Convict Ship Ann and Amelia 1825

Convict Ship Ann and Amelia - 1825

Embarked 200 men
Voyage 116 days
Deaths 0
Surgeon's Journal - Yes
Previous vessel: Minerva arrived 19 November 1824
Next vessel: Grenada arrived 23 January 1825
Captain William Ascough
Surgeon James Lawrence
Follow the Irish Convict Ship Trail
Prisoners and passengers of the Ann and Amelia identified in the Hunter Valley region

The Ann and Amelia was built in India in 1816[1]. The Ann and Amelia was the next convict ship to leave Ireland bound for New South Wales after the departure of the Almorah in April 1824.

Military Guard

The Guard consisted of soldiers of the 40th regiment under orders of Captain Richard Turton.

Following is an excerpt from Historical Records of the 40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment By Raymond Henry Raymond Smythies listing the ships that brought detachments of the 40th regiment to New South Wales in 1823 and 1824..........

Early in March 1823, the commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Thornton received an intimation that it was intended to send the regiment to New South Wales. In the meantime it was ordered to proceed to Dublin, thence by sea to Liverpool, and after that by road to Chatham, in order to form guards for convict ships when required.
The head quarters reached Dublin on 15th March and occupied the Royal Barracks. On the 30th the whole regiment embarked at Pigeon House, in eight small vessels, and reached Liverpool the following day.

A twenty eight days' march, including three Sundays, brought the regiment to Chatham. The Regiment marched in three divisions; the first arrived at Chatham on 21st April; the second, consisting of two companies, halted, and remained at Deptford; and the 3rd reached Chatham on 23rd April.

During the next year the 40th was sent out, in small detachments, as guards on board convict ships to Australia. This was after several years' rough service in Ireland, and but a short period of rest in England........

Embarked 25th April 1823 on ship Albion. Lieutenant Lowe
Embarked 5th July 1823 on ship Asia Captain Bishop
Embarked 10th July 1823 on ship Isabella. Lieutenant Millar
Embarked 18th July 1823 on ship Sir Godfrey Wilestoe. Captain Hibbert
Embarked 29 July 1823 on ship Guildford. Captain Thornhill
Embarked 31st July 1823 on ship Medina. Lieutenant Ganning
Embarked 5 August 1823 on ship Castle Forbes. Lt.- Col. Balfour
Embarked 29 December 1823 on ship Prince Regent. Captain Stewart
Embarked 5th February 1824 on ship Chapman. Captain Jebb
Embarked 25 February 1824 on ship Countess of Harcourt. Captain Morow
Embarked 14 June 1824 on ship Mangles. Lt.- Col Thornton
Embarked 14 June 1824 on ship Princess Charlotte. Lieut Neilley

Other ships bringing detachments of the 40th regiment included the Minerva and Ann and Amelia.

Free Passengers

Free passengers arriving on the Ann and Amelia included Eliza Hamsden and George Hamsden (born at sea); Messrs Thomas Hamsden and Michael Cormick, police officers; Myles McGrath late of the Royal Navy; and three boys, sons of convicts.

Departure

The Ann and Amelia departed Cork on 8th September 1824.

Port Jackson

There were no deaths on the passage and two hundred male prisoners arrived in Port Jackson on Sunday afternoon 2nd January 1825 . Three men were sent to the hospital on shore on arrival.[3]

Surgeon James Lawrence

Surgeon James Lawrence wrote in his journal at the end of the voyage -

The prisoners and Guard during the passage from Ireland to New South Wales have been so healthy that I have no remarks to make. Purgative medicines were freely administered to many of the prisoners who were not sick, which combined with bathing and exercise tended very much in my opinion to the preservation of their health.

James Lawrence's Journal contains treatment for various ailments including one case of scurvy, two accidents and four pulmonary infections, mostly minor in nature. He treated convict Patrick Noonan on 17th September for a troublesome cough which Noonan attributed to a cold caught on board the Surprise hulk - the greater part of the prisoners on board the hulk had torn their clothes and thrown them overboard a few days before leaving her. John Curley had an uncomfortable voyage, having suffered with painful leg ulcers and boils for most of the voyage. He was kindly treated by the surgeon during the entire time and his condition improved somewhat although he was sent to the hospital at Sydney on arrival. [2]

Muster of Convicts

The prisoners were mustered by Colonial Secretary Frederick Goulburn on board on 3rd January 1825. The Surgeon signed the indents with the following note.......The persons mustered appear in good health and declare themselves well treated and have been favourably spoken of by the Surgeon Superintendent and Commander. The indents reveal the prisoners' names, trade, date and place of trial, age, sentence, native place, physical description, remarks on their conduct on the voyage out and where each man was assigned on arrival. There are occasional remarks regarding date and place of death, pardons and other colonial details. [5]

Convicts Disembarked

On 5th January in Sydney the convicts were landed. It was reported that they underwent the customary inspection by His Excellency Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane between 9am and 10am that morning, and had no complaints to prefer against the Captain or Surgeon. They appeared to be in excellent health and after the inspection were sent to their various destinations.

Assignment

They were assigned throughout the colony....William Bell, a schoolmaster was assigned to the Carter's Barracks. James Cassidy also a schoolmaster was assigned to the Evan district; James Edwards, schoolmaster was assigned to Campbelltown. Other prisoners were assigned to Bathurst, Appin, Sydney, Minto, Parramatta and Windsor.

Cargo

The Ann and Amelia brought out 30 tons of flax seed for the Australian Agricultural Company.

Convicts of the Ann and Amelia identified in the Hunter Valley region -

Barter, Joseph

Brady, James

Brady, Patrick

Broughan, Thomas

Burns, John

Byrne, James

Byrne, Patrick

Byrne, Phillip

Byrne, Darby

Carlisle, William

Carroll, John

Caspin, Hugh

Coghlan, Michael

Donnellan, Thomas

Donohoe, John

Fitzsimmonds, Patrick

Flood, Thomas

Flynn, Patrick

Gavin, Matthew

Graham, Owen

Halfpenny, William

Halpin, Henry

Kennaird, Daniel

Malone, Bernard

McCarthy, Charles

McGrath, Miles

McManus, John

McNamara, John

Molloy, Bernard

Motley, Christopher

O'Neil, Michael

Quinn, John

Riley, John

Sheehan, John

Silk, James

Simpson, Michael

Simpson, Patrick

Smith, William

Spellman, William

Sweney, Edmond

Tallent, Michael

Thornley, James

Villiers, James

Ward, William

White, William

References

[1] Bateson, Charles Library of Australian History (1983). The convict ships, 1787-1868 (Australian ed). Library of Australian History, Sydney : pp.344-345

[2] Ancestry.com. UK, Royal Navy Medical Journals, 1817-1857. Medical Journal of James Lawrence on the voyage of the Ann and Amelia in 1825. The National Archives. Kew, Richmond, Surrey.

[3] National Archives - Medical and surgical journal of the Ann and Amelia convict ship for 22 July 1824 to 5 January 1825 by James Lawrence, surgeon and superintendent, during which time the said ship was employed in a passage from England to Ireland and from Ireland to New South Wales.

[4] Asiatic Journal

[5] Convict Indents. State Archives NSW; Series: NRS 12188; Item: [4/4009A]; Microfiche: 655

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