John Michael Tobin Ryan (1798 - 1853)

Descendants

Biography

John Ryan, age 18, and two others, George Mulkey age 17, and William Phillips age 16, were charged with pickpocketing a handkerchief worth 3 shillings from a man in Hyde Park, London on 20 June 1814. The three teenagers were found guilty at the Old Bailey in London on 6 July 1814 and they were sentenced to transportation for life. The Old Bailey trial can be seen here.^[1]

John Ryan was received on the Retribution hulk on 9 August 1814, then sent to the transport Indefatigable on 6 September.^[2] The Indefatigable arrived at Sydney on 26 April 1815. The convict indent for this ship gives the following information: John Ryan, age 18, native place Cork, occupation printer, 5ft 6 inches tall, black hair & hazel eyes, tried Middlesex, life sentence, trial date: 6 July 1814. After arriving, he was sent to Windsor for distribution.

He was assigned to Anthony Rope as a convict servant. Ryan was better educated than Anthony Rope who was illiterate.

A family story is that Anthony offered Michael some land if he married his daughter Mary and gave her children (Eleanor and George) a name: a sort of dowry, or was it an incentive.

Marriage: John Ryan married Mary Rope on 6 August 1816 in Castlereagh, New South Wales, by banns by Henry Fulton. John and Mary both signed the register.^[3][4][5]

The Ryan family, including Eleanor and baby George, lived at South Creek, if not in the same house as the Ropes, then close by in whatever accommodation Anthony had agreed to provide for his daughter and new son-in-law, who was still his assigned servant.

Ryan received a Ticket of leave (No.1407).

About this time the Ryans moved to "a farm rented from Wm. Bowman of Richmond." The farm was located at Birds Eye Corner which is situated four miles from Penrith on the eastern side of the river.^[6]

In 1821 Ryan sent a Memorial to Governor Lachlan Macquarie asking for a mitigation of sentence. Ryan stated he was married with 5 children. At the same time a further petition was sent in by his wife Mary Ryan which requested some land that was promised to her. This had a notation from the local magistrates Sir John Jamison and Rev. Henry Fulton (who had married them) that she had been recommended for a land grant. On the back of the memorial is: "The petitioner's husband who will be immediately emancipated, will receive a grant of 80 acres of land. Sydney 9 Sep 1821. L.M." [Lachlan Macquarie].^[7] Ryan received his Conditional Pardon (No.1502, 1-09-1821, District of Evan).

In the 1828 census John Ryan was listed at South Creek in the District of Evan: age 31, conditional pardon, ship Indefatigable 1815 life, Catholic, farmer. His farm was called Jordon Hill in the district of Evan, 40 acres all of which were cleared and cultivated, with 1 horse, and 40 horned cattle. With him were his wife Mary Ryan, 36, born in the colony Protestant, and children Eleanor, 17, George, 13, James, 11, Sophia, 7, John 5, and Sarah, 3, all Protestant and born in the colony. Also with them was John Lovett, convict (Mangles), field labourer.^[8]

John Michael Ryan died on 23 November 1853.^[9] His burial was at McCarthy's (Roman Catholic) Cemetery, 82 McCarthy’s Lane, Castlereagh, New South Wales, Australia. (note this is on private land)^[10][11]

His grave has the inscription:^[12]

I.H.S. TO THE MEMORY OF JOHN MICHAEL RYAN

DIED 23 NOVR 1853 AGED 55 YEARS

May his Soul rest in peace Amen.

The footstone is inscribed “JMR 1853”

Sources

1. ↑ Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 17 February 2022), July 1814, trial of JOHN RYAN GEORGE MULKEY WILLIAM PHILLIPS (t18140706-106).
2. ↑ UK, Prison Hulk Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849 for John Ryan, Retribution Register 1802-1834 https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1989/images/31791_221377-00018?pId=52246
3. ↑ "Australia Marriages, 1810-1980," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTCK-VJT : 12 December 2014), John Ryan and Mary Rope, 06 Aug 1816; citing Castlereagh And Richmond, New South Wales, Australia, reference ; FHL microfilm 1,483,371.
4. ↑ New South Wales. Department of Justice and Attorney General. NSW Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages. Data-base on-line Marriage 133/1816 V1816133 155 RYAN JOHN ROPE MARY CD (Castlereagh). This was incorrectly copied into Vol 3A of the Kerrison James Index as "Parramatta" (1955/1816 V18161955 3A RYAN JOHN ROPE MARY CB)
5. ↑ Christ Church Church of England, Castlereagh register (SAG Reel 89, State Library of NSW)
6. ↑ Marcus Punch (Ed.), Toby's Gun and other selected stories from James Tobias Ryan's REMINISCENCES OF AUSTRALIA (1788-1894).
7. ↑ New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788-1856, Petitions To The Governor From Convicts For Mitigations of Sentences https://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/1905/images/32086_228341__0002-00097?pId=114408
8. ↑ "Australia, New South Wales, 1828 Census," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKXY-5NW8 : 16 March 2018), John Ryan, Evan, New South Wales, Australia; citing Evan, New South Wales, Australia, Ship Indefatigable, Mitchell Library, Sydney; FHL microfilm 942,056.
9. ↑ Date of death from gravestone. NSW BDM online index: Death RYAN JOHN M970/1853 V1853970 119 AGE 55 checked: John Michael Ryan, 55 years, abode Emu Plains, buried 25 Nov 1853, parish of Penrith
10. ↑ McCarthy’s Cemetery Conservation Management Plan, Draft Report, Report prepared for Penrith Lakes Development Corporation, November 2014, GML Heritage Pty Ltd http://mccarthyscemetery.bravesites.com/files/documents/299bffd0-f18f-4afd-9bcc-af11435b88c2.pdf
11. ↑ "Australia, New South Wales, Cemetery, Military, and Church Record Transcripts, 1816-1982," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVBX-M1G8 : 4 March 2015), John Michael Ryan, ; citing Burial, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia, McCarthy's Cemetery, private collection of Clarice M. Cubbins, New South Wales; FHL microfilm 1,560,025.
12. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/204887503/john-michael-ryan : accessed 17 February 2022), memorial page for John Michael Ryan (unknown–23 Nov 1853), Find a Grave Memorial ID 204887503, citing McCarthy's Cemetery, Castlereagh, Penrith City, New South Wales, Australia ; Maintained by LibWilliams (contributor 48108990) .

• "Dempsey Family Tree" [1]
• "John Michael Tobin Ryan, 1796–1853", Purnell, Marion, Australian Royalty database, https://australianroyalty.net.au/tree/purnellmccord.ged/individual/I68884/John-Michael-Tobin-Ryan
• Community Contributors, Convict Records database https://convictrecords.com.au/convicts/ryan/john/92738
• Biographical report for John RYAN, Person ID: B#10013302301, Biographical Database of Australia (BDA) https://www.bda-online.org.au/mybda/search/biographical-report/10013302301?f=john&l=ryan&ol=&i=3&s=&p=

See also:

• Ryan, James T. Reminiscences of Australia : Containing 70 Years of His Own Knowledge and 35 Years of His Ancestors / by James T. Ryan under the Cognomen of Toby. South Penrith, N.S.W.: Nepean Family History Society, 1982.