Sarah LYNCHEY  c1785 to 1860

by: Peter Strauss
pstrauss@aapt.net.au

Sarah LYNCHEY was born apparently Sarah MULLINS or MULLEN in County Down C 1785.

She appears to have married James or Michael LYNCHEY (or variants) in Ireland, and travelled with him to the Isle of Man.
Sometime in the second or third decade of the 1800’s the LYNCHEY family moved to the Isle of Man where the last of her children (there were at least five altogether) were born.
The husband may have been a soldier in the British army which made a practice of including Scottish and Irish Gaelic speakers in the Isle of Man garrison as they could communicate with the Manx Gaelic speakers.
It seems that during the 1820’s Sarah was widowed leaving her with 4 or 5 young children. The last and youngest son may have been the result of a new relationship.
There may be a question mark over the 3 youngest children. The 2 girls would have been born no earlier than 1823 and the son no earlier than 1827. In 1823 Sarah would have been approximately 38 and by 1827 approximately 42. I am trying to answer this medically as it would have been quite late in her child bearing years.
In June 1833 Sarah and a son Thomas stole money from a house at Kirk Lonan, they were apprehended after they had spent about £6-0-0 and were subsequently tried at Castle Rushen at Castletown, here is a transcription of the trial.
 

TRIAL of SARAH and THOMAS LYNCHEY
CASTLE RUSHEEN, IoM
8^th November 1833

From the original Trial Records held by the Manx Heritage and also the LDS
NB: the Italics are my own as is the capitalisation of surnames.
Any misspellings have been incorporated, as has the punctuation of the original

LIBER
PLITOR
1833

Isle of Man
At a Court of General Gaol Delivery holden at Castle Rushen on Friday eighth day of November in the fourth year of the Reign of our sovereign Lord WILLIAM the FOURTH by the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland KING, Defender of the faith and so forth and in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three-
Before his honour John READY Lieutenant Governor of the said Isle the Worshipful John CHRISTIAN and John Joseph HEYWOOD Deemsters and other officers then and there present---------
Inquisition being taken on the ninth day of July one thousand eight hundred and thirty three before the Sheriff Deemster HEYWOOD in the presence of John CONNELL Coroner of Middle Sheading upon the oaths of John COWIN, Thomas KELLY, Robert CORLET, Patrick KILLIP, William CLAG And James KEWLEY six good and lawful men of the Middle Sheading who being impannelled and sworn Present that Thomas LYNCHEY late of the Parish of Malew Labourer on the twenty fifth day of June  in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three at the Parish of Lonan One hundred and thirty seven pieces of the current silver coins of the realm called half Crowns of the value of seventeen pounds two shillings and sixpence, Eight pieces of the current silver coin of the realm called Crowns of the value of two pounds. One hundred and seventeen pieces of the current silver coin of the realm called Shillings of the value of five pounds seventeen shillings of the monies of William WATTERSON these also there being found feloniously did steal take and carry away against the peace of our said Lord the King his Crown and Dignity and against the form of the statute in that case made and provided. And the persons aforesaid upon their Oaths aforesaid do further present that Sarah LYNCHEY late of the Parish of Malew Labourer afterwards to wit on the said twenty fifth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three  the said one hundred and thirty seven pieces of the current silver Coin of the Realm called half Crowns of the value of seventeen pounds two shillings and sixpence, the said eight pieces of current silver Coin of the Realm called Crowns of the value of two pounds and the said one hundred and seventeen pieces of the current silver Coin of the Realm called shillings of the value of five pounds seventeen shillings so as aforesaid feloniously stolen feloniously did receive and have, the said Sarah LYNCHEY  then used these well knowing the said one hundred and thirty seven pieces of the current silver Coin of the Realm called half Crowns, the said eight pieces of the current silver Coin of the Realm called Crowns and the said one hundred and seventeen pieces of the silver Coin of the Realm called shillings to have been feloniously stolen against the peace of our said Lord the King his Crown and Dignity and against the form of the statute in that case made (undecipherable) provided  Wherefore at the said Court of General Gaol Delivery the said Thomas LYNCHEY and Sarah LYNCHEY appeared in their own proper persons being conducted to the Bar by Philip CALEY Gaoler of Castle Rushen aforesaid and the said Thomas LYNCHEY and Sarah LYNCHEY being arraigned and charged with the said Felony and requested how they would be tried pleaded not guilty and for trial thereof put themselves upon their (undecipherable) . Whereupon a Jury was called to try the (undecipherable) Thomas LYNCHEY and Sarah LYNCHEY for the same in the presence of James QUIRK (undecipherable) Acting Attorney General of this Isle to wit William GILL and Richard QUIRK of Patrick  Robert KELLY of Marwun Danial CRAM of Ballaugh John COLLISTER and Thomas CLARK (3 undecipherable) Silas CHRISTIAN William CLEATOR and (undecipherable) Murray CHRISTIAN of (undecipherable) William  (undecipherable) of (undecipherable) Francis (undecipherable) CROP of Maughold and Thomas BELL of Malew Jurors (undecipherable) by the several Coroners and duly impannelled and sworn to try the truth of the (undecipherable)  which jurors upon their Oaths say that these Thomas LYNCHEY and Sarah LYNCHEY are guilty of the felony  aforesaid in (undecipherable) and form charged against them in and by the said indictment whereupon (2 undecipherable) being fully considered it is ordered and adjudged by rhe Court that the said Thomas LYNCHY and Sarah LYNCHY  be transported for the term of fourteen years beyond the seas to such place as His Majesty shall direct  and appoint and that the said Thomas LYNCHY and Sarah LYNCHY be in the meantime remanded to the Gaol of Castle Rushen there to be kept in safe custody until his Majesty’s pleasure (4 undecipherable)
Below is a newspaper account of Sarah and her son Thomas’ trial for stealing and receiving.  Note that Sarah is incorrectly named as “Mary”. Thomas was found guilty of house-breaking and Sarah of stealing money.
 

MONA’S HERALD, TRIAL FRIDAY NOV. 8 1833

COURT OF GENERAL DELIVERY

CASTLE RUSHEN-CASTLETOWN

Thomas Lynchy and Mary his mother were placed at the bar, he charged with robbing Wm. Waterson of Kk. Lonan, in June last, of £34-2-0, and she of receiving the same knowing it was stolen.
The Acting Attorney General, James Quirk, Esq., stated the case to the Court and the Jury, by which it appeared, that at the time mentioned in the indictment, Waterson left his house to pursue his daily avocations leaving in his house a chest, containing £34-2-0., being all he possessed. On his return his money was gone, consisting of three sovereigns, one Douglas Bank note*, and the remainder in silver coin of the realm. Having a suspicion of the parties, who he had no doubt had committed the robbery, he upon information pursued them to Douglas. He found them in the market place, the boy singing and selling ballads. They became alarmed.
Cleator the chief constable was sent for, when the women dropped a bag containing upwards of £27-0-0 in silver. Waterson identified a piece of flannel and a pocket** in which the silver was deposited as his property.
Wm. Waterson sworn; he lives in the Parish of Kk. Lonan; remembers the apprehension of Lynchy and her son, in Douglas, had previously lost his money-it was about a week previous to their apprehension, and in June last, on the day of the robbery, he had left his house about 12 o’clock at noon; his money was deposited in a chest wrapped in a flannel, and placed in a woman’s pocket. The pocket and flannel produced by Cleator were identified as being the property of the deponent. They had contained £34-2-0  as described on his examination before his Honour the Deemster at Douglas. It was about seven o’clock in the evening when his wife returned home and found that a boy selling ballads had been seen about his premises, and he followed him to Douglas where he caught him in the market-place. He attempted to run away. The mother was with him and dropped the bag containing the silver. He sent for Cleator, and they were secured. The mother said she got the money from the boy, who declared that he had found it in a gorse bush, viz £27-10-0.
Thomas Cleator, is chief constable of Douglas. In June last, having been sent for, he found the prisoners in a public-house. The women dropped the money bag from under her cloak. He took possession thereof and the prisoners; counted the silver which amounted to £27-10-0. They said it was found in the gorse, near the half way between Laxey and Douglas. The money and bag were now produced.
Elizabeth Cain sworn; her father keeps a public-house between Laxey and Douglas. Soon after 12 o’clock, the lad at the bar and the woman came into her father’s house and took a cropper of brandy and a pint of ale, for which the boy paid and received change for a half-crown piece.
Mrs. Catherine Cregeen, who delivered her evidence in the Manx language, deposed to her living in Lonan parish and near to Waterson's house. About the time of the robbery saw the prisoners in the neighbourhood, the lad singing ballads.
This closed the case for the prosecution.
Frederick Gelling Esq defended the prisoners in an able manner. He certainly knew that had they found the money in the gorse bush, as stated, it would have been their duty to have found out the right owner of the money; but here there did not appear to be any concealment, as they called and changed part of the money at the half-way house. When found both the pocket and flannel were wet.
His Honour Deemster Christian then summed up in a luminous charge to the jury. It appeared that the house had been robbed, and that the thief had entered through the window. He commented on the boy running away, when he saw Waterson in Douglas, and the woman dropping the money. A week had elapsed between the robbery and the apprehension, and it was not improbable that the parties had concealed the stolen treasure in a damp place. His honour observed upon the necessity of protecting dwelling houses while persons were absent at their labour. If the jury had any doubt, let the prisoners have the benefit of it.
The jury retired and soon afterwards returned with a verdict of guilty against both the prisoners.
Deemster Christian then addressed the mother, by observing that she no doubt had set the son to work in this nefarious business; she had been a bad character ever since she had been on the Island. The boy was a hardened one, and had he committed the robbery at night he might have been hanged. He addressed the son Thomas Lynchey, and concluded by sentencing the mother and son to fourteen years transportation.
 

* At that time both Manx and English currency was in circulation
** pocket=a bag or pouch

Sarah was held at Castle Rushen until April 1835 when she was transferred to the ship Mary III on instruction from White-Hall.

Sarah arrived in Sydney on the “Mary 111” (5), Master William Ascough, on 6 September 1835.  The ship had left from London on 16 April with 180 female convicts, 177 of whom landed at Sydney, three apparently perishing on the voyage.

Sarah brought with her two daughters, Mary & another possibly named “Sarah” and a son possibly named “James” she had left another son behind on the Isle of Man. (Convicted women were allowed to bring boys up to age 8 and girls up to age 12 with them.).
 The “possible” names rest on a “Dissenter baptism” in Douglas on the Isle of Man in 1826 of a Sarah Daughter of Michael LYNCHY (no “e”) and Sarah MULLEN; and the tattoo on the arm of Thomas LYNCHEY which refers to ‘Brother James LYNCHEY 1835”.
 Sarah, was a 50 year old widow when she arrived in Sydney in 1835. The convict indent described her as being 4 feet, 11-3/4 inches tall, pale and freckled complexion, hair brown mixed with grey, grey eyes, a missing upper front tooth and having a slight impediment in speech. She also is noted as having both little fingers crooked and scars to the ball of her left thumb and on the back of her fourth and little fingers. She had one male and two female children with her. Her trade or calling is listed as “Allwork” although she is described as being “feeble”.  It is noted that she was unable to read or write. Her crime is noted as “stealing money”, that she had no former convictions, and that she was “jail delivery” from Castle Rushen, Isle of Man.
 

The 1837 Muster indicates that Sarah was assigned to Henry Fisher who was a Wine and Spirit merchant of Princes Street, Sydney, in an area still known as The Rocks which was a strongly convict area of early Sydney town.  Princes Street ran parallel to and to the east of Fort Street and disappeared when the Harbour Bridge was built in the late 1920’s and early 30’s. In 1858 Henry Fisher was listed as a merchant at 31 Crown Street, Millers Point.

Sarah received her Ticket-of-Leave in 1843 (# 43/1997 11/04/1843) and this required her to reside in the Windsor area West of Sydney on the Hawkesbury /Nepean river. This was amended in September of that year to “Sydney provided that she remained in the service of Mr. G. Dudley”. Dudley was the “husband“ of Sarah’s daughter Mary Ann.
Sarah received two Certificates of Freedom, the first in November 1847 which was cancelled and the second on 6 March 1848 (# 48/129 dated 06/03/1848).
Sarah seems to have lived with her daughter Mary Ann and her family until her death.
Sarah died from “influenza and sub acute bronchitis” on 15 June 1860 aged 75 (Ref 1860/02208), and was buried in the Catholic section of the Old Sydney (Sandhills) Cemetery. When Sydney’s Central Railway Station was built partly on the old cemetery site her remains were relocated to Rookwood Cemetery in what then must have been outer western Sydney.

Sarah’s son, Thomas, was transported on the “Mary Ann” in the same year as his mother, 1835. The ships indent for Thomas tells us that he was 18 years old, could read and write, was single, and a Roman Catholic, born in the Isle of Man (he may in fact have been born in Ireland) and his occupation was noted as “peddler” (sic). His sentence is shown as 14 years and with no prior convictions. He was 5 feet and ½ inch tall, brown and freckled complexion, brown hair and hazel eyes. It notes that he also had an impediment in his speech and it details his many tattoos which numbered at least twenty, including “Adam and Eve”, “crucifix”, “heart pierced with dart” “woman” “ship” “man” and “Brother James Lynchey 1835”.
Thomas was to have been sent to Tasmania on the “Lady Kennaway” but with 18 others he was taken off at Cork, suffering from cholera. Of the 18 he was the only survivor.
After he recovered he continued to Sydney on the Mary Ann arriving in 1835, the same year as his mother & siblings.
Thomas received a Ticket of Leave in 1844 ( #$ 44/1337 dated 14/05/1844) issued at Muswellbrook and stating he was to remain in the Moreton Bay District.
Brisbane is located on Moreton Bay, however prior to Queensland becoming a sparate Colony from New South Wales most of the area north of the upper Hunter River, and Port Macquarie was referred to as “The Moreton Bay District”.

He is not in the 1837 muster and nothing further has been found of him to date.

    Sydney 1822

Mary & George DUDLEY and Sarah LYNCHEY lived in 6 Banks St. Chippendale, Sydney

Prepared from personal research and details included in a draft DUDLEY family History being written by Elaine SEARLE, the wife of another DUDLEY/LYNCHEY descendent