The men came counties throughout Ireland and had been convicted of crimes such as larceny, burglary, receiving, stealing, manslaughter, coining, murder, assault, rape, abusing serjeant, desertion, arson, perjury, forging a Will and bigamy. Several were also convicted of white boy crimes.
Military Guard
The Guard consisted of 20 rank and file of the 51st regiment under Ensign and Adjutant McGregor and Ensign Kirby. [1]
Departure from Ireland
The Blenheim departed Dublin on 19 May 1839 and spoke the Parkfield on 6th June.
Surgeon William McDowell
William McDowell kept a Medical Journal from 23 April 1839 to 8 October 1839
He reported all the men to have been in good health on embarkation however there was an outbreak of dysentery in July. The surgeon considered it due to the bad water they had on board which emitted a most offensive putrid effluvia, almost intolerable, and caused many bowel complaints. [4]
Cape of Good Hope
Fresh water and provisions were obtained at the Cape on 6th August, however it came too late and three prisoners died from dysentery -
James Maginness (died 2 August 1839),
Martin Graham (died 26 July 1839) and
Michael Farrelly (died 7 August 1839).
Later another convict James Benson also died after suffering tonsillitis.
Very bad weather was encountered on 4th September, one prisoner James Feeney a 26 year old labourer from Westmeath, became so frightened that he required treatment from the surgeon. [4]
Arrival at Port Jackson
The Blenheim arrived at Port Jackson on 27 September 1839. William Brophy was probably sent straight to the General Hospital on shore where he died on 2nd October 1839. The remaining prisoners were landed by 8th October 1839.
Convict James Cross died in the General Hospital on 3rd December 1839 and Daniel Keene died in the General Hospital Sydney 24th December 1839. [2]
[3] Bateson, Charles Library of Australian History (1983). The convict ships, 1787-1868 (Australian ed). Library of Australian History, Sydney. pp354 - 355
[4] Journal of William McDowell on the voyage of the Blenheim 23 April 1839 to 8 October 1839. Ancestry.com. UK, Royal Navy Medical Journals, 1817-1857 Original data: The National Archives. Kew, Richmond, Surrey