Punishment and discipline on Female Convict Ships to Van Diemen’s Land.

Convicts were under the charge of a surgeon superintendent on all of the 86 ships that brought female convicts direct to Van Diemen’s Land. It is unclear exactly when the surgeon superintendents were given the primary responsibility to punish convicts on the transport ships.[1]  The confines of a prison ship would, by its very nature, restrict the categories of crime to insolence, personal attacks, property damage and theft. However, the most concerning aspect of spending many months at sea was controlling the interactions between the female convicts and crew -  a task that, on several occasions, lead to mutinous behaviour and left several surgeons fearing for their lives. 

 

On voyages before 1815, the ship’s Master controlled punishment and his methods were often brutal and harsh.[2]  The surgeon, at that time, was employed by the ship’s contractor to look after the medical needs of the convicts but was mostly treated with disregard by the Master (this was at a time when Britain was at war and experienced Naval Surgeons were otherwise engaged on naval vessels).[3] A prime example of an early transport where the behaviour of the crew and convicts was notoriously undisciplined and the punishment harsh was the female convict transport Lady Juliana, 1789-1790, on her voyage to N.S.W. with 245 women on board. John Nicol, a Steward on board, wrote up a journal of the voyage in which he described the punishment of convict Nance Ferrel:

There was no taming her by gentle means. We were forced to tie her up like a man, and give her one dozen with the cat-o'-nine-tails, and assure her of a clawing every offence. This alone reduced her to any kind of order.[4]

 

Government administration became concerned with the alarming number of deaths on the voyages.  The ships were being paid to take convicts on board, rather than being paid to deliver healthy convicts to the colony.[5] In 1814, William Redfern, a past convict and Naval Surgeon, who was employed in the Colonial Medical Establishment, wrote a report condemning the transport surgeons and the state of convicts arriving in Australia.[6] Sometime around 1815, the Transport Commissioners recommended putting an official of the Crown on board the convict ships, and they were to be given the power and authority to manage the convicts. Navy surgeons, experienced at life on vessels (and probably on half pay after the end of the war with France[7]) were ideally suited to fulfil both roles – surgeon and superintendent reporting to the government.  Under their supervision the management of the convicts was more effective, resulting in the women arriving in better condition, and their punishment on board was much  ‘milder and less injurious to health than earlier had been the case’.[8]

 

The general character and conduct of the prisoners were such as might be expected from the lowest class of society, —from the sweepings of most of the Prisons in England, and from persons whom all the wise and salutary laws of England had failed to reclaim, most immoral and abandoned, —if there ever was a Hell afloat it must have been in the shape of a Female Convict Ship, quarrelling, fighting, thieving, destroying in private each others property for a meer[sic] spirit of devilishness, conversation with each other most abandoned, without feeling or shame, —which absence of depressing feelings has probably been in some measures a source of health together with the impossibility of procuring spirits or other stimuli which produce innumerable diseases dangerous in character and difficult to treat in so dense a population.   Extract from the General Remarks by surgeon Thrasycles Clarke on the Female Convict Ship Kains 1831 to Port Jackson, New South Wales. ADM 101/40/1

 

The medical journals maintained by the surgeon superintendents were a requirement of his appointment for reporting medical problems and treatments on board.[9] It is from these journals that we gain insight into how convict punishments were managed using the means available to a surgeon superintendent at sea for the months of the voyage.  It is also evident from the Log Book of the Master, David Lewis, of the Barque Lloyds in 1845, that convict misconduct and punishment on board a ship was far more extensive than that reported by the surgeon superintendents and it is probable that the ship's Master still played a significant role in disciplining convicts.

 

Surgeons of Convict Ships may inflict moderate Punishment on Convicts guilty of Misbehaviour.—If any person or persons who may hereafter be transported to New South Wales, or any of the dependencies thereof, under any sentence or order of any court in the United Kingdom aforesaid, shall he guilty of misbehaviour or disorderly conduct on board of any ship or vessel in which such person or persons shall be so transported, it shall be lawful for the surgeon or principal medical officer for the time being of any such ship or vessel to indict or cause to be inflicted on the person or persons so offending, such moderate punishment or correction as may be inflicted by law on convicts confined on board vessels in the river Thames by the superintendant or overseer of those vessels: provided always, that no such punishment or correction shall be so inflicted, unless the master or principal officer for the time being of such ship or vessel shall first signify his approbation thereof in writing under his hand; and every such punishment or correction as aforesaid, together with the particulars of the offence for which the same may be so inflicted, together with such written approbation as aforesaid, shall on the same day, in all cases, be entered by such master or principal officer as aforesaid, upon the log of every such ship or vessel, under a penalty of fifty pounds in case of every refusal or neglect to make such entry, to be recovered by bill, plaint, or information in either of the Supreme Courts of New South Wales and Van Dieinen's Land aforesaid, or in any Court of Record in England; one half of which penalty shall go to the use of his Majesty, his heirs and successors, and the other half to the person or persons who may inform or sue for the same. ['An Act to provide, until the 1st day of July, 1827, and until the end of the next Session of Parliament, for the better administration of Justice in New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land, and for the more effectual Government thereof, and for other purposes relating thereto.' 1824]

 

Punishment by example was generally used to control unruly behaviour and ill-discipline. Those punishments which were recorded in surgeon superintendents’ journals included: head shaving; solitary confinement; bread and water; handcuffing; use of the “straight waistcoat”; and putting women on the ‘black list’ for dirty work. The threat of stopping their wine and sherbet (1 oz. lime juice and 1oz sugar mixed with water)[10] allocation was also used to promote discipline.  Withholding their sherbet would actually have been counterproductive as the lime juice or lemon juice, a source of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), was necessary for preventing the dreaded scurvy on long sea voyages after ships ran out of fresh fruit and vegetables.

 

One glass of Wine was issued to each and the allowance of Lime juice and sugar for each was mixed with water so as to form half a Pint of Sherbet. To prevent a possibility of Drunkenness by disposing of, or giving away the Wine, each individual was compelled to drink it in passing muster; and in the like manner, they were compelled to drink the Sherbet that it might not be wasted, or misapplied, but that each might experience its full benefit in the prevention of Scurvy. Peter Leonard  R.N., Atwick 1838 Adm. 101-006-004

 

In his journal, Thomas Reid MD RN, Surgeon Superintendent of the Morley 1820, highlighted the extreme problems caused by ‘familiarity’ or the prospect of prostitution between the crew and the convict women. The captain of the Morley assured him that he would do everything in his power but the law ‘provided no remedy against the most unbridled licentiousness and sailors may, in fact, commit any crime short of mutiny’.[11]  It was therefore up to the Surgeon Superintendent on this, and future voyages, to restrain and discipline the women for familiarity with the crew. Reid was one of the Surgeon Superintendents who felt his life was endangered in preventing 'familiarity' between female convicts and the crew.

 

In instructions issued by the Navy Board, Thomas Reid was required to prevent ‘the prostitution of the female convicts in the vessel under [his] command’.[12]  Although prostitution was not a transportable offence, Reid believed that prostitution was ‘in direct violation of the laws of God’.[13] From the outset he made the women on the Morley very aware of his (and God’s) views on prostitution and that it would not be tolerated. He continued to emphasise the point throughout the voyage in his ‘Addresses’ to the convicts; he warned that any who did not comply with this injunction would remain in the prison until landing, and that no effort would be made to lighten their sentences as their reputations would be tarnished ‘more black and odious than what their former crimes had brought upon them’.[14]

 

The sleeping place assigned the convicts is within that part of the ship called the prison, taking the whole space of the ship between decks, except the necessary accommodation for Master, officers and seamen, expressly fitted up for their reception : it is divided into what in sea-phrase are termed births [berths], each to contain four persons, for which purpose, whatever has been represented, it is sufficiently roomy. Thomas Reid, The Morely 1820. Robert Espie of the Lord Sidmouth explains that he ‘Secured the prison doors at dark and the free women at 8 o’clock, which I have advised as a general rule.’

 

James Hall of the Mary Ann 1822 also took seriously the task of keeping the men and women apart, but it proved to be beyond him. The report he wrote as the ship approached Hobart listed a number of women who were punished for having sexual relations with members of the crew. Some were locked up for days in a small, dark hold in the bowels of the ship [coal hole], sometimes in chains, and fed on a diet of bread and water.[15]

 

A few of the early surgeon superintendent journals reveal that ad hoc rules and regulations were determined by the individual surgeon superintendents. This can be seen in Thomas Reid’s journal of his voyage on the male convict ship Neptune in 1818 where he drew up a set of regulations. He used a variation of those regulations on the female convict ship Morley in 1820, which he ‘fixed up conspicuously in the prison’ so no one could plead ignorance to the regulations.[16]

 

It was not until the early 1820s that a comprehensive set of instructions was issued by authorities to the surgeon superintendents establishing their status, duties and responsibilities.[17]  They were written out and displayed for the convicts to read.[18]  This was most likely the set of Rules and Regulations seen in the journal of Robert Espie, Surgeon & Superintendent, Lord Sidmouth 1822:

 

 

Espie’s journal stands out for the high number of punishments recorded.  The final statement in his journals’ remarks section was that ‘the duties of Superintendant are far greater than those of Surgeon’.

The situation of a Surgeon Superintendant of a woman Convict Ship if he does his duty can be no sinecure as they constantly require to be looked after and particularly to restrain them from contact with the sailors – this can only be done by beginning well at first, and checking all appearance of intimacy before the Ship leaves England Directing the Master to discharge any sailor who may shew a disposition this way which I did in two or 3 instances, to his no small annoyance - I feel satisfied that making the women do almost everything for themselves and keeping them employ’d and on their legs is absolutely necessary to preserve them in health and that the duties of Superintendant are far greater than those of Surgeon.

Espie’s favourite punishment appears to have been placing offenders in the coal hole, while several female convicts had their heads shaved as punishment or were placed in handcuffs. The following selection of extracts from his journal illustrate the types of punishments he ordered:

 

 

Espie was also protective of his charges:  when the Boatswain of the Ship ‘struck one of the women yesterday evening for some insolence upon her part but this unfortunate creature I think does not possess her right faculties. I have taken care to prevent recurrence of the like again if possible. I attend to my regulations personally, otherwise we would have a little Bedlam’.[19] 

 

James Patton, Surgeon Superintendent of the Persian 1827 seemed very serious about his commitment to discipline and punishment. In his journal’s final comments he justified his actions throughout the voyage ‘had not prompt measures been used on this occasion, the vessel must have been in the most disorderly state for the remainder of the voyage!’.

 

From his notes, it can be determined that Patton had received and applied his instructions concerned with preventing prostitution on board.

My unwearied application and care as constantly directed to the 24 Article of my instructions respecting the prevention of Prostitution between the Prisoners and Ship’s crew, and I feel proud to say, that every officer in the Ship shewed the most moral and praise worthy example in this respect, and further, such was the strict watch kept over all the actions of Prisoners, that I am firmly of opinion that an opportunity was not given for even an occasional Disgrace of the kind with any of the seamen, a fact that perhaps will hardly be credited. Should these circumstances prove correct when the proper Officers make their investigation, the praise of it entirely due to the Master Mr Plunkett and the Chief Officer, Mr Wellbank, for the active support and assistance which I have uniformly had from them in order to obtain these desirable ends.

 

When Patton wanted to handcuff a female convict, he had to borrow a set of handcuffs from a police officer travelling as a passenger. He found handcuffing very effective as a deterrent and suggested that half a dozen sets be placed on each ship.

It was the custom to send all the Prisoners off deck a little before dusk in order more effectually to prevent all criminal intercourse between the Prisoners & seamen, and when the chief officer and myself were proceeding on this Duty on the 2nd of May; one woman (Mary Page) most positively refused to go below, and while the chief officer was enforcing his orders, she struck him a violent blow on the face with her fist – He immediately collared her, brought her aft, and explained the facts to me. I directed her to be Handcuffed, and to be conveyed below, and placed in solitary confinement.[20]

 

Patton mentioned that, while he had found solitary confinement or imprisonment an effective means of punishment, there was no suitable place on board for solitary confinement to be carried out.  His concern was that the ship’s hold, which was used for this type of punishment, was damp and likely to cause pulmonary and rheumatic complaints.  He outlined his solution to the problem:

I should beg leave to suggest that a small dark cell, having sufficient number of air holes; and being furnished with a bed place, should be fitted up under the Hospital, or in any other part of the Ship where it could be found most convenient and suitable, in which refractory female prisoners may be confined for one, two, or more days, upon bread and water, and prolonging the time according to the nature and degree of the offence, and from what I have observed, I am convinced that it will be an instrument of terror in the Surgeon’s hands, and by it he will secure more orderly conduct from the Prisoners, than any other mode of punishment hitherto adopted.

 From what has been stated before, I think that if a small dark cell were fitted up (which could be done at little expense) in any part of the ship found to be most eligible, where fresh air could be freely admitted, appears to me essentially necessary for the better management of Convict ships during long voyages.

 

In his closing remarks regarding Mary Page, he stated that if a ‘place of confinement been fitted up, such as has been hinted above, I should have had it in my power to have made an example of her, and by it to have intimidated others from similar measures in future’. [21]

 

The suggestion by Patton of a ‘small dark cell’ was possibly adopted by authorities; the solitary confinement box mentioned on later voyages fits the description. The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG), located in Hobart, has a solitary confinement box on display that matches the description of a convict ship's box.  It is an upright wooden box, painted black, approximately 2 metres high, 0.5 metres wide and 0.75 metres deep.*  Across the top of the door and around each side are three round air holes.

Source: Collection: Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery S1994.367.1 Solitary confinement box , c1830  Wood and iron; wood and metal

 

 

In 1836 Robert Espie, on the Elizabeth to NSW,** noted that solitary confinement along with cutting hair only incited the convicts to be more defiant,[22] although James L Clarke, surgeon on the Navarino, 1841, expressed a desire for more of the boxes as he had found solitary confinement improved convict behaviour.[23]

 

Mr. Thomas Seaton, Surgeon on the Tasmania 1844, suggested some modifications to the design of the box after he ordered a suicidal patient to be placed in the confinement box, resulting in another attempt at suicide. His suggestion was to substitute ‘the round wholes which are cut along the top of the sides of the punishment box [an] iron grating in the door thro’ which the dr, master and officer on duty could more easily see than at present and it would also prevent the possibility of anything being passed within’.  James L Clarke M.D., R.N. surgeon superintendent on the Navarino in 1841, was wishing for more than one box onboard his ship (see below).

 

Rebecca Crookes, who ‘brought a very bad character with her from Millbank’ was placed in the solitary confinement box on the 16th October 1844.  ‘Octr 20th on taking her allowance in the evening as the door was opened she fell out on deck : blood running from the nose, tongue protruding , livid swollen face and the cause was promptly found, but so tightly had she tied the tape round her neck a knife was with difficulty introduced to cut it: she was bled in the arm and Temporal Artery and after some time got quite round again: since then she has been kept very low and a little teased with Blisters, Mustard Poultices ’[24]

 

David Thomson, Surgeon R.N. on the Eliza 1830, found the straight waistcoat very handy for several cases of hysteria and mania:  Priscilla Heath (22), Rebecca Monksfield (17) and Margaret Bailey (21) ‘were affected with Hysterical paroxysms of great severity, in two of the cases followed by complete Mania, requiring the restraint of the Strait Waistcoat’.  Margaret Thompson, (36), was diagnosed with mania by Thompson who directed the ‘Strait Waistcoat to be put on during the night & when violent. Head to be shaved & frequently washed with cold vinegar & water’.[25] During the voyage of the Eliza Thompson noted ‘the moral conduct of the prisoners was, with a few exceptions, good, & only on six or seven occasions, was it deemed necessary to resort to punishment'. 

 

In 1834 Mr Joseph Steret, Surgeon Superintendent on the Female Convict Ship Edward,  mentioned a convict doing penance in the solitary cell on a low diet. However his greatest challenge appeared to be Mary Creed. He used threats of withholding wine, along with ‘the strait waistcoat and shaving and blistering her head as if she were mad’ to control her unwieldly temper. He ended up putting Creed in ‘Coventry’ for a week or more. Steret eventually ordered her to be sluiced with three buckets of cold salt water for being drunk; he found ‘Cold Ablutions’ were also of greatest benefit for treating synacope.

 

Steret recorded in detail the activities of Mary Creed, over concerns of repercussions:

I have thought to give a very full account (although the case can hardly be considered a medical one of any importance) because had anything happened to her on the voyage – blame might have attached to me for carrying her.[26]

 

 

John Grant Stewart, Surgeon Superintendent of the Nautilus in 1838, describes one unusual punishment where Ann Wilson was placed in a ‘Scotch mess’ [sleeping quarters comprising women from Scotland] for punishment and considered the probability of her illness was the result of chagrin.

 

Ann Wilson, twenty-eight, caught Stewart’s eye because of her loss of weight. On embarkation she was a robust, fat woman with a high complexion, but became emaciated and her features sunken. Stewart diagnosed her complaint as dyspepsia but it was her behaviour which gave him greater concern. She sat apart from the other women, generally with her back to them, looking listless, unoccupied and apparently unhappy. He wondered if she was becoming insane. Taciturn and peevish, she cried violently and refused her soup. Admitted into hospital with a little fever and general indisposition, she had no obvious illness, except a most infirm temper. She rallied as the nurses accommodated themselves to her whims. Stewart thought that because she had been put into a mess with Scottish women as a punishment, her illness was in all probability, the result of her chagrin at the situation. Extract from John Grant Stewart (Nautilus 1838) written by Colleen Arulappu https://femaleconvicts.org.au/convict-ships/the-ships-surgeons

 

Stewart also mentions using a bread and water diet as punishment:

In starting I imagined that her diet might possibly predispose to it, if used to any extent as a means of punishment. During the voyage however instances occurred in which it became necessary to enforce this & often would occur in the same person, but the bread & water diet was never pushed further than [word cut off page] days.  The subjects of this discipline were always blanched by it & I should think that a fortnight usually elapsed before they recovered their [word cut off page].[28]

 

James L Clarke M.D. Surgeon R.N, on board the Navarino in 1841: 

The punishments made use of were cutting their hair off, putting them on Bread and Water, shutting them up in the Box all night, and it would be better were there more than one of these boxes, putting them in the Black list to do all dirty work. Stopping  their sherbet of which they were very fond.

 

J.R. Roberts, Surgeon and Superintendent of the Royal Admiral in 1842, explained his methods of both discipline and punishment:

The rules formed by the “Ladies Society* for the improvement of female convicts”, were with some slight alterations adhered to, and answered well. A daily inspection took place at eleven a.m. of all berths, utensils, water closets etc., together with strict attention to the care and regulation of bedding, and the removal through the day of the boards of the lower berths, and when order and cleanliness did not correspond with those berths that set a good example, their wine for the day was stopped and given to those who had done so, the effect was good, and required but few examples.

Punishment consisted in being confined to the ‘Box’ on bread and water, wearing handcuffs (with a distance chain), to being placed in the after hatchway with the ladder up on bread and water, and for fighting the two were handcuffed (with a distance chain) together for a day or two; when noisy or troublesome in their berth, immediately removing them, stopping their wine, and doubling that period if repetition occurred; minor offences by sweeping the decks every two hours above and below throughout the day.[29]

 

John Wilson, Surgeon Superintendent on the Emma Eugenia in 1843-44 mentions an incident with a Widow, Jane Grady, who had been twenty times in prison, although on many occasions just for a day. Far out to sea in the Southern Ocean approximately half way between the Cape of Good Hope and Hobart Town she jumped overboard.  She was handcuffed at the time as punishment for striking and wounding the chief officer and had leapt overboard in that state.  John Wilson gallantly went to her rescue.  Around fifteen minutes after the jump he caught her about “half an arm’s length under water” by grabbing her hair.  His actions saved her life. Jane Grady reached Hobart with a downcast expression and continued her troublesome ways while serving her sentence. 

 

The medical journal of Charles K Nutt M.D. Surgeon Superintendent of the Lloyds 1845 was just one of the many journals that did not mention punishments, however the ship's log, written by the Master, David Lewis, reveals that the surgeon's may have limited mention of punishment to their patients, while the Master played a greater role than previously revealed.  Lewis reveals the extent to which the 'box' was used throughout the voyage (60 hours for one woman), and while it was being occupied he confined other unruly convict women to spending time in the water closet, which would have been an equally unpleasant experience.  Five women were confined to the 'box' before the ship had even sailed.  Lewis's log mentions two women being put down into the fore-hold in irons, a punishment  mainly used for male convicts.  Other punishments used on the Lloyds were confining unruly convicts below deck for up to 14 days, cutting their hair, and the unusual punishment of putting them in tubs.   Agnes Lander, who after arrival was to have several spells in the New Norfolk Insane Asylum, experienced some of the more extreme punishments: the box, the tub, and on one occasion was lashed  to the rail on main deck, and 'at sunset removed her to the water closet'. 

 

Log Book of Lloyds 1845: Monday 25^th August:

Agnes Lander being let out to wash made use of very abusive language to Mr Priest (2^nd Officer) confined her in a tub. At 10 Hove the tub off her head over board

 

The 'tub' has not been mentioned as a punishment in any of the surgeon's journals;  it appears to be a short-term punishment of a few hours duration and may have been a punishment tool used by ships' masters who would have had plenty of empty tubs or barrels at hand.  A barrel, as a portable 'pillory' punishment, was used around the 18th century, but was it still being used in the mid-nineteenth century?  John Nicols, on the Lady Juliana in 1789-80, describes how the barrel was used in the punishment of Nance Ferrel:

We were forced to change the manner of punishing them. I was desired by the agent Lieutenant Edgar, who was an old lieutenant of Cook's, to take a flour barrel and cut a hole in the top for their head and one on each side for their arms. This we called a wooden jacket. Next morning, Nance Ferrel, as usual, came to the door of the cabin and began to abuse the agent and captain. They desired her to go away between decks and be quiet. She became worse in her abuse, wishing to be confined and sent to the hold, but to her mortification the jacket was produced, and two men brought her upon deck and put it on. She laughed and capered about for a while, and made light of it. One of her comrades lighted a pipe and gave it her. She walked about strutting and smoking the tobacco, and making the others laugh at the droll figure she made. She walked a minuet, her head moving from side to side like a turtle.

 

Extracts from the Log Book of the Lloyds voyage in 1845, written by the Master, David Lewis,  reveals that the ship's Master played a greater role in their discipline than previously uncovered.  Punishments were administered almost daily during the four-month voyage:

 

 

Surgeon J. Sloane of the Tory, 1845, had a cabin erected in the prison where he occasionally held refractory prisoners but he said severe punishments tended to render them more reckless. He wrote that they were more easily led by kindness: 'The separation and isolation was always followed by contrition, and amendment, they were by this means debarred from giving vent to irritating expressions, repressing the excitement, moderating the passions, in general under so little control in a class of people ignorant in the extreme, and debased by every crime'. 

 

Mr. Harvey Morris Surgeon Superintendent on the Elizabeth & Henry, 1847, appeared frustrated that he could not punish those convicts that were pregnant or were mothers of young children when they misbehaved.  Morris felt that his only punishment option was ‘threatening’ them.[30]  In particular, he mentioned Mary Lane and [Jane] Burt:

In conclusion I have only to express my conviction; that had the woman with young children and those in the family way been punished when they misbehaved and had their treatment been in all respects similar to their fellow Prisoners both Lanes child and Burt’s would be alive this day it is therefore unnecessary for me to say, that they should all be punished when they deserve it. [31]

 

Morris was convinced that a change in conduct by Jane Burt, after the death of her daughter, Isabella aged 6 weeks, was ‘produced by the conviction she correctly entertained namely that she would most certainly be punished for slatternly conduct or for any other misdemeanour when the protection which young children were invariably afforded their mothers had been removed from her.’[32]

 

Mr John Moody, Surgeon on board the Lord Auckland 1848-49 is another surgeon who does not mention punishments in his medical journal.  However, the following letter demonstrates that punishments did occur on this ship, with Catherine Dunden (Donovan) receiving corporal punishment, meaning some type of physical force was used.  Was the punishment that needed an official report,  a flogging?

 

V.D.Land Gov House 17 March 1849 No 45   My Lord                         I have the honor to forward to Your Lordship copy of a Report from the Visiting Magistrate to the different Convict Establishments in Hobart Town of the result of the enquiry which was instituted by him under my direction, into the circumstances under which corporal punishment had been inflicted upon a female convict named Catherine Dunden whilst on her passage to this Colony on board the Lord Auckland by the order of the Surgeon Superintendent Mr John Moody. I have &c. signed W Denison The Right Honble Earl Grey &c &c &c                                             1 Enclosure Mr Jones’ report 21 February 1849 with all the evidence taken before him. Executive [?A] 21 March 49, 21 Feby 1849 [Left margin] GO25-1-16 p. 361

 

The last female convict ship to Van Diemen's Land was the Duchess of Northumberland in 1853.  The surgeon onboard, Charles Smith, did not mention any punishments in his medical journal.  However, the purser onboard, Gilbert James Inglis, wrote an interesting journal of the voyage.  He mentions the solitary confinement box being  used several times on the ship, also the doctor controlling bad behaviour with threats of putting the women in the box.*

 

Wednesday 5th [January 1853] Mary Hore abused Mrs Barber, the matron, in sound terms in some unintelligible dialect – a very good job it was for I dare say it was not very complimentary and she was confined in the box which not being sufficiently strong for the purpose intended, she broke open, upon which it was found necessary to fasten it together with chain right round it. As she had two children to attend to she was allowed to go below at night.[33]

 

Reporting ship-board misconduct on arrival

 

Misconduct on the voyage was reported on arrival and once on shore convicts (and crew) could undergo further punishment through the courts. A note of their onboard behaviour was placed on their Conduct Record, giving the Superintendent of Convicts an indication of character.

 

Log Book of the Master, David Lewis of Barque “Lloyds” whilst at Anchor in Sullivan’s Cove

Saturday Nov 8^th [1845]

At 11 AM Landed the sick 7 women and 4 children

received The Government Officers on board, for measuring and noting their characters

 

Thomas Reid of the Morley 1822, reports that several sailors were removed from the ship in Hobart Town for disorderly behaviour towards the prisoners.  ‘These men were afterwards sent up to Sydney, as prisoners, in another ship’. Reid expressed his frustration in his journal that the men were set free on arrival in Sydney ‘without any investigation instigated’.[34]

 

Sarah Fenton was a convict who arrived on the Mary Ann on 2 May 1822. Surgeon Hall wrote of her: “This woman is supposed to be as desperate & depraved a character as ever has been transported; capable of doing murder; turbulent; reprobate; never easy but in mischief; fond of exciting uproar and mutiny; a feigner of illness; an hypocrite; a Devil incarnate.  Has been repeatedly punished with temporary benefit - kind treatment has no effect.”[35]  Two days after the arrival of the Mary Ann a ship left Hobart Town for the recently established penal station at Macquarie Harbour with two female prisoners on board, thought to Sarah and troublesome fellow passenger Rachel Chamberlane.[36]

 

Sarah Fenton arrived 2 years before punishment for misconduct on board transport ships was addressed in 'An Act to provide, until the first day of July one thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven, and until the End of the next Session of Parliament, for the betterr Administration of Justice in New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land, and for the more effectual Government thereof; and for other Purposes relating thereto'.

...and also of all crimes and misdemeanors committed by any such felons or offenders on-board of any ship or vessel during the voyage to New South Wales or the dependencies thereof, and the same to punish, if such courts shall see fit, by extending the time for which such persons may have been originally transported, or by transportation to such other part of New South Wales, or the dependencies thereof, as shall or may be appointed for the reception of offenders as hereafter mentioned, and as the case may require, and by hard labour for any time not exceeding three years;

 

Elizabeth Jones on the Hindostan 1839 was colonially convicted of gross misconduct on board the ship Hindostan (No medical journals have been found for the Hindostan 1839). The verdict of the conviction recommended she be detained 6 months on probation in a crime class at the House of Correction before assignment.[37]

 

Edward Nolloth, Surgeon Superintendent of the “Maria” in 1849, also confirmed that misconduct was reported on arrival:

On the 25^th [July], 3 prisoners, by order of the Comptroller General, were sent on shore to undergo punishment for misconduct during the voyage. The conduct of the Prisoners in general was good. [38]

One of the crew on the Maria was also brought up on charges of assaulting Captain Plunk on the voyage.[39]

 

 

 

---

 

* 

Gilbert James Inglis, purser on the Duchess of Northumberland 1853, in his journal of the voyage described the measurements of the solitary confinement box as about six feet high and two feet square.

The doctor rather frightened the women into a quieter mood by putting them in mind of the solitary confinement box, which is a box about six feet high by about two feet square just so as they can stand upright in it.[40]

 

 **

Robert Espie had an especially difficult time on the Elizabeth in 1836 (into N.S.W.).  He had completed the journey seven times, however the last journey, the third on a female convict ship, tested his patience. 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 and cutting their hair. These trifles only incited them to go to greater lengths to bid me utter defiance with a thousand threats 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 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 refractory 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.[41]

 

 

E. Crawford ( 2020, edited Jan. 2021)

Convict ship medical journal transcriptions courtesy of Colleen Arullapu and Rhonda Arthur.

 

[1] Bateson, Charles. The Convict Ships 1787 – 1868 Library of Australian History Sydney 2004. p.50

[2] Bateson, Charles. The Convict Ships 1787 – 1868, Library of Australian History Sydney 2004. p.75

[3] Reid, Thomas, (1822), Two voyages to New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land, https://archive.org/details/twovoyagestonews00reid/page/280/mode/2up p.280

[4] Nicol, J.(1822) The Life and Adventures of John Nicol, Mariner

 http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks16/1600031h.html, accessed 21/04/2020

[5] Reid, Thomas, Two voyages to New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land, https://archive.org/details/twovoyagestonews00reid/page/280/mode/2up p.280

[6] Bateson, Charles.The Convict Ships 1787 – 1868, Library of Australian History Sydney 2004. p.42

[7] Brand, Ian & Staniforth, Mark, Care And Control: Female Convict Transportation To Van Diemen’s Land, 1818-1853 Australian National Maritime Museum.P. 27 https://www.jstor.org/stable/41562880?read-now=1&seq=5#page_scan_tab_contents,  accessed 19/01/2020

[8] Bateson, Charles.The Convict Ships 1787 – 1868, Library of Australian History Sydney 2004. p.75

[9] https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk

[10] Brand, Ian & Staniforth, Mark, Care And Control: Female Convict Transportation To Van Diemen’s Land, 1818-1853 Australian National Maritime Museum.

[11] Reid, Thomas (1822),Two voyages to New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land, 1791-1825. https://archive.org/details/twovoyagestonews00reid p.21

[12] Reid, Thomas, Two voyages to New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land https://archive.org/details/twovoyagestonews00reid/page/278/mode/2up, pp. 279-280

[13] Reid, Thomas, Two voyages to New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land https://archive.org/details/twovoyagestonews00reid/page/278/mode/2up, p.112

[14] Reid, Thomas, Two voyages to New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land https://archive.org/details/twovoyagestonews00reid/page/278/mode/2up, pp.193-195

[15] James Hall: Medical and surgical journal of the female convict ship Mary Ann for 27 October 1821 to 25 May 1822.  The National Archives (U.K.) Reference: ADM 101/52/1

[16] Reid, Thomas, Two voyages to New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land https://archive.org/details/twovoyagestonews00reid/page/278/mode/2up, pp. 98-100.

[17] Bateson, Charles.The Convict Ships 1787 – 1868, Library of Australian History Sydney 2004. P.51

[18] Bateson, Charles.The Convict Ships 1787 – 1868, Library of Australian History Sydney 2004. P.51

[19] https://femaleconvicts.org.au/docs/ships/LordSidmouth1823_SJ.pdf

[20] https://femaleconvicts.org.au/docs/ships/Persian1827_SJ.pdf

[21] https://femaleconvicts.org.au/docs/ships/Persian1827_SJ.pdf

[22] https://www.jenwilletts.com/convict_ship_elizabeth_1836.htm

[23] https://femaleconvicts.org.au/docs2/ships/SurgeonsJournal_Navarino1841.pdf

[24] https://femaleconvicts.org.au/docs/ships/Tasmania1844_SJ1.pdf

[25] https://www.femaleconvicts.org.au/docs2/ships/SurgeonsJournal_Eliza1830.pdf

[26] https://femaleconvicts.org.au/docs2/ships/SurgeonsJournal_Edward1834.pdf

[27] Prison History, https://www.prisonhistory.org/prison/surrey-county-gaol-horsemonger-lane-gaol/ accessed 29/01/2020

[28] https://femaleconvicts.org.au/docs2/ships/SurgeonsJournal_Nautilus1838.pdf

[29] https://femaleconvicts.org.au/docs2/ships/SurgeonsJournal_RoyalAdmiral1842.pdf

[30] https://femaleconvicts.org.au/docs2/ships/SJ_Elizabeth&Henry_1847.pdf

[31] https://femaleconvicts.org.au/docs2/ships/SJ_Elizabeth&Henry_1847.pdf

[32] https://femaleconvicts.org.au/docs2/ships/SJ_Elizabeth&Henry_1847.pdf

[33]Woods, C. (2004). The Last Ladies: The Female Convicts Transported from England on the ‘Duchess of Northumberland’, November 1852-April 1853. Claremont, Tasmania: Published by the Author, pp.265-6.  

[34] Reid, Thomas, Two voyages to New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land https://archive.org/details/twovoyagestonews00reid/page/278/mode/2up, p.299

[35] James Hall: Medical and surgical journal of the female convict ship Mary Ann for 27 October 1821 to 25 May 1822.  The National Archives (U.K.) Reference: ADM 101/52/1

[36] Tardiff, Philip. (1990). Notorious Strumpets and Dangerous Girls: Convict Women in Van Diemen’s Land. North Ryde: Angus and Robertson; Hobart Town Gazette and Van Diemen’s Land Advertiser (HTG), 11 May 1822, p.2

[37] Tasmanian Archives CON40/1/6

[38] https://femaleconvicts.org.au/docs/ships/SurgeonsJournal_Maria_1849.pdf

[39] Hobarton Guardian, or, True Friend of Tasmania (Hobart, Tas. : 1847 - 1854) Wednesday 1 August 1849 p 3

[40] https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/behind-the-scenes/blog-looks-more-register-deaths-journal

[41] https://www.jenwilletts.com/convict_ship_elizabeth_1836.htm

 

 

 

Further Resources:

Katherine Foxhall, From Convicts to Colonists: the Health of Prisoners and the Voyage to Australia, 1823 – 1853,

Charles Bateson.  The Convict Ships 1787 – 1868, Sydney: Library of Australian History, 2004.

 

  * For more information on Elizabeth Fry and the Ladies Society, refer to Lucy Frost’s paper: BRITISH HUMANITARIANS AND FEMALE CONVICT TRANSPORTATION: THE VOYAGE OUT