FINTAN DELANEY

Fintan Delaney was born abt. 1814, Queens Co. Ireland, the son of John Delaney.
[Rockite information]

The following letter dated, 28^th May 1835, Abbeyleix, accompanied Fintan on his transfer to Maryborough for trial.

Sir, I have the honour to acquaint you that in consequence of private information communicated to me I obtained a warrant from the Viscount De Vesci, a magistrate from this County, to apprehend Fintan Delaney of Shean Hill, near the town of Mountrath, for appearing in arms and serving a rockite notice at Watercastle near this, in the afternoon of the 11^th inst., since which time I have had him repeatedly searched for, without effect, until this night of the 27^th inst., when I caused him arrest in the house of a man named Dooley in Bockagh Mountain on the border of the King’s County and having this day produced him with several others to the persons who pursued the Rockite party from Watercastle on the 11^th inst., as duly reported. He has been fully identified and committed by Lord De Vesci to abide his trial for the offence stated at the morning Assizes for this County.

About 10 o'clock on Tuesday night, constable Daniel Lawlor accompanied by his son and two men of the constabulary, proceeded from Mountrath in search of a fellow named Fanton Delany, charged as a principal in the outrage at Watercastle some time back, and who, it was suspected was concealed in some of the haunts of Killenure mountain, a distance of 14 miles from Sergeant Lawlor's station. During the entire night the party persevered in the most harrassing search along the mountain, until they reached the house of a man named Dooley, where they fortunately surprised the outlaw in bed and conveyed him a prisoner to Mountrath.

Edition of 18 July 1835

Michael Phelan and Fantin Delany, for attempting to compel Maurice Kelly to quit his farm, and posting a threatening notice on his harrow, to be transported for seven years.

Fintan was transported to Sydney on the ship ‘Hive’. The following is an account of the voyage to the Colony.

On 24 August 1835, the Hive departed on a second and fateful voyage to the Colony of New South Wales. Picking up convicts at Dublin and then Cork in Ireland, the Hive made the passage with the death of only one prisoner. However, when turning up the east coast of Australia, events took a dramatic turn for the worse. Having not touched land the entire voyage, the transport crawled up the coast towards final disembarkation at SydneyTown.

On board was Captain John Nutting in command of 250 Irish male prisoners, Chief Officer Edward Kenny, Ensign Kelly of the 17th Regiment, Surgeon Superintendent John Donohoe Esq, RN, Lieutenant Lugard of the 31st Regiment, Henry Lugard, Royal Engineers and 29 rank and file soldiers of the 28th Regiment. In addition, there were eight women and eleven children.

About midday on 10 December, the Hive had sighted land in the vicinity of Montague Island. The chief officer, Edward Kenny thought the vessel to be only 8-9 miles (13-14 km) off the coast. Informing the captain, his concern was not shared and Captain Nutting continued a course bringing the vessel closer to shore. Kenny attempted to have the course altered again, but to no avail. Captain Nutting advised him to mind his own business and that 'one person is sufficient to navigate the ship'! It was also to prove that it took only one person to wreck the ship.

Cautious of danger, Kenny decided not to sleep after the change of the night watch. The Hive continued under full sail following the captain's instructions. At about 9.30 that evening, Kenny again tried to convince third mate Thomas Morgan, then on watch, to reduce sail. Not wishing, or daring, to disobey his captain, the vessel plied on into the dark and cloudy night.

Two look-outs were stationed in the forecastle and one on the lee gangway watching for any sight of land. Some time before 10.00 p.m. a prisoner who had been a Master of an American vessel reported to Ensign Kelly that he had seen land on the starboard . Morgan and the other Officer of the Watch assured Kelly that it was cloud that could be seen as they had been observing it rising for some time. At 10.00 p.m. Morgan came below decks to break some fearful news to Chief Officer Kenny that there was something white on the port bow that looked like breakers! Kenny rushed on deck and ordered the wheel to be turned hard-a-port. However, the Hive began running through the sand on a gently shelving beach. Luckily for those on board, the vessel did not strike any rocks and there was no violent impact.

Contemporary documents placed the wreck in the breakers and 'within her own length of the shore in a deep bight south of Jarvis Bay, between St Georges Head and Sussex Haven [Inlet]' Alexander Berry placed the location as 4-5 miles (6-8 km) from the southern part of Jervis Bay. The only significant sandy shore that fits these descriptions is Bherwerre Beach extending for some 6 km along the northern portion of Wreck Bay.

Kenny ordered the yards to be thrown back. Captain Nutting then staggered on deck with a countermand for them to be braced and the studding sails taken in. There was considerable confusion and, according to witnesses, the captain appeared incapable of taking effective command. Kenny ordered the longboat to be launched. Nutting interjected and had the smaller, weather quarter boat launched. Kenny objected and, realising that boat would be swamped, decided to form part of the crew himself to save another's life. The boat capsized and was smashed against the ship as soon as it touched water. Kenny and Ensign Kelly just managed to catch the ship's forechains and Kelly was hauled aboard

A third seaman clung to the upturned boat and was driven through the surf to safety. Chief Officer Kenny then swam ashore with a hawser. By this stage, Captain Nutting is said to have 'lost all presence of mind'. Surgeon Donohoe, with the support of the Commander of the Guard, Lt Lugard, temporarily deposed him of command and gave organisational control to Kenny

After Kenny swam ashore to secure a hawser, Captain Nutting finally agreed to lower the longboat and with the aid of lines, had the women and children taken to the beach. The guard and prisoners were then ferried across in shifts. Once ashore, they were employed removing provisions from the wrecked vessel, dismantling the top yards and establishing a camp in the adjacent sand-hills. During this process the Boatswain was tragically drowned while trying to save a young crew member. The young man, who had got into difficulties in the surf, was washed ashore uninjured.

Ensign Kelly proceeded across land to gain help, carrying a letter about the wreck from Surgeon Donohoe. With the aid of Aboriginal people from Wreck Bay, he found the farm of John Lamb on Friday morning, then proceeded to the farm of Alexander Berry in the Shoalhaven. A message was dispatched to Wollongong and from there to Port Jackson and help was soon on its way. The wreck was the means of producing much excitement in Sydney [and] great numbers of the town's people were observed flooding to the Dock Yard and other places where information might be obtained relative to the accident.

The shipwreck victims on Bherwerre Beach were not altogether isolated. The Aboriginal community continued to provide a communication link between Surgeon Donohoe and Alexander Berry.

Alexander Berry, at his own expense, sent his schooner Edward to the scene of the disaster .In a letter to authorities in Sydney, Berry believed that the Hive 'might again be got afloat if under the direction of an "Able" commander!' .Nutting however refused all aid until permission arrived from Sydney. By Sunday, the Government revenue cutter Prince George was dispatched to the wreck with the brig-of-war HMS Zebra under command of Captain McRae and the steam packet Tamar with a detachment of the 17th Regiment.

On Tuesday, 15 December, the bower anchor was carried out into 22 ft (6.7 m) of water. Another anchor was carried out on Thursday, 17 December but a southerly arrived that evening and both anchors 'came home'. By Sunday, 20 December,the Captain considered that any further attempts to keep the ship intact were hopeless.
The Tamar returned to Sydney on 16 December with the Hive 's surgeon, Donohoe, Lt Lugard, part of the guard and 106 convicts. HMS Zebra returned with, the mails, stores, 94 prisoners and ten soldiers from the 28 th Regiment before returning to the wreck to pick up the remainder.
In early January, the schooner Edward brought up part of the crew and some of the Hive's stores. By this time, Hive was reported to be Iying on the beach with its back (keel) broken and water flowing over the orlop (lowest) deck.

The 1837 Convict Muster records Fintan as ‘Hilton Delaney’ Assigned to George Forbes Esq. In the District of Merton.

Fintan was granted a "Ticket of Leave" on 25^th March 1840 on the condition he remain in the District of Liverpool.

Fintan was granted his "Certificate of Freedom" on 20^th September 1842. He was now free to live and work at his own choosing.

Fintan Delaney married Sarah Lynch on 6^th January 1846, in the Roman Catholic Church at Bolairo, NSW in the presence of John Lawler & Mary Ann Fahey, both of the Snowy River.

Sarah Lynch was born abt. 1812, Queens Co. Ireland, the daughter of Dominick Lynch and Sarah Walsh. It is unknown how Sarah arrived in the colony, either free or convicted, alone or with family.

Sarah gave birth to daughter, Elizabeth Forbes, in 1843. Although there is no registered record of her birth, Elizabeth’s death certificate records George Forbes as her father, a Baker in Sydney at the time of her birth.

The Electoral Rolls for the Monaro District record Fintan and William Delaney residing at ‘Biggum’ 1870-71 and residing at ‘Éucumbene’ in 1878-79.

Sarah Lynch died 13^th February 1873 Eucumbene
Burial: February 15, 1873, (Seymour) Old Adaminaby Cemetery
Cause of Death: Liver complaint - 10 weeks aged 61 years

Fintan Delaney died 12^th November 1888 Eaglehawk Adaminaby
Burial: November 14, 1888, Old Adaminaby Cemetery
Cause of Death: Decay - Old Age 74 years
Informant on death Certificate:William Delany,son of Eaglehawk, Adaminaby
Witnesses at burial: William Barker & Mark Russell

I have to announce the death of an old resident of the district, in the person of Mr Fenton Delaney. Which took place at his residence, Eaglehawk, on Sunday night, 11th instance, at the ripe old age of nearly 80 years.

The deceased enjoyed pretty good health up to the Wednesday last, when he took suddenly ill. The Reverend Father Corboy was wired to, and that gentleman, with the remarkable zeal for the spiritual wealth-fare of his people, hastened without delay to the bedside of the sufferer and administered to him the last rights of the church.

His remains were interred in the public cemetery Adaminaby on Wednesday, a large concourse of people attending the funeral, which testified to the respect entertained for the family of which the deceased was the head.

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