Summary
Personal Information
Transportation
Sydney Williams was transported on the Morley, departing 17th May 1820 and arriving 30th Sep 1820 with 124 passengers.
The "Morley" was built on the Thames, England in 1811. Convicts were transported to New South Wales on the Morley in 1817, 1818, 1820, 1828 and 1829 and to Van Diemen's Land in 1820 and 1823. 1829 Voyage. 200 Male English Convicts. Commander; Harrison. Richard Lewis; Surgeon Superintendent arrived 2 Dec 1829. All convicts survived the voyage.
Morley (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 88, Class and Piece Number HO11/3, Page Number 327 (165); TAHO CON 40/1/9 |
| 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
ON BOARD "Morley" As well as reciting a hymn to Surgeon Reid, Sydney Williams took up his offer to the convict women to memorise "some short moral or religious composition" with the inducement of a bible for the first one to do this. (Reid, ibid, p.161). On 18th July she was able to recite back to him, "with ease and accuracy" the address given when the voyage commenced (Reid, ibid, p.178). On Sunday 23 July after sermon and in front of all the other convicts Thomas presented her with "a large copy of the bible" with a hand-written inscription from him, as her reward for being the first one.(Reid ibid - p.177-178). HOBART Sydney was one of the fifty women delivered from 'Morley' to Hobart. She was assigned to Samuel Young. Despite Surgeon Reid being impressed with her moral improvement in the voyage, she reverted to old ways during the seven years o her sentence. Her conduct record shows regular bouts of being absent without leave, or neglecting her duty and 'absconding' from her master's house, insolence & singing obscene songs, rioting and disorderly conduct at the Factory. For these misdemeanours she received the harsh treatment of the times - up to a fortnight in a solitary cell on bread and water; sitting in the stocks x 3 for 2 hours per time; being returned to the government factory. (Tas Archive & Heritage Office, CON 40/1/9) .
June 16. There was a squall during the day, which all the prisoners found terrifying and started praying. “About 4 in the evening, Sidney Williams, whose conduct in Newgate was so extravagantly wicked as to induce the Surgeon of that establishment to propose her removal to Bethlehem Hospital, came to me with a hymn, which I had given her some time before to learn, with a promise of some mark of approbation in case of attention, and recited the whole with feeling and correctness.” Extract from “Two Voyages to New South Wales, and Van Diemen’s Land”, by Morley ship’s surgeon Thomas Reid. Published in 1822.
Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 16 February 2020), September 1819, trial of SIDNEY WILLIAMS (t18190915-57). SIDNEY WILLIAMS, Theft > grand larceny, 15th September 1819. 1139. SIDNEY WILLIAMS was indicted for stealing, on the 9th of August , one gown, value 5 s.; one shirt, value 2 s.; one apron, value 1 s.; one frock, value 1 s., and one petticoat, value 1 s. , the property of Daniel Cleary . ELEANOR CLEARY . I am the wife of Daniel Cleary . On the 9th of August, about nine o'clock in the morning, I went out, and left my box with Mrs. Hughes - it was not locked. I returned about one o'clock, and missed these things out of it. ELIZA HUGHES . I live in Buckeridge-street , next door to the last witness; she left these things at my house. The prisoner was employed to nurse my child. I left her in the room about twelve o'clock, returned at three o'clock in the afternoon, found the box open, and saw some of the things lying on the floor. JAMES GILLMORE . I am a constable. I apprehended the prisoner on the 11th of August, in Duck-lane. She turned up her bed, and between it and the sacking I found this apron. She said she pledged the other things at Simmonds's. JOHN SIMMONDS . I am a pawnbroker, and live in Monmouth-street. On the 9th of August, the prisoner pledgeda frock, a shirt, and a gown for 5 s., in the name of Williams. (Property produced and sworn to.) GUILTY . Aged 17. Transported for Seven Years . First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Justice Richardson. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON13-1-2$init=CON13-1-2p56 and following pages. List of female convicts from Morely (3), Master, Brown, in 1820, who landed at Hobart, not Sydney. Sydney Williams, Convicted at Middlesex G.D., 15 Sept 1819, 7 years.