Master John Cross

The Indefatigable sailed from England on 4th June 1812 in company with the Minstrel  and arrived in Hobart on 19 October 1812 with 200 prisoners. Twenty-five of the prisoners were under the age of 21.

On board the Indefatigable were Lieutenants Pook and Lascelles of the 73rd Regiment with a Detachment for Hobart.

The Indefatigable and the Minstrel arrived at Rio de Janeiro on 29th July and found there the Archduke Charles from Ireland with 150 male and 40 female prisoners bound for Port Jackson. On board the Archduke Charles were. Lieutenants Buckbridge and Connor, and a detachment of the 73rd regiment.

The three vessels sailed in company from Rio the 11th August 1811 but the Archduke Charles separated the day following. The Minstrel and the Indefatigable kept company until the 17 August and then separated in a gale of wind.

Convicts arriving on the Indefatigable in 1812

The convict ship Indefatigable departed England in convoy with the Sydney Packet and arrived in the colony on 26 April 1815 having been delayed at Rio de Janeiro for five weeks.

Two hundred male prisoners left England under a guard of a military detachment commanded by Lieut. Hoskins. Thirty-seven of the prisoners were under the age of 21 years

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Indefatigable in 1815

Master Andrew Barclay.  Surgeon Mr. Maine

The Indian departed England 18 July 1810 and arrived in Port Jackson on 16 December 1810 with 192 male prisoners. Seven men died of disease and one man accidentally drowned on the passage out.

The guard consisted of a subaltern officer and thirty soldiers of the 73rd regiment.

Governor Macquarie wrote in a dispatch to Lord Liverpool in October 1811 -   "I have to inform your Lordship that I have, on all arrivals of convicts ships, ordered a muster to be immediately taken of the convicts on ship board by my Secretary and the Acting Commissary, and I afterwards take a muster of them myself so soon as landed, in order to ascertain the manner they have been treated during the voyage, and whether they have any complaints to prefer against the commander or surgeon of the ship in which they came. By the previous muster I also acquire a knowledge of the trades or professions of the convicts, which enables me to appropriate them afterwards in the most advantageous way for Government, and at the same time most easy for themselves. I have much satisfaction in reporting to your Lordship that the convicts arrived by the four ships Indian, Providence, Admiral Gambier and Friends were in general in good health, having been well treated on board, and had no complains to make against either the commanders or the surgeons. The male convicts arrived in those ships proved a very seasonable and acceptable supply for the colony, the settlers in general having been in great want of labourers to carry on their agricultural and grazing concerns. (HR NSW Vol. VII)

One of Australia's most famous convicts James Hardy Vaux was transported for the second time on the Indian. He later wrote his Memoirs while serving a sentence at Newcastle Penal settlement.

Other prisoners arriving on the Indian included Francis Beattie, Edward Edwards, and Isaac Elliott

More about innkeeper Francis Beattie

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Indian 1810

The convict ship Indispensable arrived in Port Jackson on 30 April 1796 with 131 female prisoners and provisions for nine months after their arrival. The voyage took six months to complete and two women died on the passage out.

Convicts arriving on the Indispensable in 1796

Captain Henry Best.  Surgeon William Evans

The convict ship Indispensable departed England 2nd March 1809, touched at Rio from whence she sailed for Sydney, arriving 19 August 1809.  61 female prisoners arrived on the Indispensable, all in a healthy state.

Passengers Rev Cowper and family, Mr. Heartley R.N., and family.

Convicts arriving on the Indispensable in 1809

Convicts arriving on the Integrity in 1837

Convicts arriving on the Integrity in 1838

Captain Robert Berry.  Surgeon John William Hallion

The Isabella was a brand new ship, having been built on the Thames in 1818. She departed England on 3rd April, called at Rio where she left the Tottenham on 2nd July and arrived in Port Jackson on 14th September 1818 with 227 male prisoners.

John William Hallion R.N., was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. Two prisoners died on the passage and another drowned. John Hallion was also employed as surgeon on the Alexander 1816

The Military guard consisted of a detachment of the 48th regiment., under orders of Lieut. Reeve. Passengers William Minchin Esq. late Capt. in the 102nd Regt., with his Family arrived on the Isabella as a Free Settler to reside in the Colony.

Some of the Pentrich Rioters were transported on the Isabella.  They had been tried and convicted of High Treason on 25 September 1817 and sent from Derby to the hulk Retribution moored at Woolwich on 5th February 1818. From there they were transferred to the Isabella on 6th March 1818.  Their names were Edward Turner age 31; Samuel Hunt aged 22; John Onion age 48 all sentenced to transportation for life. Joseph Rawson aged 30 was sentenced to transportation for 14 years. (UK Prison Hulk Registers, Ancestry) See the Pentrich Rebellion for more information about the rioters.

The Isabella departed Sydney for Batavia on 14 November 1818.

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Isabella in 1818

The convict ship Isabella departed Cork 4th November 1821 with 200 male prisoners and arrived off Port Jackson on 9th March 1822. This was Captain Wallis' third voyage. His first was on the Three Bees.

William Price R.N. was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He kept a Medical Journal from 1st August 1821 to 14 March 1822.

The vessel was moored at Cowes on Thursday 2nd August 1821 when the detachment of the 24th regiment under orders of Lieut. Harvey from Albury Barracks embarked. There were 28 Privates and Corporals and three women. The following day at noon they weighed anchor and passed through the Needles under light and variable winds. On the next Friday (10th) they arrived at the Cove of Cork after a rough passage when the Guard and women suffered very much from sea sickness. They remained at the Cove of Cork for some time during which time several of the guard became unruly and rebellious. A court-martial took place on board and six soldiers were sent back to shore.

On October 14th forty-seven convicts were received onto the vessel making the total to 200 men. They were divided into messes and sent on deck during each day in two divisions. This routine continued until nearly the end of October when rain sent in and the men were kept below. The surgeon reported that the prisoners were orderly and well behaved. The bad weather continued and the men were allowed on deck intermittently. By November they had set sail and most of the convicts, guard and women were all experiencing sea sickness in the boisterous weather.

Over the next four months Surgeon Price kept a daily record of the position of the vessel and weather experienced as well as the various illness of the convicts.

There were light winds on the 10th March when they came to anchor in Sydney Cove. The convicts were mustered on deck and divine service performed. The following day the Colonial Secretary came on board to muster the men.

On the 14th March at daylight the guard and the convicts were all disembarked and at 11am Governor Sir Thomas Brisbane inspected the prisoners in the gaol yard.

The total number who arrived on the Isabella was 32 people belonging to the guard including the officer; two soldier's wives (one died on the passage); passengers 1 man, wife and two children; and two hundred convicts.

Back on the vessel a party of men came on board from the dockyard and dismantled the on-board prison in preparation for the return to England of the Isabella.

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Isabella in 1822

Captain Wallis. Surgeon William Rae

The Isabella departed from Cork in August and arrived in Port Jackson on 16 December 1823. 190 male prisoners arrived, five having died on the passage out.

The guard comprised a detachment of the 40th under command of Lieut. Millar.

William Rae R.N., was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He kept a Medical Journal  on the passage out. William Rae was also employed on the convict ships Eliza 1822   Marquis of Huntley 1826  Prince Regent 1827  Marquis of Hastings 1828

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Isabella in 1823

The Isabella departed Plymouth on 27th November 1831 and arrived in New South Wales on 15 March 1832 with 224 prisoners.

The guard consisted of 38 non commissioned officers and privates of the4th Regiment, 4 women and 9 children, under the command of Captain Clark. Passenger Lieut. Hilton of the 39th Regiment.

Convicts arriving on the Isabella in 1832

Convicts arriving on the Isabella in 1840