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.

Convicts arriving on the Lady Castlereagh in 1818

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

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)

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

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

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

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 also employed as surgeon on the convict ships Blenheim 1834   and Minerva 1838 (VDL)

George E. Forman was employed as Surgeon 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

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

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......

Master William Crompton Sever

The Lady Penrhyn arrived 20 January 1788

Surgeons John Turnpenny Altree and Arthur Bowes - 101 female convicts

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

 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Captain James Thomas Lamb

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.