|
Nautilus 1840 |
|
|
|
|
Captain Alloway. Surgeon
George McClure
The convict ship Nautilus departed
Dublin 17th September
with 199 male prisoners under superintendence
of George McClure, surgeon. Passengers
included Lieut. Mirran 96th regt., Ensign Lake 28th regiment, 28
rank and file of the 28th and 96th regiment,
seven
women four children and four free settlers.
The
Nautilus
arrived in Port Jackson in
February
1840
and departed Port Jackson for Norfolk Island on Saturday 22nd February with 199 convicts
under the superintendence of Dr. McCrae.
Passengers Capt. Alexander Maconnochie and family.
Alexander Maconochie (1798 - 1860),
naval officer, geographer, and penal reformer, was born on 11 February
1787. He was appointed superintendent of the penal settlement at Norfolk
Island and took up his duties in March 1840. Maconochie's notions of
penal science rested on the beliefs that cruelty debases both victim and
the society inflicting it and that punishment for crime should not be
vindictive but designed to strengthen a prisoner's desire and capacity
to observe social constraints. He returned to England in 1844......Australian
Dictionary of Biography Online
Report on Convict Discipline and
Management by Alexander Maconochie
(Laid before Parliament in 1838)
Convicts arriving on the Nautilus
in 1840
|
|
Neptune 1790 |
| |
|
|
Master Donald Trail.
Surgeon
William
Gray
424 male convicts , 78 female convicts were
embarked at Portsmouth
One hundred and seventy
eight men and eleven women died on the passage out
The Neptune arrived on 28th June
1790

In August 1790 .......
August 1790. An Account of the English colony in NSW
Convicts arriving on the Neptune
in
1790
|
|
Neptune 1818 |
| |
|
|
Captain Robert Carns. Surgeon
Thomas Reid
The
Neptune
entered the Heads of Port Jackson at 10.30am on
5 May 1818 and shortly after received
the pilot on board. At Noon they anchored to wait for the tide and at
12.30 the Naval Officer boarded.
The Master of the vessel, Captain Carns accompanied by Surgeon Superintendent Thomas Reid,
then went on shore to deliver dispatches to Governor Macquarie.
The Neptune brought with her 170
convicts who had departed the Downs 20 December 1817 as well as 16 men who
had escaped from New South Wales in the vessel Harriet and were
apprehended at the Cape.
On arrival the invalids were removed to the
hospital on shore and a few days later 16 absconders embarked at the Cape
were taken ashore
More about the voyage of the Neptune 1818
Read about Henry Angel, convict of the Neptune
Surgeon Thomas Reid recorded details of provisions for the journey of
the Neptune: -
The following is a correct copy of the list of
extra stores and necessaries allowed on board the Neptune in which ship
I was surgeon and superintendent in 1817, and is an undeniable proof of
the humane concern Government takes in the welfare of those unfortunate
persons:
Navy
Office - A List of Stores shipped on board 28 Nov. 1817.
The Neptune Convict Ship for the use of 170 male convicts, guard and
passengers, during their voyage to New South Wales. And of clothing for
the use of the convicts upon their arrival at the colony.
Articles
of Comfort for Use during the Voyage.
Mustard, 170 lbs.: Soap, 510:
combs, 31 large, 31 small, No. (32 : razors, 10: hone, 1 : strop, 1 :
preserved meats, 47G lbs., value 4'2/. 10: lemon juice, 242 gallons :
sugar to mix with it, 1,939 lbs.
Articles
in case of Sickness. Tea,
34 lbs. sugar, 170: chocolate, 10: sago, 20:
Scotch barley, 340 ginger, 1 : black pepper, 3
: allspice, 6 : red port wine, 102 bottles : rice, 24 Ibs. : pearl
barley, 24.
Fumigating Articles.
Tar, 1 barrel: crude brimstone,
GO lbs.: vinegar, 60 gallons : fumigating lamps, 2 : extra wicks, 2
boxes: oil, 4 gallons: oil of tar, 10.
Hospital Furniture.
Duck frocks, 10: flannel
trowsers, 10 pairs: flannel waistcoats, 10: cotton hose, :
pocket-handkerchiefs, 20: night-caps, 20: towels, 20 : sheets, 34 :
calico pillow-cases, 34 : pewter pans, 2 : urinals, 2 : spitting-pots, 2
: pans and buckets, of each 2: tin teakettles, 4 : tin saucepans, of
sorts, 10 : tin japanned drinking mugs, 20: knives and forks, 20 of
each: water purifier, 1 : charcoal, 20 bushels: bathing tub, 1 : airing
stove, ventilating, and swing, each 1 : pails 4: kegs (three gallon),
28: spare bedding, 17 sets.
Clothing for the Use of the
Convicts on their Arrival.
Yellow kersey jackets, 170:
waistcoats, 170: raven duck trowsers, 170 pairs : for use during voyage,
170: shirts, 510: stockings, 340 pairs: shoes, 170: woollen caps, 170:
and neck-handkerchiefs, 170.
In addition
to the above, 2 cots were also supplied in case of fractured limbs,
besides a proper stock of medicines from the Apothecaries' Hall.

The sixteen men who escaped on the Harriet and
were returned to Sydney on the Neptune were later brought before
a Bench of Magistrates and sentenced to receive one hundred lashes each
and to be worked in the gaol gang for 12 calendar months. Their names
were Henry Chambers, John Druet, Benjamin Oliver, John Cochrane, Robert
Plummer, John Skelton, Patrick Lowry, Nathaniel Ewer, Henry Moore,
William Hollady, John Latham, James Quinn, Benjamin Little, William
Chapman, Thomas Edwards and Moses Solomon, a boy.
Convicts arriving on the Neptune in 1818
|
|
Neptune 1820 |
| |
|
|
Captain William McKissock. Surgeon
James Mitchell
The
Neptune
departed from the Downs on 23rd March 1820 and
arrived in Port Jackson
16 July 1820
, a voyage of 114 days. One hundred and fifty six male prisoners
arrived in
general good health, not losing one.
James Mitchell, R.N.,
was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He kept a
Medical and Surgical Journal
from 8 March to 29 July 1820
The guard consisted
of a detachment of the 48th regiment under orders of
Lieut. Rice.
With
the Neptune came the news of the death of King George III. On
Monday the 17th, eighty-two minute guns were fired from Dawes Battery,
Flags were raised at half mast and the Bells of St. Phillips Church
tolled morning and night
Convicts arriving on the Neptune
in
1820
|
|
Neptune 1838 |
| |
|
|
Captain Joseph Nagle. Surgeon
Patrick Martyn
R.N.,
The
Neptune
sailed from Dublin 27th August 1837 with 197 male prisoners and arrived
in Port Jackson
2 January 1838.
Three prisoners died on the passage out
Passengers
included Major
Elliot, Mrs. Elliot and child, Lieut. Baker and 28 rank and file of 51st regt., 6 women and 8 children
Convicts arriving
in the Neptune in 1838
|
|
Neva 1833 |
| |
|
|
Captain Benjamin Peck. Surgeon Morgan Price
The Neva 337 tons, proceeded to Sheerness
on the 11th July and on the following day received from hulks
- Cumberland, Euryalus and Retribution 100 convicts, many of
whom were old men.
They arrived at Plymouth on the
18th July and on 19th received the remaining 70 convicts from
the Captivity hulk.
The
Neva departed Plymouth
on 20th July 1833
and arrived in Port
Jackson
21 November 1833.
Cholera was prevalent in the early part of the voyage and
fever at various times throughout the journey.
One prisoner died on the passage out.
This was
Morgan Price's
fifth voyage as Surgeon Superintendent. He kept a
Medical and Surgical Journal from 18 June to 7 December
1833
The guard consisted of 26
rank and file of the 21st regt., etc., under the orders of
Lieutenant McEdwin of the Queen's Own and Ensign Buchier of
the 17th Regt.,
Ship's carpenter was John Thornton
The prisoners were landed at the Dockyard
on Saturday 7th December 1833.
Morgan Price was also employed as surgeon
on the convict ships
Martha 1818
Hadlow 1820
Brampton 1823
and
Almorah 1824
Convicts arriving in the Neva
in 1833
|
|
Neva 1835 |
|
|
|
Master Benjamin Peck
The Neva departed Cork 8th
January 1835 with 150 female prisoners, 9 free women and 55 children.
The Neva was
Wrecked north of King Island
on 13th May 1835 and all perished except six of the women and nine of
the Crew.
The six surviving women were later
taken to Sydney -
Ellen Galvin, Mary Slattery, Ann Cullen, Rose Ann Heland, Rose Dunn and
Margaret Drury.
Only two vessels carrying
female prisoners arrived in New South Wales in 1835, the Neva and the
Mary .
Three vessels transporting convicts to Australia
were wrecked in the year
1835.
The other two were the
Hive which ran aground on a
beach south of Jervis Bay and the George III which was wrecked near Hobart.
|
|
Nile 1801 |
| |
|
|
Master James Sunter;
Surgeon
Joseph Hislop
The
Nile departed Spithead 21st June 1801, sailed via Rio de Janeiro and arrived
in Port Jackson on 14 December
1801, a voyage of 176 days
Ninety-six female prisoners, four children, ten male
passengers including William Bowman, Richard Rouse, John
Tibbett, John Jones, Israel Rayner, John Hillas and Peter
Hodge; nine female passengers and 21 children arrived on
the
Nile.
Literary Gazette - 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 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
Convicts arriving on the Nile
in 1801
|
|
Nithsdale 1830 |
|
| |
|
|
|
Master Thomas Christian. Surgeon
Robert Malcolm
On the 9th December 1829,
sixty male convicts were received from the Justitia
and Ganymede hulks at Woolwich, and on the 18th,
sixty four were received from the Retribution at
Sheerness. On the 19th another sixty were received from
the Dolphin at Chatham, making a total of 184 men.
Robert Malcolm was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He
kept a
Medical and Surgical Journal
from 9 November 1829 to 21 May 1830.
All
the prisoners were examined by Robert Malcolm
previous to their embarkation and they were found to be in a
healthy state. The Guard was commanded by
Captain Robert Moffatt of the 17th Regiment. Mrs. Moffatt and Miss
Singer came as passengers. Other members of the 17th regt.,
included Dennis Leary, John Keating, Benjamin Cooper,
Dennis Kelly, Thomas Wall, Jonathon Bean, Thomas
Carr, William Smith, John Pigot, Michael Whalen, Lawrence
Fleming, William Pender, Thomas Horn,
The last day of 1829
was spent on board the Nithsdale and the following
day, 1st January 1830, they departed England. According to
surgeon Robert Malcolm, during the voyage almost everyone experienced an
attack of diarrhoea, in some cases very severe. Other
illnesses included ophthalmia, fever and apoplexy.
The
Nithsdale
arrived in Port Jackson on
12 May 1830,
having
lost one convict on the
voyage out. The prisoners were landed on Friday 21st May
and the majority of them were assigned to private service.
The
Nithsdale
was one of eighteen convict ships arriving in New South
Wales in 1830.
Court case in Sydney involving Captain Thomas Christian and the ship's
steward who was making a claim for unpaid wages
Select here to find out about
bushranger
Andrew Hamilton
who arrived on the Nithsdale
Convicts arriving on the Nithsdale
in 1830
|
|
Norfolk 1825 |
|
| |
|
|
|
Master Alexander Greig. Surgeon
William Hamilton
(Built
at Littlehampton in 1804. 547 tons.....Lloyd's Register)
The
Norfolk
sailed from Portsmouth on 17 April 1825 with 178 male prisoners,
guarded by a detachment of the 57th regiment under orders of
Captain Brown. They sailed direct and arrived in Port Jackson
on
18 August 1825,
a voyage of 123 days.
Two prisoners died on the passage out.
William Hamilton was employed
as Surgeon Superintendent. He kept a
Medical and Surgical Journal
from 11 March 1825 to 23 August 1825
Convicts arriving on the Norfolk in 1825
|
|
Norfolk 1829 |
| |
|
|
Captain Alexander Greig. Surgeon
James Dickson
The Norfolk
departed from Spithead on 23rd May 1829 and
arrived in Port Jackson on
27 August 1829. She transported
200 male prisoners, none having died on the passage out.
Surgeon Superintendent James Dickson kept
a
Medical and Surgical Journal from 28
April to 7 September. His cases included pleurisy, dyspepsia, diarrhoea,
lumbago and rheumatism. James Dickson was also employed as surgeon on
the convict ships
Countess of Harcourt 1824
Woodford 1826 (VDL)
Florentia 1828 and
Vittoria 1829
The guard
consisted of a detachment of the 63rd regiment., under command of Ensign
Darling. Passenger Edward Hallan of surveyor's department
Convicts arriving on the Norfolk in 1829
|
|
Norfolk 1832 |
|
| |
|
|
|
Captain William Henniker. Surgeon
William Clifford
On 13th September 1831, 199
prisoners were transported from the hulk at Cork and
embarked on the convict ship Norfolk.
The
Norfolk
departed Cork 15th October 1831 and
arrived
9th February 1832 bringing 199 male prisoners, 4
having died during the passage.
William
Clifford was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He kept a
Medical and Surgical Journal
from 8 the September 1831 to 23 February 1832. William
Clifford was also surgeon on the Convict Ships
Harmony (VDL),
Forth
(1) 1830
and Sir Charles Forbes 1837
The guard consisted of 29 non commissioned
officers and privates accompanied by Lieut. Lardy, 4th regt., Passenger Mrs. Henniker
Convicts arriving on the Norfolk
in 1832
|
|
Norfolk 1837 |
|
| |
|
|
|
Captain John Gatenby. Surgeon John Inches
Surgeon
John Inches reported that the Norfolk
sailed from Spithead on 30th October 1836. They had an excellent run out
of the Channel and fine weather. All the prisoners were healthy except
Harry Bell who had been despondent since embarking at Spithead.
Harry Bell had come on board from a hulk moored at Portsmouth where he
had been sent after being convicted of stealing billiard balls. He
claimed to have purchased them from a Frenchman. In his plea before the
Judge at the
Old Bailey he claimed that he had moved
in as high a circle as any man in England—I have served my King and
country for many years. Harry Bell was 40 years old when he died on the
21st November 1836.
Towards the end of November there were a few
cases of scurvy which were treated with lime and wine. William Smith
died on the 14th January 1837 after experiencing difficulty breathing.
Two hundred and seventy eight convicts arrived in Port Jackson on 11
February 1837 under the
superintendence of John Inches R.N.,
who kept a
Medical and Surgical Journal from 30th
October 1836 and 12 February 1837.
According
to the surgeon, the prisoners were very orderly and clean on the voyage
out. They arrived at Port Jackson on 12 February 1837.
The military Guard consisted of 29 rank and file of 28th regiment., and 80th regiment under command of Capt.
Bowler and Lieut. Reitt. Passengers arriving
on the
Norfolk
included Mrs. Reitt, Mrs. Bowler and family, Mrs. Inches and family and
botanist
Allan Cunningham
Convicts arriving on the Norfolk
in 1837
|
|
Northampton 1815 |
|
| |
|
|
|
John O'Tween. Surgeon Joseph Arnold
The convict ship
Northampton
departed Portsmouth 1st January 1815, and sailed via Rio de
Janeiro.
Jackson's Oxford Journal
reported on 18 February that the
Northampton
had been captured off Madeira by an American ship but
afterwards liberated,
the enemy not liking the cargo,
and suffered her to proceed on her voyage.
The Northampton
arrived in Port Jackson on the
18th June 1815 with 106 female prisoners
having lost 4 on the passage - Eliz. Cowan and Ann Turner at
Rio; the latter of whom fell overboard and was drowned; Susan
Frost died at sea after leaving Rio; and Mrs. Shirwell died a
fortnight before arrival. Free passenger Mrs. Dedman and her 2
children were buried at Rio; Mrs. Noble lost 1 child; Mrs.
Drake lost 2 and Mrs. Higgins 1.
The prisoners were landed 23 June in a healthy state. A number
of women came free to join their husbands. Twenty eight of the
prisoners were under the age of 21 years.
Joseph Arnold was employed as
Surgeon Superintendent........Trove
Australia -
Joseph Arnold
-
naturalist and naval surgeon, was born on 28
December 1782 at Beccles, Suffolk, England. He was apprenticed
in 1799 to a surgeon and apothecary, obtained his surgeon's
diploma at Edinburgh in 1807. In 1815 he arrived in charge of
the female convict transport Northampton, the first
surgeon-superintendent of a convict ship appointed on the
British government's adoption of that system.
The Northampton was one of two convict
ships bringing female prisoners to New South Wales in
1815,
the other being the
Francis & Eliza. A total of 171 female prisoners
arrived in the colony in 1815.
More about the Northampton 1815
Convicts arriving on the Northampton 1815
|
|
Numa 1834 |
|
| |
|
|
|
Master John Baker. Surgeon
Edward Ford Bromley
The Times reported that the Numa, James Laing and
Moffatt all with convicts for Australia, lay windbound at St.
Helen's and the Motherbank on 21st December 1833. Altogether 150 vessels
were all waiting for moderate weather and a fair wind. It had blown
during the previous week with great violence but without occasioning any
loss to the ships whilst at anchor.
The Numa
finally
departed on 29 January 1834 and, touched at the Cape where she departed
on 17th March, and arrived in Port Jackson with 138
English female convicts on
13th June 1834
.
The women were mustered on board on the 17 June 1834. There were three sick in the
hospital, two had died at sea, 1 died in the General Hospital on shore.
Originally 140 women were embarked
Edward
F. Bromley was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He kept a
Medical and Surgical Journal from 14th
October 1833 to 1st July 1834. He was also surgeon on the convict
ships
Ocean 1816
Almorah 1817
Lord Wellington 1820
and
Surry 1833
The Numa was
one of three convict ships bringing female prisoners to New South Wales
in 1834, the others being the
Andromeda and the
George Hibbert. A total of 453 female convicts arrived in
the colony in 1834.
Convicts arriving on the Numa in 1834
|
|
Ocean 1816 |
|
|
|
|
Master
Alexander Johnston. Surgeon
Edward Ford Bromley
The
Ocean
arrived from England on
30 January 1816
after a passage of thirteen weeks bringing 218 male
prisoners. She had sailed via Rio. One man died on the voyage. Of those convicts who embarked in
England, sixty were under the age of 21 years.
The Guard consisted of a
detachment of 46th regiment., and a small party of the 56th regiment., Officers
Lieut. Nepean and Ensign Bullevant. Passenger Rev. Youl.
Read Dr. Edward F. Bromley's evidence before a Select
Committee in 1819 regarding his treatment of the convicts on the
Almorah and the Ocean
Edward Bromley was also surgeon on the convict ships
Almorah
1817
Lord Wellington 1820
Surry 1833
and
Numa 1834
Convicts arriving on the Ocean
in 1816
|
|
Ocean 1818 |
|
| |
|
|
|
Captain
Samuel Remmington. Surgeon
George Fairfowl
The
Ocean
sailed from Spithead on 21st August 1817, called at St. Helena
en route and arrived at Port Jackson on
10 January 1818
with 180 male prisoners having lost two on the passage....Augustus Golding and
William Tarry.
George Fairfowl was employed as
Surgeon Superintendent. He kept a
Medical and Surgical Journal
which he commenced on the 24th June 1817.
In 1808 George Farifowl was
employed as surgeon on the vessel Alexandria. The
voyage of the Ocean in 1818 was the first of seven
voyages he made as surgeon on a convict ship: -
Dromedary 1820
Royal Charlotte 1825
Sovereign 1829
Andromeda 1830
Clyde 1832
and
Hive 1834
Convicts arriving on the Ocean
in 1818

|
|
Ocean 1823 |
|
| |
|
|
|
Captain
William Harrison. Surgeon
James McTernan
The
Ocean
departed Portsmouth on 24th April 1823 and arrived in Sydney on Wednesday
27 August 1823.
She was one of twelve vessels bringing convicts to New South Wales in
1823.
165 male prisoners arrived on the
Ocean,
six having died on the passage out: -
Thomas Upton aged 22, died 25 May 1823
William Alcock aged 46 died 6th August 1823
James Malone aged 20 died 4 August 1823
James Simpson aged 29 died 15 August 1823
William Exeter aged 26 died 4 August 1823
William Thompson aged 39 died on 22 August 1823
Two children also died on the voyage.
Altogether twenty-one prisoners were treated for scurvy during the
voyage.
James McTernan was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He joined the
vessel on 23rd April, just one day before departure. He kept a Medical
Journal from 23 April 1823 to 2 September 1823, and was
greatly concerned at the high number of cases of scorbutus. He included
some of his thoughts on the cause in the general remarks at the
conclusion of the Journal:
With the exception of the general appearance of scurvy, it will be
seen that the Ocean enjoyed tolerable immunity from disease.
In the treatment of the case of venereal which is given, I
experimentalized a little on the combination of the quiescent and
mercurial plans and am more confirmed in an opinion which I have held of
their combined utility.
Among men who shared so liberally in medical comforts and to whose
cleanliness exercise and ventilation the most strict attention was paid,
I should feel at a loss to account from the appearance and
prevalence of scurvy, if I were not aware of a strong predisposing
cause.
They consisted for the most part of men who by repeated acts of
misconduct in their hulks had forfeited every claim to indulgence, had
formed a resolution to take whatever ship they should be put out in had
actually attempted to possess themselves of the Ocean and concerted
measures to repeat their attempt. It will be admitted that the
desponding naturally arising from disappointments in those repeated
mutinies added to a quick transition from a tropical to a high Southern
latitude, is calculated to produce the effects so generally prevailing.
But not quite satisfied with (my) own opinion on the subject, I
suggested to His Excellency Governor Brisbane, the propriety of a search
into the circumstances of their condition on board, my attention to and
care of their comforts during their passage as well as the development
of a cause that might to me be unknown. Such enquiry having future good
and satisfaction to me for its objects with regard to the latter.
I have no hesitation in attributing much benefit to my being
constantly among them, cheering them and administering their nourishment
with my own hand.
James McTernan was also employed as surgeon on the convict ships Sir Charles Forbes 1827 (VDL)
Asia 1828
Eliza 1829
Lady Harewood 1831
John Barry 1836
Sara 1837 (VDL)
William Price Wall
arrived as a convict on the Ocean.
Select here to find other convicts who
arrived on the Ocean in 1823
|
|
Top |
|
|