The Convicts
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Experiences of men, women and children on the First Fleet voyage
Unfortunately, there are few published memories written by First Fleet convicts. many of whom were often either illiterate, or their writings were not preserved. Additionally, they were not permitted to keep journals on the voyage.
The only surviving first-person narrative written by a First Fleet convict is by James Martin in “Memorandoms by James Martin” (c.1790–1791). Martin, an Irishman, arrived on the Charlotte, although his references to the voyage are sparing, the book concentrating on events following arrival, and an account of when he, in company with 12 others escaped from Botany Bay on 28 March 1791.
Some other convict stories were written down later in life, but many were told by other people rather than written by the convicts themselves.
Primary source
Selected excerpts
James Martin
Voyage chapters
Overview - The First Fleet
Overview - The Voyage
Overview - The London Chronicle
Arthur Phillip - Commander
Watkin Tench - Naval officer
John White Esq
Convict voices & Women
Arthur Bowes-Smyth - Surgeon
David Blackburn, Master of Supply
Source: Memorandoms-by-James-Martin.pdf​​​​​
…I James Martin Being Convicted at they City of Exeter in they County of Devonshire Being found guilty of Stealing 16/2Ib of old Lead and 4/2Ib of old Iron — Recevd they property of Lord Courney powdrum Cacle nere Exeter— Recevd Sentence for to be Transported to Botany Bay for 7 years— Returned from they Bar to Exeter goal & there remaind 2 Months— from thence sent on Board they Dunkirk there remaind 10 month from thence put on Board they Charlotte Transport Then Bound to Botany Bay— March 12 1787.
Saild Round to Spithead thence Remaind to they 13 of May— then Sail in Copany with 10 Sail for Botany Bay under Comandand of govoner Philips. Made they Peek of Tenureef— 5 Day of June, there Remaind 7 Days, then saild for they Island of Reiodeginera, being 8 wks on our passage— there remaind one Month then Saild for they Cape of good hope— Being Eight weeks and three Days on our pasage— then Saild for Botany Bay Being 10 weeks on our pacage— Came to an anchor in port Jackson Send on Shore in two Days— they Convicts Being Sent on Shore So Began to work."
Mary Broad (nee Talbot)
Source: Correspondence of Convict Mary Talbot 1791​​​​​
While not a part of the First Fleet, another voice is that of Mary Broad (nee Talbot), who was convicted of stealing a piece of linen and sentenced to seven years transportation. After escaping, she was caught and eventually transported on the convict ship Mary Ann which departed England on 16 February 1791. While in transit, Mary penned a letter to a gentleman who was attemptin, unsuccessfully, to have Mary reunited with her husband and three children in America. This letter, which was later published in The Times, provided an account of conditions, from a female convict's perspective.
"St. Jago, March 29, 1791
Most Honoured Sir,
Your past kindness to me, induces me to trouble you with some account of where I am, and what kind of voyage I have had: - the latter, however, cannot be a very favourable one, for we have been surrounded by dangers. We sailed from Portsmouth the 23rd of February, with the wind much against us, and were so much in danger, that we feared we should have shared the fate of a ship which was lost within sight of us.
Our good Captain very kindly dropped anchor at the Nase, but did not stop more than one night, and sailed for the Downs, where we sent our pilot on shore. On the 25th and 26th, along the Coast, we had a violent storm, which lasted 24 hours; during every moment of its continuance we expected to perish, and were washed out of our beds between decks, while the sea-sickness and the groans and shrieks of so many unhappy wretches, made the situation we were in truly distressing; for there were 138 women and five children; two of the latter born after we sailed, and one only died on our passage hither, where we remain no longer than is necessary to repair the ship and taken in water. Our Captain hopes we shall arrived at Botany Bay in August, if it please God the weather should prove favourable. This is a very fine island, supposed to be very rich, but the inhabitants I have seen are principally Blacks. The general produce is poultry, hogs, and goats, which are very fine of their kind; and rich fruits, such as oranges, melons, etc., are very plentiful and cheap.
The 16th of March we crossed the Line, where we were dipped in a tub of salt water by the sailors, and tarred all over; it being a rule amongst them to make every one pay so much money, or undergo this, and we all shared the same fate. I have been greatly distressed for want of money, because I came away without being able to see my husband..."