Michael Seery 1808 : Short Biography

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.

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. 

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, born 16 June 1836
Catherine, born 25 September 1838
Michael, born 24 April 1841
Patrick, born 11 February 1844
James, born 1845
Hugh (twin), born 1849
Bridget (twin), born 1849

Michael received his Ticket of Leave on 30 April 1841 which stated that he was "allowed to remain in the District of Goulburn". 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.

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". This Ticket was later cancelled as Michael was charged with committing "Highway Robbery", though the date of this cancellation is not legible on the Ticket of Leave. Another Ticket of Leave was granted on 3 April 1844, allowing Michael to remain in the Yass area.

Michael received a Conditional Pardon on 9 June 1849. A conditional pardon allowed convicts with life sentences freedom of the colony, but they were not allowed to return to Ireland or England. 

On 1 June 1853, he purchased 30 acres of land at a place called Native Dog Flat which was located at the head of Wheeo Creek. We know that he and Bridget were still living in the area in 1869.

Michael died in Crookwell in August 1894 at the age of about 86. His 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 Seery was my great-great-great-grandfather.