Free Settler or Felon
Convict and Colonial History




Convict Ship Southworth - 1822


Embarked: 101 men
Voyage: 111 days
Deaths:
Surgeon's Journal: yes
Previous vessel: Mary arrived 23 January 1822
Next vessel: Isabella arrived 9 March 1822
Master David Sampson
Surgeon Joseph Cook
Follow the Irish Convict Ship Trail
Convicts and passengers of the Southworth identified in the Hunter Valley

The Southworth was built in Chester in 1821. [2] Convicts were transported on the Southworth to New South Wales in 1822 and 1832 and to Van Diemen's Land in 1830. The Southworth and the Isabella were the next convict ships to leave Ireland for New South Wales after the departure of the John Bull in July 1821.

According to correspondence dated 27 November 1821, David Sampson applied to have his wife accompany him on this voyage[5]

Military Guard

The Guard consisted of a detachment of 3rd regiment, Sergeant Henry Foster, and Commanded by Lieut. Woods who was accompanied by his wife.

Provisions for the Voyage

A List of Stores to be shipped on board for the use of the Male Convicts and Guard during their voyage to New South Wales and of Clothing for the use of the convicts on their arrival in the colony includes the following articles:

Articles of Comfort for use during the Voyage: Mustard; Soap; Combs; Razors; Hone; Strop; Preserved Meats; Lemon Juice; Sugar to mix with it

Articles in case of Sickness: Tea; Sugar; Chocolate; Sago; Scotch Barley; Ginger Black Pepper; Allspice; Red Port Wine; Rice; Pearl Barley

Fumigating Articles: Nites Purif. Pulv. Acid Sulphuric; Tow; Brown Stone Pipkins; Slips of glass; Gally Pots; Glass Measures; Paper of Instructions;

Hospital furniture: Duck Frocks; Flannel Trowsers; Flannel Waistcoats; Cotton Hose; Pocket Handkerchiefs; Nightcaps; Towels; Sheets; Calico Pillow Cases; Pewter Bed pans; Urinals; Spitting pots; Close stool pans and buckets; Tin Tea Kettles; Tin Saucepans of Sorts; Tin japanned drinking mugs; knives and forks; Water Purifier; Charcoal for water purifying; Bathing Tub; Pails; Airing Stove; Ventilating Stove; Kegs (three Gallon); Spare Bedding; Swing Stove.

Clothing for the use of the Convicts upon their arrival: (1 each) Kersey Jackets; Kersey Waistcoats; Raven duck Trowsers; Raven duck Trowsers for use during the voyage; Shirts (3 each); Stockings (2each); Shoes; Woollen Caps; Neck Handkerchiefs

Bedding for use during the Voyage: New bedding for the Guard - 22 beds For the convicts: 100 beds; 6 cots; 10 hammocks

Articles for the Security of the Convicts: 100 bezels with chains Oak Blocks with Iron Plates and Rings Stakes Hand hammers with Handles Chisels Punches Handcuffs Extra Rivetts [1]

Joseph Cook

This was Joseph Cook's first voyage as Surgeon Superintendent of a convict ship. He kept a Medical Journal from 18 September 1821 to 13 March 1822. [3]

Convicts Embarked

One hundred and one convicts arrived at the vessel from Cork at 3pm on the 24th October 1821.

According to Joseph Cook, a number of them had been supplied with ardent spirits by their friends on the passage down and were in a state of intoxication. George Shine aged 22, had indulged to excess and died an hour after coming on board that day. The convicts were boarded on the 24th October. Because of inclement weather and change from prison to sea air several of the older prisoners became ill with rheumatism and were re-landed and others sent in lieu.[3]

Departure

The Southworth departed the Cove of Cork on 18th November 1821.

Teneriffe

They anchored at Santa Cruz, Teneriffe on 30th November where they procured water and fresh beef and vegetables, departing from there on 1st December 1821.

The Voyage

On entering the tropics a number of the convicts became affected with a disposition to plethora indicated by bleeding at the nose, dyspnoea and expectoration of blood.

On the 20th December they spoke the Arno on her voyage from Buenos Aires to England. They generally suffered sea sickness but in other respects there were few illnesses of consequence. They were quiet orderly men and were allowed on deck as the weather permitted. A number of them immediately had the irons removed and they were exercised by making them walk up at one hatch way and down the other. Illnesses suffered on the voyage included apoplexy, scrofula, venereal disease, enteritis, colica, dysentery, diarrhoea, bronchitis, herpes. [3]

Port Jackson

Both the Southworth and the Isabella arrived in Port Jackson on 9th March 1822.

Convicts Disembarked

One hundred male prisoners were disembarked on 14th March 1822. Along with prisoners from the Isabella and the Shipley the men were distributed to Minto, Airds, Windsor, Emu Plains and Parramatta

The youngest prisoner on board was sixteen year old Patrick Michael Sullivan.

Departure from the Colony

In April 1822 the Southworth departed Port Jackson in company with the Governor Philip and the Fanny intending to sail north via Torres Straight to Batavia. She arrived there by 31st May 1822.

Notes and Links

1). Sydney Gazette 15 March 1822- Arrival of the Southworth

2). Joseph Cook - Colonial Secretary's Index

3). Joseph Cook was later employed as Surgeon Superintendent on the Phoenix in 1826, Sir Charles Forbes in 1825 (VDL), Louisa in 1827, Mellish in 1829, Forth (11) in 1830 and the Portland in 1832.


4). Other ships bringing detachments of the 3rd regiment included the Guildford, Shipley, Asia, Surry, Mangles, Asia, Countess of Harcourt, Henry, Princess Royal, Eliza and Brampton

5). Convicts included in the Surgeon's Journal:

George Shine, aged 22, convict; disease or hurt, spasmodic fit. 100 convicts were embarked at 3pm from Cork, a number of them having been supplied with ardent spirits by their friends on the passage down, were in a state of intoxication, [Shine] was excessively so about an hour after coming on board was found affected with a fit. Put on sick list 24 October 1821 at the Cove of Cork. Died 24 October 1821. Thomas Cowan, aged 50, convict; disease or hurt, both legs, varicose and much swelled from extensive ulceration of long standing. Put on sick list 25 October 1821 at the Cove of Cork. Ulcer on the right leg was in a state of amendment when disembarked.

George Cunningham, aged 21, convict; disease or hurt, gonorrhoea. Put on sick list, 27 October 1821 at the Cove of Cork.

John Connor, aged 23, convict; disease or hurt, plethoric habit of body. Put on sick list, 28 October 1821 at the Cove of Cork. Discharged 6 November 1821 cured.

Thomas Keveny, aged 24, convict; disease or hurt, affected with loss of appetite, weariness and general soreness, cold shivering, vomiting and great restless heat. Put on sick list, 8 November 1821 at the Cove of Cork. Discharged 17 November 1821 convalescent.

William Cole, aged 26, soldier 3rd Buffs; disease or hurt, large carbuncle on the left thigh. Put on sick list, 10 November 1821 at Cove. Discharged 28 November 1821 to duty.

Hugh Pasco, soldier 3rd Buffs; disease or hurt, chancres on the penis also a bubo in each groin. Put on sick list, 18 November 1821 off Ireland. Discharged 4 January 1822 to duty.

Bartholomew Kilgara, aged 28, convict; disease or hurt, nausea and general uneasiness. Put on sick list, 20 November 1821 at sea. Discharged 30 November 1821 cured.

James Hunter, aged 27, convict; disease or hurt, previously had bubo in his groin, presently covered with irregular purple spots on the forepart of the body. Put on sick list, 6 December 1821 at sea. Discharged 18 January 1822 cured.

Thomas Martin, aged 55, convict; disease or hurt, rheumatic pains in the lumbar region. Put on sick list, 8 December 1821 at sea. Discharged 17 December 1821 cured.

Henry Jourdan, aged 46, convict; disease or hurt, chronic cough. Put on sick list, 11 December 1821 off the coast of Africa. Discharged 26 January 1822 cured.

Edward Gaskin, convict; disease or hurt, affected on breast, arms and thighs with a dry scabby eruption appearing in clusters of various sizes. Put on sick list, 17 December 1821. Discharged 29 December 1821.

Patrick Power, aged 20, convict; disease or hurt, scrophulous enlargement of the lower end of the left femur. Put on sick list, 17 December 1821. Discharged 21 January 1822 cured.

John Ryan, aged 24, convict; disease or hurt, dyspeptic habit of body. Put on sick list, 3 January 1822. Discharged 6 January 1822 convalescent. Henry Foster, aged 42, sergeant, 3rd Buffs; disease or hurt, severe colic pains. Put on sick list, 24 January 1822. Discharged 10 February 1822 to duty.

Thomas Macnamara, convict; disease or hurt, severe cough and acute pain of the breast. Put on sick list, 24 January 1822. Discharged 12 February 1822 cured.

D. Croneen, convict; disease or hurt, severe headache, pain in the loins, general pains and feverish uneasiness. Put on sick list, 7 February 1822. By 16 February 1822 felt quite well.

William Johnstone, aged 30, convict; disease or hurt, enlargement of the thyroid gland. Put on sick list, 10 February 1822. Discharged 23 February 1822 convalescent.

John Marlow, aged 18, convict; disease or hurt, diarrhoea. Put on sick list, 13 February 1822. Discharged 23 February 1822 convalescent.

Den Long, aged 72, convict; disease or hurt, complains of acute pain about the left false costal accompanied with dyspnoea and frequent inclination to cough. Put on sick list, 26 February 1822. Discharged 5 March 1822 cured.

6). Convicts and passengers of the Southworth identified in the Hunter Valley -

Carey, John

Commens, James

Connelly, Michael

Drew, James

Gerahty, Michael

Hourigan, Michael

Keefe, Thomas

Kelly, Patrick - Husband of Ann Joyce per Woodman

McElligot, Michael

Murray, Michael

Nee, Peter

Power, Patrick

Roe, Charles

Stewart, William

Sullivan, Patrick

Walsh, William

References

[1] New South Wales Government. Special Bundles, 1794-1825. Series 898, Reels 6020-6040, 6070; Fiche 3260-3312. State Records Authority of New South Wales. Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia.

[2] Bateson, Charles, Library of Australian History (1983). The convict ships, 1787-1868 (Australian ed). Library of Australian History, Sydney : pp.344-345, 383

[3] Ancestry.com. UK, Royal Navy Medical Journals, 1817-1857. Medical Journal of Joseph Cook on the voyage of the Southworth in 1822. The National Archives. Kew, Richmond, Surrey.

[4] National Archives - Medical and surgical journal of the Southworth convict ship from 18 September 1821 to 13 March 1822 by Joseph Cook, Surgeon and Superintendent during which time the said ship was employed in a voyage to New South Wales.

[5] Chief Secretary's Office Registered Papers, National Archives.