Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
John Hunter 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 337 (168) 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
The following Prisoners have been tried :- ... John Hunter, for stealing various articles; and ... to be transported seven years Sun, 29 July 1802. ------------------------------------------------------------------- On Tuesday and Thursday last, James Lock, John Hunter, Peter Wilkinson, John Carter, James Taylor, John Ashworth, Richard Thompson, alias Gibbs, James Dickinson. John Nuttall, Peter Quin, John Ball, and John Barlow, were removed from our Castle, in order to be put on board the Hulks, at Portsmouth, there to remain until their sentences of transportation can be put in execution. Lancaster Gazette, 20 Nov 1802. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 May 10, 1806. Hunter and Roberts made their escape from the Watch house Entry for Thursday Nov 27, 1806. this eve, Hunter, Roberts and Story, three Prisoners which have been absent in the woods for 5 months came and surrendered themselves up to the Night Watch. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Some pages of the diary are missing, but, it is very likely that the men were punished similarly to other men who absconded, with 300 Lashes.
Hulk Records. Portsmouth. HO-9-8_1. page 51/52 Received six from Lancaster, 19 Nov. John Hunter, age 32, Felony, tried at Salford, 28 July 1802, BS 7 years. Calcutta.