Free Settler or Felon
Convict Ship Adrian
1830
Embarked 168-169 men
Voyage 115 days
Deaths 1
Surgeon's Journal - Yes
Tons: 373 Crew: 29 men
Previous vessel: Lady Feversham arrived 29 July 1830
Next vessel: Marquis of Huntley arrived 21 August 1830
Captain William Sadler
Surgeon Superintendent George Hume Weatherhead
Prisoners and passengers of the Adrian identified in the Hunter Valley
Magnify the map above by scrolling then click on the ship icon to read entries from the Journal of George Hume Weatherhead on the voyage of the convict ship Adrian to NSW in 1830. Enlarge the map using the icon on the top right
Military Guard
The Military Guard were already on board when the Adrian arrived at Portsmouth from the river (Thames) on Tuesday 6th April 1830.The Guard consisted of Ensign Reynolds of 17th regiment with 29 non-commissioned officers and privates under command of A.M. Robinson of 26th regiment.
Prisoners Embarked
The Prisoners were tried in counties throughout England - Wiltshire, Lancaster, Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Oxford, Middlesex, Surrey, Berkshire, Warwick, Southampton, Cambridge and Chester. There were no prisoners on the Adrian who had been convicted in Scotland or Wales although John Knox have his native place as Perth, Scotland. Quite a few had been tried at the Old Bailey and imprisoned in Newgate before being sent to the Hulks at Portsmouth. Some of those sent to the Hardy Hulk from Newgate were embarked on the Adrian on 7th April - Lawrence Martin, Edward Sampson, James Browne, George Walker, Joseph Thomas, John Harris, John Jacobs, George Kirby and Richard England.Departure from Portsmouth
The Adrian departed Portsmouth on 27th April 1830.Surgeon George H. Weatherhead
George H. Weatherhead kept Medical Journal from 31st March to 20th August 1830 - In the Surgeon's general remarks he noted that the number of convicts received from the hulks at Portsmouth and embarked on board of the Adrian was 168. Their general condition, and appearance, was unobjectionable. The occurrences on board during the voyage were so unimportant as not to afford occasions for remark. Only two cases of any consequence happened: a case of midwifery, somewhat tedious in its accomplishment, and that of John Barker, who was nearly dying from inanition.On 30th May, Mrs Smith wife of Sergeant Smith of the Guard gave birth to her first child, a daughter. Although there was the complication of the cord being wrapped around the baby's neck, both mother and baby survived. Dr. Weatherhead vaccinated the child in July 1830. [1]
Arrival in Port Jackson
The Adrian arrived in Port Jackson on Friday 20 August 1830, a direct passage of 115 days.By the 1820s and 30's the convict indents often included quite a lot of information about each prisoner than they had in earlier years.
The Indent of the Adrian includes each of the convicts' name, age, education, marital state, religion, native place, trade or calling, offence where and when tried, sentence, prior convictions, physical description, how disposed of (assignment) and occasional colonial notes such as ticket of leave numbers date of death or colonial sentences.
The Sydney Gazette reported: The prisoners by the Adrian were landed on Monday, and those by the Marquis of Huntley on Thursday, making in all a total of three hundred and ninety five. They are mostly fine powerful men, and will prove an acquisition to our up country friends, having a considerable portion of agriculturalists in their number.
Two days after the men were landed they were confronted with a stark reminder of the consequences of taking to the bush when notorious bushranger Bold Jack Donohoe was shot and killed by the Mounted Police near Campbelltown. This did little to deter David Pegg who soon after arrival had been assigned far up the Hunter Valley to the vicinity of Pages River. Before many months had passed he joined other absconders Richard Anscomb and Thomas Thompson to rob the house of William H. Warland. He had only been in the colony a little over twelve months when he died a gruesome death on the gallows in Sydney.
Convicts of the Adrian identified in the Hunter Valley region
| Name | Notes |
|---|---|
| Banks, William | Blacksmith from Devon. Assigned to Dept. Public Works on arrival. Sent to Newcastle Gaol in 1837 |
| Barker, John | Ploughman from Suffolk. Assigned to Duncan Forbes Mackay on arrival. Died while in service to George Brooks in 1838 |
| Barnes, William | Brazier from Suffolk. Assigned to Mrs. Bowen at Co. Cook on arrival. Assigned to William Harper in 1836 |
| Beechey, Job | Blanket weaver and labourer from Oxfordshire. Assigned to James Adair on arrival |
| Bevan, Charles | Carpenter and joiner from Liverpool. Assigned to Dept. Public Works on arrival. Assigned to Thomas Potter Macqueen in 1832 |
| Biggs, John | Ploughman, reaps, milks, sows. Native place Surry. Assigned to William Forster at Williams River on arrival. Assigned to Newcastle Lighthouse in 1837. Ticket of Leave for Newcastle 1838. Died in 1845 |
| Bird, Benjamin | Bricklayer from Ipswich. Assigned to Dept. Public Works on arrival. Assigned to J.B. Bettington in 1836 - 37. Ticket of Leave for Merton 1838 |
| Bradbury, Daniel | Shepherd, reaps, milks. Native place Derby. Assigned to William Bucknell at Hunter River on arrival |
| Brinkworth, Robert | Stableman from Wiltshire. Assigned to Joseph Weller in Sydney on arrival. Admitted to Newcastle Gaol for being out of irons in January 1842. Died at East Maitland in March 1842. |
| Cason, James | Hawker from Buckinghamshire. Assigned to John Palmer jun., at Hunter River on arrival |
| Clewley, Thomas | Brass founder from Birmingham. Assigned to Alexander McDougall at Wallis Plains on arrival. Granted Ticket of Leave for Invermein in 1838. Sent to Newcastle Gaol in October 1839 for drunkenness |
| Crockett, Henry | Gardener. Assigned to William Cox at Hobartville on arrival. Granted Ticket of Leave for Invermein in 1837 |
| Collins, John | Errand boy from London. Age 19. Assigned to William Bucknell at Hunter River on arrival |
| Collins, John | Ploughman age 50 from Norfolk. Assigned to J.G. Richardson at Hunter River on arrival |
| Constable, William | Ploughman, reaps, milks. Native place Wiltshire. Assigned to J. Richardson at Hunter River on arrival |
| Cook, John | Ploughman, reaps, milks, sows. Native place Essex. Assigned to T. W. M. Winder at Windermere on arrival |
| Cottrill, Thomas | Ploughman, shepherd and reaps. Native Place Berkshire. Assigned to T. W. M. Winder at Windermere on arrival. Ticket of Leave cancelled in July 1836 and sentenced to an iron gang for harbouring a prisoner of the Crown |
| Dore, William | Bass filer from Leicester. Assigned to James McDougall at Hunter River on arrival. Sentenced to a penal settlement for life in May 1835. Sent to Norfolk Island |
| Dorrell, Thomas | Ploughman from Buckinghamshire. Assigned to D. McKellar at St. Vincents on arrival. Assigned to John Mann at Williams River in 1832. Ticket of Leave Scone 1841 |
| Dowding, James | Ploughman, reaps, milks. Native place Wiltshire. Assigned to Donald McIntyre on arrival. Ticket of Leave for Invermein in 1835 |
| Earle, Isaac | Cloth dresser from Froome. Assigned to Henry Donnison on arrival |
| England, Richard | Butcher and shoemaker from Exeter. Assigned to Edward Sparke on arrival |
| Faulkner, Adam | Gardener, ploughman, reaps and sows. Native place Lancashire. Assigned to John McIntyre on arrival. Ticket of Leave Invermein 1834 |
| Free, Joseph | Baker and farm labourer from Buckinghamshire. Assigned to Donald McIntyre on arrival. Convicted of murder and executed at Sydney on 11 May 1836 |
| Fuller, Gregory | Carpenter from Swaffham. Assigned to Dept. Public Works on arrival. Absconded from Newcastle Pilot boat crew in 1837. Sent to Newcastle Gaol |
| Garnham, John | Alias Hitchen. Ploughman, reaps, milks, sows. Native place Suffolk. Assigned to John Field at Port Stephens on arrival |
| George, Peter | Carter, milks, reaps. Native place Westham. Assigned to Alexander McDougall at Maitland on arrival |
| Hancock, John | Baker's apprentice. Tried in London. Assigned to Emanuel Hungerford at Maitland on arrival. Ticket of Leave Maitland 1840 |
| Hazlegrove, William | Carter from Brighton. Assigned to Duncan Forbes Mackay at Williams River on arrival. Ticket of Leave Port Stephens 1838 |
| Hines, Haggai | Shepherd, reaps, milks. Native place Suffolk. Assigned to George Forbes at Hunter River on arrival. Ticket of Leave Merton 1834 |
| Holland, William | Alias Crawley. Carpenter's apprentice from London. Assigned to Dept. Public Works on arrival. Ticket of Leave Murrurundi 1844 |
| Impleton, Samuel | Ploughman, reaps, milks. Native place Cambridgeshire. Assigned to William Forsyth on arrival |
| Jacobs, John | Tobacco manufacturer and cook from London. Assigned to Henry Dumaresq on arrival. Previously transported on the Agememnon in 1820 |
| Johnson, William | Waterman from London. Assigned to William Forsyth, Upper Hunter Valley on arrival. Ticket of Leave Invermein 1838. Died April 1840 |
| Jones, John | Ploughman, reaps. Native place Shropshire. George Williams at Paterson River on arrival |
| Kirkham, Thomas | Watch and clock maker and lathe maker from Dorchester. Assigned to George Forbes on arrival. Ticket of Leave Merton 1838. Admitted to Newcastle Hospital having become ill and destitute May 1839 |
| Knox, John | Alias Wilson. Ship chandler, iron monger and ornamental painter from Perth. Assigned to George Williams at Paterson on arrival |
| Marchant, Thomas | Ploughs, reaps, milks and sows. Native place Sussex. Assigned to Alexander Park on arrival. Ticket of Leave Paterson 1838 |
| Martin, Lawrence | Alias Moranso. Shoemaker, servant and cook from Spain. Assigned to William Jones at Hunter River on arrival. Sentenced to 2 years in a penal settlement in 1831. Granted Ticket of Leave Paterson 1838 |
| Matthewson, William | Ploughman, shepherd, reaps and sows. Native place Norfolk. Assigned to William Dangar on arrival. Ticket of Leave Invermein 1834 |
| Miles, William | Ploughman, reaps, milks, sows. Native place Kent. Assigned to John McIntyre at Paterson River on arrival. |
| Mills, James | Blacksmith from Horsham. Assigned to Dept. Public Works on arrival. Absconded from Peter McIntyre at Invermein in 1836 |
| Moore, William | Shoemaker from Cambridgeshire. Assigned to John Mann at Hunter River on arrival. Ticket of Leave Maitland 1840 |
| Pegg, David | Ploughman, reaps, milks. Native place Norfolk. Assigned to William Millar at Hunter River on arrival. Sent to Newcastle Gaol 1831 |
| Pickett, James | Ploughman, reaps and sows. Assigned to James McDougall at Hunter River on arrival. Died at Newcastle Stockade February 1843 |
| Pool, William | Carpenter and wheelwright. Assigned to Dept. Public Works on arrival. Assigned to Archibald Bell in 1836 - 37. Ticket of leave granted for Patrick Plains 1838. Ticket cancelled and sent to the iron gang at No. 3 Stockade Newcastle September 1840 |
| Pope, George | Ploughman, milks, reaps. Native place Sussex. Assigned to Sydney Stephens on arrival. Employed by Frederick Becke. Ticket of Leave for Newcastle 1845 |
| Porter, John | Poulterer, reaps, shears, milks. Native place Essex. Assigned to Edgar Hyland at Sydney on arrival. Sent to Newcastle Gaol in 1846 |
| Pryke, Thomas | Shoemaker from Suffolk. Assigned to Hyde Park Barracks on arrival |
| Pulham, Robert | Butcher and farm labourer from Suffolk. Assigned to Edgar Hyland at Sydney on arrival. Ticket of Leave Maitland 1840 |
| Quantrill, Robert | Farm boy from Norwich. Assigned to William Millar on arrival |
| Rawlins, Ralph | Painter and glazier from London. Assigned to William Dangar on arrival. Sent to Newcastle Gaol 1839 |
| Remmington, James | Stable boy from Essex. Assigned to Alexander McLeod at Rattagan on arrival |
| Richman, Samuel | Tried at Norwich. Assigned to John Palmer at Hunter River on arrival |
| Robinson, James | Cotton spinner from Manchester. Assigned to William McArthur at Camden on arrival. Sentenced to 12 months in an iron gang at Newcastle in 1832 |
| Rudd, William | Tallow Chandler from Norwich. Assigned to W. Aspinall at Sydney on arrival. Ticket of Leave Maitland 1838 |
| Rudge, Thomas | Stable boy from Essex. Assigned to Emanuel Hungerford at Maitland on arrival. Assigned to Simon Kemp at Newcastle in 1836 - 37 |
| Rule, William | Groom and footman from Surry. Assigned to Francis Allman at Maitland on arrival. |
| Sands, Joel | Ploughman, reaps, milks and sows. Native place Sussex. Assigned to Emanuel Hungerford at Maitland on arrival. Sent to Newcastle Gaol 1831. Assigned to Edward Sparke in 1836 - 37 |
| Smith, Isaac Partridge | Currier and leather dresser from Surry. Assigned to Thomas Potter Macqueen at Segenhoe on arrival |
| Smith, John | Tailor and barber from London. Assigned to 57th regiment on arrival. Assigned to the ironed gang at Newcastle in 1837. Ticket of Leave for Cassilis cancelled in 1851 |
| Spring, Daniel | Tailor and groom from London. Assigned to 57th regiment on arrival. Died accidentally in 1839 |
| Taylor, Charles | Ploughman, reaps, milks. Native place Berkshire. Assigned to John Palmer at Hunter River on arrival |
| Townsend, James | Blanket weaver and bricklayer's labourer from Oxfordshire. Assigned to the A.A. Company on arrival |
| Webb, Robert | Butcher, drover, reaps and ploughs. Native place Colchester. Assigned to Dr. Wardell at Petersham on arrival. Assigned to W.C. Wentworth in 1836 - 37 |
| Weston, Henry | Shoemaker from Bucks. Assigned to the A.A. Company on arrival Ticket of Leave Port Stephens 1834 |
| Weston, James | Ploughman, reaps, milks. Native place Sussex. Assigned to Alexander Busby on arrival |
| Wheeler, William | Ploughman and tallow chandler from Brighton. Assigned to Thomas Haines in Sydney on arrival. Assigned to W.C. Wentworth at Merton in 1836 - 37 |
| Wiggins, Elisha | Blanket weaver and labourer from Oxfordshire. Assigned to Robert and Helenus Scott at Glendon on arrival |
Notes and Links
1). Return of Convicts of the Adrian assigned between 1st January 1832 and 31st March 1832 (Sydney Gazette 14 June 1832) -Charles Bevan - Carpenter and joiner assigned to Potter Macqueen at Segenhoe
James Brown - Plasterer and labourer assigned to J.L. McGillivray at Cook's River
John Cook - Plasterer and labourer assigned to George McLeay at Brownlow Hill
Thomas Dorrell - Ploughman assigned to John Mann at Williams River
John Fletcher - Jeweller assigned to John Dawson in Sydney
John Fisher - Carman assigned to Cornelius Prout in Sydney
Michael Hogan - Shoemaker assigned to Andrew Brown at Bathurst
2). National Archives - Reference: ADM 101/1/5 Description: Medical journal of the convict ship Adrian from 31 March to 20 August 1830 by G H Weatherhead, surgeon and superintendent.
3). Amongst the Convict Indents is the Police Record of Gregory Fuller, carpenter, who was sentenced at Swaffham to 14 years transportation for shoplifting. Because of his colonial crimes he didn't achieve freedom until 1855 -
5 July 1832 absconded from James Walker
15 July 1833 sentenced to 10 days confinement for drunkenness and fighting
8 October 1833 sentenced to 7 days confinement for absenting
4 December 1833 sentenced to 10 days confinement for absconding
14 March 1835 sentenced to 25 lashes for disobedience of orders
8 July 1836 sentenced to 50 lashes for absconding
26 December 1836 absconded from the Pilots boat crew at Newcastle. Apprehended 9 October 1840. Sentenced to 2 years in irons. Mitigated March 1842
7 April 1842 absconded from Parramatta, out of irons. Apprehended 12 February 1843
25 February 1843. Sentenced to 12 months in irons for stealing fowls from Parramatta stores
2 October 1844 absconded from Commissariat Dept.. Apprehended 4 July 1846. Sent to Hyde Park Barracks
24 March 1847 absconded from Escort to Liverpool Hospital. Apprehended 19 February 1850
4). 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
References
[1] Ancestry.com. UK, Royal Navy Medical Journals, 1817-1857. Medical Journal of George Hume Weatherhead on the voyage of the Adrian in 1830. 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