Convict Ship Sarah - 1829
Embarked: 200 men
Voyage: 100 days
Deaths: 1
Surgeon's Journal: yes
Previous vessel: Claudine arrived 6 December 1829
Next vessel: Larkins arrived 12 December 1829
Master Henry Columbine
Surgeon Alick Osborne
Hunter Valley convicts and passengers arriving on the Sarah in 1829
The convict ship Sarah was built in London in 1819. [5]
Prisoners transported on Sarah were convicted in counties in England - Middlesex, Surrey, Bucks, Norfolk, Essex, Suffolk, Warwick, Chester, Lancaster, Southampton, Oxford, Lincoln, Cambridge and York.
Surgeon Alick Osborne
This was Alick Osborne's fourth voyage as surgeon superintendent on a convict ship. He kept a Medical Journal from 29 July 1829 to 19 December 1829.Two hundred prisoners who embarked on the Sarah came from the hulks at Portsmouth on 15th August 1829 and according to Alick Osborne, while there had become accustomed to ship board life. [4]
Military Guard
A detachment of the 63rd regiment provided the Guard for the voyage. Select here to find other convict ships bringing detachments of the 63rd regiment.Departure
The Sarah departed London on 29 August 1829. They had a pleasant as well as a quick passage of 100 days, touching at the Islands of Tristan 'Acunha and St. Paul's; and for several days were in company with a French ship laden with Emigrants. [1] They also spoke the ship Gilmore, with settlers for Swan River, and the William with Sir W. Edward Parry, R.N. and family on board.The weather was fine for most of the voyage, allowing the prisoners to be on deck all day. The prisons were kept clean and dry with stoves lighted all day and only the oldest men suffered any scurvy. Bark and wine was used as an effective prophylactic treatment. All but one of the men were landed in robust health, Edward Bullock having died on the passage out.
The following men were treated by the surgeon during the voyage:
George King, aged 20, convict;
Robert Stainsby, aged 22, convict;
Richard Stott, aged 18, convict;
Robert Field, aged 30, of the ship's crew;
George Cobb, aged 27, Private of the 63rd Regiment; his musket went off and the ball and stopper passed through his left foot. Put on sick list, 21 October 1829, at sea. Left the ship 16 December 1829 almost healed.
Thomas Gill, aged 25, convict;
William Francis, aged 24, convict; [3]
Port Jackson
The Sarah arrived in Port Jackson on the 6th December 1829.Convict Muster
Colonial Secretary Alexander McLeay held a muster on board on 10th December 1829. The convict indents reveal information such as name, age, education, religion, marital status, family, native place, occupation, offence, when and where tried, previous convictions, physical description and where and to whom assigned on arrival. There is also occasional information regarding tickets of leave, pardons and deaths.The Sydney Gazette reported - We always feel much pleasure in adverting to the continued display of humanity and attention manifested in the importation of prisoners to this 'our favoured land.' Yesterday 199 male prisoners were landed from the Sarah, Captain Columbine, Superintendent, A. Osborne, Esq. Their state and condition was such, as to show that every attention must have been paid to their health and comfort on the voyage. The experienced Superintendent has been here often before, always receiving the approbation of the Authorities: and we need only say, that the appearance of the prisoners landed yesterday was seldom equalled, never excelled. Captain Columbine is entitled to equal praise for his cheerful and cordial co-operation in every thing tending to the comfort of the people. The conduct of the detachment of the 63d, under Lieutenant Croly, is said to have been most exemplary; and indeed the unanimity and harmony which prevailed amongst all parties in the Sarah, proves that the promotion of the general good was the only predominant feeling. This is as it should be, and cannot fail to be duly appreciated in the highest quarter. ' It is not a little remarkable that this is the second cargo of prisoners landed at Sydney under the superintendence of this gentleman within the present year, the first being by the Sophia on the 28th January - a circumstance which has not to our knowledge occurred to any other individual since the establishment of the Colony. - [2]
The men on arrival were distributed throughout the colony to various settlers and townsfolk or assigned to public service.
Some of their occupations they worked at in England are familiar today such as bakers, stonemasons, tailors, butchers and labourers. Others had trades now long obsolete - pot boys, carders, brass finishers, silk weavers, chimney sweeps, ropemakers and pipemakers amongst them. There were also a few men who by their work set them apart from the others. They included a customs house clerk (Charles Callan alias James Crosbie), attorney's clerk (Oliver Ewings), law stationer's clerk (James Williams) and apothecary (James Pickering). There is no record in the indents where they were sent on arrival but they may have been sent to Wellington Valley otherwise known as the Valley of the Swells. No matter what their occupations, until assignment their experiences were all similar - loss of freedom - prison - hulk - convict ship voyage - assignment. Whether because of their previous occupations, fortunate circumstances or the force of their personality, some of the men not only survived the whole ordeal but went on to lead successful lives. Men such as Leigh Dines Halstead who was a vetinerary surgeon, and Charles Rhodius who became known throughout the colony for his artwork; and there was Peter Dawe who sealed his success when he accompanied Edward Denny Day in the capture of infamous bushrangers the Jewboy Gang.
Others found it difficult to adjust to their new circumstances - William Thorn was still being punished for misdemeanours nine years later. Many of the men would have had similar experiences of 25 or 50 lashes for various offences.
Convicts of the Sarah identified in the Hunter Valley region :
Bennett, JohnShipwright and farrier, ploughs, milks. Native place Oxford. Assigned to A.A. Company 1832
Brady, Henry
Cabin boy from London. Sent to Newcastle gaol 1835
Bray, James
Footman and groom from Hants. Sent to Newcastle gaol 1835
Browning, James
Shoemaker's apprentice from Brighton. Assigned to Archibald Bell on arrival
Cantlon, John
Pipemaker from London. Assigned to George Forbes on arrival
Chamberlain, John
Shears, milks, reaps. Native place Essex. Paterson Ticket of Leave cancelled 1839
Clement, William
Labourer and reaps. Native place Oxfordshire. Assigned to Alexander Park at Paterson
Cordingley, David
Cotton spinner from Lancashire. Assigned to George Forbes on arrival
Daly, John
or Dealer. Dock yard labourer from London. Sent to Newcastle gaol 1830
Dawe, Peter
Ploughs, shears, reaps. Native place Sussex. Assigned to George Forbes on arrival
Dearman, John
Milks, ploughs and reaps. Native place Hertford. Assigned to Charles Boydell at Paterson
Halstead, Leigh Dines
Veterinary Surgeon from Hartford. Resided Patrick Plains
Edmonds, James
Cooper and labourer from London. Assigned to Charles Boydell at Paterson
Edwards, Benjamin
Tried in London. Assigned to Charles Boydell at Paterson
Edwards, Charles
Stableman and cow hand from London. Assigned to Charles Boydell at Paterson
Ghost., Thomas
Ploughs and Milks. Native place Bucks. Assigned to Alexander Park at Paterson
Head, William
Gardener from Brighton. Assigned to Peter McIntyre at Segenhoe on arrival
Hilton, Daniel
Ribbon weaver from Warwickshire. Assigned to Alexander Park on arrival
Hollingshead, Joseph
Dairyman from Cheshire. Assigned to John M. Blaxland in 1836
Hollingsworth, John
Milks, reaps. Native place Essex. Ticket of Leave Patrick Plains 1837
Hood, George
Errand boy from Norwich. Assigned to Peter McIntyre
Hutchins, Thomas
Stone mason from Brighton. Ticket of Leave Singleton 1843
Isted, Henry
Broom maker from Brighton.
Jones, Thomas
Milks, reaps. Native of Denbeigh. Assigned to William Bucknell at Hunter River
Jones, Thomas
Plater and stableman from Shrewsbury. Assigned to Charles Boydell at Paterson
Leadley, Henry
Tailor from Yorkshire. Assigned to Col. Dumaresq in 1837
Lulham, James
Blacksmith from Kingston. Sent to Newcastle gaol 1842
McIntosh, Alexander
Tallow Chandler from Edinburgh. Assigned to Thomas Holmes at Paterson in 1839
Millsom, Edward
Reaps, milks. Native place Yorkshire. Assigned to James Webber at Paterson on arrival
Nixon, Robert
Tailor from London. Assigned to Charles Blaxland at Merton in 1836
Pratt, Charles
Ploughs, reaps, milks. Native place Essex. Assigned to Peter McIntyre on arrival
Reeves, Edward
Ploughs, reaps. Native place Bucks. Assigned to Peter McIntyre on arrival
Saill, William
Butcher from London. Assigned to Alexander McLeod on arrival
Sparrow, Joseph
Errand boy from London. Assigned to Richard Stubbs on arrival
Spencer, William
Upholsterer from Lancashire. Assigned to Timothy Nowlan on arrival
Stannard, James
Shepherd from Norfolk. At Muswellbrook 1839
Terry, John
Ploughs, reaps, milks. Native place Kent. Assigned to John McIntyre on arrival
Thorn, William
Top sawyer from London. Assigned to James Bowman in 1836
Tomlinson, George
Shoemaker from London. Married in Newcastle in 1837
Turner, George
Ploughs, reaps, milks. Native place Essex. Assigned to Lockhart Miller on arrival
Wansell, William
Wax doll maker and servant from Windsor. Assigned to William Bucknell on arrival
Warren, John
Miller's boy from Cheshire. Assigned to Alexander McLeod on arrival
Wildey, John
Butcher from Devonshire. Assigned to Alexander McLeod on arrival
Notes and Links
1). Alick Osborne was also employed as surgeon on the convict ships Lonach in 1825, Speke in 1826, Sophia in 1829, Planter in 1832, Fairlie in 1834, Marquis of Huntley in 1835 and the Elphinstone in 1838.2). Hunter Valley convicts and passengers arriving on the Sarah in 1829
3). Ephraim Whiting accompanied Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell's expedition in 1831
4). Return of Convicts of the Sarah assigned between 1st January 1832 and 31st March 1832 (Sydney Gazette 14 June 1832).....
John Bennett - Farrier assigned to the Australian Agricultural Company at Port Stephens
David Connor - Pressman. Assigned to E.S. Hall at Sydney
John Hart - Tailor and dealer assigned to William Bradly at Goulburn Plains
5). Ships bringing detachments of the 63rd regiment -
Albion departed Sheerness 1 June 1828 - Lieutenant 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- Lieutenant Aubyn
Governor Ready departed Cork 21 September 1828 - Lieutenant 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 - Lieutenant 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 - Lieutenant Croly
Dunvegan Castle departed 30 September 1829 - Lieutenant John Gray
Katherine Stewart Forbes departed Spithead 14 October 1829 - Major Fairtclough
References
[1] Sydney Gazette 8 December 1829[2] Sydney Gazette 8 December 1829
[3] National Archives - Reference: ADM 101/66/5 Description: Medical and surgical journal of His Majesty's convict ship Sarah for 29 July to 19 of December 1829 by Alick Osborne, Surgeon,during which time the said ship was employed in a voyage to New South Wales.
[4] Medical Journal of Alick Osborne on the voyage of the Sarah. Ancestry.com. UK, Royal Navy Medical Journals, 1817-1857. The National Archives. Kew, Richmond, Surrey.
[5] Bateson, Charles, Library of Australian History (1983). The convict ships, 1787-1868 (Australian ed). Library of Australian History, Sydney : pp.348-349, 386
↑