Convict Ship Hibernia - 1819
Embarked: 160 men
Voyage: 172 days
Deaths: 3
Surgeon's Journal: yes
Captain John Lennon
Surgeon Superintendent Charles Carter
The Hibernia was built at Cowes in 1810. [2] Captain John Lennon was also her owner.
Departure
The Hibernia departed Portsmouth on 20 November 1818, however owing to a series of adverse winds in the Channel and again off the coast of Australia, her voyage was unusually long being 172 days duration.The Voyage
There were many cases of fever and catarrh, which the surgeon attributed to inadequate warm clothing. He permitted the prisoners to use their own clothes if they had them.The prisons also leaked water in bad weather. The swinging stoves and wind sails were used in an attempt to dry the prison and bedding and the prison was also fumigated several times.
There were three confinements, two of them difficult, however all the babies (boys) survived according to Charles Carter's medical journal. [1]
Hobart
The Hibernia arrived in Hobart on 11 May 1819.One hundred and fifty-seven prisoners arrived in a healthy state, three having died on the passage out.
Military Guard
Officer commanding the guard, was Lieutenant Mee of the 83rd regiment.Cabin Passengers
Passengers included Rev. Richard Hill, Assistant Chaplain , Assistant Chaplain of New South Wales, Mrs Hill and Mrs. Smith and family; John Smith son of William and Dinah Smith (CSI); James Nixon and William Killow; discharged soldiers from the 73rd regiment with the family of Killow as settlers.Sydney
The Hibernia sailed to Sydney in June with cabin passengers R.W. Loane, Edward Lord, Thomas Kent and B. H. Ainsworth.While the ship lay in Sydney harbour convict stowaway Mercer Ludgate hid on board in an attempt to escape the colony. He was found before the Hibernia sailed however, and was returned to shore. As part of his punishment he was sent to the penal settlement at Newcastle.
Departure from the Colony
The Hibernia departed Sydney bound for Calcutta via Batavia.Notes and Links
1). The Colonial Secretary's Papers reveal that a great deal of acrimony existed between Rev. Richard Hill and the surgeon Charles Carter.2). Convicts and passengers of the Hibernia identified in the Hunter Valley region
3). Captain John Lennon and the Hibernia in 1814.....
Account of a gallant action between the merchant ship Hibernia, of London, Captain John Lennon, with sir guns and 22 men and boys, and the Comet American privateer, of 14 guns and 125 men: - 'St. Thomas's, January 27th, 1814. 'Captain Crabtree, of the brig Wasp, arrived here the 10th inst, from London. He states, that he fell in with a privateer to the westward of Saba, on the 9th instant; which, supposing the Wasp to be a man of war, made sail from her upon being chased. This privateer has for some time past been cruising to intercept the outward-bound ships for this island and St. Croix, and would no doubt have done much mischief, but for the very gallant conduct of Captain Lennon, and his ship's company.
'The Hibernia fell in with her on the 11th, having only twenty-two men and boys on board, and six guns. The privateer (we learn from Porto Rico, where she is now refitting) is the Comet, of Baltimore, Captain Boyle, mounting fourteen 12-pounders, and carrying 125 men. Against this very superior force, Captain Lennon and his little crew bravely defended the Hibernia, for nine hours, the greatest part of which time the two vessels were on board of each other.
The situation of the Hibernia, when she came into port, shewed the effects of the tremendous fire which the enemy must have kept up; not a sail which was bent escaped the enemy's shot, and her spars and rigging are much destroyed. Out of the small complement of 22, one man was killed, and 11 wounded; the latter, I am happy to say, are all doing well.
'Too much praise cannot be given to Captain Lennon for his conduct during this arduous undertaking; at the latter part of the action, he had only two or three men left, besides himself, at the guns: he has fortunately escaped, but has received several contusions, and had two musketballs through his hat. The captain of the Comet acknowledges having three men killed and 11 wounded, but it is generally supposed he must have lost more.'- Naval Chronicle
Hibernia Beating off the Privateer Comet, 10 January 1814: Returning to Port; Thomas Whitcombe, National Maritime Museum
References
[1] Ancestry.com. UK, Royal Navy Medical Journals, 1817-1857. Medical Journal of Charles Carter on the voyage of the Hibernia in 1819. The National Archives. Kew, Richmond, Surrey.[2] Bateson, Charles Library of Australian History (1983). The convict ships, 1787-1868 (Australian ed). Library of Australian History, Sydney : pp.356-357, 383
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