Master William Dale. Surgeon Harry Goldney and Walter Lawrance

The male convict ship, Randolph, departed England with 300 prisoners bound for Port Phillip and Sydney.

The Guard (including boys and women) amounted to 66 persons belonging to the 11th and 58th Regiment and there was a crew of 50.

The prisoners were embarked on 12th, 14th, 17th, 18th and 26 April, and disembarked at Sydney on 23-25, 27 August 1849. In consequence of the death of Harry Golding, late Surgeon Superintendent, the Randolph put into Simon's Bay on the 4th July for medical assistance and Walter Laurance was appointed to her on the 5th July 1849.

The Randolph arrived on 20 August 1849 with 295 male prisoners

Medical and Surgical Journal from 5 July to 28 August 1849

Prisoners arriving on the Randolph in 1849

Captain William Fotherley (See Colonial Secretary's Index Online to find out more about William Fotherley)

The Recovery departed Portsmouth 31st July 1819 came direct, and arrived in Port Jackson 18 December 1819 with 188 male prisoners. There were no deaths on the voyage out.

The Guard consisted of a detachment of 46th regiment., commanded by Lieut. Marsh of the 45th Regt.,

Surgeon Peter Cunningham kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 7 July to 30 December 1819. Peter Cunningham was also employed as surgeon on the convict ships Grenada 1821  Recovery 1823  Grenada 1825  and Morley 1828

Find out more about Surgeon Peter Cunningham

Convicts arriving on the Recovery in 1819

Master William Fotherley

This was Surgeon Peter Cunningham's third voyage in charge of convicts. He kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 19 November 1822 to 4 August 1823

Peter Cunningham joined the Recovery at Deptford on 19 November, and a few days later dockyard labourers and their families for passage to Cork, and two young men bound for New South Wales joined the vessel. They left Deptford for the Downs on 7 December and anchored in the Downs on 13th December where they took on five boats to be taken to Cork. They arrived in Cove of Cork on 20 December 1822. Five days later a detachment of the 1st Royal Regiment consisting of 1 Sergeant and 30 Privates, under the command of Captain Gall with Mrs. Gall and 6 other women and children, joined the ship.

On the 1 March 1823, the brig Integrity arrived from Dublin with 240 prisoners for the Recovery and St Vincent. On the 4 March 1823, the Recovery received 26 convicts from Cork jail and 78 from the Integrity. The prison door was opened during the day and the prisoners given permission to come on deck. All were mustered and locked up at sunset. On the 5th March, 76 more convicts were received on board from the Integrity making up the full complement of 180 men.

Peter Cunningham devised a strict routine for the convicts while still at anchor in Cork Harbour. The men were issued with shirts, duck trousers and a towel which were all numbered. They were expected to keep them clean and entire mornings were devoted to the convicts washing their clothes by hand on deck before hanging them to dry. Occasionally items were blown overboard and a number of times the prisoners threw their trousers overboard (mostly prisoners disliked the duck trousers that were provided, preferring warmer woollen ones). Losing their trousers or caps either by design or accident resulted in punishment such as extra cleaning duties or 24 hours on bread and water. Other punishments imposed for various offences such as fighting and stealing included shaving half their head or being lashed up in the rigging for the afternoon. In April two convicts were handcuffed for throwing stones in the dark and another for talking after 8pm.

All the convicts survived the voyage and Peter Cunningham attributed this success to attention to cleanliness and ventilation, to removing their irons early and keeping the convicts on deck as much as possible, and to making rounds of the prison twice daily, consulting Captains of messes and questioning anyone seen lying down.  Every fine morning the convicts were kept on deck at least two hours until the lower deck was cleaned and inspected and at least an hour in the evening, while the lower decks were cooled and ventilated. The lower deck was cleaned every day and none were permitted to go below until it was dry. The convicts were mustered frequently with feet bare and trousers rolled above the knees to see that they were clean, beds and blankets were aired. Schools were set up in April. They were given school books, writing paper, pens and ink, slates and pencils. The men were arranged into five classes according to their ability and they attended for  2 - 3 hours per day. Prisoners were also allowed to dance for two hours before mustering down. (Those found dancing or singing on a Sunday were punished)

Many prisoners were in poor health on embarking and the surgeon found there was much illness at the beginning of the voyage. (mostly catarrh, rheumatism, diarrhoea and pneumonia) He attributed this not only to their poor health but to their previous dissipated living and depression from confinement and also to the great change of diet as the Irish had not 'been accustomed to such nutritious living as that given on board. Their improvement in health towards the end of the voyage was attributed to the approaching end of the voyage, speculation about their future prospects and their hopes of bettering themselves.

In Cork Harbour, the Recovery weighed anchor at 3pm on 5 April 1823 and stood out to sea. The following day it was reported that many of the guard and convicts were very sea sick. The ship was pitching a great deal and Cunningham began to release men from their irons.  The bad weather continued and it was not possible to take the beds up on deck in any great number as the ship continued to roll heavily. They passed by Madeira at 4pm on 13 April 1823

On Sunday, 20 April 1823, as they passed St. Anthony Cape Verde Islands the weather was fine and warm and all the convicts were ordered to lay aside their jackets, shoes and stockings and to eat their meals on deck. On 16 May 1823, the island of Trinidad was sighted in the evening and the following day they were lying-to off Trinidad. Boats were sent out to catch fish but without much luck.

Their first sight of Australia was on 29 July 1823, when they passed by Mount Dromedary, New South Wales, 50 miles to the West and on 31 July 1823 they anchored in Sydney Cove at 3pm.

The following day, 1 August 1823, at 11am the Colonial Secretary came aboard and mustered all the convicts, who made no complaints regarding the voyage. On the 4 August 1823, at 5am all the convicts were dressed in their new clothes and breakfasted. At daylight dockyard boats came alongside and 180 convicts were disembarked, being the original number put on board at Cork. At 11am all the convicts were examined at the gaol yard by His Excellency the Governor who expressed himself much pleased at their healthy appearance.

Peter Cunningham received a grant of land in the Hunter Valley in 1825. Find the location of his grant and more about Surgeon Peter Cunningham HERE 

Peter Cunningham was also surgeon on the convict ships Recovery 1819  Grenada 1821  Grenada 1825 and Morley 1828

Convicts arriving on the Recovery in 1823

Master Thomas Johnson. Surgeon Alexander Neill

On the 5th October 1835, the Guard for the Recovery consisting of a Sergeant and a drummer and 26 rank and file of the 28th regiment under the command of Lieut. Russell and Ensign Smith (or Swift); 8 women and 3 children, embarked at Deptford. On the 19th October at Spithead 160 male convicts from the Leviathan and 120 from the York Hulks were received on board. The surgeon Alexander Neill, R.N., noted in his journal that some convicts had been returned to the hulks in consequence of their being a great nuisance on board.

The Recovery weighed anchor on 30 October 1835 with 280 male prisoners

This was the first of three voyages Alexander Neill undertook as surgeon on a convicts ship. He kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 5 October 1835 to 16 March 1836

The Sydney Herald reported that the Recovery came into port on 25 February 1836 in a very creditable manner, both to her commander Captain Johnson and Dr. Neill. The prisoners were all in a healthy condition, not one death having occurred during the voyage, the whole of the berths in the ship present almost the extreme of cleanliness, and the general appearance of the convicts of the same character.

Convicts arriving on the Recovery in 1836

Captain Robert Burt. Surgeon James Rutherford

(Lloyds Register - Built at Sunderland in 1801. 360 tons)

The Regalia sailed from Dublin 14th March, touched at Rio de Janeiro and arrived in Port Jackson Saturday 5th August 1826 with 129 male prisoners. 

James Rutherford R.N., was employed as Surgeon Superintendent, the first of four voyages in that capacity. 

The guard consisted of Lieut. Coke, 39th regiment and 39 men 

On Wednesday 9th August, the Colonial Secretary, accompanied by the Principal Superintendent of convicts boarded the Regalia to muster the prisoners preparatory to their landing and undergoing the customary inspection of the Governor in Chief. The men were landed during the forenoon of and inspected by the Governor. His Excellency expressed himself very favourably on the mans' healthful and otherwise creditable appearance.

Convicts arriving on the Regalia in 1826

Convicts arriving on the Regia in 1838

Convicts arriving on the Reliance in 1829

The Research arrived on Wednesday the 14th December 1831 having departed Calcutta on 2nd July and the Mauritius 5th November. She brought a cargo of sugar, tobacco, wine and three horses.

Passengers from India, Mrs. Davidson and servant, Major Gen. Stewart, of His Majesty's service, Captain Davidson, 13 the Native Infantry and 3 native servants. A. Reid Esq., E.C.S. and 1 native servant. E. Witmore Esq., and 1 native servant. Mr. David Jacobs Ensign C. Clark, H.M.S., Ensign J. Poett, E.C.S. Ensign W. Kennedy, E.C.S. Mrs. Smith Mrs. Seavale Mr. Piper Mr. Wilson Mr. Coffy in charge of the horses and also 6 prisoners and 2 children.

The Research was the same vessel which was in Sydney in 1827 and in which Captain Dillon made his discoveries at Tucopeia, respecting the fate of the unfortunate La Perouse.

Convicts arriving on the Research in 1832

Master John Cumming. Surgeon John Buist

The Rolla departed Cork 4 November 1802, called at Rio de Janeiro on 15th January 1803, sailed from there 6 February and in 95 days came to anchor at Port Jackson on 12 May 1803. She brought prisoners of both sexes viz 119 men and 37 women, seven of whom died on the passage out

During the passage she experienced much bad weather in the course of which she sprung the main mast and carried away her main yard (Sydney Gazette)

John Buist was employed as Surgeon Superintendent.

Government supplies - 234 tierces of pork, 686 casks of flour and 11 tons of sugar.

Convicts arriving on the Rolla in 1803

Master Henry Ferguson. Surgeon William Conborough Watt

The women to be embarked on the Roslin Castle for transportation to New South Wales began arriving at the vessel during very severe weather in January and February 1830. Some had travelled more than 150 miles from country gaols, secured in heavy chains and riding on the outside of coaches. By the time they reached the Roslin Castle they were suffering from chilblains and even frostbite and many were in a very unhealthy state. Bridget Mullins was one prisoner who suffered in this way. With her child she had travelled from Manchester and they were exposed to severe weather on the way. When the mother had been imprisoned in September, the child was in good health but the person entrusted to care for her turned her out and she ended up in the poor house. On being returned to her mother on 31st January she was very emaciated and her mother had trouble recognising her. The child could not be expected to survive the journey but was embarked anyway, 'as a matter of necessity', and later died.

When the women arrived surgeon William Conborough Watt was already on the vessel. He was experienced in dealing with female convicts, having been employed as surgeon on the Edward in 1829. He set about restoring their health before departure. He set up a system of 'police regulation' and attended to their comforts and cleanliness and by the time the vessel departed the Downs on 3 March 1830, many (but not all) of the 128 female prisoners had been restored to health.

William Conborough Watt had many challenges on this voyage. The Sydney Gazette reported that the Roslin Castle lost her main mast and mizen top mast in a sudden squall off St. Paul's on 3rd June. The ship was also leaky and so the womens' bedding was almost constantly wet. On one occasion the vessel broached and shipped a great deal of water into the prison, creating much panic among the women. At another time a lamp burst nearly starting a fire. Surgeon Watt noted that these occurrences were of a most appalling nature and calculated from their depressing effects to produce disease amongst subjects whose constitutions had been debilitated by a long continuance of every species of debauchery, and whose mental powers were reduced to the lowest ebb from the contemplation of their degraded situations. Commiseration for their sufferings, remaining with them in the prison on all occasions of danger and keeping them actively employed in administering the their own comforts by cleansing and drying the prison deck and bed places and the adoption of the same system of police regulations which I found so conducive to health and good order in the last ship I had the Superintendence of (the Edward), I had the happy effect of soothing their fears and I had the satisfaction of landing all the prisoners at Sydney on the 10th July with one exception in the most vigorous state of health and spirits.

The Roslin Castle arrived in Port Jackson on 29 June 1830 with 128 women and Passenger William Jacques with his 9 children, Mrs. Jacques having died on the passage out.

On the 1st July a notice was placed in the Sydney Gazette informing families who were in want of female servants that they could be supplied from the English prisoners who arrived on the Roslin Castle, provided they apply according to the Principal Superintendent of convicts before 8th July.

The Sydney Gazette reported in March 1831 that 'The damsels of the Roslin Castle are as troublesome as ever to the Bench. Ann Williams by that vessel made her appearance at the police Office yesterday for 'keeping the Sabbath' in a public house, for which their worships sent her to reside one month at the factory.'

The Roslin Castle was one of three convict ships bringing female prisoners to New South Wales in 1830, the others being the Forth (II) and the Asia. A total of 444 female convicts arrived in the colony in 1830.

William Conborough Watt was also employed as surgeon superintendent on the convict ships Edward 1829   Exmouth 1831  and Mary 1833

Convicts arriving on the Roslin Castle in 1830

Master William Richards. Surgeon George Imlay

The Roslin Castle departed Cork 8 October 1832 and arrived in Port Jackson on 5 February 1833 with 194 prisoners, five having died on the voyage out.  George Imlay was employed as Surgeon Superintendent. He kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 1 August 1832 - 23 February 1833

In the early days of the voyage he had to deal with cholera, dysentery, ophthalmia, and catarrh. Scurvy made an appearance among the men after only a month at sea. Seventeen year old Lawrence Madden was the first case and seemed to be the most serious. He was put on the sick list on 11 November 1832 and discharged to hospital on 10 February 1833, five days after arrival in the colony.

The male prisoners who arrived on the were landed immediately after the female prisoners of the Fanny. It was reported that the men appeared in a good state of health; as many of them were good farm labourers, it was thought they would be an acquisition to the settlers.

A number of prisoners on the Roslin Castle had been found guilty of being 'Whiteboys'..........The Whiteboys (Irish: Buachaillí Bána) were a secret Irish agrarian organization in 18th-century Ireland which used violent tactics to defend tenant farmer land rights for subsistence farming. Their name derives from the white smocks the members wore in their nightly raids, but the Whiteboys were  usually referred to at the time as Levellers by the authorities.....Wikipedia

Convict Edward Foley was hanged in 1838 after being found guilty of the murder of natives at Myall Creek (Myall Creek Massacre)

Convict Patrick Travers accompanied Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell's Expedition in 1848

Convicts arriving on the Roslin Castle in 1833

Master William Richards. Surgeon Robert Espie

The Roslin Castle 450 tons, departed London on 27th May 1834 and arrived on 15 September1834 with 227 male prisoners, three having died on the passage out.

Robert Espie was employed as the Surgeon Superintendent. This was his eighth voyage in this capacity. He kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 17 May 1834 to 25 September 1834. There were only seven case which he considered serious. Three of these men died on the voyage out. - 1) James Bond age 19 who had concealed his illness on embarkation because he was eager to go. In the confusion of getting all the convicts on board, it was a day and a half before Robert Espie knew anything of his illness. 2) Edward Gale age 29 died of a ruptured blood vessel. He had been a printer and was already ill when embarked 3) George Turner aged 69 who caught a chill after leaving the Cape of Good Hope and despite treatment and nourishment, never recovered. The surgeon considered him a very healthy old man and thought he would have recovered had the ship not been so cold and wet for so long. He did not believe that a Surgeon Superintendent should have the power to refuse a man solely on account of his age but he thought it would be prudent to send all the younger ones first.

Robert Espie was one of the most experienced Surgeon Superintendents. He thought that novice surgeons in charge of convicts almost always fell into the trap of keeping the convicts in irons, and not allowing them free access to the deck, for 'apprehension lest the convicts rise and cut his throat'. He thought this had a dispiriting effect and, combined with the lack of fresh air and exercise, gave rise to many ailments which did not occur when the convicts were free of their irons and allowed on deck.  In his seven previous voyages in charge of convicts, Robert Espie had never before encountered sea scurvy. On this voyage there were at least 20 cases during the very damp and blowy weather after passing the Cape of good Hope.

Passengers included Lieut. Dalway, 2nd or Queen's Own Regiment; Andrew Du Moulin, Esq., surgeon, 50th regiment; Mrs. Du Moulin and 11 children;  29 rank and file of 50th regt., 7 women and 14 children.

Robert Espie served as Surgeon Superintendent on the following vessels:

Morley 1817  Shipley 1818  Dorothy 1820 Lord Sidmouth 1823 Lady Rowena 1826  Mary 1830(VDL) and  Elizabeth 1836

Master William Richards. Surgeon John Edwards

The Roslin Castle departed Cork on 28 October 1835 with 165 female prisoners and 26 children and arrived in Port Jackson on 25 February 1836.

Surgeon Superintendent John Edwards Esq., R. N. kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 15 September 1835 to 14 March 1836

'This was John Edwards' third voyage as Surgeon Superintendent. He considered the women who embarked on the Roslin Castle  to be of the worst description he had seen, both morally and physically. A more filthy, indolent and reprobate set of women were never expatriated, he wrote. Most had been in prison more than a year and many were sent from the hospital as incurable. There were a total of 182 women and 49 children on the voyage, 17 of them were free women and 23 of their children

Adverse weather increased the sea sickness at the start of the voyage and many of the women suffered the consequences even after the bad weather ceased. There were many long lasting cases of gastric irritability and some of the old women were nursed all through the voyage. Obstinate obstruction of the bowels was also a general consequence, made worse by the women not reporting it for 10 or 15 days. The bowel conditions were made worse by the change in diet from the low hospital diet to the ship's dry provisions and by existing diseases from leading dissipated lives.

A week after leaving harbour one of the women died of fever which caused a great alarm among the women. This at least did have the effect of encouraging the prisoners to keep themselves and the prison clean, 'although even after this, wrote John Edwards, from time to time, the filthy habits of some among them in the night about the water closets was a source of great annoyance to the people in the contiguous berths and of anxiety and vexation to myself'.

Three women in total died as well as four infants.  Few of the women became reconciled to their new diet, they especially objected to cocoa and after a few days it was thrown away and tea substituted, even this did not suit some who had never had tea before. 'They had an incessant, almost morbid, longing for potatoes, for which they would have sacrificed everything else'

Cabin passengers included Mr. Jonathon Croft, Deputy Purveyor of the Forces, Mrs. Croft and 7 children, Miss C. Croft and Master J. Croft; The 17 free women and 23 children came in the steerage.

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

John Edward was also surgeon on the Convict Ships Hercules 1832  Henry Tanner 1834  and Charles Kerr 1837

Convicts arriving on the Roslin Castle in 1836

Master Henry Bond Essex. Surgeon Richard Alley

Royal Admiral 1792

The Royal Admiral. departed England on 30 May 1791 and arrived in Port Jackson on 7th October 1792.  Ten mrn and two women died on the passage out; four children were born and one male convict escaped at the Cape of Good Hope.

Seventy two men, eleven women and five children were landed sick.

Famous female convict Mary Reibey, James Kelly later of Maitland and Robert Whitmore later of Patterson Plains arrived on the Royal Admiral. Convict artist Thomas Watling transported for 14yrs for forgery came also.

"There arrived in the Royal Admiral as a superintendent charged with the care of the convicts, Mr. Richard Alley, who formerly belonged to the Lady Juliana transport, in quality of surgeon, in the memorable voyage of that ship to this colony; a voyage that could never be thought on by an inhabitant of it without exciting a most painful sensation. This gentleman went to England in the snow with Captain Hunter, whither the comforts of long voyages seemed to accompany him. Immediately on his arrival there, he was appointed by the commissioners of the navy to come out in the Royal Admiral as surgeon and superintendent of the convicts embarked in that ship, with an allowance of twelve shillings and sixpence per diem until his arrival in England, exclusive of his half pay as surgeon of the navy"..... An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, Vol. 1, by David Collins

Read Thomas Watling's biography at the Dumfries Museum site

Women and children of the Royal Admiral 1792 - Cathy Dunn

Convicts arriving on the Royal Admiral in 1792

Master William Wilson. Surgeon Samuel Turner

The Royal Admiral departed England on 23 May 1800. Gaol fever had raged and 43 of the prisoners died on the voyage as well as the surgeon Samuel Turner, four seamen a convict's wife and a convict's child.

The vessel reached Rio de Janeiro on 12 August and Port Jackson on  20 November 1800

257 male prisoners arrived, also were two French vignerons, 12 missionaries & prisoners of war Antoine Landrien and Francois de Riveau. 

Thomas Shirley, a convict of the Royal Admiral was drowned in the Hunter River in 1808 while attempting to rescue the vessel Halcyon in a gale.

More about the Royal Admiral here

Convicts arriving on the Royal Admiral in 1800

Master David Fotheringham. Surgeon George Rutherford

192 male convicts were embarked on the convict ship Royal Admiral at Portsmouth on 25 June 1830 All were reported by surgeon George Rutherford to be in good health for the passage to New South Wales. They departed on 5th July 1830 and  arrived in Port Jackson on 8 November 1830 after a voyage of 126 days.

Surgeon Superintendent George Rutherford kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 28 June to 22 November 1830.

More about surgeon George Rutherford

Find out more about bushranger James Edwards who arrived on the Royal Admiral

Find out more about convict Henry Brown who was tried at the Old Bailey for grand larceny, sent to Bermuda in 1827 and re-transported to Australia on the Royal Admiral in 1830.

Convicts arriving on the Royal Admiral in 1830

Master David Fotheringham.  Surgeon Andrew Henderson

The Royal Admiral commenced fitting as a convict transport at Deptford on 29th March 1833. Surgeon Anderson joined the ship on the 3rd April and the Guard embarked on the 13th.

The Royal Admiral anchored in Kingston Harbour from Deptford on the 9th May 1833. Catarrhal fever (influenza) had prevailed to a considerable extent among the prisoners on board the Essex hulk and it was considered inadvisable to embark prisoners before the 16th May. Due to the length of their confinement and indigestible and spare diet a great many of the men were in a debilitated state. However the vessel was delayed in the harbour until 4th June and so the prisoners were kept on a full allowance of fresh meat and vegetables and took on a more healthy aspect.

The  Royal Admiral departed Dublin with 220 prisoners and arrived at Port Jackson on 26 October 1833 with 215 male prisoners, five having died on the passage out. The Guard consisted of Lieut. Ainslie, 21st regiment, and 21 rank and file of the 21st regiment. Passengers included Quarter Master Fairgrove 21st regiment, six women and 6 children.

Dr. Andrew Henderson was employed as Surgeon Superintendent, this being his second voyage as surgeon superintendent. He kept a Medical and Surgical Journal from 3 April to 11 November 1833.

The prisoners continued well enough until 18th September when scurvy began to appear. The ship was at this time situated at Lat. 37° South and Long 69° ˝ East.  The surgeon stated that “the prisoners had a sallow cast of countenance, and their faces seemed fatter than natural” and he “could perceive considerable rise of temperature in the affected part…, stiffness of the joints or limbs, general weakness and want of appetite” in a few days the disease became developed in a manner which could not be mistaken for any other disease, in which at first diffuse ecchymoma, then purple and ultimately of a jet black aspect sometimes attended with swelling and hardness. The surgeon pointed out the case of James Reily, that “the posterior part of the lower extremities was as black as tar... his countenance became bloated, swollen and sallow the eyes suffused and as yellow as in icterus or yellow fever”. On the treatment of the disease the surgeon tried the nitrate of potass dissolved in lemon juice and vinegar in a treatment of scurvy and a small doses of sulphate of magnesia given in a bitter infusion is preferred to any other purgative.

.Andrew Henderson was critical of the condition of the convicts when taken from the Hulks and stated to the agent for transports who was present at the muster on the Essex that he could not carry out 220 prisoners in such a debilitated state of health to Sydney without losing at least fifteen of them, in which the agent acknowledged he had never seen prisoners at any former muster look so bad. The surgeon stated his opinion that many of them were not fit when they embarked on board the Royal Admiral, however his view was over ruled by Dr Trevor Inspector of Prisons and Hulks in Ireland.

Convicts arriving on the Royal Admiral in 1833

Master David Fotheringham. Surgeon James Osborne

The Royal Admiral departed Cork on 27 September 1834 and arrived in Port Jackson on 22 January 1835 with 201 male convicts. 

James Osborne was employed as Surgeon Superintendent.

The Guard consisted of 2 serjeants and 28 rank and file of the 50th regiment, seven women and 1 child, under orders of Lieutenant Tudor of the 50th regiment. Passengers Quartermaster Freer, Mrs. Freer, two sons Thomas and Robert Freer and daughters Miss Freer and Miss Charlotte Freer; Mrs. Tudor and three children.

James Osborne was also surgeon on the convict ships Lucy Davidson 1829  Red Rover 1831 (VDL) and John Barry 1834

Find out more about bushranger John Toole who arrived on the Royal Admiral

Convicts arriving on the Royal Admiral in 1835

Captain Joseph Corbyn. Surgeon George Fairfowl

The convict ship Royal Charlotte departed London on 12 November 1824, Portsmouth 5 January 1825, Teneriffe 26th January and arrived in Port Jackson on 29 April 1825 with 135 male prisoners

The Guard consisted of Major Lockyer and 34 men of the 57th regiment, Mrs. Lockyer and family of ten children, Mr. Bates of the Excise department and Mrs. Bates and family came passengers. Mr. Bates later sued Captain Corbyn for having provided insufficient provisions and for ill treatment on the voyage from England.

Captain Corbyn reported that the prisoners made an attempt to take the ship and a number of the ringleaders had been placed in irons. Charles Bateson in The Convict Ships wrote of surgeon Fairfowl's solution to the plot in which 43 of the prisoners planned to murder the officers and seize the ship - George Fairfowl, an experienced surgeon who was on his fourth voyage, separated the ringleaders. Ten of them, were secured in triple irons and fed on bread and water and were placed under the forecastle, 18 were confined in double irons in the boys room and another 10 were double ironed in the main prison. He imposed no other punishments and there was no further trouble on the Royal Charlotte.

The prisoners of the Royal Charlotte and Asia were landed on Friday morning 6th May. They were mustered in the prison yard, and were reported to be a fine set of healthy and active men. Out of about 330 only two were reported in the hospital. His Honor Lieutenant Governor Stewart in the absence of the Governor in Chief, inspected the prisoners and after the usual routine of rehearsing names etc. His Honor was pleased to invite any one that had well grounded complaints to prefer, regarding their treatment during the voyage, to advance, and institute the same accordingly. No complaints were made of ill treatment or of withholding their allowance of provisions although eleven men had been kept upon bread and water and in triple irons from the 9 March, a space of 58 days, and 34 others were deprived of their allowance of wine during the same period. They were sensible that they deserved a much more severe punishment than they received His Honor was further pleased to observe, that the mutineers, would remain in custody until a proper tribunal to answer for their crime was called. The Commanders and Surgeon were publicly congratulated by His Honor upon the general appearance of the men; who were afterwards marched to the prisoners' barracks, and from thence distributed throughout the Country.

Meanwhile the mutineers were confined in gaol. On the 6th June a Special Bench was convened to enquire into the circumstances of the conspiracy on the Royal Charlotte. The investigation occupied several hours and the evidence which went to the facts charged were taken in the presence of the prisoners viz. James Fairley, William Crossley, Abraham Meharg, Thomas Richardson, John Strachan, James Skelton, William Gomm, William Gorman and Thomas Blockley. James Fairley, the principal ringleader and promoter of the conspiracy was sentenced to transportation to Norfolk Island, William Crossley and Abraham Meharg for aiding and assisting were ordered to transportation for three years and the rest of the prisoners were discharged. James Smith and Henry Phinn two witnesses were found to be guilty of gross prevarication and were committed to gaol under recommendation to be sent to a penal settlement for three years.

The dramas were not over for Captain Corbyn and the Royal Charlotte. After the ship underwent the necessary overhaul, it was commissioned by the colonial government to carry detachments of His Majesty's 20th, 41st and 46th regts to India, in order to join their respective corps. These troops, commanded by Lieut. Henry Clinton of the 20th embarked on the 7th June. The Royal Charlotte left Sydney harbour under difficult circumstances. The seamen all refused to comply with Captain Corbyn's orders to get the ship under weigh and he was forced to call on the assistance of troops. She finally set sail under assistance of the soldiers however encountered violent storms not long after clearing the Heads. She finally reached Cato reef on the 19th June but struck a reef of rocks and was wrecked soon afterwards.

 

Leaving the survivors on shore, the chief officer and Dr. Nesbitt with twelve others, got into the long boat and after 21 days made Moreton Bay. The Amity was immediately dispatched to assist those who had remained on board. The Sydney Gazette reported the perilous circumstances of those who remained - The troops, with several of the gentlemen, were landed on a beach, the only part of the reef above water; and on the morning following the afternoon they were rescued, the beach disappeared! The master of the Amity Thomas Brown also gave the following report: Sir, I beg to inform you, that on Wednesday the 13th of July, while lying at anchor off the mouth of the River Brisbane, Moreton Bay, a sail hove in sight which, upon investigation proved to be the long boat belonging to the ship Royal Charlotte, of London, Captain Corbyn, with Dr. Nesbitt, R.N. Mr. Sparks, 1st Officer, 8 seamen and 4 soldiers on board, which vessel was unfortunately wrecked on the 20th June on Frederick's Reef, in Lat. 20° 53' 30" S. and Long. 154° 14' E.

Find out what happened to the emu on board here

On waiting on Lieut. Miller, Commandant, with these Gentlemen, he gave me permission to proceed immediately in quest of the unfortunate vessel; and after procuring ballast and water, we sailed on Monday the 18th and I have the pleasure to inform you that on Wednesday the 27th we fell in with the wreck, and to our great satisfaction succeeded in rescuing from a watery grave all the sufferers except one soldier (Corporal John Hughes, 41st) who was drowned, and one infant who died with cold at the imminent risk of this vessel, and the lives of every soul on board.......

The following is a list of persons who survived the wreck and were on the reef when the rescue by the Amity took place - Captain Dick, lady and child; Lieutenant Henry Clinton (20th regt), lady and child, Commander of the troops; Miss Tyghe, passenger (sister of Mrs. Clinton); Dr. Nisbett R.N.; 71 non commissioned officers and privates, 8 women and 14 children; Captain Corbyn, Commander of the Royal Charlotte; Mr. Parks 1st Officer ditto; Mr. Scott 2nd officer ditto; Mr. Evans 3rd officer ditto; men and boys, crew, ditto. Private Thomas Neal (41st); Private Hugh Murnane (20th regt); James Murphy (41st regt); Corporal Baker (46th regt); Sergeant Lance McDonnel (20th) and wife (Mrs. McDonnel had given birth to a son three days before the shipwreck and the child perished of cold on the reef); Seaman William Banks survived the wreck however died in Sydney from injuries he received when a cask of water injured his leg.

Find out more about bushranger George Clarke who arrived on the Royal Charlotte

Hunter Valley convicts arriving on the Royal Charlotte in 1825

Read the full account of the wreck and the perilous conditions of the survivors

The Frederick Reef Archaeological Survey January 2012 - Searching for the wreck of the Royal Charlotte

Master Robert Embledon. Surgeon William Gregor

The Royal George departed Spithead, England on Tuesday 26 August 1828 with 160 prisoners and arrived in Port Jackson 24 December 1828.

The Guard consisted of Captain Briggs and 30 men of the 63rd regiment.

William Gregor was employed as surgeon superintendent, his second voyage in that capacity

Edward Deas Thomson, Clerk to the Councils, and two officers of the Commissariat and another for the medical service all arrived as a passengers on the Royal George. Shortly after Mr. Thomson went ashore, he was received at the Colonial Secretary's Office by Mr. McLeay and the two gentlemen later dined together.

Convicts arriving on the Royal George in 1828

Master John Henderson. Surgeon Peter Leonard

On 29th July 1832 surgeon Peter Leonard R.N., arrived back in England after a voyage of twenty months along the west coast Africa on the ship Dryad.   On this voyage there were 300 men under his care and he kept a Journal which was published in 1833 and entitled Records of a Voyage to the Western Coast of Africa, in his Majesty's ship Dryad; and of the Service on that Station for the Suppression of the Slave trade, in the Years 1830, 1831, and 1832.

Peter Leonard was vehemently opposed to the slave trade and altogether spent seven years journeying along the coast of Africa. During this time he saw many of his fellow officers fall victim to what he considered a most unhealthy region.

Fourteen months after his return to England, he embarked on a slightly different kind of voyage when he joined the Royal Sovereign convict transport which departed Dublin on 6th September 1833 bound for Australia. One hundred and seventy male prisoners and military personnel were under his care on this voyage. The Guard consisted of 26 rank and file of the 2nd, 4th, 17th, 49th and 63rd regiments accompanied by a woman and child. The guard was under the command of Lieutenant Campbell and Ensign Stowell of the 38th regiment.

The Royal Sovereign arrived in Port Jackson on 19 January 1834 with 168 male prisoners of the Crown, two having died on the passage out.

One hundred and forty-four prisoners were sent into private service; eleven were assigned to public service (8 to the commissariat, 3 to the mounted police) and the thirteen remaining were un-assigned (2 were too old for assignment; 2 were sent to Port Macquarie as Specials; 5 were sent to the hospital; 3 to the invalid department; and 1 to Carter's barracks.

The Royal Sovereign departed in March 1834 in company with the Lady Hayes and the Brothers all bound for India

Surgeon Peter Leonard's Journal Royal Sovereign 16 June 1833 - 4 February 1834

Convicts arriving on the Royal Sovereign in 1834

Master John Moncrief  Surgeon Francis Logan

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

The Royal Sovereign departed England 29 July 1835 and arrived in Port Jackson on 12 December 1835  Find out more about the Royal Sovereign 1835