Transcribed by Anthony Fletcher, with thanks to the invaluable help provided by Rosemary Davidson. In the interest of easier reading, I have, at my own discretion, modernised the punctuation and spelling, and have given full words rather than the many abbreviations used by Surgeon Hamilton.

The Journal

of

Mr William Hamilton

Surgeon & Superintendent

for the Ship

“Maria”

on its second passage

from England to Van Dieman’s Land

as a Convict transport

between

16^th June 1820

and

6^th December 1820

Copy of the Journal of the male Convict Ship “Maria” from Deptford to Van Dieman’s Land by Mr William Hamilton, Surgeon and Superintendent.

Friday 16 June 1820

Joined the Ship at Deptford and found the Artificers from the dockyard on board fitting her for the reception of the Convicts. Waited on Captain Young, Agent for Transports.

Wednesday 28th June

Ship reported ready to receive the Guard.

Saturday 1st July

Signed scripts for medicines, etc for the use of the Convicts, Guard and Crew.

Tuesday 4th July

Guard embarked consisting of two Lieutenants, five non-Commissioned Officers, and thirty Privates belonging to the 48th Regiment & having with them five Women and one Child. Bedding supplied for non-Commissioned Officers, Privates, and Women.

Friday 7 July

Ship ordered by Captain Young to proceed to Sheerness. Sailed next day.

Wednesday 12 July

Ship arrived at Sheerness. Waited on the Navy and Military Commanding Officers. Employed between the seventh and this day ensuring the Ship (was) well cleaned and aired. Numbering and marking bedding, berths, etc.

Thursday 13 July

Prison deck cleaned and aired. Received one hundred and forty one male Convicts from the “Retribution” Hulk. Supplied each Convict with with (sic) a set of bedding and put them into Messes of six each, giving them a bowl, plate, and six wooden spoons, and a jug to hold water.

Friday 14 July

Bedding up on the beams(?). Prison decks cleaned and inspected and Convicts on deck at pleasure. All conducting themselves orderly.

Saturday 15 July

Bedding up, Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Received fifteen male Convicts from the “Ganymede” Hulk. Supplied them with bedding, etc. and put them into Messes as the others. Mustered the whole and put them into three Divisions, appointing five of those that had been recommended for good behaviour on board the “Retribution” as Boatswains Mates and Inspectors to each Division, and two to cook.

Sunday 16 July

Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned. Mustered and inspected the Convicts. Issued Bibles, Testaments, and Religious Tracts, and read Prayers. All attending and conducting themselves with great propriety.

Monday 17 July

Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Convicts on deck at pleasure, and pains are taken to keep them as much on deck as possible. During the day issued a pound and a half of soap to each Mess.

Tuesday 18 July

Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. William Bayley having the Itch he was sent back to the Retribution and another William Taylor received in his stead. Issued a shirt and pair of trousers to each convict from the Stores put on board for their use during the Passage. Washed linen.

Wednesday 19 July

Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected & Convicts on deck as usual. Five on the sick list. They are only slightly indisposed and do not require any particular treatment.

Thursday 20 July

Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. Only one on (the) Sick List

Friday 21 July

Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. All conducting themselves orderly. None on (the) Sick List.

Saturday 22 July

Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. All the Convicts being on deck together having led to some irregularity, I next found it expedient to restrict them to coming up by Divisions, and put a pair of handcuffs on William Cunningham for resisting the orders of the Sentry.

Sunday 23 July

Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned. Mustered and inspected Convicts. Took the handcuffs off William Cunningham and read prayers. All the Convicts allowed to come on deck as before, under a promise that they will not resist my orders in future.

Monday 24 July

Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected & Convicts on deck as usual. Appointed William Darling (Darley) and Thomas Norton Schoolmasters. Convicts washed linens.

Tuesday 25 July

Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected & Convicts on deck as usual. All conducting themselves orderly. None on the Sick List.

Monday (sic) 26 July

Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected, and Convicts on deck as usual. The Convict mode of cleaning the prison decks is by scraping and rubbing them with dry sand, and particular care is taken to keep them dry and to admit as much fresh air as possible

Thursday 27 July

Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. Many petty thefts among the Convicts have been committed by juvenile delinquents and others. Chiefly Londoners appear to be the Principals in the business, and there are some very depraved characters among them.

Friday 28 July

Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected and Convicts on deck as usual. Weighed anchor and proceeded on the Voyage, all the Convicts in health.

Saturday 29 July

Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected, and Convicts on deck by Divisions. Anchored in the Downs, the wind being light from the westward.

Sunday 30 July

Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Mustered and inspected (the) Convicts. Read Prayers. All attending and conducting themselves orderly. Got under weigh with the ebb tide.

Monday 31 July

Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Convicts on deck by Division. Ship proceeding down Channel. Washed linens.

Thursday (sic) 1st August

Bedding up, and prison decks cleaned and inspected. Convicts on deck by Division. Ship taken about last night when off the Isle of Wight and the wind blowing hard from the westward. Anchored at St Helens(?). Most of the Convicts have been seasick.

Wednesday 2 August

Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Convicts on deck at pleasure. Wind still blows hard from the westward.

Thursday 3 August

Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected & Convicts on deck at pleasure. Fires in the stoves below during the day. Cook of the Ship put in irons by order of the Master for highly disorderly and mutinous conduct.

Friday 4 August

Wind continues to blow strong from the westward with rain. Bedding up and under cover. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Convicts on deck between the showers. Only some slightly indisposed on the Sick List. Cook of the Ship discharged and put in chains(?).

Saturday 5 August

Wind still fresh from the westward. Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Convicts on deck at pleasure. Some complaining of being slightly indisposed. Two on (the) Sick List.

Sunday 6 August

Strong gales of wind from the westward with much rain. Convicts have been able to come on deck today for a very short time. Fires burning in the stoves below and care taken to keep the prison as dry as possible.

Monday 7 August

Weather fine. Wind still very strong from the westward. Bedding up and spread out to air. Prison decks cleaned and inspected, and Convicts on deck at pleasure. Only two on (the) Sick List.

Tuesday 8 August

Wind still blows very strong from the westward with rain. Bedding up and under cover. Prison decks cleaned and inspected & Convicts on deck between the showers. One added to the Sick List complaining of a slight cold.

Wednesday 9 August

Weather more settled. Wind still westerly. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected & Convicts on deck at pleasure. Three on the Sick List, one of them labouring under an attack of pneumonia. Thirty-six ounces of blood have been taken from his arms and a blister applied to the breast; giving him a brisk cathartic¹.

¹ Purgative

Thursday 10 August

Weather fine with a light air of wind from the northwards. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Convicts on deck at pleasure. It was necessary to take some more blood last night from the Convict labouring under pneumonia. He is better today. Two on the Sick List. Ship got under weigh, the wind being light.

Friday 11 August

Ship standing down Channel with a light wind from the NE and fine weather. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected & Convicts on deck by Divisions. Punished William Davies (Powers) with one dozen lashes for stealing from another Convict, and using threatening language to Thomas M----; doctored him. This lad appears to have taken the lead in the gang by whom so many thefts have been committed. The Convict labouring under pneumonia (is) better. The pain in the breast and difficulty in breathing are much relieved.

Saturday 12 August

Wind still light from the N East. Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Convicts on deck by Divisions. The pneumonia patient complains only of debility. Took the irons off the Convicts appointed as Inspectors, the Schoolmasters, and Cooks, as well as those appointed Nurses.

Sunday 13 August

Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned. Mustered & inspected the Convicts & read Prayers. All attending and conducting themselves orderly. Inquired into the state of the Schools, etc, etc. One discharged from the Sick List and one added, having a slight cold.

Monday 14 August

Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Convicts on deck by Divisions. Two of the Guard have complained of colds. It has been necessary to take some blood from one of them, and both have taken brisk cathartics.

Tuesday 15 August

Weather fine with a fresh breeze. Bedding up and spread out to air. Prison decks cleaned & inspected.  Convicts on deck by Divisions. The two men of the Guard put on the Sick List yesterday are better. Only one Convict on (the) Sick List.

Wednesday 16 August

Wind strong from the Westward. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck by Divisions - many of them seasick. One of the Guard on (the) Sick List discharged to duty.

Thursday 17 August

Hazy weather. Bedding up & under cover. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Fires burning in the stoves below. Taken the irons of four Convicts who are labouring under debility & bodily infirmity.

Friday 18 August

Wind strong from the N-East. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Convicts on deck by Divisions. The other soldier discharged to duty. Only one Convict on Sick List.

Saturday 19 August

Wind still strong from the N-East. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Convicts on deck by Divisions. Washed linen.

Sunday 20 August

Weather fine with a fresh breeze. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned. Mustered and inspected the Convicts, all appearing clean. Read Prayers and inquired into the state of the Schools, etc. Dyspeptic symptoms amongst the Convicts have been prevalent, requiring the frequent use of cathartic, etc, etc. The effects of their confined situation and their diet, so different from what many have been accustomed to before embarking. This I found to be the case on a former voyage to New South Wales when I had women under my care, and I am of (the) opinion that if the Convicts were supplied with more bread and more of the farinaceous² part of the diet (especially in the Summer Passages and within the Tropics) with which they are at present supplied, and less beef, it would contribute much to their health. The pork they like, as with it the pease³ sauce as a vegetable.

2 A: having a mealy texture or surface; B: containing or rich in starch;

3 from Pea - a variable annual leguminous Eurasian vine (Pisum sativum) that is cultivated especially for its rounded, smooth or wrinkled, edible, protein-rich seeds;

Monday 21 August

Wind fresh from the N-East. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Convicts on deck by Divisions. Five on (the) Sick List slightly indisposed. Washed linen.

Tuesday 22 August

Strong breezes and squally weather. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Convicts on deck between the showers. One added to the Sick List having had a slight hurt.

Wednesday 23 August

Weather fine. Bedding up and spread out to air. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Convicts on deck by Divisions.

Thursday 24 August

Weather much the same as yesterday. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Convicts on deck by Divisions. Punished William Prussier(?), one of the Convicts, with two dozen lashes for repeated acts of misconduct and threatening the Inspectors. The wife of one of the Guard delivered last night of a stillborn child. She was about seven months pregnant, and attributes its death to a hurt she had about a fortnight ago, by a fall down a ladder.

Friday 25 August

Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Convicts on deck by Divisions. Punished William Cummings, Convict, with four dozen lashes for highly disorderly conduct and threatening the lives of the Inspectors. This man, with the others that had been punished, are of that gang I had occasion to mention before, and by whom so many thefts have been committed, and who appear determined to put all rules and regulations for their governance at extremes(?), and finding that threats & slight punishments have had no effect towards restraining them, I have felt it necessary I have felt it necessary (sic) to have recourse to severe measures. Several of the orderly and well-disposed Convicts having come forward and declared that they did not consider their lives safe from the threats that had been made use of by them & entreating that a severe example might be made.

Friday 26 August

Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected and Convicts on deck as usual. Made a strict search for such instruments as the Convicts may have concealed for a bad purpose. Found a few knives and some articles that had not been acknowledged before. Two Convicts with slight accidents and one slightly indisposed on Sick List.

Sunday 27 August

Light winds from the N-East. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned. Mustered and inspected Convicts. Read Prayers and a Sermon. All the Convicts attending and conducting themselves orderly. Inquired into the state of the Schools, and I have great reason to be satisfied with the assiduity⁴ of those at School and the attention of the Schoolmasters. Issued half a pint of beer to each Convict to be continued each Sunday and meat days.

4 the quality or state of being assiduous : Diligence

Monday 28 August

Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected and Convicts on deck as usual. I have again been under the necessity of punishing William Stepney, Convict, one of the party so offending before, with four dozen lashes and for a similar crime under aggravated(?) circumstances. Three Convicts on Sick List, one of them labouring under Synorcha(?). It has been necessary to take some blood from his arm. Keeping the belly open, giving him plenty of diluted drink, etc. Washed linen.

Tuesday 29 August

Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. The Convict who complained yesterday with fever, better, and now only complains of a slight headache and debility. Belly left open, with plenty of diluted drinks.

Wednesday 30 August

Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. John Kelly, one of the Guard, when on duty last night with his musket loaded, it accidentally went off and so wounded the second finger of his left hand as to make amputation of it at the first joint necessary. The Island of St Nicholas, one of the Cap de Verde, in sight. The Convict with Synorcha convalescing.

Thursday 31 August

Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck by Divisions. Issued lime juice and sugar to the Convicts in the proportions ordered. Only one on (the) Sick List.

Friday 1st September

Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. Anchored in Porta Praya on the Island of St Jago (Tiago) to complete our water.

Saturday 2 September

Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Convicts on deck by Divisions. It has not been thought advisable to purchase fresh fruit for the Guard & Convicts at this place. The bullocks on the Island being so very lean, and from the dearth of rain there are no vegetables to be had, and this is not the season for fruits. Washed linen.

Sunday 3 September

Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned. Mustered & inspected Convicts & read Prayers. Got under weigh having completed the water, a task of no small difficulty from the great surf on the beach. The water appears to be very good.

Monday 4th September

Wind light, head appropriate. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual.

Tuesday 5th December

Calm with persistent rain admitting neither the bedding nor Convicts from below. Care taken to keep the Prisons as dry as possible. Airing stoves constantly burning below during the day. 

Wednesday 6 September

Wind fresh with heavy and almost constant rain. Bedding up, majority kept below, and few of the Convicts have been allowed to come on deck. The same method for drying observed with the stoves burning below as before. Only two Convicts slightly indisposed on the Sick List.

Thursday 7 September

Wind still continues fresh but without rain. Bedding up & spread out to air and be shaken before taken below. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. All the Convicts on deck, allowing the prisons to be thoroughly aired.

Friday 8th September

Pleasant clear weather. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck by Divisions. Only one on (the) Sick List.

Saturday 9th September

Weather fine. The routine duty of getting the bedding up, cleaning and inspecting the prisons, etc attended to. Convicts on deck on deck as usual. One complained of pain in the abdomen with frequent griping stools. Gave him a cathartic of six grams of Hydrox---- Subm----- with two of the ----- -----, and four hours after, he took a solution of Magnesium Sulphate⁵. Ordered to drink largely of dilutants.

5 Sulfuric acid magnesium salt (1:1). A small colourless crystal used as an anticonvulsant, a cathartic, and an electrolyte replenisher in the treatment of preeclampsia and eclampsia. It causes direct inhibition of action potential in the myometrial muscle cells. Excitation and contraction are uncoupled, which decreases the frequency and force of contractions.

Sunday 10 September

Light wind & pleasant weather. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned. Convicts mustered & inspected. Read Prayers. The man with the bowel complication (is) better. The action of the belly kept up by small doses of Magnesium Sulphate. Gave him Hydrox---- Subm------- with a grain and a half of opium at bedtime. Ordered some bread bags to be converted into m--- bread bags, and some casks to be converted into buckets, etc for the use of the Convicts.

Monday 11th September

Weather squally with heavy showers of rain. Bedding up and under cover. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck between the showers. The man with the bowel complaint (is) much better. Two others have complained of similar symptoms and with whom a similar treatment is observed. These attacks I consider as the effects of the late rains and the state of the weather. Prophylactic⁶ measures are particularly attended to by having fires constantly below during the day, keeping the prisons dry and admitting as much air as possible.

6 A : guarding from or preventing disease B : tending to prevent or ward off : preventive

Tuesday 12 September

Weather still squally with rain. Bedding up & under cover. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck between the showers. The bowel complaints readily yield to the treatment prescribed.

Wednesday 13 September

Pleasant clear weather with a fresh breeze. The good effects, of which, it is no doubt, some feel. Bedding up and spread out to air & well shaken before taken below. All the Convicts on deck during the day. Thoroughly cleaning and ventilating the prisons. Another with a slight attack of the bowel complaint added to the Sick List. Washed linen.

Thursday 14 September

Fresh breezes & cloudy weather. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck by Divisions. The two that complained first of bowel complaints (are) convalescent. One added to the Sick List having met with a slight accident.

Friday 15 September

Wind light. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck by Divisions.

Saturday 16 September

Light wind & pleasant weather. Bedding up, spread out & well shaken. The whole of the Convicts on deck during the day, and five on (the) Sick List.

Sunday 17 September

Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned. Mustered & inspected Convicts. Read Prayers. School reports very satisfactory.

Monday 18 September

Pleasant weather with a firm breeze. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. Punished John Hall (Hale?), Convict, with three dozen lashes for threatening the Inspectors & endeavouring to intimidate the well disposed. He is known to have been very active among the gang I have had occasion to notice so frequently. Punished James Fisher, Convict, with two dozen & eleven lashes for theft whilst superintending the issuing of provisions. The latter was punished at the particular request of the rest of the Convicts. Only one on (the) Sick List.

Tuesday 19 September

Weather cloudy with a fresh breeze. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck by Divisions. One of the Guard on (the) Sick List. Slightly indisposed.

Wednesday 20 September

Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. Crossed the equator. Sailors went through the ceremony usual on such an occasion, the Convicts being below. The soldier on the Sick List (is) convalescent.

Thursday 21 September

Pleasant weather. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual.

Friday 22 September

Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual.

Saturday 23 September

Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. Two on the Sick List, one of them having feverish heat of the skin with an accelerated pulse. Twenty-four ounces of blood were taken from his arm & gave him a brisk cathartic.

Sunday 24 September

Weather still continues fine with a refreshing breeze. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Mustered Convicts & read Prayers. On examining the Guard this day, I was surprised to find this early so many of them, more than half, having symptoms of scurvy. They are mostly young recruits and much given to indolence. I have suggested to their Commanding Officer the propriety of not(?) taking much exercise, and having people more in the open air as well as some alteration in their diet. A few, and very few, of the Convicts have also shown some symptoms of it. All who show any (signs) are ordered an additional supply of lemon (lime?) juice in sugar.

Monday 25 September

Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. Only one on (the) Sick List.

Tuesday 26th September

Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. Two on (the) Sick List.

Wednesday 27 September

Weather squally with rain. Bedding up & under cover. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck between the showers.

Thursday 28 September

Weather much the same as yesterday. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual.

Friday 29 September

Wind fresh. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected & Convicts on deck as usual. Two on the Sick List.

Saturday 30 September

Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected & Convicts on deck as usual.

Sunday 1st October

Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Mustered Convicts and read Prayers. All attending. School reports continue to give much satisfaction. Only one on (the) Sick List.

Monday 2 October

Weather fine. Wind light inclining to calm. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected & Convicts on deck as usual. Only one on (the) Sick List slightly indisposed.

Tuesday 3rd October

Pleasant weather with a fair breeze. Bedding up & spread out to air. Prison decks cleaned & inspected & Convicts on deck as usual. Expended some of the shirts supplied as old linen for the use of the hospital to be converted into pudding bags for the use of the Convicts & Guard. Those supplied before being mostly burnt or worn out.

Wednesday 4th October

Wind light. Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. All in health and conducting themselves orderly.

Thursday 5 October

Wind light. Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Convicts on deck by Divisions. Fumigated below where foul air might lodge. Airing stoves burning below during this day.

Friday 6 October

Wind fresh & weather cloudy. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Convicts on deck by Divisions. One Convict and one of the Guard on (the) Sick List. The latter having a pain in the right side with an accelerated pulse. Thirty ounces of blood were taken from his arm, and a brisk cathartic given him. The Convict’s complaint is slight.

Saturday 7 October

Cloudy weather with many squalls & rain. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck between the showers. The soldier put on (the) Sick List yesterday (is) better.

Sunday 8 October

Prison decks cleaned & inspected. The weather continuing bad has prevented reading of Prayers. Convicts have been on deck occasionally.

Monday 9th October

Weather continues bad. Bedding up and under cover. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Convicts on deck occasionally. Fires in the stoves below during the day. The Soldier discharged to duty. Only one Convict on (the) Sick List.

Monday 10 October

Weather worse. Ship under close-reefed topsails. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Convicts on deck occasionally. Fires below as usual.

Wednesday 11 October

Weather fine with a steady breeze. Bedding up – spread out to air & shaken. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. The whole of the Convicts have been on deck (the) great part of the day. Only one on (the) Sick List.

Thursday 12 October

Thick hazy weather. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. One discharged and one added to (the) Sick List.

friday 13 October

Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck by Divisions. Corrected a mistake that took place in the issuing of vinegar. It had been issued to the Messes once a week, and this having led to its frequent loss by its being spilt, and the bottles breaking, I desired that it might be issued twice a week which was mistaken for an order to give them double the quantity, and has led to a considerable additional expenditure of that article. But it has been attended with a good effort in as far as the Convicts have not felt the want of water so much during the late hot weather, and they entreat much that it may be continued. But I do not feel myself justified in continuing it.

Saturday 14 October

Hazy weather with a fresh breeze. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. Only two on (the) Sick List, slightly indisposed.

Sunday 15 October

Weather continues much the same. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned. Mustered & inspected (the) Convicts & read prayers. School reports satisfactory.

Monday 16 October

Weather much the same. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected & Convicts on deck as usual.

Tuesday 17 October

Fine pleasant weather. Bedding up & spread out to air. Prison decks cleaned & inspected & Convicts on deck as usual. Only two on (the) Sick List, slightly indisposed.

Wednesday 18 October

Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck by Divisions. Only one on (the) Sick List.

Thursday 19

Fine pleasant weather. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck by Divisions. Washed linens.

Friday 20 October

Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & hard inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. Many of the Convicts employed this forenoon in scrubbing the bedbunks & blankets. Only one on (the) Sick List.

Saturday 21 October

Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual.

Sunday 22 October

Wind light, weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned. Mustered & inspected (the) Convicts & read Prayers. All attending and behaving well. School reports favourable.

Monday 23 October

Squally weather with rain. Bedding up & under cover. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck between the showers. Only two Convicts on (the) Sick List not requiring any particular treatment.

Tuesday 24 October

Wind strong with a heavy swell of the Sea. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck by Divisions.

Wednesday 25 October

Wind light. Swell of the Sea subsiding. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual.

Thursday 26 October

Wind light with fine weather. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. Only one on (the) Sick List. Washed & scrubbed linen, bedbunks & blankets.

Friday 27 October

Weather fine with a fresh breeze. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. None on (the) Sick List, and the additional supply of lime juice and sugar has crushed the progress of scurvy. Several men had Phyl---- boils, but they have not been of any consequence.

Saturday 28 October

Hazy weather with a fresh breeze. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected, and Convicts on deck as usual. All in health & conducting themselves orderly.

Sunday 29 October

Weather much the same as yesterday. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Mustered Convicts & read prayers. School reports continue to give great satisfaction.

Monday 30 October

Weather much the same. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. Two on (the) Sick List, slightly indisposed.

Tuesday 31 October

Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. One on (the) Sick List.

Wednesday 1^st November

Fine weather. Wind from the southward begins to feel cold. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual.

Thursday 2 November

Weather cloudy with a fresh breeze. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected and Convicts on deck by Divisions.

Friday 3 November

Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. The wind still continuing from the southward. The Convicts begin to feel the cold turn, particularly those who have not taken care of their warm clothing.

Saturday 4 November

Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. Two slightly indisposed on (the) Sick List.

Sunday 5 November

Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned. Mustered & inspected Convicts & read prayers. Inquiring into the state of the Schools, etc.

Monday 6^th November

Strong gales and cloudy weather and a heavy following Sea. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. Only one on (the) Sick List.

Tuesday 7^th October (sic)

Light and variable winds with heavy swell of the Sea. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. One discharged from, one added to (the) Sick List.

Wednesday 8^th November

Wind light inclining to calm. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. All in health.

Thursday 9^th November

Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected and Convicts on deck as usual.  Washed linen.

Friday 10 November

Wind light. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck by Divisions. None on Sick List.

Saturday 11 November

Weather fine with fresh breeze. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. Passed between the Islands of St Paul and Amsterdam. One Convict slightly indisposed put on Sick List.

Sunday 12 November

Strong breezes and cloudy weather. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned. Mustered & inspected Convicts. Read Prayers. Inquiring into the state of the Schools etc etc.

Monday 13 November

Fresh breeze and pleasant weather. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on Deck by Divisions. All in health. Washed linen.

Tuesday 14 November

Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected.  Convicts on deck as usual. Sergeant Giles (?) of the Guard accidentally lost the keys of the prisons’ locks overboard. There are others on board that open them and it is to be observed that all the locks for the prisons are of the very worst description.

Wednesday 15 November

Pleasant weather with a firm breeze. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected, and Convicts on deck as usual. All in health and conducting themselves orderly. 

Thursday 16^th November

Wind very strong. Ship running before it under close-reefed fore and main topsails. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected & Convicts on deck as usual.

Friday 17 November

The gale continues with a heavy sea. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected & Convicts on deck as usual.

Saturday 18 November

Weather more moderate. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. One on Sick List having met with a slight accident.

Sunday 19 November

Weather moderate. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned. Mustered & inspected Convicts & read Prayers. Inspecting and examining into the state of the Schools etc. Have one Convict slightly indisposed added to Sick List.

Monday 20 November

Thick hazy weather with showers of rains. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. Fires burning in the stoves below during the day. Two Convicts on Sick List.

Tuesday 21 November

Wind light with thick hazy weather. Bedding up and undercover. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual.

Wednesday 22 November

Weather still hazy with a strong breeze. Bedding up. Prison decks & inspected, and Convicts on deck as usual.

Thursday 23 November

Weather squally during the day. Bedding up. Prison decks & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. Only one on Sick List.

Friday 24 November

Light winds inclining to calm. Bedding up & spread out to air. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual.

Saturday 25 November

Pleasant clear weather with a fresh breeze. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned and inspected. Convicts on deck as usual.  Washed linen.

Sunday 25

Wind fresh with some showers of rain. Bedding up & undercover. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Mustered and inspected convicts & read Prayers. Inquiring into the state of the Schools etc.

Monday 27 November

Weather cloudy. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. Two Convicts and one of the Guard slightly indisposed on Sick List.

Tuesday 28 November

Wind light but firm. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck as usual. Only one convict & one of the Guard on Sick List.

Wednesday 28 November

Wind and weather much the same as yesterday. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected & Convicts on deck as usual. Only one Convict on Sick List. Soldier discharged to duty. Ship running along the south side of Van Diemans Land.

Thursday 30 November

Wind light. Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected & Convicts on deck as usual. Ship approaching the River Derwent.

Friday 1^st December

Wind light but firm. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Ship anchored in the River Derwent at Hobart Town. Having performed the voyage in four months and five days from Southampton and in three months and fifteen days from Lands End of England without the death of any person on board, or any casualty worth notice occurring during the voyage and I am happy to say that the whole of the Convicts, Guard, & Passengers are in good health not one being on the Sick List.

Saturday 2 December

Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. All the Convicts on deck. Reported the ship's arrival to His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor. Fresh beef and mutton issued on board for the use of the Guard and Convicts.

Sunday 3^rd December

Weather fine. Bedding up. Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts on deck at pleasure.

Monday 4^th December

Convicts mustered by Major Ball and required to hold themselves in readiness to disembark on the 6^th inst.

Tuesday 5^th December

Prison decks cleaned & inspected. Convicts (are) preparing to disembark.

Wednesday 6^th December

Convicts landed & inspected by His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor who was pleased to express his approbation of their appearance. 

William Hamilton, Surgeon &

Superintendent

Hobart Town

6^th December 1820

ADM 101/49 203

Number & Contents of Casks of Provisions opened on Board the “Maria” Convict ship for the use of the Convicts, Guard, etc etc.

Sea Victualling between 14^th July and 5^th December 1820.

[ History/Indexes ]

[ TasmaniaGenWeb ]

These pages & the Names 'TasmaniaGenWeb', 'TasGenWeb',  & 'AustraliaGenWeb' are Copyright c1999-2000 PacificGenWeb Project. Pages may be copied by any official TasGenWeb county, shire or municipal project, now, or in the future.

Last Updated: 15 May 2000