TROVE TUESDAY, 13TH JUNE, 2017 - CONVICT SHIPS ... AND WITH PENSIONERS...

Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, convicts going aboard, Edward William Cooke, 1828, hand-coloured etching. Rex Nan Kivell Collection, National Library of Australia: an9058453



TROVE is truly a treasure trove ... of facts and stories, of those you expect and certainly, many unexpected..

While looking for articles on convict ships, I was not disappointed.. there are numerous articles.. just try looking for just that 'convict ships' or for the names of particular ships if you wish, or dates.. the options are many. I have included just a couple of articles to as a sample of what is there. ..PART 1

 However, I came across Pensioners in Convict Ships.. something I had heard of, but had never followed through. Great thought was given as to whom was eligible.  see PART 2..

 Some of these items are too difficult to read from the original so you have the transcriptions only.

Thanks to David Black for kindly allowing me to share his photograph of this Memorial Plaque.

"We took this photo in Portsmouth as we stood on the spot where the first convicts left to go to Australia."

Thanks to David Black 

PART 1

Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Saturday 19 March 1803, page 3 (3)

 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article625461

 SHIP NEWS.

On Sunday last anchored in the Cove, His

Esq. Commander, with Prisoners from Eng-

land, from whence she sailed the 23d of Sep-

tember last. In her way she put into Rio

de Janeiro to refresh. She left England with

Majesty's ship Glatton, JAMES COLNETT,

270 Male, and 135 Female Prisoners---se-

ven of the former, and five of the latter died;

brought upwards of 30 Free Settlers, Eight

Pieces of Heavy Ordnance, and a quantity of

Ordnance Stores. The day before she got

into the Cove 100 weak people were taken

out, and put on board the Supply, 50 of the

most ailing were soon after sent on shore to

the General Hospital, where every attention

was paid them. Their complaints were

slightly scorbutic, of which they are reco-

vering very fast.

On Sunday morning arrived the Bridge-

water, Capt E. H. PALMER, with Flour

and Stores from England, and a great quan-

tity of Salt Meat from the Cape of Good

Hope, sent by Vice-Admiral Sir R. CURTIS.

The day before the Bridgewater left the Cape,

His Majesty's Sloop Imogen arrived from Eng-

land, with Orders to General DUNDAS and Sir

R. CURTIS, not to evacuate the Cape ; from

which it is to be apprehended a misunder-

standing had taken place between England

and Holland---perhaps with the French Re-

public.

The Bridgewater has on board a Private

Investment, in which the following articles

are comprised, viz. 200 bhds of Ale and

Brown Stout, Soap, Cordage, Shoes, Men's

Cloathing, Tobacco, Irish Linen, Watches,

Leather, Harness and Sadlery, 20 bhds of

Crockery, Slops, 24 casks of Constantia, &c.

On Saturday the 12th instant arrived from

King's Island, with skins and oil, the sloop

Surprise (formerly the Diana), belonging to

Messrs. Kable and Underwood.

Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Sunday 24 April 1803, page 4 

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article625527 

Sydney.

On Saturday the 16th Instant and two fol-

lowing days a number of prisoners convicted

of misdemeanors, were shipped on board the

Buffalo for Norfolk Island. Robert Jillet

was also put on board, with Hailey, im-

plicated in the same offence, and several

of the Store Attendants, whose conduct had

been such as to render them suspected. Se-

veral persons were permitted to go at their

own request, some to accompany their hus-

bands, and others from a desire of a change of

air.

Last week John Orrall was taken before a

Magistrate on suspicion of stealing a Sail the

property of J. Harris, Esq. and the charge

being justified, was sentenced a corporal

punishment; in the course of which he pro-

fessed a knowledge where the property lay

concealed, and was permitted to go, in

charge of a constable, in quest of it. After

amusing the officer with a round-about pro-

menade he stopped at a house, and inform-

ed him the sail was in the loft, but declared

himself unable to mount, which he persuaded

his guide to do ; up the guardian scrambled

to hunt for the property, and after passing

some minutes in a vain pursuit, scrambled

down again, TO HUNT FOR HIS DEPARTED

PRISONER, who at the moment of his ascen-

sion had made off, and has not since been

heard of; but is supposed to have had re-

course to the dismal alternative of taking to

the woods, where he must inevitably perish, or

transiently subsist by plundering the settlers,

whose interest it is to secure and bring to jus-

tice every miscreant of this description.

Colonial Times (Hobart, Tas. : 1828 - 1857), Friday 2 April 1852, page 2 

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8771146 

Thomas Rowlandson (1756–1827), Convicts embarking for Botany Bay  180-?  NLA

**********************

PART 2 

This article shows that the whole concept was very well detailed... Considering the circumstances many lived in, the promise of a new beginning with a paid position, must have seemed very tempting.

Moreton Bay Courier (Brisbane, Qld. : 1846 - 1861), Saturday 12 January 1850, page 3

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3709243

---

PENSIONERS IN CONVICT SHIPS.

In consequence of the wish expressed by many pensioners to settle in Australia, her Majesty's Government has authorised the following condi-tions under which some of them may be provided with free passages to that country :—
1st. The convict guards, hitherto furnished by regiments of the line, are in future to consist of pensioners who wish to settle in Australia. A company of from sixty to seventy men, with a due proportion of non-commissioned officers, will be formed at Tilbury Fort, and kept ready to furnish detachments for this duty ; and, as they are em-barked, fresh volunteers will be brought from the pension districts to supply their place.
2nd. The age of these pensioners is not to exceed forty-five, and the number of their children not to exceed two under seven, or three under ten years of age. No maximum is specified for the number of children above ten years of age, as that must in some measure depend on whether they are likely to be serviceable in the colony.
3rd. These pensioners shall, engage to serve for a period of six months, or until the termination of the voyage, at the rate of 1s. 3d a day for a private, 1s. 6d. for a corporal, and 1s. 10d. for a Serjeant ; such pay to commence from the date of leaving their respective districts, and to continue on shipboard, and after landing in the colony, till the period of their engagement has expired, subject to the usual deductions for rations during the voyage ; and they shall be conveyed from their homes to Tilbury Fort, or other place of embarkation, at the public expense.
4th. As the pensioners thus employed are to receive pay during the voyage, no enrolment money will be issued to them; and each will be
equipped for the voyage by an advance of four months' pay previous to sailing.
5th. As the wives and families of these pen-sioners cannot be allowed to accompany them in a vessel which is intended for the conveyance of convicts, they will be sent out free of all expense, within three months after the departure of the pensioners, and the cost of their conveyance to the
port of embarkation will be paid by the public.
6th. If the pensioners is married, his pension during the Six months that he is on pay will be
applied for the support of his w¡fe and family till
embarkation, and towards their outfit for the
voyage.
7th. Each pensioner proceeding on this duty , will be equipped with one frock coat, one shell jacket, one pair of trousers, and a cap, to be worn on those occasions when he is on duty, and which equipments, in the event of his serving as an enrolled pensioner in the colony, will be renewed as often as the nature of the service is found to require. The usual arms and accoutrements of an enrolled pensioner will also be issued to him.
8th. These articles will be marked and numbered as belonging to the pensioner, and on the expira-tion of the period for which he is to receive pay, they are to be returned into the Government store of the colony, in good order, under the direction of the officer or non-commissioned officer in charge of the party. In the event of any damage be-yond what is likely to have resulted from wear and tear, the cost thereof is to be deducted from the pensioner.
9th. On the termination of six months, the pensioner's military engagement will be considered at an end, if by that time he has arrived at his destination, and he will thereafter only be liable
to attend exercise as an enrolled pensioner, for twelve days in each year, in any loyal company to be formed in the colony under the authority of the Act 10th and 11th Vict., cap. 54 ; and to serve in defence of the colony, or when called out for the preservation of the public peace, under the authority of the Governor.
10th. When employed on this duty he shall receive the pay authorised by the Royal Warrant of the 7th September, 1843, for enrolled pen-sioners, viz..
In aid of On days of
Civil Power. Exercise.
Sergeants .... 3s. 6d....3s. 0d. per diem. Corporals .... 3s. 0d....2s. 6d. " Privates .... 2s. 6d ... 2s. 0d. "
with an addition of 6d. per day beyond the highest rate to a sergeant- major, if any of that rank are
authorised to be employed.
11th. In consideration of the expense incurred by the Government in sending out the pensioner and his family to the colony, he shall not receive enrolment money annually, but shall be bound to keep up the usual stock of necessaries, consisting of one pair of boots, two shirts, two pairs of socks, and one stock, and if at any time deficent therein after his enrolment, his officer will advance him the amount necessary for purchasing the same, and deduct it from the first issue of his pay or pension.
12th. Every pensioner on the termination of the six months for which he is engaged, shall be bound to register his place of abode in the books of the person who pays his pension, and not to remove therefrom without intimating to him his intended change of residence, and obtaining per-mission. 
It being considered more advantageous for the pensioners and their families that they should supply the demand for labour, than attempt set-tling on land of their own, no grant of land has been promised them ; but if they acquire money to purchase it in the interior, there will be no ob-jection to their settling there, even though the distance should prevent them from serving as enrolled pensioners.
13th. In the event of the death or removal from the force of any pensioner thus enrolled before the expiration of the period for which his clothing

has been issued, it shall revert to the public, to be made available for the equipment of his suc-
cessor.
14th. An allowance of one guinea will be made to cover the expense of the funeral of any pen-sioner who dies while thus enrolled or on pay.
15th. It must form a special condition of the original engagement and subsequent enrolment,
that the service is in neither case to reckon for
increase of pension ; but when employed in defence of the colony, these pensioners shall, in the event, of being wounded or disabled in the execution of their duty, be allowed the usual increase of pension as for wounds received in action.
16th. Every pensioner volunteering for this service will, during the continuance of the period for which he is engaged, or enrolled, be subject to the provisions of the Mutiny Act and Articles of War ; but all minor offences may be punished by such fines, or by expulsion from the force, as the Governor of the colony for the time being may direct.
17th. In the event of the pensioners being enrolled, the periods of exercise shall be fixed by the Governor of the colony for the time being, and none of them shall be called out, either for exercise or in defence of the colony except by him or persons holding his authority for that purpose ; but when so called out they shall be placed under the General or other superior officer in command of Her Majesty's forces in the colony, in the same man-ner, in all respects, as if they formed part of the regular forces of Her Majesty's army.

     

  Hobarton Guardian, or, True Friend of Tasmania (Hobart, Tas. : 1847 - 1854), Saturday 5 July 1851, page 4 

   http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article173059785 

      CONVICT GUARDS

The following circular has just been

issued from the War Office to the Staff

Officers of Pensioners:—

I am directed to transmit the conditions

of service for convict Guards proceeding

to Australia and Van Diemen's and in the

ensuing year, and to request that you will,

immediately after your next payments,

recommend for this Service any number,

not exceeding six, of the most eligible of

the pensioners in your district who may

wish to become candidates for that duty

attending carefully to the instructions previously

given you as to the qualifcations

required for this duty, and the mode of

recommending them, which you will do

on the enclosed blank form.

Much inconvenience having been experienced

by private applicants and enquiries

from pensioners to whom the

nature of the conditions do not appear to

have been sufficiently explained, I am

directed to request that you will be particularly

careful to read and explain

these conditions to them at your payments,

and also to hang up a copy in your office

that they may be perused

by them at that time.

Should no candidates offer on this occasion,

you can recommend the required

number at any other period in the course

of the year; but you must, in the meantime,

report the circumstance of no candidate

being at present available.

The candidates must distinctly understand

that it is quite uncertain when they

will be wanted, as opportunities for forwarding

them depend entirely on the number

of convicts sent cut in the course of

the year,but none are likely to be required

earlier than March next, and the year will

probably have passed before the whole are

called for.

As the men appointed to this service

will not receive enrolment money, they

will not be required to refund any portion

of the bounty money which may have been

paid to them*; but it is expedient to avoid

enrolling them when you are in expectation

of their services being wanted for this

purpose, unless you cannot make up the

required number for your district other

     wise.

Should any of these Candidates die, or

remove to another district or alter their

intention of going out, it is requested that

you will immediately communicate the

circumstance to this office, in order that

the necessary alteration may be made in

I have, &c. 

United Service Gazette.

L. SULIVAN

 Just one more that I couldn't resist...

Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 - 1939), Saturday 5 May 1888, page 702 

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19932310 

A Romantic Convict Story.

At the present time (says the Sydney Evening

News) the Government have under consideration

the case of Jeremiah Shea, an old man of 88

years of age, who was sent out to Botany Bay

in 1818, and who has applied for a pension.

His story, as told by himself, is a most re-

markable one. He claims to be the natural

son of the late Lord George Beresford and

brother to the late fire-eating Marquis of

Waterford, who broke his neck in the hunting

field. The name of his mother, who died in a

convent, he knows, but states that he is sworn

not to divulge it. He was adopted into the

family of Mr. Shea, one of the curators of the

British Museum, London. By that gentleman

he was apprenticed to Mr. Lock, shoemaker,

King-street, Covent Garden. One day, while

carrying a bag of shoes home for his master, he

loitered to play marbles, and the bag was

stolen. Fearful of returning home without

them he ran away from his situation and got

into bad company. Shortly afterwards, while

standing outßide the shop of Alderman Wait-

man (then Lord Mayor of London), in Bridge

street, Blackfriars, two men accosted him and

promised him a shilling if he would lift a

bundle of cloth standing outside Alderman

Waitman's door into a hackney coach. He

was in the act of doing so when he was seized

and given into custody on the charge of steal-

ing, and on being tried at the Old Bailey

before the Recorder of London, Judge Silvester,

was sentenced to seven years' transportation.

In the same year he came out in the ship

Morley the Second, and speaks well of his

treatment while on the voyage. His history

since his arrival in Australia is best told in his

own words, which have been embodied in the

form of a memorial to the Government, as

follows: "To the Native-born Australians, —

I, Jeremiah Shea, arrived here in October,

1818, in the ship Morley the Second, under

sentence of seven years, and when I landed was

Assigned to Captain William Cox, of Claren

don, in whose service I remained until I became

free at his station, Manah, near Mudgee. I

became free on 26th February, and then went

to the Hunter and engaged with Mr. John

Wiseman of that place, and his father, Mr.

Solomon Wiseman, of Wiseman's Ferry,

Hawkesbury River. After leaving their

service I engaged with Mr. Thomas Heydon,

of Murrurundi, and Peter Brodie, Esq., of the

same place. I also worked for Mr. John

Kennedy Howe, and for Mr, James McDougall,

both of Singleton ; also for Mr. Hobbler and

Mr. Turner, both of Maitland. I was entitled

after my term of service to a grant of land of

thirty acres for good conduct (never having

been brought before a police court while in the

colony). I did not apply for it till 183O. My

application was drawn out in the usual form

and signed by Mr. Solomon Wiseman, J.P.,

and sent in, at the time of General Darling,

was attested by W. C. Wentwovtb, and went

home. To that application I never received an

answer. Lately, I petitioned the present Go-

vernment, and can get no redress, as the old

records of the convict period have been

destroyed. In no office in the colony can my

name, or that of the ship I arrived in, be found.

I have saved many from being shot in New

South Wales, and many from being killed by

the blacks. I have done much work for Mr.

D. Milson, of the Wollombi, son of the late

Mr. Milson, of St. Leonards. In 1852 I went

to the diggings, northern side, and found the

first ounce of gold there, which I sold to Dr.

Jenkins for £2 10s. At that time flour was £7

per bag, and beef 2d. Dr. Jenkins and Mr.

Brodie kept stores, also Mr. Frisk, who was

very kind to the miners; the diggings would

have been broken up but for his timely aid.

There were three public-houses on the dig-

gings—Gibbon's, Gold Nugget, and Scho-

field's Nundle. Mr. Jones, J.P., Warden and

first Gold Commissioner, followed by Mr.

Durhen, C.L. Commissioner and P.M., Tam-

worth; Major Innes, Mr. Charles King,

Captain Brown, Captain Douglas, and Mr.

Dalton. They are all gone, and I am left to

write this, and trust that those who read it will

assist me in as much as lays in their power, as

l am now old and infirm. I must not forget

to mention Sergeant Langworthy; he was the

best officer on the diggings. By his influence

many young men were kept from going astray,

and made good members of society. I was

born and reared at the British Museum,

Russell-street, Bloomsbury." There is con

siderable consistency between the different

parts of the old man's story which im-

parts to it a strong appearance of proba

bility. Of course, in view of his great age,

and the fact that he has led a wild life for

the greater part of seventy-one years on the

diggings or in the bush, it is not to be mar-

velled at that slight discrepancies should have

crept in. If his story be correot, it is really

wonderful how an octogenarian like this could

retain so clear a recollection of events so long

past. It is felt to be a hardship that this old

and wherewithal worthy settler should have no

part or lot in the land he has done so much to

open up and render habitable. Since the year

1852 he has been engaged on the diggings

with more or less success; but what he won

by hard labour he lost in speculation. He is

now living at Hanging Rock, near the Peel

River, where, as he states, he was the first to

discover gold. But owing to the advance of

years and increasing decrepitude he is unable

to work any more, and is, therefore, in very

straightened circumstances. He has been in

Sydney during the last five weeks trying to get

some assistance from the Government. Thanks

to the interest taken in his case by several

gentlemen, including Mr. James Fletcher,

M.P., and Dr. James Cox, there is a proba-

bility of some relief being afforded him in the

shape of a weekly pension. The old man's

recollections of persons and things during what

may be euphoniously termed the prehistoric

days of New South Wales are most vivid and

interesting. His adventures include conflicts

with blacks, encounters with bushrangers,

which, added to his personal reminiscences of

the penal system of the early days, make his

story read like a romance. His history is only

one of many, but it is rendered remarkable by

the fact that he survives to tell his own story.

THE hell-ship Neptune on which Molly Morgan arrived in Port Jackson in 1790 – nearly half the 502 convicts crammed aboard, died on the journey. (WikiMedia) - See more at: http://tasmaniantimes.com/index.php?/travel-article/molly-morgan-convict-to-queen/#sthash.7mEf3J1J.dpuf