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Lady Castlereagh 1818 |
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Captain George Weltden. Surgeon
James Craigie
The
Lady Castlereagh
departed England on 22nd December 1817 with 300 male prisoners all in
excellent health
The
military guard consisted of a
detachment of 34th, 46th and 48 regiments under orders of Lieut. Brotheridge of the 48th and Ensign Lax of 34th. Passengers
included Rev. William Lawrey of the Wesleyan Missionary
Society and W.B. Cramp.
James Craigie R.N. was employed as Surgeon
Superintendent.
W.B. Cramp wrote of his voyage
in Narrative of a Voyage to India; of a Shipwreck on board
the Lady Castlereagh; and a Description of New South Wales:-
..... " I
had not waited long in London, before another vacancy
occurred on board His Majesty's Transport Ship Lady
Castlereagh, lying at Deptford, bound to the New South
Wales. Shortly after 1 had joined her, we sailed to Woolwich,
and received on board our guard, which was composed of a
detachment of his Majesty's 46th regiment of foot, and after
receiving a portion of our convicts, we proceeded on our
passage to Portsmouth : we received another portion from
Sheerness, and in two days arrived at Portsmouth. The
remainder of our prisoners not being in readiness, we were
forced to bring up and moor ship a cable each way.
Spithead is a spacious road
for shipping, between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight, and
where they in general lie after they are in readiness for
sea. I went on shore to see the town of Portsmouth. It is
situated inland of Portsea; the streets are generally narrow,
and-rather dirty, owing to their not being properly paved.
The Dock-yards, as there are several, resemble distinct
towns, and are under a government separate from the garrison.
Here is a commodious arsenal for laying up cannon, and the
fortress may be justly considered as the most regular one in
Great Britain. The number of men employed in the different
ropeyards generally is considered to be between eight or nine
hundred, and the garrison is very large. The town of
Portsmouth contains about 40,000 inhabitants, and the harbour
is reckoned one of the finest in the world, as there is water
sufficient for the largest ships, and is so very capacious
that the whole of the British navy may ride in safety. The
principal branch run up to Fareham, a second to Pouchestei
and a third to Portsea Bridge; besides these channels there
are several rithes, or channels, where the small men of war
lie at their moorings. Opposite the town is the spacious road
of Spithead.
On the 20th of December we
received our convicts, and the following day we made sail and
passed through the Needles, which are two sharp-pointed rocks
at the N. W. end of the Isle of Wight, so called from their
sharp extremities. The prisoners, during their voyage,
behaved themselves with great propriety, considering the
variety of characters which we had on board. We arrived at
New South Wales on the 26th of April, 1818, after a pleasant
passage." (*Note - some sources state
30th April.)
39 prisoners were landed at
Port Jackson and 261 sent to Van Diemen's Land.
"Government not being
disposed to receive all our convicts, we were taken up to
proceed to Van Diemen's Land, with a crew of two hundred
convicts, besides a detachment of one hundred and sixty rank
and file of his Majesty's 46th regiment of foot under command
of Major. Bell. We sailed on the 4th May, and arrived at Van
Diemen's Land after a pleasant passage of six days. After our
prisoners were received on shore, they sent us another
detachment of 150 rank and file of his Majesty's 46th
regiment for Madras, and we began to prepare for sea."
The Lady Castlereagh
departed Hobart on 26th May, and called at Sydney on her
voyage to Madras.
Convicts arriving on the Lady Castlereagh
in 1818
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Lady Feversham 1830 |
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Captain Stephenson Ellerby. Surgeon
Andrew Douglas Wilson
The
Lady Feversham
departed Portsmouth on 8th April and
arrived in Port Jackson on
29 July 1830
with 178 male prisoners; a
voyage of 112 days. She was one of eighteen convict ships arriving in
New South Wales in 1830.
Andrew Douglas Wilson Esq., was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He
kept a
Medical and Surgical Journal
from 1st March 1830:
'The
cases continued in the journal are the whole which occurred in the ship
during her passage to New South Wales, consequently the amount of
sickness was not great. There were two deaths. The first died from the
effects of having led a most dissolute and intemperate life; the other
apparently from disease of the lungs. In some few cases where incipient
appearances of scurvy presented themselves, I found the exhibition of
the nitrates potasse as recommended by Mr. Charles Cameron, surgeon to
be uniformly efficacious and I consider the general good health of the
convicts was greatly attributable to well ventilated and cleanly
condition in which I was enabled to keep the ship.'
Andrew Douglas Wilson was also surgeon on convict
ships
Princess Royal 1829
and
Asia 1832
The guard consisted of 2 sergeants, 2 corporals and 25 privates of the
17th Regiment under command of Lieut. Harvey of the 29th regiment.
Convicts arriving on the Lady Feversham
in 1830
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Lady Harewood
1831 |
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| Embarked 216 men |
| Voyage 138 days |
| Deaths 2 |
| Surgeon's Journal: yes |
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Captain Richard Stonehouse. Surgeon
James McTernan
The Lady Harewood
departed Sheerness on 17 October 1830.
James McTernan was employed as Surgeon
Superintendent. He kept a
Medical and Surgical Journal
from 22 September to 16 March 1831.
The weather was rainy for some time after they
left necessitating the convicts to be confined below deck and
causing illness amongst some of the men. A visit for one day
to Port Praya and the purchase of fruit and meats together
with a favourable change in the weather enabled the men to be
more active and the illness mostly disappeared.
James Ternan
recorded in his journal that the
'cheering exercise of the boxing gloves' was introduced on the
journey. He added that this exercise 'should be very
cautiously introduced and the objects of it clearly explained
to those about to use it and...... under the eye of proper
control'.
He gave the example of two filthy indolent fellows whom
he had punished for quarrelling repeatedly and who carried
their hostility on. They were only with great difficulty
roused even to the exertion of coming on deck until they were
matched to the gloves and kept to them at evenings. Their
scurvy disappeared, their animosity ceased and they became
good friends.
The Lady Harewood arrived in Port
Jackson on 4 March 1831 with 214 male prisoners; the
voyage had taken 138 days.
James McTernan was also surgeon on the convict ships
Ocean 1823 Sir Charles Forbes 1827 (VDL)
Asia 1828
Eliza 1829
John Barry 1836
and
Sara 1837 (VDL)
Select here to
find out more about bushranger Joseph Bowers who arrived on the Lady Harewood
Select here to
find out more about bushranger William Rowley who arrived on the Lady
Harewood
Convicts arriving on the Lady Harewood in 1831
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Lady Harewood 1832 |
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| Embarked 200 men |
| Voyage 143 days |
| Deaths 1 |
| Surgeon's Journal: Yes |
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Captain Richard Stonehouse. Surgeon
John Inches
Two hundred male prisoners were received on to the
Lady Harewood at
Spithead from the York and Leviathan Hulks on the 7 March 1832.
Surgeon
John Inches'
Medical Journal
included a list of food he received from Captain Stonehouse for the voyage
- 16 bottles of port wine; six pounds of preserved
meat; 34 pounds of Pearl Barley; 20 pounds of tea; 20 pounds of tea;
14 pounds of sago; 10 ounces of ginger; 37 pounds of rice; 52 pounds
of sugar; and 27 bottles of lemon juice.
They
sailed for Port Jackson on 15 March, however were obliged to put back
because of tempestuous weather after getting only part way down the
Channel. They sailed again on 25th March 1832 not having had any
illness amongst the convicts whilst at Spithead. The prisoners were
mustered twice a week and at the first signs of spongy gums
(symptom of scurvy) lime juice was given out, however one prisoner
died of scurvy on the voyage.
The Lady Harewood was the first of the convict ships that
was fitted without midship berths, having hammocks instead which
enabled the surgeon to keep a clear space between the main and fore
hatch in the day time and allow free circulation of air on the prison
deck. The surgeon noted that it was also of great service in bad
weather as a number of the prisoners could walk about when the weather
would not permit of them going on deck which greatly promoted the
health of the prisoners in general.
The Lady Harewood
arrived at Port Jackson on 5 August 1832 with 199 male
prisoners who were described in the Sydney Gazette as 'stout, able
fellows'.
Officer commanding the guard Lieut. Lowth 38th
regt., accompanied by Mrs. Lowth. The Guard consisted of Lieut. Donlan,
48th regt., and 26 rank and file of 4th regiment.
John Inches was also surgeon on the
convict ships
Lloyds 1833
Mary 1835
and
Norfolk 1837
Convicts arriving on the Lady Harewood in 1832
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Lady Juliana
1790 |
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Surgeon
Richard Alley was
also employed as surgeon on the
Royal Admiral in 1792
The Lady Juliana departed Portsmouth
and arrived in Port Jackson on
3 June 1790
The Life and Adventures of mariner John Nichol
Secrets of the Dead
Voyage of the Courtesans - The Lady Juliana and the
New World
The wonders of nature and art: or, A
concise account of whatever - by Thomas Smith 1804
Convicts arriving on the Lady Juliana
in
1790 |
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Lady Kennaway
1835 |
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Master Thomas Bolton. Surgeon
Thomas Bell
The Lady Kennaway
departed Cork on 27 October 1834 and arrived in Van Diemen's Land on 13
February 1835, a voyage of 109 days.
274 male prisoners arrived under the care of Surgeon Superintendent Thomas Bell.
Thomas Bell was also surgeon on the convict ships
Thames 1829
Edward 1831
Eliza 1832
Prince George 1837
and
Portsea 1838
Image of Lady Kennaway-National Maritime
Museum
Convicts arriving on the Lady Kennaway in 1835
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Lady Kennaway
1836 |
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Master Robert
Davidson. Surgeon
James Wilson
The Guard consisted
of Major Baker and Lieut. Morris of H.M. 80th regiment, 25
rank and file of the 80th and five of the 50th regiment.
Passengers included Mrs. Morris, 6 women and 5 children.
James Wilson was
employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He kept a Medical
Journal from 21 April 1836 to 21 October 1836. Three hundred
prisoners were embarked in England and Surgeon Wilson recorded
the ages in his journal:
'On 25th May we embarked 130 male convicts from
the Justitia hulk at Woolwich. Of whom 53 were between 13 and
20 years of age; 57 were between 20 and 30 years of age; 4
were between 30 and 40; 5 were between 40 and 50; 3 between 50
and 60 years of age and one aged 67. The strength of nearly
all the men was much below the natural standard.
On the same day 70 men were embarked from the
Ganymede hulk at Woolwich of whom 17 were between 15 and 20
years; 31 were between 20 and 30; 13 between 30 to 40; six
between 40 and 50; two were between 50 and 60 and one of 66
years of age.
On the 28th May we embarked at Sheerness 100
male convicts from the Fortitude hulk at Chatham of whom 19
were between 17 and 20 years of age; 61 were between 20 and 30
years of age; 14 were between 30 and 40 years of age; 5 were
between 40 and 50 years of age and one was 53.'
The Lady Kennaway
departed the Downs 11 June 1836.
By the end of July James Wilson was
concerned for the health of the men. He wrote -
'On
25th July we had 13 persons on the sick list. Taking into
consideration the character of the disease which had
manifested, and the probability of their numbers being much
increased in the course of the voyage still before us, I
assessed it my duty to write the following letter to the
master of the ship,
Sir, the disease scurvy having attacked some of
the convicts and there being four aged convicts at present
labouring under atrophies, it is my direction that you carry
the ship under your command in to the harbour of Bahia it
being the one nearest. Mooring her at some considerable
distance from the shore. Complete here in water and then take
on board such refreshments as may be there directed for
arresting the progress of the said complaints.
The Guard and convicts were given fresh meat
and vegetables with three oranges while in port and on sailing
we took on board 6 live bullocks. With a proportion of
vegetables for use at sea and some soft bread and oranges for
the use of the sick. We were six days in harbour. And to the
happy effects which the refreshments procured at Bahia had
upon the general health, not only of the sick whose numbers
were reduced from 13 to 6, but which extended its influence
over all, would I mainly attribute the much higher state of
health in which the convicts were landed in Sydney than that
they were embarked in England.'
Two hundred and
ninety eight convicts arrived in Port Jackson on 12 October 1836.
The
voyage had taken 123 days. The Sydney Gazette reported that
the prisoners gave three cheers as the vessel was coming into
the harbour and appeared much gratified that they had
escaped the dangers of the sea.
James Wilson
was also employed as surgeon on the convict ships
Blenheim 1834
and
Minerva 1838 (VDL)
Old Australian Ships - Register, Adelaide
Convicts arriving on the Lady Kennaway
in 1836
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Lady McNaughten 1835 |
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Master George Hustwick.
Surgeon
George Ellery Forman
The
Lady McNaughten
departed Dublin on 23 June 1835 and arrived in Port
Jackson on 26
October 1835 with 298 male prisoners, seven having died on
the passage out.
George E. Forman was employed as Su rgeon
Superintendent. He was also employed as surgeon on the convict
ships
Platina 1837 (VDL),
Pyramus 1839 (VDL) and
Eden 1840
Convicts arriving on the Lady McNaughten
in 1835 |
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Lady Nugent
1835 |
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Master Joseph Fawcett. Surgeon
Oliver Sproule
Some of the convicts arriving on the Lady
Nugent
had been tried and convicted at the Old Bailey.
Select here to find
out what it may have been like to be tried at the Old Bailey and
imprisoned in Newgate in 1834.
On 20 November 1834, 100 male convicts were embarked from the
Justitia
Hulk and 60 from the
Ganymede Hulk at Woolwich, all in apparent good health. On the 26
November, 100 were sent on board from the Fortitude Hulk at Chatham and
twenty six convict boys from the Euraylus Hulk at Chatham, who were also
in good health making the total number of convicts 286.
Passengers included Captain Montgomery of the 50th
regiment, Ensign Purlon, Miss Mary Montgomery, Miss Elizabeth Montgomery
and Philip Turner, Commissariat clerk
The Lady Nugent
departed Sheerness
on 4 December 1834.
Surgeon Oliver Sproule was
employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He kept a
Medical and Surgical Journal
from 7 November 1834 to 27 April 1835.
He recorded in his journal the weather conditions they experienced in
the first two weeks:
'In the course of the
first week or ten days at sea, there were eight or nine on the sick list
with catarrhal affections and one with dropsy which I attribute to the
cold and wet we experienced during that period beating down channel.
Indeed the foremost berths in the prison at this time were so wet from
leaking in that part of the ship, that I was obliged to issue dry beds
and bedding to a great many of the prisoners to preserve their health,
but after crossing the Bay of Biscay the weather became fine and we got
the damp beds and blankets dried, the leaks partially stopped and the
prison well aired and ventilated which, I am happy to say soon
manifested a favourable change in the health and appearance of the men.
Besides the cases given in the journal I had a great many others to
treat, some of them similar to those mentioned but the greater part
consisted of boils, scalds, and contusions which would not only be too
tedious to enter but I fear would be irksome to the reader. There were
four births on board during the passage which did well, therefore I did
not consider it necessary to give a detailed account of them in my
journal the more especially as they were all favourable cases.
Regularity and cleanliness in the prison, free
ventilation and as far as possible dry decks turning all the prisoners
up in fine weather as we were lucky enough to have two musicians amongst
the convicts, dancing was tolerated every afternoon, strict attention to
personal cleanliness and also to the cooking of their victuals with
regular hours for their meals, were the only prophylactic means used on
this occasion, which I found to answer my expectations to the utmost
extent in as much as there was not a single case of contagious or
infectious nature during the whole passage with the exception of a few
cases of psora which soon yielded to the usual treatment. A few cases of
scurvy however appeared on board at rather an early period which I can
attribute to nothing else but the wet and hardships the prisoners
endured during the first three or four weeks of the passage. I was
prompt in my treatment of these cases and they got well, but before we
arrived at Sydney I had about thirty others to treat.'
They arrived in Port Jackson on 9 April 1835 with 284 male
prisoners.
Oliver Sproule was also employed as surgeon on the
convict ships
Borneo 1828 (VDL)
Larkins 1829 and
Jane 1831
Find out
more about bushranger Archibald Taylor who arrived on the
Lady Nugent
Convicts arriving on the Lady Nugent in 1835
Sentenced to Cross the Raging Sea: The Story of
Sam Johnson, Victim of Oldham's Bankside Riot of 1834
- Ross Johnson......
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Lady Penrhyn
1788 |
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Master William Crompton Sever
The
Lady Penrhyn arrived 20
January 1788
Surgeons
John Turnpenny
Altree and Arthur Bowes - 101 female convicts
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Lady Rowena
1826 |
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Master Bourn Russell. Surgeon
Robert Espie
(Lloyds Register - Built in
Montreal in 1825. Owner Anstice. 323 tons)
The Lady Rowena departed Cork
on 19 January 1826 and arrived in Port Jackson on
17 May 1826 with 100 female prisoners, a voyage of 118
days. She was the only vessel to bring female prisoners to New
South Wales in the year 1826
Surgeon Robert. Espie was
employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He was also employed as
surgeon on the convict ships
Morley 1817
Shipley 1818
Dorothy 1820 Lord Sidmouth 1823
Mary 1830(VDL) Roslin Castle 1834
and
Elizabeth 1836
After
off-loading prisoners in 1826, the Lady Rowena under
Captain Bourn Russell made two more voyages to Australia
before departing a third time in 1830. On this third voyage
Bourn Russell intended to enter into the lucrative business of
hunting whales.
Following is an
extract from North to Matsumae, Australian Whalers to Japan.
Part 1, The Voyage of the Lady Rowena. The two boys are the
sons of Captain Russell:
At daylight on Tuesday, 2 November 1830, a gun was
fired from the Lady Rowena preparatory to sailing from Port
Jackson in the colony of New South Wales, but as both the wind
and tide were in, the order to weigh anchor was not given
until 10 a.m.1 Aboard the ship, two boys were about to begin
an education and an adventure that would exceed any that most
young men would ever experience in a lifetime. During the
following twenty months, they would endure the extreme
conditions of spectacular sub-Arctic places of ice and snow,
and see the power of typhoons, earthquakes and volcanoes. The
boys would receive instruction in the sciences of climate,
geography, botany and navigation, while they carried out hard
physical work and suffered the privations and dangers of life
on board a sailing ship......... Extract
from North to Matsumae, Australian Whalers to Japan by
Noreen Jones.
Image of Bourn Russell at the State Library of N.S.W.
Captain Bourn Russell died in 1880.
Read his Obituary here
Convicts arriving on the Lady Rowena in 1826
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Lady Shore 1797 |
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Master James Willcocks
The Lady Shore sailed from England on
9th March 1797 with 66 female prisoners and 1 male prisoner. There was a
Mutiny on board in August 1797
MUTINY ON BOARD THE LADY SHORE. BY the last
Lisbon Mail, the Rev. John Black, of Woodbridge, Suffolk, received a packet
from his son, who was one of the surviving Officers of that unfortunate ship
the Lady Shore, dated Rio Janeiro, Jan. 18, 1798, containing an authentic
narrative of the mutiny, and of his subsequent perils and adventures.
Captain Wilcocks did not die till the third day after the mutiny, when he
expired without a groan. Every honour was shewn to his remains. Major Semple
had no concern in the mutiny; he was the first to acquaint Captain Wilcocks
of the mutinous state of the soldiers before they left England. Mr. Black
has sent a list of the persons who landed at Rio Grande, thirty-two in
number. The officers were received by the General at the head of his
garrison, and entertained in the most hospitable and splendid manner. The
surgeon of the ship (Mr.
Fyfe), an amiable young man of abilities in his possession,
with whom I had formed an intimacy, was forcibly detained by the mutineers, which made him very miserable. Mr.
Black wrote to him from Rio Grande. There is no doubt but the Governor of
Montevideo will treat him in the most honourable manner. Before Mr. Black
left Rio Grande, the Governor of that place had received a letter from the
Governor of Montevideo, requesting a list of the mutineers, which was
accordingly sent. Mr. Black and Major Semple set out to go by land from Rio
Grande to Rio Janeiro; the General supplied them with horses, two servants,
two dragoons for guides, and an Indian to take care of the luggage horse,
and letters of recommendation to the different places through which they
were to pass. When they had arrived at a Whale Fishery, about eleven leagues
to the Southward of the Isle of St. Catherine, they embarked in a whale boat
for that place. They were kindly received by the Governor, and had separate
apartments allotted them in the Palace. Here they staid till the 9th of
November, when they embarked on board a Portuguese Fleet for Rio Janeiro;
-—Major Semple on board the Admiral's ship, and Mr. Black on board a line of
battle ship, commanded by Captain Thompson, an Englishman, at whose request
he was placed there, and from whom received the greatest kindness -
Sporting Magazine
The London Times reported in November 1799 that a
Bow street Officer had arrived in London from Portmsouth with Jean Sanlard
alias Provost and Jean Baptiste Escala. They are charged with being
concerned in the mutiny on board the Lady Short Botany Bay ship, and to have
been the men who murdered Capt. Wilcocks, the commander. They were taken
prisoners on board a French frigate, captured in the West Indies, and were
sent to England in the Racoon sloop of war. They were committed to the House
of Correction. . The Times 27 November 1799
Jean Provost was later executed for his crimes.
In December 1804 Spanish ships were captured off
Cadiz and were found to have four Englishmen, who on being interrogated,
gave the following account of themselves: "That they sailed on board the
Lady Shore transport from Falmouth, in August 1797, for Botany Bay; that a
mutiny took place during the voyage and Officers were murdered and the ship
carried by the mutineers into Monte Vido, and afterwards to Buenos Ayres
where they had been confined in prison as prisoners of war until released by
order of the Government of Spain and were to have been landed at Cadiz and
conveyed to England by the first conveyance, at the expense of that
Government had they not been taken by the English squadron.
This account being transmitted to the Secretary of States
Office, with their names viz John Brown, Edward Eagle, Francis Ward, and
Launcelot Knowles, and information being sent that they were arrived in the
River, on board the Enterprise tender, two Bow Street Officers were sent to
removed them to Tothill fields Bridewell for examination.
Edward Eagle said, he was a drummer in the New South
Wales Corps; that he was on board the Lady Shore when the mutiny took place,
but had no share in it; he was then only fourteen years of age; that since
that time he had chiefly been in prison in Buenos Ayres, and other places in
South America; John Brown said he was born at Cambridge and was about 30
years of age; that he was on board at the time of the mutiny as a soldier in
the NSW Corps; he was not in the watch at the time of the mutiny. Francis
Ward said, he was born in the North of Ireland at Ballay Bay; he was a
soldier at the time of the mutiny. Launcleot Knowles said, he was born at
Roseway in Ireland; is now upwards of seventy years of age He went in the
Lady Shore as a convict, having been found guilty of a fraud in obtaining
money by false pretences, and was ordered to be transported for seven years.
Major Semple and he were the only two male convicts on board; they laid in
the steerage and heard nor knew nothing of the mutiny until the pistols and
guns were fired on deck. The mutineers were eleven Frenchmen and seven
Irishmen who were soldiers in the South Wales corps.. Captain Willcox's
uniform was worn by the Frenchman who took the command and was generally
called French Jack. There were sixty four young female convicts on board,
and when the arrived at Monte Vido, it not being customary for Europeans to
do any work, they were taken under the care of the female inhabitants who
provided them with Spanish dresses, and made them their companions. some of
the women conducted themselves with a deal of propriety and are married and
settled there - some to the inhabitants and some to American Captains.
Several of them behaved in a very loose and disorderly manner, and were in
consequence taken into custody, and carried before the Governor who
committed them to prison at Buenos Ayres where they reformed and agreed to
profess the Roman Catholic Religion.
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Larkins
1817 |
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Master Henry R.
Wilkinson. Surgeon
William McDonald
The Larkins
departed from Portsmouth on 20 July 1817and arrived in Port Jackson
on
22
November 1817.
William McDonald
was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He kept a
Medical and Surgical Journal
from 7 June 1817 to 2 December 1817
William
McDonald joined the Larkins on 7 June 1817. The guard,
comprised of detachments from the 46th and 48th regiment,
being 40 rank and file with a Captain to command them,
embarked on 28 June. The soldiers were accompanied by nine
women and nine children. Also on this day 80 male convicts
from the hulks at Woolwich were received on board, all in good
health. They were all put in double leg irons and formed into
messes of six men each.
On the 1st July,
the owners of the vessel came on board and paid wages in
advance to the crew. The weather was very stormy this day and
the prisoners were not permitted to go on deck. The ship
dropped down to Norfleet on 2 July and on the 3 July at 11am
they got under weigh for the Nore where they anchored at
5.30pm. They received here a draft of 50 prisoners from the
Retribution hulk at Sheerness. These men received slops and
were berthed and divided into messes of six men.
On the 4th July
50 prisoners were received from the Bellerophon at Sheerness.
They weighed anchor at 6am on 5 July and anchored off the
South Foreland at 2pm. At 6pm they weighed anchor and
continued working round towards Portsmouth to load the
remainder of the prisoners. A pilot was received on board on
10th July and they came to anchor at the motherbank at 11pm
that night.
On 11 July, 40
prisoners from the Captivity and 30 from the Laurel hulks at
Portsmouth were received on board. This day also convict
George Millington received 3 dozen lashes for abuse to the
Sentinel.
There was a
total of 367 men women and children when the Larkins
set sail for St. Helen's on 24 July. There had been one more -
George Keen, however he was unable to be found and it was
conjectured that he had got his irons off his legs, concealed
himself among the boats or booms when the prisoners were
sent below and took an opportunity to swim to the Isle of
Wright, a distance of about two miles.
A great number
of prisoners, guards and passengers were very sick for the
next 12 hours before they came to anchor off Brixham.
William McDonald
attended to cleanliness by employing a method of heating sand
in the oven and scattering it over the deck. At the next
cleaning, the grease and filth was found to be easily able to
be swept away.
William McDonald
was also surgeon on the convict ship
Fanny 1816
Innkeeper, pilot, Charles Hughes arrived on the Larkins
Convicts arriving on the Larkins in 1817
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Larkins
1829 |
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Surgeon
Oliver Sproule
It was reported on 6th July 1829 that a detachment belonging
to the 63rd Regiment of Foot marched on the 4th July from
Chatham to Deptford, for the purpose of embarking as a guard
on the convict ship Larkins.
The Larkins departed Cork
on 16 August 1829. Surgeon Oliver Sproule wrote in his
Journal - We were generally speaking healthy on board the
Larkins during her voyage to New South Wales consequently I
have but few remarks to offer. To this healthy state of the
ship I attribute the mild weather which we experienced off the
Cape. The thermometer seldom ranging below 60° at noon, and
also to the particular attention which was paid at all times
to the comfort and cleanliness of the convicts both in their
berths and in their persons besides having them all on deck
when the weather permitted, by which means the air of the
prison was always pure and sweet when they were sent below.
Besides the cases given in my journal there were 178 others
who received medical assistance and medicine during the
voyage, but whose cases were of such a trifling nature that
were I to insert them they would not only be tedious but
irksome to the reader. One case of scurvy however, appeared
about ten days previous to our arrival at Sydney, the symptoms
of which were spongy gums and enlargement of the left knee
accompanied with a considerable degree of rigidity of the
muscles and tendons and a livid discolouration of the skin.
Suffice it to say that fresh diet, an extra allowance of lime
juice and a little bark and wine administered daily kept the
disease in check the five days we were in harbour, so far as
to walk to Barracks the day the convicts were disembarked.
The Larkins arrived in Port Jackson on
12 December 1829 with 196 male prisoners; a voyage of
128 days.
Oliver Sproule was
also employed as surgeon on the convict ships
Borneo 1828 (VDL)
Jane 1831
and
Lady Nugent 1835
Convicts arriving on the Larkins in 1829
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Layton
1829 |
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Master John Hurst. Surgeon
James Osborne
The Guard for the Layton embarked on Wednesday 20th May
1829 - Lieutenant Miller of the 40th regiment and 29 soldiers
of different corp. together with four women and three
children. The soldiers were on the way to join their regiments
in India.
The Layton departed Sheerness
19th June and Deal on 23 June 1829
and arrived at Port Jackson on 8 November 1829, a
voyage of 138 days.
Sunday the 8th November 1829 was a rainy day in Sydney with
winds from the W. and NW. Temperature at midday was 23C.
188 male prisoners arrived under the care of Surgeon
Superintendent James Osborne who kept a
Medical and Surgical Journal
from 11 May to 17 November 1829. James Osborne was also
employed as surgeon on the convict ships
Palambam 1831
Royal Admiral 1835.
The prisoners were landed on Tuesday morning 17th November
1829. A number were assigned to various applicants.
The Australian noted an extract from the Log book of
the Layton: - Thursday, 4th September at 3pm caught a
Cape pigeon, with a label round its neck, thus inscribed:
"Symmetry, T. Stevens, bound for the Mauritius and Ceylon, all
well on the 2nd September, 1829, South Lat. 30. 0 West Long.
22 deg". it appears remarkable that the Layton spoke
the Symmetry off the Cape de Verde about two months
before. It appears that the vessels must have kept company
within two days sail of each other, or at least within two
days of a Cape pigeon flying for two months. What that
distance was, we have yet to learn.
Find out about
bushranger John Hobson (Opossum Jack) who arrived on the
Layton
Convicts arriving on the Layton
in 1829
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Lloyds 1833 |
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| Embarked 201 men |
| Voyage 115 days |
| Deaths 3 |
| Surgeon's Journal: yes |
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Master Edward Garret
John Inches
was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He kept a Medical
Journal from 9 August 1833 to 4 January 1834.
The Guard were embarked on the Lloyds at Deptford on
9th August. Five women and ten children sailed as passengers.
On the 13th August they arrived at Woolwich and on the 14th
and 15th, John Inches inspected 200 male prisoners on board
the hulks Ganymede and Justitia who were then
embarked on the Lloyds. A great many of them had not
long recovered from cholera which gave them a sickly
appearance. On the 17th they received Admiralty orders to
proceed to the Downs which they reached on the 19th. They
received orders to sail on the 24th August and weighed anchor
on the 25th August 1833.
They reached the tropics in eighteen days and from the
Lloyds being a new ship and close on deck the surgeon was
required to take precautions to keep the windsails going day
and night to promote ventilation. The men were sent on deck
for two hours every evening with the guard while they were in
the tropics. They were fortunate to have fine weather all the
way out except for two days and it was seldom that the iron
stoves were necessary.
198 prisoners arrived
in Port Jackson on
18th December 1833.
John Inches was also surgeon on the convict ships
Lady Harewood 1832
Mary 1835
and
Norfolk 1837
Convicts arriving on the Lloyds in 1833
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Lloyds
1837 |
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Master Edward Garret. Surgeon
David Watson
The Lloyds departed the Downs 23
March 1837 and arrived in Port Jackson on 17 July 1837,
a voyage of 110 days.
There were no deaths on the voyage out and two hundred male
prisoners arrived under the care of Surgeon Superintendent
David Watson.
David Watson was also surgeon on the
Lord Lyndoch
in 1833
Convicts arriving on the Lloyds
in 1837
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Lonach 1825 |
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Master William H. Driscoll. Surgeon
Alick Osborne
(Lloyds Register - Built in Littlehampton in 1807. 399tons)
The Lonach departed Cork
on 16 May
1825 and arrived in Port Jackson on 4 September 1825, a voyage of
111 days.
One hundred and forty-three male
prisoners arrived under the care of Surgeon Superintendent
Alick Osborne
Alick Osborne was also employed as surgeon on the convict ships
Speke 1826
Sophia 1829
Sarah 1829
Planter 1832
Fairlie 1834
Marquis of Huntley 1835
Elphinstone 1838
Convicts arriving on the Lonach
in 1825
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Lord Eldon 1817 |
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Captain James Thomas Lamb
The
Lord Eldon departed
England, called at Madeira & Rio de Janeiro where one
prisoner escaped by swimming ashore. Four prisoners died on the passage
out.
Two hundred and fifteen male prisoners arrived in Port Jackson on the
Lord Eldon on 30 September 1817.
Sixty five were under the age of 21.
Governor Macquarie recorded in his
Journal on the 30th September - The
Lord Eldon Male Convict Ship commanded by Capt. Jas. Thos. Lamb,
anchored this forenoon in the Harbour from England which she left on the
21st. of April last – having touched at Rio Janeiro. 215 (out of 220
Embarked) male Convicts have arrived in good Health on board the Lord
Eldon, guarded by a Detachment of 30 men of the 46th. Regt. under the
command of Lt. Norman Mc.Lean of the Royals or 1st. Regt. of Foot.
Passengers included John
McArthur and two sons sons William and John.
James
Bowman was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He later
married the second daughter of John McArthur. James Bowman was also
surgeon on the convict ships
Mary Anne 1816
and
John Barry 1819
Convicts arriving on the Lord Eldon
in 1817
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Lord Lyndoch
1833 |
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Master William Johnston. Surgeon
David Watson
The Lord Lyndoch departed
from Sheerness on 4th June 1833 and sailed via Rio, arriving
in Port Jackson on Friday
18th October
1833.
The Guard consisted of the Head Quarters and Band of the
21st Regiment - Lieutenant-Colonel Leahy, Lieutenant
C.W. Lamotte, Lieutenant A. Mundy and 33 rank and file of
the 21st regiment, 5 women and 3 children.
David Watson was employed as Surgeon
Superintendent. He kept a
Medical and Surgical Journal from 15 May to 11
November 1833. He recorded that the number of male
convicts received on board the Lord Lyndoch
in May 1833 were from the Justitia hulk at
Woolwich, 100; Retribution hulk at Chatham, 50;
Cumberland hulk at Chatham, 130 (total 280 men); and
from Euryalus hulk, 50 (lads).
Convicts mentioned in the surgeon's Journal who died included Mark Lukeman on 23 July; Benjamin Hallowell 30 September;
Benjamin Skinner 17 October;
David Watson was also employed as surgeon on the
Lloyds
in 1837
The Lord Lyndoch departed Sydney for Madras via
Hobart with troops in December 1833. The Australian
reported that the detachment of the 21st Scotch Fusiliers
embarked on Saturday morning 30th November. They were
preceded by their piper, he was dressed in his best, in
honour of the saint of Scotland, it being Saint Andrew's
day; and animated his comrades by playing several national
airs on the
pibroch.
Of the convicts who arrived on the Lord Lyndoch in
1833, ninety-eight have been identified as later residing
in the Hunter Region. Among those was
Charles Kilminster who was executed
after being found guilty of taking part in the Myall Creek
Massacre in December 1838.
Convicts arriving on the Lord Lyndoch
in 1833
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Lord Lyndoch
1838 |
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Master William Stead. Surgeon
Obadiah Pineo
The Lord Lyndoch
departed England on 4 April 1838 and arrived in Port
Jackson on 8 August 1838, a voyage of 126 days.
Cabin Passengers included Major Campbell, Mrs. Campbell
and Ensign Dixon. Steerage passengers William Ashenden,
barrack sergeant, Mrs. Ashenden and two children, 32 rank
and file of the 21st, 50th 51st and 80th regiments, six
women and nine children. Surgeon
Obadiah Pineo reported in
his journal that Major Campbell who had served most of his
life in India, was placed under his care and also his wife
Mrs Campbell. Mrs Ashenden (barrack sergeant's wife) and
children were a long time on the sick list, with several
more children belonging to the guard of which two were
vaccinated. Two of the wives of the guard gave birth to
healthy children on the passage out.
Surgeon Pineo kept a
Medical and Surgical Journal
from 14 March to 6 September 1838. This was
to be his last voyage as surgeon on a convict ship. 330
male prisoners were embarked in England and nineteen of
them died on the passage out.
The voyage was a disaster from the beginning, two convicts
dying in the first two weeks, one from phthisis and one
from small pox.
The small pox breaking out on board only
two or three days after leaving port, all those who did
not know of having the disease previously were immediately
vaccinated, eight in number and two infants belonging to
the guard. Several very mild cases broke out both amongst
the seamen as well as the prisoners.
The surgeon wrote of prisoner
John Jones, aged 30, who contracted
smallpox. He was put on the sick list on 11 April 1838 and
died on 23 April 1838. He died very easy and thanked every
one who had been so kind to him, none was more so than
*John Beard the hospital assistant who gave attention and
kindness to the sick throughout the voyage.
John
Beard was to prove invaluable in the next few weeks after
a terrible accident that occurred on 20th
May when boiling tea scalded sixteen of the men.
With all the others already sick, only a few of the worst
cases could be accommodated in the hospital. Obadiah Pineo
praised prisoner John Beard for his unremitting
attention to the 'wretched creatures' . One of the men
affected, David Barrett described
by the surgeon as a poor thin miserable man died
soon afterwards. He was 18 years old.
The others who were scalded were John
Farquhar, George Gain, William White, [Thomas?] Osborn,
Jeffrey Watson, George Allen, George Dickenson, Thomas
Edwards, Edward Payne, William Ditcham, Philip Brown,
Thomas Pardoe (died), (Michael?) Conner, James Price, John
Parker. Obadiah Pineo attributed the accident to the ill
behaviour of one prisoner, Thomas Johnson.
There was a major outbreak of scurvy on the
voyage; 150
cases in all according to the surgeon. The first case recorded in the surgeons journal was that of Thomas
Jordan on the 16th April 1838. John Lincoln fell ill
soon after and later died of the disease. There had been
four cases of scurvy before the ship reached the Cape in
June, however Pineo thought the men were recovered and the
decision was made not to call at the Cape for fresh
provisions. Perhaps they felt the necessity to reach their
destination because of the serious injuries sustained in
the accident or perhaps the Captain pressed for a speedy
voyage. There were no regulations at the time forcing vessels
into the Cape or Rio to re-supply provisions and the decision
was left to the Captain and the Surgeon. Whatever the reason, the decision
to sail direct was a
disaster.
The Sydney Gazette gave an
account of what happened next - After the vessel had
doubled the Cape and the cold weather began to set in, the
sickness increased rapidly, and the hospital was soon
crowded, as well as the berths contiguous to it, with
prisoners labouring under the effects of scurvy. Every
precaution was taken to prevent the disease spreading, and
all the usual remedies applied in such cases, but it had
got too much ahead to be easily mastered. Nineteen deaths
occurred within the last eight weeks the Lord Lyndoch
was at sea. On Wednesday evening 8th October, the sick men
were landed from the vessel; sixty eight were forwarded to
the General Hospital. at that time, and nine the next
morning. On Thursday thirty more were sent to the
Prisoners Barracks to be put under medical treatment. One
of the men admitted into the hospital on Wednesday died
shortly afterwards. The disease was confined to the
prisoners, there were no deaths among the guard or crew.
Obediah Pineo had previously been employed
as surgeon on the convict ships
England 1835
and
Pyramus 1836 .
There were no cases of scurvy on the voyage of the
Pyramus
List of prisoners who died:
Farquahar McKensie, aged 19, prisoner, phthisis incipient
ending in general dropsy died 6 June 1838.
Thomas Addison, aged 23, prisoner, asthma and palpitation
cordis died 24 July 1838.
Thomas Pardoe, aged 17, prisoner, incipient phthisis, he
had also a severe scald on the 20 May; put on sick list 20
April 1838, died 16 June 1838.
Thomas Smith, aged 28, prisoner, colica; died 18 June
1838.
Joseph Heritage, aged 28, prisoner, scorbutus died
26 July 1838.
John Thompson, aged 38, prisoner, scorbutus, died 29 July
1838.
Henry Holding, aged 20, prisoner, scorbutus; died 31
July 1838.
Thomas Cowan, aged 67, prisoner, scorbutus; died 3 August
1838.
James Latour, aged 37, prisoner, scorbutus; died 3
August 1838.
Richard Morris, aged 38, prisoner, scorbutus; died 6
August 1838.
Joseph Latour, aged 39, prisoner, scorbutus; died 6 August
1838.
John Sin[?], aged 42, prisoner, scorbutus; died 7
August 1838.
Find out more about bushrangers
Robert Whitehead
and
Richard Glanville
who arrived on the Lord Lyndoch
*Convict John Beard was tried in Gloucestershire and sentenced
to transportation for life forging a bill of exchange for £200
with intent to defraud William Washbourn. The Times of
9th August 1837 reported that John Beard had been a coal and
timber merchant and a man of great respectability and property
in the city of Gloucester.
More about convict John Beard
Prisoner James Scott aged 40 was employed as
school teacher on board. He was also tried in Gloucestershire.
Thirteen convict ships arrived in New South
Wales in 1838.
Select
Colonial Events 1838 to find out more about those vessels.
Convicts arriving on the Lord Lyndoch in 1838
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Lord Melville 1817 |
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Master
Thackray Wetherell. Surgeon
Daniel McNamara
One hundred and one female prisoners arrived at Portsmouth
from London on the
Lord Melville
in first week of
September 1816.
The Lord Melville
departed England on 15 September 1816 and arrived in Port Jackson
on
24 February 1817. She was one of two convict
ships bringing female prisoners to New South Wales in
1817, the other being the
Canada. A total of 188 female prisoners arrived in the
Colony in 1817. Twelve of the women who arrived on
the Lord Melville were under the age of 21 years.
Sixteen free
women, passengers and 41 children were also on board.
Barron Field,
recently appointed Supreme Court Judge of NSW and his new wife Jane (Cairncross)
also came passengers.
Frances Johnson was one of 99
women who arrived convict
transport
Lord Melville
in 1817.
Select
here to read an
interesting account of the
voyage of the Lord
Melville written by
descendant Brian Wills-Johnson
Narrative of a Voyage to New
South Wales in Geographical Memoirs on New South Wales; by
various hands edited by Barron Field (Barron Field arrived on
the Lord Melville in 1817)
Convicts arriving on the Lord Melville in 1817
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Lord Melville 1818 |
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Captain Thackray Wetherell. Surgeon
John McMillan
The convict ship Lord Melville
departed England on 18th July, touched at the Cape of Good Hope and arrived
in Van Diemen's Land on the 18th
December 1818 One prisoner died on the
voyage out.
John McMillan was employed as Surgeon Superintendent.
The guard consisted of 31 men, 10 of whom belonged to the
48th and 21 regt., and 10 to the 30th regt, under the command of Lieut.
A. Waddell of the 48th regt., Passengers Mr. Ford and Mr. Cawthorne and
family.
Surgeon's Journal Lord Melville
1818
Convicts arriving on the Lord Melville in 1818
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Lord Melville
1829 |
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Master Robert Brown
The Lord Melville
departed London 5 January 1829 and arrived in
Port Jackson on 3 May 1829.
George
Shaw Rutherford was employed as Surgeon
Superintendent. He was also employed as surgeon on
several other voyages to Australia
Prince of Orange 1821 Shipley 1822
Marquis of Hastings 1826
Eliza 1827
Royal Admiral 1830
and
China 1846 (to Norfolk Island)
He gave evidence before a Select
Committee inquiry as to the best mode of secondary punishment in 1831
-
Evidence of George Rutherford
Anthony Hitchcock a fisherman and bricklayer from Essex arrived on the
Lord Melville. He was eventually assigned to
James Mudie at
Castle Forbes and became part of one of the most infamous episodes in
Australian Colonial history.
Select here to find out more about Anthony Hitchcock.
Bushranger Thomas Walker
arrived on the Lord Melville.
Convicts arriving on the Lord Melville in 1829
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Lord Melville 1830 |
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Captain Robert Brown. Surgeon
George Roberts
The
Lord Melville
departed the Downs on 6th June 1830 with 176 male prisoners
and arrived on
21st October 1830,
a voyage of 137 days.
George Roberts R.N.
was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. There were no deaths
of prisoners on the voyage. George Roberts was also employed
as surgeon on the convict ships
Heroine 1833
and
Waterloo 1836
The guard consisted of a detachment of 17th Regiment under the
orders of Lieut. Robert Graham.
Samuel
Caldwell arrived on the Lord Melville.
Seventy-four men who arrived on the Lord Melville have
been identified residing in the Hunter Region in the following
decades. Convict Joseph Vale who arrived on the Lord
Melville and Mary Thornton who arrived on the Surry
were executed in 1844 for the murder of Mary's husband John
Thornton....Read an account of the murder in the
Maitland Mercury.
Convicts arriving on the Lord Melville
in 1830
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Lord Sidmouth
1819 |
| |
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Captain William Gunner. Surgeon
Archibald Lang
The
Lord Sidmouth departed
England on 27th September 1818 and arrived at Rio de Janeiro
on 5th December, departing there 22nd December
in company with the
Surry,
bound for Port Jackson.
The voyage took 172 days to complete.
On the 4th March she was boarded by Captain Kelly of the
brig Sophia who was out of Hobart in search of the schooner
Young Lachlan. On this same day the death occurred on the
Lord Sidmouth of one of the seaman.
Governor Lachlan Macquarie
recorded in his
Journal
Thursday 11th March 1819 - 'Early this morning anchored in
Sydney Cove the Male Convict Ship Lord Sidmouth, Commanded
by Capt. Wm. Gunner, of which Mr. Archd. Lang R. Navy is
Surgeon Superintendent, with 158 Male Convicts from England,
guarded by a Detachment of the 84th. Regt. Commanded by
Lieut. Andrews of the same Corps – the Guard consisting of
33 Soldiers. The Lord Sidmouth sailed from England on the
27th. of September last – being 5 months and 12 Days ! – but
she touched at Rio Janeiro – and staid there 12 Days. None
of the Convicts died on the Passage, and are all arrived
in good Health. I received no Public Dispatches – or even
Private Letters by the Lord Sidmouth. The only Passengers
come out in her are two old Soldier Pensioners. —'
The Sydney Gazette reported: - The prisoners of
the Lord Sidmouth were all landed in good health and in
such spirits and grateful feeling of their treatment
during a passage that had been for years considered
doubtful from its climaterial changes, which proves kind
treatment one of the best preservatives of human life. His
Excellency the Governor inspected the men upon their
landing last Thursday (18th March), and was pleased to
appropriate them to their most suitable conditions.
The Lord Sidmouth
and the General Stewart were expected to sail for
Europe via Calcutta on 17 April 1819
Convicts arriving on the Lord Sidmouth
in 1819
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Lord Sidmouth
1821 |
| |
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Master James Muddle. Surgeon
Thomas C. Roylance
The Lord Sidmouth departed
Cork on 4th November 1820 and arrived in Port Jackson on
Monday
19 February 1821, a voyage of 107 days.
160 prisoners
arrived under the care of Surgeon Superintendent Thomas C. Roylance.
All were reported to be in excellent health.
Thomas Roylance had previously been
employed as surgeon on the convict ship
Hadlow
in 1818 and returned to England on the Shipley in
March 1820.
Thomas Evans, a private belonging to
the Royals, who was coming out to join the recently
arrived detachments of that Regiment, by the Lord
Sidmouth, drowned himself between the Heads as the
vessel was entering the Harbour. The Sydney Gazette
reported that he had deserted in Ireland, which
prevented his being with the detachment that came by the
Prince Regent, and had become entangled in pecuniary
embarrassment:-those unpleasant circumstances pressed upon
his mind, and are supposed to have induced him to commit
the rash deed that has untimely deprived him of existence.
It was reported that the prisoners brought by the Lord Sidmouth were landed
at the King's Wharf on
Friday 23 February in the forenoon, and after being
inspected by His Excellency the Governor, were directed to
be distributed according to their various employments and
avocations.
Convicts arriving on the Lord Sidmouth
in 1821
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Lord Sidmouth
1823 |
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Master James Ferrier. Surgeon
Robert Espie
The Lord Sidmouth departed
Woolwich on 11 September 1822 and arrived at Hobart
on 10 February and Sydney 28 February 1823.
Ninety-seven female prisoners were
embarked in England. Fifty women were sent to Hobart and
forty-six to Sydney, one women Mary McGowan having died at
Rio de Janeiro.
Robert Espie kept a
Medical Journal from 22
August 1822 to 1 March 1823. Ninety-seven convict women,
23 children and 21 free women (passengers and 49 of their
children) embarked on the Lord Sidmouth at Woolwich
in September 1822 for passage to Van Dieman's Land and New
South Wales. Elizabeth Shorter, daughter of Mrs. Ann
Robinson of Windsor was one of the free women who took her
passage on the Lord Sidmouth.
The women began arriving on 22 August
when two came from Maidstone gaol 'healthy, robust
appearing women' according to Robert Espie. Over the
next few days the rest of the women were embarked. They
came from London, Stafford, Newcastle, Ilchester, Nottingham,
Wiltshire, Preston, Exeter, Leicester, Chester,
Nottingham, York, Gloucester, Lancaster, Edinburgh and Carlisle. Most
of the women had been embarked by the end of August when
Mrs. Pryor and Mrs. Coventry came on board to issue useful
items for the voyage and a great deal of good advice.
The vessel was inspected by Mr. Capper
who expressed himself pleased with the arrangements Robert
Espie had put in place. Commissioner John Thomas Bigge
made a brief visit and Mrs. Pryor made another visit
bringing with her patchwork for the women to work on
during the voyage. Divine service was performed by Rev.
Marsh and two members of the Missionary Society
distributed bibles to the women. On the 11 September
Rev.
Henry Williams of the Wesleyan Church Missionary Society with his wife
and three children embarked and in the evening sailing
orders were received. They proceeded down the Thames as
far as Galleons and the following day anchored a little
below Gravesend. By the 15th September they were at anchor
off Margate. The weather was rough and all the women were
seasick. This didn't seem to prevent them from
misbehaving. Ann Jackson and Ann Bell were put in the coal
hole for several hours for abusive and violent conduct and
Ann Billings for thieving from her messmates had her head
shaved. A week later the surgeon reported that many
were still seasick, weak, helpless and dispirited however
there was no serious illness.
At the end of September a school for
the children was established under the superintendence of
the clergyman assisted by two of the free women.
By the time they reached Rio de Janeiro
on 17 November several of the women had been punished by
being sent to the coal hole or having their head shaved.
Their stay at Rio was not a happy one. Owing to the
confusion on deck, the women were kept below. They were
not given their usual provisions which had apparently been
purloined by the steward, and two were punished by having
their heads shaved for boisterous and outrageous conduct.
The Lord Sidmouth departed Rio
on 3rd December and several of the women were unwell with
dysentery, colds and other inflammatory complaints.
On the 22 December a young lad, Robert
Gooch fell overboard off the bowsprit while playing there
with other youngsters. The accident was not discovered for
20 minutes and he was never heard of again.
Christmas Day was spent at sea. The
women were issued with half a pint of wine. The passengers
were also indulged on account of it being Christmas day.
They arrived at Hobart on Monday 10 February
1823 and anchored in Sullivans Cove at 10am. Four women
were sent to the hospital and 46 of the convicts were
landed and assigned to service. All the free women landed
at Hobart except two had found their husbands.
They arrived at Sydney Harbour on 28
February. Major Goulburn, the colonial Secretary came on
board and inspected the women who were found to be orderly
and clean.
On the 1st March 1823 Robert Espie
reported that the women were preparing to go on shore from
daylight in the morning. At 7am the Government's boats
destined to carry them to Parramatta came alongside and in
half an hour after the women and all their luggage were
safely on board.
Robert Espie wrote: "I cannot but
express my great joy at having got rid of so troublesome a
charge having been kept constantly on the alert during the
period of their being embarked. The situation of a Surgeon
Superintendent of a female convict ship if he does his
duty can be no sinecure as they constantly require to be
looked after and particularly to restrain them from
contact with the sailors. This can only be done by
beginning well at first, and checking all appearance of
intimacy before the ship leaves England directing the
master to discharge any sailor who may show a disposition
this way which I did two or three instances did, to no
small annoyance. I feel satisfied that making the women do
almost everything for themselves and keeping them employed
is absolutely necessary to preserve them in health and
that the duties of Superintendent are far greater than
those of Surgeon."
The Lord
Sidmouth was one of three convict ships bringing
female prisoners to New South Wales in
1823,
the others being the
Woodman and the
Mary. A total of 199 female convicts arrived
in the colony in 1823.
Robert Espie was also employed as surgeon on
the convict ships
Morley 1817
Shipley 1818
Dorothy 1820 Lady Rowena 1826 Mary 1830(VDL) Roslin Castle 1834 and
Elizabeth 1836
Convicts arriving on the Lord Sidmouth in 1823
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Lord Wellington 1820 |
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Captain Lew Hill. Surgeon
Edward Foord Bromley
There were calls in parliament for the Lord Wellington's
departure to be delayed following an Address by Mr. Bennet on
the conditions of female convicts before transportation and
after arrival in the colony:
Mr. Bennet moved an Address to the Prince Regent, to stay
the departure of the Lord Wellington, destined to convey
female convicts to New South Wales. Notwithstanding all the
precautions which had been devised, it had hitherto been found
impossible to prevent prostitution with the seamen. A second
objection against this mode of punishment was its inequality
as applied to different persons. By some it was
considered not as a punishment to be feared, but as an
advantage to be courted. A great defect also was, that the
punishment was not seen. From the year 1781 to the year 1818,
2987 women being in the proportion of 1 - 7th of the men had
been sent out of the country. These women were sent for very
different periods and yet few of them had ever returned. Their
only means of returning were prostitution. He must also
complain of the manner in which women were brought from
country gaols to one spot, for the purpose of being put on
board the vessels. One unfortunate girl had been brought from
Cambridge, so bound in chains that it was necessary to saw
them asunder. Another had been brought in a state of torture
all the way from Carlisle. Unhappy females doomed to a voyage
to New South Wales, who happily might till then have escaped
the degradation of prostitution, were sure to be corrupted on
their way, and those who were already fallen, were sure to be
made worse. In the passage to NSW no description of character
was respected. The infamous and the innocent, the young and
the old - the mere child, who, by a casual error might have
forfeited her liberty for a time, and the hardened prostitute,
were associated together. The voyage throughout was but one
scene of prostitution, shameless, odious and undisguised. The
ship that carried this mass of corruption was but a floating
brothel, in which nothing pure or innocent was preserved. He
held in his hand a letter written by Mr. Marsden, Chaplain in
NSW in which he says "The hospital of Parramatta is divided
into two wards, one for the reception of men and the other for
for the reception of women; but as there are no locks on the
doors. the men and women have easy access to each other, in
consequence of which the grossest debaucheries take place.
What can be worse than for a clergyman coming to visit the
sick, and finding men and women lying promiscuously in the
same beds?" -
Parliamentary Debate
The
Lord Wellington departed
from Cork and
arrived in Port Jackson on Wednesday 19th January 1820 with
120 female prisoners and 45 children.
She was one of three convict ships bringing female prisoners
to New South Wales in 1820, the others being the
Janus and
Morley. A total of 306 female prisoners arrived in the
colony in 1820.
Edward Foord Bromley was employed as Surgeon Superintendent.
He kept a
Medical and Surgical Journal
on the voyage out. He remarked that the very healthy
state the prisoners in general during the period of nine
months since their first embarkation, none having died on
board; and none landed sick in the Colony, may be attributed
to various causes - in the first place the most excellent care
taken of them by Government in providing so amply for all
their little wants in so long a passage, have no doubt most
materially contributed to the high state of health they
arrived in. Second, the Governess of their provision and the
liberal supply of various comforts placed at the disposal of
the surgeon and superintendent has in a very great degree
prevented many little illness they would but for those
comforts have been liable to; and lastly the constant state of
cleanliness of warmth and of every general attention to their
victualling to their water, and to all their minor wants and
to the keeping them to their religious duties, has it is
trusted assisted other things in the happy termination of so
long a voyage.
The Sydney Gazette noted that
Dr. Bromley had been repeatedly in the Colony before in charge
of convicts, who had publicly thanked him for his noble and
generous conduct towards them. He also served on the convict ships
Ocean 1816
Almorah 1817
Surry 1833
and
Numa 1834
The military guard consisted of a
detachment of the 24th Regiment under command of Captain
Frazer of the 83rd regiment.
The Lord Wellington under Master Lew Hill departed for
Madras on 15 April 1820.
Emanuel Lazzaretto was employed as surgeon superintendent
Convicts arriving on the Lord Wellington
in 1820
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Louisa
1827 |
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Master Aaron Smith.
Surgeon
Joseph Cook
The Louisa
departed Woolwich on 24th July 1827 with ninety female
prisoners from England and Scotland. Most of the women
gave their calling as servant, nursemaid or housemaid.
Some according to the surgeon's journal had been
prostitutes. Theirs was a remarkably fast journey -
eighty-four days to Bass Strait, reportedly the fastest
passage known at the time. It was around the 18th November
when the women were given their first sight of Australia
when the vessel reached
Cape Otway. They arrived in Port Jackson on
Monday 3 December 1827, a total voyage of 100 - 101
days.
The Louisa was one of five
convict ships bringing female prisoners to New South Wales
in
1827, the others being the
Grenada,
Brothers,
Princess Charlotte and the
Harmony. Over 500 female prisoners arrived in the
colony in
the year 1827.
Surgeon Superintendent Joseph Cook kept
a
Medical and Surgical Journal
from 6th July 1827 to 18 December 1827. The first entry
was for Elizabeth Dean on 31st July. Elizabeth was 36
years old. She had been in the jail at Hastings and became
ill while still at Woolwich. Her illness was exacerbated
by drunkenness and she suffered 'rigors' (probably
delirium tremens) throughout the voyage, although
according to Joseph Cook she was in good health by the
time she landed. The next case was that of James Williams,
probably the son of Sarah Williams. Joseph Cook wrote in
his journal: -
James Williams, aged 15 months, convict's child, taken ill
at Woolwich; sick or hurt, dysentery (marasmus), embarked
with his mother from Bristol had been partially taken from
the breast two days before leaving that place and having
been brought here on the top of the coach by exposure
during the night and getting wet, was feverish and bad
cough; put on sick list 4 August 1827, died 29 August 1827
at 8 pm.
The child of Priscilla Kelly (Weymss) also died on 3rd
September aged 15 months. Jane Brett aged 2, suffered from
pertussis (whooping cough) and survived.
Several women suffered dysentery, venereal
disease and fevers, however none of the women suffered
from scurvy and there were no deaths among them.
On Thursday 6th
December Colonial Secretary Alexander McLeay and Principal
Superintendent of Convicts Frederick A. Hely inspected and
mustered the women preparatory to their landing and
distribution. Sarah Radford a house servant from
Devonshire who, according to the indent was the fairest
lass on board with
a fresh fair complexion, dark brown hair
and eyes and a good looking ingenuous countenance, was
immediately assigned to
Mr. Hely.
Joseph Cook was also
surgeon on the convict ships
Southworth 1822 Sir Charles Forbes 1825
(VDL)
Phoenix 1826
Mellish 1829
Forth (11) 1830
and
Portland 1832
Convicts arriving on the Louisa in 1827
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Lucy
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Captain William Wiseman. Surgeon
John Osborne
The
Lucy Davidson
arrived at Deal from London on 16th July 1829. It was
reported in the Morning Post that she put back into
port on 19th July and departed on 20th July.
On the voyage she
was in contact with the vessel Eliza Jane in
latitude 30 South, longitude 18 West, and reported that
near the equator they had been accompanied by an unknown
ship for over three hours before the Lucy Davidson
lost sight of them.
She touched at Hobart before arriving at Port Jackson on
29 November 1829,
a voyage of 132 days. The Lucy
Davidson was one of twenty-one convict ships arriving
in New South Wales in
1829. Four of these carried female prisoners the
Lucy Davidson,
Edward,
Princess Royal
and the
Sovereign.
A total of 492 women arrived as convicts in 1829.
Ninety nine
female prisoners arrived on the Lucy Davidson under the care of Surgeon
Superintendent John Osborne who was also employed as
surgeon on the Red Rover in 1831
(VDL)
Six free women and 17 children also arrived as passengers
on the
Lucy Davidson.
There was an outbreak of whooping cough which lasted for
six weeks and caused several fatalities on the voyage.
Although the last of the disease was seen on 16th
September, the authorities took the precaution of sending the Lucy Davidson into quarantine on arrival .
Colonists were advised in December that those families in
need of female servants could be supplied from the English
Prisoners who arrived in the Lucy Davidson. The
women were finally landed on Wednesday 9th December 1829
and nearly all of them were immediately assigned to
awaiting applicants.
On the 19th December it was reported that the free women
who arrived on the Lucy Davidson were embarked on
the Guildford to be taken to their husbands at
Hobart.
By early January the ladies of the Lucy Davidson
had made their presence felt in Sydney. From the
Monitor - "The women who were landed from
the Lucy Davidson, are so very troublesome, being
continually brought before the Police Office that the
Magistrates are of opinion they are the most evil-disposed
crew that have been landed in the Colony for many a day!!
And from the Sydney Gazette - The female prisoners
by the Lucy Davidson have turned out but a
profitless shipment. Most of the Magdalenes were assigned
to service in Sydney and by far the greater portion of
those, we are told have been returned by their masters to
government as incorrigibly bad characters.
The Lucy Davidson sailed from Sydney for Hobart
with a cargo of merchandise, arriving there on 14th
January. Among her passengers
Mrs.
McClymont, Mrs, Nowlan, Gavin Ralston, Esq., Mr.
George Hamilton, Masters John Nowlan, John McClymont,
William McClymont, Miss Sarah McClymont and several male
servants.
At least four of the women of the Lucy Davidson
were later involved in a riot at the
Parramatta Female Factory in 1831 - Ann Chapman,
Eliza Davis, Ann Thew and Sarah Williams were all
sentenced to transportation to a penal colony for three
years for their part in the riot. They were sent to
Newcastle with twenty-four other rioters to serve their
time, however most were quickly re-assigned to settlers
within the next few months.
Convicts arriving on the Lucy Davidson in 1829
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