James Kelly, Convict "Royal Admiral" 1792

http://members.iinet.net.au/~perthdps/convicts/con30.htm

James KELLY was born in 1775 in Dublin, Ireland, occupation Farmer. James died 28.02.1833, Morpeth, at the age of 58 years. James refused to be buried at the local cemetery, as it was a Protestant one, and was buried near where he lived. James Kelly received the King’s pardon on condition of being transported to Botany Bay for life for stealing one metal watch and chain and metal watch key, valued at about 21 shillings and 7 pence. His trial was held at the Old Bailey on 8th June 1791. The sentences handed out were generally one year for every shilling stolen.

He arrived in Sydney on the "Royal Admiral" on 7th October 1792. The ‘Royal Admiral’ had left England on the 30th May with 289 male and 47 female convicts and had made the fastest passage yet from the Cape: 5 weeks and 3 days. Although there had been fever on board only 10 convicts died. This low mortality rate was due partly because a naval agent had sailed with the ship and the fact that her master, Captain Bond, was certainly much more humane than many of his predecessors. The ‘Royal Admiral’ prisoners were sent directly to Parramatta (one of the prisoners on this vessel was one Mary Reiby, who later called her hotel in what is now Reiby lane, Circular Quay, the ‘Royal Admiral’). On arriving the prisoners received two frocks, two pairs of trousers, one pair of stockings, one hat, one pair of shoes, one pound of soap, three needles, four ounces of thread and a comb.

James Kelly would have been assigned to a farm. James Kelly and Mary Langan had been both sent to Rose Hill (Parramatta) on their arrival - it was there that they met. James Kelly, Thomas Chaseling, Matthew Everingham and families all moved to the Hawkesbury area in the early 1800's. They all settled and farmed in this area with their families along with that of the Roses. Their families intermarried through 3 or more generations and 3 children from the Everingham family married three of the Roses. James and Mary's son, Richard Kelly married Elizabeth Green, whose mother was Mary Rose, daughter of one of the first free settlers in Australia.

The 1805 Muster records show that James had earned his Ticket of Leave (i.e. he could work his own land, but had to report regularly to the authorities) and fortunately had been granted some land, as he had 3 children and his partner Mary to support - although Mary had been given land in her own right. He was pardoned on the 31st January 1814 and the Census of 1828 states James was Free by servitude and was living at Swan Reach, Willis Plains (Maitland).