Australian Convict Ships
1788 1st Fleet
The First Fleet 1788
Vessel Tons Arrived Port Sailed From Days Embarked Deaths New Cons Arrivals Master
M F M F M F M F
The First Fleet (1787-1788)
Vessel Year Built Tons Arrived Port Sailed From Days Embarked Deaths Arrivals Master Surgeon
M F M F M F
Alexander (T) 1783 Hull 452? 21 01 1788 NSW 13 05 1787 Portsmouth 251 195 ... ... ... Duncan Sinclair William Balmain
Charlotte (T) 1784 Thames 335? 22 01 1788 NSW 13 05 1787 Portsmouth 252 88 20 ... ... Thomas Gilbert John White
Friendship (T) 1784 Scarborough 274? 21 01 1788 NSW 13 05 1787 Portsmouth 251 76 21 ... ... Francis Walton Thomas Arndell
Lady Penrhyn (T) 1786 Thames 333? 22 01 1788 NSW 13 05 1787 Portsmouth 252 ... 101 ... ... Wm Cropton Sever John Turnpenny Altree/Arthur Bowes
Prince of Wales (T) 1786 Thames 350? 22 01 1788 NSW 13 05 1787 Portsmouth 252 1 49 ... ... John Mason ...
Scarborough (T) 1782 Scarborough 430? 21 01 1788 NSW 13 05 1787 Portsmouth 251 208 ... ... ... John Marshall Denis Considen
Borrowdale (S-S) 1785 Sunderland 272? 22 01 1788 NSW 13 05 1787 Portsmouth 252 ... ... ... ... Storeship ...
Fishburn (S-S) 1780 Whitby 378? 22 01 1788 NSW 13 05 1787 Portsmouth 252 ... ... ... ... ... ...
Golden Grove (S-S) 1780 Whitby 375? 22 01 1788 NSW 13 05 1787 Portsmouth 252 ... ... ... ... Storeship ...
Sirius (W) 612? 22 01 1788 NSW 13 05 1787 Portsmouth 252 ... ... ... ... John Hunter
Supply (W) 170? 20 01 1788 NSW 13 05 1787 Portsmouth 250 ... ... ... ... Lieutenant Henry Lidgbird Ball
Lady Juliana (T) 401 03 06 1790 NSW 29 07 1789 Plymouth 309 ... 226 ... 5 221 Capt Aitken Richard Alley
Guardian * (T) 21 02 1790 CAPE 12 09 1789 Spithead ... 25 ... 5 ... 20* ... Lt Edward Riou (RN) ...
* The Guardian struck an iceburg and limped back to Africa * 20 convicts survived and joined the Second Fleet
* 20 convicts survived and joined the Second Fleet
In December 1785, the Principal Secretary of State in Britain, Thomas Townsend, Viscount Sydney adopted the recommendation of Captain Cook to establish a Colony in New South Wales. Arthur Phillip was commissioned to establish the settlement at Botany Bay. In March 1787 ten ships selected as the First Fleet, rendezvoused at Mother Bank Isle of Wright. They were:- Sirius (frigate) Captain John Hunter. Supply (armed tender brig) Lieutenant Henry Lidgbird Ball. Golden Grove (storeship). Borrowdale (storeship). Scarborough (transport) carrying Captain, thirty three marines and two hundred and eight male convicts. Lady Penrhyn (transport) carrying Captain, two Lieutenants, three Privates and one hundred and two female convicts. Friendship (transport) carrying Captain, forty four marines and Privates, seventy seven male and twenty female convicts. Charlotte (transport) carrying Captain, forty three men, eighty eight male and twenty female convicts. Prince of Wales (transport) carrying two Lieutenants, thirty marines and fifty female convicts. Alexander (transport) carrying two Lieutenants, thirty five marines and two hundred and thirteen male convicts. Captain Arthur Phillip, Commodore of the Fleet, weighed anchor in the Sirius on 13 May 1787. The total number of people engaged in the First Fleet was 1,044 comprising of the following:- Civil officers 10 Marines, including officers 212 Wives (28) and children (17) of above 45 Other free persons 81 Male convicts 504 Female convicts 192 The Fleet sailed in convoy to Cape Town where animals and fruit trees were taken on board. Captain Phillip transferred to HM Supply and together with the Alexander, Scarborough and Friendship, sailed ahead to Botany Bay. The four ships sighted the New South Wales coast on 3 January 1788 and anchored in Botany Bay on 18 January. The Sirius with the remainder of the fleet arrived on the 20 January 1788. Botany Bay was deemed unsuitable for settlement and another site was chosen within a cove to the north in Port Jackson and named Sydney Cove in honour of Lord Sydney. By 26 January, when all the ships of the First Fleet were anchored inside Port Jackson, the British flag was raised and the Colony of New South Wales was proclaimed in the name of the King of England.
Columns represent: Name, sex, place sentenced in England, court sentence in years, alias
ABEL Robert London 7 ABRAMS Henry 7 ABRAHAMS Esther London 7 ABELL Mary Worcester 7 alias Tilley ACRES Thomas Exeter 7 ADAMS John London 7 ADAMS Mary London 7 AGLEY Richard Winchester 7 ALLEN John Hertford 7 ALLEN William Ormskirk 7 ALLEN Charles London 7 ALLEN Susannah London 7 ALLEN Mary London ALLEN Jamasun London 7 alias Boddington ALLEN Mary London 7 alias Conner ANDERSON John Exeter 7 ANDERSON Elizabeth London 7 ANDERSON John London 7 ANDERSON Fanny Winchester 7 ARCHER John London 7 ARSCOTT John Bodmin 7 ATKINSON George London 7 AULT Sarah London 7 AYNERS John London 7 alias Agnew AYRES John London 7 BARTLETT James Winchester 7 BARSBY George Winchester Life BARNETT Henry Warwick 7 alias Barnard, alia BAILS Robert Reading Life BARNES Stephen York 7 BANNISTER George London 7 BARFERD John London 7 BARLAND George London 7 BALDING James London 7 alias William BASON Elizabeth New Sarum wife of William Bas BAYLEY James New Sarum 7 BAZLEY John Exeter 7 BAKER Thomas Exeter 7 BARRETT Thomas Exeter Life BATLEY Caten Exeter 7 BARSBY Samuel Exeter 7 BALL John Exeter 7 BARRY John Bristol 7 BARRET Daniel BARRER Elizabeth BALDWIN Ruth London 7 alias Bowyer BAKER Martha London 7 BELL William London 7 BENEAR Samuel London 7 BELLET Jacob London 7 BEARDSLEY Ann Derby 5 BEST John BECKFORD Elizabeth London 7 BELLAMY Thomas Worcester 7 BRID James Croydon 7 BIRD Samuel Croydon 7 BISHOP Joseph BINGHAM John alias Boughan BINGHAM Elizabeth London alias Mooring BIRD Elizabeth Maidstone 7 alias Winifred BLACKHALL William Abingdon 7 BLUNT William London 7 BLAKE Francis London 7 BLATHERHORN William Exeter Life BLOEDWORTH James Kingstone 7 BLANCHETT Susannah Kingston 7 BOND Peter London 7 BOYLE John London 7 BOGGIS William BOND William Exeter 7 BOND Mary Wells 7 wife of John Bond BOULTON Rebecca Lincoln 7 BONNER Jane London 7 BOLTON Mary Shrewsbury 7 BROWN James Hertford 7 BROWN William Southwark 7 BRINDLEY John Warwick 7 BROWN Richard Reading 7 BROUGH William Stafford 7 BRADLEY James London 7 BROWN Thomas London 7 BRADBURY William London 7 BRYANT Thomas Maidstone 7 BRYANT William Launceston 7 BROWN Thomas Exeter 7 BRADFORD John Exeter 7 BRANNEGAN James Exeter 7 BRUCE Robert Exeter 7 BROWN William Exeter 7 BRYANT John Exeter 7 BREWER William Exeter 7 BRICE William Bristol 7 BRAND Curtis BRYANT Michael BRAND Lucy London 7 alias Wood BRANHAM Mary London 7 BRUCE Elizabeth London 7 BURLEIGH James London 7 BURN Peter London 7 BURNE James London 7 BUTLER William London 7 BUCKLEY Joseph Dorchester 7 BURRIDGE Samuel Dorchester 7 BURN Patrick BURN Simon BUFLEY John BUNN Margaret London 7 BURKITT Mary London 7 BURDO Sarah London 7 CARVER Joseph Maidstone 7 CASTLE James London 7 CAMPBELL James London 7 alias George CAMPBELL James Guildford 7 CARNEY John Exeter 7 CARTY Francis Bodmin 7 CAREY Ann Taunton 7 CARTER Richard Shrewsbury alias Michael Cartw CABLE Henry CARROLL Mary London wife of James Carro CESAR John Maidstone 7 CHIELDS William CHADDICK Thomas London 7 CHURCH William Dorchester 7 CHAAF William Exeter 7 CHINERY Samuel Exeter 7 CHANIN Edward Exeter 7 CLOUGH Richard Durham 7 CLEMENTS Thomas London 7 CLARK John London 7 alias Hosier CLARK William London 7 CLARKE John Exeter 7 CLEAVER Mary Bristol 7 CLEAR George CLARK Elizabeth CONNELLY William Bristol 7 CORMICK Edward Hertford 7 CORDEN James Warwick 7 COLLING Joseph London 7 COLE William London 7 COX John Matthew London 7 COLLIER Richard Kingstone 7 CONNOLLY William Bodmin 7 CONELLY Cornelius Exeter 7 COLMAN Ishmael Dorchester 7 COFFIN John Exeter 7 COLE Elizabeth Exeter 7 CON James Exeter COPP James Exeter 7 COOMBES Ann Taunton wife of Samuel Coom COLE Elizabeth London 7 COLLEY Elizabeth London 14 COOKE Charlotte London 7 COOPER Mary Worcester 7 COLPITTS Ann Durham 7 CROSS John New Sarum 7 CROPPER John London 7 CROSS William Coventry 7 CREAMER John Exeter 7 CREEK Jane London 7 CUNNINGHAM Edward London 7 CULLEN James Bryen London 7 CULLYHORN John Exeter 7 CUDLIP Jacob Bodmin 7 alias Norris CUSS John New Sarum 7 alias Hunsboy CUCKOW William DAY Richard Reading 7 DAVIES Edward Stafford 7 DAY Samuel Glocester 14 DAVIS Samuel Glocester 7 DAVIS William DAVIS James London 7 DANIELLS Daniel London 7 DALEY James London 7 DAVIDSON John London 7 DAVIS William Brecon Life DAVIS Richard DALEY Ann Nether Knutsfo7 wife of Gore Daley, DARNELL Margaret London 7 DAVIS Ann London 7 DALTON Elizabeth London 7 DAVIDSON Rebecca London wife of Robert Davi DAWSON Margaret London 7 DAVIS Frances Chelmsford 14 DAVIES Sarah Worcester 7 DAVIES Mary Shrewsbury 7 DENNISON Michael Poole 7 DENISON Barnaby Bristol 7 DELANY Patrick DICKSON Thomas Durham 7 alias Ralph Raw DISCALL Timothy Bodmin 7 DIXON Mary London 7 DICKENSON Mary Southwark 7 DOUGLAS William Lincoln 7 DOWLAND Ferdinand London 7 DODDING James alias Doring DRING William Kingston upon 7 DUNNAGE Joseph London Life DUDGENS Elizabeth DUNDASS Jane London 7 DUTTON Ann London 7 DEYER Leonard Southwark 7 DYKES Mary London 7 EARLE William New Sarum 7 EAGLETON William Kingston 7 alias Bones EATON Mary alias Shephard EARLY Rachel Reading 7 EATON Martha ECCLES Thomas Guildford Life EDMUNDS William Monmouth 7 EDWARDS William EGGLESTON George Maidstone 7 ELLAM Peter Ormskirk 7 ELLIOT William Croydon 7 ELLIOT Joseph Croydon 7 ELAM Deborah Chester 7 ENGLISH Nicholas London 7 EVERETT John Hertford 7 EVERINGHAM Matthew London 7 EVANS Williams Shrewsbury 7 EVANS Elizabeth London 7 FARRELL Phillip London 7 FARLEY William Bristol 7 FARMER Ann London FENTUM Benjamin London 7 FERGUSON John Exeter 7 FILLESEY Thomas Bristol 7 FITZGERALD Jane London 7 alias Phillips FIELD William FINLOW John alias Hervey FIELD Jane London FITZGERALD Elizabeth London 7 FLYN Edward FLARTY Phebe London 7 FOWKES Francis London 7 FORRESTER Robert London 7 FOYLE William New Sarum 7 FOWLES Ann London 7 FOWNES Margaret Shrewsbury 7 FORBES Ann Kingston 7 FREEMAN James Hertford 7 FREEMAN Robert London 7 FRANCIS William London 7 FRANCISCO George London 7 FRY George 7 FRYER Catherine alias Prior FRASER William Manchester 7 FRASER Ellen Manchester 7 FULLER John Manchester 7 GARDNER Francis London 7 GARTH Edward London 7 GARLAND Francis Exeter 7 GARTH Susannah alias Grath GABEL Mary Southwark 7 GASCOYGNE Olive Worcester 7 GEARING Thomas Oxford Life GESS George Gloucester 7 GEORGE Anne London 7 GLENTON Thomas Northallerton 7 GLOSTER William London 7 GORDON Daniel Winchester 7 GOODWIN Edward London 7 GOODWIN Andrew London 7 GOULD John Exeter 7 GRAY Charles Southwark 7 GRIFFITHS Samuel Gloucester alias Briscow, alia GREENWELL Nicholas London 7 GREEN John Reading 7 GRIFFITHS Thomas London 7 GRANGER Charles Plymouth 7 GRACE James GREEN Hannah GROVES Mary Lincoln 7 GREEN Mary London 7 GREEN Ann London 7 GREENWOOD Mary (?) London 7 GUNTER William Bristol 7 HANDFORD John Winchester 7 HATCHER John Winchester 7 HATFIELD William Maidstone 7 HAWKES Richard Reading 7 HARRIS William Maidstone 7 HATCH John Reading 7 HARTLEY John Oxford 7 HART John Stafford 7 HAINES Joseph Gloucester 7 HATHAWAY Henry Gloucester 7 HAYES Dennis London 7 HALL Samuel London 7 HARBINE Joseph London 7 HARPER Joshua London 7 HAYTON George London 7 alias Clayton HARRISON Joseph London 7 HART John London 7 HARRIS John London Life HAYES John Guildford 7 HATTOM Joseph HARRIFON Joseph HAMLIN William Exeter 7 HALL Joseph Exeter Life HALL John Exeter 7 HADON John Exeter 7 HA?ES William HANDY Cooper HAYNES William HERVEY Elizabeth HALL Margaret HART Frances HARRISON Mary Lincoln 7 HEADING James Chelmsford Life HEADINGTON Thomas Abingdon 7 HERBERT John London 7 HART Catherine London 7 HERBERT John Exeter 7 HANDLAND Dorothy London 7 alias Gray HALL Sarah London 7 HAMILTON Maria london 7 HARRISON Mary London 7 HARWOOD Ester London 7 alias Howard HAYWARD Elizabeth London 7 HALL Elizabeth Newcastle 7 HERBERT Jane London alias Rose, alias J HENRY Catherine London 7 HILL John Maidstone Life HINDLEY William Ormskirk 7 alias Platt HINDLE Ottiwell Preston 7 HILL John London 7 HILL Thomas London 7 HILT William Exeter Life HILL Thomas 7 HIPSLEY Eliabeth London 7 HILL Mary London 7 HOLLISTER Job Bristol 7 HAWELL Thomas Stafford 7 HOLMES William London 7 HOLLOWAY James London 7 HOWARD Thomas London 7 HOGG William London 14 HOWARD John London 7 HORTOP James Exeter 7 HOLLAND William Exeter 7 HOLMES Susannah HOLLOGIN Elizabeth London 7 HUGHES Hugh Southwark 7 HUMPHREY Edward London 7 HUSBAND William London 7 HUGHES John Maidstone 7 HURLEY Jeremiah Exeter 7 HUBBARD William HUMPHREYS Henry Exeter 7 HUGHES Thomas HUDSON John HUSSEY James HUGHES Frances Ann Lancaster 7 HUFFNELL Susannah Worcester 7 HUMPHRIES Mary HYLIDS Thomas Guildford 7 INGRAM Benjamin London 7 INETT Ann Worcester 7 IRVINE John Lincoln alias Aderson, alia JACKSON William Durham 7 JACOBS David London 7 JACOBS John London 7 JACKSON Hannah Bristol 7 JAGET Joseph Exeter 7 JAMESON James JACKSON Jane London alias Esther Robert JACKSON Mary London 7 JEFFRIES Robert Devizes 7 JEFFERIES John Maidstone 7 JENKINS Robert Maidstone 7 alias Brown JEPP John London 7 JENKINS William Exeter 7 JONES Francis Winchester 7 JONES Thomas Warwick 7 JOHNSON Charles Manchester 7 JONES Edward London 7 JOSEPHS Thomas London 7 JOHNSON William Kingston 7 JOHNS Stephen Launceston 7 JONES Margaret Launceston 14 JOHNSON Edward Dorcester 7 JONES John Exeter 14 JONES William Shewsbury 7 JONES Richard Shewsbury 7 JONES Thomas Bristol 14 JOHNSON Catherine London 7 JOHNSON Mary London 7 KELLY Thomas Pontefract 7 KELLAN John London Life alias Keeling KENNEDY Martha Kingston 7 KIDNEY Thomas Bristol 7 KILBY William Reading 7 KING John London 7 KILPACK David London Life KIMBERLEY Edward Coventry 7 KNOWLER John Maidstone 7 KNOWLAND Andrew * Correspondence 09/25/02 The First Fleet initially landed in BOTANY BAY, but there was difficulty in finding a suitable site for settlement, and within days the fleet moved further north to PORT JACKSON. The actual settlement was established on SYDNEY COVE, a small bay inside Port Jackson (an extremely large natural inlet), and this is now the central business district of the city of Sydney. The Opera House and the Harbour Bridge are close by. At this time the whole of the east coast of the Australian continent was claimed by the British as NEW SOUTH WALES. The colony was later subdivided (excising the states of Tasmania, Victoria and Queensland) and the remnant part was the COLONY OF NEW SOUTH WALES. On Federation in 1901, it became the STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES within the COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA, with Sydney as the capital city of NSW. Your reference for these fleets should be to Port Jackson, New South Wales. Later arrivals would probably refer to Sydney, but the two are interchangeable in the minds of most Australians. Mike Hurburgh, Australia
October, 1788 - London CHRONICLE
This is a fictitious newspaper which appeared as a four-page "composite newspaper" in the Sydney Daily Mirror on January, 1969. Click Here for partial scan of paper.
Transcribed and contributed by Sheila Tate a member of the
Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild
4 May 2002
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