Free Settler or Felon
Convict and Colonial History




Convict Ship Asia - 1832


Embarked 200 men
Voyage 120 days
Deaths 0
Surgeon's Journal - Yes
Previous vessel: Norfolk arrived 9 February 1832
Next vessel: Pyramus arrived 5 March 1832
Captain Thomas F. Stead
Surgeon Andrew Douglas Wilson
Prisoners and passengers of the Asia identified in the Hunter Valley

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. [1]

Two hundred men from counties throughout England were transported on the Asia. Many were held in prison hulks prior to embarking on 24th September 1831.

There were petty thieves and highway robbers, forgers and soldiers convicted of desertion. There was also one man by the name of Samuel Price who was being re-transported. He was 43 years of age and married with four children. He had originally been transported on the Indian in 1810, however escaped from the colony and now twenty- two years later was being returned to serve his sentence.

Departure from England

The Asia was reported lying wind bound at Portsmouth on 11th October 1831 and did not depart until 16th October 1831.

Surgeon Andrew Douglas Wilson

Andrew Douglas Wilson kept a Medical Journal from 24 September 1831 to 27 February 1832.

His general remarks concentrated on the case of nineteen year old John Tierney who concealed the diseased state of his arm as he did not want it to jeopardise his transportation as he wished to better his condition. The Surgeon stated that although he was landed in better health than he had embarked, 'he was a bad subject for New South Wales in as much as he was nearly a useless one. John Tierney died in Liverpool Hospital in 1833. The surgeon thought the only serious case was rheumatism which affected himself. He was so ill that on arrival in Sydney he had to be hoisted out of the ship in a chair. The disease was then mainly in the hip but had since spread to almost every part of his body and confined him to bed. He attributed the illness to a fall on the Convict Ship Princess Royal three years previously, in which his skull had been damaged. [2]

Arrival in Port Jackson

The Asia arrived in Sydney on 13th February 1832.

Convict Muster

A Muster was held on board by Colonial Secretary Alexander Macleay. The convict indents reveal the name, age, education, religion, marital status, family, native place, occupation, offence, date and place of trial, sentence, prior convictions and physical description. There is no indication in the indents as to where the prisoners were assigned on arrival. There are occasional notes about colonial sentences and dates of death. [3]

There were six prisoners under the age of 16 years - James Duffield (16); Benjamin Fox (16); John Jones (14); George Lee (16); John Sheen (16) and Samuel White (16).

Assignment

Two of the prisoners of the Asia were assigned to James Mudie at Castle Forbes in the Hunter Valley where conditions for convicts were harsh. John Perry was one of these men. He absconded from the estate in 1833 and took to the bush with other prisoners from the estate. He was one of five men later executed in what became one of the most infamous episodes in colonial history, the Myall Creek Massacre.

Return of Convicts of the Asia 1832 assigned between 1st January 1832 and 31st March 1832 (Sydney Gazette 14 June 1832; 21 June 1832; 28 June 1832; 5 July 1832).....

John Axtill - Cowkeeper assigned to Mrs. Erskine at Erskine Park
Joseph Ashley - Shoemaker assigned to Henry Donnison at Sydney
John Arnold - Shoemaker assigned to William Howard in Sydney
William Byckmore - Stockman assigned to Mrs. Erskine at Erskine Park
James Bye - Road maker, ploughs. Assigned to John Cartwright at Liverpool
John Burgess - Carrier, ploughs and milks. Assigned to Patrick Campbell at Maitland
George Brammer - Shepherd assigned to W. and J. Ryrie at Argyle
James Beddoes - Ploughs. Assigned to Francis Kenny at Lake George
James Butcher - Ploughs. Assigned to John Buckland at Hoare Town
William Beechy - Ploughs. Assigned to Thomas Icely at Boongarrabee
Thomas Barnes - Farm boy assigned to Alexander Livingston at Hunter River
James Burrows - Ploughs. Assigned to Crawford Logan Brown at Williams River
William Baker - Ploughs. Assigned to Richard Holden (?Hobden) at Hunters River
Richard Blunsden - Carter and dealer. Assigned to John Cartwright at Liverpool
Charles Boreham - Labourer assigned to Patrick Campbell at Maitland
Francis Burgess - Labourer assigned to Dr. Wardell at Petersham
Thomas Brunton - Labourer assigned to Dr. Fattorini at Sydney
Thomas Becks - Labourer assigned to W. and J. Ryrie at Argyle
John Brown - Button burnisher assigned to John Cummence at Windsor
Thomas Baker - Wire drawer assigned to James Kelly at Richmond
James Bourie - Seaman assigned to John Pender at Cornwallis
Henry Beesley - Labourer and groom. Assigned to P.M. Hosking At Sydney
John Brown - Gardener's labourer assigned to Dr. Fattorini at Sydney
Joseph Barker - Groom and labourer assigned to James Watford at Parramatta
J.A. Bostock - Organ builder and gardener assigned to James Milsome at North Shore
Robert Boyce - Blacksmith assigned to George Graham at Lower Minto
Benjamin Bateman - Tailor assigned to William Pendray at Sydney
Matthew Coe - Ploughs etc., Assigned to Francis Mowatt at Narellan
Charles Codd - Ploughs etc., Assigned to J. R. Hume at Appin
John Carney - Cow keeper assigned to Thomas Icley at Bungarrabee
Henry Collier - Poulterer assigned to John Buckland at Hoare Town
James Canty - Errand boy assigned toAlexander Livingston at Hunter's River
John Canham - Cattle jobber assigned to Crawford Logan Brown at Williams River
William Cooper - Labourer, milks,. Assigned to John Swan at Paterson's Plains
Francis Carberry - Weaver and soldier assigned to William Guise at Liverpool
Michael Carberry - Weaver and soldier. Assigned to Richard Hobden at Hunters River
James Consterdene (or Constantine) - Factory boy and servant assigned to John Nicholson at Sydney
Richard Cornelius - Hairdresser assigned to Andrew D. Wilson (Surgeon) Sydney
Peter Crawley - Footman assigned to Dr. W. Coleman at Maitland
John Cullen - Indoor servant assigned to Dr. Richardson at Windsor
William Castle - Groom assigned to Roger Therry in Sydney
John Corbet - Colt breaker assigned to Colonel Parker at Campbelltown
Francis Cox - Boot and shoemaker assigned to Charles Thompson at Clydesdale
John Cutts - Gardener assigned to Leslie Duguid at Sydney
Benjamin Cleversly - Cabinet maker assigned to Samuel North at Windsor
Timothy Cronan - Plasterer assigned to A. Hallen at Sydney
Stephen Compton - Plasterer assigned to William Dangar at Hunters River
Charles Claxton - Tailor assigned to John McLaughlan at Sydney
John Coleman - Baker assigned to Mary Raine at Parramatta
James Davy - Ploughs and labourer. Assigned to David Chambers in Sydney
James Darden - Factory boy assigned to James Chilcott at Hunter's River
Josiah Davidson - Linen weaver and labourer assigned to Ambrose Hallen in Sydney
James Dawes - Weaver etc., Assigned to F. Mowatt at Narallan
James Duffield - Farmer's boy assigned to J.R. Hume at Appin
William Dix - Labourer assigned to P.M. Hosking at Sydney
William Francis Drinkwater - Shepherd and shears. Assigned to J. Collicott in Sydney
John Drew - Painter and glazier assigned to Andrew Coss at Sydney
Joseph Ellis - Carter and labourer assigned to William Tyson at Appin
James Easton - Brickmaker assigned to Major Rhode at Sydney
David Ellis - Ploughs, milks, etc., Assigned to Berry and Co. in Sydney
John Evans (or David Bonham) - Ploughman assigned to Thomas Rowley at Holdworthy
Benjamin Fox - Errand boy assigned to Joseph Smith at Maitland
Joshua Field - Sweep and ostler assigned to David Chambers at Sydney
James Flannagan - Chair frame sawyer assigned to T.F. Hawkins at Bathurst
Richard Grittoes (Gittoes) - Carpet weaver assigned to John Larnach at Hunter's River
James Gollagher - In and outdoor servant assigned to Henry Dangar at Port Stephens
William Goodwin - Brickmaker assigned to the A.A. Company at Port Stephens
Thomas Green - Engineer, iron turner and miller assigned to Berry and; Co, at Sydney
John Gately - Ostler assigned to Thomas Evernden at Bathurst
William Gooch - Carpenter. Assigned to Leslie Duguid in Sydney
William Hunt - Shepherd assigned to W.S. Woodward at Bathurst
Edward Holt - Ploughs. Assigned to William Howe at Glenlee
William Hopkins - Ploughs. Assigned to William Wentworth at Vaucluse
William Hickmott - Ploughs. Assigned to William Lithgow at Sydney
James Hall - Weaver and ostler assigned to Thomas Rowley at Holdsworth
Thomas Hazeledine - Labourer, milks. Assigned to Berry and co. at Sydney
George Hurst - Rope and twine spinner. Assigned to Jacob Wyer at Sydney
Edward Hipkiss - Hinge maker assigned to William Howe at Glenlee
Henry Hall - Glass cutter assigned to W.S. Woodward at Bathurst
Dominick Harkins - Labourer and soldier. Assigned to W.S. Woodward at Bathurst
George Hames - Brass founder assigned to the A.A. Company at Port Stephens
George Hammond - Valet, ale merchant. Assigned to Rev. Henry Carmichael at Sydney
Isaac Johnson - Ploughs, sows. Assigned to William Guise at Liverpool
William Jerroms - Ploughs, sows. Assigned to Robert McIntosh at Sydney
Henry Jones - Soap boiler. Assigned to John Mackie at Sydney
William Johnson - Seaman. Assigned to William Wentworth at Vaucluse
Samuel Jones - Labourer assigned to William Wentworth at Vaucluse
John Johnson - Sieve maker assigned to Peter Fitzpatrick at Hardwick
John Joy - Watch maker, maltster assigned to Helenus Scott at Glendon
William Jones - Stableman assigned to Captain Maxwell in Sydney
James Jeffries - Ostler assigned to Ruben Uther at Sydney
John Jeffrey - Errand boy assigned to Frederick Meredith at Banks Town
John Jones - Tinman assigned to D. Drummond at Woolloomoolloo
William Kent - Weaver, stableman. Assigned to William Lithgow at Sydney
Edward or Edmond Kerrison - Sweep and fisherman assigned to James Edlestone at Hartland
John Ludd - Ploughs. Assigned to Frederick Manton at Yass Plains
John Lewsey - Ploughs. Assigned to Robert Pymble at Lane Cove
Samuel Lovatt - Ploughs. Assigned to James Reid at Hunter River
John Lea - Warehouseman assigned to Thomas Dangar at Maitland
George Lee - Errand boy assigned to Frederick Manton at Yass Plains
William Lee - Groom and servant assigned to William Dawes at Sydney
William George Lewis - Errand boy assigned to James Hamilton in Sydney
Robert Neale - Stockman assigned to Elizabeth Pitt at Richmond
John Palmer - Ploughs, milks etc., Assigned to William Morgan at Sydney
John Perry - Ploughs, milks etc., Assigned to James Mudie at Hunters River
John Paddick - Ploughs, milks etc., Assigned to Henry Baldwin at Wilberforce
Thomas Pymble -Ploughs, milks etc., Assigned to Robert Potts at Richmond
William Plumb - Ploughs, reaps etc., Assigned to John Brown at Bathurst
William Pearson - Stationer assigned to Robert Scott at Glendon
Robert Pridham - Fisherman assigned to Hugh McDermott at Sydney
Charles Penrose - Sweep assigned to George Gilchrist at Sydney
John Perkins - Errand boy assigned to William Morgan at Sydney
Stephen Parrett - Seaman assigned to James Mudie at Hunter's River
John Pantney - Labourer assigned to Walter Rotton at Maitland
Joseph Palmer - Labourer and milks. Assigned to Sarah Alcorn at Windsor
Thomas Poole - Buckle finisher assigned to John Dunstan at Wilberforce
Robert Phillips - Groom assigned to Colonel Morisset at Norfolk Island
Samuel Price - Stone cutter assigned to James Wright at Sydney
Thomas Paterson - Tailor assigned to William Parmington at Sydney
Richard Phillips - Grocer, painter and plumber assigned to Samuel North at Windsor
Robert Pridham - Fisherman assigned to John White at Mr. Marsden's Sydney
Abraham Riddington - Shepherd and stockman assigned to James Phillips at Hunter River
Samuel Ryder - Ploughs. Assigned to Robert Pringle at Carrington
George Rose - Ploughs. Assigned to William Ogilvie at Hunter's River
David Robertson - Ploughman and soldier. Assigned to Richard Brooks at Denham Court
George Henry Ralph - Seaman and labourer assigned to James Blackett at Ultimo
James Reeves - Seaman assigned to James Blackett at Ultimo
William Richmond - Founder. Assigned to Elizabeth Pitt at Richmond
Samuel Richards - Ornament maker assigned to James Phillips at Hunter River
William Rose - Stonemason assigned to George Bunn at Sydney
George Raine - Shoe maker assigned to Thomas Fitzgerald at Sydney
Joseph Roberts - Shoemaker assigned to Peter Stuckey at Argyle
Charles Ranson - Shoemaker assigned to John Reddall at Campbell Town
William Russell - Cattle jobber and butcher assigned to Timothy Nowlan at Maitland
Samuel Royal - Turner and soldier assigned to Captain Maxwell at Sydney
William Robinson - Tailor assigned to Richard Rouse at Rouse Hill
George Raine - Showmaker assigned to John White at Mr. Marsden's Sydney
James Revis - Seaman assigned to William Dun at Paterson
Michael Robinson or Davis - Carman assigned to William Dun at Paterson

Notes and Links

1). Andrew Douglas Wilson was also surgeon on the convict ships Princess Royal in 1829 and the Lady Feversham in 1830

References

[1] Bateson, Charles. Library of Australian History (1983). The convict ships, 1787-1868 (Australian ed). Library of Australian History, Sydney, pp.350-351, 387

[2] Journal of Andrew Douglas Wilson - National Archives Reference: ADM 101/5/5 Description: Medical and surgical journal of His Majesty's hired convict ship Asia for 24 September 1831 to 27 February 1832

[3] Ancestry.com. 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.