James McCarty : Short Biography

James McCarty 

Born 1829  Baptised in Ballymore, Co. Westmeath, Ireland.

Father: Malachi McCarty c.1792 – 1850 b. Ireland

Mother: Bridget Lynn 1796 – 1844 b. Ireland

Spouse: Hannah Maria Smith B. 1829 Birmingham England

Brothers:

John 1809 – 1867 Ireland

Malachi Joseph 1831 – 1881 Baptised Ballymore, Ireland

Michael 1835 Ireland

Thomas 1838 Ireland

By 1841 James and his family appear on the 1841 census in Livery Street, Birminham, England

9 Jan 1846.  At the age of 17 years James was convicted, at the General Quarter Session in Warwick, of stealing an apple pie.  He was sentenced to seven years transportation to Tasmania (Van Diemans Land).  He was sent to Pentonville Millbank prison to await transportation.

6 May 1847 he left Millbank prison and was put on the ‘Joseph Somes’ vessel to await transportation.

The ‘Joseph Somes’ began it’s journey on 2 June 1847.  During the journey all prisoners aboard the ship received a Royal pardon.  They were then taken to Point Henry, Geelong, Australia as exiles.

At the time James was convicted of Larceny (1846) and sentenced to transportation to Australia, pardons were being issued to many prisoners in an attempt to reduce transportation.

James arrived in Point Henry on 24 September 1847. He had been taught the trade of shoe maker but was sent to work for Robert Sutherland of Native Creek, Geelong as a general servant.

By the 1851 census James was back in England lodging with his brother Michael at No. 5 House, No. 14 court, Northwood Street, Birmingham.  Both brothers occupation was ‘Slaters’.

James married Hannah Maria Smith on 12 April 1856.  He continued to work as a ‘Slater’ employing seven men plus a household servant