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Hugh McGuiness

By Kath Lonergan

TFHS Inc. Member No. 1123

The story of Hugh McGuinness begins with a little of the Irish family history. Like many ancient names the background explains how, over centuries, the name has changed and the different spellings still used today led to a family mix up. Throughout this story can be seen the many variants, both in ancient history and present day forms. It is a surname of many variations, yet is all one.

The Irish surname McGuinness is an anglicised form of the Gaelic MacAonghusa of lveragh, 'son of Aengus'. The Magennises of County Down are descended from Ir, ( or Hyrus, the fifth son of King Nfilesius of Spain whose expeditionary _force landed in Ireland in 558 BC).

The first appearance of the name Magenniss was Aoah Magennis who signed the Charter of Newry Abbey, (or the Charter of Maurice O'Louighlin), who became Monarch of Ireland in A.D. 1156. Seven generations in line from Ir. Crimthann Ollamb Fodlah was the twenty-seventh Monarch of Ireland. He reigned for forty .years and instituted the first triennial parliaments for making laws at Tara, (County Meath). A direct descendant of his, Sioriamh, was the forty-ninth Monarch and thirteen generations in line later, the eighty-sixth Monarch of Ireland was Rodricus Magnis (Rory Mor), and it is from his son, Kionga from whom were descended Guiness, MacGuinness and Maginis.

Today, 2001, the family can be found not only all over Ireland, predominately in north-east Ireland, but world wide.

The family motto is 'My Hope is in God'. There have been many variants of the McGuinness name over the centuries but the name has been spelt as they are in each official record or publication.

The official name of the sept, according to Irish genealogy is now 'McGuinness', but in the 'Special Report on Surnames in Ireland', published in 1894, there were twenty-two

variants of the surname: MaGuinness, Maguiness, Maguinness, Magenis, Magennis, Maginnes, Maginnis, Genis, McGenis, McGennis, McGenniss, McGinnes, McGin­ness, McGiniss, McGinnis, Meginniss, McGuiness, McGuinnes, Guiness, McGuin­ness and McGuinnessy. Undoubtedly there are others.

Hugh McGuinness

The urge to know more about my great great grandfather, Hugh McGuinness, a Third Fleet Convict on my grandmother's side, came from an ongoing argument over donation of land for a Church at Carlton, Tasmania. Every time the elder descendants of John McGinness' line of the family visited our home we had to go through their angry versions of the insults dished out from the family of Hugh McGuinness. And of course neither family acknowledged any relationship whatsoever between the two men. Being a direct descendant of John, and knowing a few details about him, caused me to decide to research the family and investigate why this 'Hugh' had caused family conflict. From this, an earlier Hugh (who was actually my great great grandfather) was found and so his story unfolded.

Hugh McGuiness was born in Ireland in 1769 and sentenced at Dublin, Ireland, to 7 years transportation to New South Wales aboard the Queen.The Queenfirst sailed to New Foundland where the convicts were not accepted and the ship returned to England. Their eventual arrival at Port Jackson was on 11 November 1791.

It was an horrendous journey and the convicts were underfed to the point of near starvation. Hugh was chosen by the Queen'sconvicts to be spokesman for them at a Magisterial Inquiry into the ill treatment of the convicts during the voyage. On giving evidence, Hugh told of how, when sent by the cook to hand up the beef as it was weighed out, he observed mate Scott of the Queenweighing up sixty weight of beef instead of one hundred and thirty two pounds. That was their whole day's meat ration and the cook did not know how best to divide the beef between the messes. He also stated at times he had been in the steward room when the mate served out the bread and had seen him, after the bread had been weighed, take two handfuls away and put the rest in the bag.

Hugh told he knew well what the daily rations were to be issued to the convicts on board, as the list was fixed up below in the ship. Hugh's evidence was collaborated by the ship's cook and several other non-convicts. The hearing started on 7 October 1791 and continued for several days. In the summing up it was declared by David Collins, Richard Johnson, Augustus Aut and Jno. Creswell

that the provisions supplied by the contractors in London had been short supplied but no steps were taken by those who had the means to obtain the correct provisions. They therefore could not determine the exact deficiencies so as to enable them to redress the complainants or punish the defendants.

The four men who sat in judgment submitted the whole for His Excellency the Governor's consideration for appropriate steps to be taken. The convicts received no satisfaction, as there was no result from the Inquiry.

Hugh left Port Jackson for Norfolk Island in 1791 where he worked for a Mr Owen as a labourer and in 1801 he was a 'free' man. He received a grant of land in October 1801 from Governor King of 532 square yards in Cascade Street, Norfolk Island. His rental for the land was two shillings and six pence per year for fourteen years. In the 1804 Government list of settlers' lands held on Norfolk Island, Hugh was recorded as Hugh Macgennis.

Hugh's wife, Charlotte, was a Second Fleet convict. Charlotte Simpson Hall, aged 23, was tried by the first Middlesex Jury before Mr Recorder at Justice Hall in the Old Bailey at the Sessions which began on 24 October 1787. Charlotte Simpson, otherwise known as Hall, was indicted

for stealing, on 19 July last, a pair of silk stockings, value 1 shilling; a cotton gown, value 2 shillings; a handkerchief, value 1 shilling and one paste pin, value 1 shilling, the property of Joseph Bradley.

The accused was stopped pawning the articles. Found guilty, Charlotte was transported for seven years per Lady Julianain 1790.

Charlotte, however, was considered the wife of John Thomas Dodge, a Superintendent of Convicts on Norfolk Island. John Dodge left the island in 1795 but Charlotte remained there with several children. Hugh and Charlotte lived together on Norfolk Island and when they left for Van Diemen' s Land, they had six children.

Only a few Irishmen arrived in Van Diemen's Land from Norfolk Island. Twenty-four Irish convicts from the Queenwere sent to the island, but at the time of the 1807/8 mass departure for VDL there were only three Irishmen on the island. Hugh was the only one of the Queenconvicts, (another male came to Port Dalrymple in 1813) to arrive in the Derwent, VDL.

On 15 May 1808, Hugh McGinnis, his wife Charlotte Simpson, together with their children Sarah, Hugh, Rebecca, John, William and Elizabeth left Norfolk Island on board the Estrimabound for the Derwent, Van Diemen's Land. They officially arrived in Hobart Town on 5 June 1808.

The terms of the General Order of 17 September 1807 stated that there were three classes into which the inhabitants were to be divided. Hugh was a Second Class, which was to consist of former convicts, who had conducted themselves onto property; who had large families or from other causes may have claims to particular attention. Land grants were the same as First Class consisting of discharged seamen, marines or other servants of the Government who had proved themselves to be industrious and deserving of favour. So Hugh would be expecting to receive a grant of two acres for every one of cleared land and one acre for every one of waste land possessed on Norfolk Island, have buildings of equal value to those he left behind, including a house, to be erected. To be fed and clothed for two years and have the labour of two convicts for two years.

Charlote Simpson (alias Hall) married Hugh MeGinnis on 16 July 1810, in Hobart Town. The Rev. Robert Knopwood married several couples that day, who had been living together on Norfolk Island. Both he and the Government decided the morals of the settlers left a lot to be desired. Therefore they had to make honest folk of them.

Children of Hugh and Charlotte McGuinness

When Hugh, his wife Charlotte Simpson and six children embarked from Norfolk Island for the Derwent, Van Diemen's Land, aboard the Estraminain 1808, the children were registered in the ship's log as Simpson/McGinnis.

On their arrival the family settled at Clarence Plains and Hugh was granted sixty acres of land in the Bellerive/Rokeby district of Van Diemen's Land in 1813, in compensation for his land on Norfolk Island. His land bounded on Chasers Creek at Carlton. Chasers Creek ran into Carlton River and Hugh built a stone jetty on the river with his house about 120 yards from the water, on the bank behind. Carlton in those days was a village and post station in the parish of Carlton and the county of Pembroke about thirty-five miles from Hobart. Hugh received an additional grant of land on 30 June 1823, of fifty acres and his sons, Hugh, William and John were also granted sixty acres each adjourning their father's holdings.

Charlotte's eldest son, Ralph Dodge came to Van Diemen's Land and lived with the McGuinness family. In 1813 he received a land grant close to the McGuinness holding at Carlton. Ralph Dodge and his son acted as ferrymen and gave their name to Dodges Ferry.

In 1817 Hugh won a meat contract to supply fresh meat for the Government Stores and supplied 11,500 lbs over eleven months. During the same year he also won a contract to supply 75 bushels of wheat, on 29 March and again on 5 April.

Hobart Town Gazette,2nd May 1818)

Hugh McGinness of Clarence Plains requests those who stand indebted to him by notes of hand due the 31st of March last, will liquidate the same by 2 June next to Messrs Kemp and Gatehouse of Macquarie Street who are empowered to that effect having the said responsibility of their profession. Those who fail to tenor of this advertisement will be sued for payment at the next sitting of the Lieutenant Governors' Court.

In June 1819, Hugh McGuinness, senior joined the Auxiliary Bible Society for an annual subscription of forty-five pounds, but he paid for only part of the year. Early in 1838, wandering ministers, under the auspices of the Colonial Missionary Society, pioneered the work of the Congregational Church in the Carlton district and conducted many prayer meetings in the McGuinness home and that of other settlers in the district.

Over the years there has been much debate over who really gave land on which the Congregational Church at Carlton River was built. Some say it was Hugh's son, Hugh junior and some say it was Hugh's son, John. The family nevertheless would not admit to these two men being of the same family. Also there have been press reports of the church stating Mr Hugh McGuinness gave the land and then at other times that Mr John McGinness donated it. It had caused such rivalry within the McGuinness family that, even today, some branches of the family deny they are related. In fact it was a very simple act that had been blown out of proportion and one that should never have happened in the first place. All due to the mis-spelling of the name and the big headedness of the elder family members to recognise relations as belonging to the family just because they spelt their name differently. They would never admit that maybe this happened because some could not read or write and it was left to authorities as to how the name was spelt.

It began several years after the death of Hugh senior in 1841 when the family began taking sides as to whose land the local Congregational Church had been built on­land now belonging to the Congregational Church and over which the family had no jurisdiction. Over the years, stories had been told, added to, subtracted from and altered so as to cover the truth.

For several years from 1938, my father, Herbert Wiggins and his aunt Mrs May Joseph, (both being descended from John b. Norfolk Island 1802), went to a great deal of trouble to correct a 'wrong' report in The Mercuryon 17 January 1938, on the Centenary of the Congregationalism in the Carlton district. The report said the church was built on land given by Mr Hugh McGuinness. It took my father and aunt until 28 January 1941, together with much document searching and letter writing, to have this righted and a correction printed in The Mercury.It worried both my father and his aunt that the recognition was given to someone not belonging to their family. This came about because Hugh spelt his name McGuinness and John spelt his McGinness, the same spelling as his father. Amid much backbiting, John's elderly descendants said Hugh was no relation to them and agreed a great misdeed had been done that needed righting.

All went well until another report appeared in The Mercuryon 10 January 1966 on the occasion of the 125th Jubilee of the Church, stating Hugh McGuinness gave the land for the Carlton Congregational Church. The next generation of the family, again took up the cause of correcting the facts.

Research has proved the church was built on land located [sic] in 1823, to my great great grandfather, John. In 1840 John donated ten acres of land on which was to be built the Congregational Church and burial ground.

The church was built in 1840 and at the time of its consecration, Hugh the son, was the licensed victualler of the Highland Hotel in Macquarie Street, Hobart Town and his brother John, a farmer at Carlton. John was, when the church opened, listed as a lay reader and superintendent of the Sunday School. The Rev. F. Miller, Australia's first Congregational minister, together with Rev. Joseph Beazley opened the Carlton Congregational Church on 10 January 1841. It does not matter who gave the land as these two were brothers. Hugh the father, because of his religious commitment was evidently the leading force behind the land being given to the church. As head of the family, the first Hugh would most likely be regarded by people in authority as the person who donated the land and therefore it could have been the father referred to and not the son. Hugh senior died in 1841 and the opening of this religious building stood as a great memorial to him.

The lovely small stone church building is situated on the property 'Homewood', Carlton and although no longer used as a place of worship, still stands at Carlton today.

From the little contained in local records we can tell Hugh McGuinness, a Norfolk Island convict, was a religious man. By his holdings and sale of goods to the Government Stores his farming skills provided a good living to the extent he was able to engage a lawyer to collect moneys owing to him. He first came as a convict at Port Phillip, NSW. From there he was sent to Norfolk Island where he served out his time to become a free man and a farmer. One wonders what overwhelming anguish Hugh felt when ordered to give up his home and land and take his family to the new colony of Van Diemen' s Land. On his arrival the thought of having to start over again must have been heart breaking. This, coupled with the poor state of the colony at the time and the promises made to the Norfolk Islanders that could not be kept, would have made Hugh wonder as to his future. But like those pioneers of our island colony he set about building a new life and left his mark on its land and with his descendants.

Charlotte McGuinness was buried on 31 December 1828, aged 61 years at Sorell. Ten years later at the age of 68, Hugh married Charlotte Stott (nee Cowarth and widow of John Stott), but died three years later. Hugh was buried at Carlton on 13 January 1841, aged 71.

References:

Sydney Cove 1791-1792 by Colby; Rev Knopwood's Diary.

Norfolk Island 1788-1813, The People and Their Familiesby James Hugh Donohoe, B.A. DIP. F.H.S

Pembroke Map 2A for the County of Pembroke from the Surveyor General's Department

Historical Records of Australia Vol. 1

The Forgotten Generation by Reg Wright

Correspondence of Mr Herbert Wiggins and Mrs May Joseph; Congregational Church Records

The Lands Department

AOT RGD BDM

O.B.S.P. 1786-87, p 1165, trial no. 88 Inscriptions in Stoneby Richard Lord The MercuryNewspaper

Research done by Ken Mooney

Origin of The Surname McGuinnessby Anthony Mathews Clans and Families of Ireland by Thomas Caimey

Irish Genealogyby Babley; Irish Families by Edward Maclysaght, DLitt. M.R.I.A.

Irish Family Names by Ioa Greham.

 

This story was originally published in 2001 by the Tasmanian Family History Society Inc in My Most Interesting Ancestor.

The original introduction to this publication may be found here.

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