Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
Thomas Fuller Harnett, born 1793,
His father died 1794.
His mother re-married 1794 to
William Ponsonby
of Crotto, Co.Kerry.
Thomas became an officer in the army.
He joined the 82nd Regiment of Foot
aged 15 (1808) as an Ensign.
He
mar 1809 (him only age 16)
in Diocese of Cork and Ross
(see entry)
to Elizabeth Wilkes.
She was dau of Charles Wilkes of Ballincollig, Co.Cork
[Fuller, 1866, p.356].
[Deed, 1810]
concerns various lands in Co.Kerry which were devised to Thomas Blennerhassett of Cork
by Thomas Fuller Harnett.
Thomas became a
Lieutenant
and then a
Captain.
He
got a large inheritance, perhaps when his mother died 1812.
[1820 plea for his life]
says "he only came of age in the year 1812".
But 1812 was not when he came of age (age 21).
It was when his last parent died.
[8 Dec 1820 article]
says he inherited age 21 (1814).
When he got his inheritance,
he left the Army.
He soon wasted his inheritance.
He
fell into debt,
and in Oct 1814 he was jailed in
King's Bench
debtors prison.
He
spent over 5 years in debtors prison, 1814-20.
He
became a drug addict
while in debtors prison.
He said at his trial in 1820 that he broke a blood vessel c.1818
and was given
laudanum
(tincture of opium),
to which he then got addicted.
A benefactor got him freed from debtors prison in January 1820.
[1820 plea for his life]
says
"a kind hearted Solicitor, Mr. Easton"
paid to get Harnett
released,
"incurring a very considerable expense, not one shilling whereof has been refunded by Harnett's relatives".
|
Arrest and execution, 1820:
Outside of prison after years, his career ruined, he soon became so much in need of money that he resorted to forging a cheque. He was arrested 11 Aug 1820 in his bed at The Old Bull and Bush, Hampstead, London (see modern street view). When arrested he said: "Good God! I am undone. It is all my friends' fault that they did not relieve me." See his trial for forgery, 18 Sept 1820. He was found guilty. [8 Dec 1820 article] says the Duke of Wellington (who knew his step-father William Ponsonby) and the Duke of Richmond pleaded for mercy for him, without success. See also anonymous [1820 plea for his life]. He was hanged by the hangman James Foxen at Newgate Prison, London, on 5 December 1820, age 27 yrs. |
Thomas and Elizabeth had issue:
The writer is angry with Harnett's
"hard-hearted relatives"
in Ireland
for abandoning him.
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