Stephen collins neptunes cove full#
Stephen collins neptunes cove series#

Even while in the river many of them died, their bodies being thrown overboard. Before the Neptune left London, Shapcote put all the male convicts into irons he was not risking an uprising. The crew, too, was very disorderly and inclined to be riotous throughout the voyage.

Stephen collins neptunes cove full#

On the Neptune was Lieutenant John Shapcote, the naval agent, whose duty it was to see that the convicts received their full rations and the best possible treatment. It is not more than five years since she came from India.

Stephen collins neptunes cove series#

A hasty marriage with a disguised sharper who squandered away her money and drew her step by step into a series of mal practices was the occasion of this wretched catastrophe. It is a melancholy truth that a woman, who had been brought up in all the splendour of affluence and who upon the death of her father only a few years since, came from India with a fortune of several thousand pounds is now on her passage to Botany Bay as a convict. In Finn's Leinster Journal in May 1790 a curious tale of one of the women was related. This brought the total number of female prisoners embarked in England in various transports since May 1787 to almost five hundred women. Susan Carr sentenced to 7 years on 19 July 1787

The two female prisoners from Bedford wereĮliza Hawkins sentenced to 7 years on 7 July 1786 The Bedfordshire Archives holds the Gaoler's bill for the conveyance of 10 male and 2 female prisoners from the Bedford Gaol to Portsmouth in January 1790 at a cost of £69. The expense of transferring these prisoners was paid by the various gaols and possibly later reimbursed. įour hundred and twenty-four male convicts and seventy-eight female convicts were embarked towards the end of the year 1789 and January 1790. His meeting with the natives was friendly and the appearance of the place was picturesque and pleasing. Sydney Cove, named so in honour of Lord Sydney, the Governor chosen in preference, has the finest spring water and ships can anchor so close in shore that at a very small expense quays may be constructed at which the larges vessels may constantly unload.

Port Jackson being one of the finest harbours in the world in which 1000 sail of the line might ride in perfect security. Governor Philip's description of the new settlement was included in the edition and readers in England were reassured with an idyllic picture that touched on none of the deprivation, starvation or death that had really occurred in the previous two years. The Gorgon carries out the Botany Bay rangers consisting of about 300 men and her own complement of officers and seamen exceeds 190. The Gorgon is the only King's ship that goes at present on the above voyage, and she is to make the best of her way, without any sort of regard to the transports. Marshall and 250 with the Surprise, at Spithead. It was noted on the 10th December that the Neptune remained in Causand Bay awaiting further orders.Ī month before departure news of the fleet appeared in The Times - The number of convicts going out to Botany Bay in the fleet now under sailing orders amounts to 1000 500 with the Neptune, Captain Gilbert at Plymouth 250 with the Scarborough, Capt. The Captains of the ships had received strict orders from the Secretary of State's Office to have everything on board by that time. In November 1789 the London Times noted that the ships bound for Botany Bay were planning to depart on 26th December. Next vessel: Scarborough arrived 28 June 1790 Previous vessel: Surprize arrived 26 June 1790