Thomas Cavanagh (1797-1852) From Convict to Police Constable.
Thomas Cavanagh, (c1797-1852) was born in County Sligo, Ireland in about 1797 and died in Singleton, New South Wales, Australia in 1852. The spelling of his surname varied, and has been included as it appeared on the records referenced in this summary. Thomas Keveny was convicted at the March 1821 Assizes in Sligo for the crime of house robbery, and a sentence of 7 years transportation was handed down. Thomas was aged 25, and was 5 feet 5 inches tall, with a fair and freckled complexion, brown hair and blue eyes. His occupation was a reaper. The inferred birth year was 1795. He boarded the vessel “Southworth” on 24 th October 1821 at the Cove of Cork, and it departed on 18 th November for Australia. Thomas spent 9 days in the ship’s hospital with a fever, from 8 th -17 th November, when he was released as a convalescent. The treatment may have been worse than the complaint - with purging, head shaving and various medical remedies prescribed. The ship surgeon's rep