McNAMEE Christopher John - was he a convict???

[Australia Bound]

Hello All,

I would like some assistance to try and confirm, or not confirm, that Christopher was a convict.

Some researchers believe that he was a convict but I am unable to source any evidence to confirm the details.

What others believe is:
    -  he came from Westmeath in Ireland, born about 1813
    -  he was transported to Australia in 1836
    -  he was sentenced to Life
    -  he died in 1888 at Bundarra in NSW
    -  he married another convict Mary (surname unknown).  Mary was sent to Australia in 1837, and she also died in Bundarra in NSW in 1889.

If anyone can assist in providing any evidence to support any of the above I would be VERY appreciative.


Thank you, AB     

[giblet]

Hi AB,

Im still looking but will post these [you most likely have them]

NSW death indexes
12575/1888    MCNAMEE    CHRISTOPHER         UNKOWN RYAN    BUNDARRA

Maybe his wife ??
12973/1889    MCNAMEE    MARY    AGE 75 YEARS    DIED BUNDARRA    BUNDARRA

[judb]

All I can see is the inquest index which shows:

Christopher MacNamee (sic), 75
Inquest held 20 June 1888, by W W Fraser at Bundarra, district of Armidale
Date of death: 31 May 1888
Born Ireland, Died Bundarra
Cause of Death: Inflammation of the kidneys and bladder brought on from exposure.
Cash or property owned by deceased: Nil.

Lots of convicts with the same surname but different forenames - perhaps he changed his name 

Judith

[~MERLIN~]

Perhaps the information has been taken from Peter Mayberry's website:

http://members.pcug.org.au/~ppmay/cgi-bin/irish/irish.cgi?requestType=Search2&id=20833

[giblet]

McNamee   Mary   Sir Charles Forbes 1837   1842 24 February   Port Macquarie
Granted Ticket of Leave

http://www.jenwilletts.com/searchaction.php?page=2&surname=&ship=sir%20charles%20forbes%201837&firstname=

The below might be of some interest

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=C4106926

[giblet]

I wonder if a copy of the inquest that Judith found would shed any light on things, such as if he used another name. I was also thinking maybe he used his second name John 

[giblet]

This Christopher fella is doing my head in     

I dont know if the below will help to find him but ... Some sort of address for Mary below

Australasian Chronicle
Tuesday 22 February 1842

M'Namee Mary, Sir Charles Forbes
County of St. Vincent. Queanbeyan.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/31735103?searchTerm=mary%20AND%20%22sir%20charles%20forbes%22&searchLimits=exactPhrase=sir+charles+forbes

[ShaunJ]

Information about Christopher McNamee's conviction and transportation is recorded in the "Remarks" column for Mary McNamee's entry  in the printed list of convict indents for the Sir Charles Forbes in 1837:

"Husband Christopher M'Namee, a prisoner for life, out about 12 months"

[judb]

Some good finds there.

Expanding on the Convict Indent 1837 mentioned by Shaun

Standing no of convict: 37-428, Indent no; 43
Mary McNAMEE, 23, cannot read or write, Roman Catholic, married, no children recorded,
Native Place: County Dublin, kitchenmaid,
Crime: stealing a shirt, tried at Dublin 4 April 1837, sentence - seven years, no former convictins
Description: 5ft 4.5ins, ruddy complexion and much freckled, light sandy hair, bluish eyes, hands and arms much freckled,
Notes: husband Christopher McNamee, a prisoner for life, out about one year.

One cannot help but speculate whether Mary deliberately committed a crime in order to be re-united with her husband. 

Judith