A Battle against the odds, Chapter 12, part 6

A transcription of the now out of print family history book, A Battle against the odds, Chapter 12, part 6. This section concerns the Irish convict, Mary Tully Smith (1799-1868), my GG Grandmother.

In this section Irish convict Mary Tully sails from Cork, Ireland on the convict ship, Elizabeth I. Their destination is Sydney, in the colony of New South Wales.
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At 5 pm the same day 28 female convicts from Cork Prison came aboard "repeatedly cheering as they came alongside" (wrote Surgeon Wm. Hamilton). A few days later three more from Cork arrived on board making the total of 101. Anticipating possible rivalry between Dublin and Cork groups Surgeon Hamilton immediately divided the 101 convicts into small sections and issued them with identical supplies of food and clothing. He also made it clear that each section was responsible for its own welfare, cleanliness and adherence to his orders designed to get them to their destination 12,000 miles away in good health and condition.
The wisdom of these measures is confirmed by the records which show that all 101 female convicts sailed from Cork on 26th July 1818 and they were all landed safe and sound in Sydney on 19th May 1818. There were no deaths and very little illness on the ship which sailed "direct" to Sydney in only 116 days. The ship was 482 tons, built at Chepstow 1809 Master Wm Ostler, Surgeon Wm. Hamilton.

Surgeon's Journal
 

The copy of this journal can be seen at the NSW Public Library. There is nothing spectacular about it and it contains repetitions of the day to day routine set from the start in Cork Harbour. The good thing about the operation is that he succeeded in his intention to maintain cleanliness, harmony and good health. In 1986 we may well give thanks to Wm. Hamilton. Governor Lachlan Macquarie was pleased to endorse the Journal on 15th January 1819 as follows:

    "Having perused the forgoing Medical Journal and Diary, I have every reason to express my entire         approbation of Surgeon and Superintendent Mt. William Hamilton's conduct."
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My note. I have transcribed this section directly from the book, A Battle against the odds. However, the original author has made an error in stating the convict ship left Cork, Ireland in July 1818 and arrived in Sydney on 19th May 1818. The date of arrival should read 19th November 1818.

Transcription to be continued...