The trials took place under orders from Sir John Colborne, commander-in-chief of Her Majesty's Forces in Canada and Lower Canada during the Rebellion. 108 men were prosecuted before the general court-martial of Montreal in 1838-1839. The trials occurred between December 6, 1838 and 1 May 1839. Nine were acquitted and 99 sentenced to death. 12 patriots were hanged in public between December 1838 and February 1839. 58 of the 99 who were initially condemned to death saw their sentence commuted into deportation to Australia on September 27, 1839. (Pardoned in 1843, they returned home in 1845.) 29 were freed under bail or condition.
