Catalogue description Medical and surgical journal of His Majesty's hired transport Strathfieldsay for 16...

Medical and surgical journal of His Majesty's hired transport Strathfieldsay for 16 December 1835 to 24 June 1836 by T B Wilson, Surgeon, during which time the said ship was employed in conveying 270 male prisoners from England to New South Wales.

Folios 1-2: Thomas Archer, aged 23, convict; case number 1; disease or hurt, febris. Put on sick list, 19 February 1836. Discharged 2 March 1836.

Folio 3: Robert Johnson, aged 38, convict; case number 2; disease or hurt, diarrhoea. Put on sick list, 25 February 1836. Discharged 14 March 1836.

Folios 3-4: Peter Hemmings, aged 25, convict; case number 3; disease or hurt, pneumonia. Put on sick list, 6 March 1836. Discharged 14 March 1836.

Folio 4: William Green, aged 30, convict; case number 4; disease or hurt, cynanche tonsillaris. Put on sick list, 8 March 1836. Discharged 12 March 1836 convalescent.

Folio 5: John Kippen, aged 45, convict; case number 5; disease or hurt, rheumatismus. Put on sick list, 10 March 1836. Discharged 20 March 1836.

Folio 6: John Davis, aged 45, convict; case number 6; disease or hurt, opthalmia. Put on sick list, 5 April 1836. Discharged 12 April 1836.

Folio 6: R Duris, aged 24, convict; case number 7; disease or hurt, syphilis. Put on sick list, 12 April 1836. Discharged 5 May 1836 cured. Folio 7: James Dowton, aged 25, soldier; case number 8; disease or hurt, pneumonia. Put on sick list, 21 April 1836. Discharged 27 April 1836 to duty.

Folios 8-10: James Finch, aged 23, convict; case number 9; disease or hurt, apoplexia. Put on sick list, 30 April 1836. Died 2 May 1836.

Folios 10-11: J. Murphy, aged [?], convict; case number 10; disease or hurt, rheumatismus. Put on sick list, 9 May 1836. Discharged 20 May 1836 cured.

Folio 11: a numerical abstract of the medical cases mentioned in the journal.

Folios 12-14: Surgeon's general remarks. On 28 November 1835 I was appointed by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, Surgeon and Superintendent of the convict ship, Strathfieldsay. On 15 December I received my instructions and joined the ship at Deptford where she was fitting to convey 270 male prisoners from England to New South Wales owing to various delays the ship was not ready for sea until the 27th January 1836 on which the Guard (a detachment of the 28th Regiment) embarked, on the 28th, all being ready for sea, we left Deptford and brought up off Woolwich. We received without delay, 70 prisoners from the Justicia hulk and then made sail down the river being bound to Portsmouth where we were to receive 200 prisoners but in consequence of heavy weather and contrary winds we did not reach the Downs until the 3 February, the wind being fresh and fair, we continued our course and at ½ past 5 next morning the ship struck on a sand bank where she remained hard and fast. Fortunately the tide was flowing rapidly and in rather more than half an hour the ship was afloat and at noon of the same day we anchored at Spithead. This clumsy accident at the very beginning of the voyage on a weather shore vexed me exceedingly, and it tended to make me lose confidence in the master. The ship however did not receive any material damage. 6th February received 130 prisoners from the Leviathan hulk and 70 from York, I only rejected 2 out of the whole number but I must confess that during all my former voyages to never had such a miserable looking squad.

Folio 15: Table showing the latitude and longitude, likewise the state of the Barometer and thermometer daily at noon during the voyage from England to New South Wales.