Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
Thomas Bird was transported on the Indefatigable And Minstrel, departing 9th May 1812 and arriving 19th Oct 1812 with 331 passengers.
The Indefatigable was built at Whitby, England. She was square-rigged three masted ship of 549 tons and had three decks; a length of 127 ft. and a beam of 31ft. 8ins. The Indefatigable sailed from England on 4th June 1812 in company with the Minstrel. The Indefatigable came direct to Hobart, VDL arriving there on 19 October 1812. One prisoner died on the voyage out. Having disembarked the prisoners in Hobart, the Indefatigable arrived in Port Jackson on 6 December 1812, departing there bound for England in January 1813. The Indefatigable returned to Australia with convicts in 1815 (see separate listing).
Indefatigable And Minstrel (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 87, Class and Piece Number HO11/2, Page Number 71 (37) |
| Source Description | This record is one of the entries in the British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database compiled by State Library of Queensland from British Home Office (HO) records which are available on microfilm as part of the Australian Joint Copying Pro |
| Original Source | Great Britain. Home Office |
| Compiled By | State Library of Queensland |
| Database Source | British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database |
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Convict Notes
PIRATICAL SEIZURE OF THE UNITY. — This vessel, a colonial schooner of about 30 tons, left Port Dalrymple on the 3d of April last bound for Hobart Town, with Mr. W. H. MANSELL, who was one of the owners, and three seamen on board. Shortly after she had put to sea, however, she encountered a heavy gale, by which she was driven considerably out of her course, in Bass's Straits, and having but little provision on board, was obliged to procure from a small sealing party a quantity of salted mutton birds. On the 23d of the same month (April) she reached the Derwent, moored off Hobart Town, and was the same night boarded between eleven and twelve, by seven armed men, who presented firelocks at Mr. MANSELL and his small unarmed crew, and captured the vessel by surprise, without any possibility of rendering opposition effectual. Having cut her away from her moorings, the desperadoes made sail ; and landing the legitimate owner and crew at Frederick Henry Bay, gave them up the boat with which they had effected the piracy. The persons who were immediately discovered to be absent, and who there could be no doubt were the offenders, are as follow: William Britton, alias Symer, alias Mark Tyler, capitally convicted at the Old Bailey in December, 1810 ; came by the Guilford ; a prisoner for life. Richard Payne, capitally convicted, at the Old Bailey in October, 1811 ; came in the Indefatigable ; also for life. Patrick, commonly called Peter Russell, capitally convicted at the Old Bailey in April, 1811 ; came in the Indefatigable ; for life. Thomas Watson, convicted at the Old Bailey in December, 1809 ; came in the Indefatigable ; a prisoner for seven years. Thomas Curtis, capitally convicted at Bristol in April, 1811 ; came in the Indefatigable ; a prisoner for life. Thomas Bird, convicted at Wells, in Somersetshire, in July, 1811 ; came in the Indefatigable, for seven years ; and Frederick Callaghan, capitally convicted at Northampton in March, 1810; came also in the Indefatigable ; a prisoner for life. As the only provisions on board the Unity comprised about 50 lbs. of flour, and 40 lbs. of salted mutton birds, it is scarcely possible that they should attempt a long voyage without adopting some method of recruiting their stock, in which effort a delay must be occasioned, which it is to be hoped will prove the means of their being secured, and speedily brought to condign punishment. The owners, we are sorry to add, had a considerable property on board, consisting of piece goods, wine, &c. shipped from hence for the settlements on Van Dieman's Land. Sydney Gazette, 21 Aug 1813. Note. The report above states Thomas was tried at Wells in Somerset. This could be due to misreading Wilts.
Prison Hulk Records, HO 9-8-3 p. 28 Received six from Salisbury. Thos. Bird, aged 22, convicted for a felony, 16 July 1811, and sentenced to 7 yrs transportation, N.S.W. 25 Apr 1812.
Salisbury The General Quarter Sessions of the Peace for this county were held on Tuesday, and following days, at Warminster. George Day and Thomas Bird were indicted for stealing a small tea chest, about 14 lb weight, from a road waggon, were found to be guilty, and appearing to be hardened offenders, they were sentenced to be transported for 14 years. Salisbury Journal, 22 July 1811