June 1879 at East Street,

Sydney. Three of her sons and one daughter had predeceased her.97 Her funeral was held on 16 June and she

was buried at Rookwood, Section C, Row 28.98

Whose headstone was it which, referring to Mary Ann Jones, included in the inscription ‘mother of above, 56yrs

6 mths’? Could it have been the grave of daughter Rosanna J Jones, who died on 5 December 1918 at the age

of 59.99

Bernard Duffey

Bernard Jnr, born about 1806 in Ireland, was the only son to accompany his mother and sisters on board the

convict transport Friendship. As a 16 year old youth he was living in Sydney with his married sister Ann Evans for

the 1822 general muster.100

In January 1824 permission was granted for him and his sister Catherine to accompany their mother to Port

Macquarie where father Barnard was serving a colonial sentence.101 Nothing further has been found for this

member of the Duffey family.

Catherine Duffey

Catherine was the youngest of the four children who accompanied their mother to New South Wales. She was

also probably the only English-born Duffey child, having been born on 28 August 1811, to parents recorded as

Berndi Duffy and Mariae, and baptised later that year on 4 November at St. Andrew’s Church, Newcastle-Upon-

Tyne.102 Founded in 1798 in a poor area of the city, St. Andrew’s ministered to the Catholic community which from

the late 1700s had expanded rapidly, mainly through Irish immigration.103

Catherine celebrated her sixth birthday on board the convict vessel Friendship. She seems to have been fortunate

not to have been separated from her mother during her childhood years, listed as one of the unnamed Duffey

children at Windsor for the 1822 muster, and permitted to accompany her mother and brother Bernard to Port

Macquarie in January 1824 where her father was serving a colonial sentence. For the 1828 census Catherine is

listed at Port Macquarie as the 15 year old daughter of Barnard Duffy.104 It was at Port Macquarie, at the age of


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18, that Catherine married. With the consent of her parents, and witnessed by Middleton and Jane Knights, she

and William Rolfe were married on 31 January 1831 at the Church of England St Thomas Church by Rev. John

Cross. William, a free 31 year old bachelor, was the only member of the wedding party who could sign his name.105

While William Rolfe was stated to be free man by the time of his wedding, his life prior to this had been a bit topsy-

turvy. In 1816 at the age of 18 he found himself in the Old Bailey indicted for ‘feloniously stealing, on the 8th of

April, a handkerchief, value 4s. the property of William Hollamby, from his person’.

The victim testified that he had been standing at a picture shop in Bond-street at the time. Fortunately for him, but

not for young William, officer of the law Samuel Plank was also in Bond-street and witnessed the deed. William

Rolfe was found guilty and sentenced to seven years’ transportation.106 After a short stay at Woolwich on the hulk

Retribution William was one of 200 male convicts who were embarked on the transport Sir William Bensley which

sailed from England on 9 October. Having lost one man (drowned) en route and picked up another at the Cape of

Good Hope, the ship arrived at Port Jackson on 10 March 1817.107

The indent describes William Rolfe as 19 years old, a native of London and a baker by calling. He was 5’ 1¼” tall,

with a ruddy complexion, brown hair and hazel eyes. On March 1817 he was one of 23 convicts from the Sir

William Bensley who were dispatched to Parramatta for distribution108.Having served out his seven years, in April

1823 William had been granted his certificate of freedom and by June 1823 had set himself up as a baker in York

Street with an assigned servant, Isaac Davis. He was subsequently assigned another convict – Joseph Meade –

who usefully was also a baker.109 William Rolfe was apparently making something of his life. So, was it lack of

capital, or maybe opportunity, which led William, abetted by Joseph, to jeopardise his future in January 1824 by

stealing flour belonging James Rampling, a baker of Harrington Street? The pair appeared together at the Court

of Criminal Jurisdiction.110

Formally their sentence was ‘To be transported to such place as his Excellency the Governor shall direct for the

term of Seven years’. In effect this translated to imprisonment at Port Macquarie, whence both men were headed

on 2 February on the Lady Nelson.111

It is confusing to find therefore that for the 1825 general muster William Rolfe was back in Sydney, living in Kent

Street and working as a baker.112

Another record which requires some clarification as to its meaning is the following entry of 19 August 1826 in the

Sydney Gaol Entrance Book.113

A further record suggests that prisoner William Rolfe was ordered on 13 September to be returned to Port

Macquarie per the Mary Elizabeth and indeed this government brig did sail on 15 September 1826 for Port

Macquarie.114


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Regardless of whether William Rolfe returned from Port Macquarie legally, or otherwise by his own volition, it was

at Port Macquarie that he was found for the 1828 Census.115

Catherine and William had returned to Sydney (together with Catherine’s mother) by 1831 because it was there

that the birth on 28 October, and baptism on 27 November of their first child, Margaret, was registered at St.

Philip’s Church.116 Two years later son William James was born on 17 September and baptised on 6 October

1833, followed by Jane, baptised on 17 July 1836, the baptisms of both being registered at St. Philips, Sydney.117

However, Jane would never have known her brother because he died a tragic death before she was born, as

reported in The Australian of 17 July 1835 under the heading ‘Sudden and remarkable Deaths’.

Yesterday a Coroner’s Inquest was held at the Cross Keys, Kent-street, on the body of William Rolfe, aged about

18 months, who met his death by pulling over a pot of boiling water, by which he was so dreadfully scalded that

he expired soon afterwards. The jury brought in a verdict of accidental death. Very shortly after the above

melancholy accident, the Aunt of the child, who lived in the same house, and who had been for some in a delicate

state of health, called on a person present to give her a drink of water, upon receiving which she exclaimed her

head ached very much, and immediately afterwards expired. The jury after hearing all the evidence, brought in

their verdict. Died by the visitation of God.118

The name of the now deceased aunt was not provided. 119 Apart from William’s earnings as a baker, it seems that

the Rolfes might have taken in the occasional boarder, an arrangement which in the following instance did not

work out too well.120

We know from further newspaper items that William still qualified for assigned servants, with one William Watson

being assigned to him as a baker’s labourer in December 1832.121 But it is questionable as to whether he was the

William Rolfe, convicted in 1835 with a woman name Mary Wheatley of a felony and sentenced to twelve months

in Newcastle gaol; or the William Rolfe fined 11 shillings for being drunk and driving carelessly in Marcy 1843; or

the man who, with John Lacey, was charged with stealing timber at Balmain, but subsequently acquitted.122 William

was himself the victim of a robbery in May 1850, committed by two men referred to in the report of their capture

as ‘Old Offenders’.123 Their trial took place in June.

John Wildey and Denis Corcoran were jointly indicted for stealing a pair of boots, the property of William Rolfe,

baker, Liverpool-street. The Jury found the prisoner Wildey guilty, and Corcoran not guilty. Wildey was sentenced

to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour in Sydney Gaol for the term of six calendar months. Corcoran was

discharged.124

Could William have been the William Rolfe who, with a multitude of others, embarked on the Artemisia which

sailed on 4 March 1851 for San Francisco?125 If so, he had returned by April 1854 when he placed the following

notice in the local papers.126


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The passing of Catherine Rolfe, aged 43 and the wife of a baker, who died on 2 April and was buried on 4 April

1854, was registered at St. Stephen’s Church, Newtown.127 She was buried at the Camperdown Cemetery,

commemorated by a small memorial stone with an almost illegible inscription. 128

It is possible to make out the words ‘Sacred to the Memory of Catherine Rolfe’ and also a second name ‘George

Robert Ward’, the latter being Catherine’s grandson by her daughter Margaret and son-in-law John Ward, who

died on 12 February 1853 before reaching his first birthday.129

Further research needs to be undertaken to try and follow William after the death of his wife. It is possible that

William Rolfe married in 1856 again if he is the subject of the following announcement.130

If he continued to live at Liverpool Street he may have been the William Rolfe recorded in the Sydney Assessment

Books as renting a house at 66 Liverpool Street in 1863 and 1871.131 He was almost certainly the ‘Rolfe, William,

baker, of 62 Liverpool st’ in the 1871 Sands Directory.132 He was not the William Rolfe, native of Kent, who died

aged 81 at his residence at Botany Road, Waterloo in 1878. This Mr. Rolfe had arrived with his family in Sydney

in 1839 as an assisted immigrant on board the Cornwall.133 If the Mary Rolfe (formerly Edwards) was the

unfortunate widow who was ‘married’ to ‘widower’ (and serial bigamist) Isaiah Fletcher in November 1874, we

could assume that William Rolfe had died by then.134

The two daughters of Catherine and William Rolfe survived to adulthood and both married.

Margaret Rolfe

Just before her eighteenth birthday, on 21 October 1849, Margaret was married at St. James Presbyterian Church

to widower and publican John Ward.135 In addition to ‘inheriting’ three step-children – Ann, Matilda and James -

Margaret presented John Ward with four children of their own – William John (1850), George Robert (1852),

Charles Richard (1853) and Jane Eliza (1857).136 As noted previously, George Robert died in 1853. Three years

later, on Christmas Eve 1859, Margaret became a widow.137


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In his will John made provision specifically to his three children, Ann, Matilda and James, and further provision for

his second wife and their children.138 It was his wish that, in order to support herself and the children, his widow

take over the running of the “Bird in Hand”, which she did, the licence being transferred to Margaret Ward,

executrix to the late John Ward, in March 1860.139

It was not at the “Bird in Hand” but at another public house, the “Union Inn”, that an inquest was held on 22 June

1860 on the body of a 5-week old infant named William Flynn. This baby was the illegitimate child of Ann Elizabeth

Ward who lived with her aunt, Mrs. Ward, keeper of the “Bird in Hand”. According to the doctor, both mother and

child had been in excellent health when he had attended them twelve days earlier. After the doctor had presented

a detailed report on his autopsy findings Mrs. Ward gave her evidence. The infant had taken ill a week or so ago,

and had an attack of convulsions. She ‘did not observe the infant was sinking fast, and could not afford to pay for

a doctor to attend it’. She did, however, call on another woman to help when she finally realised that the baby

might die, which it did within hours in her arms. The jury determined that the baby had died from congestion of

the brain. It also considered that ‘the aunt of deceased’s mother is highly censurable in not seeking medical aid’.140

The Ward family’s misfortunes continued with the death on 17 February 1861 of daughter Jane Eliza.141

But worse was to come within a couple of months with the death in April of mother and step-mother Margaret

Ward. Charles Kinsela placed a double notice in the paper advising of her funeral arrangements.142

Jane Rolfe

Jane’s mother Catherine did not live to see her younger daughter married on 23 February 1857 at St Andrew’s

Church. The surname of the groom was rendered as ‘Manuel’ in the NSW BDM register.143


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The 1861 Sands Directory lists a John Manuell, builder of 87 Stanley Street and the 1863 Directory a John

Mannell, mason, of 87 Stanley Street.144 From further records it would seem that ‘Mannell’ is the surname for this

family.145

In fact the two Sands entries above probably refer to John Mannell’s father, also named John and also a mason.

The John who married Jane Rolfe was born St. Helier, Jersey, and baptised there as John Richard Marshall

Mannell on 29 October 1837. By 1841 his family, which originated in Cornwall, was back there at the parish of

Lanivet for the 1841 England census. In 1849 the Mannell family – father John, mother Jane, and eight children

including John, emigrated to New South Wales on the ship St. Vincent.146

Over a period of sixteen years seven children were born to Jane and John – Anne Elizabeth (1857), William Pierce

(1860), John Richard (1863), Jane Eliza (1865), Joseph (1868), Alfred Thomas (1871), and Lydia (1874). The

births of the first two were registered at Sydney and those of the rest at Newcastle.147

If not before, by late 1883 the Mannells had returned to Sydney because it was at the home of the bride, 3 Ivy-

street, Darlington, that Annie Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of John Mannell was married on 22 December 1883

to Duncan Carmichael of Newcastle. Newcastle papers were asked to copy the notice – reflecting the Mannell’s

close connection with that town.148

The year 1889 brought much sadness to the Mannell family. In July John’s wife Jane died aged 52. The Evening

News of 27 July carried her death notice and notices of the funeral arrangements were published in The Sydney

Morning Herald.149 Duncan Carmichael was, as noted, the husband of Annie Elizabeth Mannell. Jane Eliza Mannell

had married Alfred William Gould, a carpenter, in 1886.150

Jane Mannell was buried at Rookwood, Section GG; Row 5. The inscription on her headstone reads ‘Wife of John

M. Mannell. Erected by son Joseph’.151

The family would still have been in mourning when Alfred Mannell died, aged only 18, at the Prince Alfred Hospital

on 20 August. Again family members invited friends to attend the funeral. Interestingly, however, these notices

refer to John Mannell’s residential address as 7 Ivy Street Redfern, whereas Jane Mannell had been living at 3

Union Terrace when she died.152 Alfred (‘son of the above’) was buried in the same grave as his mother.153


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John Mannell and his family were still living in Newcastle when his father died in October 1871.154

A widow for eighteen years, John’s mother Jane, aged 87, died on 1 September 1889 at her home, Begg-street,

Paddington. For the third time in as many months, the public was advised of arrangements for a Mannell funeral.155

Issues of the Sands Directory show that from 1886 to 1891 the Carmichaels lived in Ivy Terrace/Street, suggesting

that the Mannells, their daughter Annie and her husband were on very neighbourly terms. By 1897 the

Carmichaels had moved to Burfitt Street, Leichhardt.156 It is likely, judging from the following 24 November news

item, that John Mannell was living with them in 1903.

AN OLD MAN’S DEATH

The Deputy City Coroner (Dr. R.H. Todd) held a magisterial inquiry yesterday relative to the death of a man

named John Richard Mannell, aged 67 years, who resided at Burfitt-street, Leichhardt. From the evidence it

appears that the deceased was on Saturday morning last seen on the bridge over the Leichardt canal. He was

seen shortly after endeavouring to get through the railings to recover his hat, when he fell into the water about

14ft. After being hauled out by means of ropes he was taken to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, but died on the

day of admission. A finding of death due to shock was recorded.157

Only one, impersonal, notice appeared to alert the public as to the arrangements for John Mannell’s funeral.158


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NOTES

1 Unless citing from other records I have adopted the ‘Duffey’ spelling of the surname, in line with the Friendship Schedule annexed to

the Deed Poll prepared by Thomas Shelton. 2 Berwick Advertiser, 27 Jul 1816. Cited in Sid Hammell, ‘Sixpence’, http://users.tpg.com.au/shammell/sixpence.htm. 3 Reports on criminals: correspondence, Reference HO 47/55/8, Catalogue description, The National Archives, Kew,

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10005413. 4 Findmypast, (FMP), England & Wales, Crime, Prisons & Punishment, 1770-1935, Correspondence and Warrants, HO 13/28/340, Folios

58-65. 5 FMP, England & Wales, Crime, Prisons & Punishment, 1770-1935, Correspondence and Warrants, HO 13/28/396-397. Carlton House

was the London town residence of the Prince Regent. 6 National Library of Australia Catalogue, Plan of the town of Berwick upon Tweed from actual survey by John Wood, Edinr., 1822; engd.

By T. Clerk. Ellon, Scotland. Reprinted by Caledonian Books, 1992, nla.obj-442935011. 7 Robert Rock, Coins, Crime and History – a Numismatic and Social History of Counterfeiting, https://crimeandcoins.wordpress.com/. 8 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents, 1788-1842, Bound Indentures, 1814-1818. 9 Transcript of General Gaol Delivery report, Dorothea Colomb, Ancestry online Lamerton-King family tree,

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/31755966/person/29333030656/gallery. 10 Note – the husband’s name is variously recorded as Bernard and Barnard; the wife’s name is recorded as either Margaret or Mary. I

believe the Duffey family were lucky that so many of them were able to travel together. 11 Sid Hammell, ‘Sixpence’. 12 Ancestry, UK, Prison Hulk Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849, Justitia, Register, 1803-1836. Free Settler or Felon? Convict Ship

Shipley 1817, https://www.jenwilletts.com/convict_ship_shipley_1817.htm. 13 Ancestry, UK, Royal Navy Medical Journals, 1817-1857, S, Shipley, 1816 19 Nov–1817 3 May. 14 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary’s Papers, 1788-1856, Series: NRS 937; Reel or Fiche Numbers: Reels

6004-6016, pp, 128-30. 15 FMP, Australia Convict Ships, 1786-1849, Shipley, Indents 1788-1842 (NRS 12188), State Records Authority of Australia, Reel 393. 16 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Settler and Convict Lists, 1787-1834, New South Wales, Female, 1788-1819, 1820 & 1821.

Ancestry, New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849, New South Wales, General muster, 1822. 17 The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, 9 Oct 1823, p.3. 18 The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, 16 Oct 1823, p.3. 19 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary’s Papers, 1788-1856, Series: NRS 937; Reel or Fiche Numbers: Reels

6004-6016, p.490. 20 Edward Hall Smith, armed with recommendations form his philanthropic friends such as William Wilberforce, arrived in the colony in

1811 and immediately involved himself in religious and social work. He was particularly concerned with the welfare of the poor and

convicts, whose causes he championed through his newspaper the Monitor - M. J. B. Kenny, 'Hall, Edward Smith (1786–1860)',

Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/hall-

edward-smith-2143/text2729, published first in hardcopy 1966, accessed online 29 December 2019. 21 Father John Joseph Therry had arrived in the colony in 1820 and was for some time the only Catholic priest on the mainland. He

apparently enjoyed the patronage of Governor Brisbane - J. Eddy, 'Therry, John Joseph (1790–1864)', Australian Dictionary of

Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/therry-john-joseph-

2722/text3835, published first in hardcopy 1967, accessed online 29 December 2019. 22 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary’s Papers, 1788-1856, Series: NRS 900; Reel or Fiche Numbers: Fiche

3163-3253, p.48. 23 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary’s Papers, 1788-1856, Series: NRS 897; Reel or Fiche Numbers: Reels

6041-6064, 6071-6072, p.64-64a. 24 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary’s Papers, 1788-1856, Series: NRS 937; Reel or Fiche Numbers: Reels

6004-6016, p.542. 25 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary’s Papers, 1788-1856, Series: NRS 939; Reel or Fiche Numbers: Reels

6018-6019, 2649 and 898-901, p.92. 26 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary’s Papers, 1788-1856, Series: NRS 939; Reel or Fiche Numbers: Reels

6018-6019, 2649 and 898-901, p.101. 27 Ancestry, New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters 1806-1849, New South Wales, General muster A-L, 1825. 28 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Convict Records, 1810-1891, Port Macquarie Penal Settlement, Port Macquarie: List of

Convicts, 1825-1830, pp.363-364. 29 Cited in Sid Hammell, ‘Duffy’, http://users.tpg.com.au/shammell/duffy.htm. A Ticket of Exemption entitled the holder to the privilege of

residing with the nominated person, generally a relation, in a specified district. 30 90-92 Kent Street, Millers Point, is part of the Millers Point Conservation Area, an intact residential and marine precinct. It was listed on

the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. 31 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Convict Records, 1810-1891, Tickets of Exemption from Govt Labour. Ancestry, New South

Wales, Australia, Tickets of Leave, 1810-1869, Ticket of Leave butts, May 1833-Oct 1833. It seems that the issuing of Tickets of


- 25 -

Exemption was discontinued in 1830 and from August-September those holding these Tickets were issued, in lieu, with a Ticket of

Leave. 32 Ancestry, In the Web: Australia, Convict Records Index, 1787-1867. 33 NSW BDM, Death registrations. The death of a Margaret Duffy was registered at Parramatta for 1841, but this person was also born in

1841, daughter of William and Margaret Duffy, Vol 1841394 145. 34 Lamerton-King online family tree. Sid Hammell reasonably suggests that, in her dealings with the authorities, Margaret may have

overstated her age to gain sympathy – email correspondence 7 May 2020. 35 The Sydney Herald, 19 July, p.2. 36 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Convict Records, 1810-1891, Phoenix Hulk: Entrance Books, 1831-1833. 37 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Convict Registers of Conditional and Absolute Pardons, 1788-1870, Conditional, 1788-1867

(Reel 775). NSW SAR, Convicts Index 1791-1873, Colonial Pardon, [4/4493; Reel 771 Page 382-383]. 38 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1830, Description Book, Sydney, 1835-1838. 39 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1830, Entrance and Description Book, Sydney,

1834-1838. 40 NSW BDM, Death registration, 2127/1838 V18382127 22. Lamerton-King online family tree. 41 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary’s Papers, 1788-1856, Series: NRS 937; Reel or Fiche Numbers: Reels

6004-6016, p.2. 42 Biographical Database of Australia (BDA), Biographical report for Ann Duffey, Person ID: L#30003107102. 43 Northampton Mercury, 16 Aug 1817, p.3. 44 FMP, England & Wales, Crime, Prisons & Punishment, 1770-1935, Correspondence and Warrants, HO 13/30, pp.356-361. Ancestry,

UK, Prison Hulk Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849, Justitia, Register, 1803-1836. 45 Free Settler or Felon? Convict Ship Neptune 1818, https://jenwilletts.com/neptune_1818.htm. 46 FMP, Australian Convict Ships 1786-1849, State Records Authority of New South Wales, Indents 1788-1842 (NRS 12188), Reel 394. 47 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Settler and Convict Lists, 1787-1834, New South Wales, Male A-K, 1820 & Male A-J, 1821. 48 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary’s Papers, 1788-1856, Series: NRS 900; Reel or Fiche Numbers: Fiche

3163-3253 p.58. 49 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary’s Papers, 1788-1856, Series: NRS 897; Reel or Fiche Numbers: Reels

6041-6064, 6071-6072, p.195. 50 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary’s Papers, 1788-1856, Series: NRS 897; Reel or Fiche Numbers: Reels

6041-6064, 6071-6072, p.131. 51 Portia Robinson, The Women of Botany Bay - A reinterpretation of the role of women in the origins of Australian Society, The

Macquarie Library, 1988, p.221. 52 BDA, Biographical report for Ann Evans, Person ID: B#32021016301 and Person ID: U#3004333901. 53 Ancestry, Australia, Births and Baptisms 1792-1981, FHL Film Number 993949. 54 Ancestry, New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849, New South Wales, General Muster A-L, 1825. 55 Ancestry, 1828 New South Wales, Australia Census (TNA Copy), New South Wales, Census C-D and E-H, 1828. 56 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930, Entrance Book, Sydney, 1819-1833. 57 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930, Entrance Book, Sydney, 1825-1832. 58 The Monitor, 15 Nov 1827, p.7. 59 See also Note 32. 60 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Convict Records, 1810-1891, Assignment and Employment of Convicts, Tickets of Exemption

from Govt Labor. Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Tickets of Leave, 1810-1869, Ticket of leave butts, May 1822-Oct 1833. 61 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930, Entrance Book, Sydney, 1837-1841. The

Sydney Herald, 22 Feb 1838, p.1. 62 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Convict Death Register, 1826-1879. 63 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Coroners’ Inquests, 1821-1937, Inquests and Magisterial Inquiries, 1834-1942,

1834-1859. Coincidentally, his brother West Evans was also died accidentally at Maitland in 1843 – the verdict of the inquest being that

he was accidently burnt to death while in a state of intoxication – The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, 13 May

1843, p.2. 64 Ancestry, Sydney, Australia, Anglican Parish Registers, 1814-2011, Newtown St Stephen, Burial, 31 December 1854-27 April 1867.

Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 28 December 2019), memorial page for Ann Evans

(unknown–4 Oct 1860), Find A Grave Memorial no. 187964597, citing Camperdown Cemetery, Newtown, City of Sydney, New South

Wales, Australia ; Maintained by Stombell (contributor 48335209). 65 Goulburn Herald, 4 Feb 1860, p.2. For further information about George Evans refer to Ancestry online Kenyon Family Tree (2),

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/107353941/person/390059437131/facts. 66 NSW BDM, Marriage registration 425/1851 V1851425 37B. NSW BDM, Birth registrations. 67 Goulburn Evening Penny Post, 18 Feb 1890, p.2. 68 Ancestry, New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849, New South Wales, General muster A-L, 1825. 69 Peter Mayberry, Irish Convicts to New South Wales 1788-1849, http://members.pcug.org.au/~ppmay/cgi-

bin/irish/irish.cgi?requestType=Search2&id=17599.

https://www.findagrave.com/

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/187964597/ann-evans

https://www.findagrave.com/user/profile/48335209


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70 BDA, Biographical report for Edward Mackin, Person ID: B#10013233701. Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Settler and Convict

Lists, 1787-1834, New South Wales, Female, 1816. 71 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary’s Papers, 1788-1856, Series: NRS 898; Reel or Fiche Numbers: Reels

6020-6040, 6070; Fiche 3260-3312, p.47. 72 Ancestry, New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849, New South Wales, General muster, 1822. 73 BDA, Biographical report for Ellinor Mathewson, Person ID: B#10013245201. BDA, Biographical report for Edward Mackin, Person ID:

B#10012322701. Ancestry, New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849, New South Wales, General muster

M-Z, 1825. 74 BDA, Biographical report for Mary Makin, Person ID: B#30061002001. 75 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary’s Papers, 1788-1856, Series: NRS 898; Reel or Fiche Numbers: Reels

6020-6040, 6070; Fiche 3260-3312, p.3. 76 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary’s Papers, 1788-1856, Series: NRS 937; Reel or Fiche Numbers: Reels

6004-6016, p.517. 77 The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, 28 Oct 1824, p.2. 78 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary’s Papers, 1788-1856, Series: NRS 897; Reel or Fiche Numbers: Reels

6041-6064, 6071-6072, p.25-26. Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary’s Papers, 1788-1856, Series: NRS 939; Reel

or Fiche Numbers: Reels 6018-6019, 2649, 898-901, p.492.493. 79 Ancestry, 1828 New South Wales, Australia Census (TNA Copy), New South Wales, Census I-M, 1828. 80 Ancestry, Australia Birth Index, 1788-1922, Vol V1827989 125. BDA, Biographical report for Richard McGinnes, Person ID:

U#30033005210. 81 The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, 23 Nov 1839, p.2. Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia Gaol Description and

Entrance Books, 1818-1930. Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930, Entrance Book,

Sydney, 1839-1840. The Cumberland Times and Western Advertiser, 1 Nov 1845, p.3. Ancestry online Skinner Family tree,

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/44114063/person/250023177557/facts. NSW BDM, Death registration, 4558/1866. 82 BDA, Biographical report for Richard Doyle, Person ID: U#32021093302. 83 Refer to Skinner Family online tree. I have only found a registration for Catherine – NSW BDM, Birth/Baptism registration, 2147/1831

V18312147 125. NSW BDM, Marriage registration, 558/1832 V1832558 128. 84 Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 20 December 2019), memorial page for Richard Mc

Ginnis (1789–4 Nov 1836), Find A Grave Memorial no. 86580896, citing Glebe Cemetery, East Maitland, Maitland City, New South

Wales, Australia ; Maintained by ProgBase (contributor 47278889). 85 Ancestry, Australia Marriage Index, 1788-1950. NSW BDM, Birth registrations 399/1836 V1836399 121A, 623/1838 V1838623 121A. 86 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Convict Registers of Conditional and Absolute Pardons, 1788-1870, Conditional, 1851-1852

(Reel 795). 87 Skinner Family online tree, https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/44114063/person/250060379894/facts. 88 NSW BDM, Marriage registration, 702/1854 V1854702 41B. NSW BDM, Death registration, 3386/1857. Ancestry, New South Wales,

Australia, Register of Coroners’ Inquests, 1821-1837, Registers of Coroners’ Inquests and Magisterial Inquiries, 1834-1842, 1834-1859.

Northern Times, 25 Jul 1857, p.2. Maitland City Council, Cemetery Search, https://myhorizon.maitland.nsw.gov.au/Horizon/embed.html.

Note, however, that the Skinner Family online tree suggests that John Smith died aged 38. 89 Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 21 December 2019), memorial page for Rose Hannah

Smith (1812–27 Jun 1877), Find A Grave Memorial no. 80625740, citing Campbells Hill Cemetery, Maitland, Maitland City, New South

Wales, Australia ; Maintained by ProgBase (contributor 47278889). 90 Find a Grave photograph contributed by hep1953, https://www.findagrave.com/user/profile/49618498. 91 John James Shaw’s parents were Peter Quinlan and Mary Catherine Cook. Mary Catherine Cook was a daughter of Catherine

McGuiness. 92 NSW BDM, Marriage registration 531/1842 V1842531 26C. 93 Ancestry online Mills Family Tree, - https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/103983095/person/210054374499/facts. 94 BDA, Biographical report for Lewis Jones, Person ID: B#17061068001 and Person ID: U#12003691701. The Maitland Mercury and

Hunter River General Advertiser, 2 Aug 1851, p.4. The Maitland Daily Mercury, 3 Apr 1900, p.3. NSW SAR, Publicans’ Licenses Index

1830-1861. 95 The Newcastle Chronicle, 7 Jun 1870, p.3. 96 FMP, New South Wales Will Books, 1800-1952, Will Number 8562. 97 NSW BDM, Death registration, 1067/1879. 98 The Sydney Morning Herald, 16 Jun 1879, p.8. 99 Ancestry, Sydney. Australia, Cemetery Headstone Transcriptions, 1837-2003. Find A Grave, database and images

(https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 26 December 2019), memorial page for Rosannah Jones (unknown–5 Dec 1918), Find A Grave

Memorial no. 188951372, citing Rookwood General Cemetery, Rookwood, Cumberland Council, New South Wales, Australia ;

Maintained by alisonc1109 ♣ (contributor 48349597). 100 Ancestry, New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849, New South Wales, General muster, 1822. 101 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary’s Papers, 1788-1856, Series: NRS 939; Reel or Fiche Numbers: Reels

6018-6019, 2649, and 898-901, p.101.


https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/86580896/richard-mc_ginnis



https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/80625740/rose-hannah-smith



https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/188951372/rosannah-jones



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102 Ancestry, England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, FHL Film Number: 0599716 IT 1. 103 History of Saint Andrew’s Church, St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, https://www.st-andrews-worswick-street.org.uk/history.php. 104 Ancestry, New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849, New South Wales, General muster, 1822.

Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary’s Papers, 1788-1856, Series: NRS 939; Reel or Fiche Numbers: Reels 6018-

6019, 2649, and 898-901, p.101. 1828 New South Wales, Australia Census (TNA Copy). 105 FMP, New South Wales Marriages 1788-1845, Vol Ref V18315122 38. BDA, Biographical report for Catherine Duffy, Person ID:

U#30063001302. 106 FMP, England & Wales, Crime, Prisons & Punishment, 1770-1935, Newgate Prison Calendar, HO77, p.23. Old Bailey Proceedings

Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 22 December 2019), April 1816, trial of WILLIAM ROLFE (t18160403-185). Note: the trial

record states William Rolfe’s age as 15. 107 Ancestry, UK, Prison Hulk Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849. Free Settler or Felon? Convict Ship Sir William Bensley 1817,

https://www.jenwilletts.com/convict_ship_sir_william_bensley.htm. 108 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary’s Papers, 1788-1856, Series: NRS 937; Reel or Fiche Numbers: Reels

6004-6016, p.79. 109 The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, 17 Apr 1823, p.1. Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary’s

Papers, 1788-1856, Series: NRS 898; Reel or Fiche Numbers: Reels 6020-6040, 6070; Fiche 3260-3312, p.80 and p.5. 110 The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, 22 Jan 1824, p.2. 111 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary’s Papers, 1788-1856, Series: NRS 939; Reel or Fiche Numbers: Reels

6018-6019, 2649, and 898-901, p.109. 112 Ancestry, New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict musters, 1806-1849, New South Wales, General muster M-Z, 1825. 113 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930, Entrance Book, Sydney, 1819-1833. 114 Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930, Entrance Book, Sydney, 1825-1832. Note,

this record has been mistranscribed as 19 August 1827. The Monitor, 15 Sep 1826, p.8. 115 Ancestry, 1828 New South Wales, Australia Census (TNA Copy), New South Wales, Census R-S, 1828. 116 Ancestry, Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922, Vol No: V183110949 1C. The online Lamerton-King family tree suggests that Margaret

Rolfe was actually born in Port Macquarie - https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/31755966/person/19156726182/facts. 117 NSW BDM, Birth registration, 289/1833 V1833289 17, NSW BDM, Birth registration, 143/1836 V1836143 20, Ancestry, Australia

Births and Baptisms, 1792-1981, FHL Film No: 993951. 118 The Australian, 17 Jul 1835, p.2. 119 However, the death of a Sarah A McGinnis aged 36 was registered at Sydney on the same day – NSW BDM, death registration

V18351802 19 – perhaps coincidental and probably highly speculative! 120 Hill’s Life in New South Wales, 2 Nov 1832, p.1. 121 The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, 27 Dec 1832, p.2. 122 The Sydney Monitor, 5 Aug 1835, p.2. The Sydney Morning Herald, 6 Mar 1843, p.2. The Sydney Morning Herald, 6 Sep 1843, p.2. 123 The People’s Advocate and New South Wales Vindicator, 25 May 1850, p.3. 124 The Sydney Morning Herald, 14 Jun 1850, p.2. 125 The Shipping Gazette and Sydney General Trade List, 8 Mar 1851, p.70. 126 The Sydney Morning Herald, 4 Apr 1854, p.5. 127 Ancestry, Sydney, Australia, Anglican Parish Registers, 1814-2011, Newtown St. Stephen, Burial, 08 February 1849–31 December

1854. 128 Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 21 December 2019), memorial page for Catherine Rolfe

(1811–2 Apr 1854), Find A Grave Memorial no. 188014162, citing Camperdown Cemetery, Newtown, City of Sydney, New South Wales,

Australia ; Maintained by Stombell (contributor 48335209). Image – Sbar, https://www.findagrave.com/user/profile/49736013. 129 Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 23 December 2019), memorial page for George Robert

Ward (1852–12 Feb 1853), Find A Grave Memorial no. 188020502, citing Camperdown Cemetery, Newtown, City of Sydney, New South

Wales, Australia ; Maintained by Stombell (contributor 48335209). 130 The Sydney Morning Herald, 7 May 1856, p.1. A check on the following marriage registration – 170/1856 - would confirm or otherwise

whether Mary did become the second Mrs. William Rolfe. 131 City of Sydney Archives, Assessment Books 1845-1948, https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/learn/search-our-collections/house-

and-building-histories/assessment-books. 132 City of Sydney Archives, Sands’ Sydney Directory for 1871, http://cdn.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/learn/history/archives/sands/1870-

1879/1871-part5.pdf. 133 The Sydney Morning Herald, 3 May 1878, p.1. Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Assisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1828-

1896, 1839, September, Cornwall. 134 NSW BDM, Marriage registration, 1015/1874. Evening News, 5 Jan 1875, p.2. The marriage was conducted by the apparently ‘no

questions asked’ Rev James Fullerton – see Alan Dougan, 'Fullerton, James (1807–1886)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National

Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/fullerton-james-3582/text5547, published first in

hardcopy 1972, accessed online 24 December 2019. The committal and trial of Isaiah Fletcher was widely reported in the newspapers of

the day. He was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment in Darlinghurst Gaol. 135 NSW BDM, Marriage registration 1843/1849 18491843 73, 773/1849 V1849773 79.


https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/188014162/catherine-rolfe




https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/188020502/george-robert-ward



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136 NSW BDM, Birth registrations 230/1850, 676/1852, 1247/1857. 137 Empire, 13 Jan 1860, p.2. Note – the notice refers to seven children – did Margaret and John had another, as yet, unidentified child? 138 FMP, New South Wales Will Books 1800-1952, Will number 4069. 139 Empire, 22 Mar 1860, p.5. 140 Empire, 25 Jun 1860, p.5. 141 The Sydney Morning Herald, 20 Feb 1861, p.1. The Sydney Morning Herald, 18 Feb 1861, p.8. 142 The Sydney Morning Herald, 29 1861, p.8. 143 Empire, 24 Feb 1857, p.4. NSW BDM, Marriage registration, 177/1857. 144 City of Sydney Archives, Sands’ Sydney Directory for 1861, http://cdn.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/learn/history/archives/sands/1858-

1869/1861-part1.pdf. City of Sydney Archives, Sands’ Sydney Directory for 1863,

http://cdn.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/learn/history/archives/sands/1858-1869/1863-part2.pdf. 145 For information on the Mannell family refer to the Ancestry online West-Smith Family Tree, https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-

tree/person/tree/162199341/person/392116333918/facts. 146 Ancestry, Jersey Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1915, St Helier, 1837-1841. Ancestry, 1841 England Census,

HO107/150/6/19 p.7. Lanivet is a village located 3¾ miles south-west of Bodmin. Ancestry, New South Wales, Australia, Assisted

Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1828-1896, 1849, March, St Vincent. 147 NSW BDM, Birth registrations, 166/1858, 1797/1860, 10894/1863, 12424/1865, 13830/1868, 14379/1871, 15554/1874. 148 Evening News, 5 Feb 1884, p.2. 149 Evening News, 27 Jul 1889, p.4. The Sydney Morning Herald, 24 Jul 1889, p.14. 150 Ancestry, Australia Marriage Index, 1788-1950, Registration number: 2002/1886. 151 Ancestry, Sydney, Australia, Cemetery Headstone Transcriptions, 1837-2003. 152 The Daily Telegraph, 21 Aug 1889, p.1. 153 Ancestry, Sydney, Australia, Cemetery Headstone Transcriptions, 1837-2003. 154 The Sydney Morning Herald, 19 Dec 1871, p.1. 155 The Sydney Morning Herald, 2 Sep 1889, p.1. 156 Ancestry, Sands Directories: Sydney and New South Wales, Australia, 1858-1933. 157 The Australian Star, 24 Nov 1903, p.6. Another account, stated that John Richard Marshall Mannell had dropped his stick, not his hat

– Evening News, 24 Nov 1903, p.6. 158 The Sydney Morning Herald, 23 Nov 1903, p.10.


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SELECTED SOURCES

Genealogy Websites

Ancestry

1828 New South Wales, Australia Census (TNA Copy)

1841 England Census

Australia Birth Index, 1788-1922

Australia Births and Baptisms, 1792-1981

Australia Marriage Index, 1788-1950

Australia, Births and Baptisms 1792-1981

England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975

In the Web: Australia, Convict Records Index, 1787-1867

Jersey Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1915

New South Wales and Tasmania, Australian Convict Musters, 1806-1849

New South Wales, Australia, Assisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1828-1896

New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary’s Papers, 1788-1856

New South Wales, Australia, Convict Death Register, 1826-1879

New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents, 1788-1842

New South Wales, Australia, Convict Records, 1810-1891

New South Wales, Australia, Convict Registers of Conditional and Absolute Pardons, 1788-1870

New South Wales, Australia, Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930

New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Coroners’ Inquests, 1821-1937

New South Wales, Australia, Settler and Convict Lists, 1787-1834

New South Wales, Australia, Tickets of Leave, 1810-1869

Online Family Trees

Sands Directories: Sydney and New South Wales, Australia, 1858-1933

Sydney, Australia, Anglican Parish Registers, 1814-2011

Sydney, Australia, Cemetery Headstone Transcriptions, 1837-2003

UK, Prison Hulk Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849

UK, Royal Navy Medical Journals, 1817-1857

Findmypast

Australian Convict Ships, 1786-1849

England & Wales Crime, Prisons & Punishment 1770-1935

New South Wales Marriages

New South Wales Will Books 1800-1852

Other Websites

Australian Dictionary of Biography, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/

Biographical Database of Australia (BDA), http://www.bda-online.org.au/

City of Sydney Archives, https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/learn/search-our-collections/city-archives/

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/

Free Settler or Felon? https://www.jenwilletts.com/

History of Saint Andrew’s Church, St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, https://www.st-andrews-worswick-street.org.uk/history.php

Maitland City Council, Cemetery Search, https://myhorizon.maitland.nsw.gov.au/

National Library of Australia Catalogue, https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/

New South Wales Registry of Births, Deaths. Marriages, https://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/

New South Wales State Archives & Records, https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/archives/

Old Bailey Proceedings Online, http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/

Peter Mayberry, Irish Convicts to New South Wales 1788-1849, http://members.pcug.org.au/~ppmay/convicts.htm

Robert Rock, Coins, Crime and History – A Numismatic and Social History of Counterfeiting, https://crimeandcoins.wordpress.com/

Sid Hammell, http://users.tpg.com.au/shammell/

The National Archives, http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

Online Newspapers

British Newspapers (Findmypast)

Berwick Advertiser

Northampton Mercury

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/

http://www.bda-online.org.au/

https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/learn/search-our-collections/city-archives/


https://www.jenwilletts.com/

https://www.st-andrews-worswick-street.org.uk/history.php

https://myhorizon.maitland.nsw.gov.au/

https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/

https://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/

https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/archives/

http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/

http://members.pcug.org.au/~ppmay/convicts.htm

https://crimeandcoins.wordpress.com/

http://users.tpg.com.au/shammell/

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/


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TROVE

Empire

Evening News

Goulburn Evening Penny Post

Goulburn Herald

Hill’s Life in New South Wales

Northern Times

The Australian

The Australian Star

The Daily Telegraph

The Maitland Daily Mercury

The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser

The Monitor

The Newcastle Chronicle

The People’s Advocate and New South Wales Vindicator

The Shipping Gazette and Sydney General Trade List

The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser

The Sydney Herald

The Sydney Monitor

The Sydney Morning Herald

The Cumberland Times and Western Advertiser

Publications

Robinson, Portia, The Women of Botany Bay : A reinterpretation of the role of women in the origins of Australian Society, Macquarie University, Sydney, 1988

© Leonie Fretwell, 2019

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