SURGEON'S REPORT SHIP "HYDERY"

From Surgeon Allan McClaren's Journal. (courtesy of a family history website - http://www.carr-genealogy.com/ - viewed online) gives a little information on the conditions during the voyage.

The "Hydrey" (sic) was berthed at Woolwich when the women embarked, and after a months delay sailed from Plymouth on 11 April, 1832. The following extract from the journal of the ships surgeon, Allan McLaren', gives a picture of what the voyage out to Van Diemans Land was like for these unfortunate passengers.

'As the weather became hot several cases of diarrhoea occurred.

On crossing the line a few cases of simple cholera mainly vomiting, purging took place and from the heat, constipation and interrupted menstration which were general complaints during the whole voyage, convulsions among the younger part of the females were very prevelant.

After leaving the line till we got into cold weather complaints were very slight and of a general nature.
On approaching our destined land and during very heavy weather when the upper deck was constantly wet and when it was with difficulty that the lower deck could be kept dry and at a proper temprature most of the afflictions that took place were attended with cold rigors as a promiment feature.

Three of the children about a year old died on the voyage.

As to the means adopted for the preservation of health during the voyage I may state that the meals were properly cooked and regularly served, abundance of excellent fresh water was allowed for their vituals-drink and washing both of their bodies and clothes.

The allowance of lemonade issued throughout the voyage with an adequate portion of wine mixed as sherbert daily.

After we got into south latitudes when the hot weather had ceased that very morning after the upper decks dried every women brought up her own bed where it was stowed in the netting or on the poop or in fine weather hung up on a line in the rigging to air-when possible all the meals were taken on deck and no women permitted to go below except she whose turn it was to clean,till mustered down at sunset.'

SURGEON'S REPORT SHIP "HYDERY"

NOTE: The following includes report relating to Sarah Brame - scroll down page).
  • ADM Records of the Admiralty, Naval Forces, Royal Marines, Coastguard, and related bodies Division within ADM Records of Medical and Prisoner of War Departments

  • ADM 101 Admiralty and predecessors: Office of the Director General of the Medical Department of the Navy and predecessors: Medical Journals Convict Ships etc.

  • ADM 101/35/7 Medical journal of HM convict ship Hydery, from 3 March to 17 August 1832 by Allan McLaren, surgeon, during which time the said ship was employed on a voyage to Van Dieman's Land. (Described at item level).

    Record Summary

    Scope and content Folios 44-46: Surgeon's general remarks. The female convicts ordered for transportation in the Hydery to Van Dieman's land embarked at Woolwich from the various jails in England and Scotland between the 14 and 29 March 1832 and were of the following ages: aged under 20 (29 in number); aged from 20 to 30 (69 in number); aged 30 to 40 (28 in number); aged 40 to 50 (21 in number); aged 50 to 60 (3 in number). Making the total number 150 embarked In the morning of the second of April [1832] a case of cholera asphyxia appeared in a woman of forty eight years [see case no 5]. On the order of the Navy Board, the Hydery was immediately towed to Standgate Creek and remained till the 11th of the month [April 1832] and during that time four more cases [nos 6, 7, 8 and 9] of the same disease happened, but however less malignant and all the bedding and clothing and other articles of the patients were destroyed by order of Captain Marshall, Superintendent of Quarantine.

    Folios 47-48: Copy of sick list (names and details follows): Folio 47: Mary Brown, aged 42, convict, taken ill at Woolwich; sick or hurt, ascites; put on sick list 19 March 1832, sent 31 March 1832 to hospital ship. Folio 47: Mary Wall, aged 38, convict, taken ill at Woolwich; sick or hurt, pneumonia; put on sick list 23 March 1832, discharged 2 April cured. Folio 47: Fanny Gray, aged 46, convict, taken ill at Woolwich; sick or hurt, synochus; put on sick list 26 March 1832, discharged 29 March cured. Folio 47: Catherine Chell, aged 21, convict, taken ill at Woolwich; sick or hurt, dysentery; put on sick list 26 March 1832, discharged 30 March cured. Folio 47: Catherine McIntyne, aged 58, convict, taken ill at Woolwich; sick or hurt, rheumatism; put on sick list 27 March 1832, discharged 31 March cured. Folio 47: Mary Ann Thornton, aged 1 1/3, taken ill at Woolwich; sick or hurt, [aptho?]; put on sick list 29 March 1832, sent 5 April 1832 to hospital ship. Folio 47: Mary Birmingham, aged 1 1/4, taken ill at Woolwich; sick or hurt, [aptho?]; put on sick list 29 March 1832, discharged 3 April 1832 cured. Folio 47: Elizabeth Denny, aged 32, taken ill at Woolwich; sick or hurt, pneumonia; put on sick list 29 March 1832, discharged 9 April 1832 cured. Folio 47: Elizabeth Blackborough, aged 21, taken ill at Woolwich; sick or hurt, synochus; put on sick list 29 March 1832, discharged 2 April 1832 cured. Folio 47: Isabella McMillan, aged 40, taken ill at Woolwich; sick or hurt, rheumatism; put on sick list 29 March 1832, discharged 9 April 1832 cured. Folio 47: Hannah Thornton, aged 48, taken ill at Woolwich; sick or hurt, cholera asphyxia; put on sick list 2 April 1832, died 5 April 1832. Folio 47: Mary McGregan, aged 46, taken ill at Standgate Creek; sick or hurt, cholera asphyxia; put on sick list 4 April 1832, discharged 11 April 1832 cured. Folio 47: Mary Ann Room, aged 30, taken ill at Standgate Creek; sick or hurt, pneumonia; put on sick list 5 April 1832, discharged 8 April 1832 cured. Folio 47: Ann Ashford, aged 28, taken ill at Standgate Creek; sick or hurt, diarrhoea; put on sick list 6 April 1832, discharged 8 April 1832 cured. Folio 47: Esther Bolton, aged 26, taken ill at Standgate Creek; sick or hurt, cholera asphyxia; put on sick list 6 April 1832, discharged 16 April 1832 cured. Folio 47: Lucy Lovell, aged 24, taken ill at Standgate Creek; sick or hurt, cholera asphyxia; put on sick list 6 April 1832, discharged 12 April 1832 cured. Folio 47: Maria Dowling, aged 25, taken ill at Standgate Creek; sick or hurt, cholera asphyxia; put on sick list 7 April 1832, discharged 11 April 1832 cured. Folio 47: Mary McIntyne, aged 35, taken ill at Standgate Creek; sick or hurt, diarrhoea; put on sick list 7 April 1832, discharged 10 April 1832 cured. Folio 47: Catherine Chell, aged 21, taken ill at Standgate Creek; sick or hurt, diarrhoea; put on sick list 7 April 1832, discharged 12 April 1832 cured. Folio 47: Elizabeth Chapman, aged 20, taken ill at Standgate Creek; sick or hurt, synochus; put on sick list 7 April 1832, discharged 9 April 1832 cured. Folio 47: Elizabeth Bird, aged 18, taken ill at Standgate Creek; sick or hurt, synochus; put on sick list 7 April 1832, discharged 9 April 1832 cured. Folio 47: Sarah Moss, aged 28, taken ill at Standgate Creek; sick or hurt, synochus; put on sick list 8 April 1832, discharged 10 April 1832 cured. Folio 47: Caroline Smith, aged 27, taken ill at Standgate Creek; sick or hurt, synochus; put on sick list 8 April 1832, discharged 10 April 1832 cured. Folio 47: Mary Young, aged 35, taken ill at Standgate Creek; sick or hurt, synochus; put on sick list 8 April 1832, discharged 10 April 1832 cured. Folio 47: Mary Hendrie, aged 23, taken ill at Standgate Creek; sick or hurt, diarrhoea; put on sick list 8 April 1832, discharged 9 April 1832 cured. Folio 47: Charlotte Gale, aged 25, taken ill at Standgate Creek; sick or hurt, diarrhoea; put on sick list 8 April 1832, discharged 9 April 1832 cured. Folio 47: Ann Bowden, aged 20, taken ill at Standgate Creek; sick or hurt, diarrhoea; put on sick list 9 April 1832, discharged 10 April 1832 cured. Folio 47: Elizabeth Lee, aged 23, taken ill at Standgate Creek; sick or hurt, diarrhoea; put on sick list 9 April 1832, discharged 10 April 1832 cured. Folio 47: Catherine Martin, aged 41, taken ill at Standgate Creek; sick or hurt, diarrhoea; put on sick list 10 April 1832, discharged 18 April 1832 cured. Folio 47: Elizabeth Lovatt, aged 28, taken ill at Standgate Creek; sick or hurt, diarrhoea; put on sick list 10 April 1832, discharged 14 April 1832 cured. Folio 47: Ann Ashford, aged 28, taken ill off Coast of Kent; sick or hurt, amenorrhoea; put on sick list 12 April 1832, discharged 19 April 1832 cured. Folio 47: Nancy McGurts, aged 21, taken ill in English Channel; sick or hurt, amenorrhoea; put on sick list 18 April 1832, discharged 20 April 1832 cured. Folio 47: Catherine Chell, aged 21, taken ill in English Channel; sick or hurt, pneumonia; put on sick list 19 April 1832, discharged 21 April 1832 cured. Folio 47: Mary Wall's child, aged 1 2/3, taken ill in English Channel; sick or hurt, pneumonia; put on sick list 22 April 1832, discharged 30 April 1832 cured. Folio 47: Ann Ashford, aged 28, taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, amenorrhoea; put on sick list 5 May 1832, discharged 13 May 1832 cured. Folio 47: Sarah Price's child, aged 1, taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, diarrhoea; put on sick list 6 May 1832, died 20 May 1832. Folio 47: Mary Kelly, aged 27, taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, chronic spasm; put on sick list 8 May 1832, discharged 13 May 1832 cured. Folio 47: Mary Wall's child, aged 21 months, taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, diarrhoea; put on sick list 8 May 1832, discharged 16 May 1832 cured. Folio 47: Sarah Brame, aged 21, taken ill off Cape de Vards; sick or hurt, contusion; put on sick list 16 May 1832, discharged 19 May 1832 cured. Folio 47: Mary A Room's child, aged 1, taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, diarrhoea; put on sick list 17 May 1832, discharged 21 May 1832 cured. Folio 47: Elen [Ellen] Wilson's child, aged 1 1/4, taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, diarrhoea; put on sick list 17 May 1832, discharged 20 May 1832 cured. Folio 47: Sarah Moss's child, aged 2, taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, diarrhoea; put on sick list 18 May 1832, discharged 20 May 1832 cured. Folio 47: Sarah Kemp, aged 35, taken ill at sea; sick or hurt, cholera mitior; put on sick list 18 May 1832, discharged 24 May 1832 cured.

    Covering dates 1832

    Held by The National Archives, Kew

    Legal status Public Record(s)

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