Free Settler or Felon
Convict and Colonial History




Convict Ship Asia - 1830


Embarked: 200 women
Voyage: 125 days
Deaths 4
Surgeon's Journal - Yes
Tons: 536 Crew: 40 men
Previous vessel: Larkins arrived 12 December 1829
Next vessel: James Pattison arrived 20 January 1830
Captain Thomas F. Stead
Surgeon Alexander Nisbet
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Hunter Valley Convicts and Passengers of the Asia

The Asia was built at Aberdeen in 1819. Convicts were transported to New South Wales on the Asia in 1820, 1822, 1825, 1828, 1830, 1832 and 1833.

Departure from Ireland

The Asia departed Ireland on 10th September 1829.

Passengers

Margaret Reynolds from Cork travelled as a steerage passenger and was intending to join her friends and family.

Surgeon Alexander Nisbet

Alexander Nisbet kept a Medical Journal from 9 July 1829 to 26 January 1820. As with his previous voyage on the Hooghley in 1828, the prisoners were kept on deck as much as possible .......

On leaving Cork for NSW we encountered a good deal of wet blowing weather, which produced most intense and distressing sea sickness and kept the decks for several days that may be much better imagined than described and it was nothing but the utmost determination that we kept them cleaned. However they all got over it easily and remained exceedingly healthy until our long detention between the bouts of the trade winds when a few slight cases of fever occurred.

The diseases which prevailed to any extent will be seen on reference to have been fever and dysentery, few cases of other diseases occurring except what may be expected in such a society. Dysentery was the disease which proved the most severe and which two cases proceeded to a fatal conclusion. The fever proved much more manageable and in general yielded readily to the means employed. This difference may be attributed partly to the period of the voyage in which the diseases manifested. The earlier and middle part being that in which the fever occurred and when we arrived in the colder southern latitudes the dysentery commenced its ravages. Their clothing never very good, had become old and thin, requiring considerable ingenuity to keep the woollen jackets together, with a most miserable deficiency of shoes which have been supplied of a very inferior quality. This state of things continued into our leaving the southern tropic where instead of the fine weathermostly found in those latitudes we had gales of wind with rainy weather which confined all the convicts below for a week at one time.

Those women who were compelled to be on deck such as cooks and monitors to take their provisions etc below, had to be supplied with blankets jackets and petticoats. For the sake of cleanliness and ventilation the convicts were never allowed to be below during the day except when the weather was unfavourable. The prison doors were always opened in the morning and the upper deck was washed and dried and every person allowed free access until after breakfast when they were all sent on deck where they remained until dinner. After dinner they again came on deck and remained until being mustered down below for the night usually half an hour before sunset.

Windsails were kept constantly in used down each hatchway. Within the tropics the women were almost constantly on deck, awnings being spread. By means of the work put on board by the recommendation of the ladies committee the minds of the convicts were kept pretty well employed and towards the close of the voyage when this source was expended, the ship was very well found in jute the converting of which into oakum was found to be an excellent employment.


Magnify the map above by scrolling then click on the green ship icons to read an account of each day of the voyage of the Asia. Enlarge the map using the icon on the top right


Alexander Nisbet was also employed as surgeon on the convict ships Minerva in 1824, Grenada in 1827,Hooghley in 1828, Asia in 1830,Earl Grey in 1838 and theand Mangles in 1840. He was employed as Assistant Commissioner to the Australian Agricultural Company in 1830 and was a survivor on the Royal Charlotte when she was wrecked in 1825.

Those women treated by the surgeon during the voyage included:

Mary Donnelly, aged 15, convict;
Margaret Gannon, aged 24, convict;
Eleanor Clendenning, aged 19, convict;
Judith Byrne, aged 25, convict;
Bridget Brennon, aged 32, convict;
Margaret Irvine, aged 23, convict;
Catherine Cullen, aged 29, convict;
Elizabeth Long, aged 20, convict;
Elizabeth Ferris, aged 25, convict;
Esther Collins, aged 20, convict;
Alice Muleaky, aged 22, convict;
Catherine Goodwin, aged 20, convict
Mary Heney, aged 40, convict
Sarah Devlin, aged 40, convict
Mary Flood, aged 30, convict
Margaret Murray, aged 37, convict
Mary Malone, aged 54, convict;
Mary Heney, aged 40, convict; Died 22 December 1829.
Bridget Larkins, aged 20, convict;
Rose Macquire, aged 30, convict; Died 6 January 1830.
Elizabeth Macdonald, aged 32,
Mary Byrne, aged 22, convict; Died 15 January 1830

Arrival in Port Jackson

The Asia arrived in Port Jackson on Wednesday 13th January 1830, a voyage of 125 days. One hundred and ninety six female prisoners arrived on this day.

Convict Muster

A muster was held on board by Colonial Secretary Alexander McLeay on 26th January 1830.

The Convict Indents include such information name, age, education, religion, marital status, family, native place, trade or calling, offence, sentence, when and where tried, former convictions, physical description and where or to whom the women were assigned on arrival. Occasional information as to colonial crimes, pardons relatives already in the colony and deaths is also included. Eighty one women, probably those with children were sent to the Parramatta Female Factory.

Assignment

About twenty of the women who arrived on the Asia have been identified residing in the Hunter Region in the following years. Select Here to find out more about these women.

The Sydney Gazette remarked ......'it is somewhat strange that, as we are told, had this been an English, and not an Irish ship, the number of applications for women servants would far have exceeded the supply. But the fact is, people give a decided preference to English women as house servants' -

However as seen from the list below from the indents, many of the women were assigned privately to settlers on arrival. ....


Allen, Margaret. Native Place Antrim. Assigned to John Reddall junior
Atkinson, Rebecca. Native Place Fermanagh. Assigned to Wife of Charles Throsby Smith - Wollongong Mrs. (Sarah)Thosby Smith
Anderson, Catherine. Native place Sligo. Assigned to Mrs. Robert Cooper
Ashell, Margaret. Native place Kilkenny. Assignd to Thomas Fisher


Bohan, Margaret. Native place Sligo. Assignd to the Hospital
Bodle, Elizabeth. Native Place Antrim. Assigned to Anne Turner
Boyle, Anne. Native Place Donegal. Assigned to Andrew Byrne
Buckley, Elizabeth. Native place Cork
Barry, Catherine. Native Place Tipperary. Assigned to Captain Wilson
Bennis, Alice. Native Place Cork. Assigned to Mrs. Maria Dowling
Boney, Anne. Native Place Westmeath. Assigned to Mrs. Reynolds
Byrne, Esther. Native Place Dublin. 1 child on board (sent to the Female Factory Parramatta)
Barry, Mary. Native Place Meath. Assigned to Mr. Klensendoff
Byrne, Anne. Naive Place Newey. Infirm and helpless
Byrne, Mary (alias Leary).Died in Sydney Harbour
Brian, Rose. Native Place Dublin
Brown, Bridget. Native Place Galway. Assigned to Elizabeth Sendwell
Brown, Juliana. Native Place Cork. Assigned to Mrs. Joseph Bigge
Barber, Margaret. Native Place Edinboro. Assigned to Rev. Thomas Reddall
Brady, Ellen (or Harken, Eliza). Native Place Cavan
Brady, Mary. Native Place Meath. Assigned to Mrs. Sloman
Byrne, Catherine. Native Place Queens Co.,Assigned to Captain Wellman
Byrne, Judith. Native Place Wicklow
Bohan, Sarah. Native Place Sligo. Assigned to George Stroud


Carlisle, Sarah. Native Place Belfast. Assigned to Mrs. L. Ralph
Coile, Elizabeth. Native Place Armagh. Assigned to Mrs. Plunkett
Carter, Mary (or Malone). Native Place Kildare
Clarke, Bridget. Native Place Cavan
Corcoran, Johanna. Native Place Cork. Assigned to Mrs. Sarah Hughes
Coughlan, Elizabeth. Native Place Cork
Connell, Mary. Native Place. Roscommon. Assigned to Ellen McNamara
Connor, Honor. Native Place. Cork1 child with her. (sent to the Female Factory Parramatta)
Clendening, Eleanor. Native Place. Co. Mayo. Assigned to Mrs. Caleb Salter
Collins, Mary. Native Place Dublin. Assigned to John Leary
Conway, Maria. Native Place Cork. Assigned to C.H. Chambers
Clare, Mary. Native Place Dublin. Assigned to C. Pickever
Crosby, Mary. Native Place Meath. Assigned to Mrs. Hanicah Cooper
Cullen, Catherine. Native Place Dublin. Assigned to David Duncomb
Carr, Mary. Native Place Kerry
Collins, Esther. Native Place Dublin. Assigned to Patrick Evans
Connolly, Catherine. Native Place Galway. Assigned to William Morris
Coffey, Margaret. Native Place Galway
Corcoran, Sally. Native Place Mayo. Not assignable (age 60)
Cunningham, Ann. Native Place Mayo. Assigned to Mrs. Catherine Stephens
Connor Mary. Native Place Westmeath. Assigned to Joseph Willis
Connors, Anne. Native Place Louth. Assigned to Mary Smith
Corrigan, Elizabeth. Native Place Monaghan. Assigned to John Condon
Campbell, Mary. Native Place Londonderry. Assigned to J.B. Wilshire
Crawford, Mary. Native Place Tyrone. Assigned to Thomas Hammond
Connors, Catherine. Native Place Waterford. Assigned to Madam Rens
Claffy Mary. Native Place Westmeath

Devlin, Sarah. Native Place Armagh. Assigned to Mrs. Dean
Donnelly, Mary. Native Place Carlow
Donohoe, Anne. Native Place Queens co.,. Assigned to Benjamin Cox
Duffy, Jane. Native Place Co. Down
Devlin, Sarah. Native Place Drogheda
Doyle, Mary. Native Place Dublin. Assigned to Dr. P. Foster
Dunn, Catherine. Native Place Dublin
Daly, Bridget. Native Place Clare. Assigned to Major D'Arcy
Dawson, Margaret. Native Place Kilkenny
Darcy, Mary. Native Place Longford. Assigned to Mr. P. Bodecin
Donnelly, Eleanor. Assigned to Mrs. Love
Daly, Judith. Native Place Tipperary

Edgworth, Anne. Native Place Kildare. Unfit for service. Age 60. Sent to the Hospital

Fricar, Sarah. Native Place Antrim
Flagherty, Mary. Native Place Cavan
Flood, Mary. Native Place Kildare1 child with her. (sent to the Female Factory Parramatta)
Fowler, Rose. Native Place Meath. Assigned to William Dalrymple Kelman
Flemming, Elizabeth. Native Place Dublin. Assigned to Mrs. Dulhunty
Faulkner, Alicia. Native Place Tipperary. Assigned to Mrs. M.A. Smith
Freeman, Margaret. Native Place Dublin. Assigned to Mr. E. Keith
Field, Mary. Native Place Wicklow. Assigned to Benevolent Asylum
Furgesson, Anne. Native Place Dorchester. Assigned to The Attorney General
Ferris, Elizabeth. Native Place Athlone. Assigned to Elizabeth Sandwell
Fox, Margaret. Native Place . Assigned to Westmeath
Farmer, Mary. Native Place Louth
Fogarty, Catherine. Native Place Clonmell. Age 14
Flaherty, Margaret. Native Place Kings Co.,. Assigned to John Buckland
Flinn, Julia. Native Place Roscommon. Assigned to Thomas Byrne

Gibson, Elizabeth. Native Place Belfast. Assigned to Miss Williams
Greer, Sarah. Native Place Armagh. Assigned to Mr William Wyer
Getgood, (or Getwood) Anne. Native Place Armagh. 1 child on board. (sent to the Female Factory Parramatta)
Gillespie, Mary. Native Place Limerick. Assigned to James Simmons
Guiry, (or Geary) Ellen. Native Place Cork. Assigned to Lieut. Ovens 57th regt
Goodwin, Catherine. Native Place Westmeath. not assignable
Gorman, Elizabeth. Native Place Carlow. Assigned to James Byrnes
Grey, Margaret. Native Place Dublin. Assigned to Mrs. Waples
Green, Margaret. Native Place Galway. Assigned to Joseph Underwood
Gannon, Margaret. Native Place Meath. Hospital. Not assignable
Gillespie, Charlotte. Native Place Monaghan. Assigned to James Brackenreg
Gleeson, Ann. Native Place Tipperary. Assigned to John Jacobs
Gough, Catherine. Native Place Tyrone. Assigned to Mrs. E. White
Gleeson, Mary. Native Place Waterford

Henessy, Jane. Native Place Antrim. Assigned to Mrs. Duncan McKellar
Hart, Elizabeth. Native Place Carlow. Assigned to Edward Dobson
Henderson, Anne. Native Place Kilkenny. Assigned to David Ramsay
Henry, (or Keney)Mary Died of Erysepelas 22 Dec. 1829
Hill, Margaret. Native Place Tipperary. Assigned to William Lowe
Hegarty, Betty. Native Place Derry. Assigned to John Whalan
Hennessy, Mary. Native Place Tipperary. Assigned to James Atkinson

Irwin, Margaret. Native Place Newey. Assigned to Mrs. E. Packer
Johnston, Jane. Native Place Dublin. Assigned to Mrs. Henry Maddox


Kirkpatrick, Elizabeth. Native Place Tyrone. Assigned to Mrs. E. Penson
Kelly, Mary. Native Place Belfast. Assigned to Richard Williams
Kelly, Catherine. Native Place Cork. Assigned to Percy Simpson
Keenan, Mary. Native Place Waterford. Assigned to Henry Geering
Kelly, Jane. Native Place Dublin. Assigned to Mrs. Bowen
Kennedy, Mary. Native Place Dublin. Assigned to Captain Parry
Kernaghan, Mary. Native Place Monaghan. Assigned to Mary Parrott
Kelly, Margaret. Native Place Tipperary. Assigned to Mrs. Howe
Keith, Catherine (or Burke). Native Place Limerick
Kelly, Margaret. Native Place Mayo. Assigned to Richard Brownlow
Kelly, Mary. Native Place Louth. Assigned to Mrs. Kenyon
Kearns, Lydney. Native Place Monaghan. Assigned to William Edney
Kenny, Margaret. Native Place Tipperary
Kavanagh, Mary. Native Place Wicklow. Assigned to Catherine Blackman

Lawlor, Catherine. Native Place Tipperary
Long, Elizabeth. Native Place Cork
Lyons, Bridget. Native Place Kildare. Assigned to Mrs. Orr, Parramatta
Longworth Margaret. Native Place Kings co.
Lewis, Honora. Native Place Queens co.,. Assigned to Major Mitchell
Lindesay, Prudence. Native Place Co. Down. Assigned to Mrs. Jones, Parramatta. Murdered at Parramatta
Lynch, Winifred. Native Place Roscommon. Assigned to Michael O'Brien
Larkins, Bridget. Native Place Dublin. Assigned to John Silva

Murray, Jane. Native Place Co. Tyrone
McClenchy, Jane. Native Place Armagh
McGonegal, Jane. Native Place Derry
Mulholland, Anne. Native Place Antrim. Assigned to Abraham Pollack
Mortimore, Charlotte. Native Place Antrim. Assigned to Samuel Deane
Murray, Maria. Native Place Belfast. Assigned to Major Mitchell
McBrian Anne. Native Place Armagh. Assigned to Arthur Little
Mills, MaryCavanMcGrady, Mary. Native Place Tyrone
McMahon, Mary. Native Place Fermanagh
McEaneany, Sarah. Native Place Monoaghan. Assigned to Henry Mark
Murphy, Mary. Native Place Cork. Assigned to John Weston
Murphy, Ellen. Native Place Cork. Assigned to D. Smith on arrival. Husband Patrick Reilly arrived on the Larkins 1829
Murphy, Judith. Native Place Cork
Moore, Ann. Native Place Tyrone
Marmion, Bridget. Sent to the Hospital
McCormick, Catherine. Native Place Westmeath. Assigned to Robert Armstrong
Mooney, Eliza. Native Place Dublin
Matthews, Isabella. Native Place Dublin. Assigned to George Morris
Maguire, Mary. Native Place Dublin
Murphy, Margaret. Native Place Kings Co.,. Assigned to Mrs. Eliza Wilson
Mulvaney, Elizabeth. Native Place Dublin. Assigned to Rev. Meanes
McDowell, Elizabeth. Native Place Belfast. Assigned to Robert Cooper
Molloy, Ellen. Disembarked at Cork
McQuirk, Catherine. Native Place Dublin. Assigned to John Hillis
Maguire, Rose. Died on the voyage out
Mullins, Honora. Native Place GalwayHusband in colony. Assigned to John Sweeney. 57th regt.,
Murray, Margaret. Native Place Kildare. Sent to the Hospital
McLunna, Bridget. Native Place Leitrim. Assigned to Thomas Raine
Mulvey, Anne. Native Place Leitrim
McEniry, Margaret. Native Place Limerick. Assigned to Thomas Higgins
Moody, Ann. Native Place Tyone. Assigned to Catherine Cooper
Magee, Susannah (husband transported per Borodino as Thomas Quigley. Native Place Sligo. Assigned to Mrs. Maria Dowling.
McDermott, Anne. Native Place Inniskilling. Assigned to B. McLoughlin
McDonald, Rose. Native Place Armagh. Assigned to H. Shadforth
Malone, Ann. Native Place Armagh. Assigned to George Innes
McGorman, Rose. Native Place Cavan. Assigned to James Robertson
Malone, Ellen (Sister to Ann Malone above). Native Place Armagh. Assigned to George Innes
McEvoy, Bridget. Native Place Queens Co.,
Mulcahy, Alicia. Native Place Tipperary. Assigned to E. Board
Means, Mary. Native Place Tyrone. Assigned to William Galvins
Madden, Sarah. Native Place Donegal. Assigned to John Smith
Morecraft, Mary. Native Place Donegal. Assigned to Miss Vines
McEvoy, Ellen. Native Place Wicklow
Meaher, Mary. Native Place Cork. Assigned to William Macanna

Nowland, Mary (age 13). Native Place Carlow
Nowland, Mary (age 43). Native Place Carlow
Neill, Rose. Native Place Dublin. Assigned to Mrs. Cave
Noonan, Mary. Native Place Waterford. Assigned to Francis Stephens

Owens, Mary. Native Place Dublin. Assigned to D. Ramsay

Potter, Catherine. Native Place Sligo. Assigned to Mrs. Hovell

Quirk, Julia. Native Place Fermoy

Reilly, Catherine. Native Place Westmeath
Reilly, Margaret. Native Place Dublin. Assigned to James Atkinson
Ryan, Ellen. Native Place Dublin. Assigned to Mary Wilde
Reilly, Mary. Native Place Queens Co.

Sloan, Mary. Native Place Dublin. Assigned to William Rowan
Somers, Eliza. Native Place Dublin. Assigned to Reuban Chapman
Sixsmith, Mary. Native Place Queens Co.. Assigned to Mary Lyons
Sweeney, Mary. Native Place Limerick
Scott, Mary. Native Place Tipperary. Assigned to Rev. Reddall
Savage, Mary. Native Place Westmeath. Sent to Hospital
Scanlan, Margaret. Native Place Tipperary. Assigned to Mrs. Orr, Parramatta
Smith, Catherine. Native Place Cork. Assigned to Robert Futter

Williams, Eliza. Native Place Belfast. Assigned to William Sharp
Walters, Margaret. Native Place Co. Down. Assigned to Mrs. Panton
Whelan, Bridget. Native Place Carlow
Walsh (or Mahoney), Mary. Native Place Cork. Assigned to Thomas Fitzgerald
Ward, Anne. Native Place Romford. Assigned to John Langdon
White, Julia. Native Place Dublin
Wilson, Margaret. Native Place Kings Co.. Assigned to M. Foster
Wells, Margaret. Native Place Roscommon
Walsh, Johanna. Native Place Cork. Assigned to George Tate
White, Catherine. Native Place Meath

Notes and Links

1. The Sydney Gazette reported that the Asia had made three voyages from England each on an average of three months and about twenty days, under the command of Captain Stead, who as a skillful mariner was said to rank in the very first class of his profession.

2. The Asia was one of three convict ships bringing female prisoners to New South Wales in 1830 the others being the Forth (II) and the Roslin Castle. A total of 444 female convicts arrived in 1830

3. Esther Byrne a 23year old widow, was convicted of child stealing and street theft along with Mary Collins, in Dublin City on 16th July 1828. Find out more about the life of Esther Byrne at lintywhite.com.

4. County of Armagh Assizes - Elizabeth Coil and Ann Sweaney, for robbing Felix Murphy, at Armagh - Guilty; Coil 7 years transportation; Sweany, 12 months imprisonment and hard labour. - Belfast Newsletter 5 August 1828.

5. County of Antrim Assizes - Carrickfergus - Jane Murray and Elizabeth Gibson, for stealing cotton handkerchiefs from the warehouse of Mr. Thomas O'Neill, Belfast - it was stated by Mr. Macneill, apprentice to Mr. O'Neill that on 30th April last, the two prisoners came to the warehouse under pretence of purchasing handkerchiefs - he observed Gibson take up a piece containing 22 handkerchiefs and conceal it under her cloak; Jane Murray must have seen her; he took them both into custody - Both guilty; to be transported 7 years. - Belfast Newsletter 1 August 1828

6. County of Antrim Assizes - Carrickfergus - Jane McLinchy, (also McClenchy) for stealing 7s 6d the property of William Patton - The prosecutor stated that he was returning from Lisburn on 23rd May, when he fell in with the prisoner on the road; they walked together till they came to Lakefield where they amused themselves with admiring the swan swimming on the lake, and prisoner fed him with crumbs of bread. During these operations he felt prisoner's hand in his pocket, and upon counting his money he missed three half crowns. He brought her to Belfast police office, and it was a very rough job - guilty; 7 years transportation. Jane McGonigle, otherwise Robinson, for stealing a 56lb weight from the warehouse of Messrs Contes and Young, Belfast - Guilty; 7 years transportation... - Belfast Newsletter 1 August 1828.

7. Recorder's court - Yesterday - Child Stealing - Maria Conway was indicted for decoying away Eliza Bray, with intent to steal from her person several articles of wearing apparel on the 23rd instant. William Bray, the father of the child, proved that he resides at 31 Townsend Street, and saw the prisoner going into a hall in Moss street, about three o'clock on the day mentioned in te indictment, and that she had the child with her; he saw her in a retired part of the hall stripping the child, who was between four and five years old; he brought her to College street Police Office; the prisoner said in the hall that the child followed her, and afterwards said she found her in the street. The prisoner was found guilty and sentenced to seven years transportation. The Recorder alluded to the prevalence of this crime and mentioned that the present case was the fourth of this nature which occurred in the Sessions Court with the last fortnight. - Freemans Journal 31 July 1829

References

[1] Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents, 1788 - 1842 [database on-line]. 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.

[2] Ancestry.com. UK, Royal Navy Medical Journals, 1817-1857. Medical Journal of Alexander Nisbet on the voyage of the Asia in 1830. The National Archives. Kew, Richmond, Surrey.

[3] Bateson, Charles Library of Australian History (1983). The convict ships, 1787-1868 (Australian ed). Library of Australian History, Sydney : pp.348-349, 386

[4] National Archives - Reference: ADM 101/5/3 Description: Medical journal of the Asia, convict ship from 9 July 1829 to 26 January 1830 by Alexander Nisbet, surgeon, during which time the ship was employed in a voyage to New South Wales.