Captain John Craigie.  Surgeon Superintendent  Thomas Christie Roylance

The Hadlow was built in Quebec in 1814 and owned by W. Parker.

The prisoners of the convict ship Hadlow came from various parts of England - Derby, York, London, Oxford, Chester. Gloucester etc., Two of the prisoners Henry Dunn and James Gittens had been tried in Bristol in March and found guilty of highway robbery. They were probably then incarcerated in Bristol Gaol. In March 1818 a visitor described the Bristol Gaol: We first entered the yard appropriated for criminals: it is an irregular space, about 20 feet long and 12 wide, and was literally so crowded with its 63 inhabitants, as to occasion some difficulty in passing through it. In this yard is to be seen vice in all its stages; boys intermingle with men; the accused with the convicts; the venial offender with the veteran and atrocious criminal. Amongst a multitude of persons whom the gaoler described as having no other avocation or mode of livelihood but thieving, I counted 11 children - children hardly old enough to be released from a nursery - hardly competent to understand the first principles of moral obligation - here receiving an education which, as it must unfit them for anything useful, so it must eminently qualify them for that career which they are doomed to run. All charged or convicted of felony, with out distinction of age, were in heavy irons; almost all were in rags; almost all were filthy in the extreme; almost all exhibited the appearance of ill health. The state of the prison the desperation of the prisoners, broadly hinted in their conversation and plainly expressed in their conduct the uproar of oaths, complaints, and obscenity the indescribable stench, presented together a concentration of the utmost misery with the utmost guilt; a scene of infernal passions and distresses which few have imagination sufficient to picture and of which fewer still would believe that the original is to be found in this enlightened and happy country. After seeing this yard, and another of larger dimensions, the adjacent day room and sleeping cells, the conclusion of my own mind was, that nothing could be more offensive or melancholy. This opinion, however, was speedily refuted when a door was unlocked, we were furnished with candles, and we descended 18 long steps into a vault at the bottom was a circular space - a narrow passage, 18 inches wide, runs through this and the sides are furnished with barrack bedsteads. The floor, which is considered to be on the same lever with the river, was very damp. The smell at this hour (one o'clock) was nothing more than can be expressed by the term disgusting. (Lancaster Gazette 13 June 1818)

Thomas Roylance kept a Medical Journal from the 10th July to 4th January 1819. He joined the Hadlow as it was lying at Deptford and shipwrights from the Dockyard were already fitting up the ship ready for the reception of convicts. Provisions were loaded and she was prepared for sea. On Friday 17 July a detachment of troops embarked as guard under command of Lieut. Robert Robinson of 24th regiment. Thirty two soldiers accompanied by six women and four children formed the guard. The Hadlow dropped down to Woolwich on 30 July and on 1st August fifty male prisoners from the Justitia Hulk were received on board. At 3pm on 2nd August the Hadlow weighed anchor and made for Sheerness where, on 4th August 58 male convicts from the Retribution hulk and 40 from the Bellopheron hulk were received on board. One of the prisoners, William Newell aged 14 from Leicester was returned to the Retribution Hulk. 

Captain John Craigie. Surgeon Superintendent  William Price

The Hadlow was the next convict ship to leave Ireland with prisoners for New South Wales after the departure of the Janus in December 1819.

William Price kept a medical journal during the voyage of the Hadlow. It began on Sunday 20th February at Deptford. At daylight that day they cast off from the hulk and on 23rd anchored at Gravesend where the Guard, consisting of 1 serjeant and 32 privates commanded by Captain Patrick McDougall of the 48th regiment, were embarked. They then proceeded to Cork arriving there on 28th February 1820 after a boisterous passage, and there found the convict ship Dorothy moored and also awaiting to receive her prisoners. They found anchorage at the Cove nearby to the town.

On the 9th March a court-martial was held on board to try private Patrick McDermott of the 48th regiment for desertion and also two sentinels for aiding and assisting in his escape. On 17th March the results of the court-martial were received on board. Private McDermott received 150 lashes; Patrick Irwin 200 lashes and George White 100 lashes.

On 23rd March 150 male convicts were received on board from the Gaol at Cork. They arrived under the superintendence of Dr. Trevor. The men were divided into messes of six each. The following day the prisoners were admitted to the deck during the day and the surgeon found that several of them were suffering ulcers on their legs caused by the irons and he had the irons struck off one of the legs of each. They were admitted on deck for the next few days and the berths were cleaned. They were victualled from the shore and every comfort was afforded to ameliorate their situations, although the weather was not always favourable. When the weather turned bad on 26th March, divine service was cancelled and access to the deck was restricted.

On Sunday 2nd April 1820 they weighed anchor and made their way out of Cork Harbour. No prayers were read this day and the surgeon remarked that the convicts were all doing well.  By the 4th April there were fresh gales from the SW and the convicts were all sea sick.

They reached the island of Madeira on 11th April and the following day, the island of Palma. During the next few weeks, the convicts were allowed on deck as the weather permitted. Divine service was held on deck on each Sunday and their berths and clothing were kept clean. Towards the end of April the surgeon remarked that he punished one of the men, William Canavan for blasphemy, insolence and disobedience of orders by placing him in handcuffs for 24 hours.

For part of the voyage they sailed in company with the convict ship Mangles and according to Governor Macquarie's Journal, parted from the Mangles just eight days before arriving in Port Jackson.

On 1st August 1820 they were off the coast of Australia near King Island and by Saturday 5 August 1820, a fine day with light variable winds, they reached Port Jackson. The voyage had taken 125 days. They remained on board until the 15th August when the 33 members of the Guard, 3 women and the convicts were all disembarked at 10am. On shore 148 prisoners were inspected by Governor Macquarie in the gaol yard. (See the Daphne to read a description of the procedure when convicts were landed). In the Colonial Secretary's Letters is an attestation by James Bowman as to the thorough medical attention that had been paid to the prisoners by surgeon William Price (Reel 6049; 4/1744 p.83)

The youngest prisoner on board was Jeremiah Finn who was fifteen years of age.

The Hadlow sailed for Batavia on 15th September 1820. Those intending to depart on the Hadlow included First Officer William Anderson and Second Officer William Chesser.

William Price was also surgeon on the Isabella in 1822

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Hadlow in 1820

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

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

Captain John Ross. Surgeon Superintendent Colin Arrott Browning

Colin Arrott Browning kept a medical journal from 22 November 1848 to 22 June 1849.

The Hashemy departed Portsmouth on 11 February 1849 and arrived on 9 June 1849 with 212 prisoners.

Select here to find out more about their journey. And here to find out more about the anti transportation meeting near Circular Quay on 11 June.

Colin Arrot Browning was also surgeon on the convict ships Surry in 1831;  Margaret in 1840;  Earl Grey in 1843 (VDL);  Theresa in 1845 (VDL)

Prisoners arriving on the Hashemy in 1849

Captain John Fenwick. Surgeon Superintendent Thomas Bellot

Surgeon Thomas Bellot kept a Medical Journal from 8th July 1849 - 7th December 1849

The Times reported on 4th July 1849 that the ship Havering of London which was chartered to take convicts to Sydney and bound to Dublin to embark them, put back and anchored off Falmouth port on 1st July in consequence of cholera breaking out among the crew and the small escort of 45 troops which were on board. She left Deptford on the 21st June and the first case occurred on the 26th following, when the ship was 30 miles west of Scilly, and this induced the captain to bear up. Five of the crew and one soldier died before her arrival, and up to last evening (1st) eight cases remained, two of which appeared serious, whilst the remaining six were considered convalescent. An officer with whom we conversed stated, that the disease was confined to men who were intemperate, and careless and loose in their habits, and that they had every expectation on board of checking the progress of the malady. The Havering was a new ship of 700 tons burden and no doubt very efficiently fitted out for the contemplated voyage, and is in no wise crowded, so that the best hopes of checking the evil may be fairly entertained, and her departure for Dublin expedited.

The Havering arrived in Sydney on the 8th November 1849, after a fine passage of ninety five days. She was one of several vessels bringing Exiles to Australia in the 1840's.

Other vessels bringing Exiles included the Eden Adelaide Havering  Mount Stewart Elphinstone  Maitland and Randolph

Captain Thackeray Wetherall. Surgeon Superintendent Charles Carter

Some of the prisoners who were to be embarked on the  Hebe had been incarcerated in Newgate prison before being transferred to the York Hulk on 5th June 1820. They remained on the York until 12 July when they were taken to the Hebe. They joined other convicts from many areas of England - Somerset, Warwick, Suffolk, York, Stafford, Hertford, Wiltshire, Berkshire etc., and three who had been court-martialled in Gibraltar. 

The Hebe was the next convict ship to leave England after the departure of the Morley in May 1820. The Hebe departed England on 31st July 1820, touched at Rio de Janeiro and remained there 10 days and arrived at Van Diemen's Land on 31st December 1820 on their way to Port Jackson.

Major Frederick Goulburn (a younger Brother of the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies) the newly appointed Colonial Secretary arrived passenger on board the Hebe. Frederick Goulburn brought with him the news that Governor Macquarie's resignation which was sent to England on the Admiral Cockburn the previous March, had been accepted ........read more at Lachlan and Elizabeth Macquarie Archive

No Surgeon's Journal has survived however a list of articles for use in case of sickness can be found amongst the Colonial Secretary's correspondence:

Tea, sugar, chocolate, sago, scotch barley, ginger, black pepper, allspice, red port wine, rice, pearl barley and lemon juice. Hospital supplies included 9 duck frocks, 9 pairs flannel trousers, 9 flannel waistcoats, 18 pr cotton hose, 18 pocket handkerchiefs, 18 nightcaps, 18 towels, 16 prs sheets.

Charles Carter was also surgeon on the convict Hibernia in 1819 the Arab in 1822 and Sir Godfrey Webster in 1823 ship Henry Porcher in 1825

The Hebe was intending to sail for England via Batavia in February 1821. The Asiatic Journal reported that the Hebe under Captain Maitland (late Wetherall) arrived in England on 23 January 1822 having been at Bengal on 25th August and Cape of Good Hope 15th November 1821.

Notes and Links:

Amongst the 160 convicts who arrived on the Hebe was a young man Charles Cridland, who would make a new successful life for himself and his descendants in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales.

Find other Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Hebe in 1820

Captain John Campbell. Surgeon Superintendent  Alexander Neill

Alexander Neill kept a Medical Journal between the 4th March 1837 and 18th July 1837.

The Morning Post reported on the 8 March 1837 that a detachment of the 80th regiment consisting of Captain Furlong, Ensign Torkington, 80th regiment, two Sergeants and 29 rank and file with six women and children arrived in Dublin on the 3rd March on the Shannon Steam vessel from London and re-embarked on the ship Heber, then laying in Kingston Harbour. They were to act as guard over the convicts of the Heber.

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

The Heber was the next convict ship to leave Ireland after the departure of the Margaret in January 1837. The Heber departed Dublin on 16 March 1837.

The Surgeon reported that the Heber had a remarkably fine run out of the channel and the prisoners who were not suffering from sea sickness were able to go on deck. For those who suffered sea sickness their health was extremely reduced and some remained convalescent for the remainder of the voyage.

Alexander Neill's first patient Jacob Moxon was treated on the very first day at sea.  Jacob Moxon, a 31 one year old former soldier from Dublin who was court-martialled for desertion had been held in Kilmainham gaol for some time without shoes or stockings and complained much of the cold. He was suffering from fever and a cough which the surgeon successfully treated. Other patients suffered from bilious complaints, rheumatism and fever.

After only a fortnight it was found that cocoa was very unpopular amongst the convicts. They unanimously requested that it might be stopped as a ration as they could not eat it. They were afterwards supplied with oatmeal for breakfast.

Late in June it was reported that the Heber was spoken by the off Cape Lewin and as she was short of provisions was supplied from the Mangles with two sheep, some wine and other necessaries before they parted company.

The Heber arrived in Port Jackson on 12 July 1837, a voyage of 118 days. The convicts were mustered on the morning of 17th July and were to be landed a day or two later. The printed convict indents include information such as name, age, education, religion, marital status, family, native place, trade, offence, where and when convicted, prior convictions and physical description. There is no information as to where the prisoners were assigned on arrival. About ninety prisoners who arrived on the Heber have been identified residing in the Hunter Region in the following years. Some were assigned to the Australian Agricultural Company, others to settlers such as John Larnach and Peter McIntyre. Richard Taafe was assigned to Police Magistrate Edward Denny Day at Maitland and James Fitzgerald to John Portus at Morpeth. Select HERE to find out what happened to some of the other convicts who were sent to the Hunter region.

Alexander Neill was also employed as surgeon on the convict ships Recovery in 1836,  Parkfield in 1839 and the Eden in 1842 (VDL)

Cabin passengers included Mrs. Furlong + 4 children;  David Binege Hutchinson, Albert Maxwell Hutchinson, son of Mrs. Furlong;

Captain Thomas Thatcher. Surgeon Superintendent Thomas Davies R.N.

The convicts of the Henry came from many different districts in England. Some were held in county gaols after trial, or if they had been tried at the Old Bailey they were sent to Newgate. From these prisons they were transferred to the prison Hulks to await transportation.

Some of the prisoners of the Henry who had been tried at the Old Bailey were transferred to the prison hulk Retribution at Woolwich on 7th February 1823. In an article in the Sunday Times in November 1822, it is revealed what they may have been given to eat for this two months spent on the hulk when it was reported that an opulent butcher from Rochester had won the contract to victual the convicts stationed on the hulks at Woolwich and Sheerness at three-pence farthing a man per day. The provisions were to consist of good ox beef, bread, small beer, cheese and meal.

Many of the prisoners were transferred from the Hulks to the Henry on 7 April 1823

The Henry departed London on 28 April 1823 just four days after the Ocean also bound for New South Wales. The Commodore Hayes for Van Diemen's Land departed with 219 prisoners on 26 April 1823.

The Guard consisted of 32 rank and file of the 3rd regiment (Buffs) under the orders of Captain H.L. Lockyer and Lieutenant Owen.  Other ships bringing detachments of the 3rd regiment included the Asia, Eliza, Countess of Harcourt, Shipley, Princess Royal and Brampton.  The 3rd Regiment had its headquarters in Sydney between 1822 and 1827 and companies were dispatched continuously to various outstations, serving in Tasmania and with other detachments at Newcastle, Liverpool, Parramatta, Port Macquarie and Bathurst. The regiment shipped to India at the end of its service.(1)

This was Thomas Davies' second voyage as Surgeon Superintendent on a convict ship. He kept a Medical Journal from 13th March 1823 to 29 August 1823.  Thomas Davies was also surgeon on the convict ships Medway in 1821 and the Asia (111) in 1825.

He wrote in his Journal that the unusually healthy state of the Guard and Convicts on the Henry may have in some measure depended on the strict attention paid in every part of the ship;  a constant ventilation by windsails and keeping fires lighted in the prison daily; at intervals admitting as many on deck at a time as possible; employing them in various ways conducive to health; hammocks most days on deck; special care taken in their use of the cold bath and most particularly their body linen....(Ancestry.com. UK Royal Navy Medical Journals, 1817-1857)

The Henry arrived in Port Jackson on Tuesday 26th August 1823, bringing 160 male convicts in good health. The convict indents include the name, age, native place, date and place of trial and physical description with occasional information regarding Pardons and tickets of leave.. There is no information as to where and to whom the men were assigned on arrival. About forty men have been identified residing in the Hunter Valley region in the following years. some of the men were assigned to settlers in the Hunter region - Thomas Ward was assigned to Joseph Onus at Cockfighter's Creek; Thomas Shuttleworth was assigned to Timothy Nowlan; John Newins was assigned to Samuel Wright; John Abercrombie to the Australian Agricultural Company.

Captain Lockyer and his wife sailed to Hobart on the Mariner in December 1823.

Select HERE to find out what happened to other convicts of the Henry in the Hunter Valley

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

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

Captain John Thomson. Surgeon Superintendent  Charles Carter

The Guard consisted of a detachment of 57th regt., under orders of Captain Vance Young Donaldson.

Vance Young Donaldson was appointed Ensign 14 September 1804, Lieutenant 25 December 1805, Captain 24 June 1813 and Brev. Major 10 January 1837. He served in the Peninsula from June 1809 to the end of the war, including the siege of Badajoz in April 1811; battles of Albuera, Vittoria and the Pyrenees. (1) He was appointed Commandant at Norfolk Island in 1826.

Other ships bringing detachments of the 57th regiment included the Asia, Borodino, Asia, Norfolk, Minstrel, Sir Godfrey Webster,  Hooghley, Lonach, Royal Charlotte, Marquis of Hastings, Sesostris, Mangles and Morley

Passengers on the Henry Porcher included Peter Spicer and Rev. John Espy Keane, Mrs Keane and family. On arrival Rev. Keane preferred charges against the surgeon regarding the treatment of some of the prisoners (see Colonial Secretary's Correspondence). Rev. Keane later became the first incumbent at Holy Trinity Church, Kelso.

Charles Carter kept a Medical Journal from 22 June 1825 to 9th December 1825. 

Those he treated included Thomas Chapman of the 57th regt.; James Black of 57th regt.,  James Quinn, prisoner; Patrick Ryan, prisoner; and Thomas Purcell who died of scurvy.

The Henry Porcher arrived in Port Jackson on 3 December 1825, a voyage of 120 days. They were mustered on board by the Colonial Secretary Frederick Goulburn. The bound indents include the name, age, when and where tried, native place, sentence, calling, physical description, conduct on the voyage and where they were assigned on arrival. There is occasional information regarding colonial sentences, deaths and pardons. There is no information as to crime they had committed in Ireland.

The prisoners were landed on Friday morning 9th December. Surgeon Carter wrote in his Journal that after the prisoners were disembarked at Sydney. (175 in number, having lost but one on the voyage), they were inspected and delivered over to the charge of Lieutenant-Governor Stewart, who expressed gratification at the very healthy, orderly and cleanly state of the prisoners. 

Soon after their landing a watchman attached to the Prisoners' Barracks by the name of James McDonnell was detected conveying spirits to some of the men. For his trouble he was sentenced to 10 days on the treadmill.

Several of the convicts were highly recommended by the Officers on the ship -  Phillip Riley, Dominic Henry, Thomas Scully, John Shannon, Laurence Gannon, Thomas Cummons,  Patrick Donnelly alias Kennedy, John Ellwood, and Owen Macauly.

Charles Carter was also employed as surgeon on the Hebe in 1820,  the Hibernia in 1819, the Arab in 1822 and Sir Godfrey Webster in 1823.

Notes and Links:

Some of the convicts may have witnessed the pomp and ceremony surrounding the arrival of Governor Sir Ralph Darling on the morning of Tuesday 20th December 1825

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Henry Porcher in 1825

National Archives - Extra/chartered ship, built by Hilhouse, measured 1817, 2 decks, 4in bottom, length 113ft 8in, keel 90ft 6¾in, breadth 30ft 10in, hold 13ft 9in, wing transom 18ft 5in, port cell 24ft 10in, waist 11in, between decks 6ft 7in, roundhouse 6ft 6¼in, ports 6 upper, 485 tons. Principal Managing Owners: 1 Joseph Graves. 2 Samuel Marjoribanks, 3 George F Young.

Captain John Hart. Surgeon Superintendent  Thomas Galloway

The Henry Porcher was the next convict ship to leave England after the departure of the George Hibbert in July 1834. The Henry Porcher departed Sheerness on 1st September and the Downs 4 September 1834..

The guard consisted of a detachment of 29 rank and file of 50th regiment under orders of Captain Usher and Lieutenant George Pulteney Malcolm. Eight women and 7 children belonging to the 50th regiment came as passengers. Detachments of the 50th Regiment also arrived on the Susan, Blenheim, Royal Admiral , Lady Nugent , Hive, James Laing, Captain Cook, Hero, Roslin Castle,  Parmelia and Lady Kennaway.

Lieutenant Malcolm was the son of Admiral Sir Pulteney Malcolm and Clementina Elphinstone, eldest daughter of the Honourable William Fullerton Elphinstone and niece of Admiral Lord Keith. He kept a journal during this voyage and afterwards, a copy of which is held by the State Library of New South Wales. The Journal begins on the 17th August 1834, the day he left Chatham to board the Henry Porcher. He witnessed the convicts embarking at Sheerness and recorded details of daily life on board the vessel. Entries describe rations, floggings, deaths and illnesses, relations between military and crew and the writer's efforts to remain in good health. He keeps occupied in his private cabin studying French and mathematics, teaching the drummer boy and caring for his dogs. Malcolm spent over a year in New South Wales travelling extensively. He spent six weeks in the Hunter region in October/November 1835 where he visited James Bowman at Ravensworth, Robert and Helenus Scott at Glendon and brothers Henry and William Dumaresq. In September 1836 he obtained leave from his Regiment to return home and continued his travels through India, Persia and Turkey. He died in Constantinople in 1837.

The Henry Porcher arrived in Port Jackson on 1 January 1835.

Thomas Galloway was also employed as surgeon on the convict ships Persian in 1830 (VDL)  Isabella in 1832,  Asia in 1833 and the Susan in 1836

The Henry Porcher was advertising intention to sail for London direct late February 1835 - The fine, fast sailing barque Henry Porcher, coppered and copper fastened, burthen 480 tons, will meet with quick despatch. Her accommodations for passengers are very superior, having a lofty poop, with very spacious 'tween decks, and carries an experienced surgeon.

Notes and Links:

Select here to find out about bushranger Thomas (Long Tom) Forrester who arrived on the Henry Porcher

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Henry Porcher in 1835

Captain - Henry Ferguson. Surgeon Superintendent  John Edwards

The Henry Tanner was the next convict ship to leave England for New South Wales after the departure of the Roslin Castle in May 1834. The Henry Tanner departed England on 1st July 1834

John Edwards was an experienced surgeon superintendent having previously been employed as surgeon on the Hercules in 1832. He kept a Medical Journal on the voyage of the Henry Tanner from 4th June to 14 November 1834.

During the voyage, two deaths occurred, the first a case of mania occurred off the Cape of Good Hope after only a fortnight's illness. John Edwards was unable to perform a post mortem because of bad weather. The other death, that of Edmond Smith was caused by phthisis. Smith was ill before he embarked and John Edwards noted that at the time of inspection at Woolwich, he appeared  debilitated and wan but as both Smith and the surgeon said there was no illness he could not be rejected. After sailing, the surgeon discovered that he had a troublesome cough and had been ill for some time, but concealed his illness as he wished to be taken on the Henry Tanner. His brother was also on the same vessel. The Surgeon cared for Edmond Smith until he finally passed away on 29th August.

The Guard consisted of Captain Patterson of the 6th Regiment, Lieutenant Wingate 2nd Regiment and 30 rank and file, 6 women and 4 children attached to the 50th Regiment.

The Henry Tanner arrived in Port Jackson on 27th October 1834

The Monitor reported in November that eighteen of the prisoners, in pursuance of their sentence in England, were sent to Goat Island to work in irons; the remainder were landed on Friday 14th November and assigned to various settlers.

The Henry Tanner was advertised in the Sydney Gazette for immediate despatch to Madras and Calcutta late in November 1834,  - Henry Tanner, 400 tons burthen, Captain Henry Ferguson, will sail for the above ports in a few days; she is well armed, carries an experienced Surgeon and has excellent accommodation for passengers. (The Henry Tanner was still in port in December when Captain Ferguson appeared in court on a summons to answer a charge of refusing to pay one of the seamen and later still when she hauled alongside the Dockyard to ship 35 - 40 colonial bred horses for the East India Company just before Christmas. The Sydney Gazette reported that it was a treat to witness the rare management that was observed in the stalling of the horses, shipped by Capt. Collins. The hold of the vessel appeared quite a stable forming two rows on the starboard and larboard sides, each horse had a separate crib partitioned with boards and so padded at the front, and back that however the ship may lurch, the horses will be in contact with a soft substance; so that in the roughest weather, they can take no injury from concussion, which the rolling of a vessel is sure to produce.)

John Edwards was also surgeon on the convict ships Roslin Castle in 1836 and the Charles Kerr in 1837.

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Henry Tanner in 1834

Details of the voyage of the Henry Wellesley are now on a separate page.

Select here to find out more about the convicts of the Henry Wellesley in 1836

Details of the voyage of the Henry Wellesley are now on a separate page.

Select here to find out more about the voyage and convicts of the Henry Wellesley in 1837

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

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

Captain William Vaughan. Surgeon Superintendent  Michael Goodsir

One hundred and thirty four convicts from all parts of England were embarked on the Hercules in the last month of 1824. Many were embarked from the York and Leviathan hulks on 7th December 1824.

It was reported on 18th December 1824 at Portsmouth of the detention of many outward bound vessels by contrary winds. Some of the ships had been two months out of the Downs during which they had made repeated ineffectual struggles to clear the Channel but could not get to the westward of Plymouth. The convict ships Hercules, Royal Charlotte and the Asia were among these vessels detained at Portsmouth.

The Hercules finally set sail on 9th January 1825. They were at the Cape of Good Hope by the 17th March and departed there on 29th March. While there they were alarmed when Private John Green accidentally shot himself through the wrist. On the sound of the gun discharging the Guard and Seamen all under arms and believing convicts were escaping rushed to the deck to contain them to find only the injured soldier on deck and the convicts all safely locked in their prison.

The arrived in Port Jackson on Saturday 7th May 1825. A muster was held on board on the 9th May.

Michael Goodsir kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 26th November 1824 to 10 May 1825. He reported that having had a quick passage and favourable weather -  I have been fortunate in having very few sick. The few cases I have had are common to every climate. I lost only one man during the voyage, he had been for many years sick with asthma and a ruined constitution when he came on board. From the confinement of the prisoners and consequence want of exercise, purgative medicines were often require and my principal expenditure has been on them.

The prisoners were landed on Wednesday morning 11 May 1825 and underwent an inspection by His Excellency the Governor. Their healthy appearance gave every indication of the kind treatment experienced during the voyage. Also on the Hercules was the greatest collection of fruit trees ever imported into the Colony. The trees arrived in excellent condition and were for the Horticultural Society and the Botanic Garden. Silver plate and trimmings for all the Churches also came by the Hercules.

The Guard consisted of a detachment of 41st and 48th regt., under Lieut. Stewart. Passengers Archdeacon Thomas Hobbes Scott, Captain Francis Nicholas Rossi (Superintendent of Police), Mrs. Rossi and two children, Mr. Surveyor James Ralph. Mrs. Stewart and four servants.

The Australian reported on 12th May - The Venerable the Arch-Deacon who arrived in the Hercules, landed very properly like other people. Some silly folks imagined that his Venerability intended to disembark with public honours by 'roar of cannon' and by 'beat of drum'. Mr. Rossi, the new Superintendent of Police with his Lady and two children has arrived on the Hercules. He speaks English very well, but with a foreign - an Italian accent.

Michael Goodsir was also employed as surgeon on the convict ships Countess of Harcourt in 1827,  Waterloo in 1829  and the Royal George in 1830 (VDL)

Notes and Links:

Convicts arriving on the Hercules who later made their mark in the Hunter Valley included Henry Reeves, James Stilsby and William Corner arrived on the Hercules.

Archdeacon Thomas Hobbes Scott had previously arrived in the colony on the John Barry in 1819 as Secretary to Commissioner John Thomas Bigge. He died at Whitfield Northumberland on 1st January 1860 aged 76 (2)

Convicts arriving on the Hercules in 1825

The National Archives - voyage of the Hercules after departing Australia. Principal Managing Owners: Buckle & Co. Voyages: (1) 1825/6 Bengal. Capt William Vaughan. Dock 23 Jun 1826 - 16 Oct Madras - 15 Nov Calcutta. (2) 1827/8 Madras and Bengal. Capt William Vaughan. Downs 22 May 1828 - 21 Sep Madras - 12 Oct Calcutta - 3 Jan 1829 Diamond Harbour - 6 Feb Madras - 30 Apr St Helena - 21 Jun Downs.

Captain William Vaughan  Surgeon Superintendent William Martin

William Martin kept a Medical Journal from 22 May to 22 November 1830 during which time the ship was employed in a passage from Deptford to Kingston and from there to Sydney in New South Wales.

On 13 June 1830 the Hercules arrived in Kingston harbour. A few days prior to her sailing, some of the convicts on board the Essex hulk, stationed at Kingston, set fire to that vessel in three places, close to the water. The flames were fortunately suppressed, and all on board, being upwards of three hundred prisoners, were transmitted, for better security to the Hercules, which had then but recently arrived in the harbour, to convey some of them to New South Wales. The Standard reported the incident on 17 June - The Essex Hulk stationed in Kingston harbour is on fire and nearly consumed! A number of convicts are on board. The sloop of war Trincolo, and the revenue brig Shamrock, with some transports, have sent all their boats to the assistance of the unfortunate prisoners; and a strong force of horse and foot police from the city has been ordered off to Kingston. The Essex was an American Frigate of 36 guns, and was taken during the late war at Valparaiso, by his Majesty's frigate Phoebe, of 36 guns commanded by Captain Hillier.

The Hercules arrived in Port Jackson on Sunday 31st October or 1st November 1830. 199 prisoners arrived, one man having died on the passage out. The Captain gave them an excellent character. The Hercules brought with her the news of the death of King George the Fourth.

The guard consisted of a detachment of the 17th regt., who were accompanied by 4 women and 3 children under the Command of Major J.W. Bouverie and Lieutenant C.W. Finch. Other convict ships bringing detachments of the 17th regiment included the Lady Feversham, Forth, Mermaid, Lord Melville,  Royal Admiral, York, Edward, Eliza, Nithsdale and the Adrian

The prisoners were to be landed on Monday 15th November 1830.

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Hercules in 1830

Captain William Vaughan. Surgeon Superintendent  John Edwards

The Hercules was the next convict ship to leave England after the departure of the Planter on the 16th June. The Hercules departed London on 19th June 1832 with 198 male prisoners from all parts of England.

The Guard consisted of 29 rank and file of 4th regt., accompanied by five women and seven children under command of Lieut. Gibson. Passengers included Mrs. Gibson and Master Gibson; Miss Robb and Miss Dobson. Other convict ships bringing detachments of the 4th regiment included the Lady Harewood, Parmelia, Bussorah Merchant, Asia, Clyde, Jane, Captain Cook and City of Edinburgh.

John Edwards kept a Medical Journal during the voyage. The Journal begins on 21st May 1832 while the vessel is still at Deptford being fitted out. They were fortunate in totally escaping from the prevailing cholera, although the Surgeon was puzzled as to why this should be. The Guard embarked under unfavourable conditions and were drenched. The weather continued so damp that they could not be kept dry and some became ill.

 "We were unfortunate", the surgeon wrote  "in embarking one case of phthisis who did not raise suspicion; these men are so anxious to get away from the rigid discipline of the Hulks that they endeavour to conceal their complaints. He was however soon obliged to apply to the Hospital but the progress of the disease was rapid and fatal.

The numerous cases under different titles in the daily sick book which don't appear in the Journal were for the most part so ephemeral and slight a character as to require scarcely any medical treatment."

The Hercules arrived in Port Jackson on Tuesday 16 October 1832. The prisoners were mustered on board by the Colonial Secretary and were landed on Wednesday 31st October 1832. The convict indents reveal the name, age, education, religion, marital status, family, native place, trade. offence, place and date of trial, sentence and physical description. There is no indication in the indents as to where the men were assigned on arrival.

There were quite a few young convicts on the Hercules. The youngest of John Smith a tailor's boy from Lancashire was only 13 years of age. John Brown, Henry Churm, Constantine. Hayes, John Swadling, Frederick Scammell and Matthew White were all 14 years old and there more still were only 15 or 16 years old. Some may have been sent to the Carter's Barracks but others were assigned to settlers with the instructions that they were to remain with that particular settler until their sentence was fulfilled.

John Edwards was also surgeon on the convict ships Henry Tanner in 1834,  Roslin Castle in 1836 and the Charles Kerr in 1837.

William Martin who arrived on the Hercules was convicted of bushranging in 1835 at Invermein.

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Hercules in 1832

Captain Henry C. Dowson. Surgeon Superintendent  David Boyter

The Hero was the next convict ship to leave Ireland for New South Wales after the departure of the Neva in January 1835.

The Hero departed Dublin on 15 March 1835, sailed via Rio de Janeiro, departing there on 28th May, then to King George's Sound and arrived in Port Jackson on 31 August 1835. 197 male prisoners were disembarked at Sydney.

Passengers included Captain Best of the 50th regiment, Lieutenant Duff, 21st regiment, Ensign Lucas 17th regiment and 29 rank and file of the 78th, 28th and 50th regiment with 7 women and 9 children.

An account of the voyage appeared in the Sydney Herald on 3 September 1835:

The Hero, convict ship, which arrived from Dublin on Monday last, has had a long and unfortunate passage. She put in at Rio Janeiro on the 28th May at which place were the Redman and Roslyn Castle, from this port to London, passengers and crew all well. The Roslyn Castle had put in for water, and to repair, having lost her rudder etc. When the Hero was off St. Paul's she encountered a tremendous storm, in which she lost her chronometers, mizen-mast, five of her cabins, the whole of her mails, one of the mates and two seamen; in consequence of which the Captain was under the necessity of running on to King George's Sound for repairs. From the serious nature of the accident, and the dreadful sea that was running at the time, it is almost miraculous the Hero did not founder. The only vessel at King George's Sound was the Sir David Ogleby, which has come into port. The Hero had an excellent passage from the Sound, having run up in thirteen days only.

The Hero was reported still in the stream with prisoners on board on 12 September 1835. They were landed on Tuesday 16th September and marched to the prisoners barracks.

Distribution of the 197 prisoners per ship Hero:

Assigned to Private Service 176

Reserved for Government employ 14

Sent to Port Macquarie 3

In Hospital 4

This was David Boyter's last voyage as Surgeon Superintendent on a convict ship. He was previously surgeon on the convict ships Mermaid in 1830, Camden in 1831 and the Andromeda in 1833.

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

The Hero was one of fourteen vessels bringing prisoners to New South Wales in 1835, six of them brought Irish prisoners.  Select here to find more about other convict ships arriving in 1835.

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Hero in 1835

Captain Robert McCarthy. Surgeon Superintendent  George Roberts

The prisoners of the Heroine came from many different parts of England. Most had been held in the prison hulks moored in the river before being embarked on the Heroine. Some of them were in the Justitia hulk and were transferred to the Heroine on the 23 April 1833.

The Heroine was the next convict ship to leave England for New South Wales after the departure of the Captain Cook on the 5 May 1833.  The Heroine departed Portsmouth on 15th May 1833 and arrived in Port Jackson on 19th September 1833, a voyage of 128 days. The Guard consisted of 29 rank and file of the 21st Fusiliers under orders of Capt. Mackay. Mrs. Mackay and Lieutenant Reynolds of the 2nd or Queen's Royals came passengers.

George Roberts kept a Medical Journal during the voyage from 6th April to 7 October 1833 - The total number of convicts embarked were two hundred and sixty from Woolwich, Chatham and Sheerness between the 22nd of April and 1st May 1833. At first their appearance was unfavourable although their health in general was tolerable, and after being on board a short period they were much improved. Four deaths occurred during the voyage to Sydney, two from Phthisis, one from Hydrothorax and a fourth from scorbutus, the latter disease was very prevalent on board towards the end of the voyage. Those advanced in years and others who had been subject to irregularities in life, suffered in a greater degree, in all the cases the vitric of vinegar was exhibited to the fullest extent which appeared to check the disease in some but in others it had no apparent effect. Frequent ablution with warm water and soap relieved the pain of the limbs. Six cases of small pox appeared on board during the voyage, the first occurred immediately after quitting the channel and the other cases at intervals of ten or twelve days, the whole of the cases ran their course very regular, without any very unfavourable symptoms appearing. Great care was taken immediately the disease appearing to separate the affected person from the rest of the prisoners, and confine him closely to the Hospital. On the patient being free from disease and previous to quitting the Hospital, his person with his wearing apparel and bedding were thoroughly washed, and afterwards freely fumigated with the chloride of lime and hot vinegar, four cases out of the six were ascertained to have been vaccinated.

The Heroine was quarantined on arrival because of the cases of small pox, however as there had been no cases for two months past and the clothes of the infected were burnt, the vessel was released. She came into the Cove on Friday 20 September 1833. The prisoners were mustered on Wednesday 25th September and were to be landed early in the following week.

By October it was reported that 227 of the prisoners were assigned to private service;

7 were in Hospital;

10 were unfit for assignment;

and 12 were sent to Carter's Barracks.

George Roberts was also surgeon superintendent on the Lord Melville in 1830, the Gilmore  which departed London 27 November 1831 and arrived in Van Diemen's Land 22 March 1832.  The Waterloo to Hobart in 1835 and the Waterloo from Dublin to Port Jackson in 1836.

Find out about bushranger Joseph Pyzer who arrived on the Heroine

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Heroine in 1833

Captain John Lennon. Surgeon Superintendent Charles Carter

Captain William Hingston.  Surgeon John Justice William Kunst

The Hillsborough was the next convict ship to leave England for New South Wales after the departure of the Britannia in February 1798. The Hillsborough departed Portsmouth in December 1798.

The Hillsborough had the greatest mortality rate amongst the convicts as had ever been seen. Later an enquiry was instigated to investigate the circumstances and correspondence to the Transport Office revealed that prisoners were already ill before the Hillsborough even weighed anchor. Following is an extract from the Annals of Medicine outlining the methods used in attempt to stem the gaol fever sweeping through the prisons and hulks in 1798:

"Dr. Vanderkemp, accompanied by three brother missionaries, Messrs. Kitcherer, Edwards, and Edmonds, sailed for the Cape of Good Hope on the Hillsborough.......

Frank Clune in Bound for Botany Bay, quoted from William Noah's journal:

The Hillsborough arrived in Port Jackson on 26 July 1799. Three hundred prisoners sailed on her and 95 of them had perished on the voyage.

Governor Hunter wrote to the Duke of Portland on 27th July regarding the condition of the convicts on arrival....Select here to read the correspondence....and on the 28th  July he wrote to Under Secretary King:

Captain Patton and Captain Rain's correspondence to the Transport Office in June 1800 reveal that there was already illness on board the Hillsborough before she departed England...(Extract).....

David Dickinson Mann,  George Crossley, George Pell  and William Noah all arrived on the Hillsborough...........

William Noah was sentenced to death for burglary in 1797 at the age of 43. The sentence was commuted to transportation for life. From Newgate Prison he was taken to the Hillsborough. Noah arrived in Sydney on 26 July 1799. He received a conditional pardon in 1815 and an absolute pardon in 1818. He became a clerk in the Government lumber yard and died in 1827..Read more about the voyage in the Journal of  William Noah 

(A Voyage to Sydney in New South Wales in 1798 & 1799 and A Few Remarks of the County of Cumberland in New South Wales 1798 - 1799)

Autobiography of Ebenezer Kelly, crewman on the Hillsborough

William Tucker arrived as a convict......Taka: A Vignette Life of William Tucker 1784-1817 : Convict, Sealer, Trader in Human Heads, Otago Settler, New Zealand's First Art Dealer ... By Peter Entwisle

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Hillsborough in 1799

Captain John Pascoe. Surgeon Joseph Arnold

From the Journeys in Time List of Ships site - The Hindostan was built by Hudson, Bacon & Co., at Calcutta in 1798 and launched as East Indiaman Admiral Rainier.

She was purchased by the Royal Navy in 1804 and carried a crew of 294.

The Hindostan and the Dromedary arrived together in Port Jackson on 28th December 1809 . Both ships carried soldiers of the 73rd regiment. Ensign Alexander Huey kept a journal during the voyage and after arrival. A copy of the journal can be found at The Garrison Gazette - (Extracts from the Journal of Ensign Alexander Huey on the Voyage of the 73rd Regiment of Foot to Sydney in 1809 (National Library Npf 910.4 HUE)

No convicts arrived on the Hindostan in 1809 however several soldiers of the 73rd regiment who arrived free later received colonial sentences - Robert Young, Thomas Kelly and James Frazier. Select here to find out more about these men.  Other detachments of the 73rd regiment arrived on the Dromedary, Hindostan, Indian, Guildford, Anne, Providence. the Archduke Charles,

Joseph Arnold was employed as surgeon. In 1815 he was also surgeon on the female transport Northampton.

The Hindostan was re-named the Dolphin in 1819 and in 1824 converted to a convict hulk at Woolwich.

The Sheffield Independent and Yorkshire and Derbyshire Advocate reported on 24th October 1829 that the Dolphin had been lying off the Chatham dockyard in the river for a number of years for the purpose of receiving every evening the convicts who were employed during the day about the naval works, which were carrying on in the Dockyard itself. At about half an hour after midnight the convicts, who occupied the lower deck of the Dolphin, were awakened from their sleep by the tumult and noise which the rushing of a body of water through the port holes of that deck would naturally occasion. The alarm spread like wildfire in an instant through the ship and 'the vessel is sinking" was the one universal cry on all sides..

The Annual Register continued the story of the demise of the hulk......The Dolphin, which was a very old store-ship, had been laid down as a convict hulk for above twelve years, and had become somewhat crazy and wall-sided. There had been erections made on the deck, and she was lop-heavy. At ebb tide, she was supported by piles, being moored within one hundred and fifty paces of the dock, which was left dry when the tide- was out. From the hulk to the shore was affixed a platform, on which two persons could walk abreast. The overseer of the Dolphin, Captain Lloyd, retired to bed with his wife in his cabin, on Thursday night before eleven o'clock, and left the quarter-master in care of the vessel. In consequence of the high tides in the Medway within the last few weeks, a great quantity of mud had settled under the bottom of the ship; and the accident, which ensued, was owing to this circumstance—that the bottom of the vessel adhered to the mud by suction, till the water had risen six feet higher on the side of the vessel, than it would have done had the vessel risen with the tide; so that the hold became filled with water, which forced its way through the scuppers. Before any alarm was given, the lower deck was covered with two feet of water, and at that moment two hundred human beings, buried in profound sleep, were locked in, totally unconscious of their perilous situation. There were nearly two hundred more convicts on the second deck, and, in all, the vessel contained nearly five hundred persons. It was precisely one o'clock on Friday morning, when the Dolphin fell upon her beam ends. The cries, groans, and yells of the convicts were terrific; and the inhabitants of the village of Upnor, which is about half-a-mile distant from the part of the river where the Dolphin was lying, were alarmed by the dreadful sounds which had broken their slumbers. In a few minutes the alarm was given that the vessel was sinking; a gun was fired as a signal of distress, the bells of the dock-yard and garrison were rung, and blue lights were hung out at the mast of every vessel on the river. The troops in the garrison, —in all about two hundred—were mustered in about twenty minutes on the beach in the dock-yard; and during that period captain Lloyd, the quarter-master, and the boatswain, were actively engaged in using all their efforts to save the lives of the convicts. About one hundred and fifty of the convicts had by that time escaped from the lower deck; many having been pulled through the port-holes (the stanchions of which had been beaten in), and others having escaped up the gang-way. Holes were cut in the top of the decks, and also in the side of the vessel; and through one aperture thirty-five men were taken out, almost dead. They had kept their heads above water for nearly an hour by holding to the tops of their hammocks. Before two o'clock three hundred and eighty convicts, many of them perfectly naked, and none having more clothing than a shirt were taken from the vessel, and were marched along the beach by the military, to a place about a quarter of a mile distant from the ship, and contiguous to the hospital ship Canada. A convict named Edwards, was seriously wounded by one of the carpenters, who was cutting open apart of the vessel with an axe. As soon as the aperture was sufficiently large for a man to get through it, Edwards was determined to have the first chance of escaping, and struggled with some of his fellow convicts for precedency. He thrust his head through the aperture; at that instant the carpenter, not being aware of his intention, struck a blow with his axe, which cut open the man's skull. Three convicts were drowned.

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

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

Captain John Luscombe. Surgeon Superintendent George Fairfowl

George Fairfowl received his appointment from the Admiralty as Surgeon Superintendent to the Hive on 18th November 1833. He kept a Medical Journal from 18 November 1833 to 27 June 1834.

The Guard was embarked on 14 December and consisted of 30 rank and file of 50th regiment., accompanied by 8 women and 4 children under command of Lieut. Peter John Petit and Ensign Richard Waddy.

The Hive dropped down the river from Deptford to Woolwich on 21st December and on 23rd December 20 convicts were inspected on board the Ganymede hulk and 80 on the Justitia hulk as to their fitness for the voyage. All were sent to the Hive. From Woolwich the vessel went round to Portsmouth where on 8th January 1834, 120 convicts were embarked from the York hulk and 30 from the Leviathan, which completed the number to 250 men. The men came from districts throughout England - Gloucester, Suffolk, York, Somerset, Essex, London, Lancaster etc., and there were a few from Scotland. Most were in the 20s and early 30s, however there were quite a few young men also. Alexander McDonald was only 13 years old. Six were over the age of 50.

The ships crew number 34, which with the women, children and passengers brought the total on board to 330 people.

The Hive was the next convict ship to leave England for New South Wales after the departure of the Fairlie in October 1833. The Hive departed Falmouth on 8th February 1834 and arrived in Port Jackson on 11 June 1834, a tedious voyage, according to the surgeon, of 123 days.

Two hundred and forty eight male prisoners arrived in Port Jackson, two having died on the passage out. Sixty of the Hive convicts have been identified residing in the Hunter region in the following decades. Two of those, William Bryant and William Britton, both coalminers from Gloucestershire were assigned to the Australian Agricultural Company to work in the coal mines at Newcastle and were in and out of trouble over the next few years.

Among all the farm labourers, grooms, errand boys and weavers etc were two convicts of a different stamp -  radical author Henry Berthold and Captain David Dundas. In England Henry Berthold printed a weekly newssheet on calico known as the Political Handkerchief. He was tried at the Old Bailey in 1833 for stealing and died at Port Macquarie in 1838. Read about his life here.  Captain David Dundas an officer on half-pay made an attempt to defraud Lord Dundas, no less. He made an eloquent plea before the Judge at the Old Bailey to no avail as he was sentenced to transportation for life.

George Fairfowl received his first appointment as naval surgeon in June 1805. He was employed on the Alexandria in 1808, and on the convict ships Ocean in 1818,  Dromedary in 1820, Woodman in 1823,   Royal Charlotte in 1825,  Sovereign in 1829,   Andromeda in 1830 and the Clyde  in 1832

On his return to England after the voyage of the Hive George Fairfowl gave evidence before the Select Committee as to the military establishments in the colony. He died on 24 June 1836 at Ayr, North Britain

Detachments of the 50th Regiment also arrived on the Blenheim Royal Admiral , Lady Nugent , Susan, James Laing, Captain Cook, Hero, Roslin Castle, Henry Porcher, Parmelia and Lady Kennaway.  Select here to find out more about the 50th Regiment in 1835.

Notes and Links:

Lieut-Colonel Peter John Petit died at Lichfield, aged 45 on 13th February 1852. - Obituary in the Annual Register. Lieut-Col. Petit obtained the majority of the 50th Regt. in 1842, and commanded his corps in the action of Punniar, on the 29th of Dec., 1843, in which engagement he had a horse shot under him. For his services in this action he was promoted to a brevet lieut.-colonelcy on the 20th of April, 1844, and received the bronze star of India. He subsequently served in the campaign of the Sutlej, in 1845-6, and was in command of his regiment in the actions of Moodkee and Ferozeshah, where he had two horses shot under him. He was also present in the battles of Aliwal and Sobraon, at the latter of which he succeeded to the command of the regiment after Lieut.-Col. Ryan was wounded. In this action he was himself dangerously wounded by a ball through the neck, grazing the spine, from the effects of which he ever afterwards suffered. The Companionship of the Bath, and a medal and three clasps, were conferred on him for his services on the Sutlej. He returned to England in March, 1847, and was promoted to a lieut.colonelcy by purchase on the 19th of September, 1848.

Richard Waddy was appointed Ensign 17 August 1832, Lieutenant 4 May 1836, Captain 18 November 1841, Major 14 February 1852, Lieut-Col 3 March 1854, Colonel 28 November 54. He was present with the 50th regt., at the battle of Punniar (Medal). Served the Eastern Campaign of 1854-55 in command of the 50th including the battles of Alma and Inkerman, and siege of Sebastopol. Mentioned in Lord Raglan's Dispatches for distinguished conduct in command of the trenches when the enemy made a sortie in force - wounded in the trenches, 13th October 1854 (Medal with three Clasps, C.B., Knight of the Legion of Honor, Dardinian and Turkish Medals, and 4th Class of the Medijibe) Landed in New Zealand in command of the 50th Regt., in November 1863 and served in the campaigns of 1861 - 65; was Colonel on the Staff until January 1865 and Brigadier General from that period until 31st March 1866; commanded the force in front of Paterangi Pah which had a sharp skirmish with the rebels at Waiari in February 1864; also commanded the field force under Sir Duncan Cameron in the action at Nukamaree on 25 January 1855. (1) Lieutenant Waddy was appointed to the Mounted Police in December 1835 and was responsible for the capture of bushranger Edward Hall in 1838.

Captain John Nutting.  Surgeon Superintendent Anthony Donoghoe

The Hive left Portsmouth for Dublin and Cork on the 3rd August with £10,000 in specie for the Commissariat Department of Sydney. She took prisoners on at Dublin and then at Cork.

The Hive was the next convict ship to leave Ireland after the departure of the Lady McNaughten in June 1835. The Hive departed from Cork on the morning 24th August 1835 with 252 male convicts.

The Guard consisted of Lieutenant Lugard, 31st Regiment, Ensign Kelly, 17th Regiment, Henry Lugard, Esq., of the Royal Engineers, 29 rank and file of the 28th Regiment, 8 women, 11 children, and male prisoners.

Anthony Donoghoe kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 12 July to 10 December 1835. According to the surgeon the only case of death which happened on board was that of a boy whose early habit of life predisposed him to pulmonary disease contacted during his apprenticeship to a glass manufactory.

On the Night of Thursday 10th December 1835, the Hive ran aground on a sandy beach south of Jervis Bay and was wrecked. The Sydney Herald carried an account of the disaster:

During the whole of Thursday, the Hive, it appears, kept within sight of land, and it is said, passed the Royal Sovereign ; in the night it blew pretty fresh, and a dense fog came on. Our informants here leave us in the dark, as well as the ship, and we next hear of the vessel being stranded on the Coast near the Pigeon House, within 10 miles of Cape George. All hands were immediately called up, and the boats lowered, one of which was stove in the attempt, and the persons capsized, -one of whom reached the land, by whose exertions a hawser from the ship was made fast ashore. This enabled the Captain and crew to lower the rest of the ship's boats, lines being made fast stem and stern, when as soon as one boat was filled with the persons on board, those on shore dragged the boat towards them, and they were landed. By this means the whole of the men, women, and children, were discharged from the ship, which was done with but the least confusion. On the morning of Friday, Ensign Kelly, of the 17lh Regiment, by the assistance of some blacks, found his way to the station of John Lamb, Esq., to whom he reported the circumstance. From this place Ensign Kelly travelled to the estate of Alexander Berry, Esq., a few miles further on, and from whence a messenger was despatched to Wollongong; the Police Magistrate there being requested to forward the account of the accident with all despatch to head quarters. The people belonging to the ship were, during this time, engaged in getting the luggage and stores from the ship, and the prisoners ashore forming bowers for resting places at night. Mr. Berry, in the most prompt manner, as soon as he heard of the circumstance, sent his schooner to the Hive well manned, but her assistance was not required the weather being fine and the vessel close in upon the land. One accident happened during the night, the boatswain in attempting to save the life of a lad be- longing to the ship, was unfortunately drowned, the boy being washed ashore by the surf. On Sunday the Revenue Cutter started for the Hive, and took charge of the specie, all of which was saved. Shortly after the Revenue Cutter, the Zebra, brig of war, and the steam packet Tamar, reached Jervis Bay ; and, as soon as practicable, Dr. Donoghoe, Surgeon Superintendent of the Hive, Mr. Lugard, of the Royal Engineers, part of the guard, and 100 of the prisoners, were forwarded in the steamer to Sydney. The Zebra also took charge of the specie, all the mails, and 100 prisoners, the rest being ordered to remain near the ship to render assistance in getting her off the beach, if possible. The Zebra is expected in port to-day, with the mails, &c. Several gentlemen who have been to the Hive, state that she has not the appearance of being damaged in any way-and that every thing on board has been preserved ; the only difficulty remaining is the hauling of the vessel off the shore in which she is unfortunately embedded in the sand. Ensign Kelly, chief officer, part of the crew, and the guard, are mentioned in terms of commendation for their praiseworthy exertions after the vessel grounded. We have now given every particular that we could glean of this strange "mistake," as it is called, waiting the explanation of Captain Nutting when he reaches Sydney. It was a most providential circumstance that the vessel did not go ashore a few miles higher up the Coast, or but few would have been left to tell the tale. Sydney Herald

Three vessels transporting convicts to Australia were wrecked in the year 1835. The other two were the Neva which was wrecked on King Island and the George III wrecked near Hobart. The Hive was the only convict ship wrecked in New South Wales.

Anthony Donoghoe was also employed as surgeon on the convict ships City of Edinburgh  in 1832 Parmelia in 1834  and the Calcutta in 1837.

Convicts arriving on the Hive on 1835

The ill-fated Captain Patrick Logan was in command of the Guard which consisted of 35 men of the 57th regiment and Ensign Taylor. The soldiers forming the Guard were received on board on the 13th November. Several were ill with catarrhal complaints which arose from being cold on the march from Chatham to Deptford. Robert Tainsh kept a  Medical Journal from 26 October 1824 to 22 April 1825 in which many of the soldiers are mentioned.

Other ships bringing detachments of the 57th regiment included the Asia, Borodino, Asia, Norfolk, Minstrel, Sir Godfrey Webster, Henry Porcher,  Lonach, Royal Charlotte, Marquis of Hastings, Sesostris, Mangles and Morley

National Archives - Chartered ship, 480 tons. Principal Managing Owners: 1 John W Buckle, 2 Buckle & Co.

Voyages: (1) 1818/9 Bengal. Capt James Thomas Lamb. Downs 27 May 1819 - 23 Sep Calcutta - 1 Jan 1820 Kedgeree - 3 Mar Cape - 5 Apr St Helena - 30 May Downs.

(2) 1830/1 New South Wales and China. Capt Peter John Reeves. Left China 16 Jan 1832 - 8 Apr St Helena - 31 May Downs

Captain Peter J. Reeves. Surgeon Superintendent Alexander Nisbet

The Hooghley  was the next convict ship to leave England for New South Wales after the departure of the Florentia in September 1828. The Hooghley departed London on 5 November 1827 and arrived at Port Jackson on Sunday 24 February 1828 a voyage of 111 days. Ninety-nine male prisoners arrived on the Hooghley.

Twenty-four men of the N.S.W. Royal Veteran Corp commanded by Captain Wilman formed the guard and arrived with 15 women and 22 children as passengers.

Alexander Nisbet kept a Medical Journal from 12 October 1827 to 5 March 1828......

Amongst the women and children embarked, of whom there were a considerable number, slight complaints always existed, chiefly dyspepsia and diarrhoea, but nothing severe. The only exception to this rule was in the case of a poor woman going out to join her husband, who had ulcerations about the ankle that proved very obstinate, healing up in one part once then breaking out in another. She had been long in an indifferent state of health and had come to the ship from a parish work house. I was compelled to put three of the children on the ship ration list, and to provided them with such comforts as I possessed, each of them being under a years' age and the mothers having lost their milk from the change of diet.

He detailed his regime for keeping the convicts in health - Strict attention to cleanliness both personal and general; free ventilation; every convict was compelled to wash himself every morning in a large tub; each person washed their shirt and trousers each week. He rewarded cleanliness by removing their irons or other indulgences. During the whole voyage the convicts were on deck and remained there until a short time before sunset which  was not only beneficial personally but kept the prison clean and cool previous to their going to bed. The prison was never allowed to be wet unless it got dirty from some particular cause and then no person was allowed in until it had been thoroughly dried by the stoves.

James Dowling, wife and family embarked on the Hooghley on Thursday 1st November. The Standard (London) reported on 2nd November that James Dowling Esq. Judge of the Supreme Court, New South Wales, had a final interview yesterday with the Right Honourable the Secretary of the Colonial Department, preparatory to his departure for Sydney. He embarked yesterday evening on board the Hooghley, Captain Reeves, lying off the king's Yard at Woolwich, and sailed at day break this morning.  

Thirty of the prisoners arriving on the Hooghley in 1828 have been identified residing in the Hunter region in the following decades.

Alexander Nisbet was also employed as surgeon on the convict ships Minerva in 1824,  Grenada in 1827,  Asia  in 1830, Earl Grey in 1838 and the  Mangles in 1840

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Hooghley in 1828

Captain George Bayley - Surgeon Superintendent James Rutherford

The surgeon was called on to treat Captain Bayley who suffered from pneumonia for a fortnight from 31st August and Lieutenant Colonel Woodhouse who became ill in September...... The surgeon described the illness in his journal. - The Lieutenant-Colonel was observed to have become remarkably taciturn and retired but on the 13th it was strongly suspected that he was not right in his mind. He talked of his sins and a written confession of them which he had made and he which to make public. On the 14th no doubt remained of his insanity, he having rushed forward among the convicts holding his written confession in one hand and a bible in the other for the avowed purpose of reading to them the former and expounding to them certain texts from the latter. He had a certain wildness of expression which could not be mistaken. The surgeon succeeded in inducing him to take a strong purgative medicine which operated freely and with much persuasion, he allowed a vein to be opened in the arm from which about 20 ounces of blood were abstracted... on the 20th he was removed into a more retired cabin than his proper one and in the night of that day by perseverance in the use of the medicines he enjoyed for the first time since the commencement of his disorder. The surgeon observed that the symptoms of the disease were extremely variable sometimes being agitated and sometimes tranquil generally in proportion to the roughness or smoothness of the sea and consequent steadiness or uneasiness of the ship.

Illnesses were few. There were various sores on the prisoners' legs caused by the irons and the surgeon was called on to treat women and children embarked with the guard with diseases peculiar to their sex and age. A protracted labour and two cases of abortion etc which occasioned large demands on the medical comforts supplied for their use. He remarked that on the whole, never has there been perhaps an equal number of people assembled in so small a space, for so long a time and in similar circumstances more healthy than were the people embarked on the Hooghley.

The Hooghley arrived in Port Jackson on 18 November 1834, a voyage of 113 days. The prisoners were mustered on board on 26th November 1834. According to the surgeon's journal three men, William Shaw, James Vincent and Henry Osborne were sent to the hospital in Sydney on 4th December with having shown symptoms of scurvy. The indents include information such as name, age, religion, education, family, marital status, native place, trade, offence, previous sentences, when and where tried and physical description. There are occasional notes regarding colonial crimes and dates of death. There is no information as to where the prisoners were assigned on arrival.

The Head Quarters of the 50th regiment were landed on Thursday 20th November and were to be stationed at Windsor.

The prisoners came from different parts of England and their occupations had mostly been as labourers, gardeners, errand boys, servants, shepherds, fishermen etc. After arrival many were distributed throughout the colony to work as agricultural labourers, hut keepers, stockmen and shepherds.  There were some however whose occupations set them apart including Thomas Birkett, solicitors clerk transported for forgery who died at Port Macquarie two years later and John Francis Boutard, diamond dealer transported for stealing diamonds. There were also some former soldiers who had been court-martialled for desertion or insubordination.

Although Sir Richard Bourke had been governor of the colony for three years when the Hooghley arrived, convict discipline remained harsh and punishments endured by John Johnson a 20 year old fisherman from Surry sent for picking pockets were probably fairly typical:........ Hyde Park Barracks 18 February 1835 12 lashes for insolence; 6 June 1835 Hyde Park Barracks 5 days in the cells for drunkenness; 19th September, 7 days on the treadmill for disobedience; 9 March1836 - 100 lashes for obscene language; 3 August 1837 3 years in irons for highway robbery; 17 March 1838 Berrima 50 lashes for neglect of work; 2 June 1838 25 lashes for disobedience; 22 June 1840 50 lashes for making a noise in the stockade; 6th October 1840 50 lashes for absconding; 17 November 1841 25 lashes for disorderly conduct at Parramatta.

About seventy of the prisoners who arrived on the Hooghley in 1834 have been identified residing in the Hunter Valley region in the following years. Some were sent far up the valley to work on estates such as those of Stephen Coxen. James Bowman and William Kelman. Others were sent to the Williams River district. Some committed colonial crimes serious enough to be sent to Norfolk Island, then a dreaded hell-hole. Select  HERE to find out what became of some of the other convicts of the Hooghley.

James Rutherford was also employed as surgeon superintendent on the convict ships Regalia in 1826,   Pyramus in 1832 and the Mangles  in 1833.

Resources used to compile Convict Ship pages:

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

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

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

Lesley Uebel's Port Jackson Convict Anthology

Surgeon's Journals at National Archives

Surgeon's Journals at Ancestry

Publications available at Google Books

Historical Records of New South Wales Vols. 1 - VII

Historical Records of Australia Series 1

The Convict Ships - Charles Bateson

Martin Cash: His personal narrative as a bushranger in Van Diemens Land

Free Settler or Felon Database

Journeys In Time 1809 - 1822 - The Journals of Lachlan and Elizabeth Macquarie

The Proceedings of the Old Bailey Online

North to Matsumae, Australian Whalers to Japan by Noreen Jones.

Bound For Botany Bay: Narrative of a voyage in 1798 Aboard the Death Ship Hillsborough - Frank Clune

A Narrative of a Voyage to New South Wales, in the year 1816, in the ship Mariner, describing the Nature of the Accommodations, Stores, Diet &c., together with an account of the Medical Treatment &c." by John Haslam in John Croaker: convict Embezzler: John Booker and Russell Craig.

Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788-1825 [database on-line].

Australian Town and Country Journal 3 January 1891 - Arrivals of vessels at Port Jackson and Departures of same up to 1817

ˆ