• Title
  James Kelly 'Journal of the whale boat, the Elizabeth, round Vandeimens Land...in December 1815', 29 Jan. 1816, together with newspaper cuttings, 1921
• Creator
  James Kelly, 1791-1859
• Call number
  C 227
  
• Level of description
  fonds
• Date
  
  1815-1816, 1921
• Type of material
  Textual Records
• Reference code
  442863
• Issue Copy
  Digitised
• Physical Description
  0.01 metres of textual material (1 volume) - manuscript
  
• ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
  
  James Kelly (1791-1859) was a sealer who later became a pilot and harbourmaster at Hobart. In 1815 he was employed by surgeon and shipowner Thomas William Birch to sail the schooner 'Henrietta Packet' between colonial ports. At the end of 1815 Kelly set out from Hobart in the whale boat 'Elizabeth' to circumnavigate Tasmania. According to this journal he discovered and named Port Davey, Macquarie Harbour, Birch's River, Elizabeth Island and the Gordon River. However, in 1820 Birch claimed that he (Birch) had discovered Port Davey in the 'Henrietta Packet' on 22 Dec. 1815 (the same day that Kelly states in his account). Kelly wrote another account after 1821 which differs from this one.
• Scope and Content
  Full Title: 'Journal of the whale boat, the Elizabeth, round Vandeimens [ie Van Dieman's] Land for the purpose of exploring the west coast of it in particular, under the direction of Mr. James Kelly, Master, and a crew consisting of four seamen only and fitted out for the express purpose by Thomas William Birch of Hobart, merchant, in December 1815'. 14 pages. The journal describes Kelly's voyage from 16 Dec. 1815 to 24 Jan. 1816. It is signed by Kelly, but appears to be written in a different hand. Also included are two newspaper cuttings, 16 and 21 April 1921, concerning Kelly.
• Finding Aids
  Transcript available online - acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/_transcript/2015/D06615/a1161.html
• General note
  
  This manuscript was exhibited by the Library in an exhibition of rare books and manuscripts prepared for the Library Association of Australasia, held at the University of Sydney on 4 Oct. 1898.
  Digital order no:Album ID : 823451
  Microfilm copy available at CY 914, frames 86-98.
• Name
  Birch, Thomas William, 1774-1821
  Elizabeth (Ship)
  
• Subject
  Tasmania--Discovery and Exploration.
  Voyages and travels--19th century.
  
• Place
  Tasmania
  
• Open Rosetta viewer
  IE4379628

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