Convict Ship Lady Ridley

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• Convict Ship Lady Ridley

Embarked: 137 men
Surgeon's Journal: yes
Master Robert Weir
Surgeon Superintendent James Wilson R.N.

Departure

The Lady Ridley left Portsmouth in company with the Marshal Wellington. On the passage they touched at Rio de Janeiro, remaining there three weeks for refreshment.

Military Guard

Lieutenant Marshall of the 48th Regiment was officer of the guard.

Hobart

The Lady Ridley arrived in Hobart on 27th June 1821.

Surgeon Superintendent James Wilson

James Wilson R.N., kept a medical journal from 17th November 1821 to 26th July 1821. On arrival in Hobart he presented the journal to the Lieutenant-Governor who declared it satisfactory. As well as the medical entries, the journal contains a copy of letters written by the prisoners thanking James Wilson for his care during the voyage. The prisoners were landed on 3rd July and inspected by the Lieutenant-Governor before being assigned to their occupations. They were said to have arrived in a very clean and healthy state. The surgeon's journal also reveals that there was acrimony between the surgeon and Captain Weir caused in part by the Captain's refusal to allow convicts on deck when the surgeon requested it.

Port Jackson

The Lady Ridley departed for Port Jackson on 15th July with James Wilson and Lieutenant Marshall on board.

In December surgeons James Wilson of the Lady Ridley, Peter Cunningham of the Grenada and Henry Ryan of the Claudine all departed for England via the Cape of Good Hope on the ship Brixton.

Notes and Links

1). Lady Ridley at sea - Image National Library of Australia

2). Convict Records - List of convicts of the Lady Ridley

3). James Wilson was employed as Surgeon Superintendent on the convict ships Blenheim 1834 and Lady Kennaway 1836 to NSW and the Minerva in 1838 (VDL)