A remarkable piece of Irish history is to go under the hammer at the Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries in New York. It is an envelope that sheds light on the life of an Irish political prisoner in Australia in 1868.

The envelope originally contained a censored letter to prisoner Thomas Fogarty from his brother in America. Thomas Fogarty, hailing from Kilfeacle, County Tipperary, was convicted in May 1867 for his involvement in the Fenian Rising. According to records he was “one of a party which set fire to a man’s house because he would not go with them”. His sentence was five years of imprisonment in Fremantle Prison, Western Australia.

Fremantle Prison once held many young Irishmen, transported and jailed for their roles in the Fenian Rising. Fogarty was only 20 years old when he arrived in Western Australia in January 1868. Prison authorities severely restricted his access to mail, intercepting letters deemed to contain “Fenian matter”.

The envelope, which was posted from Portland, Maine in the US, was carried  by ship to Derry, Ireland, then on to London, then delivered to Australia by steam ship, arriving in Sydney on April 17, 1868. It took a staggering 77 days to reach its destination. It is stamped in Portland and London, and is addressed: ‘To The Governor of Fremantle (Convict) Prison (or Settlement) Western Australia, For Mr Thos Fogarty (Political Convict)’. While its exact contents remain a mystery, the interception of one of Simon Fogarty’s letters to his brother suggests they were suspected to be politically motivated.

Prisoners were allowed to write one letter every two months, but Western Australia Governor John Stephen Hampton refused to give Thomas Fogarty his brother’s address as he thought it would be unwise to let the brothers communicate. 

After a year in Fremantle Prison, Thomas Fogarty was released and joined 24 other Fenian prisoners in San Francisco, California, where the Fenian Brotherhood warmly welcomed them. Fogarty lived in America until his passing in 1897.

The auction of this envelope provides a glimpse into the hardships and challenges faced by Irish political prisoners in the 19th century and their enduring spirit. It’s a testament to the resilience and determination of those who played a role in Irish history.

The Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, known for its expertise in rare postal stamps and artefacts, will auction this historic envelope on September 27th, offering collectors and history enthusiasts a chance to own a tangible piece of Irish heritage. Its estimated value is from US$2,000 to US$3,000.