Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
Joseph Fernandez 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 340 |
| 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 Diary 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,
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/ From his diary: Entry for Monday 24 June 1805. am. at 8, I was informed that six men had deserted from the Camp. Steward, Carmichal, Wright, Morris, Fernander and Camel and had taken my boat with them and the Government Oars – Camel & Fernander took my boat away to the Point where they had planted something Saturday 13 July 1805 pm. Henry Hakin and the 4 soldiers return with the men that deserted in my boat. Tuesday 16 July 1805 am. this morn Mr Harris and self were upon business all the morn and we expected the prisoners Stewart &c that went away with my boat to be brought before us. In margin: Camel & Fernander took my boat away from the Moorings.
Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 17 February 2023), December 1801, trial of JOSEPH FERNANDEZ (t18011202-14). JOSEPH FERNANDEZ, Theft > theft from a specified place, 2nd December 1801. 14. JOSEPH FERNANDEZ was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 30th of October , one hundred pounds weight of gum, value 8l. the property of John Perkins , on board a schooner, called the Bilboa, of Philadelphia, on the navigable river of Thames . Second Count. Laying it to be the property of Samuel Murgatroyd .(The case was opened by Mr. Knapp.) JOHN PERKINS sworn. - I am captain of the Bilboa schooner , and was so on the 30th of October last; she arrived at St. Catherine's on the 19th of October, laden with gum from Senegal; the prisoner was a seaman , and the gum was stolen from the forecastle, where he slept; when I went on board, on the 30th of October, I heard there was something improper; I went down to the forecastle, and discovered a parcel of gum in two bags, which appeared to be of the same quality with the ship's cargo; I searched the prisoner's bed, and found some; I opened his chest, and found some more, which he confessed he had taken, and said there were more concerned with him; I asked him if he had not stolen more; he said, yes, he had taken two bags the night before; the value of the gum in the bags is about eight pounds; it was brought up in their pockets in small quantities from the bulk; it might be about two of three shilling's worth at a time; I am part-owner of the ship. WILLIAM FORSTER sworn. - I was on board the schooner on the 30th of October, and found some gum in the prisoner's chest and bed; I informed the captain. RICHARD PERRY sworn. - I got this gum on board the Bilboa; it was delivered to me by Forster.(Produces it.) Mr. Perkins. This is the same sort of gum as was on board my ship. Prisoner's defence. I do not know who took it, or can I be accountable for it; I am totally unacquainted with any person in England. GUILTY, aged 20. Of stealing to the value of 3s. Transported for seven years . First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Justice Grose. ------------------------------------------------- Tasmanian Records. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON22-1-1_0326 Per Calcutta, Joseph Fernandez, tried Middx Gaol Delivery, 2 Dec 1801, 7 years.