Peter Ivers (United Irishmen) facts for kids
Peter Ivers was born in 1774 in Tinryland, a place in County Carlow, Ireland. He was an important helper and planner for a group called the United Irishmen. This group wanted Ireland to be free from British rule and to have its own fair government, instead of the Protestant Ascendancy (when only Protestants held most of the power). The United Irishmen were preparing for a big fight, known as the Irish Rebellion of 1798. Peter Ivers was arrested just before this rebellion and was sent far away to Australia as a punishment.
A Leader of the United Irishmen
Peter Ivers grew up in Tinryland, County Carlow. He was the only son of Jemmy Ivers. Peter worked as a carpet-maker, but he was also known for being well-educated and having a strong personality.
In the summer of 1797, the government started looking for Peter. They had a warrant for his arrest because he was giving out the membership promise for the United Irishmen. Peter believed that the British government in London and the Irish parliament in Dublin would not make fair changes. So, he was helping to gather people for a rebellion to make Ireland a republic (a country with elected leaders). He also hoped that France would help them.
Peter managed to avoid being caught until March 1798. At that time, he was a representative for Carlow. He was arrested with 13 other leaders of the United Irishmen from the Leinster area. They were meeting at the house of Oliver Bond in Dublin. Peter was so important that the secret password for their meeting was "Is Ivers from Carlow come?". Sadly, he was caught because he trusted William Farrell, who was secretly working for the government.
Arrest and Life in Exile
These arrests were a big blow to the United Irishmen leaders, especially in Carlow, where Peter Ivers had been the main person organizing the group. The arrests made it much harder for the rebellion to succeed.
While some other leaders faced very serious punishments, Peter Ivers was held in Kilmainham Gaol prison until 1799. He was found guilty of acting against the government and was sentenced to be sent away. In August, he was put on a ship called the Minerva. He sailed to the penal colony of New South Wales (which is now part of Australia). He arrived in Sydney in January 1800. On the ship, his job was listed as "weaver." Among the 234 other people sent with him was Harold James, who was the first Catholic priest to arrive in Australia's penal colonies. Peter Ivers even helped him during church services.
By August 1800, the authorities in Australia thought that some of the people who arrived on the Minerva were planning to take over the colony. Several people were arrested and questioned. Harold, the priest, was sent away to Norfolk Island because he refused to tell the authorities what people had told him in confession.
It's not known what part, if any, Peter Ivers played in this suspected plot. People believe he might have used a different name while he was in Australia. He was not among the United Irishmen who were given pardons after the Rum Rebellion in 1808. This was a sudden takeover by a group called the New South Wales Corps, which removed Governor William Bligh from power.
