Charlotte, one of the ‘two ladies’ of the fleet, was built on the River Thames in 1784 as a three masted, two-decker, barque built ship, weighing 345 tons. Charlotte was chartered by the Admiralty from its owner Mr Matthews late in 1786. She was fixed out at Deptford, one of the royal dockyards established to build, repair and victual ships of the Royal Navy. Her master for the voyage to Botany Bay was Captain Thomas Gilbert.Charlotte carried 88 male convicts and 20 female, among them were Continue Reading »
The Voyage
How one London newspaper recorded history Government is now about settling a colony in New Holland, in the Indian seas; and the Commissioners of the Navy are now advertising for 1500 ton of transports. This settlement is to be formed at Botany Bay, on the west side of the island, where Captain Cook refreshed and staid for some time on his voyage in 1770. As he first sailed around that side of the island. he called it New South Wales, and the two Capes at the mouth of the river were called by Continue Reading »
Borrowdale
Borrowdale, a fully rigged wooden sailing ship, was the youngest of the three Storeships or victualler. She was built in Sunderland England for the owners Leightons & Co in 1785, two years before the trip to Botany Bay.Once the decision was made to assemble ships for the journey to Botany Bay, the Navy Board advertised extensively for shipping and accepted the tender submitted by William Richards’s jnr. Borrowdale was fitted out as a transport, and for protection 4 guns were Continue Reading »
Lucas Family
Nathaniel Lucas The history of the Lucas family in Australia begins at London’s Old Bailey in July, 1784, with the trial of Nathaniel Lucas, who was sentenced to seven years transportation for the theft of linen clothing to the value of £2.2s.2d.Nathaniel was evidently out of favour with the wife of the publican at the Red Lion Inn at Holborn, near London, where he had lodgings. They had clashed over her demands for early payment of board, and his lack patronage of the inn’s bar. The day Continue Reading »
James Ruse
FIRST CONVICT FARMERGloria Axcelsis In Sacred To the memrey of James Ruse who departed this life Sept 5th in the year of houre Lord 1837 Natef of Cornwell and arrived in this coleney by the Forst Fleet Aged 77 My mother reread me Tenderly With me she tock much paines And when I arrived in this coelney I owed the forst grain and now With my hevenly Father I hope ever to remain So reads the headstone of James RUSE who was born on 9 August 1759 Continue Reading »
Faddy Naval Family
LIEUTENANT WILLIAM JOHN FADDYBorn: 1746 Married: 17 November 1784 to Martha Escott Johnson at St Paul’s Exeter Died: 1 August 1798 on Admiral Horatio Nelson’s ship Vanguard at the Battle of the NileWilliam John Faddy was 2nd Lieutenant of Marines with the 88th Company serving on HMS Champion, Medway and Crescent then in 1783 on Continue Reading »
Arthur Phillip Bell
Goulburn is a provincial city in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia in Goulburn Mulwaree Council Local Government Area. It is located 195 kilometres (121 miles) south-west of Sydney on the Hume Highway. It brands itself as "Australia's first inland city”.Goulburn was named by surveyor James Meehan after Henry Goulburn, Under-Secretary for War and the Colonies, and the name was ratified by Governor Lachlan Macquarie. The Continue Reading »
Family History Fairs/Expos
Family History Fairs or Expos are held yearly by local and country Family History Societies. They are a chance to bring together family history groups within their areas and others, like ourselves, that are themed based. Fellowship members have been attending History Fairs for many years; in the early days towing a converted plumbers’ trailer that held a three sided framed canvas demonstration tent, tables and display materials. Depending on the event members would set up stocks and a Continue Reading »
Australia Day
The First Fleet Captain Arthur Phillip 1786 portrait by Francis Wheatley (Wikipedia) Under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip the First Fleet set sail from England on 13 May1787. It comprised HMS Sirius, HMS Supply, six transports and three supply ships. Captain Phillip, in HMS Supply arrived first at the original destination, Botany Bay on 18 January 1788. The rest of the fleet arrived over the next two days. By the time the other vessels of the fleet arrived, Phillip had decided that Continue Reading »