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Experiences on the voyage of the First Fleet
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Experiences on the voyage of the First Fleet
Convict voices ~ Unsigned letters - Settlement
Unfortunately, there are few published memories written by First Fleet convicts Most detailed accounts come from officers and marines. This was because convicts were often either illiterate, or their writings were not preserved. Additionally, they were not permitted to keep journals on the voyage. 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 sources
James Martin
The only surviving first-person narrative written by a First Fleet Irish convict who is identified by name, is by James Martin in “Memorandoms by James Martin” (c.1790–1791). Martin 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.
Source: Memorandoms-by-James-Martin.pdf​​​​​
…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 on governments account— on being landed we were Encamped— and fourmed in sqads of six in a tent— after we Bing Encamped We Some were sent to Clear they ground Others Sent to Build huts — I Remaind on the Island from January 1788— unto March 1791— on the 28 Day of March made My Escape..."
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Source: 27 Jan 1938 - MOTHER OF MANY SORROWS. - Trove​​​​​
As outlined, surviving letters written by women of the First Fleet are rare, although the following newspaper article written by Ernestine Hill and published in 1938 references several letters.
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"Women of the First Fleet
Our births far exceed our burials, but the tears that are shed on infants at the breast!" (Woman convict's letter)
...About 250 women sailed with Phillip for an unknown land in 1787 and few of them were free. Thirty six of the officers and marines brought their wives and families with them the rest were fettered...
History tells that they were landed at Port Jackson on the evening of February 6. Hardly had the boats reached shore than a thunderstorm broke above them with hail and lightning so violent that five sheep were killed. It must have been a night of terror, there was no shelter but the forest trees where, to their fevered fancy, cannibal blacks and perhaps wild beasts were prowling. "An alligator among the tents at night" was in all seriousness reported.
"The most desert, wild and solitary seclusion that the imagination can compass," wrote one woman convict at this time.
Within a few weeks, a straggling little street was in evidence, of rush huts scarcely distinguishable from those of the natives. Seven babies were born on the voyage and there was about 20 children in the settlement all told. In the sober grey of convict garb, the women might have been cutting grass, sewing shirts for the men and preparing the food at the cooking fires. So haphazard had been the departure from the motherland that thev themselves were lacking in adequate clothing. Scurvy was rife and the little gardens so promptly and hopefully planted would not thrive.
There was no Governor's ladv at Government House, a tent overlooking the harbour, and social life as such, was non-existent. Mrs Johnson, the girl-wife of the chaplain, of necessity dedicated herself to an infant son horn on the journey and the wives of the military officers and marines were sharing the daily struggle to live.
AS the huts multiplied and two or three sorry little streets took form the situation lightened a little and we may be sure that there were pleasant evenings in the candle-light with games and songs and memories of home that doubtless ended in tears and earnest prayer.
A small supply of pork and peas and rice and flour, scarcely sufficient to sustain life was given out twice a week. The salt pork shrank so visibly when it was boiled that it was little more than toasted and eaten half raw...
"Our kangaroo roasts are like mutton but much leaner" another chronicler tells us "but without salt or sugar meals are very insipid. A wild spinach that was nothing more nor less than chickweed was the only vegetable procurable, but the bush did yield one comfort, knovn far and wide as 'sweet tea'. A kind of ground ivy from which could be distilled a very palatable drink, it was universally popular as a beverage even in Governor Macquarie's time..."
In a letter to a friend in England a convict woman says:
"The women look like gypsies... They have neither bowl nor spoon nor knife, but what they make of the green wood of this country and one small iron pot to dress their meat and rice."
There surely must have been light hearts among them rejoicing in the natural beauty of the harbour and the bushland, the birds of bright plumage, the quaint and friendly kangaroos and opossums, and the shining curves of beach on the rim of the Pacific where with wistful eyes they watched for a ship from home.
In the new life the children certainly thrived. From the very beginning they were splendid specimens of British youth, carefree and eager for the best. Few of them were taught to read and write, but their health and stature and character were a splendid advertisement for the climate and the country and their sunny days unshadowed by their parents' woe. Early they learned to love their heritage, the land, and many of them distinguished themselves as the sons and daughters of the youthful Australia..."
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Source: 05 Aug 1954 - Old Diary Throws A New Light On First Fleet - Trove​​​​​
Sergeant James Scott, of the Marines, who came to Australia on the Prince of Wales in the First Fleet, provided references to his wife:​
"1787, August 28 ... My wife was delivered of a daughter at 1o'clock p.m., after being ill 27 hours.
1787, September 3 ...The Rev. Richard Johnson came on board and christened my child.
October 24.— I and my wife and child went on shore (Table Bay) with Sergt. Devane and Perry and their wives and spent the day very agreeably. Went to the Company's gardens and saw the various birds, which is as desirable a place as ever I would wish to see."
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Source: Unsigned letter from Port Jackson, 14 November 1788 (Series 36.02) - No. 0001 | Transcription Tool​​​​​
FIRST FLEET & BOTANY BAY: THE LONDON CHRONICLE May 28-30, 1789: This edition of the newspaper contains an account of life in the Colony written by a woman. It is headed "The following Letter from Port Jackson, dated Nov.14, 1788". First-hand accounts by women of the earliest phase of European settlement are very scarce.
"I take the first opportunity that has been given us, to acquaint you with our disconsolate situation in this solitary waste of the creation. Our passage, you may have heard by the first ships, was tolerably favourable; but the inconveniences since suffered for want of shelter, bedding, &c. are not to be imagined by any stranger. However, we have now two streets, if four rows of the most miserable huts you can possibly conceive of, deserve that name: windows they have none, as from the Governor's house, &c. now nearly finished, no glass could be spared; so that lattices of twigs are made by our people to supply their places. At the extremity of the lines, where, since our arrival, the dead are buried, there is a place called the churchyard; but we hear as soon as a sufficient quantity of bricks can be made, a church is to be built, and named St. Philip, after the Governor. Notwithstanding all our presents, the savages continue to do us all the injury they can, which makes the soldiers duty very hard, and much dissatisfaction among the officers. I know not how many of our people have been killed. As for the distresses of the women, they are past description, as they are deprived of tea and other things they were indulged in, in the voyage, by the seamen; and as they are all totally unprovided with clothes, those who have young children are quite wretched. Besides this, though a number of marriages have taken place, several women, who became pregnant on the voyage, and are since left by their partners, who have returned to England, are not likely even here to form any fresh connections. We are comforted with the hopes of a supply of tea from China, and flattered with getting riches when the settlement is complete, and the hemp which the place produces is brought to perfection. Our kangaroo cats are like mutton, but much leaner; and here is a kind of chickweed so much in taste like our spinach, that no difference can be discerned. Something like ground ivey is used for tea; but a scarcity of salt and sugar makes our best meals insipid. The separation of several of us to an uninhabited island (Norfolk Island) was like a second transportation. In short, everyone is so taken up with their own misfortunes, that they have no pity to bestow upon others.
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Source: Extract of a Letter from one of the Women Convicts...', 24 July 1790 (Series 36.10) - No. 0001 | Transcription Tool​​​​​
​While the following letter (dated July 24, 1790) is an extract from a woman convict who sailed in the Lady Juliana as part of the Second Fleet, it provides an account of conditions upon arrival, from a woman's point of view.
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"We arrived here safe after a long voyage, in very good health, thanks to our good agent on board, and the gentleman in England who sent us out, as we had every thing that we could expect from them, and all our provisions were good. We landed here 223 women and 12 children; only three women died, and one child; five or six were born on board the ship; they had great care taken of them, and baby linen and every necessary for them, were ready made to be put on.
The greatest part of the women were immediately sent to Norfolk Island, a place about 100 miles from here, but very bad for shipping; there is no place to land at but in very fine weather. The Serius man of war was lost at this place about six or seven months ago, when she carried some men and women from here; she landed them all safe, but lost almost all their provisions. This place was in a very starving condition before we arrived, and on allowance of only 2lb. of flour, and 2lb. of pork for each man for a week, and these were almost starved, and could not work but three hours in the day; they had no heart; and the ground won't grow any thing, only in spots here and there; there is a place called Rose Hill, about twenty miles from this, where they say there are four corn fields, but it does not grow much wheat; we are now much in want of almost every thing; we have hardly any cloaths; but since the Scarborough, Neptune, and Surprize arrived, we have had a blanket and a rug given us, and we hope to have some cloaths, as the Justinian, a ship that came from London with provisions, bringing some clot h and linen, and we are to make the cloaths.
Oh! if you had but seen the shocking sight of the poor creatures that came out in the three ships, it would make your heart bleed; they weree almost dead; very few could stand, and they were obliged to sling them as you would goods, and hoist them out of they ship they were so feeble; and they died ten or twelve of a day when they first landed; but some of them are getting better; there died on their way here on board the Neptune, 182 men and 12 women, and in the Scarborough 67 men, and in the Surpize 85; they were not so long as we were in coming here, but they were confined and had bad victuals and stinking water; the Governor was very angry, and scolded the Captains a great deal, and I heard intended to write to London about it; for I heard him say it was murdering them - it to be sure was a melancholy sight - what a difference between us and them, God Bless our good Agent (I don't mean the Captain) we had no reason to complain against him for any thing; all our provisions and cloaths were good.
I don't think I ever shall get away from this place to come again to see you, without an order from England; for some of the mens times were out, and they went and spoke to the Governor of it, and told him that they would not work; he told them he could not send them home without orders from London, and if they would not work they should have nothing to eat, so they almost all went again to work except ten, who were saucy, and the Governor ordered them a good flogging; but all that came from London in the first fleet time, will be out in less than two years time. I hope you will try to get an order for me, that I may once more see you all."