Biography John Casey (Australian convict)

emancipated convicts, john casey , caroline purcell, pioneers of gundaroo, c.1870

john casey came loughmoe in county tipperary.

in 1824 convicted @ cashel of insurrection , seems have been involved in later disturbances of ‘whiteboys’, fighting rights of tenant farmers in rural areas. casey transported australia , arrived in sydney in january 1826 aboard convict transport, sir godfrey webster. in colony of new south wales, allocated family on newly opened goulburn plains , worked bullocky. during these years in australia, casey’s wife , infant children died in ireland.

eventually, casey allocated joshua moore, had farm @ liverpool , new land grant called canberry station in district become canberra. moore first european landholder in area. casey worked shepherd , bullocky @ both moore stations.

in 1828, canberra’s first bushranger, john tennant, escaped convict known ‘bolter’, ravaging district gang. stole local travellers, camps , homesteads. local overseer, james ainslie, organized party capture tennant. colonial authorities advertised ‘tickets of leave’ convicts willing assist in tennant’s capture. casey volunteered. knew tennant , knowledge of region critical party’s success. after bloody shoot-out, tennant , partner, dublin jack rix, wounded, captured , transported sydney, tried , sent norfolk island. casey granted ticket of leave.

john casey met second wife, caroline purcell, @ moore’s liverpool station. purcell convict. had been working @ moore’s station domestic servant. couple received permission marry in 1832 , allowed set independent life @ tallagandra, near gundaroo. raised family of 8 children , prospered in district small farmers. 3 of casey sons continued father’s bullock team , became main carters of district.

john casey died on 22 may 1882 , buried in gundaroo catholic cemetery.