Convict Ship Forth I - 1830
Embarked: 118 men
Voyage: 115 days
Deaths: 3
Surgeon's Journal: yes
Tons: 397
Crew: 31 men
Previous vessel: Dunvegan Castle arrived 30 March 1830
Next vessel: Mermaid arrived 6 May 1830
Master David Proudfoot.
Surgeon William Clifford
Follow the Irish Convict Ship Trail
Hunter Valley Convicts and Passengers arriving on the Forth
Between the months of 1 January 1830 and 1 January 1831, six ships departed Ireland with approximately 850 prisoners bound for New South Wales......
Forth (I), Forth (II) (females), Hercules, Andromeda, Edward and the Waterloo
The Return of the Number of Convicts Transported from Ireland to New South Wales between those dates reveals that the prisoners had been held in the following three prisons:
Hulk Surprise (334 convicts), located at Cork
Hulk Essex (400 convicts) located at Dublin
Cork Penitentiary (females) (120 convicts).
The total of 854 prisoners noted in the Return is a little short of Charles Bateson total in The Convict Ships (845), but is close and may not account for those who were rejected by the surgeon as being too ill to survive the voyage.
Among the prisoners were ploughmen, glaziers, labourers, servants, cow boys, weavers, tailors and butchers. They had been sent for crimes ranging from pick pocketing and vagrancy to abduction and manslaughter. There were a few soldiers who had been tried for desertion.
Departure
The Forth was the next vessel to leave Ireland for New South Wales after the departure of the James Pattison in October 1829.(2) The last view the Forth convicts had of Ireland was probably as the ship lay in the Cove of Cork on New Years Eve 1829 as they departed Cork on 1 January 1830. They were off St. Jago on 22nd January 1830 and sailed past St. Paul on 20th March 1830
...Cove of CorkMilitary Guard
The military guard consisted of Ensign C. Miller and 27 rank and file of the 17th regt., with 3 women and 2 children under command of Captain James Oliphant Clunie. Select here to find convict ships bringing detachments of the 17th regiment.
...Australian Almanac 1831 - 17th Regiment in Australia.Passengers
Free passengers (steerage) included Michael Moore, Bernard Reilly and Michael Reilly (NSW State Records shipping list).Surgeon William Clifford
William Clifford kept a Medical Journal from 20 December 1829 to 4 May 1830...........The convicts embarked on the Forth were without exception men whose habits from the earliest period indolent in the extreme and disposed to depression and illness...To keep up that system and regularity of discipline and cleanliness so conducive to health and personal comfort on ship during a long voyage made with vicissitudes of climate required every energy during the early stage and as we advanced to the Tropics when fever appeared. (1)Convicts treated by the surgeon (see National Archives transcription or Surgeon's Journal for more information):
Patrick Millet (Mellot), aged 22, convict
William White, aged 35, convict
John Cleary, aged 19, convict
Patrick Tobin, aged 23, convict
W Blaylock, aged 30, corporal 17th Regiment, taken ill at sea; case number 5; sick or hurt, hernia humeralis, fell down the afterhatchway, received severe contusion of right testicle
Edmund Sheehan, aged 19, convict
Patrick Tobin, aged 17, convict
Joseph Kelly, aged 30, convict, taken ill off Isle of St. Jago; his constitution appears to labour under scurvy. Has a phlegmonous swelling situated over the middle and anterior part of the tibia of right leg; put on sick list, 22 January 1830, discharged 30 January 1830 well
David Noonan, aged 24, convict
Will Commoroy, aged 30, convict, pneumonia; put on sick list, 25 January 1830. Sent 1 May 1830 to hospital Sydney
James Walton, aged 22, soldier 17th Regiment
Patrick Corrall, aged 35, convict
Arthur Mulloy, aged 30, convict, in consequence of falling from the fore rigging and receiving a wound three inches in length dividing the scalp and the left parietal bone; put on sick list 10 February 1830, discharged 21 February 1830 well.
Thomas Fleming, aged 16, boy convict
Edmond Russell, aged 39, convict
Patrick Scully, aged 32, convict
Walter Cody, aged 30, convict
Corporal W Sharp, corporal 17th Regiment
Timothy Murphy, aged 32, convict, dysenteria, pain of the lower part of abdomen; put on sick list, 23 February 1830, died 14 March 1830 at 4 pm.
Daniel Sheehan, aged 60, convict, taken ill at sea; case number 20; sick or hurt, scorbutus, on embarking appeared in good health considering his age, now complains of great weakness, loss of strength, spirits dejected; put on sick list, 24 February 1830, date of discharge unknown.
John McCarthy, aged 29, guard 17th regt.
Edward Hallarhan, aged 20, convict
Will Coalton, aged 21, guard 17th Regiment
W Larkin, aged 19, convict
Thomas Pyne, aged 39, convict
Will Flynne, aged 32, convict
Mary Coglan [Coughlan], wife of George Coughlan guard 17th Regiment, scald of the left leg; put on sick list, 14 March 1830, discharged 6 May 1830 well.
John McMahon, aged 17, convict, taken ill off St. Paul; ulcus scorbutis; put on sick list 20 March 1830, discharged 30 March 1830 well.
Will Scoth, aged 22, soldier 17th Regiment
William Hurley, aged 32, convict
Patrick Cody, aged 42, convict, taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, dysenteria, scorbutic appearance accompanied with dysentery; put on sick list, 10 April 1830, died 24 April 1830.
John Coghlin, aged 38, convict.
Port Jackson
They arrived in Port Jackson on 26 April 1830 with 115 male prisoners, three having died from dysentery.- Patrick Cody, Timothy Murphy and Thomas Pyne.Convict Muster
The Muster was held on board by the Colonial Secretary Alexander McLeay on 28th April 1830. The youngest prisoners on board were Daniel Kirk (16); James Penne and Luke Connor (15); Denis Driscol, Thomas Fleming and Thomas McMahon (14) and Daniel Scamnell who was only 13 years old.Details taken in the muster include name age, education, religion, marital status, family, native place, trade, offence, when and where tried, sentence, prior convictions, physical descriptions, where assigned on arrival. Included were the following notes:
Edward Aylward - died in Bathurst Hospital
Daniel Berry died in Newcastle Hospital 13 February 1829
Daniel Cleary age 57 spoke no English
Patrick Carroll or McCorroll. Died at Newcastle 2 September 1831
Martin Cormick or McCormick died in the watch house at Hyde Park Barracks 1835
John Carrigan died at Sydney 30 April 1831
Daniel Desmond - from Cork. spoke no English
John Dowde - various punishments in iron gangs etc
Thomas Divine - sent to Cockatoo Island for 12 months
William Flinn - Died at No. 2 Stockade
John Gallivan age 47 from Limerick was the father of 12 children
John Healy - Died in Bathurst Hospital 1835
James Heher - Convicted of Felony and executed at Sydney 1836
Denis Haberline - Executed at Sydney 15 June 1838
John Harrison - Died at Windsor
Michael Kennedy - Died in Maitland Hospital
Patrick Molony age 18 and Michael Molony age 21 from Limerick, brothers. Michael Molony was executed for murder at Sydney 17 June 1836
Cane Mahony - Died at No. 2 Stockade 3 April 1834
Edmond Russell age 30 and Mark Russell age 32 brothers.
Thomas Ryan accidentally killed 18 July 1842
Daniel Scammell aged 13. Sentenced to 3 years at Moreton Bay 15 November 1830 for running away and stealing
Patrick Tobin - Sentenced to 12 months in an iron gang at Parramatta 1835 for theft
James Walsh - Died in Port Macquarie hospital (3)
Notes and Links
1). James Oliphant Clunie joined the 17th Regiment as an ensign in 1813 and was promoted to lieutenant the following year. He first arrived in New South Wales in 1821 as commander of the guard for the convict ship Prince of Orange. In 1821 he was transferred to Madras, India on the Almorah. He returned to New South Wales on this voyage of the Forth in 1830. He succeeded Captain Patrick Logan as Commandant at Moreton Bay and was stationed there from 1830 to 1836. He died in 1851.2). William Clifford was also surgeon on the convict ships Harmony (VDL) Norfolk in 1832 and Sir Charles Forbes in 1837.
3). Political Prisoners
4). Return of Convicts of the Forth assigned between 1st January 1832 and 31st March 1832 (Sydney Gazette 14 June 1832; 28 June 1832).....
Ralph Nash Wheelwright assigned to Sir John Jamison at Regent Ville
Patrick Connor Errand boy assigned to M.W. Pierce, Seven hills
Terence McGuire Carpenter assigned to James Glennie at Hunters River
5). National Archives - Reference: ADM 101/28/2 Description: Medical journal of the Forth, convict ship from 20 December 1829 to 4 May 1830 by William Clifford, surgeon and superintendent, during which time the ship was employed in a passage to New South Wales.
6). 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
Hunter Valley Convicts
The following convicts of the Forth have been identified in the Hunter Valley regionBarry, Daniel
Carman. Assigned to James Reid at Rosebrook
Carroll, Patrick
Ploughman and soldier. Assigned to Thomas Pendergast at Wollombi
Clare, Michael
Tailor. Assigned to John McIntyre at Patterson Plains
Coughlan, William
Ploughman. Assigned to Standish Lawrence Harris
Cox, Joseph
Occupation distiller. Assigned to Thomas Pendergast at Wollombi
Driscoll, Denis
Errand boy. Assigned to Carters Barracks
Farrell, Matthew
Ploughman, reaps, milks. Assigned to John Pike at Pickering
Flaherty, Patrick
Ploughman. Assigned to John Pike at Pickering
Gegan, Michael
Labourer. Assigned to William Bowen at Hunter River
Hickie, Thomas
Maltster. Assigned to Archibald Bell
Jackson, Patrick
Miller, reaps, ploughman. Assigned to Alexander McLeod
Kearney, John
Errand boy. Assigned to Joshua Page at Portland Head
Keiffe, Thomas
Ploughman, reaps. Assigned to James Reid at Rosebank
Kennedy, Michael
Ploughman, reaps, shepherd. Assigned to Andrew Bennett at Paterson
Kenny, Henry
Cordinger and weaver. Assigned to Standish Lawrence Harris
Kirk, Daniel
Farm boy. Assigned to William Henry Warland
Larkin, Stephen
Tailor. Assigned to David Smith in Sydney
Maguire, Terence
Carpenter. Assigned to Dept. of Public Works
Mahoney, Thomas
Boatman. Assigned to John Pike at Pickering
Manning, Cornelius
Butcher. Assigned to Frederick Augustus Hely
Martin, William
Stableman. Assigned to Michael Cook at Lane Cove
McCarthy, Daniel
Tobacco spinner. Assignid to J.P. Webber at Penshurst, Paterson
Mulenaux, Patrick
Tailor. Assigned to Mr. Macarthur at Camden
Mullins, Michael
Indoor servant. Assigned to David Maziere at Sydney
O'Roarke, Michael
Labourer. Assigned to William Henry Warland
Regan, Jeremiah
Ploughs, reaps. Assigned to William Henry Warland
Sheehan, Edmond
Assigned to John Turner at Hunter River
Stapleton, Thomas
Shoemaker. Assigned to Charles Boydell
Walsh, James
Labourer, reaps. Assigned to Martin Herrring at Hunter River
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, Australia, Convict Indents, 1788-1842 Original data: 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.
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