Researchers who have claimed this convict
There is currently one researcher who has claimed Catherine Barnes
- Researcher (Chris Nilsen)
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Biographies
The convict Catherine Barnes (her married name) was born Catherine Bond in Armagh, Ireland c1810.
She worked as a dress & bonnet maker. She married Roger Barnes, (born c1806, Blackley, Manchester). Roger was a gamekeeper and lived in Birmingham. They had one child.
Catherine spent time in prison in England for stealing (12 months) and smuggling brandy (7 months). She appears in the Liverpool Mercury on 13th April 1832; ‘To be imprisoned for six calendar months – Catherine Barnes, 21’. It appears she was not out of trouble for long. At the age of 22 she is in court again. Tried in Lancaster on 22-10-1832 she is convicted of stealing two handkerchiefs and 2 yards of linen from the Lady of the House. Being her third offence, she is transported to Van Diemen’s Land for 14 years.
Roger spent some time in gaol also. He was charged on 4th June 1830 with committing manslaughter and sentenced in August to two years hard labour in the Lancaster Castle. At the time he was working as a gamekeeper for a local MP, John Wilson Patten Esq.
Catherine Barnes departed on the 'Jane' from Liverpool on the 22nd February 1833 with 115 female convicts. After a 128-day journey she arrived on the 30th July 1833.
Catherine Barnes is frequently in trouble as a convict. She had further convictions for drunkenness, absconding, fighting and general bad conduct over a 7-year period. On one occasion in March 1837, it was her husband, James Miller, who brought charges against her.
Catherine receives her Ticket of Leave on the 7th February 1840, her Conditional Pardon on 27th September 1843 and again in March 1845 (the first CP must have been revoked) and her Free Certificate 1st July 1847.
She married the convict, James Millar on 6th October 1836 in Launceston. However it is quite obvious that their relationship started well before this date. She bore him at least one child and possibly two prior to the marriage.
There are up to eight children attributed to James & Catherine Miller:
1)Mary Ann BARNES. *Born 8-10-1834 in Launceston.
2)Sarah Jane MILLER. *Born c1834 in Launceston.
3)Adelaide MILLER. *Born c1836 in Launceston.
4)Charlotte MILLER *Born 4-12-1839 in Launceston.
5)Catharine MILLER *Born 21-1-1843 in Launceston. (Mother’s surname was Bond)
6)James MILLER. *Born c1844 in Tasmania.
7)William MILLER. *Born c1848 in Launceston.
8)Thomas MILLER. *Born c1851 in Launceston.
The Millers had addresses in Patterson Street and Tamar Street, Launceston.
We find Catherine in the Launceston Examiner on the 30th June 1847.
She is claiming that three men, Joseph Swain, Thomas Thompson & William Beesing (probationers) had stolen from her £5 17s in money, and a bonnet & shawl, value £2 10s. At the time James was away at Port Phillip. She stated that on Saturday afternoon she had occasion to go a short distance into the country to pay some debts. She took with her a handkercheif containing some cakes & apples, besides the money. She returned to Launceston at about 9pm still with the money as the person she owed it to was not home. As she was nearing her home she claimed Beesing snatched the money from her hand and ran away with it. She followed and found Beesing on a boat with the other men, who then took her bonnet & shawl also. They made threats to her and refused to give her property back. The money was part of a £10 order sent to her from her husband via the Union Bank. After hearing the statements from many witnesses it was unclear if Catherine was telling the truth and whether she was actually ‘tipsy’ and went to the boat voluntarily to be with Beesing. The case was dismissed.
The family moved to Victoria after 1848 and settled in Buninyong near Ballarat.
Catherine MILLER died in Scotchman’s Lead, Victoria on 26-8-1874.
Submitted by Researcher (Chris Nilsen) on 5 October 2018
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Disclaimer: The information has not been verified by Claim a Convict. As this information is contributed, it is the responsibility of those who use the data to verify its accuracy. Research notes
There are currently no research notes attached to this convict. Sources
- The National Archives (TNA) : HO 11/9, p.2
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