Robert
"Peter Crawley"
Allen
Born before in Dublin, Ireland
Son of Henry Allen
and Mary (Unknown) Allen
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of
Mary (Wright) Maher
— married
1 Jun 1812 in St Matthew's Church, Windsor, New South Wales, Australia
Descendants 
Died
after age 70
in Pennant Hills, New South Wales, Australia
Profile last modified
| Created 25 Jul 2013
This page has been accessed 2,702 times.
Biography
Robert Allen was a convict after the Third Fleet transported to New South Wales
Robert Allen
Robert Allen was baptised 23 October 1776 in Dublin Ireland. In June 1793 [1] he was tried at the Tholsel, in Dublin, Ireland under the name Robert Allen alias Peter Crawley [2] , for stealing a coat and waistcoat, the property of Mr Alexander Hay. He was 17 years old. The bound indent for the ship "Marquis of Cornwallis" lists Peter Crawley alias Robert Allen. He continued to use the name of Robert Allen upon his arrival in New South Wales. He was sentenced to 7 years Transportation. Robert Allen arrived Sydney cove on the "Marquis of Cornwallis" in 1796.
One month out on their voyage, two of the convicts informed the Captain that some of the soldiers and convicts were planning to [3] [4]mutiny.
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| The Marquis Cornwallis |
Extract from Free Settler or Felon
From the Historical Records of New South Wales - Extract of a letter from an Officer on board the Marquis Cornwallis, Indiaman, to his brother, in London. Letter dated 22 October 1795 and was written at St. Helena. It was reprinted in the Edinburgh Advertiser January 1796.
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On the 11th September we discovered a most desperate plot formed by the men convicts, who, to the number of one hundred and sixty three, are the most horrid ruffians that ever left the kingdom of Ireland. They were on the point of putting the captain officers, and ship's company to death, when one of them, either through fear of punishment or from a hope of reward, discovered the whole affair. It was a common practice for Capt. Hogan and the officers of the deck to go down and see that their births were clean twice a week, at which time they were to watch an opportunity to seize the captain, surgeon, and such other officers as went down with them, whom they were to put to death with their own swords, and force their way upon deck, where they were to be assisted by the serjeant, corporal, and some of the private soldiers, who were to dispatch the officers upon deck, and also to supply the convicts with arms.
We got upon deck the ringleaders, to the number of forty, who, after a severe punishment, confessed the whole. We thought this might put a stop to any further proceedings; but in this we were much mistaken. About two nights after they made an attempt to break out. They began by strangling the man who discovered the plot, whilst the rest were to force down the bulkhead, force their way upon deck, put those not in the plot to death, and take possession of the ship, or die in the attempt. The captain and officers did all in their power to appease them by fair words, and also by threats; but all would not do. They were desperate. Capt. Hogan rushed down the fore hatchway, followed by Mr. Richardson and three more of the officers and myself, armed with a pair of pistols and cutlass each, where began a scene which was not by any means pleasant. We stuck together in the hatchway and discharged our pistols amongst them that were most desperate, who, seeing their comrades drop in several places, soon felt a damp upon their spirits. Their courage failed them, and they called out for quarter. I broke my cutlass in the affray, but met with no accident myself. There were none killed upon the spot, but seven have since died of their wounds. The serjeant (Sergeant Ellis) was severely punished, and is since dead.
In 1799 Robert Allen was in trouble once again. It was claimed by prosecutor James Flavell that while on the way to Parramatta, he was was stopped and robbed by three men. Robert Allen and two other men were charged with highway robbery but all were acquitted.
Robert Allen was 36 years old when he[5]married [6] Mary Wright, who was only 14 years old. Both of Mary's parents were convicts; Joseph Wright who arrived on the Scarborough in the First Fleet and Ellen Gott who arrived on the Neptune in the Second Fleet. Robert and Mary were married on 1st June 1812 at St Matthew's Church, Windsor. Mary's mother, Eleanor Buckridge Wright, nee Gott was a witness to the wedding (Mary's father Joseph had died in 1811). Robert and Mary had three children, all boys.
St Mathews Church Windsor
In 1814, after their first child James was born, Robert and Mary moved to West Pennant Hills. Robert's name appears on a [7] list of persons to receive grants of land in 1816. He received grant No. 190 in Pitt Town consisting of 50 acres. On 13th January 1818, Robert received a grant of land No. 1311 from Governor Macquarie. He was allocated 50 acres at Castle Hill . Rent was set at one shilling per year to commence 5 years after the date of the grant.
In 1821 Robert [8] harboured a band of bushrangers lead by William Geary. A free man, John Hathaway who worked for Allen testified that the bushrangers were welcomed into the house, and the stolen goods were divided up amongst the outlaws and Robert Allen. Constables later searched the house and found the stolen goods hidden in a box covered with sheaves of oats. Robert Allen and a neighbour, Charles Franklin were found guilty but released on payment of £100 each, and remanded to appear at the next sitting of the Court of Criminal Jurisdiction
Robert was sentenced at the Sydney Criminal Court on 25 July 1821 for life, and on 30 Aug 1821 Robert was on list of prisoners transported to Newcastle per "Elizabeth Henrietta. From, there he was sent to Port Macquarie, then Norfolk Island. On the 6 Apr 1824 Robert petitioned the Colonial Secretary Frederick Goulburn for a pass to see his wife in Castle Hill [9]
Letter written by Robert Allen from Australian Royalty
To Fredk, Goulburn, Esquire, Memorial of Robert Allen Sheweth: That Memorialist was convicted at Dublin 1793 under sentence of Transportation for 7 years, and after a Period of Twenty One years (Free) was again tried at Sydney 1821 and received Sentence of Transportation for Life for harbouring Bush Rangers. That Memorialist has a Wife and Three Children in this Colony now residing on Memorialist's Farm in the district of Castle Hill, that Memorialist has received no account from his Wife or Family upwards of Two Years. Memorialist begs leave to state that his wife is now living in a state of Prostitution. Memorialist therefore earnestly prays he may be allowed the indulgence of a Pass thither in order to arrange his affairs. Memorialist trusts that the conduct of his wife towards him may be noticed, his being also totally unacquainted in what manner his family are now being provided for. And Memorialist will ever Pray.
signed Robert Allen.
After Robert was imprisoned on Norfolk. Mary had three children to raise, and she worked as a domestic servant for James Maher at Castle Hill [10] . There is a story that Robert Allen had sold his wife Mary to James Maher for a barrel of rum and a load of firewood.This was just before Robert Allen had been sent to Port Macquarie after being found guilty of hiding and helping the bushrangers. This could have been the reason that Mary refused to go back with Robert Allen when he was pardoned in Feburary 1833. She stayed with James Maher and they were married October 5, 1848. Mary and James had four children.
After receiving his Pardon, Robert returned to Castle Hill.[11] Robert died 21 Aug 1847. The 50 acres in Castle Hill Road was divided between his sons James, Bartholomew and Robert, each receiving 17 acres.
Robert Allen's [12] headstone St Patrick's Cemetery, Parramatta
SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
ROBERT ALLEN
DIED AUGUST 21 1847
AGED 73 years
We are not sure who next may fall
Beneath thy chastning rod
One must be first but let us all
Prepare to meet our God
Sources
- ↑ Irish Genealogy - Area - DUBLIN (COI) , Parish/Church/Congregation - ST. MARY - Baptism of ROBT ALLEN of MARY STREET on 23 October 1774
- ↑ Irish Convicts to New South Wales - Convict Records - Peter Crawley Alias - Robert Allen
- ↑ Fairfax Media Ship's log recounts convict mutiny en route to Australia The stained, linen-covered book recounts the voyage of the Marquis Cornwallis, which set sail from Ireland in August 1795 carrying 244 prisoners to uncertain new lives in Australia
- ↑ State Library New South Wales - The Marquis Cornwallis left Ireland on 9 August 1795 with over 240 convicts on board, bound for New South Wales
- ↑ N.S.W gov.au New South Wales Registry of Births ,Death and Marriages - Reg. No.- V18121361 3A/1812 ALLEN ROBERT WRIGHT MARY CC
- ↑ Australian English Genealogy - Joseph Wright and Elllen Gott - Daughter Mary b1797 - married (1) Robert Allen alias Cawley Convict - Marquis Cornwallis.
- ↑ State Records of New South Wales - Colonial Secretary Index, 1788-1825 - ALLEN, Robert. Per "Marquis Cornwallis", 1796 1816 Jan 16 Of Pitt Town. On list of persons to receive grants of land in 1816 (Fiche 3266; 9/2652 p.26)
- ↑ Macquarie University - Decisions of the Superior Courts of New South Wales, 1788-1899 - Court of Criminal Jurisdiction Wylde J.A., 16 August 1821 Source: Sydney Gazette, 18 August 1821 Charles Franklin and Robert Allan, were also indicted for receiving the proceeds of the said felonies, knowing them to be stolen; and also, upon a second count, these latter prisoners were charged with harbouring, secreting, and countenancing the above-named prisoner 1821 'Sydney.', The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), 18 August, p. 3. , viewed 05 Feb 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2180428
- ↑ [State Records of New South Wales] -Robert Allen petitioned the Colonial Secretary Frederick Goulburn for a pass to see his wife Mary who was co-habiting with her Government servant.
- ↑ Records N.S.W gov.au - Convict Index Colonial Pardon [4/4493; Reel 771 Page 406-407] - ALLEN Robert - Alias CRAWLEY, Robert - Vessel -Marquis of Cornwallis - Date granted - 1 Feb 1833
- ↑ The Hills - The Stories St Patrick's Cemetery, Parramatta - Allen, Robert Behind the Headstones
- ↑ Australian Cemeteries Index - Cemetery - Parramatta St Patricks Catholic NSW
- Australia Cemetery Inscriptions, 1802-2005," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2WT-X27B : 17 March 2018), Robert Allen, 1847; from "Australia, Cemetery Inscriptions, 1802-2005," database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : n.d.) citing Death, citing Jim and Alison Rogers : n.d. Various cemeteries, Australia; FHL microfilm .
- Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2DN-XXBG : 6 December 2016), Robert Allen, 1847; Burial, Parramatta, Parramatta City, New South Wales, Australia, St Patrick's Cemetery; citing record ID 173218122, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
- Australian Royalty - Robert Allen 1774-1847
- State Library New South Wales - Log book of the ship Marquis Cornwallis 1 February to 1 of November 1796
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Rejected matches › Peter Daddow Allen (1778-)
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