Convict Ship Royal George (1) - 1828
Embarked: 160 men
Voyage: 120 days
Deaths: 2
Surgeons Journal:
Previous vessel: Eliza arrived 18 November 1828
Next vessel: Governor Ready arrived 16 January 1829
Master Robert Embledon
Surgeon William Gregor
Convicts and passengers of the Royal George identified in the Hunter Valley region
The Royal George was a two-deck ship built at Hull in 1820, copper-sheathed in 1831, and owned by Samuel Moates of 49 Lower Shadwell.
The convicts came from counties throughout England. They were held on prison hulks prior to embarking on the ship in July 1828.
Departure
The Royal George departed Spithead on Tuesday 26 August 1828 with 160 prisoners and arrived in Port Jackson on Christmas Eve, 24 December 1828.Surgeon William Gregor
William Gregor was employed as surgeon superintendent, his third voyage in that capacity. He kept a medical journal from 15 July 1828 to January 1829. The first page of the Surgeons Journal has the note: As this surgeon is in a state of derangement or imbecility of mind, let this Journal be passed.William Gregor's General Remarks were included at the end of the journal -
August 1828 -
During the 5 days which remained of the month of August after our departure from Spithead, the weather was generally fine. The usual sea sickness was general among the Guard and Prisoners
September -
For our progress the weather continued favourable during the month. Towards the termination as might have been expected from the latitude we had reached the heat became oppressive. - All healthy
October -
The average character of the weather was fine
November -
The weather in the beginning of the month clear, dry with strong breezes from between north and west. Towards the end fresh westerly winds with showery squalls. During this month bowel complaints began to make their appearance
January 1829.
During the month of December and January as might have been anticipated the weather was more inclement than on any preceding part of our voyage and as usually happens afflictions of the bowels became more frequent but with the exception of John Howard all terminated favourably.
Two men died on the voyage out - John Howard and Matthew Knight.
William Gregor was also employed as Surgeon Superintendent on the convict ship Medina in 1825 (to VDL) and the Cambridge to New South Wales in 1827.
Military Guard
The Guard consisted of Captain James Briggs and 30 men of the 63rd regiment, accompanied by three women and two children. Select here to find convict ships bringing detachments of the 63rd regiment.Cabin Passengers
Edward Deas Thomson, Clerk to the Councils, Mr. Hensord of the Commissariat, Mr. and Mrs. Bohen (possibly surgeon of the 63rd regiment) and Mr. Embleton and a Gentleman for the medical services, all arrived as a passengers on the Royal George.Shortly after Mr. Deas Thomson went ashore, he was received at the Colonial Secretary's Office by Alexander McLeay and the two gentlemen later dined together.
Convicts Disembarked
Prisoners were disembarked in Sydney on Tuesday 6th January 1829 and sent to their various assignmentsDeparture of the Royal George
On 2nd February 1829 the Royal George departed Sydney bound for Hobart where troops were embarked and then proceeded to Bombay departing in March.Convicts of the Royal George identified in the Hunter Valley -
Atkinson, JohnBalls, Thomas
Baverstock, James
Broomfield, Thomas Westbury
Brown, William (1)
Bulpitt, James
Butler, John
Crawley, James
Cutler, Benjamin
Daniels, Daniel
Dolan, Edward
Falkner, William
Green, James
Henley, Harvey
Holcombe, Thomas
James, John
Jay, Joseph
Johnson, John
Jones, John
Langford, Charles
Laythorne, William
Mahony, Cornelius
Masterson, John
Mileham, Henry
Pennington, Enoch
Phillips, Robert
Richardson, Joseph
Short, James
Smith, John
Straighton, William
Taylor, George
Villa, Amabilles
Williams, Joseph
Wright, Owen
Wyatt, Frederick
Notes and Links
1). Return of Pardons granted in 1870....
2). Seventeen convict ships arrived in New South Wales in 1828 - Florentia, Elizabeth, Marquis of Huntley, Hooghly, Morley, Asia, Mangles, Borodino, Phoenix, Bussorah Merchant, Countess of Harcourt, Competitor, Marquis of Hastings, Albion, City of Edinburgh, Eliza and Royal George
3). Captain James Briggs of the 63rd regiment was Commandant at Macquarie Harbour in 1829 when the Cyprus at Recherche Bay was seized by convicts
Tasmanian Journal of Natural Science, Agriculture, Statistics, Etc, Volume 1 By Royal Society of Van Diemen's Land for Horticulture, Botany, and the Advancement of Science
4). Return of Convicts of the Royal George assigned between 1st January 1832 and 31st March 1832 (Sydney Gazette 14 June 1832; 21 June 1832; 28 June 1832; 5 July 1832)
William Faulkener - Bricklayer assigned to John Wood at Maitland
William Lenford - Brass founder assigned to W.D. Tarlington at Prospect
Robert Phillips - Labourer and shepherd assigned to William Prentice at Maitland
5). National Archives - Reference: ADM 101/65/5A Description: Medical journal of the Royal George, convict ship, for 15 July 1828 to 6 January 1829 by William Gregor, Surgeon and Superintendent, during which time the said ship was employed in a passage from England to New South Wales.
6). Convict 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] Ancestry.com. UK, Royal Navy Medical Journals, 1817-1857. Medical Journal of William Gregor on the voyage of the Royal George in 1828. 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
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