Captain Dalrymple Dowson. Surgeon John Love

The convict ship Backwell, departed from Cork on 12th June 1835. One hundred and fifty male prisoners arrived in Port Jackson on 29 September 1835 under superintendence of Dr. John Love.  The voyage had taken 109 days and two prisoners died on the way.

Passengers Captain Irvine, Ensign Stowe 29 rank and file of 17th regiment 7 women and 10 children.

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. 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.

John Love was employed as surgeon on the convict ships John 1829  Mellish 1830 (VDL) Atlas 1833 (VDL) 

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

Convicts who arrived on the Backwell in 1835

VDL to NSW

Master Alexander McDonald. Surgeon Joseph Steret

The Bardaster departed Portsmouth 16 September 1835 with two hundred and forty male prisoners.

Five prisoners died on the passage out and the remainder arrived in Van Diemen's Land on 13 January 1836, after a voyage of 119 days.

Surgeon Superintendent Joseph Steret kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 12 August 1835 to 18 January 1836. There was an outbreak of disease on the Bardaster. Read about it in his Journal

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

Convicts who arrived on the Bardaster in 1836

David Reid was also employed as surgeon on the Baring 1819 and Providence 1822

Convicts who arrived on the Baring in 1815

Master John Lamb.  Surgeon Superintendent David Reid

The convict ship Baring departed the Downs with 300 prisoners 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, arriving there 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....

Many became ill with scurvy after leaving the Cape and 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'.

The surgeon 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.

*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 was also surgeon on the Baring 1815 and  Providence 1822

Convicts who arrived on the Baring in 1819

Passengers included Hunter Valley settlers McDougall and Bowman families; Richard Dore, deputy Judge-Advocate. Convict lawyer/poet Michael Massey Robinson was also transported on the Barwell.

Arrival of the Barwell

Convicts who arrived on the Barwell in 1798

Some of the convicts arriving on the Bengal Merchant  had been tried and convicted at the Old Bailey and imprisoned at Newgate before being sent to the hulks. Select here to find out what it may have been like to be imprisoned in Newgate in 1835.

The Bengal Merchant departed Sheerness on 1st October 1834, came direct and arrived on 30 January 1835 with 267 male prisoners.

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 R.N. was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. This was the third of his four voyages to N.S.W. in that capacity and he kept a Medical and Surgical 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.

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.

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 1831  Diana 1833  and  Waterloo 1838

Convicts who arrived on the Bengal Merchant in 1835

Captain William Campbell.  Surgeon John Tarn

The Bengal Merchant 503 tons, was built in Calcutta.

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 Bengal Merchant departed the Downs on the 8th August 1836, sailed via Tenerife, and when they arrived in Port Jackson on 9th December 1836 they had been on board for a total of 140 days.

The guard consisted of 29 rank and file of the 80 the regt., under command of Lieut. Christie and Ensign Horton and four women and four children as passengers.

John Tarn, R.N., was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 13 July 1836 to 17 December 1836.

Ninety three men were on John Tarn's sick list at various times throughout the voyage, including the guard. There was only one death, a man already ill and who according to Tarn should never have been embarked. Most of the cases were of slight catarrh, diarrhoea, dyspepsia. In the early part of the voyage there were fevers, mostly from prisoners who embarked on the Justitia hulk at Woolwich where the disease was prevalent. On reaching hotter climates, cholera appeared and diarrhoea when the prisoners began to eat fruit again.  Towards the end of the voyage scurvy began to appear in about a dozen men.

Because some of the elderly men seemed less healthy, they called at Tenerife to pick up refreshments, obviating the need to call at the Cape. Fresh fruit and vegetables were taken on board and the men had the benefit of 7 or 8 days fresh diet, which much improved the general health. The surgeon suggested that tea should be substituted for chocolate and an increase in the allowance of bread and sugar. Many of the convicts refused to take the cocoa at all and at the start of the voyage most of them would not take it. The guard never took it.

The decks were dry holystoned daily (the deck was scoured with small, smooth pieces of freestone after a layer of dry sand had been sprinkled over it) and the convicts kept on deck during the forenoon. The prisons were well ventilated and kept dry by the airing stove.

John Tarn was employed as surgeon on the convict ships Georgiana 1831  George Hibbert 1834  and  Surry 1840 (VDL)

Captain William Campbell. Surgeon Isaac Noott

The  Bengal Merchant departed Sheerness on the 28th March 1838, and arrived in Port Jackson on 21st July 1838 a voyage of 115 days

Two hundred and seventy male prisoners embarked on the Bengal Merchant under the care of Surgeon Superintendent Isaac Noott R.N., who kept a Medical and Surgical 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, embarked at Deptford on 15 March 1838.

They sailed for Sheerness the following day and on 20 March embarked 270 convicts from Chatham. 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.

They 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.

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

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

Correspondence re arrival of Bengal Merchant

Convicts who arrived on the Bengal Merchant in 1838

Master James Temple Brown.   Surgeon James Wilson

The Convict ship Blenheim departed from Cork 27 July 1834 and arrived at Port Jackson on 14 November 1834 with 198 male prisoners, two of whom died on the passage out. Passengers included Timothy Mannix, Roger Sheedy, Thomas Sheedy, John Sheedy, Patrick Stenton, John Stenton, Patrick Neville, James Neville and Edward Neville, all free settlers.

James Wilson was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 30 May to 28 November 1834

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

Convicts who arrived on the Blenheim in 1834

The Boddingtons was Built in 1781. She departed Cork on 15 February 1873 bound for New South Wales.

Richard Kent was employed as naval surgeon. In correspondence written on 18 March 1793 to Under-Secretary Nepean, he informed of a conspiracy on board and punishments to convicts....National Achives: -   Letter from Richard Kent, surgeon aboard the Irish convict transport Boddingtons in the Atlantic Ocean, informing Evan Nepean of a conspiracy to take over the vessel, carry her to America and murder any crew that offered opposition. The scheme had been foiled when the irons of one convict were found cut through. A soldier named John Watts, sent on board from the Savoy prison, had been in league with the ringleaders, Thomas Murry, Patrick Morrisson and James McGarr. He was to be kept in irons until arrival at Port Jackson where he would be handed over to the Governor. 36 convicts had been punished by flogging which, for the ringleaders, would be repeated. Kent still hoped to maintain the health of the transportees despite the difficulties.

Convict/lawyer Lawrence Davoren arrived on the Boddingtons. He was later transported to Newcastle for a colonial crime.

In 1805 the Boddingtons was stranded in the River Thames off Blackwall, and became a wreck.

Convicts arriving on the Boddingtons in 1793

Master Richard Mentrup. Surgeon George Thompson

The Borodino departed Cork 11 February 1828 and arrived in Port Jackson on 12 July 1828 with 200 male convicts.

Surgeon George Thompson kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 4 December 1827 to 25 July 1828

In consequence of damage to the iron tiller on the 21st February during a severe gale of wind, the Borodino was obliged to put into Lisbon causing the voyage to be quite lengthy; the guard having been on board 232 days and the convicts 200 by the time they reached Sydney

This resulted in extra expenditure of medicines and medical comforts and surgeon George Thompson was required to spend more time attending to the mens' health.

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 Sydney Gazette reported on 21st July that the Colonial Secretary inspected and mustered the male prisoners who arrived on the Borodino preparatory to their landing and distribution.

Convicts arriving on the Borodino in 1828

Master William L. Pope. Surgeon Harman Cochrane

Harman Cochrane was employed as Surgeon Superintendent on the Boyne. He kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 13 May 1826 to 28 November.

The Boyne sailed from London on the 6th June and from Cork 29 June 1829. She put into Rio de Janeiro to be refitted after being de-masted at sea and finally arrived in Port Jackson on 28 October 1826 after a voyage of 121 days.

One hundred and ninety nine male prisoners arrived on the Boyne, one man having died on the voyage out. Surgeon Cochrane attributed the low death rate and exemption from serious disease to the strictest order of regularity, cleanliness and dryness and good ventilation.

The Guard consisted of Captain 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 on 31st May 1825.

Harman Cochrane was also employed as surgeon on the convict ships Mary 1823  Mariner 1825 and Mangles 1828

Harman Cochrane died at St. Helena on 24 October 1829.

Find out more about Patrick Cuffe who arrived on the Boyne in 1826

Convicts arriving on the Boyne in 1826

Master Sam Moore. Surgeon Morgan Price

The convict ship Brampton departed London on 28th July 1822; sailed from Cove of Cork 8th November; and from the Cape on 20th February, from whence she brought 11 convicts. She arrived at Port Jackson on 22 April 1823. The Guard consisted of a detachment of the 3rd Regiment (Buffs) Quarter Master Thomas Coulson (Buffs) and his large family arrived as passengers as well as Mr. Thornton from Ireland.

Morgan Price was employed as Surgeon Superintendent, his third voyage as a surgeon on a convict ship. He kept a Medical and Surgical 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.

They got under weigh at 2pm on 8 November 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.

They arrived on the 22nd April 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 1818 Hadlow 1820  Almorah 1824 and Neva 1833

The Britannia  was part of the Third Fleet. She departed Portsmouth 27 March 1791 with 150 convicts and arrived 14 October 1791, the day after the Albemarle.

Twenty one prisoners died on the passage out.

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

Colonial Events 1791

Captain Thomas Dennott. Surgeon Augustus Beyer

The Britannia, 500 tons, after being used in the merchant trade between London and Bengal was engaged as a convict ship. She departed Cork on the 10 December 1796 with 144 male and 44 female prisoners.

Augustus Beyer's appointed to the Britannia was at the last minute:.......(HRA NSW., Vol. III p488)

Lord Castlereagh to Under Secretary King....Dublin Castle 18th September 1798 (Extract), I beg leave to observe that the person appointed here to go out as surgeon to the convicts in the Britannia declined to proceed on the voyage just as the vessel was ready to sail, and the business was undertaken by a Mr. Beyer, who came from England to Cork in that ship, and who, it was represented, had gone two voyages to Port Jackson with convicts with great success.

After a voyage of 169 days, the Britannia arrived in Port Jackson on the 27 May 1797. One hundred and thirty-four male convicts and forty-three female emaciated and brutalized convicts were landed at Port Jackson.

The harrowing story of the voyage of the Britannia to New South Wales under Captain Thomas Dennott and surgeon Augustus Beyer is told in Charles Bateson's The Convict Ships.....As in the Second Fleet transport Neptune, the combination of a callous and brutal master and a weak, incompetent surgeon made the voyage of the first Britannia one of the worst in the history of transportation. There was one death to every 17 prisoners embarked, 10 men and one woman dying out of 144 men and 44 women; but the convicts were brutally mistreated and the survivors were landed in a wretched and emaciated state. The Britannia's master, Thomas Dennott, was a sadist who, in consequence, as Governor Hunter declared,.' of some conjecture of mutiny", kept the prisoners confined in irons and flogged them unmercifully. Even the women received three or four dozen cuts from a cane for the most trivial offences......

An enquiry into the conduct of Captain Dennott was held in Sydney and is recorded in the Historical Records of Australia Series 1, Volume11

Some of those interviewed or mentioned at the enquiry included:

Thomas Dennott - Master

Augustus Jacob Beyer - Surgeon

John Burke- convict

Lawrence Dromed (Drennan)- convict

Patrick Garnley (?Gormley)- convict (flogged) - died the following day

James Thomas Ricketts - Chief Mate

Lieutenant William Burn of the New South Wales Corps

Two men by the name of Konnas or Kennedy or Kelly- convicts (flogged)

John Kenney - convict

Isaac Froome - 3rd Mate

William Tremble (Trimble) - convict (flogged)

James Horse - convict (flogged)

James Brannon (Brennan) - convict (flogged) - died a few hours later

Rose Riley (?Hall) - convict (beaten with a stick by Dr. Beyer)

William Wharton - 2nd Mate

Grey - (Edward and George) convict (flogged)

Richard Stapleton - convict (flogged)

John Johnson - boatswain

Strachan - soldier/flogger

Jenny Blake - convict (Gagged and hair cut off, beaten with a cane over her back, shoulders and face and afterwards placed in irons with both legs and chaining her with a chain)

Mary Fane - convict (confined in a neck yoke for two hours)

Mary Coggar (Cogan) - convict (suicide)

Francis Cox - convict (flogged for mutiny)

John Rutlidge - convict (flogged for mutiny)

James Brady - convict (flogged for mutiny)

Bryan Egan - convict (acted as cook at Rio)

John Brown - convict (flogged)

James Sandford - elderly man, dressed prisoners wounds

Mary Bryan - convict (miscarriage)

Peg (Margaret) Leary - convict

Henry James Purcell - private soldier of NSW Corps

Thomas Mancell - private soldier (died)

Thomas Franklin - corporal NSW Corps

On the 2nd August 1797 the Britannia sailed from Sydney bound for China for a cargo of tea. (Many of the ships used in the convict trade were afterwards used for whaling or chartered for a return voyage from China by the British East India Co).......Image of the Britannia  by artist Keith Reynolds

Read about the voyage here

Description of mutiny on the Britannia convict ship by John Kenny

Convicts arriving on the Britannia in 1797

Master Robert Turnbull.  Surgeon Martin Mason 

(More about Martin Mason)

The Britannia was built in Bridport in 1784 and owned by Samuel Anderbury & Sons

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

Convicts arriving on the Britannia in 1814

The Brothers departed the Downs on 6 December 1823 with 90 female prisoners and arrived in Hobart on Thursday 15th April where fifty women were landed on Wednesday 21st April. They then proceeded to Port Jackson arriving there on Friday 7th May 1824. One prisoner died on the voyage out.  Fifty women were sent to V.D.L and the remaining thirty nine including Elizabeth Benson ( Mayo) to NSW.  Fifty six free passengers also arrived on the Brothers

Surgeon Superintendent James Hall R.N., kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 16 October 1823 to 15 May 1824.

He found that among the female convicts the principal complaints originated from 'dyspepsia, functional disturbance of the uterine system and obstipatio' (constipation).  He found it difficult to treat the women without a few remedies applicable to the uterine system as well purgatives and was greatly in favour of preventing diseases by encouraging cleanliness and exercise with a 'uniform system of kind but strict management', than of later having to cure them.

In the early part of the voyage many women suffered sea sickness. There were also cases of ophthalmia and catarrh and at least two births. Free passenger Mrs. Butler gave birth to a child on 17 February and Bridget Hanning was 44 years old when she gave birth to her eleventh child on the 17th March. Two days later the baby was found dead in its mother's arms. Other deaths the surgeon had to contend with were Mary Partridge who was 21 years old and pined for her mother she had left behind, and the six year old son of Mrs. Butler. Mr Butler later died as well.

The Brothers was one of two convict ships that brought female prisoners to New South Wales in 1824, the other one being the Almorah. A total of 147 female prisoners arrived in the colony in 1824.

Sketch of the origin and results of ladies' prison associations: with hints ... By Elizabeth Gurney Fry

Master Charles Motley . Surgeon James Forrester

The Brothers departed Cork on 3rd October 1826 with 161 female prisoners and four free women and arrived in Port Jackson on Friday 2 February 1827. The voyage took 122 days.

Surgeon Superintendent James Forrester R.N., kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 13 August 1826 to 15 February 1827 and the names of the three women who died on the passage are recorded in the journal - Catherine Donnelly 21st December 1826; Elizabeth Wilson 14th January 1827; and Mary Ryan 28 January 1827.

James Forrester was also employed as surgeon superintendent on the convict ships Southworth 1832 and Amphitrite 1833

Master Thomas Pitcher jnr.  Surgeon Colin McLachlan

The Broxbornebury was built at Gravesend, River Thames in 1812. She was condemned in 1843

The Broxbornebury with female convicts departed England 22 February 1814. Some of the seamen who were employed on the Broxbornebury included Cornelius McGuire, Thomas Lewis, Alexander Grant, James Sullivan, James Ryan, Thomas Hunt, John Simmons, Aaron Walters, Thomas Davis, Andrew Angel, John Morris, Nicholas Johnson and Samuel Johnson. These sailors later absconded in Sydney and a reward was offered for their apprehension.

The Lloyds Marine List of 31st March reported that the Broxbornebury on her voyage from London to New South Wales; and the Cape Packet, Agnew, from London to the Isles of Frances, and Cape of Good Hope, put into Corunna, on 3rd, having separated from the fleet which sailed from Portsmouth 21st ult., under convoy of His Majesty's ship Dannemark, in a very heavy gale of wind. The Cape Packet had received so much damage that it was supposed she would be obliged to discharge.

The Broxbornebury arrived in Port Jackson on 28 July 1814 with 118 female prisoners. The voyage took 156 days to complete. This was the same day the fever ship Surry arrived. The Broxbornbury fell in with the Surry off Shoal Haven and on speaking her, learnt that from the relaxed state of the crew, and illness of the surviving officers, her safe conduct into Port Jackson was despaired of, unless assisted from the other ship with some person capable of navigating her in; for which service a seaman capable of the task generously volunteered his service and brought her in. Thomas Raine, a junior officer was the only surviving officer left on the Surry.

The Broxbornebury was one of three convict ships bringing female prisoners to New South Wales in 1814, the others being the Wanstead and the Catherine. A total of 322 female prisoners arrived in the colony in 1814.

Jeffery Bent, Barrister at Law, who was appointed Chief Justice arrived as passenger on the Broxbornebury. He was a brother of Ellis Bent, Judge-advocate. Other passengers included Rev. Vale, Assistant Chaplain; Sir John Jamieson and Mr. Horsley.

Convicts arriving on the Broxbornebury in 1814

Sir Richard Spencer and family came passengers and were to voyage as far as King George Sound, Western Australia.

The Buffalo was then to load timber for Government for the return and sailed for New Zealand to procure a cargo of Kowri topmasts on 10th November 1833.

In 1836-1837 she was employed to taking the new settlers to South Australia

Buffalo 1837

To Adelaide

Buffalo 1840

The Buffalo arrived in Port Jackson on 25 February 1840 with 58 Canadian rebels

Master John Metcalf . Surgeon William West

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 John Metcalf.  Surgeon George Williams

Many of the women had been tried at the Old Bailey before being sent to Newgate. The Times of 4th January carried the following report: - On Saturday two vans and an omnibus conveyed 61 female convicts and 11 of their infant children from Newgate to the Burrell transport, lying off Woolwich, which vessel will shortly carry them to Australia, where they are doomed to reside for the following periods, viz: For life 8; 14 years, 12; 7 years, 41; total 61. The cargo of the Burrell is nearly made up. Her complement being already upwards of 160 female convicts beyond which there are on board 20 free women and 43 children, some of whom have obtained leave to join those relatives who have, in consequence of their crimes, been banished from the land of their nativity. There are among them, however, several who, in consequence of a boon held out by Government to induce women of good character to emigrate, are going out as free settlers.

Surgeon Superintendent George Williams kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 13 December 1831 to 16th June 1832. There was one death, that of the infant daughter of Margaret Ryan who was already ill when she came on board.

There was an outbreak of whooping cough amongst the children in February. Some of those affected included M.A. Newman aged 4; John Gordon aged 9; James Gordon aged 7;William Gordon aged 3 ½; John Walur aged 14 months; Frances List aged 14 months; John Wiles aged 9; George Toiles? aged 7; William Holt aged 9; Louisa Ashton aged 7; George Hughes aged 11. The symptoms were severe with difficulty breaking, quick pulse, and febrile symptoms. Other children who were entered on the surgeon's sick list at various times included  John Chissold aged 12 or 14; Charles Carroll aged 11; and Thomas Brandon aged 13.

In May there was an outbreak of  impetigo. Mary Ann Harris and about twenty other women were afflicted with this malady which lasted about a fortnight. There was also an outbreak of tinea capitus (ringworm of the scalp). Part of the treatment for this affliction was shaving of the head.

One prisoner, Adelaide Le Grange became despondent and suffered from amnesia on the voyage. She may have been sent to the hospital on arrival

The Burrell arrived in Sydney on 20th May.  On the last day of May 1832 the following Notice was placed in the Sydney Gazette: The Committee of Management of the Female Factory at Parramatta have observed, with great regret, how speedily a portion of the Female Convicts assigned from the ship, on their arrival from Europe, are returned to Government, and sent to the Factory at Parramatta. It has fallen within their observation, that, in many cases, those persons have been returned for awkwardness or misbehaviour which, in free servants, would be noticed by a gentle reproof. In future all persons receiving Female Servants on assignment shall enter into an engagement, under a penalty of forty shillings, to keep them for one month in their service, unless removed therefrom by due course of law. In assigning the females recently arrived in the Burrell, the Governor has been pleased to direct, that the distance of the applicants from Sydney shall be considered as giving a priority of claim, it being, in His Excellency's opinion, an object of great importance to remove and retain these criminal women, as far as possible, from Sydney.

Master James Baigrie. Surgeon Robert Dunn

Robert Dunn kept a Medical and Surgical 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.

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

Convicts who arrived on the Bussorah Merchant in 1828

Master John Moncrief. Surgeon James Gilchrist

James Gilchrist was employed as Surgeon Superintendent on the convict ship Bussorah Merchant. He kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 8 July to 24 December 1831.

Some of the soldiers mentioned in the surgeon's journal included Private David Newton age 19; John Wiggingdon aged 35; John Willingale aged 20; John O'Regan aged 32; Richard Parsons aged 18; Arthur McCaffrey aged 22; John Donnelly aged 18; William Andrews aged 22. There were two births to wives of the guard - Eliza Hobbs aged 32 gave birth to a daughter on 9th December and Elizabeth Bond, Sergeant's wife gave birth on 13 December 1831.

On the 6 August the Bussorah Merchant anchored in Kingstown harbour and on the 8th the convicts were mustered and examined on board the Hulk. The surgeon remarked that many of them appeared pale, sallow and in some degree emaciated, probably in consequence of long confinement (the majority having been from 6 to 12, and few under five months), moreover influenza then epidemic had prevailed to a great degree amongst them and several were still ill.

They weighed anchor for New South Wales on 16th August 1831 with 198 prisoners on board, and after a voyage of 120 days,  arrived in Port Jackson on 14 December 1831.

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

James Gilchrist was also surgeon on the convict ship James Pattison in 1830