Rev H PERKINS Irish Rebellion CONVICT Priests 1962 Lttr

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Details

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A lengthy & informative letter from the Author of "The Convict Priests" to George Mackaness

Letterhead : - No

From : - Rev. Harold Perkins [A Minister of the Presbyterian Church of Australia.  B.A. [Syd.]] [all as per letter]

Some Biographical Information : - You will find a copy of the above book for sale on BSP Gallery Bookshop Old and Rare Books  Malver East Victoria website - their copy estimates publication date circa 1983.  Another mention of interest can be found on the Catholic Weekly website under "Castle Hill Rebellion".

To : - Dr George Mackaness, University of Sydney.

Date : - 16th March, 1962

Regarding / Content : - Rev Perkins is a friend of the Burns family & feels he already knows Dr M & feels he is not a stranger,  & is calling on his expertise in the matter at hand.

He notes that he is "writing an historical novel on the experiences of one of the Convict Priests, Rev James Harold, who was my paternal grandmother's great great uncle."

"...gathering material of the 1798 Irish Rebellion, the early days of Sydney and Norfolk Island and Tasmania; and writing to people in Ireland and elsewhere for unpublished records & documents. .... As Father Harold was between six and seven years at Norfolk Island, and my information about his life there is still pretty meagre I foresee that I will need to spend ...time in the Mitchell Library..........  I need to know more about Foveaux, Piper, Wentworth and other key people with whom Father Harold had considerable acquaintance, not simply facts about them such as are easily obtainable but about their personalities.

Father Dixon, who was transported with Father Harold on the [HMS] Minerva, was 13 years younger, of a milder termperament, more adaptable, and so had better time.  Harold was in his fiftyfifth year when he got to Sydney, was in trouble through temperament and, under the conditions, could not fail to feel wronged, expect to be heard and react strongly when put in his place as a convict."

The letter continues on for quite a while yet, noting the Captain of the Minerva 's refusal to observe the Habeas Corpus issued by the Court of the King's Bench whilst Father Harold was being transported. The author [of the letter] has a photostat copy of the Petition addressed to him praying for an impartial trial.

"History of the Irish Rebellion that Harold was given the choice of standing trial for his life or going to Sydney and chose Sydney.  His story hangs together well, perhaps too well.  Lacking confirmation of it I am impressed by the Petition, which says, inter alia, "Your Petitioner suffers all the hardships and rigour of a convicted rebel altho he is conscious of no guilt whatsoever to his King or country and is ready to undergo any investigation for that purpose, the which he has repeatedly sollicited and can show by oncontestible proof that instead of even countenancing the late unhappy rebellion he has used every means in his power to suppress it."

....the plot in Sydney in 1800....thought he could talk to the magistrate 'off the record'.....listened to and trusted as a Priest. .....he wanted to both prevent trouble and shield the plotters.  Writing from Norfolk Island to a relative in Ireland he said that he had tried to promote the peace of the Sydney community.

By the time of his conditional pardon.....he lived another 20 years, did some more ecclesiastical work at Philadelphia and later in Ireland ....[end of 1st page]

He is buried in old Richmond Cemetery, Dublin, with four other Priests, all nephews, one of them Rev Wm Vincent Harold, ........[outlines more history on the nephew who objected to a transfer to Pittsburgh and gave up his work, returning to Ireland to be with his uncle.  He became Provincial of the Dominican Order of Ireland.

"This has, I hope, whetted your interest.  It seems to me that I have the making of a story of value for its historical and religous interest, and as a study of the endurance of the human spirit under extreme privation.  Can you help ?"

G.M's notation in puple ink - Replied 21/3/62

Typed / Hand Signed : - Yes/Yes {Rev.} Harold Perkins.

Watermark : - No

Condition : - Pin holes top left corner, o/wise extremely fine.

Paper Tone : - Ivory

Measurements : - 26.5cms x 20.5cms -10.4" x 8.2"

Posted with flat board & plastic protection, marked please lay flat for safe delivery.

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