Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
James Duff was transported on the Calcutta, departing 31st Jan 1803 and arriving 4th Oct 1803 with 305 passengers.
HMS Calcutta was the East Indiaman Warley (1795), converted to a Royal Navy ship. This ship of the line served for a time as an armed transport. She also transported convicts to Australia. The French Magnanime captured Calcutta in 1805. In 1809, after she ran aground during the Battle of the Basque Roads and her crew had abandoned her, a British boarding party burned her. In 1803 the Calcutta sailed into Port Phillip bay where at least 4 convicts escaped , in Sydney in April 1804 it was reported that 8 had died on the trip. Of the four known escapees one was shot on escape, 2 turned back after 2 days to reattach to the group at the camp in bay before the boat left , one continued on ...into Australia's history books. At least 13 convicts were transferred on to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania), Australia.The ship also carried officers, wives and free settlers.
Calcutta (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 87, Class and Piece Number HO11/1, Page Number 338 Australia, Convict Index, 1788-1868 |
| Source Description | This record is one of the entries in the British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database compiled by State Library of Queensland from British Home Office (HO) records which are available on microfilm as part of the Australian Joint Copying Pro |
| Original Source | Great Britain. Home Office |
| Compiled By | State Library of Queensland |
| Database Source | British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database |
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Convict Notes
Robert Knopwood’s Diary. The Rev. Robert Knopwood sailed from England, on the Calcutta in 1803, and landed in Port Phillip with the prisoners. He later became the first chaplain appointed in Van Diemen’s Land, and was also appointed a Magistrate. He kept a diary, from 1805 -1808, which can be downloaded by following the links: https://eprints.utas.edu.au/13550/ https://eprints.utas.edu.au/13563/ Entry for Saturday 15 August 1807. The Names of the Prisoners which are Bushrangers at this time and they are all armed and have plenty of Dogs - James Carrot, Thos Story, Joseph Fernander, James Watts, John Williams alias Rush. Richd Grover, Joseph Meyers, Wm. Russell, Sam Tomlins, Wm Marsh, John Brown, James Duff, John Parish, Wm Bowers. 14. (The fact that the bushrangers have dogs is significant, as they could use the dogs to hunt kangaroo, emus, etc for food.) Entry for December 6, 1807. the following Prisoners who had been absent from the Colony for a very long time and had accepted the Lt. Govnrs Pardon on their returning to the settlement arrivd at Govmt House when the Govnr sent for me. Duff Quinn Meyers Grover, Story, Watts, Russell, Fernandez,
Hulk Records at Portsmouth- Captivity Hulk. HO-9-8_3 page 2. James Duff, age 17, Felony, tried at Middlesex, 17 Sep 1800, B.S. 7 years. Sent on board the Calcutta 9 April 1803.
Old Bailey Online 716. JAMES DUFF was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 9th of September , four quartern loaves of bread, value 5s. the property of David Pitcairn . JAMES HUNTER sworn. - I am servant to David Pitcairn , baker , in Guildford-Street, Foundling-hospital: On the 9th of this month, I put down my basket, and went a little distance to deliver a loaf; when I came back, the prisoner was brought to me with four loaves of bread. CHARLES DOUGLAS sworn. - I am a baker: On the 9th of September, I saw the prisoner run across Guildford-Street, with four loaves from a basket; I put my basket down, and ran after him; I told him to put the bread back to where he took it from; he said, he would, if I would not meddle with him; he then said, he would not carry them at all, and he threw them down. Hunter. The loaves that were shewn me, were my master's property; they had his name upon them, D. P. GEORGE LONGDEN sworn. - I took charge of the prisoner. Prisoner's defence. I saw these four loaves standing upon a step, and I took them; Mr. Longden can give me a character. Longden. I have had him seven times in the House of Correction for running away from his master. GUILTY . (Aged 16.) Transported for seven years . Tried by the second Middlesex Jury, before Mr. COMMON SERJEANT.