The
Calcutta
arrived at Plymouth from Sheerness on Tuesday
8th February. Plymouth on this day was cloudy
with north westerly winds. The Calcutta
was to remain at Plymouth to receive any
convicts from the prisons of
Bodmin, Exeter or Plymouth. On the 10th
February she was intending to sail for
Portsmouth to collect more convicts, however
from the violence of the Easterly wind at the
time, she overshot her port in the night. She
remained at Plymouth awaiting a change in the
winds and did not reach Portsmouth until the
13th February.
Late in February
1803 The
Duke of Northumberland sent from his estate at
Alnwick
Castle a number of sheep with two rams
of a particular breed to embark on the Calcutta. It was hoped they would prove a
great advantage to the colony as the sheep
were known to invariably produce from 2 to 4
lambs.
On the 10 March it was reported that a select
detachment from the corps of Royal Marines
with 300 male convicts under their charge were
about to proceed to
Port Phillip Bay
to form a settlement there. They were
commanded by Lieut-Colonel David Collins who
was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of New South
Wales. The stores and provisions necessary for
the settlement were selected with every
attention to the comfort of the colonists.
Several Settlers were making the voyage in the
supply ship Ocean.
The
Calcutta
sailed from
Spithead on 28 April 1803 under
Captain Daniel Woodriff and touched at
Tenerife, Rio de Janeiro and the Cape of Good
Hope.
She
carried a crew of 150, together with 308 male
convicts.
Also on board were
civil officers, marines, settlers and some
wives and children including
Lieutenant Charles Menzies
(later Commandant at Newcastle)
and
Rev. Robert Knopwood
The Calcutta arrived in
Port Phillip on 9th October 1803, a voyage
of 168 days. The civil officers included the
Surgeon Matthew Bowden, Second Assistant
Surgeon William Hopley, Surveyor George
Prideaux Harris, Deputy Commissary Leonard
Fosbrook, Mineralogist Adolarius W. H.
Humphrey, Superintendent and Storekeeper
Thomas Clark, Superintendent William
Patterson, and two Overseer of Convicts, John
Ingle and William Parish
Captain Daniel Woodriff
was a British naval officer who first came to
Australia in 1792 in command of the small
convict and supply ship
Kitty.
Select
here to find out more about
Captain Daniel Woodriff
and the capture of the
Calcutta
by the French in 1805. The
Calcutta
was destroyed in 1809 at the Battle of the
Basque Roads.
The Calcutta departed from
Kingstown, Ireland on 17th April 1837.
She arrived in Port Jackson on the
5 August 1837.
The morning of the 5th August was foggy however by
midday, the fog had cleared and the rest of the day was clear
and cool with winds from the north-west. The Calcutta brought 329
male prisoners under superintendence of surgeon Anthony Donoghoe R.N.
The Guard
consisted of
Lieutenant Scheberras,
Ensign Tyrrin and 27 rank and file of
80th regiment. Passengers included Samuel Raymond, six soldier's wives and 10
children
Surgeon Anthony Donoghoe kept a
Medical and surgical journal
from 25 March to 4 August 1837. In the early part of the
voyage the prisoners suffered mostly minor ailments, however
many had been used to a diet that consisted of potato and from
the sudden change on board ship and in conjunction with sea
sickness many suffered from obstinate constipation. By mid
July, three months into the journey, sixteen of the men were
affected by scurvy.
The Caledonia
departed from Portsmouth, touched at Rio de Janeiro and
arrived in Van Diemen's Land on Wednesday 6th November 1822
with 144 male convicts, six having died on the passage out.
Officer of the Guard, was Lieutenant Masterman
of the 87th regiment. The Guard comprised a detachment of the
3rd regiment, (Buffs). Passengers Mr. C. Barnard and family and
Mr. Thompson
Dr. Williamson R. N., was
employed as surgeon superintendent
The Cambridge was moored in Kingston
Harbour on 14 May 1827.
She departed Dublin 2 June
1827 called at Tenerife about 17th June and arrived in Port Jackson 17 September 1827
a voyage of 107 days.
198 male prisoners arrived in Port Jackson
William Gregor was employed as Surgeon
Superintendent, the first of his two voyages in that capacity.
He kept a
Medical and Surgical Journal
from 10th May to 29th September 1827. There were no less than
fifty-eight cases of diarrhoea which surgeon Gregor attributed
to the change in weather. Two of the prisoners under his care
died on the voyage. The first Thomas Cullen was already ill
when he embarked. He was put on the sick list one day after
sailing and died from phthisis on 27th August. The second
death was that of Thomas Gately from Ireland. He had to speak
through an interpreter as he was unable to speak any language
but his own. He died ten days after suffering from a violent
episode of singultus (hiccoughs).
The Head Quarters and Band of the 39th regiment came on
the Cambridge. Colonel Lindsay arrived as a passenger,
bringing with him a second Band to the Colony, reported by the
Monitor to be inferior to none which preceded it. Other passengers included Captain Dunford and
his wife.
The Colony was always anxious to hear news from
home. The Sydney Gazette reported that
'in order to procure the Papers we
undertook and accomplished a journey of 32 miles in less than
three hours as soon as news that the Cambridge had come to an
anchor.'
On Wednesday 19 September, two days after
arrival, the Colonial Secretary proceeded on board the
Cambridge to inspect and muster the prisoners preparatory
to their disembarkation. He found all of the men in good
health.
The Cambridge was to leave for Batavia
and Singapore under Captain Pearce early in October
William Gregor was also employed as surgeon on the convict
ship
Royal George 1828
The
Camdenarrived in Port Jackson on 25 July 1831.
David Boyter was
employed as
Surgeon Superintendent,
the second of his four voyages in that capacity. He kept a
Medical and Surgical Journal
from 26 February to 25 July 1831
He remarked in his Journal that 198 convicts were received
from four different ships. Those from the
Cumberland
had the appearance of being less attended to than those of
the other hulks, a great many of the
Cumberlands
had large ulcers on their legs, three of them so large and
apparently of so long standing and character that he
felt bound to reject them.....*possibly only195 prisoners
eventually sailed. The ulcers had been caused by injuries
received at work in the Dock yards and soon improved with
simple dressings and cleanliness.
The men became ill again in
the hot weather as they neared Teneriffe. The soldiers of
the guard also suffered from headaches at this time,
caused the surgeon thought by laying about the decks in
the sun. They remained in the tropics for four weeks. The
weather was fine and dry and medical complains few. As
they approached colder latitudes the thermometer dropped
from 78° to 86° to 50° and the men began to suffer sore
throats and coughs. As they approached
Sydney and had been 17 weeks on salt provision, scurvy
also began to appear among the convicts.
The
Guard consisted of 29 men - a detachment of the 11th
Light Dragoons. Passengers arriving on the Camden included Captain Cooper and wife and
Lieut. Bell of the 48th regiment. According to David
Boyter they were embarked in fine weather and under the most favourable
circumstances. They were mostly very young men and had every appearance of
high health and spirits
Surgeon Superintendent Joseph Steret joined the convict ship
Camden on 11 September 1832 at Deptford. On the 15th
September the vessel moved down to Woolwich where Steret
examined 100 convicts on the various prison hulks - 60 men at
the Justitia; 20 men at the Discovery; and 20 at
the Ganymede. The prisoners were sent on board the
Camden that same day. The Camden then moved down
for Sheerness and on the 17th September received on board
another 100 prisoners from the Retribution at Sheerness;
30 from Cumberland; 40 from the Euryalus and 30
boy prisoners from the hulks at Chatham. They departed London
on 22 September but did not reach Plymouth until the 5th
October, having been in considerable danger from a severe gale
on the night of the 2nd October. They departed Plymouth on
13th October 1832.
Surgeon Steret wrote in his journal - In general those
marked down for this vessel were young healthy and in my
opinion well calculated to bear the voyage. In a few days I
found that my friends at the hulks contrived to palm off
several with ulcers notwithstanding my utmost care. The
Masters in more than one instance placed the Irons with which
the prisoners came on board immediately on the diseased leg,
which formed a good excuse for not taking the stockings off
completely. At the Justitia hulk also they managed to put on
an old man passing him off for fifty two; when he was shaved
and cleaned and he must 'pass the Doctor" he looked mighty
smart. However I found that he was over sixty. It is worthy
noting that only two men out of two hundred expressed any
reluctance to go (to NSW), one on account of his wife and
family the other that he did not wish to leave England. All
the rest were happy at the prospect of quitting the country
and four or five whom I was obliged to reject begged
vehemently to be permitted to accompany us.
In December after almost three months at sea, the change in
climate together with some wet and blowing weather caused a
great variety of disease. The effects of the confinement of
food also began to be felt by the convicts. In January they
were round the Cape of Good Hope and continued running on the
same parallel. Symptoms of sea scurvy began to manifest
themselves, and did not abate until they reached Sydney on
18th February 1833 and procured fresh supplies. Some of
the convicts were sent to the Hospital on arrival.
The Camden brought 198 male prisoners under the care of Surgeon
Joseph Stereff R.N., who kept a
Medical and Surgical Journal
from 11 September 1832 to 8 March 1833.
The guard consisted of 29
rank and file of 21st regiment., accompanied by 5 women and 10
children under orders of Major Fareweather.
Passengers Lieut. Duff and Dr.
Davidson; John Wilson, Church Missionary Mrs. Wilson and 2
children for New Zealand.
The Canada was built in Newcastle, England in 1801 and owned by F & T.
Hurry.
The Canada departed Spithead
on 21st June
1801, sailed via Rio de Janeiro, and arrived in Port Jackson on 14 December 1801 with 101 male prisoners. Also arriving on the Canada - 16 soldiers and 3
children; 6 male passengers including James Blackman, George Morrison,
Charles Webb, William Small and Silaus Jenkins; 12 female passengers
including Mary Pitt and 11 children.
Sixteen men formed the military guard and were accompanied by three
women.
From the Memoirs of James Hardy
Vaux: -
In May 1801, after an almost fatal attack of the gaol
fever, his father, mother, and sisters took a final leave of
him, and he was removed to Gravesend, and put on board the
Minorca transport, which lay there with the Canada
and Nile bound to Port Jackson. We dare say it will be
new to the majority of our readers to learn how persons in
this situation are treated ; and as the subject has just been
raised in the House of Commons, it acquires greater
importance.
'Having entered the ship, we were all indiscriminately
stripped (according to indispensable custom,) and were saluted
with several buckets of salt-water, thrown over our heads by a
boatswain's-mate. After undergoing this watery ordeal, we were
compelled to put on a suit of slop-clothing. Our own apparel,
though good in kind, being thrown overboard. We were then
double-ironed, and put between -decks, where we selected such
births, for sleeping, &c. as each thought most eligible. The
next day, we received on board forty-six more prisoners from
the Hulks at Woolwich, and the Canada fifty. The
Nile also took on board one hundred women, from the
different gaols in Great Britain. The three ships then sailed
for Spithead where, on our arrival, the Minorca and
Canada had their numbers augmented, from the Hulks at
Portsmouth, to one hundred men each. Every thing being now in
readiness, we only waited for the convoy to assemble, with
which we were to proceed to a certain latitude. - Literary
Gazette - From the Memoirs of James Hardy Vaux
Governor King in correspondence to the Transport Commissioners
in February 1802 reported that the convicts of the Canada,
Nile and Minorca transports were paid great attention by the
Masters of those ships and all were landed in high health and
fit for immediate labour.
The Hull Packet reported on Tuesday 20 February
1810 that on the previous Sunday morning the following
female convicts left
York Castle, in order to be delivered on board the
Canada transport lying at Woolwich, under orders for
Botany Bay - Eleanor Walsh, Nancy Taylor, Elizabeth
Richmond, Sarah Williamson, Anne Hubie and Mary Ogle. They
joined Elizabeth Hall, Elizabeth Smith, Elizabeth Bailey
and Mary Kershaw who were under sentence of seven years
transportation. Harriet Tyler and Mary Ann Drake were
conveyed from the County gaol in Ipswich to Woolwich under
sentence of 7 years transportation.
The Convict ship Canada
departed England on 23 March 1810 and sailed via Rio de Janeiro.
She appeared off the Heads at Sydney on 7th September
however could not get into the harbour until late on the
evening of the 8 September 1810, a voyage of 169
days.
A total of one hundred and twenty one
female prisoners and two male prisoners
arrived on the Canada, one woman having died on the
voyage. One of the male prisoners was one who had
previously escaped from the colony.
Crew on the Canada included John Newton, John
Thompson, John Gordon, John Ryan, Maurice Connor, John
Irwin and William McCall. A reward was offered for their
apprehension after they deserted the ship in Sydney in
November.
Free passengers included George Phillips; William Walsh
was later appointed Constable in Sydney; and Missionary
Henry Bicknell who had recently been married to Miss Mary
Adams of Adber. He had recently been on Otaheite where he
resided for thirteen years, and was returning there with
his new bride via Sydney.
Extract of a Dispatch from Governor Macquarie, to Viscount
Castlereagh; dated Sydney, New South Wales, 27th October
1810. 2. The
Canada
transport brought hither one hundred and twenty-one female
convicts, all of whom arrived in good health, and had been
well treated by the Commander and Surgeon of that ship
during the voyage, one only having died on the passage,
who, according to the Surgeon's Report, was in ill health
when she was embarked. 3. The greater part of these
convicts, soon after their arrival, were assigned over as
indented servants, for the space of three years, to the
different settlers, who were on the occasion required to
execute bonds for the retaining them for that period in
their respective services, and for their humane and proper
treatment of them. Out of the entire number of one hundred
and twenty-one, there are now only thirty-two remaining
undisposed of; and they are usefully employed in the
Government Cloth Manufactory, some time since established
at Parramatta.
A Public Notice appeared in the Sydney Gazette in
September: - Several persons having obtained female
convicts on Saturday the 15th September from on board the
Canada, for whom they were to have entered into
Security at this Office for the proper treatment of them,
and for the retaining them for three years in their
service, and having since neglected to enter into this
Security, this is to give Notice that all persons who thus
obtained servants are required on or before Saturday next
to enter into the usual obligations.
The Canada departed Cork on 5th December 1814 with 160
prisoners in convoy with the convict ship
Francis and
Eliza. Passengers on
theCanada included Lieut. Sutton of 1st Royals and
Ensign Mayne of 46th regt., and Provost Marshal Timms (VDL)
The Francis and Eliza was captured by the American
privateer Warrior, whose captain plundered the vessel
before restoring it to the captain and crew. The Canada
re-joined with the Francis and Eliza at
Teneriffe and under convoy of the Ulysses frigate went
with her to Senegal, next to Goree, and afterwards lo Sierra
Leone. They sailed together for the Cape of Good Hope, where
they arrived the 12th of May, and remained three weeks to
refresh.
The Canada left the Cape in company with the
Frances and Eliza and arrived in Sydney on 5th August 1815
with 156 male prisoners. The voyage had taken 243 days. Four
or five convicts died on the passage out.
The Canada spoke the Hebe, bound for New South
Wales and brought with her the news of the possibility of renewal of
hostilities between England and France.
The Canada departed from Cork on
21st March, called at Rio de Janeiro 6th May leaving there
27th May, and arrived in Port Jackson on 5th August 1817.
She brought 89 female prisoners and 12 of their children, all
of whom arrived in good health.
James Allan later informed Governor Macquarie that he had
taken every precaution on the voyage to prevent prostitution.
To the best of his knowledge no female had lived with an
officer or seaman on the voyage either. (50)
Copy of a Letter from Governor Macquarie to the Earl Bathurst;
dated Government-House, Sydney, New South Wales, 4th of
December 1817......In consequence of your Lordship's desire, I
have made particular inquiry relative to the conduct of the
female convicts who arrived in the two last ships, namely, the
Lord Melville and Canada, and have now the
honour to transmit your Lordship the replies made to my
queries on this subject by Mr. Justice Field, who came a
passenger in the Lord Melville, and Surgeon
Superintendent Allan, who came in charge of the female
convicts on board the Canada. The former will show how
extremely difficult it is to prevent the female convicts from
having intercourse with the officers and sailors during such a
voyage.
Passengers on the Canada included Mr. & Mrs. Johnson,
Mr Henderson and Mr. Abel, wife and three children.
The
Lord Melville and the Canada brought a total of
188 female prisoners to New South Wales in 1817
The Canada
departed London on 23 April 1819, called at Rio de Janeiro and arrived in Port Jackson
on 1 September 1819. One hundred and thirty three male
prisoners arrived on the Canada, one man having been
lost on the voyage. Passengers included Mr.
Woolstonecraft Esq.,
On Friday 10th September the prisoners of the Canada
were examined by Governor Lachlan Macquarie. 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.
Surgeon Dan McNamara was employed as
Surgeon Superintendent. He was also surgeon on the convict
ships
TheCaptain Cook departed Dublin
in November 1831 and arrived in Port Jackson on 2 April 1832.
The
Guard on the Captain Cook consisted of 1 sergeant, 1 corporal and 8 privates of
the 4th regt., 8 privates of 17th regt, 3 women and 2 children
under the orders of Lieut. Gibbons of 49th regiment. They were
embarked at Deptford on 10th September and then proceeded to Dublin where 200
male prisoners were embarked on 27th October 1831.
Ebenezer Johnstone was employed
as Surgeon Superintendent. He kept a
Medical and Surgical Journal
from 28 October 1831 to 15 April 1832
The surgeon remarked that the
general health of the convicts was extremely good, having a
better diet than they usually were accustomed to.
As they entered the Tropics the
prisoners suffered severely from seasickness and constipation,
several of the cases from seasickness being old men becoming
very reduced and debilitated required cordials and additional
diet. During January the men continued extremely healthy,
diseases chiefly from exposure of the head to the sun, and
vertigo, which was relieved by the use of lancet, free
evacuation and cold applications, several of the elderly
prisoners began to show scorbutic symptoms and complained much
of debility.
The Captain Cook departed Sydney for Launceston 15th
May 1832 and departed there on 8th August and St. Helena 1st
September. She arrived back in England late January 1833.
Ebenzer Johnstone was also employed as surgeon on the convict
ships
William Miles 1828 (VDL) and Manlius 1830 (VDL)
Seventy-seven prisoners who arrived on the Captain Cook
in 1832 have been identified as residing in the Hunter region
in the following two decades.
Bushranger
William Bell arrived on the
Captain Cook
Two hundred and thirty convicts to be transported on the
Captain Cook
were received from the York and Leviathan Hulks at Portsmouth
on 29th April 1833. Surgeon John Morgan wrote in his journal:
- The weather at the time of embarkation was
remarkably cold, and thus prevailed a general catarrh all over
the country as well as towns, commonly called influenza and it
seemed to prevail to a considerable extent at Portsmouth and
its vicinity and from report among families on shore there was
hardly a house, but had some confined, consequently it was
natural that we should share its effects.
The Captain Cookdeparted Portsmouth
on Monday 5 May 1833, and had fine weather down the Channel
and soon reached a more agreeable climate when the colds and
coughs improved. The surgeon attended them and gave every
comfort it was in his power to give. 'Indeed I have every
reason to speak of their good conduct as auxiliary to our
means of having so soon got rid of this troublesome complaint
among so many crowded together between decks; it was our daily
plan to admit as many on deck as they like even the whole in
fine weather.
After passing the equator and getting into the latitude of
the Cape of Good Hope, we experienced very severe gales and
much wet weather and in consequence we had many added to the
sick list particularly the ships crew, fourteen at one time
laid up with bad colds and other complaints incidental to
ships at sea.
From St. Pauls until Bass Strait they had the most dreadful
weather imaginable - continually under water, decks
below constantly wet, though all the care and use of stoves
they could take could not keep the place dry, and bed and
bedding remained wet in spite of all they could try. The
Surgeon believed that had we not reached Bass Strait as we
did we must have lost most part of the convicts for it was
impossible for them to get on deck.
The scurvy made its appearance after few months
being at sea among those most inactive and it soon spread
among others but not to any one who had any work to do for
several of them wished to assist either in working the ship or
their respective trades. On the whole they behaved well. I had
only to punish two all the way not one for threatening to stab
and the other for making below against the rules of the ship;
the bad weather after leaving St. Pauls was such that it was
impossible to do justice below constant heavy sea over the
ship that it was the constant work of several to bail and keep
the place dry it was no wonder of their increasing in the
scurvy and other maladies of more serious nature. The cold
also was severe and glad we were to get into a better climate.
They
sailed through Bass Strait on the 24th August
and arrived in Port Jackson on Monday 26 August 1833, a
journey of 113 days. Two hundred and twenty six convicts survived
the journey and landed in Sydney. Nine of the men suffering
from scurvy recovered after a few weeks and were discharged
around the 10th September.
The Guard consisted of 29 rank and file of
the 21st regt., under command of Captain Armstrong and Lieut. Selon,
five women and 7 children. The guard disembarked on 29th August.
George Anderson
was 19 when he was tried at the Old Bailey and sentenced to
transportation for life. He was assigned to Henry Dangar at Neotsfield
on arrival and later became involved in one of the most infamous
incidents in Australian history, the Myall Creek Massacre
The Captain Cook left Deptford on 7 June 1836 and embarked
convicts at Dublin and at Cork, 229 convicts in all. The Guard
consisted Captain Christie, Lieutenant Hawkins, 40 rank and
file of the 80th regiment and 5 of the 50th regiment, 6 women and 4 children.
There was a crew of 34 men, including the surgeon. Passengers
included Dr. Reid of 80th regiment, Mrs. Reid and Mrs. Christie.
The Captain Cook departed Cork on 5 July 1836.
It was to be voyage of intrigue and high drama.
The Sydney
Herald later published a letter from 'an emigrant', with
an eye-witness account of an attempted mutiny that took place
on the Captain Cook: -
A few days after
leaving Cork, it was reported to the Hospital attendant,
John Pollen, formerly an Officer of the 48th Regiment, who
served with distinction in the Peninsula, that the Convicts,
incited by several who had previously been transported to this
Colony, intended to take the vessel; the circumstance was
mentioned by this person to the Doctor and the Officers of
the Guard, who instructed him to be on the alert, but as
nothing more occurred at that time, it was concluded that the
report was false. Pollen, however, observing that there were
small parties of the Convicts grouped together in earnest
conversation, which ceased the moment that any other person
approached them, felt assured that the report was not
groundless. And one night, when near the Madeiras, overheard
one of them say that they, (the mutineers) must all be sworn
in, and that they would then overpower the Guard and ship's
company, and take the vessel to America; they were
accordingly sworn in, and one Saturday, when near the
Equator, it was agreed that the boatswain ( a Convict) who had
charge of the prison doors, was to throw them open; then they
were to, make the rush. A man of the name of Dogherty
was to have the command of the party attacking the cuddy, and
they were to put all to death; (Lawrence) Higgins the
command of the party attacking the poop, and Hamilton,
an old soldier, with a man of the name of Murphy, were
to head the party attacking the Guard and sailors below, to
whom no mercy was to be shewn; in fact every body was to be
butchered, but the women and three sailors; the sailors on
coming in sight of America were to " walk the plank”. Pollen
immediately informed the Doctor and Officers of the Guard of
the murderous intentions and thirty-eight of the
ringleaders were placed in irons. On finding that their designs were frustrated,
several of them confessed the particulars as above stated, and
their depositions were taken. Notwithstanding the precaution
of ironing them they still persisted in their murderous
intentions; and on coming towards the Cape of Good Hope; they
were determined to make an attack, as they said that if the
remainder would stand firm, that their irons. were of no
consequence; these preparations for the second attack, were
again reported by Pollen. Their manoeuvring was quite visible
both to the Doctor and Officers on board, so to pre vent
bloodshed, they were handcuffed two by two, and remained so
till they arrived in Sydney. There is no doubt they would have
succeeded but for the vigilance of Pollen, and the activity
and courage of the Officers and Guard, who displayed great
coolness and determination on the occasion.
They arrived in Sydney on 13
November 1836 with 228 male prisoners. It was
reported that 32 prisoners had been involved in the mutiny.
Sixteen of them were sent to Goat Island on arrival.
Arthur Savage was
also employed as surgeon on the convict ships
John 1833 (VDL) and Norfolk 1835 (VDL)
In January 1831 the Sydney Gazette reported: 'We are
happy to inform our readers that the Caroline, a fine
vessel of 350 tons has been purchased at Calcutta by Mr Betts,
for the express purpose of coming with a full cargo of goods
and passengers to Hobart Town, and to be enrolled as a vessel
belonging to the port, in order to be devoted exclusively to
the sperm whale fishery. '
The convict ship Caroline arrived from Madras and Calcutta
on
31st
July 1831.
She brought general merchandise and 21 Oriental
transgressors (male
convicts) under charge of Captain Betts and 10 Sepoy soldiers.
Passengers
included Captain and Mrs. Betts, 3 children and 1 servant; Mr and Mrs Alfred
Betts, 2 children and servants, Colonel Parker, two Misses Parker, Capt.
Weston and Mrs Weston and children, Dr and Mrs. Kenny, Mr. Still, Mr
Grey, Captain Swanson, Capt. Maxwell, Lieut. Onslow, Mr and Mrs. Flood,
Sergeant Major Dobson wife and 4 children.
The Sydney Gazette reported that the military gentlemen who arrived
on the Caroline came for the benefit of their health. 'We trust
they will be so charmed with our salubrious climate and cheering prospects,
as not only to cast in their own lot with us, but to recommend their Indian
brethren to choose Australia as their future asylum.'
from 1 March to 28 August 1833. From his
General Remarks: On the 29th March 1833 we received on board the
Caroline at the Cove of Cork, fifteen free women and forty one of their
children, being the wives and children of convicts ordered a passage to
New South Wales by His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant, and on the 30th
we received one hundred and twenty female convicts and thirteen of their
children, making a total of 189.
Cabin
Passengers included Lieut. Croker Barrington
The surgeon's Journal continues: - The Convicts when embarked had in
general a healthful and clean appearance and throughout the voyage they
kept themselves and their berths in a state of the most perfect
cleanliness.
We had a good deal of sickness and incidental during a long and
solitary voyage to persons unaccustomed to a sea life; but no deaths or
casualties among the free settlers, the prisoners or any of their
children. It will be seen by the copy of the daily sick book, I had in
all ninety seven cases on the list and I regret that I can give only
sixteen and they imperfect, my papers having gone astray during the
disembarkation of prisoners. These few cases however will give a pretty
correct idea of the nature of the complaints which generally occurred
during the voyage.
By my instructions from the Admiralty, I am desired to guard as far
as possible against the introduction and spread of contagions as well as
attend to the health, comfort and morals of the prisons placed under my
charge and I assert that nothing is more calculated to fulfil the
intention of these instructions than the the substitution of proper
water closets for the disgusting and beastly soil pans especially in
female convict ships to all consideration of the intolerable nuisance
produced in cases of general sickness by these soil cases not only in
the prison and hospital but all over the ship, the men particularly in
bad weather, are brought more in contact with the women than they would
otherwise be and the disgusting office makes them assume liberties which
they would not otherwise do - Various other considerations, obvious
enough but not fit to be stated here induce me again to repeat that
every convict ship and more especially female convict ships should
always be fitted up with water closets. No one who has not actually
experienced it can form any adequate idea of the abominable and
disgusting nuisance of these soil pans as they are delicately called.
The chloride of lime was liberally used and contributed greatly to the
sweetness and comfort of the prison, hospital and place allotted to the
free settlers.
The female
convicts were landed on Friday 16th August. Twenty of them were embarked
on the steamer Sophia Jane and taken to the Hunter
region for assignment.
Notice was given that those families in want of female servants could be
supplied from the prisoners who arrived on the Caroline, provided they
apply according to the established form. The assignees were required to
enter into an engagement under a penalty of forty shillings to keep
their servants for one month unless removed by due course of the law.
The free women were landed on Saturday 24th August and taken to the
lumber yard where accommodation and lodgings had been established. (The
lumber yard was situated on the corner of Bridge and George Streets
until 1833). A
great number of them joined their husbands immediately and the remainder
were awaiting the arrival of their husbands from the interior. Their
names are included in the New South Wales, Australia Convict Ship Muster
Rolls and Related Records, 1790-1849 at Ancestry - Ann Grogan with two
children; Johanna Murray or Mahony with three children; Bridget Kelly
with four children; Bridget McKeon with four children, Ann Savage with
three children; Mary Owens with four children; Ellen Kinsela with one
child; Sarah Jordan with two children; Mary Smith with six children;
Jane Cusack with two children; Margaret McNamara with seven children;
Mary Hogan with five children and Margaret Ford or Keon; Mary
McNamara and Catherine Irwin.
Heritage Branch site describes the lumber yard vicinity : - The
Government Convict Lumber Yard, established by Governor Phillip, was
established on the south-west side of the ‘Bridgeway’ (Bridge Street)
over the Tank Stream and east of ‘High Street’ (George Street). It
extended to the bank of the
Tank Stream. In 1806 part of the yard was leased to Garnham
Blaxcell, a merchant and trader who entered into partnership with John
McArthur who leased property across the road in George Street. In 1810
the new governor, Lachlan Macquarie, gave Blaxcell, Alexander Riley and
D’Arcy Wentworth a contract to build a general hospital to be completed
in 1816, in return for the right to import 45,000 gallons of spirits
over the next three years. An 1813 engraving of the area shows a
substantial building within the confines of the lumber yard which
provided useful short-term accommodation for female immigrants after the
yard was closed in 1832.
George Birnie
was also employed as surgeon on convict ships
Asia
in
1831 and Blenheim in 1837 (VDL)
The Caroline was
one of five convict ships bringing female prisoners to New
South Wales in 1833, the others being the
Fanny,
Surry,
Buffalo and Diana. A total of 639 female convicts arrived in
the colony in 1833.
The Caroline under Captain Macdonald was to sail for Mauritius on
31st August 1833.
The Castle Forbes departed Cork
28th September 1823 and arrived in Port Jackson on 19th January 1824, a voyage of
109 days.
139 male prisoners
were landed,
having lost one on the passage, Martin Cavenagh who had been severely
beaten while in the Depot at Cork which the surgeon considered
contributed to his death.
The Guard comprised a detachment of the 40th under orders of Lieut.
Richardson which including the women and children amounted to 56
persons.
Matthew Anderson was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He kept a
Medical and Surgical Journal from 29
July 1823 to 19 January 1824. The chief cause of complaint amongst the
convicts was diarrhoea and dysentery. There were a few cases of scurvy
which the surgeon treated with Lemon Juice and sugar.
The convict ships Three Bees and the
Catherine were to sail
from Cork for Falmouth on the first fair wind, there to join the convoy
for South America, however the voyage was delayed somewhat
when a tremendous gale from the south-east accompanied with heavy
rain blew up on the night of the 19th October 1813. The Morning
Post reported that the rain and wind continued the entire
night and into the following day. The Cornwall Gazette
reported that they had finally anchored at Falmouth by 30th
October, however they did not sail from Falmouth until 8th
December 1813.
It was the height of the Napoleonic wars when the Three
Bees and Catherine departed Falmouth and they were to sail in convoy and under the protection
of the armed frigates Niger and Tagus.
They parted company from the Niger and the Tagus
about a month later when those vessel entered into a battle
with the French frigate Ceres. Captain Rainier of the
Niger later wrote of the encounter -
The Niger, in company with the Tagus
frigate, Captain Pipon, on 6th January near Cape de Verde, had
fallen in with the Ceres French frigate, of 44 guns and
324 men, commanded by Baron de Bougainville. The Ceres
was one month from Brest on her first cruise. She was
manoeuvred in a masterly style during a chase of 238 miles,
when the Tagus, being to windward, opened fire,
which was briskly returned; but the Enemy's main top-mast
being shot away, rendered her escape impossible. The Tagus, Niger, and their prize the Ceres, sailed
on to Rio Janeiro arriving there on the 2nd February.
The
Three Bees and the Catherine, both also armed,
continued on their journey to New South Wales.
Ninety-seven women arrived in Port Jackson on the 4th May 1814.
Praise was given to Capt.
Simmonds for his indulgent treatment of the prisoners of the
Catherine throughout the voyage. The women were grateful of the kindness they
experienced.
Assistant Commissary General John Palmer arrived on the
Catherine and was to be stationed at Parramatta
The Catherine was one of three convict ships bringing
female prisoners to New South Wales in 1814, the others being
the
Wanstead and the
Broxbourneberry. A total of 322 female prisoners
arrived in the colony in
1814
The Catherine departed for the whale fisheries on 12th
July 1814. Captain Simmons died at sea three days later.
The Champion departed London on 3rd June with 128 male prisoners and clothing for the 57th and 39th
regiment.
She arrived in Port Jackson
17 October 1827 with 126 men, two having died on the passage out.
One of the deceased, John Clarkson, aged 24, died within sight of
Sydney harbour.
He
had been ill for nearly ten days and it was
noted that he was nearly delirious and had an excessive fear of death.
The surgeon reported -
His conduct since coming on board has been 'bad in every respect and
horribly blasphemous, and it is now pitiful to hear him raging and
furious at the state which he thinks is now awaiting.
There were several other cases of dysentery at about the time John
Clarkson became ill, as the weather had been cold and wet and the
pipes of the water closets became so leaky, the decks could not be
kept dry.
Surgeon Superintendent
Francis Logan
kept a
Medical and Surgical Journal
from 10th May to 30th October 1827. His first case was
that of 17 years old Henry Royal on 16th May. The Champion had
yet to set sail, but already Henry Royal was suffering from sea
sickness.
Francis Logan rejected another convict, Richard Howells
as being too ill to survive the journey. He was returned to the
Dolphin Hulk.
The Champion
called at Simon's
Bay early in September where one of the soldiers was admitted to
hospital. Fresh fruit and vegetables were procured as scurvy had
broken out among the prisoners. James Holt remained ill from scurvy
for most of the voyage. He and three other convicts also suffered from
other symptoms which Francis Logan seemed to attribute to the cure for
scurvy rather than the illness itself.
The Guard, a
detachment of the 39th regiment, landed
from the Champion on 18th October and were marched through George
Street, Sydney to their quarters in the barracks, preceded by a dozen
exquisitely playing buglers of the same corps.
Captain John Drake and James Clements, mariner,
were later put on trial for the wilful murder of convict John
McArdle on 28 April 1817 while off St. Jago, and found not
guilty. John Drake, Alexander Dewar and Lieutenant Christopher
Bustead were indicted for the wilful murder of Daniel
McCormick and found not guilty. During the trials it was
revealed that a plot to overthrow the Captain and crew of the
Chapman and the Pilot was hatched by prisoners
in Dublin gaol before sailing, however the voyage of the
Pilot was uneventful and the prisoners on arriving thanked
the Doctor for his king attention on the passage out.
Those mentioned in the trials of Captain Drake
and Surgeon Dewar included:
Terence Kiernan - convict. Flogged for having a
piece of tin in his berth to break his irons and flogged again
for speaking Latin to the doctor who told him "You are a good
scholar, but a damned rascal"
Michael Collins - Convict
Francis (Frank) Murphy - Convict (ringleader)
Duncan McLean - Convict, wounded
Thomas Kelly - Convict, wounded
Bryan Kelly - Convict, brother of Thomas Kelly, mortally
wounded in affray
Michael Wood - Convict
John Ryan - Convict
Patrick Smith - Convict. Employed as surgeon's mate and slept
in the sick bay
John Fagan - Convict. Assisted the doctor in
sick bay
John Jackson - Convict (one of the ringleaders)
Peter Allen - Convict. Man of colour
(ringleader)
Baxter - 3rd mate. Officer of the ship
William Lea - convict - put on deck on his knees with other
prisoners before being tied to a rope and thrown astern and
towed after the ship for some time, ducked nine or ten times.
Frequently punished afterwards as well and kept chained to the
poop for 14 weeks until they reached NSW
Two hundred and fifty male convicts were embarked on the Charles
Kerr at Portsmouth, all were considered to be
in good health. The majority were from London Prisons. A number of
prisoners were rejected for the voyage due to scorbutic illness.
The Charles Kerr
sailed from Spithead on 8th June however owing to boisterous weather
and rain they anchored at Falmouth on the 10th where they remained
wind bound until 14th. Here a feeble old man aged 68 transported for
seven years for a trifling offence died after suffering diarrhoea.
After departure another man died. He was young, educated and was
transported for manslaughter. He died weighed down with guilt for the
crime he had committed. Soon afterwards another two also died. The
ship experienced heavy gales and almost constant rain and was
frequently under water. The berths in the hospital and the prison were
all soaked causing great discomfort.
The Charles Kerr arrived in Port Jackson on Monday 9th October 1837.
Two hundred and forty six male convicts arrived on the Charles Kerr.
The Guard consisted
of Lieutenant Hilton and Ensign Boyle, 4th regts., and 28 rank and
file of the 28th regt., Passengers Dr. Turnbull of the 80th reg., Mrs.
Turnbull and four children
John Edwards was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He kept
a
Medical and Surgical Journal from
13th May to 18 October 1837.
The City of
Edinburgh departed Cork 23rd June 1828 with
80 female prisoners, 12 free women and 36 children and arrived on 12th
November 1828, a voyage of 142 days. One more person
landed than embarked, a child being born on the passage out
(Catherine Ahern gave birth to a child on 14th September).
Mrs. Sarah Clendon and child arrived as passengers.
He remarked in his
journal of the difficulties of mothers nursing babies. -
There were six children at their mother's breasts during this
voyage and these women appeared to suffer more from debility
than the others their provisions being scanty and the children
not having any allowance. I endeavoured to remedy this by
allowing them some of the medical comforts in my charge.
The free children
treated by surgeon Anderson included - Edward and John
Gilligan both aged 13; Nicholas Gilligan aged 14; Walter
Birmingham aged 12; Patrick Birmingham aged 9; Betty
Birmingham aged 8; Bridget Lynch aged 12; James Grady age 13;
Thomas Shanahan aged 12; Ann McGuigan aged 14; Ellen Grady
aged 16.
As well as the
free children there were some very young convict girls on the
voyage - Catherine Byrnes aged 16; Honora Crotty aged 17;
Honora Harrington aged 16; Mary McAndrew aged 16; Abbey Murphy
age 14; Margaret O'Donnell aged 15.
The ship was kept
clean by having the beds on deck every day and frequently
opened to be aired. The Berths deck was well cleaned every day
and kept as dry as the state of the weather would admit and
swept up after every meal; the bed places were swept out every
day and scrubbed twice a week; the lower bed berths being
raised to clean the deck beneath them; the airing stove was
frequently alight according to the state of the weather and
the swinging stove almost every day in the Hospital or other
parts of the deck where most required. The women had perfect
liberty at all times to come on deck from eight o'clock
in the morning to sunset and this no doubt had its effect in
keeping them in good health their spirits becoming now buoyant
and the depressing passions which strict confinement might
have engendered avoided. When they were landed a fortnight
after our arrival there was not a patient on the sick list.
ConvictBridget Neillarrived on the City of Edinburgh
The City of Edinburgh was one of
three convict ships bringing female prisoners to New South
Wales in 1828, the others being the
Elizabeth and the
Competitor. A total of 471 female convicts arrived
in the colony in the year 1828.
The
City of
Edinburghdeparted from Cork on 18th
March 1832 and arrived in Port Jackson on 27th June 1832.
She transported 139 male prisoners.
Anthony Donoghoe
was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He
kept a
Medical and Surgical
Journal from 2 February to 11 July
1832.
The
Guard
consisted of 14 privates of 17th regt., 14
privates of the 4th regt and 1 serjeant of the
40th. Under the orders of Lieut. Baylis.
There is mention in the surgeon's journal of
Lieutenant Stuart, aged 22, of the 44th
Regiment. He was put on the sick list a day
before arriving in Sydney and said to be
suffering from depression of mental spirits.
He was sent to the Liverpool Asylum on
arrival. Others travelling as cabin passengers
included Mrs. Baylis, four boys and three
girls. In the steerage Mary Crawley a free
servant came passenger. The wife of a soldier
of the 4th regiment and one woman and two
children belonging to a soldier of the 40th
regiment also came steerage.
It was reported on 21st July 1829 that the military guard of 26 rank and
file under orders of Captain Paterson of the 63rd regiment + five women
and children, had received orders to prepare for embarkation on the
convict ship
Claudine. Mrs. Paterson
and child and Mr. Edwards of the Survey Department came as passengers.
William H. Trotman was employed as Surgeon
Superintendent. He kept a medical journal from 30th July to 16th
December. He wrote in his
Journal:
On the 10th August 1829 received sixty convicts from the Justitia
Hulk at Woolwich and left it the same day for Plymouth; on our way
thither the men were severely sea sick but a little warm tea and and
open air in general restored them in a short time, one only continued
very sick.
It was reported in the Morning Chronicle on Saturday 22nd August
that the Claudine had arrived in Plymouth from Woolwich on the
previous Saturday (15th August) and in the evening of that day 120 convicts were
embarked from the Captivity Hulk for conveyance to New South
Wales.
TheClaudine
departed England 24th August 1829 with 280 convicts. The voyage across
the channel was very rough causing more seasickness. On
30th September the surgeon reported that they were in the tropics where
they were becalmed for some days. The the excessive heat of the prison
produced fevers in many of the men. They had almost all the same
appearance - the skin soft and covered in sweat, the eyes dull and
heavy, the features shrunk, the face pale and the tongue grey; a
general listlessness and languor pervaded the prison. The prisoners were
treated by the surgeon and some recovered perfectly in four or five
days; others took longer. Surgeon Trotman arranged for them to have tea
morning and night which he reported brought them about in a short time.
The Surgeon's entry for October reported that the sick list had not so
many cases on it as September but those that were had been more severe.
The sudden change in temperature from the heat of the line and tropics
to the cold latitudes had produced many colds and coughs and some
attended with severe catarrhal fevers. One lad, Charles Broom age 17
died at this time. The surgeon described him as of slight build with
light hair; of a quiet nature and cutaneous sensibility - the
surgeon had never seen his treatment of blisters give anyone so much
pain before.
In November the weather was cold, wet and damp and the prison deck was
never completely dry. The convicts did not have sufficient warm clothing
and suffered greatly with catarrhal affections with noses or lips
affected with sores. Scurvy was reported, one case being severe was
treated with lime juice and warm baths. Headaches were treated with
blisters or bloodletting and laxatives. Another lad James Sillince age
17 became severely ill and passed away in November. The death surprised
the surgeon who thought the patient was recovering under his treatment
and he determined to conduct an autopsy. He found the body so much
diseased that no treatment could have saved him. He described the boy as
the of the most obstinate and vicious disposition he had every known!
The Claudine arrived in Sydney on Sunday
6th December 1829
and the
prisoners were mustered on the quarter-deck on 9th December, prior to
disembarking. Wednesday 9th December was a clear day summer day in
Sydney with winds from the north-east and temperature ranging from 74°
at 9am to 80° at noon.
The Claudine was reported to be sailing for Madras on 31st
December 1829.
Some of the
Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Claudine
such as
William Anthony led a successful life in their
new country. Anthony became a constable in Newcastle and
married Susannah the daughter of long time resident
Edward Priest; others such as
John Poole had a more difficult experience. John Poole
ended his life on the gallows having become involved in one of
the most notorious episodes in Australian history - the
convict uprising at Castle Forbes
in 1833.
William Trotman was also surgeon on the
Waterloo in 1831.
Portsmouth
on 9 May
1832 and arrived in Port Jackson on 27 August 1832 a voyage of
110 days.
199 male prisoners
arrived on the Clyde.
The Guard consisted of 2 sergeants, 1 corporal and 30 privates of the
4th regiment, 7 soldiers wives and 10 children. Passengers included
Lieutenant Colonel McKenzie, Mrs. McKenzie, Miss McKenzie, four
Masters McKenzie, four Misses McKenzie, Quartermaster Flanna and Mrs.
Flanna.
838
with 216 prisoners and arrived in Port
Jackson on 10 September 1838, a voyage of 112 days.
John Smith was
employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He kept a
Medical and Surgical Journal
from 24th April to 15 September 1838.........The convicts were mostly young and healthy. Health during the voyage
was good and there were no cases of any great importance.
Changes of temperature produced diarrhoea and catarrh but they
were mild and of short duration.
There was one birth,
retention of the placenta required manual assistance and
there had been convulsions and delirium but recovery was
speedy and perfect.
Scurvy began to appear in the less healthy
as they approached the Cape of Good Hope and they called at Simon's Town on the 21 July and took on an
additional 20 convicts, all military men in good health; and
fresh provisions, including live sheep. They stayed 7 days at
the Cape and the health and spirits of the people were greatly
improved. They were given a considerable quantity of potatoes
and the surgeon is convinced that 'this liberality of the
Government contributed greatly to our good health'. No cocoa
was issued but the allowance of oatmeal was sufficient.
The clothing
was very bad and by their arrival in Sydney 'the people were
all in tatters'. The men were well behaved and were encouraged
to dance and march around to the music of the flute. The decks
were seldom wetted and afterwards were always dried by stove
and windsails. Chloride of lime was freely used and every
means taken to keep the decks clean and dry.
John
Smith, surgeon, R.N., received his surgeon's diploma from the
Royal College of Surgeons in 1809, and served on naval ships
and on the convict ships
Marquis of Huntley 1828Surry 1834Moffatt 1836
The Competitor departed England on
18 March 1823 and arrived in VDL on 3 August 1823, a voyage of 138 days.
For the last three weeks of the voyage the
prisoners and passengers alike had to manage without the benefit of the
surgeon George Clayton as he died at sea on the 8th July. The
Competitor arrived at Hobart on 3rd August 1823 and the prisoners
were landed on the 8th August. Three of the men had died on the passage
out and another three died at the hospital after landing.
One hundred and fifty seven convicts were
eventually landed in Hobart. Their appearance was reported to be
generally healthy.
George Clayton was employed as Surgeon
Superintendent. He was also surgeon on the convict shipsShipley 1817
andGlobe 1819.
George Clayton's
personal effects were later auctioned in Sydney - they
included a Bayley's Dictionary, folio; and upwards of 100 volumes of
Latin, French, and English Works, principally medical; a case of
surgical instruments; wearing apparel, bed, bedding etc.
William Ascough had previously captained
the
Malabar
He recorded that the prisoners were generally healthy - there were no
attacks of dysentery, scurvy or fevers of an infectious kind. Jane
Burt's was the only case of importance, she suffered 'the most
determined visceral inflammation' the surgeon had ever witnessed.
From the Cape of Good Hope until the coast of New
Holland hard gales constantly kept the
Competitor
shipping large quantities of water, making the lower deck very
uncomfortable. Fires were kept burning constantly and the ventilating
stove used. The surgeon found 'the long range of funnel' supplied to
prison ships extremely useful and moved it from one side to another of
the prison, on alternate days, to distribute the warmth.
The women found the bad weather hard to
bear. Elizabeth Cooper aged 36 suffered with sea sickness between July
and October. She was reported to by dying and when Thomas Hunter
examined her he found her
'countenance
expressive of the utmost debility, her skin cold and moist, hardly any
pulsation at the wrist... great oppression about the praecordia,
difficulty of breathing and her were extremities cold'.
There were accidents as well for surgeon Hunter to deal with.
Five year old Thomas Hayley, son of Mary Hayley was
seriously injured when he fell ten feet down the main hatchway and hit
his head on a water cask
and
Harriet Williams, aged 24 was lucky to survive after being struck by the end of a spar being used
for hauling in salt water while seated on the leeside of the quarter
deck.
On Saturday 11th October the
Colonial Secretary
Alexander McLeay boarded the Competitor to muster the women
prior to their landing.
The Competitor was one of three convict ships
bringing female prisoners to New South Wales in 1828, the others being the
Elizabeth and the
City of Edinburgh. A total of 471 female convicts arrived in the
colony in the year 1828.
Surgeon
Charles Throsby. The
Coromandeldeparted in company with the Perseus 12 February 1802 from Spithead with 138 male prisoners,
came direct,
and arrived
in Port Jackson
13 June 1802
The healthy state in which the
Coromandel and Perseus arrived requires my particularly
pointing out the masters of those ships to your notice. It appears by
the log books, surgeon's diaries and the unanimous voice of every person
on board those ships that the utmost kindness to the convicts. This,
with the proper application of the comforts Government had so liberally
provided for them and the good state of health all the people were in,
induced the master of the Coromandel to proceed without stopping
at any port. He arrived here in four months and one day, bringing every
person in a state of high health, and fit for immediate labour; and
although it appears that the Perseus necessarily stopped at Rio
and the Cape, yet the convicts were in as good condition as those on
board the Coromandel; nor can I omit the great pleasure felt by
myself and the other visiting officers at the grateful thanks expressed
by the prisoners and passengers for the kind attention and care they had
received from the masters and surgeons, who returned, an unusual
quantity of the articles laid in by Government for the convicts during
the voyage. ... Governor King to the Transport Commissioners 9th August
1802
Free passengers on the Coromandel: ( From HRA vol.III)
1. Zachariah Clarke, his daughter Ann. Ann Selby and Isabella Suddis
2. Andrew Johnson and his wife Mary and children, Thomas aged 10 years,
William aged 8 years, John aged 5 years, Alexander aged 3 years and Abraham
aged 8months.
3. George Hall and his wife Mary and children, Elizabeth aged 9 years,
George aged 7 years, William aged 5 years, John aged 6 months
4. John Johnston
5. John Howe and his wife Frances and child Mary aged 3 years
6.James Davidson and his wife Jane and children John 3 and a half years,
James20 months
7. John Mein and his wife Susannah
8. Andrew Mein
9. William Stubbs and his wife Sarah and children William aged 5 years,
Sarah aged 3 years, Elizabeth aged 1 year.
10..John Turnbull and his wife Ann and children, Ralph aged 10 years
Mary aged 5 years, James aged 4 years and Jessica aged 19 months
See
Pioneers of Portland Head
Builders of Ebenezer Church and School Early Settlers of the Hawkesbury and
Hunter Rivers and Squatters of the North-West New South Wales and Southern
Queensland including Family Genealogies by R. M. ARNDELL, Cattai, January
1973. Chapter 1 The Coromandel Settlers to read excerpts of the diary kept
by George Hall of the voyage of the Coromandel (from Hall,
George: Diary, MS M.L., A2585)
The Coromandel
arrived on 7th May
1804. Her commander Captain Robinson died on the
passage off St. Salvador. The Coromandel left England 4th
December 1803 in company with the Experiment transport.
and
Ensign Cressy with 30 non-commissioned
Officers and Privates of NSW Corps and 200 prisoners. 160 prisoners were
immediately sent to Parramatta and the rest distributed to public
employment according to respective callings.
Convicts
Benjamin Davis, George Mitchell and Richard Horner prisoners on board.
In November 1819, the Coromandel
store ship, having taken on board
upwards of 400 convicts sailed out of the Harbour to Spithead. She was expected to sail a few days afterwards. She
arrived in Port Jackson 5th April, 1820 having
previously arrived at the Derwent and left there 300 prisoners
all in good health
A Court case recorded in the Morning
Post on 12th May 1824 and instituted by a seaman named
Sullivan for wages owed while on a voyage of the
Countess of Harcourt relates the movement of the
vessel in 1822: - Several seamen were hired in London and
signed articles to proceed from London via Cork and
elsewhere, to Van Diemen's Land and back to London; the
Countess of Harcourt was hired by Government to convey
convicts, and sailed from London in October, 1822,
proceeded to Cork and thence to Sydney Cove (instead of
Van Diemen's Land), where she landed her convicts, took in
a cargo of tar for Batavia, at which port she afterwards
took in another cargo, and then proceeded homewards;
having arrived in the Downs, the captain landed and came
to London, where he received orders to go to Holland with
the vessel; five of the crew however refused to go to
Holland, alleging that the articles did not stipulate for
their going there. The Captain refused to pay their wages
because they refused to work on the passage. Lord Stowell
delivered judgement that the men were entitled to their
wages.
The
convict ship
Countess of Harcourt departed from Cork on
3rd September and arriving in Port Jackson on 21st December
1822 and bringing 172
male prisoners having lost one on the voyage.
In February it was reported that a
detachment of the 40th regiment of foot had received
orders to hold itself in readiness to march from Chatham
to Deptford, to embark as guards on board the Chapman
convict ship. A detachment of the same Corps received
similar orders to embark on the
Countess of Harcourt which vessel it was anticipated
would be finished re-fitting by the end of March.
During this time the notorious
Joseph Hunt, who was sensationally
convicted of being an accessory to murder in Hertfordshire in
1823, awaited his time on the Justitia hulk moored at
Woolwich. He and many others were transferred to the
Countess of Harcourt between the 5th and 8th March.
With 174 convicts on board, The Countess of Harcourt
departed the Downs on 23 March 1824 and arrived at Port
Jackson on 12 July 1824.
Surgeon James Dickson was
employed as Surgeon Superintendent. There were three
deaths on the voyage out. James Dickson was also surgeon on
the convict ships
Woodford 1826 (VDL),
Florentia 1828,Vittoria 1829
and
Norfolk 1829
The Countess of Harcourt arrived in Port Jackson on
12th July 1824 after a voyage of 111 days.
The Countess of Harcourt departed Sydney on 24th
August, with Stores and provisions and in company with the
Tamar with the intention of forming a new
settlement at Port Essington.
the Countess of
Harcourt was in company with the Lady Nelson
at Port Essington when one of the boats belonging to the
vessel was upset on returning to the ship. Twelve persons
were thrown into the water and by the great exertions of
Lieutenant Golding of the Tamar, eight of them were
saved. Two soldiers of the 3rd regiment, the Captain's
steward of the Harcourt and a fine lad, the son of
a clergyman, an apprentice, were drowned.
The convict ship Countess of Harcourt
as reported to be in Margaret Roads on the morning of 11th January. On
January 13th she was reported to be in Portsmouth with the loss of an
anchor and cable chain after contrary winds. She departed Portsmouth
for Ireland on 17th January.
After embarking 194 prisoners at Dublin, she departed there on
14 February 1827.
She arrived in Port Jackson on 28 June 1827 with 192
male prisoners under superintendence of
The convict ship Countess of Harcourt
departed London on 3rd May 1828 and St. Jago 5th June, arriving
in Port Jackson on Monday evening, 8th September 1828,
a voyage of 128 days.
184 male prisoners arrived
under the care of Surgeon Superintendent John
Drummond R.N., There had been no deaths on the voyage
out. John Drummond kept a
Medical Journal from 29th
March to 22 September 1828. He was
also surgeon on the convict ship
Prince Regent in 1830 (to Tasmania)
The Guard consisted of detachment of 63rd regiment
under command of Lieutenant Dexter. Passenger Mrs. Dexter.
The prisoners were landed on Monday 22nd September. Most of
them were distributed to settlers.
The Countess of Harcourt was re-fitted with a new main mast at
Fowler's yard in Cockle Bay before departing the colony for
Singapore.
