Captain Dalrymple Dowson. Surgeon Superintendent John Love

The Backwell was the next convict ship to leave Ireland for New South Wales after the departure of the Hero in March 1835. Six ships departed Ireland with convicts for New South Wales in 1835.

The Backwell, departed Cork on 12th June 1835.

This was John Love's last appointment as surgeon superintendent on a convict ship. He was well experienced having been first appointed as assistant surgeon twenty two years previously. His appointments to convict ships included to the John in 1829,  Mellish in 1830 (to VDL), and the Atlas in 1833 (to VDL) 

One hundred and fifty male prisoners arrived in Port Jackson on 29 September 1835.  The voyage had taken 109 days and two prisoners died on the way.  It was a clear day at 6am in Sydney on the 29th September, with winds from the SW, however by midday the skies had clouded over. Rain began the following day.

There were seven young prisoners on board - Denis Connors and James Hogan were both 15; John Drummy and Thadie Cronin were 14; Patrick Mullins was 13; and Patrick Carney an errand boy from Cork was only twelve years old.

Passengers included Captain Irvine of the 28th regiment, Ensign Stanwell, 28 rank and file of 28th regiment, 1 of the 17th regiment 7 women and 10 children, two having been born on the voyage. Several detachments of the 28th served as guards to the penal settlement at Brisbane before being sent to India in 1842. (1)  Other convict ships bringing detachments of the 28th regiment included the Marquis of Huntley, Westmoreland, Norfolk,  England, John Barry, Susan, Waterloo, Lady McNaughten, Moffatt, Strathfieldsaye and Portsea.

The Backwell brought with her the news that the death of the widow of the great navigator Captain James Cook had taken place. She lived to be 94 years and survived her husband by 56 years.

The Backwell was appointed to do survey work following disembarkation of the prisoners. She departed for Mauritius in November.

Select here to find other convict ships arriving in New South Wales in 1835.

Convicts who arrived on the Backwell in 1835

Captain Alexander McDonald. Surgeon Superintendent Joseph Steret

The Bardaster departed Portsmouth bound for Van Diemen's Land on 16 September 1835.

Joseph Steret kept a Medical Journal from 12 August 1835 to 18 January 1836.  The Guard ordered for the Bardaster consisting of thirty non commissioned Officers and privates of the 28th regiment and two Commissioned Officers, embarked on the 22nd August. According to the surgeon they were accompanied by an unusually large proportion of women and children. There being nine of the former, and the same number of the latter, mostly infants under sixteen months. On the evening of their embarkation one of the soldiers of the Guard was taken ill with cholera and for the greater part of the night his life was despaired of.........

..........We moved from Deptford to Portsmouth where we were ordered to embark our prisoners; on the 25th August we anchored at Gravesend. On the 29th we weighed anchor and proceeded down the river.  On 1st September, I examined at the hulks Leviathan and York, two hundred and forty male convicts who were embarked the same day. They were in general healthy but four or five were found to have disease of the lungs. Our sailing orders did not arrive till Wednesday the 10th when the wind had lifted to the SW where it continued blowing a gale till the 16th. On that day it moderated and we weighed anchor. At night it again blew hard and continued to do so till the 21st September. We cleared the Channel on the 23rd notwithstanding the unfavourable weather, but variola had by this time established itself on board.

The surgeon isolated those affected in the forecastle and such took precautions as the overcrowded ship would allow. The weather continued very boisterous and almost all the prisoners were sea sick. On 21st a prisoner boy was carried into the hospital. He had been constantly sea sick since sailing from Portsmouth and had not been vaccinated from small pox. The surgeon now had three cases of small pox to deal with. He made the hospital a 'pest ward' and the sick were visited in the prison.

...........In the severe and confluent disease it is impossible to convey by writing any notion of the loathsome mass of suppuration and putrescence which the patients became. The treatment consisted in moderating the fever by bloodletting, purgatives and by keeping their body naked and by applying clothes dipped in water. But I do not think I succeeded in preventing the formation of a single pimple in all, the face and extremities were literally covered and the body nearly so. The secondary fever very severe.

There was not room enough in the hospital to accommodate all who became ill and so those who had been inoculated and had only a modified form of the disease were isolated on one side of the deck during the day. As well as small pox there were also consumptive cases and a case of apoplexy which proved fatal. There were six deaths altogether on the voyage, one of them being a seaman who was affected with small pox.

The Bardaster arrived in Van Diemen's Land on 13 January 1836, after a voyage of 119 days.

Joseph Steret  was also surgeon on the convict ships Camden in 1833 and the Neptune in 1838 (VDL).

Hunter Valley convicts who arrived on the Bardaster in 1836

Captain John Lamb.  Surgeon Superintendent David Reid

The Baring was built in London in 1801. She was 3 decked with a length of 146ft 1 ½in (44.5 metres). She was launched at Deptford for Robert Charnock and taken up for the East India Company. In 1814 she left the East India service and was hired out as a convict ship.

The Baring was the next convict ship to leave England bound for New South Wales after the departure of the female transport Northampton on 1st January 1815. The Baring departed England on 20 April 1815 and called at Madeira and Rio de Janeiro on the way.

David Reid was employed as surgeon superintendent on the Baring. He was about 40 years of age on this voyage. His journal for the voyage has not survived and so there is no indication as to how the prisoners were treated by him, however when he died in 1840 his obituary described his death as a public loss—by it the colony is bereaved of an upright and zealous Magistrate, and society of a truly honest man.  He was also surgeon on the Baring in 1819 and the Providence in 1822. His journal for the voyage of the Baring in 1819 survives and he recommended stopping at Rio rather than the Cape as vegetables were plentiful there.

The Guard consisted of a detachment of the 34th regiment; the officers were Captain Saunders (or Sanderson) and Lieutenant Norton. Captain Norton, late of the 34th regiment, donated to the Naval and Military Museum in London in 1832 a "boomerang or magic stick of New South Wales"

On Thursday 7 September 1815 the Baring arrived in Sydney Cove with 298 prisoners, two having died on the passage out. Twenty of the prisoners were under the age of sixteen. The youngest were Walter Barlow, John Briggs, George Carter, William Potter and Charles Tilley who were all fourteen years of age; and Joseph Frednam, James Kettle who were only thirteen years old.  The prisoners were all disembarked on 15th September 1815 and distributed to settlers and government service. Seventy four men were sent to Windsor; thirty four to Liverpool; and thirty three to Parramatta.

Convicts who arrived on the Baring in 1815

Captain John Lamb.  Surgeon Superintendent David Reid

Prisoners to be transported on the Baring in 1819 were held in various Hulks prior to transportation. Many of those who were tried at the Old Bailey were sent to Newgate prison and transferred to the Retribution Hulk on 3rd October 1818. The were embarked on the Baring on 4th December 1818.

Passengers on the Baring included Captain Charles Coates of the 89th regiment, commanding the guard of the 48th regiment, and ensign Grove White of the 48th regiment. Other convict ships bringing soldiers of the 89th regiment included the Atlas, Speke, John and Minerva.

Passengers on the Baring included Peter Roberts Esq., Deputy Assistant Commissary General; Rev. John Cross and family with the Rev. John Butler and Mrs. James Kempe, and Mr. Francis Hall, Missionaries and their families; Mrs. Turnbull and family; and Tooi and Tetterree, New Zealanders who had travelled to England in the Kangaroo......

The Baring departed the Downs with a fair wind on 27 January 1819 and arrived at Madeira on the 10th February, thirteen days from the Downs. According to the Asiatic Journal, all the convicts, passengers, troops and crew were in the highest state of health and order and she immediately continued her voyage to New South Wales, however many became ill after leaving the Cape. Light winds delayed the ship on on approaching the Equator and the heat affected many of the convicts and some of the guard with 'chronic affectations of the liver and jaundice'. Five of the prisoners died.

They met with a series of light easterly winds which rendered the latter part of the voyage very tedious and prevented the passage through Bass Strait. Surgeon Reid noted that exclusive of those who died 'we had about 30 more ill with slight complaints of the same kind but we kept the disease at bay with lemon juice and fresh meat till we got to the Derwent when we had a plentiful supply of fresh meat, vegetable and potatoes and when we arrived at Port Jackson all had recovered'.  However the Hobart Town Gazette reported that when the Baring put into Hobart on 14th June to procure fresh provisions and water, five prisoners suffering extreme debility were landed and one of them died the following day. The following month 21 year old Private Edward Edwards died after suffering a debilitating illness on the voyage out.  The Baring was planning to proceed from Hobart to Port Jackson on Sunday 20th June. (Hobart Town Gazette 19 June 1819)

The Baring arrived at Port Jackson on  26 June 1819 with 290 prisoners. Of those prisoners an astonishing eighty two were under the age of twenty one years. Two were only eleven years old.

Select here to read the parliamentary debate which was brought about by the petition of Dr. Lawrence Halloran, who had been convicted of fraud and was transported on the Baring.

Petition of Dr. Halloran -  Mr. Bennet presented (to parliament), a Petition from Dr. Halloran, sentenced to seven years transportation, for forging a frank, complaining of the unprecedented severity of the punishment for such an offence, and of the treatment which he had experienced since his conviction. The hon. gentleman said he had inquired into the circumstances of the case. Dr. Halloran was unquestionably a man of considerable literary talents, he was advanced in life, and had a large family. The sentence pronounced upon him certainly appeared much too severe for the offence; but it was the cruelty which Dr. Halloran complained that he had suffered since his conviction to which he was desirous to call the attention of the House. Dr. Halloran had, on his apprehension, been sent to Coldbath-fields, where he was imprisoned with felons. He was thence removed for trial to Newgate, where he was confined in the condemned cells with thirty or forty boys. From those cells, he was transferred to the hospital among the sick felons. He by no means imputed any blame to the magistrates or to the keeper, but it did so happen, owing to the crowded state of the prison, that a very severe punishment, in the mode of his imprisonment was, as in this case of Dr. Halloran's inflicted on a prisoner, even before his trial. After Dr. Halloran had been convicted, he was sent on board the Alonzo hospital ship at Woolwich. Here on 30th November, he was seized with violent illness, in the middle of which he was removed, and taken in an open boat to the Baring transport at Purfleet (10 miles), where he was left in a small cabin for nineteen hours without any kind of sustenance, He was then served with the usual sea allowance, which was very unfit for a man in his condition, but could obtain no medical aid. Dr. Halloran had been promised by Lord Sidmouth that he should have every accommodation which it would be proper to grant him, and that he should not be compelled to associate with common felons. In a few days, however, after he had been taken on board the Baring, twenty double-ironed felons were lodged with him in the same cabin. He had seen this cabin; it was twelve feet square. Twenty one human beings were crammed into it, in cribs six feet and a half broad by five feet and half long, into each of which six human beings were stowed. In that situation they were unable to turn round, and Dr. Halloran declared he was witness to one of the abominable scenes the increasing prevalence of which was so degrading to the character of the country. There was a privy (used by a hundred and fifty convicts, in the fore part of the ship) in one corner of it; Dr. Halloran sent a statement of this transaction to Lord Sidmouth and a most respectable officer Mr. Capper was sent to investigate. Mr. Bennet repeated that he himself had visited the vessel. It contained between two and three hundred human beings all stowed in about fifty cribs. It was in the middle of the day, about three o'clock, when he went on board; and yet it was necessary to use candles. Never should he forget the loathsome scene which the vessel exhibited! It appeared that the ship had a short time before got on a bank in a gale of wind, and had been nearly lost. The agitation of the storm had occasioned violent sickness among the unhappy men on board and those who were at bottom, were almost suffocated by the results of that sickness. The case was heard in parliament 25th January 1819 and it was agreed that if the ship had not sailed already that she should be stopped and an investigation as to the conditions take place. Although she apparently didn't sail until 27th January, it was stated in parliament that she had already departed....

Dr. Halloran was granted a ticket of leave on arrival; he opened a private school known as the Sydney Grammar School, in January 1820 and in November 1825 was appointed headmaster of the new Sydney Free Public Grammar School.

David Reid recommended that when convicts were first embarked and while detained before sailing that they be given plenty of vegetables and fresh meat instead of salt rations so that their constitution might be enabled to resist the effects of disease in the case of a lengthy voyage. He also recommended that unless the passage from England to the Southern tropic was quick, it was advisable to stop at Rio Janeiro which was preferable to the Cape of Good Hope as vegetables were plenty and cheap and the passage from that place could be made to Port Jackson in as little time as from England to Rio.

 ...Proceedings in Parliament - Gentleman's Magazine

Notes and Links:

Tasmania Times......Kris Jacobsen, of Canberra, has documented the lives of Jacob and Benjamin Isaacs in a book entitled A Land of Promise: An Account of Jacob Isaacs, Jewish Convict, and Benjamin Isaacs, Christian Printer and Publisher.   From the State Library of Victoria....Contents/Summary: From East London lanes--To colonial roads--And colonial towns--Benjamin's imprint. At the end of the 19th century Jacob Isaacs, and his son Benjamin lived in poverty in London. Benjamin avoided the criminal orientation of his father when a charity provided an education and apprentice- ship. This account investigates their lives from the adverse circum- stances of Whitechapel to the opportunities presented in a new land.

David Reid was also surgeon on the Baring in 1815 and Providence in 1822

Hunter Valley convicts who arrived on the Baring in 1819

Captain John Austin. Surgeon Superintendent Robert Wylie

The Barossa was the next convict ship to leave England for New South Wales after the departure of the female transport Mary Anne in July 1839.

Passengers on the voyage included Rev. M. Woodward, Mrs. Woodward, Miss Woodward, Miss Emily Woodward, Lieutenant James Chambre 96th regiment, Ensign Hough, 50th regiment and 29 rank and file of the 28th, 50th and 96th regiments with their wives and children.

Other convict ships bringing detachments of the 96th regiment to New South Wales included the Barossa, Nautilus, Augusta Jessie, Woodbridge, Maitland, Pekoe and Eden.

From the Military Intelligence of the Woolwich Advertiser of July 20th 1839...50th regiment - Ensign Hodge (?Hough) with 12 men, is ordered to be in readiness to embark on board the Barossa, convict ship at Deptford. The service companies at New South Wales will relieve the 16th at Bengal next year.(1)

The prisoners of the Barossa were mainly young men although there were a few who were older. They had came from districts throughout England and Scotland - Warwick, Birmingham, Buckinghamshire, Gloucester, Nottingham, Edinburgh, Wiltshire, Lancashire and Middlesex.  Crimes ranged from picking pockets and insubordination to highway robbery and manslaughter. A number of the prisoners had been tried at the Old Bailey on 17th September 1838. They were received on to the Fortitude hulk at Chatham from Newgate prison on 2nd October 1838 and transferred to the Barossa on 26th July 1839. Jacob Campbell was convicted on 6th November at Edinburgh for an assault upon his wife and was received on to the Justitia hulk on 26th November where he remained until he was transferred to the Barossa on 22nd July 1839. Sixteen year old James Cotterell had been convicted of stealing from the person on 16th October 1838 in Staffordshire. He was received on to the Ganymede hulk on 14th December where he was described as having bad habits and connexions, a sullen disposition and had been convicted four times before. He was transferred to the Barossa on 22 July 1839. He was one of five prisoners under the age of 16 the others being David Agg (15), William Bradshaw (16), John Keefe (15) and John Moore (15).

The Barossa sailed from Sheerness on 3rd August 1839 having embarked a total of 336 male convicts there and at Woolwich.

Robert Wylie was a well experienced surgeon superintendent having previously been employed on the Henry Wellesley in 1836 and Emma Eugenia in 1838. He kept a Medical Journal from 7 July to 16 December 1839 on this voyage of the Barossa. All the convicts were healthy on embarking, however before starting measles broke out affecting three children and three convicts. It had been brought on board by some of the children of the guard. As the cases began to appear, Robert Wylie was at first apprehensive of having to put back to port or stop over en route, and was relieved to find that there were in total six cases only.  Later he reported that Herpes had also broken out having been brought on board by convicts from the Ganymede hulk. It spread to about 50 of the men as the ship passed through the tropics and despite treatment with stimulants and sedatives did not abate until the ship approached colder weather. While sailing easterly they passed through very cold weather and icebergs were seen. Several people suffered illness, and two died at this time.

The Surgeon's first patient was Lawrence Doyle on 29th July who was suffering from pneumonia and who wasn't discharged from the sick list until 19th November. On 29th July two year old Elizabeth Fitz, a child of one of the Guard was treated for rubeola. The attack appeared mild to the surgeon, however the child developed bronchitis and died on 15th August.  James Holme age 53 became ill on 7th October with diarrhoea, his health declined until 24th October when he died. Robert Holdsworth, a slight lad of fair complexion and aged 19 began to suffer with diarrhoea on 5th November.  Despite all the surgeon's attention he slowly declined until his death on 19th November. Puzzled by his death the surgeon performed a post mortem and found the lungs to have been considerably congested and colon swollen although the patient had never complained of any symptoms in those regions.

The Chief Mate on the Barossa was Mr. Alfred Newman who was 21 years of age. He was treated by the surgeon for rheumatism in his hips and back on 9th October, his condition made worse by the cold weather they were experiencing.

The Barossa spoke the Orient on 30 October in latitude 40S longitude 49E.

The Barossa arrived in Port Jackson on 8 December 1839. The convicts were landed at the dockyard and marched to Hyde Park Barracks on Friday 13th December. Two or three who were sick were conveyed in hand barrows. They were inspected by His Excellency, Governor George Gipps at the Barracks where his Excellency delivered to them the usual address upon the occasion.

Two weeks later, the Australasian Chronicle reported that the convicts who arrived by the Barossa were removed on Monday 16th December to the Cook's River station, and Mr. Jones, late Assistant Chief constable of Sydney was appointed superintendent of the works which were in progress there.

The Australasian Chronicle of 31st December 1839 mentioned Rev. Woodward - The Rev. Mr. Woodward.— This Rev. gentleman arrived per Barossa from the traits of character he has already displayed, we feel no hesitation in congratulating the colony on such a valuable acquisition to the cause of liberality among us. On Sunday, the Rev. Gentleman performed divine service at the quarantine ground. He addressed in impressive language the unfortunate people, and called on them in the name of their Creator to join with him in returning thanks for their fortunate escape from typhus fever whilst so many of their fellow creatures had been laid low under similar circumstances. At the conclusion of his address, he advised them in strong language, no matter what their religion might be, to attend divine service on next Sunday, when a Catholic clergyman will officiate. It gives us great pleasure to record such an expression of liberality on the part of a Protestant clergyman, and we would fondly hope that the arrival of Mr. Wood- ward may form an era in our history in this respect.

The Barossa departed for Bombay in January 1840.

Hunter Valley convicts who arrived on the Barossa in 1839

1.The Australian 21 December 1839

Captain John Cameron. Surgeon  John Thomas Sharpe

The Barwell had been built and launched on the River Thames in 1782 and used by the East India Company . She arrived in Portsmouth on 15 October 1797 and departed there on 6 November 1797.(1)

Taking the passage via the Cape, the Barwell with 287 convicts on board arrived in Port Jackson on 18 May 1798. Nine convicts had died on the voyage out.

Passengers included Hunter Valley settlers McDougall and Bowman families; Richard Dore, deputy Judge-Advocate; and Ensign Nicholas Bayley of the NSW Corps commander of the Guard.

Convict lawyer/poet Michael Massey Robinson  - Extract of a letter from a gentleman who went passenger in the Barwell to New South Wales. September 5, 1798.....Mr. Robinson, the attorney, whose memorable attack upon Mr. Oldham produced so memorable a prosecution against him, came also in the Barwell; and from the superiority of his manners and behaviour, ingratiated himself so happily with the captain and officers as to be allowed a situation entirely remote and detached from the convicts, where, in a mess composed of some passengers, the boatswain, gunner, and steward, he was indulged every day with a bottle of wine and a cover from the captain's table. (HR NSW Vol., III p. 728)

John Cadman who became Superintendent of Government boats in Sydney also arrived on the Barwell

Convict artist John William Lancashire arrived on the Barwell. In about 1803 he produced this painting of Sydney Cove. The bridge over the Tank Stream can be seen on the far right.

Soon after leaving the Cape, there were whispers of a mutiny and but for information given by one of the men, it may have taken place. Ensign George Bond of the New South Wales Corps was named as one of the ringleaders. He and several other soldiers were thrown into irons. Later, in the colony various charges were made against Bond, however they came to naught at trial. There is an account in Charles Bateson's The Convict Ships and also an account of Bond's trial can be read in the Historical Records of New South Wales Vol., III., p.453., however before this attempted mutiny, there was a another plan to take the ship

1. Read some of Richard Dore's Correspondence to Sir Michael le Fleming re the voyage of the Barwell and the attempted 'rise' before the vessel reached the Cape

2. Arrival of the Barwell

3. Convicts who arrived on the Barwell in 1798

In 1810 the following people who had arrived on the Barwell received their Certificates of Freedom being restored to all the Rights of Free Subjects in consequence of their terms of transportation being expired...Thomas Evestaff, Abraham West, Thomas Sealy, James Wild, William Barron

Captain William Buchanan Lamb. Surgeon Superintendent James Billing

The Batavia was the next convict ship to leave England for New South Wales after the departure of the Ocean in August 1817. The Batavia departed from Plymouth on 1 November 1817 and arrived in Port Jackson on 5 April 1818.

Details of the voyage of the Bellona in 1793 are now on a separate page.

Select here to find out more about the voyage and convicts of the Bellona

Captain Joseph Ball Antice.  Surgeon Superintendent William Evans

On 22 April 1819 Dr Edward Trevor, superintendent and medical inspector of convicts, wrote to William Gregory, Under Secretary, Dublin Castle, concerning varied state of clothing and health of the 310 convicts recently embarked on convict ships Bencoolen and Mary. He commented on the condition of convicts sent from Newgate jail, Dublin; Kilmainham jail, Dublin; and Cork city jail and criticised in particular the 'filthy' state of prisoners from Cork city jail, and their drunken behaviour. Chief Secretary's Office Registered Papers, National Archives

The Bencoolen was the next convict ship to leave Ireland for New South Wales after the departure of the Tyne in 1818. The Bencoolen sailed from the Cove of Cork on 24 April 1819 with 150 male prisoners. Of these there were 4 Protestants and 146 Catholics.

The Military Guard consisted of Lieut. Prior and Ensign Hayes of the 46th regiment and a detachment of the 46th and 87th regiments. The Headquarters of the 46th regiment commanded by Lieut-Col George James Molle arrived on the Windham in 1814 and other detachments arrived on the Elizabeth, Larkins, General Hewitt, Guildford, Surry, Shipley, General Hewitt, Three Bees and Ocean.

This was William Evans' second voyage as surgeon superintendent on a convict ship. He kept a Medical Journal from 13 April to 4 September 1819. He recorded in the Journal a case of food poisoning that took place on 7 - 9 June. The crew had caught Dolphin two days previously which was hung from the rigging for a day without being gutted. Two of the guard were taken ill and six of the crew. One of the prisoners was also taken ill. The worst cases were of the sail maker and Mrs. Clancey, the Sergeant's wife. They suffered with languor, heaviness and faintness, pain in the bowels and a copper colour to their faces with large wheals or lumps.

They arrived in Port Jackson on 25 August 1819 in excellent health, none having died on the passage out. The voyage took a total of 123 days and they sailed 15, 762 miles.

The surgeon remarked on the good behaviour of the prisoners. No corporal punishment had been necessary. Regulations were drawn up at the start of the voyage and a committee of 12 prisoners appointed to settle disputes. He knew that other convict voyages had been characterised as scenes of gambling and impropriety but not a single pack of cards had been found on the Bencoolen. Instead the prisoners paid great attention to their prayer books and religious and moral tracts. The surgeon believed their decency and propriety of behaviour and submissiveness to all those placed over them indicated they meant seriously to retrieve their injured characters.

Classification of the prisoners was by a separation of the young from the old.  The better behaved prisoners improved the manners of the others, rather than being corrupted by them.

On the 30th August, five days after arriving in Port Jackson, Mr Campbell came on board and mustered the prisoners who said they were pleased with their treatment and made no complaints. On the 4th September the convicts were disembarked at daybreak, and the guards at 9am.

The Sydney Gazette noted that the prisoners landed from the various vessels (the Canada, Mary and the Bencoolen), during the previous week appeared to be in a healthy and comparatively happy condition. They spoke of the kindness and humanity they received from the Commanders and Officers in the most grateful terms of praise; who expressed universal satisfaction at their orderly conduct and exemplary good behaviour during the voyage.

In September 130 prisoners were transhipped on the 'Admiral Cockburn' to Hobart

The Bencoolen was to depart for Calcutta in October 1819

Eighteen of the Bencoolen convicts have been identified in the Hunter Valley. Select HERE to find out more about these men.

William Evans was also surgeon on the Sir William Bensley in 1817,  Hindostan in 1821,  Sir Godfrey Webster  in 1826, Southworth in 1834 (VDL) and Earl Grey in 1836

Captain William Campbell.  Surgeon Superintendent James Ellis

The Bengal Merchant was built in Calcutta in 1812. She was taken up by the East India Company in 1813 and sold to Joseph Somes in 1834.

Some of the convicts embarking on the Bengal Merchant  had been tried and convicted at the Old Bailey and incarcerated at Newgate. Select here to find out what it may have been like to be imprisoned in Newgate in 1835. From Newgate and other county prisons in England and Scotland the men were transferred to the Hulks moored in the Thames to await transportation. Those in the Fortitude hulk were taken to the vessel on 23 September 1834.  From the Justitia prisoners were transferred on the 19th September.

The Bengal Merchant was the next convict ship to leave England after the departure of the Henry Porcher in September 1834.  Having departed Sheerness on 1st October 1834 the Bengal Merchant made a direct passage and arrived in Port Jackson on Friday 30 January 1835.

The Guard consisted of 2 sergeants, 27 rank and file of the 50th regiment under command of Capt. McDonald and Ensign Cobbin. Passengers - Mrs. McDonald, Miss McDonald, Misses Eliza, Charlotte, Emily, Louisa, Sarah and Elizabeth McDonald, Masters Charles and Richard McDonald, 10 women (soldiers wives) and 13 children

James Ellis kept a Medical Journal from 6th September 1834 to 20 February 1835. He found that catarrh and bowel complaints appeared almost immediately on their coming on board, and the sick list increased while at sea with many and various complaints and among them several cases of inflammatory fever, of which one prisoner, John Stroud died. Two more prisoners also died on the passage out.

On the 17 December scurvy made it appearance and rapidly increased so much so that seventy seven cases of the disease had been under treatment, the principal features of the disease were a debilitated state of body, sallow complexion, spongy and bleeding gums, stiffness and swellings of the joints particularly the knees, and sometimes yellow and greenish blotches on the trunk and extremities. The surgeon's recourse was the vegetable acids and also the solution of nitre in vinegar lately so strongly recommended, to one portion of cases. Lime juice alone was administered in doses of two ounces, three, four or five times in the day to others.

The prisoners were to be landed in the week beginning the 8th February, however the Sydney Monitor reported on the 14th and the 21st that the Bengal Merchant was still lying in the stream with prisoners on board. The heat was so excessive in Sydney at this time that it was reported that over thirty bullocks had dropped dead from heat exhaustion and were still lying on various streets around Sydney. The Bengal merchant finally set sail again on 26th February bound for Java.

Distribution of Convicts of the Bengal Merchant - of the 267 landed; 20 were retained for public service; 1 was unfit for assignment; 6 were specials; 15 were in hospital; 29 were sent to work in irons on Goat Island; 196 were assigned to Private Service

James Ellis was also surgeon on the convict ships Hooghley in 1831, Diana in 1833 and  Waterloo in 1838

Captain William Campbell.  Surgeon Superintendent John Tarn

In the last week of July 1836, 270 male convicts were embarked at Woolwich and Sheerness after inspection on the hulks. They were mainly middle aged with a large proportion of lads, mostly in good health. Some of the older men were emaciated and pallid in appearance. 

The guard consisted of 29 rank and file of the 80 the regt., under command of Lieutenant Samuel Tolfrey Christie (brother of William H. Christie who came on the Captain Cook) and Ensign Horton with four women and four children as passengers.

Other convict ships bringing detachments of the 80th regiment included the Lloyds,  Asia, Lady Kennaway, Captain Cook, Earl Grey, St. Vincent, John, Norfolk, Prince George, Mangles, Heber, Theresa, Calcutta and Eden.

The Bengal Merchant was the next vessel to leave England for New South Wales after the departure of the Lady Kennaway in June 1836. The Bengal Merchant departed the Downs on the 8th August 1836 and sailed via Tenerife. When they arrived in Port Jackson on 9th December 1836 they had been on board for a total of 140 days.

John Tarn kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 13 July 1836 to 17 December 1836.

Captain William Campbell. Surgeon Superintendent Isaac Noott

Two hundred and seventy male prisoners embarked on the Bengal Merchant under the care of Isaac Noott who kept a Medical Journal from 5 March 1838 to 28 July 1838.

The guard consisted of 29 men of the 21st and 51st Regiments under orders of Lieutenant Gates of the 51st and Lieutenant Dear of the 21st regiment, with 6 women and 9 children. They embarked at Deptford on 15 March 1838.  Other convict ships bringing detachments of the 51st regiment included Neptune, John Barry, Lord Lyndoch, Waterloo and Portsea.

Other convict ships bringing detachments of the 21st regiment included the Asia, Roslin Castle, Java, Camden, Lloyds, Fairlie and Mangles

sailed for Sheerness the following day and on 20th March 270 convicts from Chatham were embarked. Convict John Franklyn was one of the men who had been on board the hulk at Chatham. Already suffering severely from rheumatism, he got very wet on the day of embarkation and despite the care of Isaac Noott, continued to suffer throughout the rest of the voyage. Select here to read a Prison Hulk Report describing a typical week in the life of convicts incarcerated in the Hulks in 1838.

The Bengal Merchant was the next vessel to leave England after the departure of the Emma Eugenia in November 1837. She weighed anchor on 28 March, passed the Downs on 1 April and were at Tenerife on 11 April where they spent two days getting water and fresh provisions.

There was an outbreak of typhus on 20th May. Prisoners, crew and soldiers were affected. James Monk died on 9th June. Private William Denny of the Guard died on 25 June and convict Thomas Morgan died on 17 July.

The first case of scurvy occurred on 8th July, that of August Piotrowski. Isaac Noott described him as 'a Pole of indolent habit'.

Only half or three quarters of the prisoners were allowed on deck at the same time, so that there was room for them to exercise. They were made to walk around the deck several times a day. The prison was kept clean and as dry as possible. Nitre and vinegar was given to convalescents and lemon juice from the commencement of salt meat but the wine not until after the tropics. Two children who died of atrophy were not included in the surgeon's report.

The Bengal Merchant arrived in Port Jackson on 21st July 1838, a voyage of 115 days. She was one of thirteen convict ships arriving in New South Wales in 1838.

On arrival George Williams aged 22 was sent to the hospital suffering from rheumatism. He was still in hospital on 18 August.

Of the 267 convicts who arrived on the Bengal Merchant, 58 have so far been identified residing in the Hunter Region. Select HERE to find out more about these men.

Isaac Noott was employed as surgeon on the Alfred in 1834 and the Layton in 1839 (VDL)

Select here to read correspondence re the arrival of Bengal Merchant (Sydney Gazette)

Captain James Temple Brown.  Surgeon Superintendent James Wilson

In 1834 the prisoners to be transported on the Blenheim were incarcerated in the Surprize Hulk at Cork. The prison had been established about ten years previously and the following report was written in 1824......... This prison has been arranged in a very complete manner, in the Surprize frigate, and affords good accommodation for 350 convicts. The state of the hulk with respect to accommodation, dietary, cleanliness, and interior regulation, we found to be very satisfactory. The ship has been extremely healthy. The officers all seem to perform their duty well; but we should recommend very strongly that a schoolmaster should be appointed, and a latitude given to Mr. Hollingsworth, the local inspector, to provide books. This officer would be much inclined to forward the instruction of the convicts, and under the superintendence of the chaplains, much good effect might be expected. One of the reasons which has been assigned for want of instruction on board the hulk, is the shortness of the stay of the convicts; but it is to be considered that almost all these prisoners have come from a county gaol in which a school was established, many of them from scenes of real improvement, and that they are therefore prepared at once to be placed in the class of readers, and that a temporary suspension of ail endeavours to instruct, might much counteract any improvement which may have been acquired. Some of the prisoners are employed in carpenter's work, making and repairing prison dresses, and occasionally picking oakum. Report of the Committee of the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline 1824

Select here to find out more about the Convict establishment at Cork and the names of Officers employed in the service in the years 1832, 1833 and 1834. (2)

The Freeman's Journal reported on Saturday 19th July 1834.....Two hundred and fifty male convicts from Limerick, Galway, Cork, Waterford, Kerry, Clare, Tipperary and Castlebar were embarked in the Blenheim at Cove and proceeded for Botany Bay on Monday. A detachment of the 50th regiment is on board.

James Wilson kept a Medical Journal from 30 May to 28 November 1834 ....

On 7th July, I went on board the Surprize convict hulk at the Cove of Cork, and was present at the inspection of the convicts by a Medical Officer sent from Dublin for that purpose. There was also present the Medical Officer belonging to the Hulk.

I objected to receive some of the prisoners and offered to receive two others. One was said by the Surgeon to be blind and in fact he was led to the cabin door and then led away as a person unfit for embarkation on account of total loss of vision said to be of long standing . The Officer from Dublin seeing on the list that his crime was sheep stealing had him called back, and he and I took the man into open light to examine his eyes. This he resisted by keeping the palpebra so permanently closed that no efforts of our fingers could separate them; this power of the muscles no doubt acquired from long continued action, he having I was afterwards informed employed it for 13 months. Being defeated in ascertaining the state of the globe of the eye but quite certain the globe in both eyes were entire from the prominence of the palpebra, I got a spatula which I introduced with some force it being contrary to his will, between the eyelids and separated them with that, and I saw that vision was perfect in both eyes. I told him I would receive him on board and recommended his having his eyes open when he came or I would punish him at the gangway. The other case was said to be chronic rheumatism of long standing. This man was stripped and examined by the Dublin Officer and myself when we found him to be a powerful muscular man at the advanced age he said of 76.

The appearance of the prisoners as a body was that of being very cleanly in their persons and their strength equal to the seamen who offer themselves as volunteers for His Majesty's Navy. On the 8th July we embarked 200 of the above convicts, one of them Daniel Sughrue, the blind man who was led yesterday he came out the boat and up the ships side without assistance, on his getting on board, I advised him to look in my face, he did so with the eyes half opened when I told him unless he opened both that instant and looked in my face, my promise of flogging him would be carried into execution on this he opened both his eyes and looked me full in the face showing two eyes perfectly natural.

About the same time ten free settlers sons of convicts were embarked. These boys were messed and slept in the small prison with the convicts, three of these lads were nearly destitute of clothing and the head of one swarming with vermin........  Timothy Mannix, Roger Sheedy, Thomas Sheedy, John Sheedy, Patrick Stenton, John Stenton, Patrick Neville, James Neville and Edward Neville.

The Blenheim was the next convict ship to leave Ireland for New South Wales after the departure of the female transport Andromeda in May 1834. The Blenheim departed Cork on 27 July 1834. 

Two men died on the voyage out, both from diseases of long standing according to the surgeon.  One from and abscess on the brain and the other from vertigo and palpitations of the heart

The Blenheim was one of fourteen convict ships arriving in New South Wales in 1834. She arrived at Port Jackson on 14 November 1834.

The Guard for the Blenheim consisted of 33 rank and rile of 50th regiment., 8 women and 9 children under orders of Capt. Fothergill and Lieut. O'Halloran. Some of the guard mentioned in the surgeon's Journal include: Private Patrick White aged 21; John Neely aged 23; Sergeant John Harris; Private Hugh McCormick; Peter Connaghan, drummer; soldier's wife Mary Cregan. Captain Fothergill later served at Norfolk Island. He returned to Sydney in September 1836.

Detachments of the 50th Regiment also arrived on the Royal Admiral , Lady Nugent , Hive,  Susan, James Laing, Captain Cook, Hero, Roslin Castle, Henry Porcher, Parmelia and Lady Kennaway.

About sixty-five of the convicts of the Blenheim have been identified residing in the Hunter region following years. Select HERE to find out more about these men.

James Wilson was also employed as surgeon on the convict ships Lady Kennaway in 1836 and Minerva in 1838 (VDL)

In 1836 while on the voyage from London to Bombay in the Blenheim, James Temple Brown discovered a new reef in the Chagos Archipelago.

Captain Richard Mentrup. Surgeon Superintendent George Thompson

The Borodino was the next convict ship to leave Ireland bound for New South Wales after the departure of the Morley in November 1827.

The Borodino departed Cork 11 February 1828 with 200 male convicts and cabin passengers  H. Thomson from England, free settler, Mrs. Aubin, 8 women and 11 children belonging to the troops. Steerage passenger Patrick Carolan, son of a convict.

The Guard consisted of Captain Aubin and Ensign Aubin of the 57th regiment, 48 men of the 57th and two of the Royal Veterans. Philip Aubin was appointed Ensign 14th February 1811, Lieutenant 29th April 1813, Captain 22 June 1826 and Major 12 April 1831. He served in the Peninsula from Nov. 1811 to the end of the war, including the battles of Vittoria, the Pyrenees, 25th, 28th, 30th and 31st July; Nivelle, Nive, 9th, 11th, and 13th December 1813, besides many other minor actions and skirmishes. He was severely wounded through the left side in action at Couchez 18th March 1814. Other ships bringing detachments of the 57th regiment included the Asia, Norfolk, Minstrel, Sir Godfrey Webster, Henry Porcher, Hooghley, Lonach, Royal Charlotte, Marquis of Hastings, Sesostris, Mangles Asia, and Morley

George Thompson's former voyage with English convicts (the England  in 1826) took 135 days and they sailed direct without touching anywhere. In consequence there was no scurvy or any other disease except trifling complaints. On this voyage of the Borodino, although only one prisoner was confined with scurvy there were a number of others who had early symptoms of the disease and who required medical assistance.

The surgeon attributed his not losing any of the convicts on his two voyages to keeping them on deck whenever the weather would permit between sunrise and sunset; to keeping the prisons dry and well ventilated; to prohibiting the convicts from using the water closets during the day (which were badly fitted) to frequent fumigations, great attention to cleanliness and obliging them to take as much exercise as was possible.

The Borodino was one of seventeen convict ships arriving in New South Wales in 1828. She arrived in Port Jackson on 14 July 1828

The Colonial Secretary Alexander McLeay inspected and mustered the male prisoners on 16th July preparatory to their landing and distribution. The convict indents reveal the name, age, education, religion, marital status, family, native place, trade, offence, when and where tried, sentence, prior convictions, physical description and where and to whom assigned. There is also occasional additional information regarding colonial crimes, deaths, relatives in the colony and pardons. Thirteen prisoners were under the age of sixteen. The youngest were Thomas Stapleton (14); John Long (14) and Owen Rooney (14). Owen Rooney's brother Terence was also transported on the Borodino. He died in George St. Sydney just one month after arrival.

Forty six prisoners have been identified residing in the Hunter Valley region in later years. Select  HERE here to find out more about these men.  James Bresnahan arrived as a convict on the Borodino. He was executed as a bushranger in September 1837

Captain William L. Pope. Surgeon Superintendent Harman Cochrane

The prisoners to be embarked on the Boyne in 1826 had come from different counties throughout Ireland. Many were tried in March and April 1826, however some had been held for much longer. Among their number were petty thieves, murderers and rapists. There were also men who had been convicted of administering unlawful oaths. Seven of these came from Co. Longford - James Dooley, Christopher Finley, Michael Jordan, Fergus McGarry, James Shanley and brothers John and Edward Fitzsimmons.  Select here to find out more about the administering of unlawful oaths.

After being transferred from county gaols, some of the prisoners may have been held in the depot at Cork prior to transportation......

...(House of Commons 1826)

The Guard on the Boyne consisted of Captain Thomas Edward Wright of 39th Regiment, Lieut. Barr and Ensign McDonald (of 3rd Reg), 2 sergeants, & 50 rank and file of 39th and 2 rank & file of the Buffs. They embarked on the Boyne in London on 31st May 1825. Two of the Guard who were later treated by the surgeon were Sergeant John McGuire and Peter Casey. Other convict ships bringing detachments of the 39th regiment included the Bussorah Merchant, Regalia, Marquis of Huntley, England, Speke, Phoenix, Albion, Midas, Marina, Guildford, Manlius, Sophia and the Cambridge.

Captain Thomas Edward Wright served as Commandant at Norfolk Island in 1827 and 1828. He was attacked there by convict Patrick Clynch.

The Boyne sailed from London bound for Cork on the 6th June 1826. Two hundred prisoners were embarked at Cork. One man, Thomas or John Cunningham was sent back to shore too ill to make the voyage.  The Boyne was the next convict ship to leave Ireland for New South Wales after the departure of the Regalia in March 1826. The Boyne departed Cork on 29 June 1826. On the passage she put into Rio de Janeiro to be refitted after being de-masted at sea.

This was Harman Cochrane's third voyage as surgeon superintendent on a convict ship. The first two transports he was employed on carried female prisoners - the Mary in 1823 and the  Mariner in 1825. On this voyage of the Boyne he kept a Medical Journal from 13 May 1826 to 28 November........He attributed the low death rate and exemption from serious disease to the strictest order of regularity, cleanliness and dryness and good ventilation. He noted that their conduct was good and he seldom found it necessary to confine any of them below deck. They mostly had free access to the upper deck from morning to night and he thought this contributed to the preservation of their health and spirits. Ten cases of illness including both soldiers and convicts were noted in his journal, including the following......  John Hennessy was treated on 11th July and John Madden also on 11th July suffering from sea sickness. John McFarlane and Bryan McCormick were both treated in September.  Daniel Connor suffered with an asthmatic illness in September and Daniel Gleeson was treated for pains in his legs which began when the weather turned cold in September. He had been confined to his bed for most of the two years he had been in prison in Ireland. It may have been him that The Australian later referred to .........Deaf and dumb prisoners are occasionally ordered off on a transportation voyage; but we never knew of a cripple like one, who, it is said, has arrived per Boyne, have his passage paid by his country, and for such a reason too; for sheep stealing. This cripple walks on his hands and knees. (The Australian 4 November 1826)

The Boyne arrived in Port Jackson on Saturday 28 October 1826 after a voyage of 121 days. The convicts were mustered on board by Colonial Secretary Alexander McLeay on 2nd November 1826. The Monitor reported that the detention of the prisoners of the Boyne was protracted because they were awaiting arrangements to be made for the immediate assignment of all of the prisoners*. They were not landed until early in the morning on 10th November. They were inspected by the Governor who was attended by his Staff and were reported to be clean and healthy. The convict indents reveal the name, age, education, religion, marital status, family, occupation, offence, when and where tried and physical description. Most entries give the information as to where the men were assigned on arrival. Also included is occasional information such as colonial sentences, deaths and relatives already in the colony. Five of the prisoners were under the age of sixteen - Patrick Cuffey (15); Timothy Hennesy (15); John Ledy (16); Owen McNalty (16); and John Ryan (16). No place of assignment was recorded for these boys in the indents and they were probably sent to the Carter's Barracks on arrival.

The Boyne was advertised to be intending to leave in November 1826....For London via China, the fine teak built ship the Boyne commanded by W.L. Pope; has superior accommodation in a very roomy poop, for two passengers only.

National Archives - 619 tons. Principal Managing Owner: George Green. Voyages: (1) 1825/6 New South Wales and China. Cork 29 Jun 1826 - New South Wales - Whampoa 1 Mar 1827 - 29 Jun St Helena - 11 Sep Blackwall.

Harman Cochrane was also employed as surgeon on the convict ship Mangles in 1828

Find out more about Patrick Cuffe who was executed in 1838

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Boyne in 1826

*The Monitor 10 November 1826

Captain Samuel Moore. Surgeon Superintendent Morgan Price

The Brampton was built in 1817 at King's Lynn for W.J. Bottomley. She was taken up for the East India Company service in 1820, and left the service in 1821 before sailing on a whaling voyage.

She was engaged as a convict transport in 1822 and departed London for Cork on 28th July 1822.

In correspondence dated 17 October 1822 from Dr Edward Trevor, Dublin, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, Dr. Trevor indicated that he had inspected the one hundred and seventy two male convicts on ship Brampton, at the Cove of Cork, and that amongst supplies included for the voyage were ‘cheap Paper Books and ink provided for the Establishment of a School’. Chief Secretary's Office Registered Papers, National Archives.

The Brampton was the next convict ship to leave Ireland bound for New South Wales after the departure of the Countess of Harcourt in September 1822.

The Guard consisted of a detachment of the 3rd Regiment (Buffs) Quarter Master Thomas Coulson and his large family arrived as passengers. Other ships bringing detachments of the 3rd regiment included the Asia, Eliza, Countess of Harcourt, Henry, Shipley and Princess Royal. Mr. Thornton from Ireland also arrived as a passenger.

Morgan Price was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He kept a Medical Journal from 30 September 1822 to 28 April 1823.

On the 30 September 1822, 120 male convicts were received on board from the gaol and depot of Cork. Many of these men had been in prison for a considerable length of time and several had scorbutic sores. By mid October several prisoners were suffering from catarrhal (a cold) which surgeon Price treated with bleeding and laxative medicine.

They were still at anchor in the Cove of Cork at the end of October when at the instigation of Mr Price, two prisoners were punished with 2 dozen lashes for fighting. Altercations were not confined to the prisoners on this voyage as the Captain of the ship proved to be a violent and abusive man. The surgeon recorded in October his first experience with the difficult Captain Moore, who was hurling abuse at the Officer of the Guard Thomas Coulson (Buffs). A call to arms for both the crew and soldiers had been made and Morgan Price attempted to cool the situation before retiring to his cabin to write a report of the incident. An investigation of the two officers was held early in November by Captains Robouleau and Jones who presented their finding to Lord Colville. Morgan Price was informed that in the event of any future misunderstanding between Thomas Coulson quartermaster of the 3rd Buffs and Captain Samuel Moore, that they should refer the matter to him (Price) and his opinion on all occasion was to be taken.

The Brampton got under weigh at 2pm on 8 November 1822 and within a week prisoners were again affected with catarrhal.  By early December scurvy had made its appearance. On the 7th December they made the island of St. Anthony. (Did not land?)

A school had been commenced on board and the surgeon reported on the 17 December 1822 that the greatest number of prisoners were very attentive to their schooling and several who came on board were not able to spell or even had any knowledge of the alphabet were able to read with some facility. There was another dispute between Samuel Moore and the Guard in October which seems to have been settled by Mr. Price and in February there was yet another disruption caused by Samuel Moore. The surgeon remarked that he was astonished that they had arrived as far as they had with such a turbulent fellow as Master.

They came to anchor at Table Bay where they received 12 convicts for NSW. They departed there on 20 February. Late in March the violent temper of the Captain was again noted and Morgan Price had occasion to question the Captain regarding the supply of rum for the Guard which had all been consumed, although they were supposed to have six months supply.

The Brampton arrived in Port Jackson on 22 April 1823 and on Monday 28 April the prisoners were landed as per the orders of Sir Thomas Brisbane. The prisoners had been on board for nearly seven months by that time and many were in a weak debilitated state. They were inspected by the Governor in the morning and afterwards distributed throughout the colony.

When leaving England, Captain Moore had orders (unless he should receive contrary directions from the owner) to go afterwards to New Zealand and take in spars and then proceed to South America. The Brampton was delayed in Sydney in consequence of some of the crew being imprisoned and did not leave Sydney until 23rd July.

On 7th September while on the return voyage from New Zealand to Sydney the Brampton was wrecked in Karadaka Bay. Among the passengers was the Rev. Samuel Marsden.

No lives were lost and Samuel Moore and the crew of the Brampton returned from New Zealand to Sydney on the 1st December on the brig Dragon.

Morgan Price was also employed as surgeon on the convict ships Martha in 1818,  Almorah in 1824 and the Neva in 1833

In the National Archives of Ireland, Ireland to Australia Transportation database there are about twenty one men listed who arrived in Australia on the Brampton who later applied to have their wives and families join them in Australia.

The Britannia was part of the Third Fleet and with the Admiral Barrington, Albemarle, Atlantic, Active, Matilda, Salamander, Gorgon and the William & Ann departed from Portsmouth in March 1791. The Fleet later met with the Queen from Cork at Madeira.  The New South Wales Corps formed the Guard on the vessels of the Third Fleet.

The Britannia embarked 150 convicts and arrived 14 October 1791, the day after the Albemarle.

Twenty one prisoners died on the passage out.

Convict John Bird died in 1793. He was buried in the Old Sydney burial ground

Some of the vessels of the Third Fleet were to proceed to the Southern Whale Fisheries after unloading the prisoners; the rest were bound for Bengal where they were to be freighted back to England with cotton. The sailors on board the Nootka ships were to have nine guineas for the run to Botany Bay after which they were to share as whale fishermen do. The other sailors were paid twenty five shillings per month. (The Times 15 March 1791)

The Britannia left for the Southern Whale fishery on 28th October 1791.......

Details of the voyage of the Britannia in 1797 are now on a separate page.

Select here to find out more about the voyage and the convicts of the Britannia

Details of the voyage of the Britannia in 1798 are now on a separate page

Select here to find out more about the voyage of the Britannia.

The Britannia departed Bengal on 14th November 1813 and arrived at Port Jackson on 14 February 1814.

She brought ten male convicts under a guard of HM 24th regt., commanded by Captain Hughes

The Britannia departed Port Jackson bound for Bengal on 5th April 1814

Details of the voyage of the Brothers are now on a separate page.

Select here to find out more about the voyage and convicts of the Brothers in 1827

Details of the voyage of the Broxbornebury are now on a separate page.

Select here to find out more about the convicts and voyage of the Broxbornebury

Buffalo 1837

To Adelaide

Trials of the Canadian rebels held in Montreal in 1838

Captain John Metcalf . Surgeon Superintendent  William West

Ships steward James Antell. 3rd Mate Mr. Davison

The Guard consisted of a detachment of the 17th regiment under Captain John Alexander Edwards. Mrs. Edwards and child came as passengers. Other convict ships bringing detachments of the 17th regiment included the Lady Feversham,  Forth, Mermaid, Lord Melville, Hercules, Royal Admiral, York,  Edward, Eliza, Nithsdale and the Adrian.

The Burrell was the next convict ship leave England for New South Wales after the departure of the Royal Admiral on 5th July 1830. The Burrell departed Plymouth on 27 July 1830, anchored at Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope by the 1st November, and arrived at Port Jackson on 19 December 1830

Captain James Baigrie. Surgeon Superintendent Robert Dunn

The Bussorah Merchant was the next convict ship to leave England after the departure of the Phoenix on 7th March 1828. The Bussorah Merchant departed London on 27 March 1828.

The Guard consisted of one man of the 57th regiment and 30 of the 39th commanded by Captain Daveney of the 57th regiment and Ensign Child of the 38th. They were accompanied by 6 women and 6 children. Other convict ships bringing detachments of the 39th regiment included the Regalia, Marquis of Huntley, Boyne, Speke, Phoenix, Albion, Midas, Marina, Guildford, Manlius and the Cambridge.

Robert Dunn kept a Medical Journal between 14th February and 13th September 1828.......

The last prisoners from the hulk at Sheerness embarked on the Bussorah Merchant on 17th March and the remainder of the transportees were sent from Chatham in open boats on the 19th March 1828. This must have been a cold and uncomfortable journey as several men were afterwards affected with catarrh and pneumonia as a result of the cold and damp, the average temperature being 54F.

The Bussorah Merchant arrived in Port Jackson 26 July 1828. There were four convict deaths on the voyage out. The first being William Whalley.

The vessel was placed in quarantine on arrival in Sydney and the prisoners and guard were landed at Spring Cove as soon as possible. The Alligator was sent down to be converted into a quarantine hulk. Another report said the prisoners spent seven weeks in a camp about eight miles out of Sydney. There were no further outbreaks of smallpox.

From the Sydney Gazette: -We really feel for Captain Baigrie and the other Gentlemen who are associated with him in their banishment to Neutral Bay; but we are assured that they have too much regard for the welfare of their fellow creatures to repine at the act of Providence.

Robert Dunn thought this time in quarantine was excessive as it had been eleven weeks since any sign of the disease, however Governor Darling was taking no chances. His son Edward had died on 3rd August 1828 from whooping cough that had been introduced to the colony from the ship Morley in March.

The Bussorah Merchant came direct and did not touch land anywhere, necessitating a diet of salt provisions. Although the prisoners spent 120 days on this diet, there was only one very slight case of scurvy. The absence of scurvy, which was so prevalent on other vessels, was attributed to the men having behaved very well during the passage and keeping themselves as well as the prison and hospital very clean. In consequence of this good behaviour, their irons were removed and they were allowed on deck the whole day whenever the weather permitted and bathed in rotation in four messes.

Robert Dunn remained in the Colony for a further four months. He was also surgeon on the convict ship Dunvegan Castle in 1830

Hunter Valley convicts who arrived on the Bussorah Merchant in 1828

ˆ

Captain John Moncrief. Surgeon Superintendent James Gilchrist

The Bussorah Merchant departed Dublin on 16th August 1831. She was the next vessel to leave Ireland for New South Wales after the departure of the Asia on 6th August 1831.

James Gilchrist kept a Medical Journal from 8 July to 24 December 1831.

The Guard consisting of one officer, 29 men (chiefly recruits) four women and four children belonging to the 4th Regiment embarked on the Bussorah Merchant at Deptford on 19 July 1831. They were under the command of Lieut. William Lonsdale.

Other convict ships bringing detachments of the 4th regiment included the  Waterloo, Lady Harewood Parmelia, Bussorah Merchant, Asia, Clyde, Jane, Isabella and City of Edinburgh.

Among the prisoners arriving on the Bussorah Merchant was the notorious Luke Dillon  who was sentenced to transportation for life for rape.

Resources used to compile Convict Ship pages:

Sydney Gazette, The Australian, The Monitor, The Maitland Mercury and other publications available via Australia Trove

UK, Prison Hulk Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849 - Ancestry

Various 19th Century British Library Newspapers available via National Library of Australia eResourses ( see Cora Num's site for instructions to access)

Surgeon's Journals at Ancestry  UK Royal Navy Medical Journals, 1817-1857 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Admiralty and predecessors: Office of the Director General of the Medical Department of the Navy and predecessors: Medical Journals (ADM 101, 804 bundles and volumes). Records of Medical and Prisoner of War Departments. Records of the Admiralty, Naval Forces, Royal Marines, Coastguard, and related bodies. The National Archives. Kew, Richmond, Surrey.

Publications available at Google Books