Life aboard the Adamant - an example of the hardship faced by convicts on their journey to Australia

The "Adamant" (the ship that Joseph Bull sailed on) was a sailing Ship of 427 tons and was built at Blyth near Newcastle, England in 1811.The ship arrived in Sydney on the 8th August 1821. At that time, the colony was governed by Lachlan Macquarie. The population of the colony was approximately 25,000.

The trip to Port Jackson, Australia, a distance of some 13,000 miles, lasted just over five months (163 days) and even though there were apparently no official complaints by the convicts, the trip must have been a terrible ordeal, as the prisoners were most likely starved.

The master, Captain William Ebsworthy apparently instigated the stealing and concealment on board of large quantities of sugar, wine beef and other provisions and medical comforts which were supplied for the convicts needs on the voyage. In the book, Convict Ships by Charles Batison, it is recorded that this voyage was to prove claims of criminal negligence on the part of ships steward, George Farris and arguably Captain Ebsworthy, as the convicts were starved and their medical supplies were not given to them.

However, according to the Sydney Gazette, September 1821, it is claimed that the prisoners were inspected by his Honor, The Lieutenant Governor and appeared to be "In the very best of health" when they landed. Only two lives were lost on the voyage.

Though Court proceedings were later taken in Sydney against Captain Ebsworthy over these shortages, the matter being referred to the Navy, the outcome is unknown to the writer.

Life aboard the Ganges

The "Ganges" (the ship that John Randall sailed on) was built in India in 1794 and was one of the first convict ships inspected at Portsmouth by Sir James Fitzpatrick, the Home-Department's Surgeon General. He ordered certain structural alterations and placed
ventilators, water purifiers, fumigants and medicines aboard the ship for its journey.. The "Ganges" embarked with 203 men, but her master and part owner Thomas Patrickson asked that the complement should be raised to 300. Fortunately, his request was refused and as she was a ship of 700 tons, she was not overcrowded when she sailed.

Thirteen convicts died on the passage and many survivors were suffering from scurvy on arrival. Her surgeon, James Mileham, who was going out to join the Colonial Medical Establishment, probably was inexperienced in the management of a large body of men at sea, and if another 100 men had been embarked, it seems certain that the death toll in the "Ganges" would have been much heavier." - The Convict Ships 1787-1868 by Charles Bateson.

Read more about the conditions aboard convict ships here.