Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

William Noah - 'A Voyage to Sydney in New South Wales in 1798 & 1799' and 'A Few Remarks of the County of Cumberland in New South Wales, 1798-1799
SAFE / DLMS 32

[Partial transcription]

Thursday 27th Inst
Blowing very hard Tacking Ship & making a Deal of water at the pumps Day & Night the Distress of the Convicts cannot be here Describ'd every One thinking that ...

every Moment the Ship would be Swallow'd up the Bowell of the foaming Ocean which Came pouring down the Hatchways and the Convicts being Chaind two & two the Deck half full of Water, their Bed &ca all Afloat in the hole they was in a sad helpless condition at Noon the Gale still continued and seemingly in a Deal of Distress the Quarter Gallery being Broke in by the Waves and the Sea pouring in among the women their Cries was Shocking to us that could not help one another in this Gale we likewise Broke our Jib boom and the Commodore carried away his Main Yard & the Hole Fleet Separated Every One making the Best shift
Friday 28 Inst
It became more Moderate had the fore hatchway batten'd down & got the pump under Running under Easy sail serv'd most of the Convicts with half a Pint of Port Wine this was the first time of having it got Beds and Blankets up to Dry we had onboard a Lad whose name was Wiltshire but was Call'd Muckbolt who some Drifiling Tales that he told the Sailors was made a fool of to tell every thing that was Done among the Convicts which the Captain was made acquaintd with and this coming to the Convicts Ears thro one of them favorable to the prisoner they was determd to Cob him to now what he had sayd this mode of Punishment is by giving as many Stripe on the Bare Back side as they are sentenced this was Inflicted & on his receiving One Dozn he ownd to some part of what he had told which so enrag'd them that they give hin another Dozn when he confess'd the Hole they they perswaded him to but a Hankerchief in his Mouth when they gag'd him and then made his 2 Dozn 12 Dozn this severe treatment liked to have cost him his Life but they was not here contentd they forc'd two Needles thro his Tongue which hinderd him from puting it in and some would allmost have gone so far as to have pulld his Tongue out Other was for Cuting the peice Off But this was overuled by them that had some feeling for the Sufferings he had allready receiv'd

February 1799
Friday 1st

Scrapd with ...
a Iron Hoop more or less as you are liked & some they are very severe but Officers & passengers in general pay a Bottle the Convicts Wives likewise where Visitd but the Captain Politely payd a Bottle for Each this pastime took up some time when it was Over Each went to his work
Monday 4th Inst Fresh Breeze at S E but very Hot
Tuesday 5th Inst Fresh Breeze S S E Afternoon took in a Reef in the Main topsail Fore stay tackle unhook & Hurt One of the seaman running from the Line
Wednesday 6th Inst A Gentle Breeze from the S E Steering S W by S served with 1/2 a Pint of Wine a Man in Last 5° 10m
Thursday 7th Inst a Gentle Breeze from the S E Fair & pleasant
Friday 8th Inst Fresh Breeze with Showers of Rain running near the Island of Assensions Caught by our Seamen a Bird like a Magpye
Saturday 9th Inst Fresh Breeze from the S E Petitioned the Capt for something to be allow'd in Lieu of Our Beef finding it Impossible to Eat it being so Salt that our Water would not Squence the thirst it Occasiond when the Captain acquaintd us we might have 6 Ib of Flour pr Mess the room of the Beef made in a Pudding which was Accepted at this time we had parted with our Burgo & Pease for Water the Beef for pudding which was all we had but Tuesday then we had a grand Day Rice boild in Water for Breakfast and Pork for Dinner could I here Describe the Misserable situation of Upwards of two Hundred of my fellow prisoners many of them was persons brought up well who for trifling Offences had been Banish'd from their Familys and Homes

Departed this Life Cristopher ...
Raffity & Benjaman Randall Convicts
Thusday 4th Inst at 4 Morng Began to Blow & at 6 it Blew a Hard gale from the WSW at 8 All Hands to, take in the fore topsail took it in & Reffd the Main topsail at 12 at Noon took it in and Reefd the foresail Alterd our Coarse to the SE by E & at 2 Afternoon Shipd an Unfortunate Sea it running so very High it Broke Over her Rudder & came with such force as to thro the 4 Men from the Helm by Which accident One of the Seaman James McDuel in not Leaving his Hold One of the Spokes of the Wheel catching him on his Back bone forc'd it thro his Chest & causd immediate Death in him they lost a quiet Harmless good Seaman One of the Others had his Arm Broke & the Other two much hurt at the same time an Other Sea Broke over her & pour'd Down such a torrent of Water in the Gun Deck that we thought she must have foundered the Gale still continued & it was as much as 4 Men could Govern the Helm Lowerd her Topgallant Mast running under her foresail all Hatchway Battend'd Down
Friday the 5 Inst Gale Continued & a Sea Broke One of the Whale Boats a Drift but Hanging by One of the Tackle & by the good conduct of the Seaman it was got up again at 2 Morning got more Moderate Sat the Main topsail at 6 set the fore topsail with a fine Breeze at 8 Set the Mizon topsail & let a reef out of the Maintopsail Wind W by S at 2 Afternoon Alterd her Coarse to the SE and at 4 Buried the Deceasd Seaman Convicts on Deck at 10 it Began to Blow very Hard from the SW all hands to take in the Fore topsail & Hand the Mizon Topsail Heavy Showers of Rain & Sleet all Night Very Cold
Saturday 6th Inst at 4 Morng Weather More Moderate sat the Fore topsail & Mizon Staysail & fore topmast Staysail at 6 sat the Mizon topsail Convicts on Deck Airing their Beds saw a Vast Number of Fish & Porpoises at 2 After noon sat the Mainstaysail at 4 Reefd the foresail & Hauld down the Mainstaysail at 10 the Wind W by S Squard the Yards

Friday 26 Inst at 4 in the Morning Hove to off the Harbour Mouth till Daylight at 7 Made Sail & turnd up the River which is 7 Miles from the Town the appearance is Wild and uncultivated but it made our Hearts glad to think that we should now be releast from our unhappy & Misserable situation in Every Countenance it was Easy to see the Happiness it Created this Voyage was one Continual seen of Hurrican Winds that is seldom meet with in any part of the Globe being here the Deph of Winter & a Voyage the wind set this Way we tack'd all the way up & had the pleasure of Seeing the Natives Come Off in their Canoes intirely Naked at 4 the Boatswain Blew his long Wishfull call all Hands to bring Ship to an Anchor and every Seaman took to his Station as Britons allways Do & brought up in 6 Fathom Water & Moord Ship the following Ship laying in the Harbour the Buffalo & Reliance Kings Sloop of war the Supply a Hulk the Albion and Britania whaler & the Hunter a Spanish Prize taking of Peru & sent in here & sold Cargo and all we were now Visited by the Gentleman of the Town & our prison Doors set open & our Irons knockd Off
Saturday 27 &
Sunday 28
Visited by the Gentlemen of the Camp Convicts and free people who gave us a Hearty welcome to this I & Wishd for Country & many gave us Invitation to their Habitations when we should come onshore lay ye 29 Inst Bumboats of with Fish & Bread & at 10 Comisary &ca Came Onboard & Musterd us when 81 Drafted & Sent in two Sailing Boats to Rose Hill or Parramatta the Remainder with the Sick sent onshore where was Musterd again & those that had friends took them me the other sent to Governments Huts it geting Late being wet &disagreable many Stay & lay'd in the Church till next Day We had now got to the End of a Long & Painfull tedious Vovage where Every Distress was to be meet with it Cold Hunger Thirst want of Remant Air &ca witch lated in us poor Convicts filth Verming & all kind of eases wich caus'd a Hundred poor Souls to be Buried in Bowels of the Deph

[A list of the convicts sent from the Prudentia Hulk Woolwich October 20 1798 that went for Sydney in New South Wales]

A list of the convicts sent from the Lafortuna & Ceres Hulks Portsmouth the 24 of November 1798 that went for Sydney New South Wales