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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Vincentwas 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.
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.
Robert Tainsh was employed as Surgeon
Superintendent.
The Earl St. Vincentdeparted
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.
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 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)
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
with269 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
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.
Surgeon John Stephenson joined the
Eleanorat 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Elizadeparted 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
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
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.
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.
F
orty-three
men who arrived on the
Elizabeth
were under the age of 21 years.
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.
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.
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
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 1817Shipley 1818Dorothy 1820Lord Sidmouth 1823Lady 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
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.
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
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.
TheEngland 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 arrivedin Port Jackson on 28 September 1835
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
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.
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.
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.
