Diaries of Private Robert McNally, 40th Regiment of Foot,

1816-1836.

Diaries by Private Robert McNally who served in Ireland, England, Sydney, Van Diemen's Land, and India recounting his service with the 40th Regiment of Foot from 1818 to 1833. He describes unrest in Ireland, time spent in industrial towns in England, and his voyage as a guard on a convict ship Prince Regent from Cork via Rio de Janeiro to Sydney, Australia.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Creator: McNally, Robert, 1795-1874
Format: Manuscript
Language:English
Subjects:
Brady, Matthew, > 1799-1826
Great Britain. > Army. > Regiment of Foot, 40th (the 2nd Somersetshire)
Bushrangers > Tasmania
Penal colonies > New South Wales
Penal colonies > Tasmania
Convicts > Australia
Convicts > Tasmania
Soldiers > Ireland > Diaries
Aboriginal Tasmanians
Australia > History > 1788-1900
Tasmania > History > 19th century
Notes:Robert McNally was born in Knockmartin, County Longford, Ireland, in 1795. He was by trade a labourer. On 9 December 1816, aged 21, he enlisted with the 96th Regiment of Foot at Mullingar as a Private. The regiment was disbanded in December 1818 and he transferred to the 40th Regiment of Foot on 10 December 1818. He sailed with the regiment on the convict ship Prince Regent on 3 January 1824 for Sydney, Australia. He served in New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land between 16 July 1824 to 20 January 1829. He then served in the East Indies from 21 January 1829 to 31 October 1836. He was promoted to Corporal from 1 April 1831 to 29 December 1834 and then demoted to Private from 30 December 1834 to 31 October 1836. He landed at Gravesend, England, on 23 April 1837 and then was discharged from the army due to ill health on 13 June 1837. He returned to Knockmartin, County Longford and worked in Longford Gaol. He married Frances Lascelles in 1837 and after her death, he married Maria Doran on 7 July 1855. He died on 20 January 1874.

Physical description: 2 volumes.

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Arrangement:Fonds
Access:In fragile condition.
Provenance:Originally in the possession of Captain Andrew Vere Myles.

Fragments from front board of diary of Private Robert McNally, 40th Regiment of Foot,

[1828-1833].
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Bibliographic Details
In Collection: Diaries of Private Robert McNally, 40th Regiment of Foot, 1824-1836.
Description:Made up of reused manuscript pages in same hand, crossed out with pencil.
Main Creator: McNally, Robert, 1795-1874
Language:English
Format:Manuscript
Call Number: MS 13,265/3 (Manuscripts Reading Room)
Rights:Reproduction rights owned by the National Library of Ireland.