Medical and surgical journal of the female convict ship Elizabeth from 29 April 1836...

ADM 101/24/5

1836

Medical and surgical journal of the female convict ship Elizabeth from 29 April 1836 to 24 October 1836 by Robert Espie, surgeon, during which time the said ship was employed on a passage to New South Wales.

Folios 1-2: Bridget McDonald, convict, aged 24; disease or hurt, debility caused by sea sickness. Put on sick list, 24 June 1836. Discharged 6 July 1836.

Folio 2: Mary Starkie, convict, aged 20; disease or hurt, diarrhoea. Put on sick list, 27 June 1836. Discharged 7 July 1836.

Folio 3: Susan McCoy, free woman, aged 51; disease or hurt, debilitas, nausea marina. Put on sick list, 8 July 1836 off Madeira. Discharged 12 August 1836.

Folio 4: Mary East, convict, aged 38; disease or hurt, menorhagia. Put on sick list, 1 July 1836 at sea. Discharged 18 July 1836.

Folio 4: Francis Beadle, convict, aged 22; disease or hurt, amenorrhea. Put on sick list, 10 July 1836 at sea. Discharged [?].

Folio 5: Susan Harry, convict, aged 20; disease or hurt, catarrhus. Put on sick list, 8July 1836 off Madeira. Discharged 21 July 1836.

Folios 6-7: Ann Bennett, convict, aged 22; disease or hurt, obstipatio. Put on sick list, [18 July 1836?] at sea. No further treatment necessary, 26 July 1836.

Folios 7-8: Margaret Bailey, convict, aged 52; disease or hurt, hemorrhoid. Put on sick list, 20 July 1836 at sea. Discharged 27 July 1836.

Folios 8-9: Priscilla Denton, convict, aged 19; disease or hurt, globus hystericus. Put on sick list, 22 July 1836 at sea. Discharged 19 August 1836.

Folios 9-10: Susan Hurry, convict, aged 20; disease or hurt, debility as a consequence of catarrh. Put on sick list, 21 July 1836. Discharged 19 August 1836.

Folio 11: Blank.

Folio 12: Martha Starkie, convict, aged 54; disease or hurt, debility as a consequence of sea sickness. Put on sick list, 20 July 1836. Discharged 13 October 1836.

Folio 13: Ann Wenham, convict, aged 39; disease or hurt, debility produced by menorrhagia. Put on sick list, [?] August 1836. Discharged 15 September 1836.

Folios 14-15: Surgeon's general remarks. 'What I have got to say must be brief, unless I do as some others are in the habit of doing who think to force their way to great notice at the Admiralty by writing a mass of silly trash, that no man could or would read were it his time was paid for at 3d an hour. I know a tall fellow in this service who employed these convict clerks writing while he dictated and who when his journal was full spliced on to it at [?] a quire of foolscap - this word comes in [?] here - now this commencement looks a little pettish not to say savouring of scurrility - but mark me I was only in play for all the abuse I [?] to hurl at any one must be of myself - I, like a fine dotthead asked Sir William [B?] to get one appointed to a woman ship and I had the appointment by Sir Williams means- I had very nearly suffered stabbing by one of the females before the ship left Woolwich. I had vainly imagined I knew how to manage convict women having had two ships of that sort before, but from some cause or other I most decidedly did not succeed to my own satisfaction in this last ship, named the Elizabeth. I commenced to giving up my whole time and attention to the service I was employed on, but I had imbibed (and have still a strong prejudice) against corporal punishment and I tried all I could by other means such as solitary confinement cutting their hair lent these trifles only incited them to go greater lengths to bid me utter defiance with a thousand threatening of what they would do when they got to Sydney, here now let any man show me what is to be done from the master of the ship down to the lowest boy are all opposed to the Doctor if he has done his duty by preventing prostitution. I [f?] and saw clearly I had committed an error by being too lenient, I therefore prepared myself with a good stout piece of rope and when I thought they deserved it I whipped them most soundly over the arms legs and back and this was continued (whatever the saints may think) till I had conquered every refactory spirit among them and my certificates will testify that the government of New South Wales was perfectly satisfied with my conduct in every particular - so much for the discipline of a female convict ship, but some people might reverse it and say so little- no matter I hate a tedious fool-now, a word sir as to the doctoring of them that required little or no trouble and the cases I have detailed in the foregoing part of this journal are the only ones I could possibly put together, for I have no genius at furbishing up a mess of disgusting egotism and pompous inanity making a mountain where there was hardly a wart, here then I sum up this sketch by saying that the whole of the persons under my charge on board the Elizabeth female convict ship landed at Sydney N.S.W in a much better state of health than when they embarked on board of her at Woolwich and when I know that this statement will be overlooked by so enlightened a judge of these matters as the present head of the medical department of the navy I cannot believe that a verbose and labour’d summary would have gained his favour a bit more than this one which is so easily got through. [Signed] Robert Espie, Surgeon, R.N, 26 October 1836, Sydney, N.S.W.'

Public Record(s)

Open Document, Open Description

Topics

Shipping

Litigation

Australia and Pacific

Navy

Crime

Armed Forces (General Administration)

Sex and gender