Dennis (Denis) William Sheil (sometimes Shield or Sheils) was born in 1776 in County Westmeath, died on March 23, 1840 in Bradbury Park near Campbelltown, NSW, Australia at age 64, and was buried in St. John's Catholic Cemetery, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia.
Dennis Sheil was a convict who arrived at Port Jackson, Sydney, Australia, aboard the ship "Guildford" on the 18th January 1812. The ship had sailed from London on the 3rd September 1811 and the voyage took 137 days which at that time was one of the quickest trips to the colony, carrying convicts.
On the 1st November 1809, Dennis appeared in London's Central Criminal Court charged with stealing 56 yards printed calico, valued at 5 shillings and 1 penny. He was found guilty and sentenced to death but this sentence was commuted to transportation to the colonies for life. His description in the Book of Convict Pardons is as follows:-
Age - 29 years
Height - 5ft 8ins
Complexion - Fair
Hair - brown
Eyes - hazel, but blind in right eye
Occupation - tailor
Dennis established his tailor's shop in Sydney central business area. He continued his business there for a few years and then moved his business to Goulburn, NSW, for another few years before moving back to Campbelltown, NSW where he died.
On the 31st January 1818, Dennis was granted a Full Pardon.
