Matthew Anderson (abt. 1827)

Born about 1827 in Ireland

Biography

Matthew Anderson was a convict after the Third Fleet transported to Van Diemen's Land

Matthew Anderson was about 20 years old when he was tried in Cavan on 5 January 1847 and found guilty of cattle stealing. He was sentenced to ten years transportation.^[1]. Matthew was tried on the same date and place alongside Thomas Anderson - it is possible the two were brothers.^[2]

The Irish Convict Transportation database states that Matthew left Ireland on the ship Medway. The Australian convict records, however, state that Matthew travelled to Van Diemen's Land in 1850 on board the Neptune, a ship that departed from the Cape of Good Hope after local residents refused the establishment of convict settlement there. The Neptune left England for South Africa in 1849 so it is likely that the Medway was a ship that left Ireland for England. The Tasmanian records (dated April 1850) added that Matthew was to be given a conditional pardon on arrival.^[3] This was granted in July 1850.^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ National Archives of Ireland, Irish Transportation Database, PDF compilation database of records contained in the National Archive of Ireland; entry for Matthew Anderson, page 39. Record reference code: TR 6, P 24.
2. ↑ Home Office: Convict Transportation Registers; (The National Archives Microfilm Publication HO11); The National Archives of the UK (TNA), Kew, Surrey, England. Class: HO 11; Piece: 16. Entry for Matthew Anderson.
3. ↑ Archives of Tasmania, record of conditional pardon for Matthew Anderson.
4. ↑ Tasmanian Colonial Convict, Passenger and Land Records. Various collections (30 series). Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office, Hobart, Tasmania. Reference Number: CON56-1-2.