Patrick Whelan (abt. 1754)

Born about 1754 in County Dublin, Ireland

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Biography

Patrick Whelan was a convict after the Third Fleet transported to New South Wales

Patrick Whelan was a Catholic farmer from County Dublin who was tried in Dublin in 1797 and found guilty of rebellion. He received a life sentence of transportation and was exiled to New South Wales as a convict in 1800.

Whelan's presence on the Minerva is recorded in the memoirs of Joseph Holt^[1], the leader of the 1798 Irish Rebellion^[2] who like Patrick was exiled to New South Wales as a convict and was a fellow passenger on the Minerva.

At one point during the journey to New South Wales, the Minerva had spied a Spanish galleon and prison ship and the ship's captain feared action. Holt was asked to take charge of the centre gun and was allowed to select six prisoners to help him. Holt selected "Pat Whelan" as one of those six as being among "good and resolute men on whom I could depend".

Sources

1. ↑ Memoirs of Joseph Holt, General of the Irisch Rebels, in 1798: In Two Volumes, Volume 2, Colburn, 1838 - 367 pages. See page 49.
2. ↑ Wikipedia biography, Joseph Holt

See also:

• Irish Convicts to New South Wales, entry for Patrick Whelan.