Researchers who have claimed this convict
There are currently 4 researchers who have claimed John Delaney
- Researcher (Debby Thomas)
- Researcher (2870)
- Researcher (6475)
- Researcher (4843)
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Biographies
John was given a Life Sentance in Dublin in July 1800 at the age of 20 and was sentenced to be transported to New South Wales. Although no records appear to be available of his crime, it is well known that many of the Irish convicts transported to Australia in that period were involved in the unsuccessful rebellion in Ireland in 1798. The rebellion was aimed at the establishment of an Irish Republic. Between 1800 and 1806 a considerable number of those involved in the rebellion were transported as Irish exiles.
Although there is no firm proof that John Delaney was an exile, it is reasonable to assume that he was, in view of a reference on family records that he was a "soldier". As there is no record of any military service in Australia, the reference to his being a soldier probably relates to the part he played in the rebellion.
Following his conviction he was destined to spend more than one year in a Dublin goal before embarking on the transport vessel "Atlas 1" on 29th November 1801. It has been recorded that the convicts who were embarked on this vessel in Dublin were all more or less unhealthy in view of the time which they had been held in the Dublin prison. After the vessel left Dublin, it sailed to Cork where more convicts were taken on - these convicts were in a very unhealthy state.
On leaving Cork the Atlas ran into extremely heavy weather. With a heavy load of supplies on board all air scuttles had to be closed. By the time the vessel arrived at Rio on 2nd February 1802, fifteen prisoners had died and more than 70 were sick.
Following the heavy battering that the Atlas took during her passage to Rio, repairs were necessary. The convicts were unloaded onto an island while the repairs were carried out and the ship's cargo was restocked.
The master of the vessel was the infamous Captain Richard who was more motivated towards his gains from the excessive cargo which he had loaded on when the Atlas sailed from Rio on 26th February, the convicts were subjected to extreme cramped conditions on board. The weather on the remainder of the voyage to Sydney Cove was bad and the conditions on board became worse. There were vermin on board and the air was so devoid of oxygen that candles would not stay alight. Scurvy broke out and many of the convicts died.
The Atlas eventually arrived in Sydney Cove on 7th July 1802, having been 220 days on the passage. A total of 63 men and 2 women had died during the voyage, and another 4 men died shortly after she made port.
It is recorded that both Governor Hunter and Governor Kink had great difficulty in determined the precise position of the Irish exiles, for many of them had been summarily court-martialed with little or no record being made of their sentences. Nevertheless many of them were made to serve as convict labourers for many years before receiving their pardon.
John Delaney was assigned to the Green Hills district (Windsor) where he served out his time until he received his conditional Pardon on 31st January 1815.
In the interim period John met Ann Briggs who had a child by him who was born 4th Jul 1812 at Wilberforce. He was later granted permission to marry Ann and the ceremony took place at St. Matthews Church Windsor on 23rd August 1813.
Following receipt of his conditional pardon in 1815, their son John Delaney jnr was formally baptised at St Matthews Church on 14 July 1815.
The events in the life of John and Ann Delaney after their marriage is very sketchy, although it is suspected that they may have moved from the Windsor district shortly after their marriage and settled in Parramatta.
Submitted by Researcher (Debby Thomas) on 26 July 2014
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