Researching James Brogan and his family from Cappabane

[joycon]

I am researching the family of James Brogan who was born abt 1791 the son of Bryan Brogan and Penelope O'Brien. The other children of Bryan & Penelope were we think, John, Michael and Patrick.

James after his marriage in abt 1815 to Elleinor Horan lived on five acres of rented land in Cappabane and were the parents of 6 children, Thomas, Peter, Margaret, Johanna, Mary Jane, James.

On St Patrick's night 1824, James Brogan, along with other named Durack, Dinan, Boland, O'Dea and one Patrick Tuohy, for some unexplained reason broke into Philip Reade's house with the sole intention of murdering him. The other men, Anthony Boland lived in the adjoining townland of Shean and had fourteen acres of rented land. In the townland of Fossabeg lived Daniel Dinan who rented a few acres in common with nine others. Across the river Bow in the townland of Magherareagh lived Patrick Durack and his wife Judith Bleach. In the townland of Sellernane , Mountshannon lived Patrick O'Dea and his wife. His subsequent actions were to change the lives of the above forever.

The group shot Philip Reade in the chest and shoulder and presumed he was dead. For months Philip Reade lay dangerously ill while the best surgeons in the country attended him.
Philip Reade, of Woodpark, owned half the parish of Mountshannon and was also a successful barrister. He had a magnificent country house with landscaped gardens overlooking Holy Island and Lough Derg. He was by all accounts a benevolent landlord, particularly in later years during the Great Hunger.

The military and yeomanry scoured the countryside for his attackers and offered fifty pounds for information. No one in this part of the country was more despised than the informer and no one more deserving of the curse "may the hearthstone of hell be your bed forever." For two years the search continued until finally one of the party Patrick O'Dea informed the authorities.

There was a lot of interest in the trial which finally took place on 4 April 1827, (trail No 688) has held in Galway, no motive was given or at least reported for the crime. Patrick O'Dea stated that it was James Brogan who set it up and to divert suspicion they pretended to quarrel in the ensuing weeks. O'Dea was to accuse Brogan of having an affair with his wife, and this would prevent the neighbours from having any suspicions. No witness was called for the defence and after about twenty minutes the jury returned with a guilty verdict and sentenced to death.

A few days before the intended execution they were all reprieved. No reason was given and they were sent as convicts to New South Wales. On Tuesday May 28th 1827 under strong escort they passed through Ennis on their way to the hulk "Surprise", lying at anchor at the cove of Cork.

James sailed from Cork aboard The Marquis of Huntley (2) and arrived in Sydney Cove, on the 30 January, 1828 he was one of 163 Male convicts aboard, 160 Irish prisoners and 3 from the Cape of Good Hope. James was number 31 convict on board and gave his age as 31yrs, he had no education and was a Catholic.

From 1827 onwards Ellen petitions that the family be able to join James, finally after having to beg her way to Cork she and her 3 daughters and 1 son sailed from Cork on Thursday 22 October 1835 on the Roslin Castle and arrived in NSW on 25 February 1836. The 2 older sons Thomas and Peter were amongst a group of free settlers (sons of convicts) who embarked from Penitentiary House, Cork, on board the 'Surrey' a convict ship on 23 and 24 December 1835.

James's brother Michael and his wife Mary Dillion along with his another brother Patrick also travelled to NSW and appear to arrived in NSW in the 1850s.

I am wanting to make contact with any members of the Brogan family that may have remained in Co Clare, or any further information on the family or the reason this crime was committed.