CONVICT SHIPS OF THE FIRST FLEET
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The First Fleet consisted of Two Naval Escorts,
Three Supply Ships and Six Transport Ships. The First Fleet
carried more than 1300 people made up of: 569 male convicts, 191
female convicts, marines and their wives and children and government
officials.
CONVICT SHIPS
Click on the ship's name for a list of the convicts and crew.
ALEXANDER was the largest transport ship in the First Fleet. She was a Barque built quarterdeck built in Hull in 1783, weighing 452 tons. Her master was Duncan Sinclair and the surgeon was William Balmain. Before leaving England sixteen men died when fever broke out on board. She left Portsmouth of 13 May 1787 and arrived at Port Jackson on 26 January 1788.
CHARLOTTE - 3 Mast Square Rigged Ship. 335 tons, 105ft long, 28ft wide. Built on River Thames in 1788. Master: Thomas Gilbert and Surgeon: John White. Arrived with 84 male convicts and 24 female convicts and 6 convicts children 30 Crew and 42 Marines.
FRIENDSHIP - The smallest of the transport ships.
She was built in Scarborough in 1784 and weighed 278 tons. Master:
Francis Walton and surgeon: Thomas Arndell. She departed
Portsmouth carrying seventy six male convicts and 21 female
convicts. The Friendship left Port Jackson in July 1788 along with
the Alexander. There were so many deaths from scurvy that
there was only enough crew for one ship, so the Friendship was
scuttled off the coast of Borneo.
LADY PENRHYN - Built
on the River Thames in 1786,
weighing 333 tons. Master: William Cropton Sever (part owner),
surgeon to the ship: Arthur Bowes Smyth and surgeon to the convicts:
John Turnpenny Altree. The Lady Penrhyn carried the first
horses brought to Australia. She carried 101 female convicts.
PRINCE OF WALES - Built of the Thames in 1786, weighing 350 tons.
Master: John Mason, died of scurvy on the return voyage. Carried one
male convict and 49 female convicts.
SCARBOROUGH - Built in Scarborough in 1782, weighing 430 tons.
Master: John Marshall and surgeon: Dennis Considen. Carried
208 male convicts
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LADY JULIANA - 1790
Master: Thomas Edgar Surgeon: Richard Alley.
As the convicts who had settled the 'new colony' were not
proficient in farming and the government food stocks began to run
low, the British Home Secretary, Evan Nepean, decided as well as
food the colony needed women and children, to prosper. Female
criminals, prostitutes, destitutes were gathered from London and
surrounds and were shipped off on the Lady Juliana to help stabilise
the new colony.
The Lady Juliana began it's ten month journey, to Australia, in July
1789. During the course of the journey the women cohabited with crew
members and entertained men at every port of call. The ship became
known as "The Floating Brothel" and was not received with 'open
arms' when it arrived in Sydney Cove. However three weeks later,
when the four supply ships arrived, Sydney Cove took a turn for the
better. Many of these women were in a good financial position when
they arrived in Sydney, in June 1790.