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Eagle 1811
 

 

 

Captain Mackie

The Eagle arrived from Calcutta on 17 February 1811. As well as several convicts, she brought a valuable cargo of spirits and dry goods.

 

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Eagle 1811

 

 

 

 

Earl Cornwallis 1801
   
Embarked 193 prisoners
Voyage - 206 days
Deaths - 25

 

Master James Tennant.

The Earl Cornwallis departed England 18 November 1800 and arrived in Port Jackson on 12 June 1801

Read more about fumigating lamps on the Earl Cornwallis

Convicts arriving on the Earl Cornwallis 1801

 

 

Earl Grey 1836  
   
Embarked 297 men
Voyage 126 days
Deaths 9

 

Captain James Talbert. Surgeon William Evans

William Evans., R. N., was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 15 July 1836 to 5 January 1837 on the voyage of the Earl Grey from Deptford, Kingstown and Cove of Cork to Sydney.

William Evans joined the Earl Grey on 15 July 1836 at Deptford and on the 25th July, the Guard joined the vessel. Guard and passengers consisted of Lieut. Ronald McDonald 80th regt., Lieut. R. B. Hill, 41st regt., Quarter Master Potter 4th regt., Assistant Surgeon Graydon 50th regt., Assistant Surgeon Allman 4th regt., one Sergeant and 29 rank and file , 5 women and 7 children also 5 free boys. Also Mrs. Macdonald, Mrs. Allman and Mrs. Potter. There were also 45 sailors.

They sailed from Deptford on the 27th July and reached Kingstown on the 14th August. On 16th August, 91 convicts were received from the Essex Hulk and the following day they sailed for Cork arriving there on 21st August. On the 23 August, 192 convicts and 5 free boys, the sons of convicts in the colony were received. In total there were 384 people on board. They departed Cork on 27 August 1836.

Between Cork and the latitude of Madeira there were a few slight cases of fever arising from the damp, crowded dormitory. After passing the Cape Verde Islands the heat became oppressive and on entering the rainy regions thirteen men were suffering from scurvy. William Evans thought scurvy and scorbutic dysentery seemed to arise partly from the impurity of the water' but 'also from foul stagnant air between decks, combined with depression, anxiety of incarceration and sea diet'. The water had been taken on at Deptford with very little care and sometimes 'at improper times of the tide, though Government regulations were imperative on this head'.

On the evening of 1 October they crossed the equator with a fine breeze from south southeast and passed rapidly through the south east trades, reaching the Tropic of Capricorn in 11 days from the line. There were now 30 men suffering from scurvy and on 19th October William Evans recommended the master to call at the Cape for refreshment, experience having taught him that 'lime juice and nitrate of potash are mere prophylactics' and that fresh meat and vegetables were the only sure means of ensuring health for the rest of the voyage.

At 5pm on 4 November the Earl Grey anchored in Simon's Bay, where they remained for eight days. They received fresh beef, mutton and vegetables and took on board 5 live bullocks and 60 sheep. In less than a fortnight, 30 who had been bed ridden were convalescent and continued to improve in spite of the weather.

On 20 December, Cape Otway was sighted and soon after the north end of King's Island. The following day they passed through Bass Straits with a fine breeze from the westwards. On 31 December 1836 they reached Sydney after a voyage of 18 weeks from Cove of Cork. The weather was fine and by the time they reached Sydney there was not one of the 288 convicts who were landed who could not walk to the convict barracks to be inspected.

William Evans was also surgeon on the convict ships Sir William Bensley 1817   Bencoolen 1819  Hindostan 1821  Sir Godfrey Webster 1826 and  Southworth 1834 (VDL)

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Earl Grey 1836

 

 

Earl Grey 1838  
   
Embarked 280 men
Voyage 105 days
Deaths 2

 

Master James Talbot. Surgeon Alexander Nisbett

The Earl Grey  left Deptford for Woolwich on 18th July 1838. At Woolwich 180 male convicts were embarked and at Sheerness another 110.  They were delayed a day in the Downs before proceeding down the channel and remained at Spithead for four days because of wet, windy weather. They departed Portsmouth on the 8 August 1838 and arrived in Port Jackson on 21 November 1838, a passage of 105 days.

Surgeon Superintendent Alexander Nisbett kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 5 July 1838 to 28 November 1838. Alexander Nisbett was well experienced on convict ships having already served on the vessels Minerva 1824  Grenada 1827  Hooghley 1828 and Asia 1830.

Alexander Nisbett considered the Earl Grey, to be a large roomy ship well suited to the service, but with 290 prisoners she was rather overcrowded. He set about organising sleeping arrangements for the men. There were 'standing berths' for 234, leaving 56 to be accommodated in hammocks in the centre of the prison. In the hot weather those sleeping on hammocks slept on the prison deck to ensure that air could circulate in all directions. There were regular inspections and only those who kept themselves clean were relieved of their irons. The prison deck was cleaned every day with sand or dry stones, never wet, and airing stoves were kept burning, even during the hot weather. Windsails were kept down each hatchway and the chloride of lime used every day. Nothing but the most indispensable utensils were kept in the prison. Half the convicts were on deck at a time, performing light duties for the ship or taking air and exercise, whenever the weather permitted. Those below were formed into classes for reading, writing and arithmetic, supervised by an officer. At sunset all prisoners were allowed on deck, and the surgeon had provided musical instruments for singing and dancing and there were theatricals as well.  Alexander Nisbet never had occasion to limit or regret this indulgence and found it provided excitement that all the men looked forward to. No corporal punishment was inflicted during the voyage, milder punishments proving adequate.

The convicts were generally healthy. Catarrh, diarrhoea and a few ulcers were present in the early part of the voyage. After crossing the equator and getting into the South easterly trade winds there were a few cases of mild fever and while running down the Easting between the Cape of Good Hope and New Holland the fevers became more numerous but remained mild. The winds became unfavourable as they reached the longitude of New Holland and the sick list rose to over thirty and scurvy began to affect the men. Sickness abated after about a week when the weather improved. In all there were only four days on which the convicts were entirely confined below deck because of bad weather

Two hundred and eighty-eight prisoners arrived, two men having died on the passage out - John Brow aged 54 died on 2nd November. He was lame from a club foot. Had been on the sick list for several weeks to enable him the hospital diet. The surgeon considered his death unexpected as he had been improving in health; and George Morris died on 19th November aged 36. His death was to have been expected, he had a cutaneous eruption and repeated attacks of diarrhoea with a voracious appetite, eating anything edible he could get. The immediate cause of his death was thought to be a relapse brought on by eating a large quantity of imperfectly boiled peas.

The Earl Grey arrived in Port Jackson on 21st November and the prisoners were landed on Tuesday 27th November 1838

Passengers included Mr. Laurie of the Ordnance Department, Captain Ainsworth, Ensigns Dowton and Skerry, 2 sergeants, 1 corporal and 29 rank and file of the 51st regiment, 10 women and 6 children. Members of the band of the 51st also arrived on the Earl Grey.  Members of the 51st regiment who received medical treatment from Alexander Nisbett - George Segar, John Kelly. William Robertson, William Yandall, John Young, William Rivett, William Greenwood, William Powell, John Mullins, John Pitt, George Webb and Arthur Skinner,

In December it was reported that the Earl Grey was expected to leave for China as soon as she discharged the iron water pipes she had brought out and loaded some ballast. She would have been delayed in getting under way however after a collision with the whaling vessel Pocklington in the harbour.

Select here to find out more about Bushranger John Reddish who arrived on the Earl Grey

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Earl Grey 1838

 

 

 

Earl of Liverpool  1831
   
Embarked 90 women
Voyage 123 days
Deaths 2

 

Master F. Manning.

David Thompson was employed as Surgeon Superintendent on the convict ship Earl of Liverpool. He kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 2 November 1830 to 10 April 1831

The Earl of Liverpool proceeded to Woolwich at the beginning of November 1830 and soon afterwards 46 female prisoners were received on board from Newgate. From other parts of England and Scotland 44 women were received making the total number embarked 90. Sixteen of the prisoners' children were embarked with them.

The Earl of Liverpool departed England on 3 December 1830 and arrived in Port Jackson on Tuesday 5 April 1831 with 89 female prisoners. She had the distinction of being the first brig to ever bring prisoners to the colony.

There were several cases of pneumonia, dysentery, menorrhagia among the women in the early part of the voyage. Three of the women gave birth, with one of the infants later dying.

The women were landed on Friday 15th April, ten days after arriving.

On the 19th April the Sydney Gazette reported that: - Elizabeth Smith, an importation by the Earl of Liverpool, who made her first appearance ashore on Friday last was charged with insolence to her mistress. It appeared that the prisoner was assigned direct from the ship, to the service of a gentleman in Sydney, to whose house she was sent on the day she landed. In the afternoon obtained permission of her mistress to go out, on some business of her own, for a limited time, which she exceeded, and on being reprimanded on her return home, told her mistress she was " a-good-for nothing hussy," and that she (Elizabeth) " knew by the cut of her jib" that the service would not answer her. The bench sentenced her to the third class in the Factory for three months.

The Earl of Liverpool was one of four convict ships bringing female prisoners to New South Wales in 1831, the others being the Kains, Palambam and the Hooghley. A total of 504 female convicts arrived in the colony in 1831.

Hunter Valley convicts of the Earl of Liverpool 1831

 

 

Earl Spencer 1813
   
Embarked 200 men
Voyage 129 days
Deaths 2

Master William Mitchell. Surgeon D. McKenzie

The Earl Spencer departed Portsmouth on 2 June 1813, sailed via Madeira and arrived in Port Jackson on 9 October 1813

 

She transported 200 male convicts among whom were Capt. Davidson, Mr. Lindsay Crawford, several bankers' clerks, the men called Luddites and the smugglers of Christchurch who were convicted of aiding French prisoners to escape to France. Two men died on the passage out. (Caledonia Mercury 10 June 1813)

 

Thirty two of the prisoners of the Earl Spencer were under the age of twenty one.

 

Governor Lachlan Macquarie wrote in his journal on Saturday 9th October -  This forenoon The Earl Spencer Convict Transport Ship commanded by Capt. Wm. Mitchell anchored in the Harbour from England, from whence she sailed on the 2d. of June last, touching only at Madeira which she left 2d. of July. — She brings 196 male Convicts – wt. a Guard of one Subn. (Ensign Bicknell) & 38 men of the 73d., together wt. several Free Settlers, and one asst. Surgeon (Mr. Young) for the Colony. I have received Public Dispatches by the Earl Spencer, and also a great many Private Letters from my Friends at home, all of which contain good news. By this conveyance I am informed, tho' not officially, of the certainty of my being appointed a Major General in a large Brevet made by the Prince Regent on the 4th. of June last.

 

Hunter Valley convicts of the Earl Spencer 1813

 

 

Earl St. Vincent  1818
   
Embarked 160 men
Voyage 131 days
Deaths 3

 

Master Samuel Simpson.  Surgeon John Johnston

 

Surgeon John Johnston was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 22 July 1818 to 15 January 1819.

 

The convict ship Earl St. Vincent was built at Topsham and carried a crew of approximately 32 men.

On 22nd July 1818, 160 convicts were embarked on the Earl St. Vincent at Cork. Their clothing was stripped from them and they were all given new items. There were many cases of ulcerated legs and other diseases and the surgeon John Johnston made an application to Dr. Trevor for lint and calico and itch ointment. The prisoners were allowed to stay on deck until the setting of the watch.

On 6th August, the day before they set sail, one of the convicts, William Keating made a desperate bid for freedom when he jumped overboard. The alarm was given and exertions made to recover him but there seemed to be no trace of him.

 

They apparently made an attempt to make it out of the harbour early on the morning of the 7th August when they stood to sea, however returned because of unfavourable conditions. On the evening of the 9th August they got underway and it was reported that all prisoners were present at muster. The prisoners soon became sea sick and the surgeon continued to attend to their many ailments.

They passed by Madeira on 24th August and there was fine weather and a fresh breeze when they passed by the Isle of St. Paul on 12 November.

 

They anchored in Sydney Cove on Wednesday 16 December 1818. All the convicts were below deck except for the useful hands. Fresh provisions were issued and the convicts washed themselves and their clothes ready for the inspection by Colonial Secretary Mr. Campbell on the 18th December.

 

They were issued with new clothing on the 20th December and were disembarked on the 21st December. Three convicts had died on the passage out. The remaining 157 were landed in good health.

 

Find out more about Admiral Earl St. Vincent

 

Hunter Valley convicts of the Earl St. Vincent 1818

 

 

Earl St. Vincent 1820
   
Embarked 160 men
Voyage 126 days
Deaths 1

 

 

 

Master Samuel Simpson. Surgeon Patrick Hill

 

Surgeon Patrick Hill was employed as Surgeon Superintendent on the Earl St. Vincent.  He kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 20 February to 23 August 1820.

 

He joined the ship on 25th February 1820. The Guard consisting of 31 men of the 48th regiment commanded by Captain Snow of the 67th regiment including five women and five children were embarked on the 9 March. Mr. J. Richardson, a free settler with his wife and two children were embarked on 15th March.

 

On the 21st March they sailed from Deptford to Gravesend and then to the Nore. On 23 March they sailed from the Nore to the Downs, and on the 26th arrived at the Motherbank. Surgeon Hill then reported to Lt. Cheeseman, agent for the transport, and went with him on board the Leviathan Hulk. He inspected 100 convicts from the Leviathan on 27th March. The ship then went into Spithead and 60 convicts were inspected on the Laurel at 1pm. The 160 convicts were then received on board the Earl St. Vincent. Twenty of them were boys under 18 years of age, who were accommodated in a separated prison in messes of six Their clothing consisting of one worsted frock, one shirt, one pair of trousers, one pair of stocking, one handkerchief, one hat and one pair of shoes.

 

On 29th March the stoves were lit and the convicts had free access on deck. They were formed into four division, each one to clean the prison in rotation. Soap was issued to convicts and the irons were examined on each man. John Jones, a carpenter was punished by having additional irons after it was discovered he had false rivets in his irons and intended to escape. Antonio Lewis was stripped and tied up to be flogged for insolence to the sentry, however the surgeon forgave him and he was let down without punishment.

 

On the 9th April Lt. Cheeseman brought dispatches for Governor Macquarie and J.T. Bigge and the Captain received sailing orders.  They got under weigh at 4pm on 12 April and anchored off south Yarmouth Isle of Wight and on 13th April got under weigh and went through the Needles.

 

By the end of April they were in warmer weather.  This usually brought its own set of health problems and the surgeon decided that the convicts should bath each day. This began at 5am on 25 April. The had to strip and bathe and a bucket of water was thrown over them. This was to be done every morning while the warm weather continued. A barber was employed cutting hair and it was an order that every man should have short hair by the Sunday. Under a light wind and about 15 miles off, they passed by the Island of Palma on 27th April.

 

By early July, the weather was getting cold and wet and the prison became wet from water coming down the hatchways and from the privy, the pipe of the cistern being broken because of misuse by the convicts. By mid July, the weather began to improve, however the prison and hospital were still wet and dirty from the water having overflowed from the privies.

 

At 1am on 17th July, they made the Island of St. Paul's and on the 7th August they saw the Australian coast line for the first time. They came through Bass Straits at 8am on 8th August and saw Wilson's Promontory and at 9am Curtis Island. By the 16th August 1820 they were close to the entrance of Port Jackson and finally anchored in Sydney Cove at 8am. Captain Piper, naval officer came on board to collect the dispatches for Governor Macquarie. Fresh provisions were brought on board and on 23rd the convicts were mustered by Colonial Secretary Mr. Campbell.

 

 The convicts were landed at daylight on 29th and inspected by Governor Macquarie who asked them if they had any complaint to make of their treatment on board, all were satisfied.

 

Patrick Hill was also employed as surgeon on the convict ship Atlas 1816.

 

Hunter Valley convicts of the Earl St. Vincent 1820

 

 

Earl St. Vincent  1823
   
Embarked 157 men
Voyage 133 days
Deaths 1

 

Master Peter Reeves. Surgeon Robert Tainsh

 

Robert Tainsh was employed as Surgeon Superintendent.

 

The Earl St. Vincent departed Cork 29 April 1823 and arrived at Port Jackson on 9 September 1823 with 156 male prisoners.

 

The Guard consisted of 31 men of the 1st Royals under the orders of Ensign Bute.

 

On 15th September His Excellency Sir Thomas Brisbane came to Town early and in the forenoon, the male convicts that were landed that morning from the ship Earl St. Vincent, who had no complains to prefer, were inspected by His Excellency and afterwards sent to their various assignments.

 

Robert Tainsh was also surgeon on the Hooghley 1825

 

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Earl St. Vincent in 1823

 

 

 

Eden 1837  
   
 
 
 

Captain Mollison. Surgeon Gilbert King

The Eden departed Deptford on 14 August 1836 and anchored off Woolwich shortly afterwards. The following day 180 convicts were received from shore and they sailed again the next morning for Portsmouth. It took five or six days to reach Portsmouth because of adverse winds.

 

On 22 August a further 100 convicts were received from the hulks in Portsmouth Harbour, 'middle aged and athletic men, many of them soldiers', completing the number of 280. They attempted to sail on 30 August but could not do so until the following day because of adverse winds. These continued to be a problem until as far as the Isles of Scilly when part of the stem of the ship was carried away and they were forced to bear up for Plymouth Harbour.

The Eden departed on 3rd September 1837. 

 

The convicts suffered from sea sickness on the voyage causing scurvy to appear shortly after crossing the equator. The surgeon treated the men by diet, keeping them on deck as much as possible and promoting cheerfulness with singing and dancing, however scurvy became so prevalent as to make it absolutely necessary to call at Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope, for fresh provisions. They arrived there on 16th November. The stay at the Cape was short but of great benefit to the convicts and they improved so much that Gilbert King agreed to take an extra 22 convicts from the Cape.

 

They arrived at Hobart Town on 21 December 1836 and landed at that port and at Sydney, 299 prisoners.

 

Passengers arriving on the Eden included Captain West of 80th regiment., and Ensign Ewen of the 41st regiment. The Guard consisted of 30 rank and file of the 80th regiment.

 

Gilbert King R.N., was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 3 August 1836 to 18 January 1837. He was also employed as surgeon on the convict ships Marquis of Hastings 1827 and Lord Lyndoch 1831 (VDL)

 

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Eden in 1837

 

 

 

 

Eden 1840  
   
Embarked 270
Voyage 131 days
Deaths 1

 

Master Henry Naylor. Surgeon George Ellery Forman

 

The Guard for the Eden was embarked at Deptford on 27 June 1840 and the Eden proceeded to Woolwich on the 30th June to receive 150 convicts from the two hulks lying there. The Eden arrived at Sheerness on 1st July and on the 3rd the embarkation of convicts was completed by a draught of 120 men from the hulks at Chatham, making a total of 270 prisoners. The Eden departed Sheerness on 10th July 1840.

 

The Morning Advertiser reported on the 12th July - On last Tuesday evening, nineteen of the convicts, including the notorious Gould, under sentence of transportation, now in the convict ship Eden, at Sheerness, were found to have loosened their fetters previous to making a desperate attempt to escape. A plank of the bulk head, separating the convicts from the military guard, was also found to have been started, so that it could be removed with very little difficulty, and the aim of the convicts was doubtless to get possession of the arms belonging to the soldiers. Gould is now confined in a separate place of security; he is said to have declared that, let them try what they like, they shall not take him out of the country. Nine of the crew of the Eden having refused to obey orders according to their articles have been sent to Maidstone.

 

On the 3rd of August the ship left Santa Cruz after a stay of three days during which time the water was completed and fresh provisions procured. The NE Trade winds continued until near the Cape Verde Islands after which rain set in for the rest of the month. They crossed the Equator on the 31st August, and during September the ship crossed a large tract of ocean and a corresponding variety of weather was experienced by those on board.

 

Surgeon Superintendent George Ellery Forman kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 17 June to 30 November 1840. He wrote in his Journal -

The system of management of the convicts differed little in that I had adopted on former occasions.... ventilation and cleanliness forming the chief features while the formation of cheerfulness and the affording of all possible occupation to the convicts was practised as much as circumstances would allow; the results were on the whole satisfactory, though I think that more cases requiring medical treatment occurred than I had previously met with; this remark more particularly applied to the month of October during which period the change of climate was sudden and the weather particularly unfavourable to cleanliness, exercise and comfort in general. It was under the last mentioned circumstances that symptoms of scurvy manifested themselves in a light grade and but with a single exception the disease gradually wore away as the weather improved.

 

The Eden arrived in Port Jackson on 18 November 1840 with 269 prisoners, one having died on the passage out. (Thomas Marshall on 27 August 1840).  Three convicts were sent to the Hospital on arrival and there remained 266 of the original 270 to disembark on 26th November. All were reported to be in an a sound state of health.

 

George Ellery Forman was also employed as surgeon on the convict ships Lady McNaughten1835 Platina 1837 (VDL) and Pyramus 1839 (VDL)

 

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Eden in 1840

 

 

 

 

 

Edward 1829  
   
Embarked 177 women
Voyage 115 days
Deaths 3

 

 

Captain James Gilbert. Surgeon William Conborough Watt

 

In October 1828 it was reported that the Edward was re-fitting at Deptford for the purpose of taking female convicts from Cork to New South Wales.

 

The Edward departed Ireland 1st January 1829 and arrived in Port Jackson on 26th April 1829, a passage of 115 days. One hundred and seventy four female prisoners arrived on the Edward, three having died on the passage out. Twenty-three male and female settlers from Ireland and 14 children who accompanied their mothers also arrived on the Edward. (Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Unassisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1826-1922 Record for William C. Watt)

 

Surgeon Superintendent William Conborough Watt kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 30 September 1828 to 14 May 1829, in which he recorded the names of the three women who died -  The first death was that of Maria Johnson. She died just one month into the voyage, having been ill since December when the Edward lay at the Cove of Cork. Thirty six year old Catherine Dillon died on 18th January from apoplexy. Eleanor Patterson died 29th March after suffering dyspepsia. She was fifty-five years old.

Surgeon Watt wrote in his General Remarks at the end of the voyage: I now beg to submit a statement of the system adopted for the Government of the prisoners and preservation of their health-

1st. On their embarkation, one of the convicts specially recommended was appointed Matron over each mess having seven women under her charge. The women were directed by my orders hung up in various parts of the prison, to pay her the most implicit obedience, she being held responsible for the correct demeanour and cleanliness of their persons and drawing all their rations; as also to give  me information from time to time of irregularities which she might observe, or any circumstances which might in the most remote degree endanger the quiet of the prison.

2nd. The cooks were permitted to leave the prison at half past six am for the purpose of preparing breakfast, the convict coppers having been previously filled and the fire lighted by the ships company, preventing as far as possible intercourse between the prisoners and sailors. At seven the Matrons were admitted on deck to Superintend stowing the beds in fine weather and to receive their respective mess bread; two of their number in rotation receiving the sugar and tea from the ships steward and seeing the same put into the coppers - a precaution necessary from the Cooks having been twice detected pilfering the same. At 8 o'clock breakfast was served and at nine all the women with the exception of two from each mess in rotation to clean the berths were admitted on deck. One of those on deck from each mess, cleaned the mess utensils. The Matrons received the rations for the day - a serving of beef or pork taken from the steep tub (where it had been soaking from four o'clock the preceding evening) delivered it to the cooks with a tin tally attached having the number of each mess impressed thereon, the foregoing evolution generally required about an hour.

Afterwards I inspected the prisons (all the bottom boards of the lower tier of sleeping places being elevated to prevent the accumulation of filth and damp and promote ventilation). The prisoners were then employed until half past 12 at reading, writing, sewing, knitting or otherwise. At half past 12 dinner was served; each Matron assisted by one of her mess receiving the soup and pudding at the coppers and making an equal division of the same to her mess mates she being the only person supplied with a knife and fork.  At half past one each woman was called according to her number and had her allowance of wine at the tub which she drank before me to prevent the chance of any improper use being made of the same after which the prison decks and berths were swept and sewing and reading resumed.

 At 3 o'clock lemonade was served by one of the Matrons; in rotation each woman drank half a pint at the tub, the other half pint being reserved for drunk during the night.

At 4 o'clock each Matron attended to received her beef or pork,  have it properly tallied, well washed and put in the steep tub. From this until lock up I permitted the women to walk too and fro and cook their supper (Burgor) and at six every woman was mustered below and the gates secured by myself; each matron as an additional security against deception (such having been once attempted) reporting to me through the gratings that all was well in her mess.

At eight o'clock I visited the Hospital and nine each of the sleeping cabins noting particularly that each woman was in her bed, her cloths hung up, no cloths soaking in the slop lids (this ought never to be permitted) the mess utensils properly secured on hooks under the prison benches (which I had supplied at Cork) the hatchway curtain down in cold weather and making each Matron again report that all her messmates were present, after which the gates were secured each by a double padlock and business of the day ended. In the course of which it will be perceived that each prisoner came immediately under my observation four times and that their minds and bodies were kept in a constant state of action in the observance of the foregoing rules, thereby preventing their indulging in sloth, melancholy, forebodings and idle conversation.

Wednesdays and Saturdays were appropriated for washing cloths, a washerwoman being selected from each in rotation and great care being taken that each item was thoroughly dried before it was taken below.

Such was the system which I adapted on board the Edward and I think I may venture to affirm that it's efficiency has been fully proven. Two hundred and fourteen female convicts and infants were conveyed to NSW in that vessel a number far exceeding that of my former importation by one ship and I have much pleasure in stating that no body of prisoners were ever landed in better condition at the Colony, nor if I may judge from my very limited experience of such characters none more disposed to redeem their reputation.

In closing these remarks I cannot in Justice to the poor creatures entrusted to my care deny myself the satisfaction of observing that with very few exceptions the conduct was highly creditable to themselves and I most attribute to their cleanly disposition and ready and strict observance of my orders in a great degree that immunity from disease which happily resulted.

Among the other means which I used to preserve health I had nearly omitted to state that on arriving in the warm latitudes I had all the woollen clothing and six blankets from each mess struck into the hold and that the women were bathed under the inspection of their respective Matrons - I also experienced the most marked benefit from the frequent use of the solution of the Chloride of Lime in instantly dispelling offensive effluvia. Its effects were tried on board the Surprise Hulk in the water closets at my request by Mr. Taylor and he informed me with the same result. I consider it an article of great value and beg to recommend that a quantity of it should be supplied to ships proceeding with convicts again

 

The Edward was one of twenty-one convict ships arriving in New South Wales in 1829. Four of these carried female prisoners the Edward, Princess Royal Lucy Davidson and the Sovereign.  A total of 492 women arrived as convicts in 1829.

 

Three women who arrived on the Edward were involved in the riot that took place at the Female Factory at Parramatta in 1831 and were subsequently sent to Newcastle as punishment - Bridget Sweeney  Bridget Ryan and  Catherine Duffy

 

William Conborough Watt was also employed as surgeon on the convict ships Roslin Castle 1830  Exmouth 1831 and Mary 1833

 

 

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Edward in 1829

 

 

 

 

Edward 1831  
   
Embarked 158 men
Voyage 128 days
Deaths 5

Captain James Gilbert. Surgeon Thomas Bell

The convict ship Edward departed Cork on 17 October 1830 and arrived in Port Jackson on 22 February 1831 with 153 male prisoners.

Surgeon Thomas Bell kept a Medical Journal from 23 August 1830 to 14 March 1831.

Thomas Bell was also employed as surgeon on the convict ships  Thames 1829, Eliza 1832, Prince George 1837 and Portsea 1838

Thirty-six of the prisoners who arrived on the Edward in 1831 have so far been identified residing in the Hunter region in the following decades

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Edward in 1831

 

Eleanor 1831  
   
Embarked 140 men
Voyage 126 days
Deaths 7

Master Robert Cook. Surgeon John Stephenson

 

Surgeon John Stephenson joined the Eleanor at Deptford on the 8th January 1831. On the 20th the military guard consisting of one officer, four non-commissioned officers and 24 privates with four women and six children were embarked.

 

They arrived at Spithead and on the following day 27 convicts were received from the York hulk and by the 10th February 140 prisoners had been embarked. This number was too great for the prisons and seven were returned to the York. The number of women was increased to six and the children to ten. Total number on the ship amounted to 205 persons.

 

They departed England on 19th February 1831, called at the Cape of Good Hope where they remained for six days and received three prisoners from that colony.

 

John Stephenson kept a Medical Journal from 8 January to 14 July 1831 and there was little illness on the voyage out.

 

John Stephenson's journal states they arrived on 29th June 1831 and the military guard was relieved on the 1st and on the 11th July, the whole of the 133 convicts were disembarked in an excellent state of health, the ship was this day finally discharged.

 

 

 

The Sydney Gazette reported in July that - The male prisoners by the Eleanor who form part of those convicted for the late riots in England, were landed on Monday morning. 'As fine a body of men as ever set foot on Australian shores from a convict ship and were nearly all assigned to individuals up the country

 

John Stephenson was also employed as surgeon on the convict ships Guildford 1829  Waterloo 1833 and Neva 1835

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Eleanor in 1831

 

 

 

 

Eliza 1820  
   
Embarked 160 men
Voyage 98 days
Deaths 1

Captain Francis Hunt. Surgeon James Marr Bryden

 

Surgeon Superintendent James Marr Bryden R.N., kept a Medical Journal from 15 September 1819 to 31 January 1820.

 

In September 1819 there were a total of 242 people on the Eliza - 160 prisoners who had embarked at Woolwich; 36 guard, 39 ships crew and 5 passengers by order of the Navy Board.

 

On the 9th October the ship took on water and provisions and on the 10th October sailed from Spithead and anchored at the Isle of Wright on 11th October, leaving there on the 12th.

 

They reached the equator on the 15 November. The Surgeon noted that the prisoners were locked down for three hours while the ship's company and guard 'amuse themselves in the usual ridiculous custom' on crossing the equator.

 

After a voyage of 98 days the Eliza came to anchor in Sydney Cove at 9am on 20 January 1820. Six days later Mr. Campbell, the Governor's Secretary and Mr. Hutchinson, Superintendent of convicts came on board and inspected the prisoners. Several convicts made complaints of short rations of pork in the early part of the voyage.

 

The men were disembarked at 6am on 31st January and inspected by Governor Macquarie. One prisoner had died (William Ashley) on the voyage out and two (John Allen and John McIntosh) remained convalescent.

 

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Eliza in 1820

 

 

 

 

Eliza 1822  
   
Embarked 160 men
Voyage 125 days
Deaths 0

Master James Hunt. Surgeon William Rae

Surgeon William Rae received a warrant of appointment as Surgeon Superintendent to the Eliza convict ship on 19th June 1822. He kept a Medical Journal from 19th June 1822 to 26 November 1822. William Rae proceeded to Deptford that same day to join the ship where the Guard, a detachment of the 3rd regiment (Buffs) commanded by Captain Innis had already embarked. On 30th June the ship sailed for Sheerness where 50 convicts were received from the Ganymede Hulk on 2nd July. The following morning another 55 convicts came on board from the Belleropon and the same number from the Retribution hulk at Sheerness. Sixteen boys were allotted a separate prison.

 

On 11 July, the surgeon recorded that all the men were allowed on deck during the day when they were frequently visited by their friends and relations. As most of them only embarked with the clothes they stood in, they were supplied with a shirt and pair of trousers each. 160 shirts and trousers were issued.

 

On the 16th July a packet and a bag of despatches for the Governor of New South Wales and a despatch to the master of the ship to order the Eliza to proceed on her voyage to New South Wales were received on board. Three days later the convicts were all on deck taking a last farewell of their friends and relations. A few seemed to feel the situation deeply but the majority according to the surgeon appear to be callous and behave with that stoicism and indifference which can only be found  amongst men inured to villainy and hardened with vice.

 

The following morning, 20th July, they weighed anchor and sailed for the Downs which they came to anchor at dusk. Most of the convicts and passengers were sea sick. Bibles, testaments and prayer books were distributed amongst the convicts and also a few books and writing implements from the surgeons own store were given to the boys who soon made considerable improvement in their learning.

 

A week after departing they struck bad weather. There were strong gales with rain from the SW with the ship pitching frighteningly and they were obliged to anchor in Dungeness.

 

They reached the equator on 10 September. The Convicts were all on deck during the morning, but afterwards ordered below until the sailors and soldiers had performed the usual ceremony at crossing the equator. The prisoners, however were all very merry amongst themselves and during their temporary confinement did not let the said ceremony pass unobserved. They constituted barbers and with a little suet and shoe blacking and a bullocks rib for a razor shaved every individual in the prison. All submitting to the operation with much good humour

 

On the evening of the 19 October 1822 several of the prisoners, (amateurs) in testimony of the gratitude which they felt for the liberty they had hitherto enjoyed and the various indulgences which had been granted to them since their embarkation, entertained the officers with the performance of the play Rob Roy.

 

They sailed close by the island of St. Pauls on 25 October and on 22 November 1822 reached Port Jackson. 160 male prisoners were landed in good health on 26th November 1822. They had been on board for 147 days and the voyage had taken 125 days.

 

William Rae was also employed as surgeon on the convict ships Isabella 1823  Marquis of Huntley 1826  Prince Regent 1827 and Marquis of Hastings 1828

 

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Eliza in 1822

 

 

 

 

 

Eliza 1827  
   
Embarked 192 men
Voyage 112 days
Deaths 0

 

 

Master Daniel Leary. Surgeon George Shaw Rutherford

 

The  departed Cork on 19 July 1827 and arrived in Port Jackson on 8th November 1827, a voyage of 112 days.

 

One hundred and ninety-two male prisoners arrived under the care of Surgeon Superintendent George Shaw Rutherford who kept a Medical and Surgical Journal. All of the prisoners survived the journey.

 

Unusually, the Master of the vessel Lieutenant Leary R.N., spent three weeks on the sick list. He fell ill with rheumatism on 30th August suffering pain in his thigh and knee and wasn't discharged until the third week in September.

 

Around 25-26 September there was a major outbreak of diarrhoea amongst the convicts. All survived. Soldier George Moron wasn't so lucky he died in October after succumbing to dysentery.

Convict Henry Huston was discharged to the hospital on arrival. He was suffering with a serious case of scurvy.

 

George Shaw Rutherford was also employed as surgeon on the convict ships Prince of Orange 1821   Shipley 1822 Marquis of Hastings 1826  Lord Melville 1829  Royal Admiral 1830 and China 1846 (to Norfolk Island)

 

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Eliza in 1827

 

 

 

Eliza 1828  
   
Embarked 158 men
Voyage 143 days
Deaths 8

Captain William Douty. Surgeon James Patton

The Eliza was one of seventeen ships bringing convicts to New South Wales in 1828. She departed  England on 29th June 1828 and arrived in Port Jackson on 18 November 1828 with 150 male prisoners.

Surgeon Superintendent James Patton R.N. commenced a Medical and Surgical Journal on 10 June 1828 before the vessel departed.

Between the 12 October and 8th November there were over 40 cases of dysentery (all convicts). The illness was so violent that it caused the death of several men in the short space of four days. James Patton attributed the high number of dysenteric cases to two causes, the unusual length of the voyage, 143 days on salt provisions and the ship sailing very indifferently; and from the cold, damp and rain. Several men were sent to hospital on arrival in the colony, including one of the soldiers  Edward Burke who was sent to the Military hospital in Sydney.

The Guard consisted of 30 men of the 63rd regiment, accompanied by 3 women and 6 children under the orders of Major Douglas and Ensign Church.

James Pattson was also employed as surgeon on the convict ship Persian to VDL in 1827

Twenty-six of the convicts arriving on the Eliza have been identified residing in the Hunter region in the following decades.

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Eliza in 1828

 

 

 

Eliza 1829  
   
Embarked 171 men
Voyage 110 days
Deaths 2?

Captain William Nicholas. Surgeon James McTernan

 

The guard of the Eliza, a detachment of the 40th regiment of Infantry under orders of Lieut. Sweeney, marched on Friday 16th January from Chatham Barracks to Deptford and embarked on board the Eliza on Saturday 17th January.

 

The Eliza departed from Cork 2nd March 1829 with 171 male prisoners and arrived in Port Jackson on Saturday morning 20 June 1829.

 

Surgeon Superintendent James McTernan R.N., kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 30 December 1828 to 7 July 1829. He reported two deaths Dennis McGrath, aged 21, died on 11 May 1829 from cynanche trachealis (croup) and Anthony Riddington, aged 27 died on 10 June 1829 after suffering atrophia (wasting, loss of strength, defect of nutrition etc).

 

Passengers on the Eliza included Mr. Edward Wall and 11 free boys to join their parents.

 

James McTernan was also employed as surgeon on the convict ships Ocean 1823 Sir Charles Forbes 1827 (VDL) Asia 1828  Lady Harewood 1831  John Barry 1836 and Sara 1837 (VDL)

 

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Eliza in 1829

 

 

 

 

Eliza 1832  
   
Embarked 198 men
Voyage 119 days
Deaths 2

John S. Groves. Surgeon Thomas Bell

 

The Eliza departed Cork on the 10th May 1832 with 198 male prisoners and arrived in Port Jackson on Thursday evening 6th September 1832.

 

198 prisoners were embarked under the care of Surgeon Superintendent Thomas Bell R.N.  Two men died on the passage out and 196 were landed in Sydney. Thomas Bell was also employed as surgeon on the convict ships Thames 1829  Edward 1831  Prince George 1837 and Portsea 1838

 

The guard consisted of 29 rank and file of the 4th 17th and 63rd regiments under command of Lieut. Hewson and Ensign Nicholson of the 4th regiment

 

The Sydney Gazette reported that the prisoners were expected ashore on Saturday 15th September "All Patlanders to a man; if they could handle the flail as well as the shillelagh, would prove an acquisition to farmers"

 

Two of the convicts arriving on the Eliza achieved notoriety in their own ways. Francis McNamara (Frank the Poet) composed several well known poems and became known throughout the colony for his words of poignancy and protest. He is attributed to penning the words to what was to become one of Australia's best known folk songs - Moreton Bay.

 

Young James Ryan from Cork was only 16 when he was sentenced to 7 years transportation. He was 17 years old when he was hung after having the misfortune to become involved in one of the colony's most infamous episodes -  the convict uprising at Castle Forbes.

 

Cork City Gaol History

 

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Eliza in 1832

 

 

 

Elizabeth 1816  
   
Embarked 155 men
Voyage 123 days
Deaths 4

Captain William Ostler. Surgeon Caryer Vickery

 

The Elizabeth departed England on 4th June 1816 and arrived in Port Jackson on 5th October 1816.

155 male prisoners were embarked on the Elizabeth, two were re-landed and two died on the voyage out.

The Military Guard consisted of a serjeant and 32 privates of the 46th Regiment under command of Captain Humphrey.

Judge-Advocate John Wylde arrived on the Elizabeth. The Sydney Gazette reported that he was to land on the 9th October at twelve noon. The Governor's barge was taken alongside the Elizabeth to receive him and convey him to the Landing place on the Governor's Wharf. He was accompanied by Mr. Secretary Campbell, Captain Ostler, Surgeon Caryer Vickery, military personnel as well as private friends. A Salute of thirteen Guns was fired from Dawe's Battery immediately on the Judge Advocate's leaving the Elizabeth in Honor of his safe arrival at Sydney and a like salute was fired from the Elizabeth. On landing at the Governor's Stairs, the Judge Advocate was received by the Magistrates, the Provost Marshal and other Officers of the Colony and taken to one of the Magistrates houses for refreshments. In the afternoon when the Judge Advocate was again returning from on board with his Lady, the prisoners who arrived in the vessel took the opportunity of joining the ship's company in manning the yards, and cheering as his boat left the ship.

The prisoners of the Elizabeth were landed on Friday 11 October in a healthy state and mustered in the presence of His Excellency the Governor who was afterwards pleased to give instructions for their distribution to the various situations assigned them.

Forty-three men who arrived on the Elizabeth were under the age of 21 years.

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Elizabeth in 1816

 

 

 

 

Elizabeth 1818  
   
Embarked 101 women
Voyage 116 days
Deaths 0

Master William Ostler. Surgeon William Hamilton

Surgeon William Hamilton received his appointment as Surgeon Superintendent on the convict ship Elizabeth on 30 May 1818.

At the Cove of Cork on 10th July, he inspected the vessel and found the prison, hospital and ship generally clean and well ventilated. On the following day he prepared to accept seventy female convicts from the sloop Precious which had arrived from Dublin. The women were clean and they were permitted to bring their own clean clothing with them. Any articles that were dirty were destroyed. Later that afternoon another twenty eight women were brought on board from the prison at Cork.  Intriguingly, these women cheered as they came along side the Elizabeth. Among them was Margaret McGreavy and her daughter Mary Anne who would later join James McGreavy in Newcastle. An additional three women were embarked on the 13th July.

According to William Hamilton, many of the convicts both old and new appeared to be suffering from intemperance and long confinement. Each mess (probably of six women) was issued with a teakettle, wooden bowl, platter, soap, sugar and tea; and each woman with a half pint tin-pot and wooden spoon.

The weather was uncommonly hot for that time of year but there was no serious illness reported by the surgeon. On 16th July the women were supplied with a linen petticoat, towel and hat in addition to clothing already supplied. The petticoat would be comfortable, especially in warm climates, however the surgeon feared that the hat, from its general weight would not be able to be worn by the women. It was black and woollen and similar to those worn by the common people of the other sex in Ireland.

As the women settled into a new life on board the ship, there was some bickering amongst the women from Dublin and those who had come from the prison at Cork, but otherwise they remained orderly. The surgeon continued to treat their minor ailments and the ship was inspected by Rear Admiral Sir Josiah Rawley, the commander-in-chief of the port who was accompanied by Lieutenant Lewis, agent for Transports.

Captain Ostler was concerned about the twenty children who had come on board with their mothers, and later when the ship was inspected by Dr. Trevor he arranged that three of the boys (aged about twelve) were to be sent back on shore as they might by industry be able to earn a subsistence. The other six boys and eleven girls were allowed to remain with their mothers. Most of them were under seven years of age and had come with their mothers from Dublin. They had no friends or relatives nearby.

Just before departure on 26th July, two passengers came on board  - William Fallan and Michael Riddington, both had orders from the Secretary of State for a passage to New South Wales. The ship had received orders to sail and with the weather fine and a light breeze blowing the ship weighed anchor and 101 convict women and 17 children gazed on the shores of Ireland probably for the last time.

The women were well behaved and most were over their sea sickness in a couple of days. The surgeon had more difficulty with the first mate of the ship Mr. Purnill, who was unwilling to comply with orders. The women were allowed on deck and the prisons were cleaned and by the 7th August they had sighted the Island of Porto Santo and the following day the island of Madeira. Tenerife was in sight by the 9th August and St. Jago on the 16th August. When the ship crossed the equator on 1st September, the women were permitted to witness the usual ceremony of the seamen when crossing the equator; they joined in with much good will and humour and were so well behaved that they were indulged with half a pint of wine each that evening.

By mid September the surgeon was concerned that scurvy may appear. He examined all the women but found no symptoms. All the women were in better health than when they had embarked and were much improved in their looks. They all expressed themselves satisfied with their treatment.

By 24 September they were approaching the Cape of Good Hope and the women and children were beginning to feel the effects of the cold weather. As the women were all well and scurvy had not appeared, they probably did not call at the Cape, however a month later some symptoms of scurvy had arisen and the women were issued with lime juice and sugar.

The surgeon was intrigued to observe the reactions of the women as they sighted the coast of Australia for the first time on the 18th November. On 19th November 1818 at 8pm they were close to Sydney and the following morning the ship anchored at Port Jackson. On the 21st Mr Campbell came on board and examined the women who all expressed themselves satisfied with the treatment they had received on the voyage. There had been no deaths on board and all the women were reported to be in good health.

William Hamilton kept a Medical Journal from 9 July to 25 November 1818.

Eighteen convict ships arrived in the colony in 1818. Of these three transported female prisoners - the Elizabeth, the Maria and the Friendship. A total of 282 women arrived on these three vessels in 1818.

Eleven women who arrived on the Elizabeth have been identified residing the the Hunter Region in the following years.

 

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Elizabeth in 1818

 

 

Elizabeth 1820  
   
 
 
 

 

 

Convicts arriving on the Elizabeth in 1820

 

 

 

Elizabeth 1828  
   
Embarked 194 women
Voyage 138 days
Deaths 2

 

Master Walter Cock. Surgeon Joseph Hughes

The Elizabeth departed from Cork on 27 August 1827 and arrived in Port Jackson on 12 January 1828, a voyage of 138 days.

 

194 female prisoners & 15 children embarked on the Elizabeth and two died on the passage out, one having been lost overboard.

 

Joseph H. Hughes was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. Passengers included Rev. John Vincent, wife and four children.

 

On Tuesday 15 January, the Honourable the Colonial Secretary Alexander McLeay accompanied by the Principal Superintendent of Convicts, mustered the women on board the vessel.

 

The Elizabeth had a small band on board, which enlivened Sydney harbour in the evenings.

The women were landed early in the morning and distributed in the forenoon on Thursday 24 January.

 

The Elizabeth was one of three convict ships bringing female prisoners to New South Wales in 1828, the others being the Competitor and the City of Edinburgh. A total of 471 female convicts arrived in the colony in the year 1828.

 

*************

Extract of a Despatch from Governor Darling to the Right Hon. William Huskisson

New South Wales, Government House 3rd April 1828

Sir,

I do my myself the honour to transmit the accompanying lists of female convicts lately arrived by the ship Elizabeth from Ireland, considering, from the question they involve, that they may prove of some importance to the public.

List No. 1 contains the names of 19 women, whose husbands or relations are already in the colony; No2 is a list of 11 women, whose husbands are under sentence of transportation, but have not yet arrived.

Whether these women committed the offences for which they have been transported as a means of joining their husbands and relations, or whether they are the victims of crime unconnected with this object, is perhaps not altogether unimportant. In the former case, it may be a question whether an attempt should not be made to put a stop to such proceeding, though the means may not be convenient or easily devised. It might be well to consider whether it would be best effected by sending out the wives of convicts soon after their husbands are transported, or by not transporting any woman whose husband had been sent out as a convict. These appear to be the only means of effecting the object. The first would certainly render the punishment of transportation less abhorrent, and might operate as an encouragement to crime.

The second would perhaps be the more advisable course, as it might possibly prevent the commission of crime on the part of the women who were anxious to join their husbands; and the men would as at present, still have an inducement to behave well, in the hope from that circumstance that their wives would be permitted to join them. I have the honour to be, with the utmost defence and respect, Sir, Your most obedient and most humble servant, R. Darling

No. 1 List of Female convicts per 'Elizabeth' whose husbands or relations are in this colony and Van Diemen's Land: -

Johanna Warren - Husband came as Michael Murray per 'Eliza'

Ellen Healy - Husband came as Michael Griffen per 'Eliza'

Catherine Neale - Husband came as James Fitzgerald 12 months previously

Mary Field - Has two daughters and a son in the colony and one daughter aged 18 years on board, convicted with the mother

Hannah Wallace - Husband here as John Baxter per Countess of Harcourt in 1827

Catherine Gogarty - Husband here as Thomas Gogarty, about two years since

Mary McCormick - Husband here as James McMahan per 'Cambridge

Mary Ann Downes - Husband here as Michael Downes per 'Countess of Harcourt' in 1827

Margaret Maloney - Husband here as James Riley per 'Countess of Harcourt'

Mary Connor or McGuity - Husband, McGuity, at Van Diemen's Land

Ann Murphy - Husband here as Patrick Murphy about six months ago

Margaret Godfrey - Husband here as Thomas Hayes per 'Eliza'

Sarah Cummins - Husband here as Thomas Cummins, about three years ago; also three sons in the colony.

Rose Fallon - Husband William Moore per 'Eliza'

Margaret Murphy - Has a brother here, a Peter Thompson, or Murphy about eight years ago.

Mary Scully or Macguire - Husband here as Thomas Scully per 'Hercules'

Catherine Connors - Husband here as John Connor, private in the 57th regiment

Eleanor Smith - Husband here as Edward McAnalty, seven years ago.

Mary Doyle or Dempsey - Husband here as Morris Dempsey per 'Cambridge'

 

No. 2 - List of Female convicts per 'Elizabeth' whose husbands have been convicted but not yet arrived.

Catherine Holmes - Husband convicted and expected as Thomas Kennedy

Bridget Johnson - Husband as Richard Kelly

Mary long - Husband as Thomas Hunt

Mary Dogherty - husband as James McCullum

Mary Moore - husband as James Mehan

Mary Morris - husband as William Russell

Honora McGrath - husband as Thomas McGrath

Mary riley - Husband as Patrick Hearne

Mary Scott - Husband as Matthew Power

Catherine Dowling or Hennessy - Husband as James Hennessey

Ann McAspert - Husband as James McAspert

 

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Elizabeth in 1828

 

 

 

Elizabeth 1836  
   
Embarked 161 days
Voyage 108
Deaths 0

 

Master John Austin. Surgeon Robert Espie

The convict ship Elizabeth departed London on 26 June 1836. By 8th July they were off the coast of Madeira and they arrived at Port Jackson on 12 October 1836.

 

The voyage of 108 days duration was no more pleasant for the surgeon Robert Espie than it was for the 161 female prisoners who came under his care. Robert Espie was an experienced surgeon having been previously employed on the convict ships Morley 1817  Shipley 1818  Dorothy 1820  Lord Sidmouth 1823  Lady Rowena 1826 Mary 1830(VDL) and  Roslin Castle 1834. He requested to be assigned to a female convict ship thinking that he was well capable of undertaking the task, however the women of the Elizabeth were a wild, defiant lot and by his own account he was very nearly stabbed by one before the ship even left Woolwich. By the end of the voyage he was fed up as the following extract from his Medical Journal  reveals. This was his last voyage as surgeon on a convict ship: -

 

Surgeon's general remarks -

What I have got to say must be brief, unless I do as some others are in the habit of doing who think to force their way to great notice at the Admiralty by writing a mass of silly trash, that no man could or would read were it his time was paid for at 3d an hour. I know a tall fellow in this service who employed these convict clerks writing while he dictated, and who when his journal was full spliced on to it at a quire of foolscap. This commencement looks a little pettish not to say savouring of scurrility - but mark me I was only in play, for all the abuse to hurl at any one must be of myself - I, like a fine dotthead asked Sir William to get one appointed to a woman's ship and I had the appointment by Sir William's means - I had very nearly suffered stabbing by one of the females before the ship left Woolwich. I had vainly imagined I knew how to manage convict women having had two ships of that sort before, but from some cause or other I most decidedly did not succeed to my own satisfaction in this last ship, named the Elizabeth.

I commenced to giving up my whole time and attention to the service I was employed on, but I had imbibed (and have still a strong prejudice) against corporal punishment and I tried all I could by other means such as solitary confinement and cutting their hair These trifles only incited them to go to greater lengths to bid me utter defiance with a thousand threatening of what they would do when they got to Sydney. Here now let any man show me what is to be done from the master of the ship down to the lowest boy are all opposed to the Doctor if he has done his duty by preventing prostitution.

I saw clearly I had committed an error by being too lenient, I therefore prepared myself with a good stout piece of rope and when I thought they deserved it, I whipped them most soundly over the arms legs and back and this was continued (whatever the saints may think) till I had conquered every refractory spirit among them and my certificates will testify that the government of New South Wales was perfectly satisfied with my conduct in every particular - so much for the discipline of a female convict ship, but some people might reverse it and say so little - no matter I hate a tedious fool.

Now, a word sir as to the doctoring of them that required little or no trouble and the cases I have detailed in the foregoing part of this journal are the only ones I could possibly put together, for I have no genius at furbishing up a mess of disgusting egotism and pompous inanity making a mountain where there was hardly a wart, here then I sum up this sketch by saying that the whole of the persons under my charge on board the Elizabeth female convict ship landed at Sydney N.S.W in a much better state of health than when they embarked on board of her at Woolwich and when I know that this statement will be overlooked by so enlightened a judge of these matters as the present head of the medical department of the navy I cannot believe that a verbose and labour’d summary would have gained his favour a bit more than this one which is so easily got through. [Signed] Robert Espie, Surgeon, R.N, 26 October 1836, Sydney, N.S.W.

Twenty-two of the women who arrived on the Elizabeth have so far been identified residing in the Hunter region in the following decades.

 

The Elizabeth was one of five convict ships transporting female prisoners to New South Wales in the year 1836, the others being the Roslin Castle, Thomas Harrison, Henry Wellesley and Pyramus. A total of 668 female prisoners arrived in the colony in 1836

 

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Elizabeth 1836

 

 

Elphinstone 1838  
   
Embarked 255 men
Voyage 112 days
Deaths 23

Captain Thomas Fremlin. Surgeon Alick Osborne

 

255 prisoners were originally embarked on the convict ship Elphinstone, however 23 were re-landed before sailing.

 

The Elphinstone departed Dublin on 8th September 1838 and arrived in Port Jackson on 29 December 1838, a voyage of 112 days.

 

232 male prisoners arrived on the Elphinstone. Surgeon Superintendent Alick Osborne kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 22 July 1838 to 5 January 1839. He noted in his journal that the convicts were received in good health at Dublin and that the vessel sailed at a favourable period of the year. The scorbutic (scurvy) cases were noticed promptly and quickly yielded to his treatment of nitre and vinegar. He administered this remedy to all patients with boils, ulcers, or eruptions with good effect.

 

On the 18th November the Elphinstone was in latitude 48° south, longitude 30° east and on the 22nd November in latitude 25° south, longitude 36° east. She arrived in Port Jackson on 29 December 1838. The prisoners were landed on Saturday 5th January 1839.

 

Cabin Passengers included Captain Parker; Quarter Master William Kerr, Mrs. Kerr and two daughters and in Steerage were the rank and file of the 18th 50th 51st regiments

 

The Elphinstone arrived at the hottest time of the year, but there was little sympathy for newly arrived convicts and they were put to work as soon as possible. John Gannon, aged 55, did not survive long after arrival. Just ten days after landing, on 15th January, the hottest day of the year, he was working in the streets when he was taken ill. He was removed to the prisoner barracks and then to the hospital but died soon afterwards A coroner's inquest found that he had died to exposure to the sun and exhaustion.

 

Alick Osborne was also employed as surgeon on the convict ships Lonach 1825  Speke 1826  Sophia 1829  Sarah 1829  Planter 1832  Fairlie 1834  Marquis of Huntley 1835 

 

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Elphinstone in 1838

 

 

 

 

Emma Eugenia 1838  
   
Embarked 200 men
Voyage 95 days
Deaths 1

 

Master Giles Wade. Surgeon Robert Wylie

Two hundred prisoners were embarked on the convict ship Emma Eugenia from the Hulks at Portsmouth in October 1837. Most were Englishmen from various parts of the country.  The vessel departed London on 6th November 1837 and arrived in Port Jackson on Friday 9th February 1838, a voyage of 95 days. The surgeon reported that the passage through the tropics was favourable. Scurvy appeared by January, however according to the surgeon the disease was checked with lemon juice and sugar. Nitre in vinegar was tried also but found not as effective as lemon juice.

Forty seven years old Thomas Whipps died on 8th February, leaving one hundred and ninety nine male convicts who arrived under the care of Surgeon Superintendent Robert Wylie R.N.  Surgeon Wylie kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 7 October 1837 to 24 February 1838.

The guard consisted of Ensign Love, 28th regiment., Lieut. Rice, 52nd regiment., Serjeant Bernard Turley, Corporal Dickinson, 29 rank and file of the 28th, 50th, 52nd and 80 regiment., and their wives and families

Chief officer of the Emma Eugenia was Mr. Pritchard. Two of the seamen were John Hamilton and George Field

Robert Wylie was also employed as surgeon on the convict ships Henry Wellesley 1836  and Barossa in 1839

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Emma Eugenia in 1838

 

 

England  1826  
   
Embarked 148 men
Voyage 135 days
Deaths 0

Captain Reay. Surgeon George Thompson

The convict ship England departed the Downs 6th May 1826 and arrived in Port Jackson on Monday 18th September 1826 a voyage of 135 days

148 male prisoners were transported on the England. There were no deaths on the voyage and all the prisoners arrived in good health.

George Thompson R.N., was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He was also employed as surgeon on the convict ship Borodino in 1828

The Guard consisted of a detachment of the 39th regt under orders of Major D'arcy. Mrs. D'arcy and family and Mrs. Reay passenger

More about the convicts of the England 1826

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the England in 1826

 

 

 

England 1835  
   
Embarked 230 men
Voyage 112 days
Deaths 0

 

Captain Thomas Bacon. Surgeon Obadiah Pineo

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

The England departed Portsmouth 8th June 1835 with 230 male prisoners under superintendence of Dr. Obadiah Pineo R.N.

Passengers D.A.C.G. Smith, Captain Crummer, Mrs Crummer and 3 children, Ensign Ewen 29 rank and five of the 28th regt., 9 women and 7 children

The England arrived in Port Jackson on 28 September 1835

Obadiah Pineo was also employed as surgeon on the convict ships Pyramus 1836  and Lord Lyndoch 1838

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the England in 1835

 

 

Exmouth 1831  
   
Embarked 290 men
Voyage 148 days
Deaths 1

Captain Daniel Warren. Surgeon William Conborough Watt

 

The Exmouth departed Plymouth on 26th March and arrived in Port Jackson on 28th July 1831.

 

289 male prisoners arrived on the Exmouth, one man Richard Beard having died at sea on the 28th May from Pythisis.

 

The Guard consisted of 3 sergeants, 46 rank and file with their wives and families of the 87th Royal Irish Fusiliers under command of Capt. Moore and Lieuts. Irwin and Middlemore

 

William Conborough Watt was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 11 January to 18 August 1831. He began treating convicts while still at Sheerness in February. Two young men James Burnes and Thomas Knowles, both aged 15 suffered from catarrh and ophthalmia, occasioned they thought by being put to watch the swinging stoves while on the Euralysis hulk.

 

The convicts suffered from many complaints on the voyage, ranging from rashes and eruptions to tonsillitis, headache and melancholia. On 25th April sixteen year old Peter Pollen suffered serious burns to his back and shoulder when a bucket of hot liquid was spilt over him as he lay in his bunk. He was kept in the hospital for a month. In all eighteen men suffered from scurvy and according to the surgeon all but three were cured with a solution of nitre and vinegar.

William Conborough Watt was also employed as surgeon on the convict ships Edward 1829 Roslin Castle 1830  and Mary 1833.

 

The Exmouth departed Sydney for Calcutta in September, however returned to port in consequence of adverse winds experienced while attempting to pass through Torres Strait. They left Sydney again in October.

 

Sixteen convict ships arrived in New South Wales in 1831. Many of the prisoners arriving on these vessels would have witnessed the bonfires in Sydney on 2nd December 1831, set alight to celebrate the arrival of the new Governor Sir Richard Bourke.

 

Of the 289 men who arrived on the Exmouth, 112 have been identified as residing in the Hunter region in the following decades. Quite a few were sent to work for the Australian Agricultural Company in their Coal Mines at Newcastle. Others such as John Cook who was assigned to William Dumaresq were sent far up the valley, perhaps to tend flocks or be employed in other agricultural work. James Souter was attached to Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell's expedition in the capacity of assistant surgeon.

The punishment meted out to William Smith for drunkenness and resisting arrest was probably fairly typical of that other convicts experienced for committing minor transgressions of the law. Bushranger Henry Hughes who touched hand with some of the most notorious convicts in the colony, received a much harsher penalty and was transported to a penal colony for life.  

 

George Palliser achieved infamy and narrowly escaped being hanged when he became part of what is known as the Myall Creek Massacre. Bushranger Herbert Owen may have been another who escaped the penalty of the law. Although his named was printed in the wanted lists for years, there is no record of his fate.

 

Select here to find out more about other convicts who arrived on the Exmouth in 1831

 

 

 

 

Experiment 1804  
   
Embarked 138 prisoners
Voyage 174 days
Deaths 6

Captain Francis Withers.

The Experiment departed England on 2nd January 1804. She was damaged in a violent gale in the Bay of Biscay and arrived at Rio de Janeiro on 8th March, departing from there on 8th April.

The Experiment had been in sight since the previous Thursday however didn't make it into Sydney harbour because of strong winds until the 12th June 1804

One hundred and thirty female convicts with 2 male convicts one of whom Anthony Rowson had previously escaped from the colony. Four or five women who were prisoners and 2 wives of free settlers died on the passage out.  The Experiment brought news of the death of William Balmain.

Molly Morgan arrived as a convict on the Experiment. Settlers Caleb and Felix Wilson came as passengers and Surgeon Edward Luttrell and family also.

Hunter Valley Convicts arriving on the Experiment in 1804

List of convicts on the Experiment - Convicts to Australia web site

 

Experiment 1809  
   
Embarked 60 women
Voyage 155 days
Deaths 0

 

Captain Dodds

The convict ship Experiment sailed from the Downs bound for the Cove of Cork on 29th October 1808. She departed Cork on the 21st January in a convoy and arrived at Rio de Janeiro on 9th March 1809.

She arrived in Port Jackson on 25th June 1809 with 60 female prisoners. All the women were landed in good health.

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Experiment in 1809

 

 

 

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