Robert Downey - Transported Convict

[Nettie]

Hello all,

I'm posting on this page as Robert moves between Ireland and Australia, but if it needs to be moved, just let me know.

Anyway, I am looking to see if I can find any more information on Robert Downey.

This is what I know:
Robert Downey
Born: years change but around 1816 in Ireland, thought to be Waterford.
Convicted in Waterford City in 1835 for assault and larceny and sentenced to 7 years in Australia
Transported on the St Vincent in 1936
Arrived in 1837 in Tasmania
Certificate of Freedom granted October 1846 (gives an interesting description of him)

Robert married Ellen Looney July 1850 in Port Fairy, Victoria Australia (don’t yet have cert)
They had 11? children, one (a daughter) later jailed for arson, apparently.

He died and was buried in Port Fairy, Victoria, Australia in 1870 and his father is named as Denis on the death certificate (no mother listed).

His wife, Ellen, was apparently born in 1831 in Dungarvan, Waterford, Ireland and mother was Hanora O’Connor (I haven’t verified this yet).

I have copies of Robert’s
Certificate of Freedom
Convict Indent
Convict Pardons and Certificates of Leave

I also have an Irish Prison transcription which I believe is a match. It’s March 1836 and from Kilmainham Prison.

What I am looking for is if there is any Irish court record detailing his conviction for assault and larceny (listed in the convict record).
It also said he had a previous conviction and had served 3 months but I have no details about that.
I’d also like to verify his birthdate / place / parents but realise it’s a long shot.

Of course, if there is anything else that would be helpful, I’d love to hear about that too!

Thanks in advance.

[Dundee]

The St Vincent went to NSW in 1837, not Tasmania, you will see that all the convict records you have are for NSW.

You say 'apparently' a lot.  It is always best to give your sources as it helps to determine how accurate the information might be.

The marriage between Robert and Ellen will be a church record as civil registration didn't start in Victoria until 1853 so probably won't have much information about them but it is still worth seeing a copy as you never know what extra details might be there.

The convict Robert was said to be born c1814, the death in 1870 gives an age of 50 so born c1820.  It is not much of a difference, but what do you have that tells you your Robert and the convict Robert were the same person?

Adding that Robert was Catholic as it does make a difference when looking for Irish records.  Catholic baptism indexes are available on several websites and the digitised images of surviving Church registers are also online.

Some links here:

https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/irish-records-what-is-available/church-records

http://www.nli.ie/en/parish-register.aspx

Debra 

[Nettie]

Thanks for replying, Debra. I appreciate your time and information.

The family's oral history says a Downey from Waterford was a convict who later settled in Port Fairy and married a Looney and had a big family.

I found Tasmania on the "New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia, Convict Pardons and Tickets of Leave, 1834-1859" It listed the province as Tasmania, so that's where that came from. Double checking the Convict Indents, it does say NSW.


As for the two apparently's. 

1. Family story says one of the daughters convicted of arson. I am trying to work through the daughters and have a feeling it might be the oldest, Susan, but have nothing concrete to go on.

2. Ellen's origins are from a range of online trees, once again I have no documentation to support any of it. Family history also says she was also from Waterford and I do have a 16 yo Ellen Looney coming out to Australia on the Assisted and Unassisted Passengers List in 1849 under the heading of 'Nominal List of Orphan Girls' traveling on the New Plymouth and arriving in Geelong, Vic. At this stage, I cannot verify this is the Ellen I am researching even though the pieces fit.


As years of birth / ages seem to be within an acceptable range, and have found to be quite fluid when researching, I didn't feel these were too extreme in difference. The records are all abt 1813 / 1814/1816. It's only the death record that is 1820, but that information is only as accurate as the informant's knowledge. 


I will check out those links and see what I can find. Thanks for your time.

[rosball]

Possibly a description of Robert's death in 1870
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5828018
(Hawkesdale isn't far from Port Fairy)

Ros

[sparrett]

One of the many items about a fire set by one Daniel DOWNEY in the correct area.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/226043922

Now I have not yet seen a birth for this man, but there is this death in NSW

DOWNEY Daniel
18329/1932
Parents Robert & Ellen
At NEWTOWN

He was  buried at Rookwood aged 80 (Born 1852)

Perhaps, I speculate, the family story was muddled.

Sue

[rosball]

There is a will available to download free for
Robert DOWNEY , date of death 29 July 1870, residence Hawkesdale, occupation carrier

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01k1u/

Ros
edited to shrink link

adding : another document http://www.rootschat.com/links/01k1v/

[wivenhoe]

"..his father is named as Denis on the death certificate (no mother listed). "

Can you please list all the information on this certificate.

[wivenhoe]

DOWNEY children at 1870 -
Susan 21,  David 20, Honora 19, Ellen 16, Robert 14, James 12, Jane 10,
Mary 7, Ann 6, Thomas 4, Elizabeth 2.

[Nettie]

Possibly a description of Robert's death in 1870
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5828018
(Hawkesdale isn't far from Port Fairy)

Ros

Thanks so much, Ros.