Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
Augustus Morris 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 345 (172) 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
Family connections for Augustus/Don (Morris) are: MORRIS Augustus/Don (Morris) was born about 1784/8. He was tried for stealing clothes of his employer James (Hughes) of Salisbury at Wiltshire Assizes on 31 7 1802, sentenced to 7years, held on a hulk at Portsmouth & arrived at Port Phillip (now Victoria) as a convict on 4 10 1803 after a voyage of 7+months on HMS CALCUTTA (an expedition that settled in Tasmania); he would have camped at what is now Sorrento/Sullivans Bay. This expedition rejected Port Phillip for a settlement at this time & he was moved to Risdon Derwent Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) on 27 1 1804 (arriving on 15 2 1804) on OCEAN or HMS LADY NELSON or leaving on 24 3 1804 (arriving on 25 6 1804) on OCEAN. He was employed guiding timber carriages & attempted escapes from the colony in May 1805, in September & in December. He may have sired children before his marriage in 1813 as he is recorded as off stores with 3children on 2 10 1818 at Hobart Town. He married Consta/entia/ina/Constence Elizabeth (Busby/Hibbins) on 22 2 1813 at St Davids CofE Hobart. In 1820 he had property at Hanging Sugar Loaf near Ross & an Inn punt (Cove Ferry & Inn) & farm at Cove Point/Bridgewater. He was granted 40&50acres in Ulva & Strangford areas & purchased 150acres. He is recorded as off stores with 3children on 2 10 1818 at Hobart Town. He died on 28 5 1824 age36 of long & painful illness father of maybe 7children & was buried at St Davids CofE Hobart. [Some details taken from this Website] Consta/entia/ina/Constence Elizabeth (Busby/Hibbins) was born in 1798 on Norfolk Island & baptised on on 18 6 1811 age about14 in Hobart Town Van Diemens Land/Tasmania. She was taken by her father to Derwent Tasmania as part of the first evacuation on 25 12 1807 on HMS PORPOISE; to New Norfolk/Derwent Valley. She is recorded as off stores on 2 10 1818 at Hobart Town. She died on 16 6 1823 age26-or 16 3 1823 age29. Details of Consta/entia/ina/Constence Elizabeth (Busby/Hibbins)s family are given in entry for William (Abel PITT 1791) on this Website. Augustus (Morris) & Constantia Elizabeth (Busby) produced 5children: 1.Elizabeth (Morris) was born on 12 11 1813 & baptised on 17 2 1815 age15m at St Davids CofE Hobart. She is recorded as off stores with her father on 2 10 1818 at Hobart Town. She died in 1896 age about83. 2.Augustus (Morris) was born in 1820. He went to Port Phillip Victoria in 1835 exploring for minerals in Riverina. He became employed by W C (Wentworth) & a memberof Legisative Council NSW 1851-6 & Legislative Assembly 1859-64. He was a pioneer of refrigerated & preserved meat. He died in 1895 age about75. 3.Martha (Morris) was born in 1820 also. She died in 1824 age about4. 4.James (Morris) was born in 1821. He died in 1905 age about84. 5.Eliza (Morris) was born in 1822. She died in 1865 age about43. References: Craig James Smee 'Births and Baptisms Marriages and Defacto Relationships Deaths and Burials New South Wales 1788-1830' ..a complete listing from church & other records in the early colony. Irene Schaffer & Thelma McKay 'Exiled Three Times Over! Profiles of Norfolk Islanders Exiled in Van Diemens Land 1807-1813' James Hugh Donohoe 'Norfolk Island 1788-1813-The People and Their Families' Reg Wright 'Forgotten Generation of Norfolk Island & Van Diemens Land'
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.
Hulk Records. Portsmouth. HO-9-8_1. page 51/52 Received five from Salisbury, Sep. (date not given, but between 21 and 29th) Augs. Morris, age 18, Grand Larceny, Tried at Salisbury, 31 July 1802, NSW 7 years, Calcutta.
Tasmanian Records. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON22-1-2P006JPG Per Calcutta. Augustus Morris, Convicted at Wilts G.D., 31 July 1802, 7 years
22/2/1813: Married at Hobart, Constantia Hibbins (born Norfolk Island 1796 to Thomas Hibbins and Elizabeth Busby). Children: Elizabeth 1813-1896 Augustus 1820-1895 Martha 1820-1824 James 1821-1905 Eliza 1822-1865 1820: Augustus occupied grazing land under licence at Hanging Sugar Loaf near Ross, and owned the inn, punt and a farm at Cove Point. 28/5/1824: Augustus died at Hobart, Tas. His Headstone lies at St David's Cemetery, Hobart. Constantia died 16/3/1823, aged 29.
Augustus Morris, who stands charged with robbing his master, James Hughes, Esq., in this city, (Salisbury) of a quantity of wearing apparel, &c., was on Monday re-examined, and fully committed for trial. Salisbury Journal, 21 Jun 1802 Augustus Morris, for robbing his master, was sentenced to be transported for seven years. Bath Chronicle, 12 Aug 1802