Convict Ship Atlas 1 (I) - 1802
Embarked: 151 men; 28 women
Voyage: 220 days
Surgeon's Journal - No
Previous vessel: Hercules arrived 26 June 1802
Next vessel: Perseus arrived 14 August 1802
Master: Richard Brooks.
Surgeon: Elphinstone Walker
Follow the Female Convict Ship Trail
Follow the Irish Convict Ship Trail
Prisoners of the Atlas identified in the Hunter Valley region
Brian Ahearn, descendant of convict Murtagh Ahern, is author of 'Beyond the Sea' the life and times of Murtagh Ahern and the log of the convict ship 'Atlas' . In two volumes the 1,300 pages give a sweep of Irish history from Murtagh's ancestor Brian Boru, the High King of Ireland, the dark days of Oliver Cromwell, the horrors and privations of the 1798 Irish rebellion to the discovery and founding of Australia. It details the history of the colony, the struggles of each succeeding Governor, the events and the characters who made Australia what it is today. The second volume includes the early Irish family records of Murtagh and Mary's family in Mileham.
Select here to read Extracts from Brian Ahearn's Journey into Hell Chapter 11 of Beyond the Sea>
- Convicts on Deck - Atlas 1 1802 (c) B.W. Ahearn
Ireland
The Atlas was built at Shields in 1801 and was in the service of the East India Company. Prisoners from throughout Ireland were embarked on the Atlas. They came from Limerick, Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny, Kings Co., Queen's Co., Dublin, Carlow, Meath, Tipperary, Louth, Cork, Wicklow, Kerry, Kildare, Galway, Armagh, Roscommon, Mayo, Londonderry, Monaghan and Clare and were embarked at Dublin and Cork.An Extract of a letter from Cork in the Freeman's Journal 29th October 1801 reveals that there was already illness on board when the vessel arrived in Cork from Dublin....
'A very severe sickness has prevailed on board the convict transports, who have arrived here from Dublin, particularly I understand in the Atlas. Great attention has been paid to their wretched condition by those whose duty it is to inspect their situations. Two of the convicts name Fagan and Conolly, have died. An attempt was made by some who were in the county gaol to effect an escape, but the plot was discovered by the attention and vigilance of one of the Wexford militia. The instrument they had used to break out, was a little bit of iron; with this they had picked out some stones in the centre kitchen, and to conceal their efforts in making the breach, they made use of an expedient which, it is understood, has been often employed by criminals on such occasions, viz, the burning of straw, wet for the purpose which made a smoke, almost sufficient to blind or suffocate. The gaoler, from the insecurity of the prison, is kept in great trepidation by those offenders, for fear any of them should escape.'
Embarkation
Charles Bateson in The Convict Ships wrote of the voyage of the Atlas - 'The Irish authorities permitted the prisoners to be embarked in a deplorable state of health, and the avariciousness, neglect and inhumanity of the master of the Atlas, Richard Brooks turned the voyage into one of the worst in the history of transportation. The Atlas embarked her first prisoners at Dublin. They were brought out to her in the three brigs and all were more or less unhealthy, suffering from Typhus or dysentery and should never have been embarked. The Atlas completed her complement of convicts at Cork where a number were convalescents from recent illness. Surgeon Elphinstone Walker viewed the embarkation of these prisoner with alarm but did not feel empowered to refuse to accept them.'Military Guard
Soldiers of the New South Wales Corps formed the Military Guard.Departure from Ireland
The Atlas departed Ireland for New South Wales on 28 November 1801, with 151 male and 28 female convicts and sailed via Rio de Janeiro and the Cape.The Voyage
Elphinstone Walker later wrote to the Commissioner for Transport.......Surgeon Walker to the Commissioners for Transport
Port Jackson 8th July 1802,
Gentlemen,
I have the honour to inform you of the arrival of the ship Atlas, Captain Richard Brooks, in this port on the 7th July 1801, and from the great mortality which has been on board I think it my duty to inform you of the cause. The first prisoners we embarked were from the three brigs that came from Dublin, one of which, named the Henrietta, were very sickly, and I was informed of the dysentery accompanied with a typhus fever. The other two brigs were also in a bad state of health. Most of the prisoners from the Henrietta were embarked on board this ship; we also embarked prisoners from the other two brigs.
The weather being then very cold, the washing of them and shaving their heads must, in my opinion, be very much against people in their sickly state. Some of them were embarked actually in the disease, and a great many convalescents. The rest of our prisoners embarked from Cork, many of whom were also convalescents. One old man, in particular, who was sent to be embarked was labouring under a very heavy sickness. Seeing that he could not survive long I thought it best to send him back, and he died before the boat reached Cork. One of the prisoners from the Henrietta died five days after he came on board; another also died before we left the harbour, which was on 28th November 1801.
After sailing from the Cove of Cork we experienced very bad weather, and the convalescents began gradually to relapse into their former sickness. When we arrived at Rio de Janeiro 30th January 1802, I had upwards of seventy sick, and was then myself recovering from a very heavy sickness. The prisoners were put on shore on one of the small islands for the recovery of health, and the number of sick began now to diminish from the benefit of fresh provisions and other comforts. We lost by sickness fifteen male prisoners and a soldier from the time of their embarking till our arrival, and during our stay two male prisoners and one female died.
Rio de Janeiro
We sailed from Rio de Janeiro 26th February 1802.A short time after leaving that port a general sickness prevailed amongst the soldiers, which I attributed to poison, and I at the same time had a return of my sickness.
Mutiny
A mutiny was at this time going on amongst the prisoners, which on being discovered caused them to be more closely confined, and which consequently was much against the sick.Cape of Good Hope
We arrived at the Cape of Good Hope 12th April 1802, having lost by sickness six male prisoners, one soldier and serjeant's wife on our passage between Rio de Janeiro and the Cape. The number of the sick was now considerably diminished. We had here a supply of fresh provisions for the prisoners. I also obtained a supply of some medicines and fumigating apparatus. During our stay here we lost one male prisoner. We sailed from the Cape on the 19th April, some time after leaving which port the scurvy made its appearance, which soon became general, and amongst those who were formerly sick it made great havock. Having few or no antiscorbutics, I was forced to palliate with medicines.The weather was in general very bad from the time of our leaving the Cape till on arrival at Port Jackson, and we lost by the scurvy and dysentery forty three male prisoners and one female, several of whom were after our arrival, at which time I kept about twenty of the worst of my patients on board, they being incapable of being removed, and had a supply of necessaries for them from the hospital. They soon began to recover from the benefit of the vegetable diet. By this gentlemen, I have endeavoured to state, from as exact a point of view as I possibly could, the causes of the great mortality which has prevailed on board this ship. [1]
Surgeon Thomas Jamison
The situation of the Passengers was unpleasant in the extreme. Surgeon Thomas Jamison's cabin was filled with provisions and Richard Brooks stowed packages in there as well so that he was constantly being disturbed. Thomas Jamison left the Atlas at Rio De Janeiro and embarked on the Hercules for the remainder of the voyage to Port Jackson.Surgeon Jamison (acting principal surgeon) to Lord Hobart,
Sydney,
November 1802.
My Lord,
His Majesty's Service being materially concerned in the Subject which I am now about to submit to your consideration, I cannot doubt that you will deem my inducement hereto some apology for the liberty I take in trespassing on your patience.
Were I tacitly to pass over the complicated abuses committed on board the Atlas Transport, I should consider myself highly reprehensible. A due sense of moral duty urges the information contained in this letter, and I shall neither exaggerate or diminish the facts it states, but detail the circumstances I communicate truly as they occurred in the hope that if attended to I may be the instrument of future benefit to His Majesty's Service, in preventing a repetition of abuses disgraceful to humanity, by bringing the offender in the present Instance to such just punishment as the nature and extent of his offences may seem to deserve.
Richard Brooks
The principal matter of complaint I have to enter into against Mr. Richard Brooks Master of the Atlas (and whence originates various causes of accusation), is that he shipped on board said vessel under his command a far greater quantity of goods and merchandize for his own private trade than could be possible warranted by the usage of the Service he was engaged in. By such conduct the ship was so deeply laden that it became necessary to keep the air scuttles in general closed, and the deadlights frequently shut in.......The usual modes of preserving health and cleanliness on shipboard was seldom attended to, even the Hammocks and bedding were as permanent fixtures and salutary custom of airing them upon deck being generally omitted. From the above circumstances and the humidity created by the confined state of the convicts the air became noxious to such a degree as to extinguish the candles burning the cabin.....Illness on Board
The just observation that foul air and filth generate disease was verified in the Atlas. A dangerous fever and dysentery appeared amongst the convicts, to which numbers fell victims; nor were the necessary means adopted to check the progress of this destroying Malady used; on the contrary it should see, from the conduct pursued, that it was intended to aid the baneful influence of this harbinger of Death, for one half the hospital was occupied as a sail room, and by this arrangement the Sick were some of them obliged to sleep in the prison with other prisoners who were in health. The prevailing disease being contagious in its kind, the infection extended from the cause above recited, and the malady became almost general I have further to remark upon the above head that when the ship lay at Rio, the prisoners being kept on shore presented a favourable opportunity to expel infection from on board by washing and fumigation; but the Surgeon could do neither to effect, the prison being almost filled with sundry kinds of lumber, principally Mr. Brooks private property...........On the upper deck the Spars were raised three or four feet high on each side in the waist, and the long Boat placed in the centre; the main hatchway was stowed full of casks, that not a breath of air could pass down into the prisons, and the stantions of the after Hatchway was boarded up so close that it was impossible that a breath of air could pass that way; the wind sails were without hoops to expand the canvas of which they were formed; and being also never repaired, or otherwise attended to , that it was only the name, being every way uncalculated to answer the purposes of utility for which they were intended.
Provisions
The afflictions of the ill-fated beings did not cease here. The water daily issued and called three pints did not exceed a beer quart (infinitely too little for men on a constant salt regiment) and that the thirst and hunger they endured might bear some proportion to each other, they were defrauded of a great part of their ration of provisions; all the sick were confined to what they termed a vegetable diet, which consisted of pease, barley rice, and oatmeal; their animal food entirely withheld, altho' the full ration is charged to Government; their being deprived of their beef and pork and curtailed in the species given as an equivalent in lieu by false weights and measures, together with the filth wretchedness of an insupportable durance, soon induced that debility which eventually terminated in a typhus fever and scurvy; and as it should seem that avarice and cruelty were the predominant features in the character of Mr. Brooks he carried the further exercise of cruelties on these pitiable objects to a degree that almost exceeds the bounds of credibility. It was no uncommon spectacle to behold these suffering people labouring under the extraordinary encumbrance of two pair of heavy irons on their legs and one round the neck with a large padlock as an appendage that weighed at least a pound and a half. The poor creature, almost strangled and sinking under his burden of afflictions must perforce remain thus situated night and day, till a capricious change in the disposition of his tormentor should lead him to remit the punishment.Amongst other incentives to Sickness, as also a preventative to a recovery of the afflicted, was a rule adopted on board the Atlas to extinguish the fires (used for dressing the Provisions) at the hour of dinner, which rendered it impossible for the Surgeon to cause drinks or other comfortable ailments to be prepared for his patients. [2]
Later Thomas Jamison took legal action against Richard Brooks and made the following Affidavit:
I came rather late in the Evening on board the Ship Atlas on Saturday the Twentieth day of February in the Year One Thousand eight hundred and two, said Vessel then lying in the Harbour of Rio Janeiro, on descending the After Ladder, I found the Steerage so blocked up that the way to my cabin was utterly impeded by packages stowed there; I endeavoured with my foot to remove them, but not succeeding in my efforts to obtain a passage; by pushing out of my way a case which effectually prevented my progress, I laid hold of it with my hand, when the part I held broke off, and with much difficulty, I at length reached my Cabin. Shortly afterwards (having undressed) I put on my dressing gown and went on deck. Mr. Byron first Mate of the Atlas addressed himself to me, Ironically saying he was much obliged to me for breaking open his case, (meaning the Case I had removed) and exposing his property to the sailors in the steerage; I told him in reply that he was not obliged to me, and that there was no personality intended by me in removing the case in question, as it prevent my going into my cabin; Mr. Bryon in a style of much haughtiness demanded to know, if I wanted to Command the ship; I replied that I neither wanted to command or to interfere in anything relating to the ship; but as the Atlas was in His Majesty's Service and myself a Kings Officer and ordered a cabin in her for my accommodation I of consequence expected a passage to it;...Richard Brooks master of the Atlas being then in his bed called out from the cabin where he lay and asked what noise that was on deck. Mr. Byron replied that some words had taken place between him and Mr. Jamison. Mr. Brooks then said Mr. Byron put that mutinous scoundrel (meaning me) in irons; irritated by such illiberal language I told Mr. Brooks he lied, and that I was neither mutinous nor a scoundrel without further altercation Mr. Brooks came out of his cabin, struck me repeatedly and to prevent all possibility on my part of resistance or defence, I was forcibly held by Mr. Byron, Mr. John Willen and others; I was knocked down on the deck by Mr. Brooks and being down, then overpowered by him and his adherents in such defenceless situation with unmanly violence he made repeated blows at me until he had vented his savage and brutal passion when he returned again to his cabin. [3]
Arrival at Port Jackson
The Atlas arrived in Port Jackson on 6 July 1802.Elphinstone Walker compiled a return relating to the convicts on arrival:
151 male convicts and 28 female convicts were received on board at Cork
Died on the passage: 2 soldiers and 1 serjeant's wife; 63 male convicts and 2 female convicts;
three male convicts escaped.
85 male and 26 female convicts arrived in the colony.
Departure from Port Jackson
The Atlas departed Port Jackson bound for China on 7 October 1802.Prisoners of the Atlas (1) 1802 identified in the Hunter region :
Boland, Michael
Tried Kings Co. Summer Sessions 1800. Sentenced to transportation for life. Servant to Henry Kable prior to 1810. On 30 November 1812 Michael Boland petitioned for an indulgence -Petition of Michael Bowling, humbly sheweth...That Petitioner was at the Assizes held in August one thousand eight hundred in Philips Town, Kings County Ireland, tried and found guilty by the Court - received Judgment of banishment from the Kingdom. Assigned in this Colony in the Ship Atlas, Captain Brooks, July one thousand eight hundred and two. Petitioner experienced great hardship after his first arrival. In being constantly necessitated to remain in the bush to split shingle paling - cut posts railing and exclusive of cutting timber of different dimension for the use of the dock yard in which employ he lived and remained upwards of two years. Petitioner was then removed from his miserable situated life to be servant to Mr. Kable of Sydney with whom he lived upwards of seven years and from whose good recommendation to Colonel Paterson, Petitioner had the comfort to receive an Emancipation of which he was bereaved by Your Excellency's General Order, but state cheerfully delivered to your Secretary's Office trusting your Excellency's goodness would one day ? for his friend and renew his Liberty with the same or to grant him such other favour as your Judgement shall deem best. As Petitioner has the privilege of a Ticket of Leave he begs to observe it is no stability, therefore most humbly solicits Your Excellency's further favor which if meets your gracious approbation it will ever be most gratifyingly acknowledged in Petitioners good conduct - and he in duty bound will every pray etc. A note on the side of the Petitioner initialled by Lachlan Macquarie stated that Michael Bowling was to receive a Conditional Pardon. In March 1813 he was appointed Constable in Sydney. He was sent to Newcastle penal settlement on the Prince Leopold on 26 January 1821. He was granted a Ticket of Leave for Port Macquarie in 1839 and died in Port Macquarie Hospital 13 September 1840
Cooke, James
Tried at Meath in 1801. Sentenced to transportation for life. He was granted a Conditional Pardon on 31 January 1813. In August 1821 he was sent to Newcastle penal settlement having been found guilty of receiving five pair of window sashes stolen by William Kitchenman. Both received sentence of 7 years transportation. James Cooke was assigned to government service at Newcastle. In 1826 he was employed as a stockman when he received a sentence of 2 months in the gaol gang for having lost government bullocks. In 1828 he held a Conditional Pardon and was employed as a carpenter at Newcastle
Gorman, William
Tried at Waterford in 1801. Sentenced to 7 years transportation. William Gorman was sent to Newcastle penal settlement in June 1811. He was punished with 50 lashes in April 1812 for selling his slops. In 1820 his claim that his sentence had expired was held to be correct.
Hayes, Sir Henry Browne
Tried at Cork City Spring Assizes 1801. Sentenced to transportation for life for kidnapping Quaker, Mary Pike, heiress to a fortune of l20,000. Select here to read extracts from various English newspapers published on the eve of his departure from England. In 1808 he was a supporter of usurped Governor William Bligh. He was one of the men who were rounded up and sent to the Coal River penal settlement (Newcastle) in the aftermath of Governor Bligh's arrest on 26th January 1808. Read the Memorial written by Sir Henry Browne Hayes complaining of the injustices he had suffered at the hands of Lieut. Lawson.
Morgan, John
John Morgan was tried at Meath in 1800 and sentenced to 7 years transportation. He was assigned to Thomas Laycock in 1803. His Memorial to the Governor in June 1810 reveals how he came to his misfortune....Memorialist was about seven years ago an indented servant to Thomas Laycock Esq., whom that Gentleman entered into an agreement with Memorialist who was then his gardener to pay him the sum of eight shillings per week to work the remainder of the day after government hours. He repeatedly applied for his said wages particularly at the expiration of thirty-two weeks in consequence of which that Gentleman gave him great abuse, when Memorialist being much irritated in some degree retaliated. In consequence of that Mr. Laycock preferred a complaint of insolence against him before a Bench of Magistrates which consisted of the Lieut. Governor Paterson, the Judge Advocate and the Rev. Samuel Marsden who sentenced him a corporal punishment at same time Mr. Laycock declared he would pay him his wages and relieve him of his clothes, which he detained notwithstanding memorialist had purchased them of him with ready money, but he never did since either pay him his wages or deliver him his clothes amounting to over 20 pounds in value. Memorialist is an infirm man sixty-two years of age and labouring under ill health and has been nearly six years in Newcastle settlement where he has conducted himself so as to meet the approbation of his superiors. Memorialist most humbly prays your Honor will assist him so far as to obtain the above sum for him and he will every pray etc. John Morgan received the above corporal punishment and was sent to work in the goal gang. Shortly afterwards it was announced that certain men working in the gaol gang were to be sent to Newcastle. John Morgan was still at Newcastle in May 1810. He had a bad leg and was unfit for labour. A Certificate of Freedom was granted in the name of John Morgan however there was doubt as to which man it referred to as there two men by this name on the Atlas. Lieut. Purcell, commandant at Newcastle was informed by Headquarters of the circumstances on 8 June 1810.....I enclose a Certificate of Freedom for a man called John Morgan, who is now at the Coal River. But as there is reason to doubt that there is an imposition attempted in the obtaining this Certificate, I shall state the circumstance and request you will ascertain how the fact is before you deliver it to any person. In the Atlas, Brooks, master, which arrived here in the year 1802, there were two men of the name of John Morgan and both nearly of the same age, tried both of them in 1800. The one in Meath was sentenced to 7 years and the other in the adjoining County of Louth sentenced to transportation for life. Now, one of these men is since dead and the one at Newcastle says he is the Meath Morgan and consequently for 7 years - but as many impersonations are attempted and some carried into effect by persons representing themselves in the character and sentence of others, whose sentences were less severe than their own. I beg to call for attention to the minute investigation of the present case, and should you find Morgan's story correct, you will of course give him the enclosed Certificate and send him Head Quarters by the first opportunity and in this case be so good as to receive from him the usual fee of 2/8 which goes to the Principal Clerk in my office and transmit it by the master of the first vessel coming from you. If you should find an impersonation attempted you will please to send back the Certificate with your observations. Later in June Lieut. Purcell was informed that the John Morgan who was at Newcastle was not entitled to the Certificate of Freedom. John Grant petitioned for Morgan to be returned to Sydney he being upwards of 60 years of age and an invalid stating that Morgan had lost the opportunity to claim money owed him by the Estate Mr. Laycock by his continued residence at Newcastle.
Redmond, Mary
Alias McDonough. Tried at Co. Waterford at Spring assizes 1801. Sentenced to 7 years transportation. Received a Certificate of Freedom in June 1810. She was sent to Newcastle in March 1813 under sentence of 7 years transportation for having in her possession stolen goods. Her accomplice Mary Bryan alias Egan sentenced likewise. She requested permission for leave to settle her affairs in Sydney in December 1813 however this was refused. The remainder of her sentence was remitted in April 1814 and she was permitted to return to Sydney.
Notes and Links
1. Contact Brian Ahearn, author of Beyond the Sea
2. Five convict ships arrived in New South Wales in 1802 - Coromandel, Hercules, Atlas, Perseus and Atlas II
3. Private Matthew White of the NSW Corps gave evidence regarding Brooks' assault of Thomas Jamison at Rio De Janeiro.
4. In 1810 the following people who had arrived on the Atlas received their Certificates of Freedom being restored to all the Rights of Free Subjects in consequence of their terms of transportation being expired... Lawrence Farrell, Thomas Kennedy, Elizabeth McNamara, Richard Collier, Martin Sweeney, John Graham, Mary Redmond, Mark Flood, Elizabeth Cook, John Morgan tried in Meath.
5. National Archives - Voyages: (1) 1801/2 New South Wales and China. Capt Richard Brooks. Deptford 16 Jul 1801 - 20 Aug Blackwall - 19 Sep Waterford - 23 Sep Cork - 2 Feb 1802 Rio de Janeiro - 12 Apr Cape - 7 Jul Sydney Cove - 14 Dec Whampoa - 18 Apr 1803 St Helena - 18 Jun Deptford
6. The Atlas returned to Australia with convicts in 1819
References
[1] HR NSW, Vol IV., p.798.[2] HRA Series 1 Volume 111, p. 701
[3] HRA, Series 1 Vol. III., p708
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