Mary Preston married an Irish convict, Patrick McMAHON in 1813 and they had a son - John James McMahon - about whom nothing is known; possibly he died young - we don't know. Patrick arrived on the "Anne" in 1810. In 1814 he received a conditional pardon - information given was that he was tried at Middlesex 1809, was a native of Limerick, occupation - attorney, age 29. He was about 5'5" tall, fair ruddy complexion, red hair, hazel eyes. Patrick died in a drunken brawl (he didn't fall, he was pushed) in 1816. Mary, who it seems was nothing short of amazing for her time, put in a claim c 1818 for what we would probably now call damages and lost wages, to Patrick's employer - for the small sum (not) of £6,000 - but I've never found evidence that (a) she received any compensation or (b) that she even went through with the case.
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There were at least two chaps named Patrick MCMAHON in NSW in 1816.
Patrick McMAHON who arrived per Tellicherry 15 Feb 1806 … he was born about 1780, and was Irish. Tried at Dublin County, July 1804, sentenced to Life. In October 1814 muster he was at Windsor, assigned to Bryan SPALDING and off stores. His Conditional Pardon dated 1 January 1816. He was still alive as per the September 1822 Muster … at Windsor, and still alive per the Sept 1825 muster, and still alive as per the 1828 Census.
1828 censusPatrick McMAHON, aged 42,
Roman Catholic, arrived per
Tellicherry 1806 under a Life sentence, Conditional Pardon, in the household of Daniel NEIL, in the
Cornwallis district.
Patrick McMAHON, who arrived per Anne 26 Feb 1810, tried Middlesex, England 16 Jan 1809. 7 years. CF 1645, CP 331, 31 Jan 1814. November 1814 Muster he is a Clerk, at Sydney, with Mr GORE, and is off stores. I can see him in the Muster of Feb 1811 as Patrick Macmahone, in Sydney.
Which one married Mary PRESTON? I should mention that I have not yet confirmed but it may be that the 1828 mention of Daniel NEIL could perhaps show that that householder (Daniel NEIL) arrived ... wait for it ... per Canada !
but in 1815
ADD, one of my lines was in the Cornwallis district in that era.
Further ADD
Re John JamesHere is my transcription of the baptism of John James as registered in the St John’s C of E, Parramatta registers.
John James son of Patrick and Mary McMahon was born 26th May 1813 and Christened Septr 4th 1813, registered same day by me Samuel Marsden. The Anglican Diocese of Sydney has a current partnership with Ancestry and many (but not all) of their parish registers from early NSW have been digitised and are available.
I note that there is a John McMAHON, born in the colony 1814 in the Newcastle Description Book 1832-33.
NSW State Archives has kilometres and kilometres of archived material, some of which has been filmed and is on reels and available no charge to the general public at their Kingswood office. If you are in Sydney perhaps you could consider visiting. Otherwise, perhaps check to see if you are handy to an ARK KIT ...
https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/archives/collections-and-research/guides-and-indexes/archives-resources-kit-ark and
https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/archives/collections-and-research/guides-and-indexes/archives-resources-kit-%28ARK%29Re WARDThere were in the Hawkesbury district several families with the surname WARD in the 'right' era. If you want look ups for these, please do ask.
JM