1792 - The Transport Ship Bellona
- Matthew Boyd - William Boyd - Thomas and Jane Rose - 17 convict women - Deptford - Botany Bay - South Head, Sydney -
The
"Bellona" was a square-sterned, square-rigged ship of 472 tons, built on the
River Thames in 1782.
For
its voyage to NSW, it was commanded by 23 year old Matthew Boyd, younger brother
of William Boyd, one of the owners.
ln
June 1792, the "Bellona" was contracted to convey settlers and provisions at 4
pounds 4 shillings per ton and the space occupied by the settlers, to the Colony
of New South Wales. In addition the contractor undertook to victual the settlers
at 1 shilling a day for each man, woman and child.
On
Wed 8th August 1792, the "Bellona" sailed down the Thames and out past Dover
with 11 settlers including
Thomas and Jane Rose and their 4 children, their
niece Elizabeth Fish and her infant daughter Elizabeth.
The ship had also picked
up 17 convict women at Deptford. lt was the '13th wedding anniversary of Thomas
and Jane Rose.
A
surgeon was on board, but this did not prevent the death during the voyage of
Elizabeth, daughter of Elizabeth Fish, of "worm fever" and convulsions. Thomas
and Jane's son Richard, aged 3, also suffered from this "worm fever" but
survived.
On
the journey the ship encountered several bouts of bad weather and heavy seas.
This caused much of the provisions of the settlers and the fledgling colony to
be damaged or ruined.
At
6pm on 15th January 1793, a beacon on
South Head was lit to signify a ship
arriving. This was kept alight all night as the "Bellona" had finally arrived
but had to wait outside the heads till morning.
The "Bellona" entered Sydney
Cove on the morning of 16th
Reference
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