On the 20th May 1819, 155 male convicts were received from the brig Atlas onto the convict ship 'Daphne' for transportation to New South Wales. They were issued with bedding and two pairs of shoes each. The following day 25 more prisoners were received from Cork, taking the total to 180 men. The Guard consisted of 30 men from the 46th and 67th regiments under command of Captain Brooks of the 48th.

The Daphne departed Cork on 28 May 1819, touched at Teneriffe and arrived in Port Jackson on 21st September 1819.

Robert Armstrong was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 20 May 1819 to 28 September 1819. He recorded in great detail, the various illness each man suffered. He was kept busy the entire voyage with prisoners suffering catarrh, chest pains, diarrhoea, and general debility, however for all the illness on board, at the end of the voyage he had lost only two convicts; both had been ill on embarkation. At the start of the voyage orders were drawn up and read to the prisoners from time to time relating to good order and cleanliness. Also remarks on the importance of strict observance of religious duties in the ‘reformation of depraved minds.

Lemon juice and sugar was issued to the men on 24 June and and surgeon Armstrong recorded that the temperature was 82 degrees Fahrenheit between decks.

On the 30th June 1819 at 10 pm, the Daphne crossed the equator and soon afterwards they were experiencing heavy seas. The decks and hospital became wet from the strong breezes and the frequent squalls. They attempted to keep the hospital dry by swabbing and keeping a stove with clear burning coals going all day long. The bad weather continued for several days. They also had to contend with badly constructed water closets which were constantly blocking because of the small diameter of the lead pipes which were only about 3/4 inch. Already the piping had been taken apart three times to unblock it.

During July there had been reports of a conspiracy to take the ship but precautions were taken and nothing came of it, there was no need for corporal punishment.

Convict John Burns had been unwell for many days. He was carefully cared for by surgeon Armstrong, however died on the 2nd August. The surgeon recorded that Burns had been in low spirits and despondent since leaving his family and wife and three small children.

On the 14 September 1819 they passed King Island at the entrance of Bass Strait and by the 19 September 1819, were running along the coast with Cape Dromedary in sight. Two days later they had arrived at Port Jackson. The pilot came on board on the night of the 21st September 1819 and because of contrary winds the ship was anchored inside the entrance to the harbour. The following day they came into Sydney Cove.

The harbour allowance of rations were issued out to the prisoners on 23 September and prisoners began to improve a little. The decks were cleaned once more and on the 24th September at 10am Colonial Secretary Mr. Campbell came on board to muster the prisoners. He expressed his approval of their treatment based on their answers to his questions.  No more fresh meat and vegetables were sent on board until the day before the prisoners were due to disembark, so the sea allowance of salt beef, flour etc was issued as usual.  The day before they disembarked, fresh beef arrived and the surgeon had it boiled up to give to the men the following morning on disembarkation. They were issued with new clothes by the Commissary and at daylight on 28 September were landed. One prisoner John Sweeny was sent straight to the hospital.

The Sydney Gazette recorded that they were as fine and healthy set of men as ever entered the Port. They gave a never failing testimony of their kind and humane treatment during a tedious voyage, rendered the more dangerous by a perpetual change of climate.' Two children, a boy and a girl, were born to wives of soldiers of the military detachment.

Robert Armstrong was also surgeon on the convict ships Tottenham 1818  Dick 1821 and Countess of Harcourt 1822

HOUSE OF LORDS THE SESSIONAL PAPERS 1801-1833

The Daphne sailed for Calcutta late in November.

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Daphne in 1819

Captain James Bissett - (Captain Bissett formerly commanded the trading vessel Princess Victoria)

162 female prisoners and 25 - 30 children were received onto the convict ship Diamond  from the Penitentiary at Dublin, probably in October or early November 1837. Also embarked on the Diamond were thirty nine emigrants, women and 12 children. (Another account gives 18 free women and 69 children).  One male passenger also came on the Diamond - Mr. Goodwin. The Morning Post reported on 15 November that they were to depart on the first fair wind, however they didn't depart from Kingston harbour until 29 November 1837.

William McDowell was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He kept a Medical and Surgical journal from 20 October 1837 to 20 April 1838

There was a violent gale on 14th December. Prisoner Catherine Raygan (Regan) was injured by a cask rolling about. She was treated by the surgeon for almost six weeks for the injury.

On her voyage the Diamond spoke the Hyacinth, bound for the Cape of Good Hope in lat. 4° 6' north and longitude 18° 15' west; also on the 1st February the Duchess of Northumberland from London to Sydney in latitude 32° 5', and longitude 21° 30' west (near the Cape of Good Hope); and on 3rd January exchanged numbers with the Alacrity, 30 days from London in latitude 5 north, and longitude 18° 40' west, bound to Port Jackson.

The Diamond arrived at Port Jackson on 28 March 1838 after a voyage of 114 days. The women were landed on Thursday 12th April at the Macquarie Fort, instead of the Dockyard. A committee of ladies was in attendance, for the purpose of pointing out to them the necessity of their behaving themselves in the different situations they may be placed in, so as to merit any future indulgence. His Excellency the Governor was in attendance, and exhorted them to behave themselves in their new capacities. They were also addressed by the Bishop before being distributed to various people who had applied for them.

The Sydney Monitor carried the following news on the 16 April 1838

NEWS OF THE DAY. At the time. of landing the women by the Diamond, at Fort Macquarie on Wednesday last, a circumstance occurred which is likely to give employment to some of our gentleman learned in the law.' The matter of dispute was between two gentlemen. well known in the town, and both holding Government appointments. As the facts will most probably come to light in' the Supreme Court, we abstain front at present mentioning names or particulars.......

The dispute was between Colonel Wilson and Clerk to the Superintendent of Convicts Mr. Thomas Ryan and involved the distribution of two of the women who came by the Diamond....Read more in the Sydney Gazette......

The Diamond was one of two convict ships bringing female prisoners to New South Wales in 1838, the other one being the John Renwick. A total of 333 female prisoners arrived in the colony in 1838.

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Diamond in 1838

Captain George Braithwaite. Surgeon James Ellis

Surgeon Superintendent James Ellis R.N., arrived on the Diana at Woolwich on 14 November 1832 where 100 female convicts from various prisons and 20 settlers (9 from England and 11 from Scotland) including children were embarked. Passengers included Elizabeth Hardman, Maria Hayward, William Hayward, Harriet Goodwin, Ellen Braddock, Sarah Braddock, Mary Taylor, Lucy Taylor, Jane McMillan, Mary McMillan, Jane King, Mary King, Isabella Ross, Donald Ross, Suclow Ross, John Ross, James Ross and Ann Ross.

James Ellis kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 27 October 1832 to 19 June 1833.

Constipation continued to plague the women and after 80 days at sea, many were sallow and debilitated, and two women Jane Pentland and Maria Robson showed signs of scurvy; and so it was decided to put into the Cape of Good Hope to replenish medicine and obtain fresh food. They anchored at Table Bay on 20th March and received fresh supplies -  18 live sheep and 500 lbs of vegetables. This change in diet improved their health so much that there was little sickness for the remainder of the voyage and no signs of scurvy, although they did not arrived in Sydney until Saturday 25 May 1833, a voyage of 165 days.

James Ellis suggested that female prisoners should be employed voyages in making their own clothes as a means of promoting good order.

Since many of the prisoners were ‘quite callous to any disgrace or punishment’, Ellis suggested that part of the prison should be railed off, or provision made to rail off individual berths, and the worst characters locked up at night. On the Diana three berths were set up in this way and proved effective. He considered the confinement box supplied was insufficient since it held only one person and was unsuitable for any length of time in warmer climates.  The only punishment the prisoners dreaded he thought, was having their hair shaved off but it only seemed to make them worse.

The Diana was one of five convict ships bringing female prisoners to New South Wales in 1833, the others being the Fanny, Surry, Buffalo and Caroline. A total of 639 female convicts arrived in the colony in 1833.

James Ellis was also employed as surgeon on the convict ships Hooghley 1831, Bengal Merchant 1835 and Waterloo 1838

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on Diana in 1833

Master William Harrison. Surgeon Robert Armstrong

The convict ship Dick departed England on 4th November 1820 and arrived at Port Jackson on 12 March 1821, a voyage of 128 days.

140 male prisoners arrived in good health, none having died on the passage out.

Robert Armstrong kept a Medical and Surgical Journal on the voyage of the Dick from 1st September 1820 to 15 March 1821.  He was also employed as surgeon on the convict ships  Tottenham 1818   Daphne 1819 and Countess of Harcourt 1822.

Convicts treated during the voyage of the Dick included John Denne, Samuel Jackson, Daniel Woodhall, Joseph Thompson, John Griffiths, Thomas Tonks, Benjamin Wellington, John Foran, Charles Franter, William Bond, Edward Bailey, John Hammond, Michael Robins, Adam Hulme, Thomas Bexon, Joseph Finch, William Bradley, John Scothern, James Hutchings, Michael Sullivan, William Green, Daniel Smeeton, Joseph Goddard, Thomas Parrott, John Williams and John Ford

Soldiers treated included Private Edward Newell and Corporal Potter and passengers Mrs Huff and Joseph Priestly.

The Guard consisted of a detachment of 24th regiment., under orders of Lieut. Isaacson of 47th regiment.

The Sydney Gazette reported that on Thursday 15th March, His Excellency the Governor inspected the prisoners. Their appearance was a sufficient testimony, independent of their grateful acknowledgements of the kindness and humanity with which they had been treated on the voyage. His Excellency was pleased to direct their distribution in the usual manner.

Robert Espie was also surgeon on the convict ships Morley 1817  Shipley 1818    Lord Sidmouth 1823  Lady Rowena 1826  Mary 1830(VDL)  Roslin Castle 1834  and Elizabeth 1836

Hunter Valley convicts of the Dorothy in 1820

Captain Richard Skinner R.N., Surgeon George Fairfowl

In September 1819 it was reported that the Dromedary, Master Skinner, was about to sail from Portsmouth for NSW with 300 convicts on board. Her return cargo to England was to consist of masts and timber from New Zealand.

She departed England on 11 September 1819 and arrived in Port Jackson on 28 January 1820, a voyage of 139 days.

22 male prisoners were landed at Sydney being the residue of 369, landed at the Derwent. Passenger Lieut. Charles McArthur

Surgeon Dr. George Fairfowl R.N. was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He was also surgeon on the convict ships Ocean 1818  Woodman 1823   Royal Charlotte 1825  Sovereign 1829 Andromeda 1830  Clyde 1832  Hive 1834

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Dromedary in 1820

Master John Clarke Spencer.

523 tons, 18 guns, men 39. Owned by Daniel Bennett

Surgeon Mr. Barr

The convict ship Duke of Portland  departed England in company with the Young William store ship and an India fleet and under convoy of the Antelope on 19th February 1807. They parted when the Duke of Portland made for Rio de Janeiro.

The Duke of Portland arrived at Port Jackson on Sunday 27 July 1807 with 189 prisoners. Three prisoners died on the passage out and two others after arrival. She brought a small quantity of sugar and tobacco.

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Duke of Portland in 1807

Captain William Walmsley. Surgeon Robert Dunn

The convict ship Dunvegan Castle departed from Sheerness on 30 September 1829.

Robert Dunn was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 8 September 1829 to 10 April 1830. The first case he had to deal with was that of William Harris who almost had his ear torn off when a cask landed on his head on the 5th October. Four convicts died on the passage and in the hospital at Hobart from scurvy - Isaac Wilson 1 March, William Caley 7 March, Thomas Sanson 9 March, George Dunn on 10 March.

Robert Dunn was also employed as surgeon on the convict ship Bussorah Merchant 1828 

Captain John Duff. Surgeon Patrick McTernan

The Dunvegan Castle departed London for Dublin on 24 May 1832. In Dublin on 30th June 200 male prisoners were embarked and they departed there on 1st July, arriving in Port Jackson on 16 October 1832, a voyage of 107 days.

All 200 male prisoners arrived in Port Jackson on the Dunvegan Castle. There were no deaths on the voyage.

Patrick McTernan was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 22 May 1832 to 24 June 1833. He began treating prisoners while the vessel still lay in Kingston Harbour. In the following months he treated them for ailments such as catarrh, constipation, nausea and diarrhoea. There was an outbreak of mouth ulcers and also in July an outbreak of impetigo.

The Guard consisted of 31 rank and file of 4th regt., accompanied by 5 women and 7 children under orders of Lieutenant Faunce of 4th regiment. Members of the guard included Sergeant Pike and his family, Sergeant Scott and family and Private William Aulchin