Posted by Jean Rice

Surnames: Donald, Brennan, Bourk, Corran, Synnott, Reddy, McCabe, Farrell, Brack, Clark, Toole, Martin, Doyle, Purcell, King, Hoey, Nowlan, Doran, Doyle, Walsh, Kealy, Lynchy, McEvary, Fitzpatrick, Reilly, Fleming, Foley, Toole, Byrne, Cavanagh, Cavenagh, Wright

Per genealogy library reference book, during the 17th and 18th centuries over 60,000 men, women and children were involuntarily transported from the British Isles to the American colonies. The vast majority of these people were felons and paupers, but there were a number of political and religious dissidents such as the Cromwellian transportees of the 1650s.

The English courts were far more likely to order the transportation of prisoners than were the Scottish or Irish courts, banishing about 50,000 prisoners to the colonies to work as indentured servants. The Scottish authorities ordered fewer than 3,000 prisoners to be transported and the Irish courts approximately 4,000.

In 1719, an Act was introduced into the Irish House of Commons for "the better and more effectual apprehending and transporting of felons and others," and given Royal assent on March 8, 1725. However, the kidnapping and shipment of children to America and their sale as indentured servants began to cause concern, and in January, 1743, the Irish Government established a committee to examine the whole system of transportation in detail.

Information presented to the committee contains valuable data pertaining to 2,000 Irish men and women transported to the American colonies during the mid-18th century. As a result of this committee's investigations, further legislation was introduced in the Irish House of Commons in January, 1752, tightening up the rules governing the transportation of prisoners.

Below is a list of persons ordered for transportation from Co. Carlow for the "crime" of being a vagabond. As with any record, these names as they appeared on the record may be spelled incorrectly or with slight variations from document to document - the latter seen in the case of Edmond Cavanagh/Cavenagh, convicted of the crime of grand larceny. One date seems to be out of order but listed as found.

Co. Carlow
Assize Dates, Persons ordered for transportation, Crimes
 

Note, a second Co. Carlow record on Edmond "Cavenagh" dated September of 1743 stated the felon was to be shipped on board the "Revolution," John Wright, commander, bound from Dublin to Delaware Bay in America.

A total of 192 pounds was presented during the time period above (1737-1743) for the purpose of transportation.

 

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