Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
Leslie Ferguson was transported on the Minerva, departing 1st Jan 1818 and arriving 7th Jun 1818 with 167 passengers.
The Minerva was built at Lancaster, England in 1804. 4 voyages bringing convict transportees to Australia.
Minerva (generic)References
| Primary Source | Irish Convict Database, by Peter Mayberry. Tasmanian Record: https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON13-1-1p128 |
Claims
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Convict Notes
New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters. Year; 1833 No; 38 Name; Leslie Ferguson Ship; Minerva Noted against name; ABSCONDED; per "Cypress" 1829 New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters. Year; 1846. Absconded; August 1829.
The Government Brig Cyprus. No accounts have been received at Head-quarters during the past week respecting this vessel, which was piratically taken away by the eighteen convicts on their way of transportation to the penal Settlement at Macquarie Harbour, as fully reported in our last. It is generally supposed, that she must be now well on her way for the coast of South America, unless indeed some of the pirates should have quarrelled among themselves, owing to the great quantity of spirits which was on board, and that consequently some disaster or other has befallen them from intoxication. They have difficulties of a most formidable nature to encounter. The South American coast now swarms with not only British, but French vessels-of-war, cruising in all directions against pirates and slave ships. Besides, the pirates have not even a chart or map, ships' register or manifest on board the Cyprus, nor have they any person on board, out of the whole number who joined in the piracy, possessing either talent or address sufficient to personate a master of a vessel. It is therefore evident, that they must be captured by the first King's vessel that speaks them. If the prisoner Drury had, however, joined the pirates, it would have been quite different; for his address and information, we are informed, would have possibly imposed upon any person who might board the Cyprus. Under these circumstances, we cannot contemplate any remedy they have other than to run the vessel ashore the first land they make, and claim protection as ship-wrecked sailors. They will then be given up to the nearest British Consul, who will doubtless soon discover the fraud which they will attempt to practise; and who, being furnished by the respective Governors of these Colonies, with an accurate list and description of all runaway prisoners therefrom, will of course cause them to be immediately apprehended, and returned by the earliest opportunity to Hobart Town. Having observed some discrepancy in the account published of the piratical seizure in our Contemporaries, we can only say for our own parts, that we have taken great pains to arrive at the truth, and we can vouch for the accuracy of our statement, as published in the Colonial Times of last week, although some trifling omissions may have escaped our informants. Upon the whole, we will not even now take upon ourselves to attach blame to any particular person, especially as we are aware that the Lieutenant Governor caused depositions to be taken immediately after the return to Hobart Town of the people who were put on shore by the pirates. That very culpable blame is attached somewhere, is quite evident; but as an enquiry has been instituted, and is no doubt under the consideration of the Authorities, it would be unjust and premature in us to give our opinions on the subject at present. There is, however, one circumstance which deserves to be noticed, and which must strike any reflecting person, which is the fact, that there were many prisoners who refused to accompany the pirates, although repeatedly pressed to do so, and with the prospect of immediate liberty before them.— This only confirms the view we have always taken of the subject, that let a Crown prisoner be ever so badly disposed, give him a prospect of bettering his condition, and an interest in behaving well, and you at once convert him into a good subject of the state. Colonial Times, 11 Sep 1829.
Convict Conduct Record. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON34-1-1$init=CON34-1-1P18 Colonial Sentence: Hobart S.C. 5 May 1829, 7 years. Absconded August 1829. Struck off strength , December 1853. --------------------------------------------------- These being disposed of and returned to gaol, the following 14 convicted of larceny were brought up, namely-Samuel Thacker, John Beveridge, Thomas Hemmings, John Wilkins, John Brown, William Moss, John Dodds, H. Rowbotham, Leslie Ferguson, James Poundwell, Alexander Stevenson, William Horton, John Buchan and Patrick Molloy. Had it not been for the passing of what is "called Mr. Peel's act, the crimes which these prisoners had committed would have subjected them to the punishment of death, with the privilege of being allowed to pray the benefit of clergy. Criminals, however, must not flatter themselves that this act will afford them any relief, although they can now in no case suffer death by mere simple larceny. Instead of a mitigation of their punishment, the consequence of the act will be, that they will uniformly be punished with more severity than before, for their sentence will be as severe as any thing short of death will admit. All the fourteen were then sentenced to 7 years transportation. --------------------------------------------------- Leslie Ferguson was involved in the seizure of the Cyrus. See the full story: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8644472?searchTerm=Leslie Ferguson
Irish Convict Database, by Peter Mayberry. Leslie Ferguson, age 18, per Minerva I (1)(1818), Tried at Antrim, 1817, Life, DOB 1800, native place Coleraine Londonderry Co. Servant. ----------------------------------------------------- https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON13-1-1p128 Convicts on the Minerva, List dated 30 Dec 1817, Castle of Dublin. Antrim. Leslie Ferguson, age 16, Horse stealing, July 1817, Life.