My Convict Ancestor Bryan Farrelly
By Leo Prior
Bryan Farrelly, my maternal great-great-grandfather, was born in Ireland about 1807. His father was Michael Farrelly and his mother was Anne (maiden name unknown). Bryan Farrelly married Bridget Cook about 1834. At the time of his trial in 1843, Bryan had four brothers and three sisters in County Cavan. One brother and one sister were in America. [1] Bryan's family in Ireland consisted of three sons: John (also known as Myles John), born in 1834; James, born in 1841; and Michael (my great-grandfather), born in 1843. [2]
Bryan Farrelly was tried in Cavan, Ireland, on 6 March 1843, for arson, burning Charles Caffrey's and John Brian's [sic] house. He was found guilty and was sentenced to transportation for life. He was transported to Van Diemen's Land on the ship Constant,[3]a barque of 445 tons with six guns. [4] The ship's master was Jn Henry and the Surgeon Superintendent was Jn S. Hampton. It sailed from Dublin on 9 May 1843 with 204 male convicts, fifty-two troops, two officers and fifteen families, and arrived in Hobart Town on 29 August 1843. The journey took 112 days, and 201 convicts disembarked. Three died on the journey. [5] The ship's arrival was reported in the Hobart Town Advertiser and the Colonial Times.
The following information was obtained from Bryan Farrelly's convict records: [6]
| Description. | ||
| Trade | Weaver (later given as farm labourer). | |
| Height without shoes | 5ft 5½ inches. | |
| Age | 36. | |
| Complexion | Sallow. | |
| Head | Oval. | |
| Hair | Black to Grey. | |
| Eyebrow | Black to Grey. | |
| Eyes | Light Grey. | |
| Nose | Medium. | |
| Chin | Medium. | |
| Native Place | Co. Cavan. | |
| Read & Write | Both. | |
| Religion | Roman Catholic. | |
| Remarks | Freckles on both arms, inoculation for measles right arm, bled on ditto, two scars under left ear, brown mark on left side of neck, mole on ditto, scar on left leg. | [1] |
Bryan Farrelly's conduct record notes the following:
Period of gang: 42 months.
Station of gang: S.W.C. 9/43.
Class: 2 nd P.P.H. (Provisional Pass Holder).
Offences and Sentences.
31 December 1846: (S.W.C.) Neglect of duty - Reprimanded.
19 November 1850: Constable at Oatlands. Misconduct in holding unnecessary conversation with a person while he was on duty.
Movements/ Appointments/Applications.
| 9/20 March 1847 | Mr. Farrar at Ross. |
| 31 March 1847 | Prisoners Barracks. |
| 15 April 1847 | To constable. |
| February 1848 | Brighton Office. |
| 29 May 1849 | Oatlands. |
| 19 June 1849 | Ross Office. |
| 5 March 1850 | Ticket Of Leave (TOL) Application. |
| 11 March Free | Pass TOL refused. |
| 3 August 1851 | TOL Application. |
| 30 August 1851 | Indulgence (Asking). |
| 9 September 1851 | TOL refused. |
| 17 September 1852 | Oatlands. |
| 25 September 1852 | TOL Application. |
| 30 September 1852 | Must serve 10 years from date of conviction to obtain TOL. |
| 16 February 1853 | Wrote Comm. General. |
| 23 February 1853 | Wrote Deputy Comm. |
| 16 March 1853 | Oatlands. |
| 5 April 1853 | TOL. |
| 24 October 1853 | Conditional Pardon (Application?). |
| 9 December 1853 | Oatlands. |
| 15 August 1854 | Recommended for Conditional Pardon. |
| 17 July 1855 | Conditional Pardon Granted. |
Bryan Farrelly's duties, while a constable at Oatlands, were varied and included: 'General Duties of Constables', to which were added the duties of street patrol by day and night and attendance at the sittings at the Police Office, bringing up and removing prisoners under examination. [7]
At some period, probably early 1855, Bryan sent for his family in Ireland. They arrived in Melbourne, Australia on the Marco Polo and then sailed for Launceston on the City of Hobart,arriving in July 1855. His family then consisted of Bridget, his wife, aged thirty-eight, and three sons: nineteen-year-old Myles John (born 1834 Ireland, died 15 June 1875 New Norfolk); fourteen-year-old James (born 1841 Ireland, died 9 November 1919 Ross); and twelve-year-old Michael (born 1843 Cavan, Ireland, died 29 September 1931 Kings Meadows, Launceston), my great-grandfather. The cost of the voyage for the family was £22. [8]
Bryan was still a constable at Oatlands in 1857, on 11 April, he was a householder at Tunbridge. [9] Bryan passed away on 10 December 1896, and was buried at Ross Roman Catholic Cemetery. [10] Bridget died on 28 June 1901, and was also buried at Ross Roman Catholic Cemetery. [11] They were later removedto Carr Villa. [12]
I have been unable to find much more about Bryan and Bridget, except that they had four more children: Ann, also known as Mary Ann (born 2 April 1856 [13] and died Ross); Bernard (born 1857 [14] and died 30 November 1909, Ross); Patrick Mathew (born 1859 Oatlands [15] and died 4 June 1924); and Mary Theresa (born 1861 Oatlands [16] and died 13 July 1933).
align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
[1] AOT, CON 33/41 Conduct Record, CON 14/21 Indent and CON 18/99 Description.
[2] AOT, CON 33/41 Conduct Record, CON 14/21 Indent and CON 18/99 Description.
[3] AOT, CON 33/41 Conduct Record, CON 14/21 Indent and CON 18/99 Description.
[4] Charles Bateson, The Convict Ships 1787-1868, first published Glasgow, 1959; this edition Sydney, 1988. Bateson says 535 tons.
[5] Internet: www.rootsweb.com/austashs/convicts_c.htm
[6] AOT, CON 33/41 Conduct Record, CON 14/21 Indent and CON 18/99 Description.
[7] Internet: www.rootsweb.com/austas/oatpol.htm
[8] Internet: www.rootsweb.com/austashs/convicts_c.htm
[9] AOT, CB 7/12/5.
[10] AOT, RGD 35/65 1896 Oatlands No. 558: Bryan Farrelly; TAMIOT.
[11] AOT, Tasmanian Pioneers Index; Tasmanian Family Link and TAMIOT.
[12] TAMIOT.
[13] AOT, RGD 33/34 1856 Oatlands No. 1268: Ann Farrelly.
[14] AOT, RGD 33/35 1857 Oatlands No. 1701: Bernard Farelly.
[15] AOT, RGD 33/37 1859 Oatlands No. 1727: Patrick Matthew Farelly.
[16]AOT, RGD 33/39 1861 Oatlands No. 1756: female Farelly. See also AOT, Tasmanian Pioneers Index; Tasmanian Family Link and TAMIOT.
This story was originally published in 2004 by the Writers Group of the Hobart Branch of the TFHS Inc. in the publication PROS and Cons of Transportation A collection of convict stories.
Not only does this publication celebrate the cessation of transportation of convicts to Van Diemens Land, it also celebrates the work of the Family History Writers Group. This group was formed in 2003 to assist members who wanted to write their family histories. The monthly meetings stimulated great interest and enthusiasm.
The original introduction may be found here.