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. Continue Reading »
John McCarty and Ann Beardsley
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 know 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 as a type of trouble Continue Reading »
The Wreck of ‘Sirius’ at Norfolk Island
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 ISLAND “On the 13th 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: Watkin Tench At this 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 »
Christmas in the New Colony
Watkin Tench, First Fleet Marine, in his Account of the Settlement of Port Jackson, does not mention how the new settlers celebrated their first Christmas in the young colony. It is probably more correct to say the manner in which Christmas was observed rather than how Christmas was celebrated. Captain David Collins stated, Christmas-day (1788) was observed with proper ceremony. Mr Johnson preached a sermon adapted to the occasion, and the major part of the officers of the settlement Continue Reading »
Ann Inett
Ann was born at Abberley, in 1754, the youngest of four children of Samuel and Mary Inett. As a young woman, she made her living from dress-making and had two illegitimate children - Thomas, in 1778, when she was aged 24, and Constance, in 1781, when she was 27. Both were christened at Bayton Church, near Rock. At the age of 31, she was, for some unknown reason, driven into crime. Berrow's Worcester Journal of 14 July, 1785, first reported: The dwelling-house of Susannah Brookes in Grimley has Continue Reading »
Settlement at Port Phillip
The first major white settlements in the colony of New South Wales were at Sydney and Norfolk Island. The Judge-Advocate, David Collins, returned to England in 1796, later publishing his Account of the Settlement. However, financial problems and desire for active service led to agitation for a further appointment. He was appointed to lead a settlement at the newly-discovered Port Phillip Bay. A party of convicts and free settlers was assembled and two ships provided – HMS Continue Reading »
Port Phillip Settlement Planned
AUSTRALIAN CHRONICLEVol.1, 1810-1810 No.3 PORT PHILLIP SETTLEMENT PLANNEDCaptain Collins in ChargeThe Home Government has approved the proposal for a new settlement to be set up in the Port Phillip district. Captain David Collins, who served as Judge-Advocate under Government Phillip and departed the Colony for Home in 1796, has been appointed to lead an expedition from England to found the Port Phillip settlement. His Excellency Governor King has urged settlement of Port Phillip since he Continue Reading »
Return from Transportation
Swift and Mercury Mutineers A group of First Fleet convicts were charge with Return from Transportation. These were convicts involved in the mutiny of the transport ships Swift and Mercury. The Swift was bound fort Halifax, America, with a number of convicts on board in August 1783. Some prisoners came aboard at Blackwell on 16 August, the ship sailed that day down to the Galleons where the remainder were received on board from the ship Censor and left the Downs on the 28 of Continue Reading »