Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
Samuel Gunn 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 343 (171) |
| 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 |
Claims
"My 3rd GreatGrandfather - married 1) Jannet Paterson 2) Ann Hart"
"Samuel Gunn is my 5th Great Grandfather."
Photos
No photos have been added for Samuel Gunn.
Convict Notes
Robert Knopwood’s Diary. From Rev. Knopwood's 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.
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 Wednesday 8 May. am. at 11 a party of the Prisoners that were going away with a new Whale Boat were detected and confind, Thursday 9 May. At 11 His Honor the Lt Governor Rev. R. K. and Wm Sladden Esqrs, set to examine Samuel Gun alias Camel, Chris. Forsha – alias Watkins, - John Williams alias Johnson, - Munden – Hayward, Horne, Prestige, Avery. Prisoners that were going to take the new Whale boat and make their excape in it to New Zealand. Although the information was so true that we receivd yet could not get anything from them to convict them.
Tasmanian Marriages. https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD36-1-1p2j2k Samuel Gunn, widower and Jannet Patterson, single woman, both of this settlement, were married by banns, at Hobart Town, 23 July 1804, by Robert Knopwood, Chaplain. Samuel signed his mark X, Jannet signed her name. Witnesses were Wm. Patterson and Geo. Prideaux Harris.
Tasmanian Records. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON22-1-1_0378 Per Calcutta, Samuel Gunn, Tried Norwich G.D. 7 Aug 1802. 7 years.
Saturday last Samuel Gunn was committed to the county gaol, by the same magistrate, charged with stealing a saddle & two bridles, the property of Mr. John Wright, of Fordham. Bury and Norwich Post, 4 Aug 1802. ---------------------------------------------------- Hulk records. HO-9-8-3 p6. Received 8 convicts from Norwich, 9 Oct 1802. Samuel Gunn, age 22, Gd. Larcy. Tried at Castle Norwich, 9 Aug 1802, 7 years, sent on board the Calcutta 9 Apr 1803.