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Convict Ship Caroline 1833
Captain Alexander MacDonald. Surgeon Superintendent George Birnie
Embarked 120 women
Voyage 113 days
Deaths 0
Surgeon's Journal - Yes
Previous vessel: Waterloo arrived 3 August 1833
Next vessel: Captain Cook arrived 25 August 1833
The Caroline was the next vessel sailing from Ireland to New South Wales with prisoners after the Portland in February 1833. The Caroline departed Cork on 15th April 1833.
The crew consisted of twenty six men and boys including the Captain. There was a Mate, 2nd Mate, 3rd Mate, Carpenter, Steward, Cook, Sailmaker, ship's auditor and twelve seamen. There were four apprentices, one of whom was lost overboard. A boy on board was noted as being equal to a man.
The female prisoners of the Caroline came from different counties in Ireland - Dublin, Roscommon, Armagh, Tyrone, Limerick, Cork and Kerry etc. They were held in county gaols before being transferred to Cork for transportation to New South Wales.
The Tralee Mercury states, as a proof of the peaceable state of the counties of Cork and Kerry, that sixteen convicts were forwarded by the Kerry Company's coach on Tuesday from the county gaol to Cork city (to be shipped at Cove), guarded only by three soldiers (The Morning Post 5th March 1833)
Convict Penitentiary Cork.
THIS penitentiary for the reception of female convicts prior to their embarkation is kept under very good regulations, and in a highly creditable state, under the superintendence of Dr. Trevor, the officer at the head of the convict department.
The numbers vary according to the shipment of the convicts at Cove; at the time of my inspection 40 females were in the penitentiary, well employed at various works.
Nothing can be more economical, regular or creditable to the officer in charge, than this establishment.
The only remaining male prisoners, are old and infirm men, who were unable to proceed to the colonies, with the exception of these cases, no prisoners are now committed to that side of the house which was formerly occupied by men.
George Birnie kept a Medical Journal from 1 March to 28 August 1833........
From his General Remarks: On the 29th March 1833 we received on board the Caroline at the Cove of Cork, fifteen free women and forty one of their children, being the wives and children of convicts ordered a passage to New South Wales by His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant, and on the 30th we received one hundred and twenty female convicts and thirteen of their children, making a total of 189.
Passengers included Lieut. Croker Barrington.
The surgeon's Journal continues: - The Convicts when embarked had in general a healthful and clean appearance and throughout the voyage they kept themselves and their berths in a state of the most perfect cleanliness.
We had a good deal of sickness and incidental during a long and solitary voyage to persons unaccustomed to a sea life; but no deaths or casualties among the free settlers, the prisoners or any of their children. It will be seen by the copy of the daily sick book, I had in all ninety seven cases on the list and I regret that I can give only sixteen and they imperfect, my papers having gone astray during the disembarkation of prisoners. These few cases however will give a pretty correct idea of the nature of the complaints which generally occurred during the voyage.
By my instructions from the Admiralty, I am desired to guard as far as possible against the introduction and spread of contagions as well as attend to the health, comfort and morals of the prisoners placed under my charge and I assert that nothing is more calculated to fulfil the intention of these instructions than the substitution of proper water closets for the disgusting and beastly soil pans especially in female convict ships to all consideration of the intolerable nuisance produced in cases of general sickness by these soil cases not only in the prison and hospital but all over the ship, the men particularly in bad weather, are brought more in contact with the women than they would otherwise be and the disgusting office makes them assume liberties which they would not otherwise do - Various other considerations, obvious enough but not fit to be stated here induce me again to repeat that every convict ship and more especially female convict ships should always be fitted up with water closets. No one who has not actually experienced it can form any adequate idea of the abominable and disgusting nuisance of these soil pans as they are delicately called. The chloride of lime was liberally used and contributed greatly to the sweetness and comfort of the prison, hospital and place allotted to the free settlers.
The Caroline arrived in Sydney on 6th August 1833. The previous vessel carrying female convicts was the Surry which arrived in November 1832. The prisoners were mustered on 9th August. They were landed on Friday 16th August and twenty were embarked on the steamer Sophia Jane and taken to the Hunter region for assignment.
Notice was given that those families in want of female servants could be supplied from the prisoners who arrived on the Caroline, provided they apply according to the established form. The assignees were required to enter into an engagement under a penalty of forty shillings to keep their servants for one month unless removed by due course of the law.
The free women were landed on Saturday 24th August and taken to the lumber yard where accommodation and lodgings had been established. (The lumber yard was situated on the corner of Bridge and George Streets until 1833). A great number of them joined their husbands immediately and the remainder were awaiting the arrival of their husbands from the interior. Their names are included in the New South Wales, Australia Convict Ship Muster Rolls and Related Records, 1790-1849 at Ancestry - Ann Grogan with two children; Johanna Murray or Mahony with three children; Bridget Kelly with four children; Bridget McKeon with four children, Ann Savage with three children; Mary Owens with four children; Ellen Kinsela with one child; Sarah Jordan with two children; Mary Smith with six children; Jane Cusack with two children; Margaret McNamara with seven children; Mary Hogan with five children and Margaret Ford or Keon; Mary McNamara and Catherine Irwin.
Heritage Branch site describes the lumber yard vicinity:- The Government Convict Lumber Yard, established by Governor Phillip, was established on the south-west side of the `Bridgeway´ (Bridge Street) over the Tank Stream and east of `High Street´ (George Street). It extended to the bank of the Tank Stream. In 1806 part of the yard was leased to Garnham Blaxcell, a merchant and trader who entered into partnership with John McArthur who leased property across the road in George Street. In 1810 the new governor, Lachlan Macquarie, gave Blaxcell, Alexander Riley and D´Arcy Wentworth a contract to build a general hospital to be completed in 1816, in return for the right to import 45,000 gallons of spirits over the next three years. An 1813 engraving of the area shows a substantial building within the confines of the lumber yard which provided useful short-term accommodation for female immigrants after the yard was closed in 1832.
George Birnie was also employed as surgeon on convict ships Asia in 1831and the Blenheim in 1837 (VDL)
The Caroline was one of five convict ships bringing female prisoners to New South Wales in 1833, the others being the Fanny, Surry, Buffalo and Diana. A total of 639 female convicts arrived in the colony in 1833.
The Caroline under Captain Macdonald was to sail for Mauritius on 31st August 1833.
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The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Thursday 20 March 1834, page 1
NOTICE
WHEREAS, my Wife, JANE GILLIGAN, has absconded from her home, without cause or provocation:- These are to caution and warn all Persons, not to give trust or credit to the said JANE GILLIGAN, as I will not be responsible for any debts she may contract after this date.
PETER GILLIGAN.
Nepean, March 18,1834,
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The Sydney Monitor (NSW : 1828 - 1838), Wednesday 27 June 1838, page 4
THE following are the SUBSCRIPTIONS up to this date, towards the projected CATHOLIC CHAPEL at PENRITH; the Committee in returning thanks for the same, beg leave to solicit further Subscriptions from those whose attention has not yet been engaged by the subject, and as they mean speedily to Advertise for Tenders, they request that those who have already Subscribed will be kind enough to pay the amount of their several Contributions to John Black, Esq., Cashier, of the Bank of New South Wales; to Mr. Peter Gilligan; Mr. John Delany; Mr. M'Carthy, Junior, at Penrith; or, Mr. James Covey, at Mulgoa. By Order, JOHN PURCELL, Secretary. Penrith, 1st June, 1838.
Peter Gilligan........ .. .. 2p 10s 0d
Mrs. Gilligan ........ .. .. .. 2p 10s 0d
(Long list of names mentioned)
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Jane's Gravestone reads:
"Erected by Peter Gilligan
In memory of his late wife
Jane Gilligan
who departed this life
July 21, 1858
Aged 51
Also Percy John, a grandson"
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