Colonial Events 1813

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There was a severe drought throughout colony in 1813

January

Market and fair established at Parramatta

January 3

Death of Bennelong at Kissing Point

February 4

Arrival of Governor Thomas Davey in Tasmania

February 16

Arrival of the convict ship Archduke Charles

March

King's Wharf, Sydney completed. First public wharf in Colony

March

George Johnston returned to Australia

March 13

Colonial schooner Endeavour wrecked at Shoalhaven

April 23

Convicts escape from Derwent River VDL in ship Unity ....This vessel, a colonial schooner of about 30 tons, left Port Dalrymple on the 3d of April last bound for Hobart Town, with Mr. W. H. Mansell, who was one of the owners, and three seamen on board. Shortly after she had put to sea, however, she encountered a heavy gale, by which she was driven considerably out of her course, in Bass's Straits, and having but little provision on board, was obliged to procure from a small sealing party a quantity of salted mutton birds. On the 23d of the same month (April) she reached the Derwent, moored off Hobart Town, and was the same night boarded between eleven and twelve, by seven armed men, who presented firelocks at Mr. Mansell and his small unarmed crew, and captured the vessel by surprise, without any possibility of rendering opposition effectual. Having cut her away from her moorings, the desperadoes made sail ; and landing the legitimate owner and crew at Frederick Henry Bay, gave them up the boat with which they had effected the piracy. The persons who were immediately discovered to be absent, and who there could be no doubt were the offenders, are as follow : William Britton, alias Symer, alias Mark Tyler, capitally convicted at the Old Bailey in December, 1810 ; came by the Guilford ; a prisoner for life. Richard Payne, capitally convicted, at the Old Bailey in October, 1811 ; came in the Indefatigable ; also for life. Patrick, commonly called Peter Russell, capitally convicted at the Old Bailey in April, 1811 ; came in the Indefatigable ; for life. Thomas Watson, convicted at the Old Bailey in December, 1809 ; came in the Indefatigable ; a prisoner for seven years. Thomas Curtis, capitally convicted at Bristol in April, 1811 ; came in the Indefatigable ; a prisoner for life. Thomas Bird, convicted at Wells, in Somersetshire, in July, 1811 ; came in the Indefatigable, for seven years ; and Frederick Callaghan, capitally convicted at Northhampton in March, 1810 ; came also in the Indefatigable ; a prisoner for life. - Sydney Gazette 21 August 1813

May 8

Benevolent Society established

May 11 - June 6

Party consisting of Gregory Blaxland, William Charles Wentworth and William Lawson find route across the Blue Mountains. The plaque on 'The Explorer's Tree reads - 'This wall and fence has been erected by the Hon. JS Farnell Esq Minister for Lands to preserve this tree marked by Blaxland, Lawson, Wentworth, being the farthest distance reached in their first attempt to cross the Blue Mountains in the Month of May AD 1813'.

June 11

Arrival of convict transport Fortune

July 6

John Macarthur shipped 36 bales of wool to England..... Extract of a letter from Sydney dated June 30th 1813. 'The colony of New South Wales is in so flourishing a condition, that a memorial has been forwarded by the principal inhabitants, through the governor, to his Majesty's Ministers, praying, among other privileges, permission to distil from their surplus grain, and to export flour from thence to Great Britain; and pointing out that there is no farther necessity for any salt meat being sent thither, as the colony can furnish fresh beef, pork, and mutton at a cheaper rate. It appears also that the grower of fine wool in the colony consider that they are enabled to vie with Spain in the quality, if not the quantity of produce, which, however, is greatly increasing' - Correspondence re the prosperous conditions in New South Wales in 1813 Caledonian Mercury 7 March 1814

July

Convict Assignment and Punishment at Newcastle - Government Orders

July 31

Two soldiers of the 73rd regiment Lieutenant Archibald McNaughton and Lieutenant Phillip Connor found guilty of the manslaughter of William Holness and fined 1 shilling and 6 months in gaol.

August 4

73rd Regiment at New South Wales ordered to Ceylon. - Lieutenant-Colonel O'Connell to go with them. The 46th Regiment stationed at Guernsey to embark for NSW on ships Wanstead, Three Bees and General Hewitt.

September 24

Governor Macquarie laid the Foundation stone of the Female Orphan school

September 30

To alleviate currency shortages, 'Holey Dollar' and 'dump' became legal tender. A piece struck out of the centre being valued at 15d. and the remainder of the dollar at 5s sterling. The Commissary-General also issued notes of one, two, five, and ten pounds each in payment of provisions, supplied by individuals to the Stores. The notes were to be consolidated monthly. - Morning Chronicle 7 March 1814

October 9

Arrival of the convict ship Earl Spencer from Portsmouth. Master William Mitchell.

November 19 - 20

Assistant Surveyor George William Evans followed in the tracks of Blaxland Lawson and Wentworth across the Blue Mountains. Those accompanying Evans included: Richard Lewis, James Burns (both free) and John Cooghan, John Grover and John Tygh all prisoners. (HRA)

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