Folios 24-27: Surgeon's general remarks. On 25th May [1836] 130 male convicts were...

ADM 101/41/6/2

1836

Folios 24-27: Surgeon's general remarks. On 25th May [1836] 130 male convicts were received from the Justitia hulk at Woolwich; 53 were between 13 and 20 years old; 57 between 20 and 30; 11 between 30 and 40; 5 between 40 and 50; 3 between 50 and 60, and 1 infirm man aged 67. In general their strength was below standard and 9 of them were put on the sick list. On the same day 70 convicts were received from the Ganymede hulk, 17 were between 15 and 20; 31 between 20 and 30; 13 between 30 and 40; 6 between 40 and 50; 2 between 50 and 60, and 1 aged 65. Their general strength was much less than of the other group and 14 of them appeared on the sick list. The surgeon lists the sick of both groups and the number of days each was on the list. The longest case was that of Thomas Rossiter who was under care the whole voyage and suffered anasarca, ascites and hydrocele. He was 18 and had been a baker in London and much addicted to gin drinking. On arrival at Sydney he was free of 'serous deposition' in his abdomen, scrotum and lower extremities and his general health and strength was restored sufficiently that he could be disembarked with the other prisoners. On 28 May, at Sheerness, a further 100 convicts were received from the Fortitude hulk at Chatham, 19 were between the ages of 17 and 20; 61 between 20 and 30; 14 between 30 and 40; 5 between 40 and 50 and 1 of 53 years of age. These men were much superior in health to those received from either of the other hulks. There were two cases of phthisis, Charles Bigg and James Barrett, who received treatment for much of the voyage but who were both landed in good health. The surgeon also describes a case of colica spasmodica, Thomas Bexon, who is not one of the cases detailed in the journal and another case of the same disease affecting the 3rd Mate, Luke Ward. There is a brief listing of cases among the guard and the ship’s company, with the number of days on the list of each case. On 25 July there were 13 on the sick list and the surgeon wrote to the Captain directing him to call at Bahia [Brazil] to pick up fresh provisions for the convicts suffering scurvy and atrophia, there is a copy of the letter. While in port they each had 3 fresh oranges daily and on sailing took on fresh vegetables and 6 live bullocks. The fresh provisions had a beneficial effect on the sick and on everyone else aboard and contributed to the prisoners being landed in better health than they embarked. The surgeon suggests all convict ships should call at some port for the benefit of fresh provisions since it did not seem to delay their arrival at Sydney. In fact, the Hooghly, a ship of similar size, left the Downs at the same time and arrived two hours later.

Folios 27-28: A list of every individual who was sick on board (names and details follow):

Folio 27: Thomas Rossiter, aged 18, Convict, from Ganymede hulk; disease or hurt, anasarca. Put on sick list, 1 June 1836. Discharged to Sydney Barracks, 17 October 1836. Folio 27: Thomas Williams, aged 22, Convict, from Ganymede hulk; disease or hurt, staphyloma. Put on sick list, 2 June 1836. Discharged, 31 August 1836. Folio 27: Charles Sproson, aged 19, Private of the 80th Regiment; disease or hurt, synochus. Put on sick list, 14 June 1836. Discharged, 28 June 1836. Folio 27: James Scott, aged 14, Convict, from Justitia hulk; disease or hurt, scalded leg. Put on sick list, 15 June 1836. Discharged, 8 July 1836. Folio 27: George Taylor, aged 27, Private of the 80th Regiment; disease or hurt, cephalalgia. Put on sick list, 17 June 1836. Discharged, 20 June 1836. Folio 27: [Henry] Harvey, aged 15, Seaman; disease or hurt, catarrh. Put on sick list, 17 June 1836. Discharged, 20 June 1836. Folio 27: Charles Peters, aged 43, Seaman; disease or hurt, cephalalgia. Put on sick list, [23] June 1836. Discharged, 26 June 1836. Folio 27: Charles Biggs, aged 43, Convict, from Fortitude hulk; disease or hurt, cephalalgia. Put on sick list, 28 June 1836. Discharged, 22 August 1836.

Folio 28: John Barrett, aged 21, Convict, from Fortitude hulk; disease or hurt, phthisis. Put on sick list, 1 July 1836. Discharged to Sydney Barracks, 17 October 1836. Folio 28: Thomas Bridges, aged 57, Convict, from Justitia hulk; disease or hurt, scorbutus. Put on sick list, 4 July 1836. Discharged, 11 July 1836. Folio 28: William Hill, aged 23, Convict, from Ganymede hulk; disease or hurt, cephalalgia. Put on sick list, 14 July 1836. Discharged, 23 July 1836. Folio 28: Archibald Little, aged 67, Convict, from Justitia hulk; disease or hurt, atrophia. Put on sick list, 15 July 1836. Discharged, 6 August 1836. Folio 28: Charles Smith, aged 60, Convict, from Justitia hulk; disease or hurt, atrophia. Put on sick list, 18 July 1836. Discharged, 6 August 1836. Folio 28: Thomas Prior, aged 15, Convict, from Fortitude hulk; disease or hurt, synochus. Put on sick list, 19 July 1836. Discharged, 27 July 1836. Folio 28: John Shinner, aged 46, Convict, from Ganymede hulk; disease or hurt, scorbutus. Put on sick list, 20 July 1836. Discharged, 6 August 1836. Folio 28: Robert Walker, aged 29, Private of the 50th Regiment; disease or hurt, pneumonia. Put on sick list, 22 July 1836. Discharged, 6 August 1836. Folio 28: William Faircloth, aged 54, Convict, from Ganymede hulk; disease or hurt, atrophia. Put on sick list, 24 July 1836. Discharged, 6 August 1836. Folio 28: William Croxton, aged 65, Convict, from Ganymede hulk; disease or hurt, atrophia. Put on sick list, 25 July 1836. Discharged, 6 August 1836. Folio 28: John Shea, aged 39, Convict, from Justitia hulk; disease or hurt, scorbutus. Put on sick list, 25 July 1836. Discharged, 6 August 1836. Folio 28: John Willis, aged 49, Convict, from Ganymede hulk; disease or hurt, scorbutus. Put on sick list, 25 July 1836. Discharged, 6 August 1836. Folio 28: James Barnes, aged 30, Convict, from Ganymede hulk; disease or hurt, dysenteria. Put on sick list, 29 July 1836. Discharged, 6 August 1836. Folio 28: Josiah Hayes, aged 23, Convict, from Fortitude hulk; disease or hurt, synochus. Put on sick list, 8 August 1836. Discharged, 16 August 1836. Folio 28: Luke Ward, aged 20, 3rd Mate; disease or hurt, colica spasmodica. Put on sick list, 11 August 1836. Discharged, 16 August 1836. Folio 28: William [Flory], aged 36, Private of the 80th Regiment; disease or hurt, asthma. Put on sick list, 12 August 1836. Discharged, 4 [October] 1836. Folio 28: George Lyton, aged 18, Convict, from Justitia hulk; disease or hurt, inguinal abscess. Put on sick list, 16 August 1836. Discharged, 23 August 1836.

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