Thomas McCormick (abt. 1793 - 1864)

Born about 1793 in Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Kennedy) McCormick — married 12 Jul 1822 in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 13 May 1864 at about age 71 in Maitland, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Robbie Forbes [send private message]

Biography

Thomas was arrested in County Westmeath, Ireland for 'Burglary and Carding' and was convicted in Aug 1815, firstly to hang which was later commuted to Transportation for Life. He was 21 years of age and his occupation was listed as a Labourer. He was 5ft 3.5 inches tall, with fairly pale complexation, light brown hair and grey eyes.
Thomas was transported to Australian on the ship 'Gilford' which arrived at Port Jackson on 08 Apr 1816.^[1]
The convicts on this ship were assigned to Windsor, Liverpool and Parramatta, with Thomas being assigned to Parramatta.
It appears he was first assigned to Mr Chalker of Toongabbie, then to Thomas Barber of Parramatta, who listed on the Returns of Publicans Licences in 1818 & 19.
On a later Muster Thomas is shown as a Government Servant to Thomas Barber of Parramatta.
It is highly probable Thomas meet Mary through their mutual employers who were both Publicans in Parramatta. In 1822 Thomas was charged before the Court with killing a cow which belonged to Thomas Barber. Mary unsuccessfully appealed to the Colonial Secretary requested his release on the grounds she had no one to care for her as her mother was at Coal Creek (Newcastle).
On 30 Oct 1823, Thomas was assigned to William Hickey at Newcastle with his wife remaining in Parramatta.
The General Muster of 1825 shows Thomas as now being assigned to James Rennie in Newcastle.
The 1828 Census records Thomas as assigned to Mr Glinnies, with the family as living at Patrick Plains with a 4 year old boy (John) and 10 month old girl (Margaret).
At this time it is recorded that Thomas owned 14 head of cattle.
30 Nov 1828 applied for a Ticket of Leave, which was granted on 10 Jun 1829 on the proviso he remained in the Patrick Plains area which was later altered to Maitland.
During 1933 Mary applied for Thomas to be assigned to her and application was granted.
On May 1836 Thomas applied for a Conditional Pardon which was formally granted 31 Aug 1837.
On 15 Jan 1844 Thomas was finally granted an Absolute Pardon but was only able to enjoy this freedom with his wife for another 12 months as Mary died giving birth to Catherine in 1845.
Thomas died^[2] on 13 May 1864 of Cancer of The Throat, a condition he suffered from over the last three years.
Only four of Thomas's and Mary's children were still alive and he is buried in the Catholic section of the East Maitland Cemetery.
Convict Record^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ https://australianroyalty.net.au/tree/purnellmccord.ged/individual/X9082/Thomas-McCormick
2. ↑ https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/lifelink/familyhistory/search/result?117 Reg No. 4309/1864
3. ↑ https://convictrecords.com.au/convicts/mccormick/thomas/143290

Book 'From Mullingar to Maitland, NSW The Story of the McCormick/ack Family' by Beryl Nolan.