Michael Seery
Michael Seery > Winifred Seery > Catherine Wilson > Catherine Withers > Margaret Murphy > Felicity Bent
Michael Seery was my great-great-great-grandfather.
Michael was born in Delvin, Crowinstown, Kellalagh, Killeagh, County Westmeath, Ireland in 1808, the son of Mary Farrelly and John Seery. He was baptised on 22 May 1808 in the parish of Delvin, Westmeath.
In 1827, Michael married Bridget Daly in King's County (now County Offaly) and their first daughter, Winifred, was born in about 1829, also in King's County.
Michael was born in Delvin, Crowinstown, Kellalagh, Killeagh, County Westmeath, Ireland in 1808, the son of Mary Farrelly and John Seery. He was baptised on 22 May 1808 in the parish of Delvin, Westmeath.
In 1827, Michael married Bridget Daly in King's County (now County Offaly) and their first daughter, Winifred, was born in about 1829, also in King's County.
Michael was a farm servant in King's County and we assume he lived a poor but more-or-less settled life with his wife and daughter until 1832 when he committed burglary and was arrested. He was tried for robbery assisted with a fire arm at King's County on 10 March 1832 and sentenced to transportation for life to the colony of New South Wales.
Michael departed Cork on 8 October 1832 aboard the Roslin Castle and arrived in Port Jackson on 5 February 1833. The transportation records note that he was 5 feet 4.5 inches tall, with a dark sallow complexion, black hair, chestnut eyes and a small scar in the centre of the forehead.
The records also note that he was Catholic, a farm servant, married with one child and that he had no prior charges or convictions [1].
Michael departed Cork on 8 October 1832 aboard the Roslin Castle and arrived in Port Jackson on 5 February 1833. The transportation records note that he was 5 feet 4.5 inches tall, with a dark sallow complexion, black hair, chestnut eyes and a small scar in the centre of the forehead.
The records also note that he was Catholic, a farm servant, married with one child and that he had no prior charges or convictions [1].
Arrival in New South Wales
On arrival in Sydney, Michael was assigned as a servant to F M'Arthur Esquire (Francis McArthur) who had a property called Norwood near Goulburn. Norwood is on Middle Arm Road, off the road between Goulburn and Tarlo. The property was subdivided in the late 1880s and part of it became Kingsdale, a village which is now in ruins and exists only as a locality.
Note that the Macarthur Family established a number of private towns in colonial New South Wales, including Taralga, the village from where the management of James and William Macarthur's Richlands Estate was conducted during the 1820s.
Note that the Macarthur Family established a number of private towns in colonial New South Wales, including Taralga, the village from where the management of James and William Macarthur's Richlands Estate was conducted during the 1820s.
Children
Left behind in Ireland with a small daughter and with no hope of ever seeing her husband again, Bridget Seery applied for herself and her daughter, Winifred, to travel to New South Wales to join her husband. Bridget's application was successful and she and Winifred arrived in Sydney on 27 February 1835.
In addition to Winifred, Michael and Bridget went on to have the following children:
John William, born 16 June 1836, probably at Norwood. Married Eliza Jane Warn, Goulburn, 1854.
Catherine, born 25 September 1838, probably at Norwood. Married Peter Gray, Goulburn, 1857.
Michael, born 24 April 1841, probably at Norwood. Married Mary Gray, Goulburn, 1859.
Patrick, born 11 February 1844, probably at Norwood. Married Anne Gray, Goulburn, 1866.
James, born 1845 in Grabben Gullen. Norec any marriage. Died 1912 in Sydney.
Hugh Francis (twin), born 1849 in Yass. Norec any marriage. Died 1902 in Queensland.
Bridget (twin), born 1849 in Yass. Married John Sullivan, Goulburn, 1871.
In addition to Winifred, Michael and Bridget went on to have the following children:
John William, born 16 June 1836, probably at Norwood. Married Eliza Jane Warn, Goulburn, 1854.
Catherine, born 25 September 1838, probably at Norwood. Married Peter Gray, Goulburn, 1857.
Michael, born 24 April 1841, probably at Norwood. Married Mary Gray, Goulburn, 1859.
Patrick, born 11 February 1844, probably at Norwood. Married Anne Gray, Goulburn, 1866.
James, born 1845 in Grabben Gullen. Norec any marriage. Died 1912 in Sydney.
Hugh Francis (twin), born 1849 in Yass. Norec any marriage. Died 1902 in Queensland.
Bridget (twin), born 1849 in Yass. Married John Sullivan, Goulburn, 1871.
Working Life: 1841 - 1849
Michael received his Ticket of Leave on 30 April 1841 which stated that he was "allowed to remain in the District of Goulburn" [2]. A Ticket of Leave allowed convicts to work for themselves provided that they remained in a specified area, reported regularly to local authorities and attended divine worship every Sunday, if possible. They could not leave the colony [3].
Despite this indication that Michael was now permitted to work for himself, the Seery family appears to have continued working for Francis McArthur at Norwood because, on 19 January 1842, Michael received a Ticket-of-Leave Passport which stated that he was "allowed to travel between Goulburn and Parramatta in the employ of Fr. McArthur Esqr for 12 months".
Despite this indication that Michael was now permitted to work for himself, the Seery family appears to have continued working for Francis McArthur at Norwood because, on 19 January 1842, Michael received a Ticket-of-Leave Passport which stated that he was "allowed to travel between Goulburn and Parramatta in the employ of Fr. McArthur Esqr for 12 months".
A Ticket of Leave (No. 44/2624) was granted on 3 April 1844, allowing Michael to remain in the Yass area however this Ticket of Leave was cancelled on or around 1 May 1844 when he was committed to stand trial for highway robbery.
Michael was indicted for stealing ten pair of trousers, two blankets, twenty yards of calico and two bags, the property of Charles Buckland, on Lake George on 31 March, 1844. Buckland had been stopped by three men armed with fire arms on Lake George who then robbed his dray but, as he was not able to identify the prisoner, Michael was acquitted of the crime in September 1844.
Michael received a Conditional Pardon (No. 49/1109) on 9 June 1849 [3]. This allowed him the freedom of the colony on condition that he not seek to return to England [4]. This meant that he was effectively a free man.
The notice of his Conditional Pardon was published in the Sydney Gazette on 10 August 1849.
Michael was indicted for stealing ten pair of trousers, two blankets, twenty yards of calico and two bags, the property of Charles Buckland, on Lake George on 31 March, 1844. Buckland had been stopped by three men armed with fire arms on Lake George who then robbed his dray but, as he was not able to identify the prisoner, Michael was acquitted of the crime in September 1844.
Michael received a Conditional Pardon (No. 49/1109) on 9 June 1849 [3]. This allowed him the freedom of the colony on condition that he not seek to return to England [4]. This meant that he was effectively a free man.
The notice of his Conditional Pardon was published in the Sydney Gazette on 10 August 1849.
Farming Life in Wheeo and Pejar: 1853 - 1869
On 1 June 1853, Michael and Bridget purchased 30 acres of land at a place called Native Dog Flat which was located at the head of Wheeo Creek.
In the map on the left, the land belonging to Michael Seery was located in the L-bend of Glenerin Road.
In 1853 when the Seerys moved to Native Dog Flat, their children were aged about 24, 17, 15, 12, 9, 8 and 4. Some of them would have been eligible to attend school in the area so I would like to find out when the first schools began there. In 1873 there were half-time schools at Lost River and Curren's Creek.
From the newspaper clippings below, it seems that the Seerys sought to sell their farm at Native Dog Flat in 1854 and then went on to purchase a further 12 acres in 1857 on the Wollondilly River at Pejar.
In the map on the left, the land belonging to Michael Seery was located in the L-bend of Glenerin Road.
In 1853 when the Seerys moved to Native Dog Flat, their children were aged about 24, 17, 15, 12, 9, 8 and 4. Some of them would have been eligible to attend school in the area so I would like to find out when the first schools began there. In 1873 there were half-time schools at Lost River and Curren's Creek.
From the newspaper clippings below, it seems that the Seerys sought to sell their farm at Native Dog Flat in 1854 and then went on to purchase a further 12 acres in 1857 on the Wollondilly River at Pejar.
We know, however, that Michael and Bridget were still living in the area in 1869 because there is a record of a woman called Bridget Slaven who, with her husband, operated a small farm of 40 acres at (Grabben) Gullen in the Crookwell district, being found guilty in September 1869 of the theft of cattle belonging to Michael Seery [5].
An interesting description of the pioneer days in Crookwell was written in 1935 and mentions the Seery family.
An interesting description of the pioneer days in Crookwell was written in 1935 and mentions the Seery family.
Michael Seery's Grandson: John Manton
John Manton was the son of Winifred Seery and thus a grandson of Michael Seery.
As a teenager John was often in trouble with the police, though he was dropped as a suspect in this murder case.
The mention of Michael as "the notorious Seery" is interesting in light of how Michael is described in the obituaries below. There was another Michael Seery in New South Wales and it's possible the police confused the two men.
As a teenager John was often in trouble with the police, though he was dropped as a suspect in this murder case.
The mention of Michael as "the notorious Seery" is interesting in light of how Michael is described in the obituaries below. There was another Michael Seery in New South Wales and it's possible the police confused the two men.
Death
Michael died in Crookwell in August 1894 at the age of about 86, outliving his wife, Bridget, who had died in 1873.
Michael's convict origins are not mentioned in his obituaries and he seems to have died a respected member of the community.
Michael is buried in the Catholic section of Crookwell Cemetery. Sadly, his grave has no headstone.
Michael's convict origins are not mentioned in his obituaries and he seems to have died a respected member of the community.
Michael is buried in the Catholic section of Crookwell Cemetery. Sadly, his grave has no headstone.
[1] Convict Indents;
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[2] No. 41/845
[3] Conditional Pardon No. 49/1109: copy on file;
[4] https://www.nla.gov.au/research-guides/convicts/tickets-of-leave
[5] Rushen, E. (2014). Colonial Duchesses. Page 162.
[3] Conditional Pardon No. 49/1109: copy on file;
[4] https://www.nla.gov.au/research-guides/convicts/tickets-of-leave
[5] Rushen, E. (2014). Colonial Duchesses. Page 162.