Convict Ship Britannia III
1798
Embarked: 96 women
Voyage: Deaths 2
Surgeon's Journal: no
Previous vessel: Barwell arrived 18 May 1798
Next vessel: Hillsborough arrived 26 July 1799
Captain: Robert Turnbull
Surgeon: Martin Mason
Follow the Female Convict Ship Trail
This vessel was a whaler with a crew of 24 men. She was 301 tons, had six guns, and was built in Bridport in 1784.
The ships Britannia and Speedy were both owned by Samuel Enderby and Sons...
In 1792, Samuel Enderby and Sons, under the direction of the Lords of the Admiralty, sent Lieut. James Colnett R.N. in the whale ship Rattler to the Pacific Ocean. There he found great numbers of sperm whales at the Galapagos Islands, which are situated on the equator. In 1793, the Northern Pacific, east of 180°, was opened to vessels of the Southern Whale Fishery.
"The Pacific Ocean abounding with spermaceti whales all adventurers who can afford to venture the risque of so large a speculation send their vessels into those seas, where we consider them safer from the enemy (France and Spain) than in any other part of the Ocean where sperm whales are found. It is impossible a vessel can go there and return without going into some port to refresh..."
"The writers, who had a vessel almost ready to sail for the fishery, therefore sought a contract to carry female convicts to New South Wales where they proposed to give the fishery on that coast a fair trial." [3]
Prisoners Embarked
Britannia arrived in Portsmouth on 10 January 1798 to begin embarking the female convicts from districts throughout England. The youngest was Sarah Johnson, who was found guilty at the Old Bailey of feloniously stealing clothing and sentenced to 7 years transportation.[2]
Seven women were sentenced to transportation for life: Mary Brown, Mary Cole, Martha Edwards, Mary Hodges, Elizabeth Hulme, Elizabeth O'Connor, and Ann Tracey.
Ann Tracey, Peter Tracey her son, and Mary Brown were tried for robbing William Witnell... All the prisoners were found guilty; but the boy, due to his youth, was recommended to mercy. [1]
Departure from England
Britannia departed Portsmouth on 17 February 1798 with 96 female convicts and provisions for nine months. Two women died during the voyage.
Arrival at Port Jackson
The ship arrived in Port Jackson on 18 July 1798. According to David Collins, July was uncommonly cold and sharp frosts occurred every night in the interior districts.
State of the Colony
The loss of the Lady Shore and her provisions was a severe blow. Governor Hunter wrote to the Duke of Portland about the desperate state of supplies:
Governor Hunter to the Duke of Portland,
Sydney, 25th September 1798.
It is also a subject of great regret... our public stores in regard to slops and bedding are nearly empty... people are nearly naked... and many have no bed or blanket. The Britannia brought no additional provisions. [4]
According to David Collins, the arrival of 94 female convicts helped ease tensions. Women were in high demand in the colony due to the imbalance in population.
There was no government accommodation for female prisoners in 1798. The Female Factory at Parramatta had not yet been established.
After disembarking her prisoners, Britannia departed for the South Sea whale fisheries. She returned on 4 November 1799 with 160 tons of spermaceti oil.
Notes and Links
- Mary Hyde, a convict on Britannia, later married Simeon Lord and became one of the richest women in the colony. (Wikipedia)
- In 1810, Sarah Leather, Elizabeth Lewis, Anne Wood, Elizabeth Kelsall, and Letitia Baker received Certificates of Freedom.
- Letitia Baker intended to depart on the Anne in May 1819. (Sydney Gazette)
- Ann Dillon, who arrived on Britannia, died in February 1804 and was buried in the old Sydney Burial Ground.
- Departure of the whaler Britannia from Sydney Cove, 1798 by Thomas Whitcombe
References
- Sun (London), 7 December 1795, Issue 997.
- The Proceedings of the Old Bailey
- Shipping Arrivals and Departures, Sydney 1788–1825, John Stanley Cumpston, p.7
- HR NSW, Vol. III, p.493
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