Thomas Lonergan Horan : Short Biography

THOMAS LONERGAN HORAN from Demone, Clonoulty.

1837 Jul 17: Thomas Horan, age 24 residing in Demone, Parish of Clonoulty, Kilmanagh, County Tipperary, Ireland.  His trial took place at Clonmel in Co. Tipperary on 17 July 1837, during the Summer Assizes before the presiding judge, Mr. Justice Doherty, he was held in the County Gaol, Tipperary, where his name appears on the List of Convicts at the Gaol in 1837 (Report No. 248). (1).  Thomas was charged with administering an unlawful oath at Co. Tipperary and transported for life.  He was sent to Australia on the Neptune 11 (4th voyage) (Doc Ref: TR 2, P150 CRF 1837 H 129)

1837 Jul 28: Following the trial and sentence, Thomas Horan of Demone, Parish of Clonoulty, Barony of Kilmanagh, petitioned The Earl of Mulgrave, Henry Constantine, who was the Lieutenant Governor and Governor, at Dublin Castle, for clemency on the grounds of his innocence. This document was dated July 28, 1837 at Clonmel Jail.    According to Thomas, he was tried with two men named John Bourke and Patrick Dwyer on a charge of administering an unlawful oath to one Denny Sheehan. He declares that until that time he was unknown to Sheehan, proven by the fact that Sheehan incorrectly identified him as ‘Thomas Horan of Bishopswood’. 

This Memorial bears the signatures of five people who certify to Thomas Horan’s character, as ‘an honest, industrious, well conducted young man against whom no previous charge or complaint had been made. The signatories were: Nicholas Byrnes? #John Greene (the Horan’s Landlord); P. Moloney, Parish Priest, Clonoulty; [Father]? Hayes, Parish Priest of Dun…..; and James Heeney (Steney) of Cashel. 

1837 Sep 16: A couple of months later, on Sep 16, 1837, his brother Patrick Horan, also made a petition by way of a ‘Memorial’ addressed to the same Earl of Mulgrave, in which he gave his occupation and address as “farmer of Demoan near Cashel in the County of Tipperary”. Patrick declared that his brother Thomas was innocent of the charges against him and pleaded for commutation of the sentence of transportation for life for his brother Thomas Horan on the grounds that Thomas had declared his innocence to him (Patrick). He argued that Thomas was convicted on the ‘unsupported testimony’ of two men of ‘most infamous and abandoned character’ (Sheehan and Ryan) who had stated on oath that Thomas Horan was one of an armed party who had come to their residence at night; and, after being refused a pistol they had demanded of the two above, proceeded to assault them.

Patrick states that he and his father could have provided an alibi for Thomas, but because of the ‘negligence of Counsel’ some important witnesses were not called. The Counsel who had been retained and paid by the family was in another Court when the case was heard, and the lawyer replacing him had no knowledge of the case, not having had the Brief, and consequently did not call on essential witnesses.

The above document is signed by six parties as a testament to the good character of Thomas Horan. Their names are: Robert W. White; James Heney of Cashel; Edward Dalton of Ballygriffen; John Henery of Whiteport; William Dalton, Abbey and Robert Armstrong, Vicar of Clonoulty. It seems from a further document that Patrick received no reply to his petition. [3]

1837 Aug 27: The Neptune sailed from Dublin under Captain Negle with 197 male prisoners. Surgeon Superintendent Dr. Maslyn, R.N. Passengers Major Elliot, Mrs. Elliot and child, Lieut. Baker and 28 rank and file of 51st regt., 6 women and 8 children.  This was Patrick Martyn's only voyage as surgeon superintendent on a convict ship. He was approximately 34 years of age in 1838. His medical journal does not seem to have survived. 

1838 Jan 2: One hundred and ninety-seven male prisoners arrived in Port Jackson on the Neptune three having died on the passage out.

1845 Jul 14: Thomas received a Convict Indulgence for Melbourne Victoria. (Tickets of Leave, Permission to Marry, Conditional Pardon were classed as such.)

1845 Jul 31: TICKET OF LEAVE - Port Phillip Herald.  Thomas Horan, convict came on the Neptune 4 to collect your Ticket of Leave, at Post Office, Melbourne. Farm Labourer, Melbourne. Ticket # 45/1318 State Records Shelf Ref: 4/4201.  State Records Reel No. 957.

1846-1849: Thomas Horan listed on advertisement under Pardons Years 

1853 Jun 20: Thomas Horan listed under “Postal” in Albury NSW.

1863 Jan: His younger brother John Horan and wife Mary Tuite emigrated to Australia assisted by the Queensland Immigration Society.  They arrived at Moreton Bay and were allocated land at Jimbour, where they remained for five years before moving to Tootgarook, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria.

1868 Mar 24: Thomas Horan, Land Transaction Phillip County NSW.

1869 Jan 24: Thomas Horan listed as Livestock Impounder in Albury NSW.  wo properties were acquired by Thomas Lonergan Horan, both on the same date in March 1869, on several lots of land in Olive Street, Albury..

1878 Jan 23 – Thomas Horan, a Farmer at Albury Flat was assaulted on the 23rd instant while he was working at a Mrs. Kelly’s farm.  A man named Samuel Richardson, whom he had known for about fourteen years,  struck him several violent blows on the head with a piece of quartering, nflicting serious wounds.  Erysipelas set in and he was not expected to recover. The offender was found not guilty due to him having the "horrors" and was not responsible for his actions.

1878 Jan 31: Thomas Horan made his Last Will and Testament., bequeating his estate to his brother John Horan who was living with his family in Victoria.  Thomas also made an indenture a couple of years before he died. His two properties were retained in a Trust for a close woman friend, *the wife of a Doctor Kelly, who was entitled to live in his property until she died.  This was Mrs Kelly who nursed him and was kind to him following the attack.

1883 Dec 2: Thomas Horan, Farmer age 70, died at Olive Street, Albury, of Apoplexy; an inquiry by the Coroner was held and found cause of death by natural means.