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James Daley (c. 1762–1788)

James Daley (c.1762-1788) was found guilty on 26 May 1784 at the Old Bailey, London, of the theft of a trunk of clothing. Sentenced to 7 years transportation he was sent to the Censor hulk on 6 September 1784, where he remained until he embarked for New South Wales on the Scarborough in February 1787, arriving in Sydney in January 1788 as part of the First Fleet.

In August 1788 Daley tried to deceive officers that he had found a gold mine. For absconding into the bush for a day he received 50 lashes and for fabricating a bogus sample of gold 100 lashes were ordered and he was made to wear a canvas frock with 'R' for rogue sewn on it.

Daley was hanged on 3 December 1788 after he was found robbing huts.

* information from Mollie Gillen, The Founders of Australia: A Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet (1989), p 93

Citation details

'Daley, James (c. 1762–1788)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/daley-james-30694/text38038, accessed 29 March 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

c. 1762

Death

3 December, 1788 (aged ~ 26)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Cause of Death

executed

Passenger Ship
Occupation
Key Events
Key Places
Social Issues
Convict Record

Crime: theft
Sentence: 7 years