Convict Ship Katherine Stewart Forbes
1831
Embarked: 200 men
Voyage: 127 days
Deaths: 1
Surgeon's Journal: yes
Crew: 53 men
Previous vessel: James Pattison arrived 20 January 1830
Next vessel: Dunvegan Castle arrived 30 March 1830
Captain Thomas Canney
Surgeon Superintendent Patrick McTernan
Prisoners and passengers of the Katherine Stewart Forbes identified in the Hunter Valley
Thee Kathereine Stewart Forbes was built in 1818 and weighed 473 tons. She transported convicts to Australia on this voyage in 1830 (NSW) and to Van Diemen's Land in 1832.
Having been fitted up for the voyage ahead, the Katherine Stewart Forbes arrived in Portsmouth on 30th September 1829 to embark prisoners.
The prisoners had been tried in the following counties in England - London, Essex, Lancaster, Worcester, Norfolk, Surrey, Middlesex, Southampton, York, Wiltshire, Warwick, Berks, Sussex, Suffolk, Hereford, Leicester, Chester, Oxford, Northampton. From county gaols they were taken to various hulks where they were incarcerated until transferred to the Katherine Stewart Forbes. James Bulger, William Mason and John Kerman had been tried at the Old Bailey on 11 June and sent to the York Hulk; others were sent to the Leviathan. They were all embarked on the Katherine Stewart Forbes on 2nd October 1829.
Departure
The Katherine Stewart Forbes departed Plymouth on 18th October 1829.Military Guard
Major Fairtclough of 63rd Regiment commanded the Guard. The Guard consisted of Ensign Jones of the 63rd and paymaster Foster of the 63rd as well as 1 sergeant., 1 corporal, 18 privates and two women of 17th Regiment and a sergeant, corporal, drummer and three women and four children of the 63rd regiment. Select here to find convicts ships bringing detachments of the 63rd regiment.Surgeon Patrick McTernan
This was Patrick McTernan's third voyage as surgeon superintendent of a convict ship. He kept a Medical Journal from 18 September 1829 to 2 March 1830........The general system of cleanliness adopted and the minute and unceasing attention paid to ventilating and cleaning the prison as well as to the personal comforts of the prisoners have in this instance been followed by the most gratifying results again. For to these circumstances must be attributed what I at present consider an unusual fact that out of so many men congregated from different jails; of different idiosyncratic habits and confined within the narrow space of a ship's lower deck with wet and damp, only thirty-six should be put on the sick list in the space of five months and only five of those cases of a serious nature.
Convicts of the Katherine Stewart Forbes mentioned in Patrick McTernan's journal included
Richard Hales (Hailes),
Samuel Stains,
Charles Tennant,
John Martin,
William Curtis,
John Smith,
Samuel Lee (Lea),
Edward Botfield (Bosfield),
Robert Gaye (Gage),
William Roebuck (Rowbuck),
George Stotter,
William Nicholls,
Philip Dignum,
George Emberson,
John Ware,
William Hodges,
Charles Hardingham,
John Daltry and
John Vincent
Patrick McTernan was also employed as surgeon on the convict ships Mariner in 1827, Manlius to Van Diemen's Land in 1828 and the Dunvegan Castle in 1832.
Port Jackson
The Katherine Stewart Forbes arrived in Port Jackson on 18 February 1830 with 199 male prisoners, one, William Rowbuck having died of epilepsy on the passage out.Convict Muster
The prisoners were mustered on board by Colonial Secretary Alexander McLeay. Convict indents record each prisoner's name, age, religion, education, marital status, family, native place, trade, offence, date and place of trial, former convictions, physical description and to whom the men were assigned on arrival. There is also occasional information regarding conditional pardons and deaths. The youngest prisoners on the voyage were sixteen years old.On 23rd February 1830, the Sydney Gazette published an address written by the grateful prisoners to Patrick McTernon........
This gentleman, the Surgeon Superintendent of the Katherine Stewart Forbes, is now here on his third visit in that responsible capacity; and from the kind and skilful manner in which he has discharged the duties of his office, he has not only preserved the best order and discipline among the prisoners, but received their public and unanimous thanks. We have much pleasure in publishing the following address from the men brought out by the above named ship:
To Dr. McTernan, Honoured Sir, The undersigned being sensible of your great goodness, humbly solicit you to receive our united and grateful acknowledgments of our satisfaction with your whole conduct towards us. But if more to particularise our sentiments may be at all acceptable, we beg to inform you that we highly approve of the excellent discipline you maintain among us, as well as your reluctance to punish, it being apparent that your constant study is to render our situation as comfortable as well can be, not giving encouragement to the tale bearer, but greatly stimulating the sober minded to piety.
And by no means must we omit to mention the high esteem we have of the important and well directed sermons you delivered to us on the Sabbaths; trusting they will be as bread cast on the waters, to be found after many days. Several of the illiterate among us have been taught to read, and many to say their church catechisms. Your unremitting attention to these subjects is characteristic of a heart fraught with benevolence. We therefore beg of you to receive our united and sincere thanks for so much goodness towards us. That the blessing of the Almighty may rest upon you through time, and in the end thereof receive you to joy unspeakable, is the prayer of your devoted humble servants,
The Prisoners On Board The Katherine Stewart Forbes.
Assignment
Some of convicts of the Katherine Stewart Forbes were assigned to settlers in the Williams River district - Joseph Rookin, Grayson Hartley, John Mann, Lawrence Myles, William Dun, Alexander Warren and William Foster; and to Paterson to J.P. Webber and Samul Adair. In Maitland Luke Lamb was assigned to Lieut. Wood. Others were assigned to work for the Australian Agricultural Company. There was no place of assignment against Phillip Dignum who gave his occupation as clerk. He may have been sent to the 'Valley of the Swells', Wellington Valley.Convicts of the Katherine Stewart Forbes identified in the Hunter Valley region:
Bailey, James
Ploughs, reaps. milks. Native place Essex. Assigned to Joseph Rookin on arrival
Barnes, James
Stableman from Essex. Assigned to Grayson Hartley
Bassett, Thomas
Engine driver from Worcester. Assigned to Grayson Hartley
Brown, John
Ploughman from Essex. Assigned to William Foster
Chamberlain, George
Shepherd, ploughs and reaps. Native place Warwick. Assigned to Alexander McLeod
Chapman, Charles
Well sinker from Suffolk. Assigned. Assigned to Frederick Augustus Hely
Chapman, Thomas
Soldier from Yorkshire. Assigned to John Mann
Clarkson, David
Fish hook maker from Worcestershire. Assigned to John Mann
Clewley, William
Stable man from Oxford. Assigned to J.P. Webber
Cobb, Charles
Gardener from Hants. Assigned to John Hawdon
Cooper, William
Ploughman from Hants. Assigned to Lawrence Myles
Coppard, William
Labourer and ploughman from Sussex. Assigned to Samuel Adair
Crew, Frederick Augustus
Cooper from Middlesex.
Crowley, James
Labourer from Cork. Assigned to William Foster
Davis, Edward
Ploughman, milks. Native place Hertfordshire. Assigned to A.A. Company
Edgely, James
Waggoner and hawker from Stirling. Assigned to Rev. Lang
Eldred, William
Whitesmith from Suffolk. Assigned to Dept. of Public Works
Emberson, George
Ploughman, milks, reaps. Native of Essex. Assigned to A.A. Company
Everitt, James
Milks, reaps. Native place Norfolk. Assigned to A.A. Company
Felkins, John
Groom from Nottinghamshire. Assigned to Archibald Bell
Fielder, John
Labourer and bricklayer from Hants. Assigned to A.A. Company
Frost, Edward
Bricklayer, ploughs, shears. Native place Suffolk. Assigned to A.A. Company
Galley, Charles
Butcher, shears, reaps, milks. Native place Derbyshire. Assigned to Alexander Warren
Gilbert, Henry
Alias Henry Stableton. Alias Edward Stephens. Cowboy, reaps. Native place Essex. Assigned to William Carter
Hammond, John
Shoemaker from Bury St. Edmonds. Assigned to James Reid
Hance, John
Labourer, reaps, milks. Native place Essex. Assigned to J.M. Davis
Hickman, James
Baker and brewer from Southampton. Assigned to Robert Johnstone at Annandale
Jackson, Thomas
Ploughman from Manchester. Assigned to Major Druitt at Penrith
James, Edward
Shears, reaps, milks. Native place Hertfordshire. Assigned to Frederick Augustus Hely
Jaycock, John Richard
Labourer from Oxford. Sent to Newcastle gaol 1831
Laceter, Joseph
Miner from Lancashire. Assigned to John Galt Smith
Lamb, Luke
Indoor servant from Dorsetshire. Assigned to Lieut. Wood
Lea, Samuel
Labourer and silk weaver from Northamptonshire. Assigned to Alexander McLeod
Lintott, Richard
Indoor servant from Sussex. Assigned to Rev. Richard Hill
Lord, Jonathan
Bargeman from Wakefield. Assigned to Carters Barracks.
Metson, John
Sawyer, reaps, milks. Native place Essex.
Morgan, William
Ploughman, milks. Native place Hertfordshire. Assigned to William Carter
Newell, Thomas
Chairmaker from Oxfordshire
North, Thomas
Labourer, groom, milks. Native place Wiltshire. Assigned to James Greig
Parker, Charles
Ploughman, dairyman from Cheshire. Assigned to Chief Justice Sir Francis Forbes
Parr, William
Labourer from Lancashire. Assigned to John Brown of Bolwarra
Parsons, William
Knife boy and stable boy from Sicily. Assigned to Standish Lawrence Harris
Pewter, Mark
Ploughs, reaps, milks. Native place Essex. Assigned to Alexander McLeod at Ratagan
Pilmbeam, James
Cow boy and stable boy from Essex. Assigned to Joseph Rookin
Prior, James
Ploughs, shears, reaps, milks. Native place Wiltshire. Assigned to Henry Holden
Reardon, John
Labourer, reaps. Native place Cork. Assigned to John Brown of Bolwarra
Richards, Charles
Carpenter and builder from Cornwall. Assigned to James King
Robinson, Charles
Tobacco spinner from Shropshire. Assigned to Peter McIntyre
Russell, John
Hardwood turner from Birmingham. Assigned to William Dangar
Sheldon, Thomas
Miner and quarryman from Warwickshire. Assigned to Mineral Surveyor
Slaughter, Joseph
Bricklayer, labourer and ostler from St. Albans. Assigned to Sarah Redfern at Airds on arrival
Smith, William
Shoemaker from London. Assigned to James Robertson
Staines, Samuel
Ploughs, shears, milks, reaps. Native place Essex. Assigned to Samuel Adair
Stockings, Robert
Cooper from Norfolk.
Stotter, George
Labourer, reaps. Native place Berkshire. Assigned to Caleb Wilson
Sutton, James
Cloth factory worker from Wiltshire. Assigned to William Carter
Taylor, Edward
Jockey from Hertfordshire. Assigned to Robert and Helenus Scott
Tompson, William
Groom and labourer from Norfolk. Assigned to Richard Lang
Trowles, Isaac
Labourer, reaps, milks. Native place Essex.
Walker, Samuel
Nailor, reaps. Native place Worcestershire. Assigned to Alexander Warren
Ware, George
Blacksmith from Essex. Assigned to Dept. Public Works on arrival. Brother of James and John Ware
Ware, James
Shoemaker from Essex. Assigned to George Wyndham
Ware, John
Shoemaker from Essex. Assigned to William Burnett
Watts, George Solomon
Cabinet maker's apprentice. Native place Norwich. Assigned to Henry Dumaresq
Woods, James
Ploughman, milks. Tried at Liverpool. Assigned to William Dun
Wort, Charles
Shepherd from Hants. Assigned to Duncan Forbes Mackay
Notes and Links
1). Prisoners and passengers of the Katherine Stewart Forbes identified in the Hunter Valley2). Jonathan Jones was executed for highway robbery in Sydney in 1833.
3). Return of Convicts of the Katherine Stewart Forbes assigned between 1st January 1832 and 31st March 1832 (Sydney Gazette 14 June 1832; 21 June 1832; 28 June 1832).....
George Cooper - Wheelwright assigned to Alexander Turner at Argyle
James Crossley - Stone Cutter assigned to W.P. Faithful at Goulburn Plains
William Carr - Ploughs etc., assigned to Henry Butsworth at Sydney
James Holmes - Labourer assigned to John Betts at Parramatta
John Kiernan - Whitesmith and bell hanger. Assigned to A.L. Pattison at Sydney
William Lupton - Pit sawyer assigned to Cornelius O'Brien at Illawarra
Joseph Moore - Nailer. Assigned to Mary Raine at Parramatta
Thomas McDonald - Tailor. Assigned to P. Atchison in Sydney
4). Ships bringing detachments of the 63rd regiment -
Albion departed Sheerness 1 June 1828 - Lieut. M. Vickery
Eliza departed London 29 June 1828 - Major Sholto Douglas
Marquis of Hastings departed 30 June 1828 - Ensign Stulbmer
Royal George departed Spithead 26 August 1828 - Captain J. Briggs
Vittoria departed Devonport1 September 1828 - Lieut. Aubyn
Governor Ready departed Cork 21 September 1828 - Lieut. J. Gibbons Lane
Ferguson departed Dublin 16 November 1828 - Captain D'Arcy Wentworth
Mellish departed Falmouth 2 January 1829 - Captain Baylee
Lord Melville departed London 5 January 1829 - Lieut-Col. Burke
Waterloo departed London 14 March 1829 - Lieut. T. Grove
America departed Woolwich 8 April 1829 - Adjutant T. Montgomery
Norfolk departed Spithead 22 May 1829 - Ensign W.J. Darling
Guildford departed Dublin 12 July 1829 - Lieut McLean 89th
Larkins departed Cork 16 August 1829 - Captain Mahon
Claudine departed London 24 August 1829 - Captain Paterson
Sarah departed London 29 August 1829 - Lieut. Croly
Dunvegan Castle departed 30 September 1829 - Lieut. John Gray
Katherine Stewart Forbes departed Spithead 14 October 1829 - Major Fairtclough
5). Convict Ships bringing detachments of the 17th regiment........
Dunvegan Castle departed Sheerness 30 September 1829 - Lieut. John Grey
Katherine Stewart Forbes departed Spithead 14 October 1829 - Major Fairtclough 63rd regt.,
Mermaid departed Sheerness 5 December 1829 - Lieutenant Isaac Blackburn
Forth 1 departed Cork 1 January 1830 - Captain James Oliphant Clunie
Nithsdale departed Sheerness 1 January 1830 - Captain Robert G. Moffatt
Lady Feversham departed Portsmouth 8 April 1830 - Lieutenant Harvey 29th regt.,
Marquis of Huntley departed Sheerness 9 April 1830 Lieutenant Watson 20th regt.,
Adrian departed Portsmouth 27 April 1830 - Ensign Reynolds
Lord Melville departed the Downs 6 June 1830 - Lieutenant Robert Graham
Hercules departed Dublin 3 July 1830 - Major J.W. Bouverie
Royal Admiral departed Portsmouth 5 July 1830 - Captain John Church
Burrell departed Plymouth 27 July 1830 - Captain John Alexander Edwards
Andromeda departed Cork 28 August 1830 - Captain Charles Forbes
York departed Sheerness 4 September 1830 - Lieut-Col. Henry Despard
Edward departed Cork 17 October 1830 - Captain Deeds
Eliza II departed Cork 10 May 1832 - Lieutenant Hewson 4th regiment
References
[1] Ancestry.com. UK, Royal Navy Medical Journals, 1817-1857. 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.348-349, 386
[3] Ancestry.com - New South Wales Government. Bound manuscript indents, 1788 - 1842. NRS 12188, microfiche 614 - 619,626 - 657, 660 - 695. State Records Authority of New South Wales, Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia.