James Agnew (abt. 1797 - 1864)

Born about 1797 in Ballyscullion, Londonderry, Ireland

Descendants

Died 14 Jul 1864 at about age 67 in Countegany, New South Wales, Australia [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Sharon Brennan [send private message] and Jill Bloink [send private message]

Biography

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 hulk Essex. 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. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} 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.
2. ↑ National Archives of Ireland, Irish Transportation Database, PDF compilation database of records contained in the National Archive of Ireland; entry for James Agnew, page 15, TR 1, P 165; Record reference code: CRF 1836 A 3.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} The Tree of Me, review of a book entitled Murder Trials in Ireland 1836 - 1914 which includes an account of the murder of Henry McWilliams.
4. ↑ Irish Convicts to NSW, entry for James Agnew.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} 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.
6. ↑ 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.
7. ↑ State Archives NSW; Series: NRS 12202; Item: [4/4197]; Reel: 955
8. ↑ 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.
9. ↑ New South Wales Online BDM Search, search parameters were Deaths and the name James Agnew