In February 1830 the death of Captain Addison of the Waterloo and Captain Nicholas of the Eliza was reported in the newspapers. Both were said to have drowned in a boating accident at Mauritius, however this was incorrect as Stephen Additions returned to the colony on the Waterloo in 1831. He was appointed to the Eudora in 1836.
Captain John Apsey had been in the colony as early as 1807. He was required in that year to vacate land he had settled on near Government House (SG). He was Captain of the Estramina on voyages between Sydney and Van Diemen's Land. After the Martha unloaded her prisoners in 1818 she was employed in the whaling industry however was condemned in Sydney in July 1820 and the hull, masts, anchors etc were auctioned off in August. (SG 19 August 1820) . John Apsey was employed as Captain on the Fame in the mid 1820's. In September 1824 the Fame, Captain Apsey was detained in Launceston along with several men who were accused of being prisoners of the Crown.
Andrew Armet and surgeon Peter Cosgreave were accused of failing to take precautions to prevent an improper intercourse between the crew and the female convicts of the Friendship in 1818, although both were later exonerated by a Bench of Magistrates. Andrew Armet was also accused of cruelty towards female prisoners in using a wooden collar as punishment. It may have been this Andrew Armet who died at Stepney in March 1826 aged 52.
Harford Arnold was born c. 1807 the son of Thomas Arnold a mast maker. After his voyage brining convicts on the Charles Kerr in 1837 he returned to England. His next voyage to the colonies on the Charles Kerr departed Ireland and arrived in Australia in January 1839 with 229 immigrants. When he married Sarah Howes Satcher on 7th July 1841 he gave his employment as Master Mariner. He was later employed as Harbour Master of the Port of London. In the 1861 Census he was recorded as a widower and resided with his son and daughter, servants and two boarders. On 27 April 1861 he married widow Elizabeth Harford Barnes at Stepney. He died in 1863. ........Harford Arnold late of Milton next Gravesend in the County of Kent, Harbour Master of the Port of London died 27 October 1863 at 26 Harmer Street Milton-next-Gravesend. - Principal Probate Registry. Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England (Ancestry)
A complaint was made against Captain Betham by one of the convicts of the Marquis of Wellington however a subsequent enquiry exonerated Betham and his ship's Officers of any blame.
Essex Henry Bond died on 19 July 1819 at his seat Ditchteys (Dytchleys), near Brentwood, Essex. He was brother of Mr. Serjeant Bond and was captain of the Walmer Castle Indian man, and had made fourteen voyages to India, when he retired from the Hon. Company's service
Parramatta Heritage Centre - Essex Henry Bond opened the first public house and shop in Parramatta
John Brigstock served as Midshipman on the Eurotas under Captain Phillimore in 1814. He was wounded in the attempt to take the French frigate Clorinde and later awarded the Naval General Service Medal with clasp 'EUROTAS 25 FEBY. 1814' which was given to all still surviving members of Eurotas' crew that had participated in the action.
Richard Brooks, mariner, merchant and settler, was born at Topsham, Devon, England, the son of an impoverished clergyman. He had little formal education, entered the East India Co.'s service at an early age, and rose to command his own ship - Australian Dictionary of Biography
Eber Bunker (1761-1836), sea captain and farmer, was born on 7 March 1761 at Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States of America, son of James Bunker and his wife Hannah, nee Shurtleff. On 16 November 1786 at St George-in-the-East, Middlesex, England, he married Margrett, daughter of Henry Thompson
George Bunn was a master mariner, merchant and magistrate. He was principal of the merchant firm Buckle, Buckle, Bagster and Buchanan, and Director of the Bank of Australia. He died in 1834.
James Clendon was born in Deal, Kent in 1800. He first came to Australia as Captain of the Medora in October 1826 bringing passengers and goods. A Mrs. Clendon was also on this voyage. After discharging the female convicts of the City of Edinburgh he proceeded to New Zealand for spars. He later settled in New Zealand and raised a large family. His house built in the 1860s still stands at Rawene....find out more at the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
Francis Clifford's death was announced in the Gentleman's Magazine - 24 April 1821 - On his passage from New South Wales to Batavia Mr. Francis Clifford, jun., Commander of the ship Prince Regent, of London.
John Coghill b.1785 at Wick in Scotland, marr. Jane Grean in 1814. He was Captain and part owner of the Mangles. In 1826 he sold the Mangles and became a settler. After he sold the Mangles he became part owner of Kirkham near Camden and resided there as manager for about ten years. During this time he purchased 5,600 acres near Braidwood where he ran sheep and cattle. In the 1830s he commissioned John Verge to build Bedervale on his property. The house was completed by 1842.
James Colnett began his naval career as an able seaman in the Hazard on 28 June 1770. On 4 September of the following year he became a midshipman under James Cook in the Scorpion, and transferred to the Resolution when the great explorer was readying for his second Pacific voyage. During the expedition, Colnett sighted New Caledonia on 4 Sept. 1774, and Cook named Cape Colnett on that island after him.
Melancholy Catastrophe at Sea, which occurred in sight of the ship Sarah, Captain H. Columbine, commander proceeding from Bombay to London. Between 10 and 11 o'clock on the 16th January, a strange sail was discovered on the larboard bow; she appeared to be in distress, having lost her fore topmast and fore topsail yard, suspended by the lefts dangling in the wind, lee fore-rigging and her sails much torn. As we neared her, it proved to be a brigantine of about 150 tons, and appeared as if deserted by her crew. Captain Columbine ordered a boat to be got ready, and, accompanied by the carpenter and four seamen repaired to the wreck. Soon after they had boarded her, with the exception of one man who remained in charge of the boat, we saw them exploring the decks of the deserted wreck, and from it throwing into the boat articles of various kinds. The captain then gave instructions for the boat to return to the Sarah with certain orders for his officer, whilst himself and carpenter remained upon the wreck. As the boat was proceeding towards the Sarah we saw from our poop the wreck roll several times heavily; she was evidently going down, and on a sudden nothing more could be seen than her main topmast, which was tossed about as the sea was rushing over her. We then made immediate signal for the boat to return to the brigantine to rescue those she had left upon the wreck; the boat remained some time in the hope of saving those who were the victims to a raging element. Nothing could be found except the Captain's hat. Poor Captain Columbine was beloved by all on board, and even the rough seamen shed tears for his fate; to his passengers he had endeared himself by his gentlemanly manners, and his kind and liberal treatment; and by his crew he was regarded as a skilful seaman, and a just, kind, and considerate commander. He met his fate at the early age of 32. This truly unfortunate vessel turned out to be a brigantine the Invincible. The Nautical Magazine 1832.
Joseph Corbyn's first position as Lieutenant was on la Sybille frigate, Captain Charles Adam. He distinguishing himself in the command of her boats, during the blockade of Batavia in 1808. Lieutenant Corbyn was promoted to the rank of commander on the 15th June, 1814.
The James Pattison arrived with immigrants in February 1840 left Sydney in March 1840 bound for Samarang. She was burnt to the water's edge when off the Azores in 1840. Captain Cromarty returned to Australia on the Earl Grey in June 1841.
Henry Dale was still in command of the Fame in April 1826 when he generously gave a gratuitous passage to the family of American missionary Mr. Stewart from the Sandwich Island to Gravesend after the missionary's wife became seriously ill.
William Ebsworthy married Eleanora Ditchburn 10 Nov. 1819 (2). Their son William Lancy Ebsworthy was born 20th September 1820 at Wapping. (1) William had embarked on the Adamant by the following March and reached Australia in September. The Adamant's return voyage to England was delayed by a court case involving himself and the steward of the Adamant George Farris who accused the Captain of embezzling and converting to his private purposes, government stores. There were counter accusations and lengthy depositions. The case was noted in Excise Information in the Exchequer. Ebsworthy was convicted of opening packages of wine shipped for exportation and fined £150, however nothing was recovered as he had no effects. He died prior to 1823 at Trinity House, Deptford (1)London Metropolitan Archives, Wapping, Register of Baptism, p93/jn2, Item 008. (2) London Metropolitan Archives, Saint Anne, Limehouse, Register of marriages, P93/ANN, Item 026
Stephenson Ellerby was born at Whitby in Yorkshire c. 1794. In the 1851 Census he was recorded residing at Trinity House, Deptford with his wife Elizabeth where he was an Elder Brother. His sister Ann resided with them. He was presented to Her Majesty the Queen by the Duke of Wellington at Buckingham Palace in 1842. -The Morning Post 18 March 1842
Captain Folger came into conflict with passenger Rev. Marsden on the voyage to Australia. Rev. Marsden considered him an irreligious individual who did nothing to curb the ship's company from their evil ways of blasphemy and drunkenness. It was with difficulty that Marsden gained permission to hold service on Sundays, the captain remarking that he had never seen a religious sailor and that to preach to the crew would be mere waste of time. After holding a service Marsden was almost inclined to agree with the captain, writing 'the sailors are the most stupid, ignorant people in the world; might preach to them for an eternity without doing them the least good.'
Surgeon Alick Osborne described Captain Frazer in his journal in 1832. On taking leave of my friends in the Planter, it is but justice to state that this has been the most agreeable voyage of my life. The owner, Wm. Bottomly, Esq., of Finsbury Square, had the ship fitted out in the most complete and substantial manner. The captain, Mr. L. Frazer, is a gentleman of considerable literary attainments, as well as proficiency in the fine arts, music and painting. In the performance of my public duty, I had his most cordial co-operation and support, and in my private capacity as passenger, all my wishes were anticipated, I have, therefore, great pride and satisfaction in bearing this public testimony to the uniform good conduct, order, and regularity observed on board throughout the whole voyage, an agreeable contrast to what I had experienced on many other occasions. Captain Frazer made note of the Discovery of William the Fourth Group of Islands, Pacific Ocean in 1838, however the Islands had already been discovered in 1828.
On arrival in Sydney Captain Gatenby was presented with a Silver snuff box and letter of thanks by Captain J. Bowler of 80th regt., Lieut. Raitt 80th regt., and Allan Cunningham
Dear Sir, It affords me the highest gratification in being deputed by Mr. Cunningham and Lieutenant Raitt, of the 80th regiment, to present to you the accompanying token of our esteem and regard for the hospitality and kind attention evinced by you to ourselves and families during the whole passage from England. Our best wishes attend you in all your under-takings, and from the very able manner in which you have conducted your ship to this Port, there can be little doubt but that success will ever attend you ; and, as it may be grateful to your feelings to know that your exertions were not misplaced, I can assure you, in the name of all, that greater harmony and good understanding could not exist in any society Believe me to remain, Dear Sir, Your's very sincerely, Captain J. Bowler Captain Gatenby replied the same day... Sirs,- I have the honour to receive your note, accompanying a Silver Snuff Box, bearing an inscription expressive of your thanks for my attentions to you during our passage from England. Although I must attribute your happiness during the passage more to your good dispositions than to any merit on my part, still I accept your token with much thankfulness, and shall ever retain it as a memorial of the pleasure I enjoyed during that period in the esteemed society of yourselves and your amiable families...Sydney Herald 9 March 1837
Thomas Gilbert later published an account of the voyage: A Voyage from New South Wales to Canton, in the Year 1788; with Views of the Islands discovered. By Thomas Gilbert, Esq. Commander of the Charlotte. The account was said to exhibit a number of views of land, which were remarkably well engraved.
William Lushington Goodwin was descended from a seafaring family of Kent, England. The Kains departed Sydney for Launceston to take troops to India, was becalmed in the Tamar and wrecked on a submerged rock. In 1832 Goodwin acted as honorary secretary of the Tasmanian Society in Launceston, and unsuccessfully applied for the position of port officer there. In 1834 he edited the Independent newspaper but, keen to be connected with a journal on republican lines, he became editor and then proprietor of the newly-established Cornwall Chronicle in 1835. ....Australian Dictionary of Biography Online
Joseph Grote was born on 5 February 1801, the fourth son of George Grote Esq., of Badgemore, Oxfordshire. He entered the Royal Navy in April 1814 on board the Eurotas, in which ship, he served, until December 1815, on the Home station, and was employed for some time in that year in guarding Napoleon Bonaparte during his detention at Plymouth. He was subsequently employed as Masters Mate and Midshipman on various vessels on the West India, Cork, and Newfoundland stations. For his exertions on the occasion of the wreck of the Drake on 23 June 1822, Mr Grote, who was left the senior surviving officer, had the satisfaction to be presented with a commission as Lieutenant, appointing him to the Niemen on the Halifax station. In October 1824 he joined the Boadicea, bearing the broad pendant of Sir James Brisbane in the East Indies, where, from July 1825, until the cessation of hostilities, he took an active part in the Burmese War. He was awarded a Campaign Medal with clasp. ...DNW Auctioneers On 4th January 1832 at Madras, he married Maria Theresa, eldest daughter of the Hon. Charles Harris.
Sidmouth Rock, discovered by Captain William Gunner, of the ship Lord Sidmouth, March 5th, 1819, is about 4 or 5 miles north-eastward of the Eddystone; the boat was sent to examine this rock, which was found to be about 100 yards in diameter above the surface of the sea,* with a reef projecting from it about half a mile to the north-eastward. No bottom with 20 fathoms line could be obtained in sounding all round the rock, and the passage between it and the Eddystone appeared safe...Sailing Directions Van Diemen's Land, The India Directory
On 14th October, at the General Hospital Launceston, after a long and painful illness, Captain William Henniker, shipping master of that town aged 62 years. - The Mercury 23 October 1865
Michael Hogan was born in Ireland in 1766. Between 1780 and 1784 he served as a seaman and midshipman in the Royal Navy. After leaving the navy he sailed as a seaman on trading voyages to India and China before becoming owner and captain of a ship trading between India and Europe. In 1795 he sailed as master of the Marquis Cornwallis to NSW. He returned to London in 1797 and later became a merchant in Capetown before settling in New York where he continued to trade. In 1820 he was appointed U.S. Consul and Navy Agent at Valparaiso, Chile. He died in 1833. ...The Oriental Navigator - Instructions for sailing to and from the East
Captain Magnus Johnson, after an absence of three years, has paid another, his seventh visit, in the same ship. The Guildford, to our Southern shores. Since he last left us, we hear Capt. J. has got married; these repeated visits to Australia, make our old friend quite a Colonist. It was Capt. J. who brought hither Chief justice Forbes and family. -The Monitor 26 July 1827
John Marshall was born in Ramsgate, Kent in 1748. After departing Port Jackson, the Scarborough under Captain Marshall and the Charlotte under Captain Thomas Gilbert called at Lord Howe and Norfolk islands and proceeded northward. They gave their names to the Marshall and Gilbert groups of Micronesian islands and pioneered the Outer Eastern Passage for the return to Europe via Canton. On the second voyage of the Scarborough in 1790 the Macarthur family transferred from the Neptune to the Scarborough. Elizabeth Macarthur described the transfer: On 19th February a favourable day presented itself, and we removed with all our little baggage, rejoiced at an escape from tyranny, insult, and every species of oppression. In the Scarborough we shared a small cabin with Mrs. Abbott. Captain Marshall, the master of the ship, was a plain, honest man, and disposed to make things as comfortable for me as was in his power. - BBC History Some early records of the Macarthur family of Camden
Henry Moor came to Sydney as Master of the Reliance in 1795. He later captained several ships including Montgomery, Fortune and Wansted. He joined the Marquis Cornwallis in Sydney on 26 March 1796 and disembarked at Calcutta on 2 October. He later published 'Sailing directions to accompany a new Chart of the Molluccas and Eastern Islands: together with separate plans ... surveyed, in the course of two years and six months stations in those seas, by Henry Moor, assisted by V.V. Ballard', 1801...State Library of NSW
John Nutting was captain of the Hive when she was wrecked near Jervis Bay. Just one month later he had another narrow escape from a watery grave. He was assisting the Captain of the Blackbird to remove stores from the Hive when the Blackbird was almost wrecked. She was run on shore as the only way of saving the crew. Captain Nutting returned to England on the Norfolk in February 1836 and a month later it was reported that he had been appointed to the command of the Avon owned by Captain Cole which conveyed oil to London. The friends of Captain Nutting were much gratified at this appointment as they considered he had not been fairly treated in Australia since his misfortune. A Court of Enquiry was held upon his conduct in the loss of the Hive at which he was not even allowed to be present, the result of which was laid before the Governor; and about a month after, when all the witnesses had left the Colony, he was made acquainted with the particulars and decision of the investigation. The Avon reached Australia by the following April and returned to England with oil. On the 20th May she fell in with great quantities of ice, and were surrounded with ice islands for over a week during which time the sea appeared as one continued mass of ice at times almost impassable. On the 30th they rounded the Horn from which time they were clear of the ice.
Thomas Raine's brother John Raine and wife arrived in New South Wales on the Regalia in 1820 On the 18th April 1826 Colonial Times & Tasmanian Advertiser reported that Captain Raine, many years Commander of the Surry and well known in these colonies was married on 10th instant, to Miss Worsley, a young lady who was recently here on a visit to Major Abbott. The happy pair are keeping the honey moon at the beautiful estate of Mr. Simeon Lord near Sydney.
Captain Sindrey was notifying of his intention to leave the colony in November 1817 on one of the several convicts ships that were returning to England.
Instructions for sailing from the Island of Ascension to Europe......All the tracks of those vessels which have made Ponedo, after their departure from Ascension, place it in 12 40' West of the latter, and consequently 31 20' West of Greenwich. But its true longitude and latitude were ascertained the 1st of December, 1798, by Captain Robert Williams of the Thames, in company with the Earl Cornwallis extra Indiaman, James Tennant commander. The longitude was found to be 29 56' West of Greenwich, and the latitude 0 58' South.
1823....During the last three weeks, three swarms of young bees have been produced from two hives, the property of D. Wentworth, Esq. purchased by him from Captain Wallace of the Isabella, and placed at his estate at Homebush, near Parramatta. The fragrant shrubs and flowers of Australasia are thus proved to be peculiarly congenial to the increase of this insect; and we trust that, in a few years, we shall be able to add honey and wax to our other numerous productions. Asiatic Journal
The Hull Packet, 1 February 1831 - Deaths - On the 2nd October, on the passage of the Dunvegan Castle, Capt. Wm. Walmsley, from Sydney, New South Wales, to London, aged 24, Tom, the youngest son of Mrs WALMSLEY, Bridlington Quay, and brother of the Captain. He unfortunately fell overboard during a heavy gale of wind; he was an expert swimmer, and every effort which seamanship could devise to save him was adopted, but ineffectually, for he never rose to the surface.
Captain Daniel Warren. December 23, 1822, Captain Warren, homeward bound from India, when lying too in a heavy gale of wind, under a close reefed main-top-sail, in the Bay of Biscay, and having had a very long passage, was reduced to short allowance of provisions and water, discovered a French lugger water-logged to leeward, and her crew clinging to the masts and rigging, perceiving their inevitable fate, and the utter impossibility of succouring them by boats, or even by a raft, owing to stress of weather, Captain Warren resolved to run down to the wreck; bore up, and ran alongside the lugger, and, by great skill, rescued the whole of her crew, seventeen men. The collision was great, and Captain Warren's ship received considerable damage. The lugger proved to be the La Jeane, in the service of the French Government; and her commander stated that two French vessels had passed him without making an effort to render him assistance, and but for the timely aid of Captain Warren all hands must have perished. This addition to Captain Warren's passengers and ship's company straitened his means, and for the five days which intervened, until their arrival in an English port, each person was reduced to one glass of water and two biscuits per day! This brilliant display of humanity and zeal was represented to the French Government, and his late Majesty Louis XVIII. conferred an honorary cross and medal on Captain Warren, with a suitable inscription. The damages sustained and expenses incurred by him were adequately remunerated, and a reward was also bestowed upon his officers and ship's company. But a higher gratification will be cherished by every one who performed this gallant deed as long as they live!
Seven seamen of the Mary Anne were arrested for mutinous conduct and neglect of duty when the vessel arrived in Hobart in 1822. One of the men, George Boyce made an attempt to strike the Captain. The men were later discharged from duty.
On the night of February 24, 1792, the Matilda foundered on Mururoa atoll, 640 miles south-east of Tahiti. The crew were saved and returned Tahiti on 5th March 1792. From Otaheite, the second mate and two of the sailors had, in one of their open whale boats, proceeded towards New South Wales. The rest of the crew remained on the island, excepting Mr. Matthew Weatherhead the commander of the vessel, who, with two men and two boys, had taken their passage from Otaheite on board the Jenny of Bristol; and on their arrival at Nootka, Senr* Quadra not only provided Mr. Weatherhead with a passage towards England through New Spain, but benevolently furnished him with a sum of money to defray his expenses through a country where the inhabitants would necessarily be strangers to himself and all his connections.
Mutiny on the Lady Shore. BY the last Lisbon Mail, the Rev. John Black, of Woodbridge, Suffolk, received a packet from his son, who was one of the surviving Officers of that unfortunate ship the Lady Shore, dated Rio Janeiro, Jan. 18, 1798, containing an authentic narrative of the mutiny, and of his subsequent perils and adventures. Captain Wilcocks did not die till the third day after the mutiny, when he expired without a groan.
According to the Memoirs of Hydrography, William Wilson was a nephew of Captain Wilson of the ship Duff who conveyed missionaries to Matavai in 1797. William Wilson in command of the Royal Admiral and during the course of voyages made to the missionary stations established in the Pacific continued to gain information of a highly useful character in Polynesia, which proved of great value in the almost unknown state of the hydrography of that region.
Obituary -Capt. Woodriff, R.N. Feb. 24. At Greenwich Hospital, aged 86, Daniel Woodriff, esq. Post Captain K.N. a Captain of the Royal Hospital, and C.B. He entered the Royal Nary in 1762, but was educated on shore in 1767-70; he was made Lieutenant in 1789, a Commander in 1795, and superintendent of the prisoners of war at Norman Cross in the same year, and attained the rank of Post Captain in 1802. Towards the end of the latter year he was appointed to the Calcutta 50, then fitting out for the purpose of establishing a new convict settlement at Port Philip, on the southern extremity of New Holland. He sailed at the end of April 1803, and arrived at the place of his destination on the 12th Oct. following; but finding the spot not-desirable, on many accounts, he proceeded to the river Derwent, where he founded the now flourishing town of Hobart. Alter her return from New South Wales, the Calcutta was fitted for sea an an effective 50-gun ship, and tent to St. Helena for the protection of merchantmen. Whilst on this service she was captured, after a gallant defence, by a numerous French squadron; and Capt. Woodriff, after three months confinement on board the French fleet, was carried prisoner to Verdun. After several fruitless applications for his release, about June 1807, he received an order, signed by Bonaparte, then in Poland, directing him to proceed immediately to England, and to take the route of St. Maloes, a town which no Englishman was at that time permitted to enter except himself. On his arrival there he found that all his letters, directed to him at Verdun, had been forwarded from the latter place by order of the French government; and on his proceeding to engage a vessel to convey him to England, for which he expected to pay forty or fifty guineas, he was told that one was already provided for him, free of expense. At this period, it is to be remarked that, owing to some difficulty, there was not an exchange of prisoners of war but the British government, not to be outdone in generosity, immediately released a French officer of similar rank to Capt. Woodriff, and sent him to France on- terms of equal liberality. At a Court Martial, held shortly after, he was honourably acquitted, of the loss of his ship, And his conduct pronounced to have been that of 'a brave, cool, and intrepid officer.' Capt. Woodriff had the improvement of the service always in view; and made some valuable suggestions to the Admiralty and Navy Boards. At the close of the year 1808 he was appointed agent for prisoners of war at Gosport, and in 1813 Commissioner of the Navy at Port Royal yard. Towards the latter part of the war he resided as Commissioner at Jamaica. In 1830 he was appointed a Captain of Greenwich Hospital, and was nominated a Companion of the Bath in the following year. One of his sons it a Commander, and another a Lieutenant R.N. His eldest daughter married the late Lieut.-Col. Tomkins, of the 58th regt. and died in 1820. - Gentleman's Magazine