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Hi
I am new to this forum.
I am hoping that someone might have some information about my great-great-great grandfather Thomas Forde/Ford, whose convict ancestry [transported to Australia] I have just recently discovered.
I am hoping that someone might have some information about any Forde/Ford families who lived in County Fermanagh around the early 1800s – his father’s name was also Thomas Forde, who might have been a farmer in County Fermanagh.
Thomas Ford was born about 1810 in County Fermanagh, Ireland. He was convicted under the name of Thomas Forde (alias Thomas Ford) for "assaulting house". He was sentenced for Life at Down (Downpatrick) on 20 Mar 1832. His occupation at the time was tailor.
An extract of his trial details is listed below:
The Belfast News-Letter (Belfast, Ireland), Tuesday, April 3, 1832; Issue 9892
“County of Down Assizes, Downpatrick - Thursday, March 22.
... Thomas Forde was indicted under the 15th and 16th Geo. 3, chap. 21, commonly called the Whiteboy Act, for that he, with divers others, did, on the 24th Dec, last, at Kilmore, maliciously, contemptuously, and unlawfuly rise, assemble, and appear, by night, armed with fire arms, to the terror of John Baxter and others of his Majesty’s subjects. He was also indicted under the amended Whiteboy Act, for maliciously assaulting the habitation of John Baxter; and also for a riot.”
[John Baxter was in the process of forcing two of his tenants to give up possession of their farms, which members of the local community objected to].
Thomas Forde was one of approximately 50-60 people who attacked his house about 9.30 at night on Christmas Eve. Several shots were discharged at the house, the “witness afterwards found eleven bullets in his house”. ... “the party then commenced smashing the windows of the house and firing shots, and shortly after they all went away”. Thomas Forde was recognized as one of the assailants, having done tailor work for Mr Baxter a short time before the incident. One of the witnesses was Jane Bell, who said that he was her husband's journeyman tailor, and that Thomas Forde had not returned to the house until 3 am the next morning. She said that he had responded to her husband's question as to where he had been "In company with my namesakes, the Fordes, up the water ; we had a great meeting to-night."
The Jury “gave a verdict of guilty on all the indictments, but recommended the prisoner to mercy, on account of his previous good character.” The prisoner was sentenced “to be transported for the term of his natural life”.
On his convict indent on the ship "Dunvegan Castle (2)" his details were: 2646, Forde, Thomas, 22 years old, Roman Catholic, single, from Co. Fermanagh, occupation tailor, good health, charged with assaulting house, Down, trial date 26th Mar 1832, sentence: life, 5ft 5 1/4 ", ruddy complexion, freckles, stout made, dark brown hair, hazel eyes.
He departed Dublin on 1 Jul 1832 as one of 200 male convicts on the ship "Dunvegan Castle (2)". The ship arrived at Port Jackson NSW after 107 days voyage on 16 Oct 1832.
On Mon 16 Nov 1835 he was indicted along with 8 other convicts from Vaucluse House for "piratically seizing the Alice schooner, the property of William Charles Wentworth" by the Supreme Criminal Court (Sydney Gazette, Thurs 19 Nov 1835, p. 2) with "the intent of escaping from the colony". They were caught when they came ashore near Port Stephens. They were sentenced to death (except one who was found not guilty), but at least some of them (including Thomas Ford) escaped the gallows. W.C. Wentworth "lost the services of a house servant, tailor [Thomas Ford], cooper, bricklayer and two labourers. All had been transported for life" (Liston, C. Sarah Wentworth - Mistress of Vaucluse, c1988. p. 34).
On the Down County Museum website [which was the Gaol of Downpatrick where he was held before being transported]
http://downcountymuseum.com/data/view_convict.asp?id=404
are the following notes for Thomas Forde: "CSL 44/760. 31 Jan 1844. Norfolk Island 18 Jan 1844: 12 prisoners for conditional remission having served the period required with good conduct. No. 2 was Thomas FORD "Dunvegan Castle". Original conviction Spring 1832. Life. Colonial conviction 20 Nov 1835. Life in irons. Refused remission Dec 1840. Served 8 years. These men may all be bought up. Cockatoo Island 24 Mar 1846 from Hyde Park Barracks. Discharged 23 May 1846. Married St. Peter & Paul's R/C at Goulburn Vol 99/46. Death reg. as Thomas FORD Reg. no. 6554 and Bridget also died 1886 Reg. no. 6602."
So it appears he spent time at the notorious Norfolk Island [1836-1844] - in irons, and also at Hyde Park Barracks [1844-1846], and Cockatoo Island, in the colony of New South Wales.
He married a widow Bridget Torpy nee Goode (who emigrated from County Galway) at St Peter & Pauls Cathedral, Goulburn, NSW on 7 Feb 1853 who came with a ready made family of 6 children. Both of them were illiterate, both signing their names with an X in the marriage register.
He received a Conditional Pardon No. 56/8 on 19 Sep 1855 (which was 2 years after he married Bridget Torpy nee Goode, and 23 years after his conviction). Conditional Pardons freed convicts and were granted on the condition they the person did not return to England or Ireland.
At the time of his death on 5 Aug 1886 he was a farmer (along with his son John) at Mummel, near Goulburn, and acording to his death certificate (his son John was the informant) he died of old age, aged 76 years. His father was also named Thomas Ford, and was recorded as being a farmer. His mother is listed as unknown. He has been in NSW for 54 years.
Any information about any Forde/Ford families from County Fermanagh, or even which direction "up the water" from Kilmore might be, would be most gratefully received.
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