James McGee also known as James Dedman McGee, James Magee and James Mac Gee, was transported to Van Dieman's Land now Tasmania, Australia on the David Lyon which departed London, England on the 2 May 1830 and arrived in Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania, Australia) on the 19 Aug 1830. On his convict record it states his name as Gee, Mac James and his native place Liverpool, Lancashire, England and that he was 14 years old when convicted for stealing two gowns and a shawl. He was convicted twice before.
Recent investigations by Janice found that James McGee appears in Order Book 1829, General Quarter Session of Peace Holden at Lancaster, Monday 12th Jan 1829.
In 1837 James applied for permission to marry Eleanor Elizabeth Presnell. Eleanor was the daughter of free settlers, John Presnell and Eleanor Skelton Approval was granted and they were married on 24 Sep 1838 at Oatlands, Tasmania. He received a conditional pardon on the 30 July 1840 and a free certificate 771 in 1845. James died on 8 February 1899 in the district of Ross, Tasmania. He is buried at the Methodist Cemetery, Ross, Tasmania. The death certificate states his name as James Dedman McGee and that he was 82 years old, if his age was correct he would have been born in 1816. The International Genealogical Index - British Isles, has a James Mc Gee christened on 14 August 1814 at St Nicholas, Liverpool, Lancashire, England.
Why was Dedman added to the name? Most of James' nine children were given the middle name of Dedman. The following generation dropped Dedman from name and have been known as McGee since.
Record ID: 49684 Conduct Record: CON31/16 or CON31/30 Description List: CON18/2 Appropriation List: CSO1/444/9891 P227, CON27/4 Surgeons Report: Adm. 101/19 Reel 3192 Miscellaneous Records: CSO1/472/10492, MM33/3
1. James Dedman McGee (AKA James Mac Gee, James McGee and James Magee)
Birth: abt 1816, Liverpool, Lancashire, England? Death: 8 Feb 1899 Father: Unknown Mother: Unknown Spouse: Eleanor Elizabeth Presnell Birth: 6 Jun 1819, St Lukes Old Street, London, England Death: 21 Aug 1891 Marriage: 24 Sep 1838, Oatlands, Tasmania, Australia Children: James Dedman McGee (1838-1839) Eleanor Elizabeth McGee (1840-1891) John Dedman McGee (1842-1929) Caroline Dedman McGee (1844-1908) Henry Dedman McGee (1846-1885) William Dedman McGee (1848-) Jane Dedman McGee (1851-1854) James Dedman McGee (1853-) Mary Isabella McGee (1860-)
2. James Dedman McGee
Birth: 27 Oct 1838, York Plains, Oatlands, Tasmania Death: 14 Jan 1839
2. Eleanor Elizabeth McGee
Birth: 12 Jan 1840, Oatlands, Tasmania Death: 26 Aug 1891 Spouse: William Smith Birth: abt 1832 Death: Marriage: 20 Feb 1873 Children: Elizabeth Mary Smith Ellen Rose Smith William Arthur Smith (1879- Peter Smith b. (1882-
2. John Dedman McGee
Birth: 24 Apr 1842, Salt Pan Plains, Oatlands, Tasmania Death: 18 Aug 1929
Spouse: Mary Green
Birth: 2 Apr 1848, Oatlands, Tasmania Death: 30 May 1895 Marriage: 12 Dec 1867 Children: Mary Ellen McGee (1868-1871) Harriet McGee (1870-1875) John James McGee (1872-1947) Albert William McGee (1874-1954) Percival Charles McGee (1876-1952) Frances Amy McGee (1878-1884) Ada May McGee (1880-1961) Frederick Arthur McGee 1882- Leslie Rochester McGee (1884- Everline Emma McGee (1885-1970) Lewis McGee b 13 May 1888, d 12 Oct 1917, Ypres, Belgium Awarded the Victoria Cross
Sergeant Lewis McGee 40th Battalion Australian Imperial Force Awarded the Victoria Cross, 30 Nov 1917. For most conspicuous bravery in action East of Ypres, Belgium on 4 Oct 1917 In the advance to the final objective, Sgt McGee led his platoon with great dash and bravery though strongly opposed and under heavy shell fire. His platoon was suffering severely and the advance of the company was stopped by machine gun fire from a "Pillbox Post". Single handed Sgt McGee rushed the post armed only with a revolver. He shot some of the crew and captured the rest, and thus enabled the advance to proceed. He re-organised the remnants of his platoon and was foremost in the remainder of the advance, and during consolidation of the position he did splendid work. His coolness and bravery was conspicuous and contributed largely to the success of the company's operations. Sgt McGee was subsequently killed in action on 12 Oct 1917. Extract from "The London Gazette" 26 Nov 1917.
2. Caroline Dedman McGee
Birth: 11 May 1844, Oatlands, Tasmania Death: 28 Jul 1908 Partner: Richard William Ingle Fryer Children: Rose Ellen McGee (1863-1886) Spouse: John Presnell Birth: 30 Apr 1843, Launceston, Tasmania, 7250 Death: 7 Aug 1893, Campbelltown, Tasmania Marriage: 21 Apr 1870 Children: Elizabeth Emma Presnell (1871-1962) Harriet Amelia Presnell (1873-1943) Caroline Mary Presnell (1875- John William Presnell (1877- Fanny Louisa Presnell (1879-1969) Ann Presnell (1881-1894) George Presnell (1883-1883) Grace Presnell (1886-1886)
2. Henry Dedman McGee
Birth: 25 Jun 1846, Oatlands, Tasmania Death 13 Feb 1885 Spouse: Ann Appleyard Birth: 30 Jun 1851, Oatlands, Tasmania Death: Marriage: 1 Jan 1869 Children: William Henry McGee (1870-1937) James Edward McGee (1871- Charles McGee (1874-1942) Eleanor Ann McGee (1876- Albert John McGee (1878-1878) Rose McGee (1879- Mary McGee (1881- Robert McGee (1883-
2. William Dedman McGee
Birth: 28 Nov 1848, Salt Pan Plains, Oatlands, Tasmania Death:
2. Jane Dedman McGee
Birth: 10 Jan 1851, Ross, Tasmania Death: 13 Jan 1854, Campbelltown, Tasmania
2. James Dedman McGee
Birth: 12 Dec 1853, Ross, Tasmania Death:
2. Mary Isabella McGee
Birth: 28 Feb 1860, Ross, Tasmania Death: Spouse: John Kerr Birth: abt 1859 Death: Marriage: 20 Jan 1892, Campbelltown, Tasmania Children: Isabella Rose Kerr (1892- Ruby Kerr (1898- James Kerr May Kerr
Last update - 24 June 2005
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