Ship's Journal: Dorothy 1820

Journal of the convict ship Dorothy for 1 March to 29 September 1820
by Robert Espie, RN

Setting the scene

At the Galway Assizes on 31 March, 1820 John Madden, together with three other prisoners, "... were indicted for appearing in arms as Ribbonmen, and for administering unlawful oaths."

This journal is in the form of a diary recording the ship's position, weather observations and the daily routine of cleaning the prison and allowing divisions of convicts on deck, but very little information about the prisoners or their illnesses except for disciplinary measures.  (Described at item level).

Folio 1: 20 April 1820, Cove of Cork, 30 convicts received, 26 with double irons, 4 with single for bad legs.

Folio 1: 21 April 1820, Cove of Cork, convicts clean their berths and lower decks, given scale of provisions. No sick.

Folio 1: 22 April 1820, Cove of Cork, prisoners very orderly.

Folio 2: 23 April 1820, Cove of Cork, 102 male convicts received, all double ironed except 5 or 6 with bad legs. Their general appearance is healthy.

Folio 2: 24 April 1820, Cove of Cork, 51 more convicts received, 3 or 4 in single irons. Convicts on deck 60 at a time.

Folio 2: 25 April 1820, Cove of Cork, 2 more convicts received, convicts on deck to wash themselves and clean prison.

Folio 2: 26 April 1820, Cove of Cork, 6 convicts received, 5 of whom were Ribbonmen, discharged James Kelly, leaving 190 convicts.

Folio 2: 27 April 1820, Cove of Cork, handcuffed Martin Gill for theft, single ironed John Gauly (boy) and John Connolly, cook.

Folio 2: 28 April 1820, Cove of Cork, 3 prisoners discharged and 3 received in return. Single ironed Edward McCoy, John Healy and Michael Tully.

Folio 3: 29 April 1820, Cove of Cork, handcuffed Timothy O'Brien of City of Cork for fighting, removed irons from Edward Geraghty because of sickness, released Martin Gill from handcuffs.

Folio 3: 30 April 1820, Cove of Cork, issued new shirts to prisoners, released Timothy O'Brien from handcuffs. No sick.

Folio 3: 1 May 1820, Cove of Cork, prisoners on deck in divisions, one man sick from an affection of his chest.

Folio 3: 2 May 1820, Cove of Cork, issued trousers to the prisoners and made them smart for inspection by Admiral Sir Joseph Rowley and the Flag Captain. Unironed Patrick Reilly (boy).

Folio 3: 3 May 1820, Cove of Cork, one man sick from severe cold, single ironed two men because their bazzles were too tight.

Folio 3: 4 May 1820, Cove of Cork, convicts on deck alternately throughout the day, one man confined from sore throat. Dr Trevor mustered the prisoners and dismissed the ship from demurrage at 9pm, dropped down into the fair.

Folio 4: 5 May 1820, Cove of Cork, at 11am weighed anchor and made sail out of the harbour. Convicts generally sea sick.

Folio 6: 18 May 1820, weather fine, stowed beds at 6am and had all prisoners on deck to wash before 8am, inspected them at 9am found all clean. Unironed John Dunne and Francis McNamara. Single ironed Jonathan Duncan, Thomas Kenna, Richard Keating, Edward Maxwell and Joseph Gilmore being quiet orderly men. Double ironed John Harvey for disorderly conduct. Punished John Lynch with 24 lashes for theft.

Folio 6: 19 May 1820, weather fine, prison remarkably clean, prisoners on deck in divisions. Single ironed Patrick Arnold. Formed a school of about 40 men anxious to learn to read and spell.

Folio 6: 20 May 1820, unironed Edward Gilchrist, John Dingle, John Kelly 'not (Blucher)' and Patrick Neil; single ironed John Harvey, James Hoare, Thady Hasty, Patrick Deegan and James Aherin 'being well behaved quiet men'.

Folio 6: 21 May 1820, weather beautiful, mustered convicts in their berths, found them clean and decent. Handcuffed John Dempsey for fighting.

Folio 6: 22 May 1820, mustered all the convict's jackets and stockings and stowed them away until the ship reaches cold weather in the Southern Hemisphere. The 40 scholars incorporated into classes, all making good progress. Removed handcuffs from John Dempsey. Made the island of Madeira.

Folio 7: 23 May 1820, punished Edward Fleming (boy) with 24 lashes for night rambling. Unironed Peter Hennessy, Matthew Casey, Peter McGawren, Daniel Sullivan and John Sharkey. Single ironed John Hart, Timothy Maher, Timothy Hogan, Patrick Rochford and Thomas Kelly being quiet, orderly men.

Folio 7: 24 May 1820, punished William Moran (boy) with 6 lashes for insolence to one of the sentries.

Folio 7: 25 May 1820, Punished Michael McMullen (boy) with 12 lashes for disorderly conduct. Single ironed Andrew McCall. The scholars found to be making good progress.

Folio 7: 26 May 1820, weather settled and fine, none indisposed.

Folio 7: 27 May 1820, weather fine. Unironed Charles Hunt, John Dalton, William Shields, Patrick Deegan, Patrick Aherin, James McEvoy, Timothy Goulding, Patrick Gough, James Callaghan, Timothy Hogan and John Duncan. Single ironed Patrick Kinsella, William Silke, Bryan Devlin, John Campbell, Patrick Kelly and John Hogan being quiet, orderly men.

Folio 7: 28 May 1820, Sunday, all prisoners on deck to wash before breakfast, berths and convicts inspected and found to be clean. Divine Service. Half a pint of wine served as usual on Sundays.

Folio 8: 29 May 1820, made the Cape Verde islands in the evening. Unironed Thomas Gately, James Carroll, Patrick Carty, Humphrey Lyons, Philip McCormick, Michael Downey, James Greylish, Thomas Greylish, Patrick Kelly, Thomas Kelly, James Murray, James Annesley, Patrick Moran, John Malone, James Maguire, Denis White and Richard Burke.

Folio 8: 30 May 1820, in the evening served an ounce of lime juice and sugar to each of the convicts, passengers and guard.

Folio 8: 31 May 1820, scholars making good progress. Handcuffed together John Harvey and Luke Corcoran for disturbing the school.

Folio 8: 1 June 1820, punished Jeremiah Driscoll with 24 lashes and Denis Shine with 18 lashes for theft. Unironed Thomas Matthews, James Carr, John Murphy, Edward Maxwell, Patrick Corbett, Cornelius Kenny, Philip Brenan, Michael O'Brien, James McDonald, John Dolan, Boy Trayner, boy Cody, John Murtaugh, John Healy and John Madden.

Folio 8: 2 June 1820, scholars making rapid progress, none sick. Unironed James Connolly, B, James Ryan and William McMacken being quiet, orderly characters. Scrubbed and washed clothes.

Folio 8: 3 June 1820, weather sultry being nearly calm, convicts all in good health. Unironed Thomas Kavanagh, John Dempsey, James Cunningham, Matthew Kelly and Patrick Rochford being quiet, orderly men. Removed handcuffs from Luke Corcoran and John Harvey.

Folio 9: 4 June 1820, Sunday, weather dry and remarkably fine, all convicts on deck to wash and for inspection.

Folio 9: 5 June 1820, weather damp and unpleasant, beds not on deck. Unironed Terence Byrne, John Connolly, Peter Coustins, John Campbell and Patrick Neill being orderly characters.

Folio 9: 6 June 1820, cloudy but not wet, beds stowed on deck. Scholars tested in spelling and the tables and having just reason to be pleased with their progress gave a new shirt to John Joyce having worn one out.

Folio 9: 7 June 1820, weather cool and fine for the latitude, examined classes and found them doing well.

Folio 9: 8 June 1820, berths and prison examined and found exceedingly clean. Had a general examination among the scholars. Unironed Jonathan Thoomy [Twomy], William Hoar, Edward Fleming, James Curren, Jonathan Derham, Owen Reilly, Phil Reilly, Peter Brady, John Crumin, James Sullivan, Patrick Shields, John Norton and John Wilde or Ward being quiet, well disposed men.

Folio 9: 9 June 1820, weather remarkably fine, convicts all in extreme good health.

Folio 10: 10 June 1820, weather fine, ship making rapid progress. Unironed Patrick Kinsella and double ironed Bryan Roach and John Dempsey for misconduct in the preceding night.

Folio 10: 11 June 1820, Sunday, usual inspection and divine worship. No wine served out because of some irregularities. Handcuffed James Carey for outrageous conduct.

Folio 10: 12 June 1820, weather beautiful, ship making rapid progress, all prisoners in good health.

Folio 10: 13 June 1820, handcuffed Patrick Casey for riotous conduct, punished Andrew Fitzsimons with 36 lashes for outrageous conduct.

Folio 10: 14 June 1820, weather fine, only the scholars allowed on deck before breakfast having discovered plans for a serious mutiny. The plan being to seize the ship on Sunday afternoon, when they were all on deck for divine worship, and sail to South America. At half past eight the floggings began with Cornelius Kenny who received 2 dozen and 2 lashes, when he discovered the whole of the plot. The rest of the conspirators being identified were punished as follows; John McCauliff, 36 lashes; James Duffy, 24 lashes; John Lynch, 50 lashes; Jonathan Crumin, 12 lashes; Robert O'Brien, 24 lashes; John Tully, 24 lashes; John Johnston, 30 lashes; and William Purcell, 6 lashes. In the afternoon, double ironed John Johnston, Cornelius Kenny, Hugh Dwyer and Bryan Devlin. Unironed Richard Neary and handcuffed together John Lynch and John McAuliff. Removed handcuffs from James Carey.

Folio 11: 15 June 1820, prisoners on deck in 3 divisions to wash before breakfast, none were indisposed. James Duffy and John Kelly handcuffed together, being desperate villains and having threatened one of the convicts with a knife. Punished Bryan Devlin with 18 lashes for threatening one of the prisoners serving out Saturday wine which wasted some.

Folio 11: 16 June 1820, weather sultry and unpleasantly wet. Two divisions on deck only and all up in three parties to wash clothes.

Folio 11: 17 June 1820, weather more settled, al the prisoners up to wash and on deck in divisions. Double ironed Thady Hasty for thieving in the night and being a troublesome character.

Folio 11: 18 June 1820, Sunday, weather rough, prisoners mustered on deck, divine worship.

Folio 11: 19 June, all prisoners on deck in divisions to wash their clothes. None sick. Punished John Harvey with 12 lashes for disorderly conduct. Unironed Francis Reynolds, John Hail and John White.

Folio 11: 20 June 1820, weather dull and inclined to be wet.

Folio 12: 21 June 1820, weather boisterous and unpleasant, beds stowed on deck, all prisoners up before breakfast to wash themselves.

Folio 12: 22 June 1820, unironed Hugh McCann, Bryan Roach, Robert O'Brien and single ironed Hugh Dwyer.

Folio 12: 23 June 1820, weather fine and moderate, unironed Maurice Reynolds and Andrew Fitzsimons. Scholars progressing astonishingly.

Folio 12: 24 June 1820, all prisoners on deck to wash themselves before breakfast. Unironed Patrick Tagart, Hugh Carroll, Jonathan Crowley, Andrew McCall, Roger [Penlan] and Martin Gill. Handcuffed together John Murphy and Henry Maroney being infamous characters and having conducted themselves rather mutinous.

Folio 12: 25 June 1820, weather fine, ship in sight to leeward of the harbour of Rio de Janeiro. One man slightly indisposed from asthma.

Folio12: 26 June 1820, off Rio de Janeiro, unironed Luke Corcoran having a sore leg.

Folio 14: 3 July 1820, Rio de Janeiro Harbour, weather sultry and inclined to rain. One man a little indisposed. Unironed Jonathan Lowrey, Thady Hasty, Jeremiah Harrington, John Mulleedy, Lawrence Gill, James Aherin, Michael Egan, Thomas Brien and H Forde.

Folio 14: 4 July 1820, Rio de Janeiro Harbour, as yesterday, none sick.

Folio 14: 5 July 1820, Rio de Janeiro Harbour, weather cloudy, cleaned decks.

Folio 14: 6 July 1820, Rio de Janeiro Harbour, attempting to leave harbour but baffled.

Folio 14: 7 July 1820, convicts kept below in the morning while the ship gets under way. Jackets and stockings returned to the prisoners. Unironed John Joyce, Joseph Gilmore, Thomas Maguire, James Finn, Michael Costello, Robert Mullen and Edward Smith.

Folio 14: 8 July 1820, weather boisterous and very wet, convicts and beds not allowed on deck. None are sick and all are orderly and well conducted.

Folio 15: 9 July 1820, weather too wet for beds to be stored on deck. One or two cases of sea sickness. Unironed Hugh Dwyer, having sore legs. Served out handkerchiefs to each of the prisoners who came from Dublin having kept them in reserve for them.

Folio 15: 10 July 1820, weather the same, prisoners all in good health except for sea sickness.

Folio 15: 11 July 1820, weather fine and pleasant, beds stowed on deck, all prisoners up throughout the day. Unironed James Goldrick, Peter Dolan, John Hogan and Timothy Goulding. John Connolly given a checked shirt, having lost his own overboard.

Folio 15: 12 July 1820, issued lime juice to the guards and convicts having observed some scorbutic symptoms.

Folio 15: 13 July 1820, prison cleaned, convicts on deck to wash clothes.

Folio 15: 14 July 1820, weather remarkably fine. Unironed Timothy O'Brien, Peter Carey, John Long, Jeremiah Driscoll, Patrick Cunniff, James McDaniel, Thomas Kays, Thomas Garrett, James Mullen, Patrick Neill, William Kemplin, Richard Crane, Patrick Connolly and Thomas Mack.

Folio 16: 15 July 1820, broke up the bathing tub to make buckets, having no probability of its want.

Folio 16: 16 July 1820, Sunday, mustered and inspected prisoners, divine worship.

Folio 16: 17 July 1820, beds stowed, prisoners up in divisions.

Folio 16: 18 July 1820, weather boisterous and unpleasant, few prisoners on deck.

Folio 16: 19 July 1820, similar to yesterday, several prisoners slightly indisposed, no school.

Folio 16: 20 July 1820, weather still rough and unpleasant. Unironed Timothy Farrell, James Farrell, Bryan Hardiman, Timothy Maher, John Harvey, Valentine Rourke, Robert Boylan and Patrick Lynch.

Folio 17: 21 July 1820, weather fine, prisoners up to wash and on deck throughout the day in turns. Thomas Kenna given a shirt having lost his overboard.

Folio 17: 22 July 1820, prisoners all in good health save one. Scholars making great progress.

Folio 17: 23 July 1820, Sunday, mustered convicts, divine worship. One man indisposed form cold.

Folio 17: 24 July 1820, double ironed Joseph Good for fighting below in the prison last night and making disorderly riot. 2 men seriously indisposed. Punished William Carey with 12 lashes on the backside for making use of blasphemous expressions. 

Folio 17: 25 July 1820, weather rough, 2 men sick.

Folio 17: 26 July 1820, weather dry but cold, cleaned prisons, stowed beds on deck. Punished James Callaghan (boy) with 12 lashes for theft.

Folio 18: 27 July 1820, several indisposed from the change of climate being affected with laxity of the bowels.

Folio 18: 28 July 1820, two or three men indisposed from colds etc.

Folio 18: 29 July 1820, none dangerously indisposed.

Folio 18: 30 July 1820, Sunday, all prisoners on deck to wash themselves and stowed their beds, lower decks all clean, divine service. None dangerously sick.

Folio 18: 31 July 1820, one man dangerously sick from spasms.

Folio 18: 1 August 1820, prisoners on deck to wash themselves, generally well conducted and remarkably clean. Two men considerably indisposed.

Folio 19: 2 August 1820, two men sick from change of climate.

Folio 19: 3 August 1820, weather mild and nearly calm. Two men sick. Handcuffed John Joyce for fighting.

Folio 19: 4 August 1820, weather mild, none dangerously sick.

Folio 19: 5 August 1820, weather still fair, two men sick. Unironed James Duffy, John Tully and Joseph Good. Six or seven only remain in irons. Removed the handcuffs from John Joyce.

Folio 19: 6 August 1820, Sunday, cleaned prison and berths as usual, prisoners washed and inspected. Divine service. None dangerously sick.

Folio 19: 7 August 1820, weather vey boisterous, prisoners not on deck. None seriously indisposed. Double ironed Thady Hasty for committing a nuisance on the lower deck.

Folio 20: 8 August 1820, weather less stormy but still considerably rough. A division of the prisoners up occasionally. Two or three men confined from cold etc.

Folio 20: 9 August 1820, weather moderate, cleaned prison and had the men on deck. Unironed John Healy, John Hayes, Cornelius Kenny and John Crummin.

Folio 20: 10 August 1820, weather very mild, cleaned prison and had all the prisoners up on deck in divisions. Six men only remain in irons and they are most infamous characters.

Folio 20: 11 August 1820, weather boisterous and unpleasant, unable to stow the beds. A few prisoners on deck.

Folio 20: 12 August 1820, weather moderate and fine. Two or three men complaining from colds etc.

Folio 20: 13 August 1820, Sunday, weather boisterous and unpleasant, mustered prisoners and cleaned as usual but could not stow the beds on deck. Very few men on deck. Two men sick.

Folio 21: 14 August 1820, weather more moderate, divisions on deck. Two men confined from colds.

Folio 21: 15 August 1820, weather mild and fine, all prisoners up in two divisions to wash clothes. None dangerously sick. Unironed Jonathan Murphy, only 5 remain in irons.

Folio 21: 16 August 1820, none dangerously sick, though several are indisposed. Confined Jonathan Coulter and John Mash, Soldiers, to the prison for mutinous behaviour towards one of the Corporals.

Folio 21: 17 August 1820, weather damp and unpleasant, convicts not up on deck.

Folio 21: 18 August 1820, weather remarkably fine, ship making rapid progress to the Eastward. Several trifling ailings but none dangerously indisposed. Served Patrick Kinsella a shirt, being almost naked.

Folio 21: 19 August 1820, weather rough, prisoners on deck in divisions.

Folio 22: 20 August 1820, Sunday, moderate but very cold, cleaned prison and mustered convicts. Performed divine service in the prison. Three men ailing from colds etc.

Folio 22: 21 August 1820, prisoners up in two divisions to wash clothes. Unironed Thady Hasty and John Johnston.

Folio 22: 22 August 1820, three men considerably indisposed but not deadly sick.

Folio 22: 23 August 1820, unironed Henry Maroney, John Lynch, John McAuliff and William Purcell. One man only remains in irons who is a most infamous character.

Folio 22: 24 August 1820, weather gloomy and inclined to rain, divisions up as usual. Prisoners in good health except two or three trifling instances.

Folio 22: 25 August 1820, weather fine, none dangerously sick.

Folio 23: 26 August 1820, two men indisposed, punished two boys, Fleming and Gill, for petty theft.

Folio 23: 27 August 1820, Sunday, mustered and inspected prisoners, thoroughly cleaned lower decks, held divine service. Two or three trifling ailments. The two soldiers confined to the prison were released the previous evening on a promise of good behaviour.

Folio 23: 28 August 1820, weather boisterous and cold, few prisoners on deck.

Folio 23: 29 August 1820, weather as yesterday, cleaned the decks but could not stow beds.

Folio 23: 30 August, as yesterday but divisions on deck. Unironed John Kelly (nicknamed Blucher), the last in irons.

Folio 23: 31 August 1820, weather cold but very fine, cleaned lower decks, prisoners up in two divisions to wash clothes.

Folio 24: 1 September 1820, prisoners generally in good health, only a few on deck because of the cold.

Folio 24: 2 September 1820, weather mild, none sick.

Folio 24: 3 September 1820, Sunday, very mild, prisoners all in good health. Mustered and cleaned, performed divine service.

Folio 24: 4 September 1820, divisions on deck throughout the day, prison remarkably clean, none sick.

Folio 24: 5 September 1820, all up in two divisions to wash clothes and afterwards on deck as usual. None sick.

Folio 24: 6 September 1820, weather gloomy and wet, beds not stowed on deck. Prisoners kept below in early part of the day.

Folio 25: 7 September 1820, divisions on deck but not beds, weather boisterous.

Folio 25: 8 September 1820, cold but less boisterous, divisions and beds on deck.

Folio 25: 9 September 1820, extremely mild and fine, prisoners in good health.

Folio 25: 10 September 1820, Sunday, cleaned prison, mustered and inspected prisoners, divine service.

Folio 25: 11 September 1820, weather fine, the prisoners on deck to wash their clothes and clean below decks. None seriously indisposed but several trifling ailings. Scholars making real progress.

Folio 25: 12 September 1820, weather fine continued as on most other days.

Folio 26: 13 September 1820, weather fine, prisoners on deck in divisions.

Folio 26: 14 September 1820, mild and fine, no sick.

Folio 26: 15 September 1820, weather tolerably fine, all the prisoners on deck that would come.

Folio 26: 16 September 1820, weather fine and pleasant, ship nearly abreast of Kents Island but made very little progress until evening when a fine breeze sprung up from southwards.

Folio 26: 17 September 1820, weather gloomy and boisterous, ship making great progress.

Folio 26: 18 September 1820, abreast of Jervis Bay, weather gloomy with occasional showers of rain, no observations of any consequence.

Folio 27: 19 September 1820, off Port Jackson, weather extremely boisterous n the morning, ship wet all over. In the evening arrived in Port Jackson, at 5pm received the pilot on board and at 10pm anchored in Sydney Cove.

Folio 27: 20 September 1820, lying off Farm Cove, mild and fine, prisoners generally in good health. Stood in for Sydney Cove and anchored there at 3pm.

Folio 27: 21 September 1820, Sydney Cove, prisoners on deck generally throughout the day.

Folio 27: 22 September 1820, Sydney Cove, prisoners all in good health save one man.

Folio 27: 23 September 1820, Sydney Cove, prisoners on deck to wash, all in good health save one man, Richard Keating, sent to hospital.

Folio 27: 24 September 1820, Sydney Cove, cleaned the prison and berths well out and had all the prisoners on deck to wash themselves before breakfast. All in good health.

Folio 28: 25 September 1820, Sydney Cove, cleaned prisons before breakfast and instructed prisoners to clean themselves. At 9am the Governor’s Secretary came on board to inspect the prisoners.

Folio 28: 26 September 1820, Sydney Cove, convicts on deck to wash their clothes.

Folio 28: 27 September 1820, Sydney Cove, prisoners all in good health.

Folio 28: 28 September 1820, Sydney Cove, convicts all healthy save one man, served each man a jacket, waistcoat, trousers, shirt, stockings, shoes and handkerchiefs.

Folio 28: 29 September 1820, Sydney Cove, landed 189 convicts in good health, save one man, Timothy Goulding, who has been sent to the hospital.

Folio 28: Surgeon's general remarks. States that although the health of the convicts on arrival and the lack of detail in the journal may imply there was no illness on the voyage, the reverse is true. There were many 'ailings' and accidents but all were 'by timely interference arrested, and the men restored to their wanton habits'. The cleanliness enforced during the voyage helped keep the men healthy, as did exercising their minds in the school and allowing them access to the deck. The school has been particularly successful and is a source of pride to the Surgeon. Signed, Robert Espie, Surgeon and Superintendent.

Folios 29-45: Blank.

Surgeon Superintendent 

Robert Espie was employed as Surgeon-Superintendent on eight convict ships to Australia Morley in 1817, Shipley in 1818, Dorothy in 1820, Lord Sidmouth in 1823, Lady Rowena in 1826, Mary in 1830(VDL) Roslin Castle in 1834 and the Elizabeth in 1836. In all those voyages only eight convicts died under his care. After each voyage he received passage money for the return to England.

Robert Espie was accompanied by his brother George Espie, wife and three children on the Dorothy's voyage of 1820. Robert and George Espie both received land grants in Van Diemen's Land. Robert was appointed acting-surgeon at Port Dalrymple, succeeding Jacob Mountgarrett in that position in October 1820. He resigned from the position because of ill-health in February 1821 and returned to England in May 1821.

Return to England

In 1828 he married Janet Simons however it is unclear whether she ever accompanied him on his later voyages to Australia.

Robert and Janet Espie can be found in the 1851 Census living at Hanstead House in Hanstead Lane, Lewisham UK with three servants. Robert and Janet are 59 and 57 years old. Robert is stated to have been born in Co. Derry, Ireland.

Janet Jerman Espie died at Blyth Hill Sydenham, Kent aged 60 in 1854. 

In the 1861 Census, Robert Espie is living in Bushey Hertfordshire with two servants and their young children.

He was on the 1864 List of Surgeons retired.

Further Reading

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_p=1800&_q=%22dorothy%22+ship+1820

https://www.freesettlerorfelon.com/convict_ship_dorothy_1820.htm

https://www.freesettlerorfelon.com/robert_espie.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2ohI9GMaas or John Madden - YouTube