James Agnew was a convict after the Third Fleet transported to New South Wales
James Agnew was born in County Londonderry and convicted in Londonderry on 23 July 1836[1]. His crime (together with his younger brother Henry) was accessory to the murder of Henry McWilliams. James was sentenced to death[2]. Henry and James hired an assassin, Patrick Toghill, to murder McWilliams[3]. At the time of his conviction James was a labourer and was married with two sons and one daughter[4]. James was also a Catholic[5].
James was not hanged for the murder[3] and his sentence was commuted to transportation for life. He was imprisoned on the prison hulkEssex. James then traveled to Australia, together with Henry, on board the St Vincent arriving in New South Wales on 5 January 1837. He was five feet six inches tall and his complexion was said to be ruddy and freckled with brown hair and grey eyes. There was "a scar on the bridge of his nose, the same inclining to the left side and his breast and arms were hairy"[5].
On arrival in 1837, James was sent to the district of Bungonia, New South Wales[6].
On 13 February 1845 James received his ticket of leave[7]. He received his conditional pardon on 19 January 1850[1][8]
Points for Further Research
James Agnew died in the area of Cooma in 1864[9]. Ancestry Family Trees (unsourced) have stated that the name of James Agnew's wife was Ellen Lagan but the Irish Convict Transportation Database has records that James's wife was called Alicia.
Sources
↑ 1.01.1 New South Wales, Australia, Convict Registers of Conditional and Absolute Pardons, 1788-1870, Copies of returns of Absolute and Conditional Pardons granted. Series 1165. State Records Reel 774, copy of 4/4492. State Records Authority of New South Wales, Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia.
↑ 5.05.1 New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents, 1788-1842 , New South Wales Government. Bound manuscript indents, 1788–1842. NRS 12188, microfiche 614–619,626–657, 660–695. State Records Authority of New South Wales, Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia.
↑ Home Office: Settlers and Convicts, New South Wales and Tasmania; (The National Archives Microfilm Publication HO10, Pieces 5, 19-20, 32-51); The National Archives of the UK (TNA), Kew, Surrey, England.
↑ Home Office: Settlers and Convicts, New South Wales and Tasmania; (The National Archives Microfilm Publication HO10, Pieces 31, 52-64); The National Archives of the UK (TNA), Kew, Surrey, England.
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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with James by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA.
However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line.
It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with James:
Hello, I have had to give up profile management due to pressures on my watchlist but I would be very interested to hear of any descendants of James Agnew who come across this page.