Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
John Connor was transported on the Francis And Eliza, departing 15th Dec 1814 and arriving 8th Aug 1815 with 125 passengers.
The Francis & Eliza was built on the Thames in 1782 (345 tons). The Francis & Eliza and the Canada departed Cork in convoy on 5 December 1814.The Francis and Eliza was taken on 4th January by the American Warrior privateer. She was plundered before being given up and allowed to continue on the journey. Captain Harrison was removed on board the privateer, and detained many hours but was afterwards liberated and restored to his own ship. Captain Harrison later reported that while the ship lay at Sierra Leone, in the month of March, a terrible fever raged at that settlement, occasioning a mortality most dreadful.The Francis & Eliza and Canada sailed from Sierra Leone together for the Cape of Good Hope, where they arrived the 12th May and remained three weeks to refresh. Fifty-two male prisoners and sixty-five female prisoners arrived in Port Jackson on the Francis and Eliza on 8 August 1815. (Ref. Sydney Gazette 12/08/1815)
Francis And Eliza (generic)References
| Primary Source | Irish Convict Database by Peter Mayberry. |
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Convict Notes
Connor the Messenger. The Fanny and Eliza transport, which sailed from Cove for New South Wales, with convicts, in the month of December, lost convoy in a squall …. the coast of Africa, by the Warrior, American privateer, the crew of which, after plundering the vessel, disarmed the guard, struck off the irons from the prisoners and set them at liberty, with directions to proceed to Santa Cruz. Though the guard afforded every facility of escape, and set themselves the worst example, by staving in the heads of the casks of liquor, and committing other excesses (for which they were afterwards put on board a King's ship for trial,) John Connor, the late messenger of the Post Office, whose sentence of death was mitigated transportation, by Lord Whitworth, succeeded with the aid of a few of his unfortunate companions, in keeping down the mutiny of the other prisoners, until King's ship came to their assistance, and put on board a part of the Royal African corps, with whom the transport arrived the Cape of Good Hope. A representation of the conduct of those resolute and repentant persons having been made to the Governor at that station, with view to having their punishment mitigated he expressed much regret that his powers did not warrant a compliance with the request, but stated that he would send such a recommendation to the Governor of New South Wales as, was certain, would produce the desired effect. The active and commendable part taken Connor on this occasion demonstrates the existence of that sincere spirit of contrition of which be exhibited many proofs while be was in this country and fully justifies the sympathy of the benevolent individuals by whose intercession he was snatched from the deadly grasp of the executioner. Saunders News-Letter, 23 Aug 1815.
John Connor, late a Messenger at the General Post Office of Ireland, was lately tried in Dublin for embezzling letters, &c. sent through the General Post, between the middle of February and the 30th of March. He was tried on ten counts, and was found guilty of all, and sentenced to be hanged. The property found in his trunk amounted to 1300£. Morning Chronicle, 27 July 1814.
Irish Convict Database by Peter Mayberry. John Connor, age on arrival, 21, per Francis and Eliza, (1815), Tried at Dublin City, 1814, Life, DOB, 1794, native place, Kings Co, Clerk. ---------------------------------------------------- Colonial Secretary Index. CONNOR, John. Per "Francis and Eliza", 1815. 1815 Aug 15 On list of convicts disembarked from the "Canada" and "Francis and Eliza" and forwarded to Parramatta for distribution; listed as O'Connor (Reel 6004; 4/3494 p.141) 1817 Feb 11 On list of prisoners to be sent to Newcastle per "Lady Nelson" (Reel 6005; 4/3495 p.501) --------------------------------------------------- Convict Index. John Connor, Francis and Eliza, 1815, Conditional Pardon, 25 Jan 1819. John Connor, Francis and Eliza, 1815, Absolute Pardon, 2 Feb 1821. Received a Conditional Pardon, dated 25 Jan 1819 delivered up and cancelled. ---------------------------------------------------