Australian Royalty: Genealogy of the colony of NSW

Eleanor came free on 14 AUG 1809 aboard the ship Boyd as a convict's wife.

'THURSDAY. - Ormsby and Eleanor Irwin were put to the car and indicted for the wilful murder of Serjt. Robert Morrow, of His Majesty's 73 Regt. at a public house in York-street, Sydney, on the evening of Thursday the 19th of May ultimo, by throwing down, kicking, and beating him with so much violence, that he lingered in excessive bodily pain until the 25th, and then died.
Without going into the tedious and unacceptable length of evidence that appeared on this trial, which would be little more than a recapitulation of circumstances, with trivial differences by the various witnesses, we state the facts succinctly, as deduced from the general testimony; without unnecessary prolixity or inconvenient brevity.
On the evening stated, the prisoners at the bar were at the house of M. Casey, in York-street, drinking in an outer room, when the deceased, accompanied by Honor Fahie (with whom he cohabited), and several non-commissioned officers of his acquaintance, went into the house, and going into an inner parlour, invited them to join their company, which they did. After drinking socially together for some time, singing was proposed; and after several songs had been sung, one of the party began one, but was interrupted by the deceased, who objected to it as unloyal, whereupon the prisoner Ormsby Irwin, and another, joined in re-commencing the same, and singing it throughout. The deceased was by this time much intoxicated, the others less so. This was about 7 o'clock. The differences occasioned by the song objected to had subsided, and they drank together as before; when suddenly a quarrel arose between the prisoner Eleanor Irwin and Honor Fahie, who abused and reviled each other with much asperity, and at length commenced a mutual assault. The deceased got up, and interfered and Ormsby Irwin did the same, and demanding of the deceased whether he meant to strike (Irwin's) wife, struck him a blow on the face. Honor Fahie ran out to call assistance, leaving the deceased engaged with Irwin and his wife. The deceased fell in the scuffle, and falling dragged Ormsby Irwin upon him, his knee coming in contact with the lower part of his belly. A corporal Connor took Irwin off the deceased; Eleanor Irwin struck him with her fist, and both used considerable violence to him when on the ground, and afterwards, when raised on a sofa, it was declared on oath by Corpl. Connor, that the assault was continued by the prisoners. In this position the deceased had Mrs. Irwin's left thumb between his teeth, which he held some time. In his limbs he was utterly helpless, & as soon as the affray terminated, having lasted about 20 minutes, he complained of his belly, and pronounced himself a dying man. He was that night removed to his barrack, where he continued in extreme agony till the following day; and was then removed to the Regimental Hospital, JOHN FORSTER, Esq. Surgeon of the s46th Regiment, who attended him from the evening of his hurt to the time of his death, described the nature of the injury he had received, and had no doubt that his death proceeded from external violence was the cause of his death. - It was also given in evidence, that to the latest moment of his existence he attributed his premature end to the ill treatment he had received from the prisoners at the bar, jointly, and expressed a desire that his death should be revenged.
After a deliberation that occupied nearly two hours, the Court re opened, and returned a Verdict of Manslaughter against both the prisoners; but as the observations made by the Judge Advocate on the nature and circumstances of the offence were of a tendency, too often, too justly applicable in this Colony, we beg leave to present those observations as nearly as possible in the language of the learned Speaker.
Having first recapitulated the facts which constituted the charge published in the indictment, he proceeded by addressing the prisoners separately, and as follows:-
"The Court having duly considered the evidence, as well for you as against you, doth adjudge, that you are not guilty of killing the deceased Robert Morrow of malice aforethought, which is essential to the formation of the crime of wilful murder; but the Court doth find you guilty of feloniously killing and slaying the said deceased Robert Morrow, and that under circumstances that tend exceedingly to aggravate the offence.
Your conduct, Eleanor Irwin, throughout the whole of this unhappy transaction, has been marked by the greatest violence, and been highly unbecoming of your sex." Next, turning to the male prisoner, the Judge Advocate proceeded - "You, Ormsby Irwin, have, when now too late, to contemplate the horros of the condition, in which you have involved yourself; by willful dissipation, depriving yourself of reason. Your example, it may be hoped, will become a warning to persons of your condition against a sad yet too prevalent propensity to waste their time, and those means that ought to be applied to the support of their families, in drinking and rioting at public houses. In the fatal instance that has brought you to the bar, of this Court, you have lain upon your minds a burthen of regret, which time never can obliterate; for although you have escaped the capital punishment of murder, you must nevertheless for ever recollect that you have deprived a fellow creature of existence, and sent him into the awful presence of his Creator with all his sins upon his head, and without an interval of preparation for the day of his great account. Your conduct during the affray has indeed been heinous; and although by the verdict of this Court you are exempted from capital punishment, yet there is a difference between your crime and ordinary cases of homicide that come under the denomination of manslaughter, that the Court has felt it necessary to consider it in the punishment with it is about to award. - The Court doth adjudge, that you Ormsby Irwin, for this offence, be sent to JHis Majesty's settlement of Newcastle, and there kept to hard labour for the space of two years; and that you Eleanor Irwin, be continued in His Majesty's Gaol at Parramatta, for the like term of two years."

V181829 156/1818 SKULTHORP RICHARD CONNOR HONOR CE (Church of England, Richmond)

Richard Skuthorpe, convict per the ship General Hewitt age 20
Honor Conner, free, age 35
Married 30 Sep 1818 by banns

- Richard Sculthorpe, 35, ticket of leave, Gen Hewitt 1814 life Protestant, farmer North Richmond, 385 acres, 285 cleared, 130 acres cultivated, 3 horses, 78 horned cattle and 5 sheep
- Ellen Skulthorpe came free, Boyd 1809, Catholic
-- Richard Skulthorpe 11 born in the colony
-- Thomas Skulthorpe 8 born in the colony
-- Fanny Skulthorpe 2 born in the colony

"NOTICE ... and Mrs. Irwin, wife of Ormsby Irwin, may also hear every particular concerning her son and daughter, now at Hobart Town, by applying to the said Mrs. [John] Robinson. The children belonging to each of those parties are very desirous to hear from their parents, but are not aware of their place of residence."

Skulthorp family vault, in the cemetery adjoining St Peters, Richmond