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Week 50: You wouldn't believe it! #52Ancestorsin52Weeks

I have already written about my 3 x great uncle, James McAra, who was sentenced to deportation at the High Court in Edinburgh in 1811. His crime had been to attack his brother, my 3 x great grandfather, Alexander, with an iron bar during an argument, with Alexander being badly hurt and dying a few days later.

James was an iron worker by trade in Scotland and continued this trade in the small town of Sorell in Tasmania.  We cannot know much about the life he led in Sorell, but he is mentioned in a variety of documents. For example we know he was given a Free Pardon by the Governor of Tasmania and New South Wales in 1836. He also acquired some land in 1839, which, in his Will, he left to daughters of a friend. We know his affection for 'drink', which had led to the fatal fight back in Scotland, never left him as 'excessive drinking' was given as cause of death on his death certificate. However his tombstone bears witness to the fact he was well-liked and a 'good and honest man'. 

But we know he also had at least one 'adventure' in his life in Sorell. And this is where it does get almost unbelievable! One such adventure brought him into contact with members of Matthew "Gentleman"  Brady's bushranger gang. 

Matthew Brady - sourced from Wikipedia

Bushrangers were the bandits who harassed settlers, miners and Aborigines in the outback. In 1825, Brady, who had escaped from the Sarah Island penal settlement, came with his gang of fellow bushrangers to Sorell intending to take revenge against those members of law and order who had had him imprisoned. The gang captured the local garrison, then while Brady himself remained there, two of the gang went to the home of the chief constable and gaoler, Alfred Laing, intending to kill him.

And who was dining at Laing's house that evening?? None other than James McAra! The outlaws fired to shoot the constable, but it was James McAra who took the hit in his arm, possibly attempting to shield the intended victim.  James was later treated for his wound, as were others who had been shot that night. Other victims of the gang were not so lucky. So James, deported convict, was friends with the highest ranking law and order officer in the town - and may even have saved his life!


Source: https://aguidetoaustralianbushranging.com/2019/10/02/the-brady-gang-take-sorell/

Brady and four members of his gang were captured and hanged in 1826.

James lived another 15 years and probably had more adventures!



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  1. Barb LaFaraDecember 16, 2023 at 1:20 PM

    What a fantastic tale to have about an ancestor! Particularly one who lived so long ago and far away. Thanks for sharing.

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