His name was John Kearns but I have already checked the BMD's and there is no record of his birth. Not sure why this is but that is why I am at a loss to find out who his parents are. No birth cert, no parents listed on marriage or death cert. The only clue that I have is that he was born in Moreton Bay in 1850. I don't know if he had brothers or sisters. Seems a rather difficult puzzle to crack.

There is a listing of a John Kearns in the NSW library records - of convicts sent to Sydney/Moreton Bay in 1849- "Worthy of Reclamation" - I thought that this man may be my g.g.grandfather's father but at the moment I am unsure of how to prove that the John Kearns listed in the records was indeed sent to Moreton Bay. I think that the 'Havering' was one of the last transport ships sent to Queensland with exiles from Ireland. All I know is that his name was John Kearns, from Dublin, convicted of coining but really not sure if he is my ancestor. The date fits - if in fact he was sent to Moreton Bay in 1849 and my g.g.grandfather was born there in 1850....

Do you know of any records that would show the convicts that were indeed taken to Moreton Bay?