Like many of his fellow officers, Captain David Collins who became the Colony’s Judge Advocate, took convict women as mistresses during his years in Sydney Cove and Hobart Town, Van Diemen’s Land. One of his mistresses was convict milliner Nancy / Ann Yates / Yeates. She was tried as a single-woman aged 17, at Yorkshire Summer Assizes held at York on 9 July 1785 with Jonathan Howard for burglary. Breaking and entering into the dwelling of John Strickland in the township of Milton Continue Reading »
Seamen
Seamen were are tough bunch of men. They crewed the First Fleet ships, fathered children to convict women, settled in the new colony, while others died on the inward and outward voyages. Life at sea during the age of sail was filled with dangers, even though these men were familiar with the discomfort and hardship of ship life. Seamen were separated from their homes and families for long periods at sea. They were crowded below decks in skimpy and cramped living conditions, Continue Reading »
Thomas Prior : Rebecca Davidson
In the Anglican Section of the Old Sydney (Devonshire/Sandhills) Burial Ground, was a very small headstone that marked the grave of Thomas Prior. The stone was embellished with several Masonic emblems and inscribed with the wording: Sacred to the memory of THOMAS PRIOR, who departed this Life, July 24th, 1836, Aged 88 Years, who Arrived in the first fleet 1788. Freemasonry has been associated with the British discovery and settlement of New South Wales from the beginning. Thomas Prior Continue Reading »
Jane Dundas
The Sydney Gazette 11 March 1806 listed Wearing Apparel and other property of the late Mrs J Dundas, to be sold at Auction by Mr David Bevan on 2 April. Jane Dundas had accumulated considerable personal effects in her 15 years as servant to the King household. From her trial at the Old Bailey, Jane Dundas at the end of her life, was given a public funeral at which His Excellency Governor King and family attended. Jane Dundas was in service as laundry maid to the Hon Sir John Skinner when Continue Reading »
Walter Batley : Martha Baker
Convict Walter Batley whose aliases were Walton Batley or John Rowse, Rouse or Rous, was aged 28 when he was discharged into Friendship. Ralph Clark noted that he was a bricklayer born in Norfolk. At the Old Bailey Sessions which began on Wednesday 29 October 1783, Walter Batley was indicted for feloniously stealing on the 24 September 1783, seven woollen sailor’s jackets value 20s, two woollen sailor’s jackets value 10s, seven white flannel jackets value 3s, six pair of breeches value 12s, Continue Reading »
Susannah Blanchet
Monday 24 March 1788, a day described as foggy until 9 a.m., then clear, easterly winds with the temperature reaching 72°. One this day, four weddings took place, and Susannah Blanchard (sic), a convict, was buried. At the Surrey Lent Assizes 1787, which commenced on Monday 2 April 1787 at Kingston upon Thames before Sir Henry Gould Kent, Susannah Blanchet was tried for burglary on 29 December 1786. Her occupation was given as servant, with an age of either 23 or 25 years. The crime “… Continue Reading »
John Baughan : Mary Cleaver
John Bingham or Baughan, alias Innis Baffin, cabin maker, was convicted at Oxford England, in 1783 for having stolen five woollen blankets being the goods of John Shorter. Sentenced to seven years transportation to America, he was delivered aboard the ship Mercury on 22 March 1784 with 21 other convicts. The ship was seized by the convicts off Torbay Cornwall; he was one of 66 recaptured and held on Dunkirk Hulk until being transferred to the First Fleet transport Friendship. The Reverend Continue Reading »
The Tank Stream
The First Water Supply The site of Sydney was chosen by Governor Phillip in 1788, because of all the bays of Port Jackson where ship could anchor Sydney Cove had the best fresh water supply. This was provided by a fine run of fresh water stealing silently through a thick wood, later to become known as The Tank Stream. The stream which flowed into the cove, had its rise in marshy ground between Park and Market Streets, fed by springs in the sandstone ridges of Hyde Park. It then took Continue Reading »
George Raper
Abel Seaman George Raper took his paint box with him, containing a larger set of paints than that of his captain John Hunter, who was also an artist, when he transferred on 22 December 1786 to HMS Sirius. His paintings of ports such as Teneriffe and Rio de Janeiro, were part of his evidence of competence for his later promotion to midshipman on 13 September 1787. When in boarded HMS Sirius, George Raper was seventeen years old, having been born on 19 September 1769, to Henry and Catherine Continue Reading »
The Second Fleet
The Second Fleet Arrives at Sydney Cove Horrifying Conditions says Chaplain Richard Johnson Long awaited ships from England have arrived bringing with them a load of problems far outweighing their aid to the Colony. Lady Juliana arrived June 3, 1790, was found to carry not food but female convicts, mainly elderly and infirm. Justinian, arrived June 20, brought food and news that the principal store ship, Guardian, had founded off the Cape of Good Hope. The ships carried the Continue Reading »