Free Settler or Felon
Convict Ship Norfolk
1825
Embarked: 180 men
Voyage: 123 days
Deaths: 2
Surgeon's Journal: yes
Tons 547
Previous vessel: Mariner arrived 10 July 1825
Next vessel: Minstrel arrived 22 August 1825
Captain Alexander Greig
Surgeon Superintendent William Hamilton
Convicts and passengers of the Norfolk identified in the Hunter Valley
The Norfolk was built at Littlehampton in 1804 [1]. Convicts were transported to New South Wales on the Norfolk in 1825, 1829, 1832 and 1837.
The prisoners were taken to county prisons before being transferred to prison hulks moored in the Thames to await transportation. John Blyth, Robert Miller, John Moore and James Godfrey were all tried at Norwich on 10th August 1824. They were received on to the Leviathan Hulk on 7th September 1824 and transferred to the Norfolk on the 4th April 1825.
Departure
The Norfolk sailed from Portsmouth on 17 April 1825 in company with the Minstrel and came direct. (See 'Advantages of the Various Routes of Convict Ships')Military Guard
The Guard was a detachment of the 57th regiment under orders of Captain James Brown. James Brown was appointed Captain in the 57th regiment on 17 January 1822. He married Ann Lockyer daughter of Major Edmund Lockyer in January 1827 and sailed for Madras with his regiment in 1831. Ann Lockyer Brown and their four children died tragically in 1833 [5]Surgeon William Hamilton
This was William Hamilton's third voyage as surgeon superintendent on a convict ship having previously been employed as surgeon on the Elizabeth in 1818 and the Maria to Van Diemen's Land in 1820.He kept a Medical Journal from 11 March 1825 to 23 August 1825, remarking in the general notes that he found it a difficult aspect of the voyage to deal with men not only so little disposed to assist each other but also to look after themselves. [2]
Some of the convicts and soldiers mentioned in the Surgeon's journal included:
Isaac Emerson, private of the guard, aged 23;
William Dawson, convict, aged 26;
John Mawn, convict, aged 17;
John Connor, corporal of the guard, aged 29;
Benjamin Hazlelip, convict, aged 29; disease or hurt, this man a [convict] for life of extremely melancholy temperament leaving a wife and family in England has suffered much from dyspepsia. Taken ill, 14 July 1825 at sea. Died 21 July 1825.
Stephen Baldry, convict, aged 30; disease or hurt, one of those men who having slight symptoms of scurvy. Taken ill, 3 August 1825 at sea. Died 7 August 1825. [3]
Port Jackson
The Norfolk arrived in Port Jackson on 18 August 1825. Two prisoners died on the passage out, both had been tried at Bury St. Edmonds on the same day - Stephen Baldry; and 29 year old Benjamin Hazelip.Convict Muster
The prisoners were mustered on board on Friday 19th August 1825 by Colonial Secretary Frederick Goulburn. The Indents include name, date and place of trial, sentence, native place, trade, age, physical description, remarks as to conduct and where assigned on arrival. There is occasional information as to deaths and colonial sentences.Disembarkation
An order was given on 22nd August that sufficient boats be in readiness early the following morning for disembarkation of the convicts. They were to be taken to the gaol yard where they would be inspected by Governor Brisbane at 10.30am. They were then forwarded to Parramatta, Liverpool, Windsor, Evan and Bathurst for assignment to private settlers. Fifty three of the men were sent to Hyde Park Barracks.Convicts of the Norfolk identified in the Hunter Valley
Beaney, William
Betts, William
Blyth, John
Bull, George
Burrell, Benjamin
Burrell, John
Cannam, Thomas
Chipperfield, William
Collins, Patrick
Cook, John
Davies, James
Davies, John
Dorking, George
Dufferty, William
Fielder, George
Edward Finn
Garrard, Joseph
Gilbert, William
Goff, John
Grimes, Mark
Hall, Samuel
Hammes, Thomas
Hammett, Philip
Harris, Samuel
Hickman, Joseph
Hinton, Thomas
Holt, Charles
Hunter, John
Jenner, William
Jennings, William
Keyes, James
Loveday, Charles
Marrs, Stephen
Merrin, William
Miller, Joseph
Miller, Robert
Nettle, Peter
Nuttall, Charles
Parvin, George
Salwood, Stephen
Say, James
Shepherd, William
Snell, John
Sparks, William
Stephens, James
Thwaites, Robert
Waye, William
White, Denis
Worth, Abraham
Worth, William
Notes and Links
1). Convicts John and Benjamin Burrell who arrived on the Norfolk were executed in 1830 for robbery in the house of Samuel Adair at Paterson2). The Norfolk was next taken up by Government to convey troops to India departing in September.
3). By the loss of the ship Lady Munro, from Madras, bound to Sydney, on the Island of Amsterdam, 11th of October last, Mrs. Ann Brown, wife of Captain James Brown, H. M. 57th Regiment, aged 23 years, with her four infant children, Ellis, Martha, Edmund, and Ann ; all of whom, with their unfortunate parent, have met a premature and untimely death, to the great sorrow of her afflicted parents and relatives - Major Lockyer with his family, in this Colony ; and her disconsolate husband and brothers with their Regiment, at Madras (Sydney Herald)
4). Loss of the Lady Munro. Perth Gazette 30 November 1833.
5). On 12th March 1841 at Madras Captain Brown was appointed aide-de-camp to the Major General commanding the Forces. (Asiatic Journal)
6). Convict ships bringing detachments of the 57th Regiment........
Asia 1825 departed Cork 29 October 1824 - Captain Richard Heaviside
Asia (III) 1825 departed Portsmouth 5 January 1825 - Lieutenant Thomas Bainbridge
Royal Charlotte 1825 departed Portsmouth 5 January 1825 - Major Edmund Lockyer
Hooghley 1825 departed Cork 5 January 1825 Cork - Captain Patrick Logan
Norfolk 1825 departed Portsmouth 17 April 1825 - Captain James Brown
Minstrel 1825 departed Portsmouth 17 April 1825 - Lieutenant Henry John Tudor Shadforth
Lonach 1825 departed Cork 16 May 1825 - Lieutenant John William Donelan
Sir Godfrey Webster departed Cork 11 July 1825 - Lieutenant John Ovens
Medway 1825 departed the Downs 2 August 1825 Downs - Lieutenant William Bates
Henry Porcher 1825 departed Dublin 5 August 1825 Dublin - Captain Vance Young Donaldson
Marquis of Hastings 1826 departed Portsmouth 22 August 1825 - Ensign Stewart
Mangles 1826 departed Cork 23 October 1825 - Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Shadforth
Sesostris 1826 departed Portsmouth 30 November 1825 - Major John Campbell
Prince Regent 1827 departed London 11 June 1827 - Lieutenant Campbell
Morley 1828 departed Dublin 3 November 1827 - Captain Robert Hunt
Borodino 1828 departed Cork 11 February 1828 Cork - Captain Philip Aubyn
Mangles 1828 departed Dublin 23 February 1828 Dublin- Lieut. Hill and Adjutant Lieut. Kidd
Bussorah Merchant 1828 departed London 27 March 1828 - Captain Burton Daveney (+ 1 soldier)
Marquis of Hastings 1828 departed Portsmouth 1828 30 June 1828 - Colonel Allen
Asia 1828 departed London 23 November 1828 - Lieutenant George Edwards.
References
[1] Bateson, Charles, Library of Australian History (1983). The convict ships, 1787-1868 (Australian ed). Library of Australian History, Sydney : pp.346-347[2] Medical Journal of William Hamilton. Ancestry.com. UK, Royal Navy Medical Journals, 1817-1857. The National Archives. Kew, Richmond, Surrey.
[3] National Archives - Reference: ADM 101/57/1 Description: Medical journal of the Norfolk convict ship from 11 March to 23 August 1825 by William Hamilton, surgeon and superintendent, during which time the said ship was employed on a voyage from Deptford to Port Jackson in New South Wales.