Royal Marines 1797

[haney]

Hi Everyone Thanks for your input and information.  Yes William and Michael were catholics, two other siblings that I know of where Eleanor and Rosetta Woodworth just thought I would mention them.  Farrell Cuffe was one of the witness's to Michaels marriage in Sydney in 1822.  Farrell and Michael were also involved in the attempted/planned uprising in Parramatta in 1800 and flogged/sent to Norfolk Island for a few years. 

 ("Desperate and Diabolical - Defenders and United Irishmen in Early New South Wales" by Ruan O'Donnell).  Also I emailed Ruan, no reply but that does not surprise me anyway will try and track down this book here in Sydney.

What year was that poster and where did it appear (newspaper).  That is a great "visual" element to the story. Hopefully as I gather more on William perhaps something will be revealed, who knows.

I have been trying to search in the newspapers of the day for any mention of arrests/activities/stories especially for 1797 (ish) when Michael was tried in "Athy" Summer Assizes Kildare 23 August 1797.  I have one snippet of that day but he is not named from the Freeman's Journal August 24, 1797 and the Dublin Gazette. No mention of him anywhere!  There was apparently a 5 hour trial that day of Simon Frazer and John Ross which was reported!  Thanks very much for your time.  Kindest regards Dianna

[Maiden Stone]

Thank you for the link to the poster. It certainly makes it look very enticing.

It may have been the promised rations which attracted William, a growing lad. Might have been better than what he ate at home. Plus weevils as extra protein! The prospect of receiving half his pay may have won over his parents. The poster also offered education.
If he joined after his brother's arrest it may have been as a way of showing that other members of the family were loyal. It may have been to prevent him from getting into trouble like his brother.

2 threads about Michael Byrne by haney.
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=851808.msg7195784#msg7195784
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=851807.msg7195782#msg7195782

[RobertHauteville]

The United Irishmen were suspected of playing a leading role in the Spithead and Nore Mutinies of 1797 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spithead_and_Nore_mutinies.

The Marines* were a ships policemen so were supposed to be squeaky clean and were kept imbetween the Officers and the crew to protect them. Don't think the Officers would be keen on having anyone with republican/revolutionary sympathies anywhere near them!

*they weren't Royal until 1802