Catalogue description Folio 1: 5 June 1821; The John Bull arrived at the Cove of Cork and I [William Elyard,...

Folio 1: 5 June 1821; The John Bull arrived at the Cove of Cork and I [William Elyard, surgeon] was discharged from the John Barry in which I came with my family from Deptford and on the same morning I [William Elyard, surgeon] went on board the John Bull. Elyard on the same day wrote to the Honourable Commissioners of His Majesty's Navy informing them of the arrival of the said ship at the Cove: reported the same to Admiral Rowley and with Captain Corlett the master of the john Bull called upon Lieutenant Lewis the naval agent for transports and Doctor Trevor the Inspector General of the Convicts.

Folio 1: 8 June 1821; Doctor Trevor came on board to visit a seaman who was attacked with small pox and the man was sent on shore to sick quarters.

Folio 1: 9 June 1821; Navy Board informed about the small pox case (see 8 June 1821 above).

Folio 1: 10 June 1821; Ship well fumigated with Devils and the windsails down and ports open day and night. Vaccinated John Watson, seaman, from an uncertainty of his having had small pox.

Folio 2: 12 June 1821; Watson's arm was somewhat inflamed (see folio 1, 10 June 1821).

Folio 2: 15 June 1821; Watson's inflammation had disappeared and the incision quite dried up. It wa ascertained afterwards that Watson had had the natural small pox. (see folio 1, 10 June 1821).

Folio 2: 13 July 1821; The Brig Park from Dublin arrived with the convicts and free passengers relatives of convicts.

Folio 2: 14 July 1821; Received on board 80 female convicts and some children.

Folio 2: 16 July 1821; Received on board from the Brig Park 22 women and children relatives of convicts going out to their relations in Sydney.

Folio 2: 17 July 1821; Doctor Trevor came on board and vaccinated the following children: Mary Kelly, aged 5; John Brennan, aged 9; Elizabeth wade, aged 2; Letitia Murphy, aged 1 and ½; Isabella Paterson, aged 6 months; Mary Ann Kilrea, aged 4; Rose Hinds, aged 7; Biddy Donnell, aged 2; Mary Brady, aged 20; Jane Moore, aged 19; Dr Trevor having sent oatmeal on board for the convicts breakfast to be boiled into stirabout with water and sugar they refused to eat it and threw it away-on my representing it to the Doctor he said it was good enough for them.

Folio 2: 19 July 1821; Doctor Trevor examined the arms of the vaccinated but they appeared all doubtful.

Folio 3: 20 July 1821; The surgeon, [William Elyard] received on board his family as passengers and settlers at Van Dieman's. The arms of the vaccinated appeared like flea bites.

Folio 3: 21 July 1821; At noon the Reverend Mr Whitty and Captain Morris, RN, came on board and examined the state of the ship and the regulation of the convicts.

Folio 3: 22 July 1821; Issued to the convicts bibles, testaments, prayer books and psalters. Divine service performed and a sermon read from Dr Cooper's publication. On examining the arms of the vaccinated a small vesull of pearl colored lymph was visible.

Folio 3: 23 July 1821; Unmoored ship and dropt down to man of wars bay.

Folios 3-4: 24 July 1821; At 3pm attended serving provisions, the bread sent by the Contractor who was present on board not being so good as it ought, he took it on shore with him. At this time the seamen being busily employed in weighing anchor, the hold was obliged to be open for the reception of the cable which the convicts taking advantage of they stole there out a bag of bread and before the officers could get below they had scattered it about between decks. Therefore had them immediately locked up. At 5pm the pilot directed the ship to be anchored again in man of war’s bay at which time came on board by order of Lieutenant Lewis agent transports the following free settlers for a passage to Port Jackson, John Lowry, his wife and five children. The pustules on the arms of the vaccinated being about the size of a pea with a small inflamed circle. I punctured the arm of Elizabeth Wade and took what lymph I could from it, this child being the most healthy and free from blemish. Received a letter from Lieutenant Lewis naval agent of Transports at Cove, for me to deliver to his excellency Sir Thomas Brisbane on my arrival at Sydney.

Folio 4: 25 July 1821; At 3am got under way and stood out to sea. At 6am discharged the pilot. Served out Dilworth’s spelling books and also childrens books (12 of each).

Folio 4: 26 July 1821; Spoke the Princess Charlotte of Brixham bound to Liverpool.

Folio 4: 27 July 1821; Many of the convicts still sea sick. The vesicles on the arms of the vaccinated were much larger and an areola with considerable inflammation was formed round them.

Folio 5: 29 July 1821; At 8pm when mustering the convicts to their beds I detected Mary Hinds with a lighted rag and a nutmeg grater used to carry fire below for the purpose of smoking after being locked up-of course took it away and reprimanded her. The vaccinated patients complained of slight headache-had some degree of fever and the areola was considerably enlarged and the inflammation extensive and the hardness was felt on the arm about the areola and a small tumor under the arm pit.

Folio 5: 31 July 1821; at 7pm Jane Mitchell, convict, having been turbulent and riotous and when desired to desist being insolent was confined in the coal hole until 8pm at which time she was released. The areola on the arms of the vaccinated was more extensive. The patients were relieved from headache and the axilla was not so tender.

Folio 5: 1 August 1821; At 8am got all the convicts on deck with their beds, attended serving breakfast, at which time Mary O’Neil being quarrelsome with her messmates, throwing their allowance of tea water overboard and being insolent to the Captain. I thought it requisite to punish her by confinement in the Coal Hole. Mary O’Neil was released from confinement at noon. The areola is putting on a dark brown appearance. The pock sinking in the centre beginning to dry up.

Folios 5-6: 2 August 1821; At half past 2pm punished Mary Downs by confining her in the hospital with a collar on her neck for assaulting Matilda Brown and for making a second attack upon her in the presence of myself the Captain, Officers, convicts and ships company on the quarterdeck although advised to desist. At 8pm released Mary Downs from confinement.

Folio 6: 3 August 1821; At sunset in consequence of Jane Hamilton being quarrelsome and abusive to Maria Wade whom she threatened with revenge and being insolent when ordered to desist, I confined her in the hospital all night and darkened the place by putting on the gratings and tarpaulins on fore hatchways as well as to prevent any communication with the seamen.

Folio 6: 4 August 1821; A strange sail in sight, but no communication with her. At 8am discharged Jane Hamilton from confinement. The tenderness under the arm pits of the vaccinated has gone off the areola became of a brown color and not so hard. The pock itself dried up and of a dark brown color and the patients have no fever but appear quite well.

Folio 6: 5 August 1821; A strange sail in sight. At 11 a large French ship supposed to be an East Indiaman showed her colours which was repeated by the John Bull.