My 4xgt grandmother Bridget Eslin/Heslin/Hasler/Hestor was born in Longford in around 1772. It is thought that Heslin/Eslin were of German origin.
Location: Kilmainham, Dublin
Trial date recorded as 1792: 21st - 24th July 1792, however a record taken from the Freeman's Journal states that "On Friday 13th instant, the Quarter Session of the county of Dublin was opened before Robert Day Esq...... Mary Hughes and Bridget Eslin, for stealing out of a bleach-green, at Rathgate forty yards of linen, value £2, the goods of Mr Osboy. They were stopped loaded with the spoil by a revenue officer, who suspected that the bundle contained smuggled goods. Guilty to the value of 4/6d - to be transported for seven years." Bridget, aged 18, was sentenced to seven years transportation at Dublin in September, 1792.
The Sugar Cane sailed 12/4/1793 from Cork and arrived 17 September 1793 in Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Bridget and her family and friends were members of a gang who stole bleached linen from the bleach greens in Dublin. There has been well documented data from the Freeman's Journal, published in Dublin to support this theory with articles printed in 1785, 1789, 1791 and 1792.
Bridget's father Patrick was hanged at 1pm on 10-12 November 1789 for 'robbing Mr Clarke's printing yard at Palmertown'.
There is a full report in the Freeman's Journal describing his hanging and mentions the family connections.
Others in the gang suffered the following fates - Joseph Kearns alias Dungan (transported to NSW per Boddingtons), Mary Hughes (transported to NSW per Sugar Cane), Michael Dooley probably executed, Thomas Hughes executed in Dublin in December 1791.
A son Patrick was transported to NSW per Boddingtons 1793 while another son John and wife (possibly named Mary/Maria) were sent to the "Americas" in 1792.
Would anyone know where to look for the documents for John and his mother's transportation? Also does anyone know what parish they were from and what conditions were like to cause them to steal.
Regards, from Australia
Robbiemac
Saturday 4th Feb 2012, 06:52AM
Message Board Replies
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Hi Robbie,
Thank you very much for your query to Ireland Reaching Out. Wow, what a story... so detailed and so sad. But well documented - this is great for you. You have been able to find out so many details already.
Here is a link to what 18th century Dublin life was like: http://www.chaptersofdublin.com/books/ossory/ossory6.htm This is an extract from the page:
"That no lack of severity on the part of the authorities can be held accountable for this prevalence of robberies with violence may be inferred from the following account of an execution at Kilmainham. (The ancient Danish place of execution was Gallows Hills, east of St. Stephen?s Green and south of Lower Baggot Street. A gallows still stood near St. Stephen's Green in 1786, and here the four pirates mentioned shortly, were hanged) 'The execution of five footpads on Saturday last' (25th June 1785) 'was, by an accident, rendered distressing to every person capable of feeling for the misfortunes of their fellow-creatures. In about a minute after the five unhappy criminals were turned off; the temporary gallows fell down, and on its re-erection, it was found necessary to suffer three of the unhappy wretches to remain half-strangled on the ground until the other two underwent the sentence of the law, when they in their turn were tied up and executed.' This extract is a good example of the sentimentalism iii such matters which characterised the period.
Three more executions were carried out at the same place on 26th January 1786. The presence of so much wealth in Dublin, while so many of its inhabitants were destitute, must be held accountable for much of this crime, as we find it noted' in Twiss?s tour that 'footpads, robberies, and highwaymen are seldom heard of except in the vicinity of Dublin.'"
Bridget was transported to NSW in Australia. Convict records date back to 1788 for this region. This is essentially the earliest Australian 'census' records. Later census records are available at the NSW government records office.
The next place to consider looking are the shipping records (the National Maritime Museum in London might be a good place to start) for that time. Also, newspapers - other papers might have recorded this particular trial.
Kind regards,
Sinead Cooney
Monday 20th Feb 2012, 04:15PM -
Hello Robbie,
I think the name is generally rendered 'Heslin' in Longford, though it can be Heslan, Heslon or Hislon. I would not attach too much importance to spelling in this case. According to an index to Griffith's Valuation (1854), which is a record of land and buildings compiled for taxation purposes, there were 21 householders with that name in Co. Longford. There were also two named 'Hesler'.
Best wishes,
Martin Morris
Monday 11th Feb 2013, 04:12PM -
Hi Robyn,
Do you have a source for the above information please? I am tracing Joseph Kearns.
Regards
Peter
Saturday 13th Jul 2013, 04:19AM