Port Jackson, 14th November, 1788 I take the first opportunity that has been given us to acquaint you with our disconsolate situation in this solitary waste of the creation. Our passage, you may have heard by the first ships, was tolerably favourable; but the inconveniences since suffered for want of shelter, bedding, &c., are not to be imagined by any stranger. However, we have now two streets, if four rows of the most miserable huts you can possibly conceive of deserve that Continue Reading »
1788 EARTHQUAKE, SYDNEY COVE
The shock of an earthquake on Sunday 22 June 1788 was mentioned by several diarists. The day was recorded as Clear with south-west winds. Temperature 54° David Blackburn, Master of HMS Supplyat 20 minutes after 4 in the afternoon, a shock of an earthquake was felt through the camp. The surgeon of ‘Supply’ and myself were then in the woods about a mile and a half from the camp & were both at the time standing still and silent examining some gum issuing from a large Continue Reading »
The Surname Smith
By Anne Gibson There are several reasons why Smith is such a numerous and widespread surname, leaving behind in frequency other surnames such as Jones and Brown. It is one of the oldest Anglo-Saxon names, so Smiths have been around longer, multiplying with each generation. Over one thousand years ago an unidentified Anglo-Saxon used the old English word Smith to describe his occupation as a worker in iron, then over time a ‘smith’ became known as a worker in metals. The Smiths Continue Reading »
Thomas Tilley
Stafford Labourer Thomas Tilley was aged 39 when he was delivered aboard the Censor Hulk on 19 January 1786. Sentenced with Edward Parry and Thomas Wood for the theft at Kinfare of six pieces of Fusian called Queen’s Cord of the value of ten pounds and one Flaxen Bag of the value of one shilling of the goods and chattels of John Harrison, James Harrison and William Topping, feloniously and did steal take and carry away. Tried at Staffordshire Summer Assizes on 27 July 1785 Thomas Continue Reading »
Colonial Fashion
By Anne Gibson and Pat Crothers. From the beginning, due to the climate, the general roughness of life and the lack of material goods led to a determination of the inhabitants of the colony of New South Wales to make do, as was very apparent from their clothing. Clothing was in short supply right from the start, the First Fleet set a precedent by not carrying sufficient supplies of cloth or clothing for the convicts on board. The situation as more joined the colony. Those Continue Reading »
Unlocking the Mysteries of the First Fleet Marine Arrivals
By Glen Lambert. With all the family research carried out over the last hundred years or more one would expect there to be no major unknowns left regarding the arrival of the First Fleet at Botany Bay. You might be surprised to learn that to this day no clear record detailing the arrival vessels for the First Fleet Marines exists. For years researchers have tried to locate this information to no avail, and so a complete knowledge of the Marine arrivals has remained at an impasse. Permission Continue Reading »
John McCarty and Ann Beardsley
By Glen Lambert. The story of First Fleet Marine John McCarty and partner Ann Beardsley (aka Beazley) is one that to this day conceals many unknowns. Whilst we now their general story and general dates of events, there are many specifics that remain unknown. Many have tried to detail their lives, much of this poorly researched and overstated. Some have claimed John McCarty to be some type of super-soldier, serving on special assignments well into his 80's and being moved all over the colony Continue Reading »
The Wreck of ‘Sirius’ at Norfolk Island
By Anne Gibson. On the 19th March 2020 it will be 230 years since HMS Sirius, flagship of the First Fleet was ship-wrecked at Norfolk Island. Many of our descendants, who had embarked the ship at Sydney Cove and were previously landed on the island before the disaster, would have stood on the shore with their babies and scant belongings and watched the events unfolding. Read an exact from the Historical Journal of John Hunter, Captain HMS Sirius THE WRECK OF THE HMS SIRIUS AT NORFOLK Continue Reading »
Discovery of the Nepean River
From 6 June to 16 June 1789, John White, John Hunter and David Collins were amongst a large party that accompanied Governor Phillip on a second expedition to Broken Bay, in the course of which an extensive river was discovered. Phillip named it the Hawkesbury River. At the end of the month the same party traced the course of the river upstream to the present Richmond area. Watkin Tench, Captain of Marines, was unable to be part of either expeditions: At this period, I was Continue Reading »
George Bouchier Worgan
THE EMUThe curiosity of the camp was excited and gratified for a day or two by the sight of an emu, which was shot by the Governor’s game-killer. It was remarkable by every stem having two feathers proceeding from it. It’s height was 7 feet 2 inches, and the flesh was very well flavoured. David Collins, Extract from An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales According to Bowes and White, the emu was bought to the camp on 30 January 1788. The skin was given to Phillip Continue Reading »
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