The webite "Convictrecords.com" lists the Sarah as having made two (2) convict trips. Once to New South Wales in 1829 (the one with William Dimmitt), carrying 200 passengers, and again in 1836 to Van Diemen's Land (carrying 254 passengers).
Source: http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/sarah/1829
The site "Free Settler or Felon" indicated that the ship embarked with 200 passengers, taking a total of 100 days to sail. Only one death was noted. The site goes on to say:
"Two hundred prisoners who embarked on the Sarah came from the hulks at Portsmouth on 15th August 1829 and according to surgeon Alick Osborne, while there had become accustomed to ship board life.
The convicts were under the Guard of soldiers of the 63rd regiment for the journey to Australia."
"The Sarah was the next convict ship to leave England for New South Wales after the departure of the Claudine. the Sarah departed London on 29 August 1829. they had a pleasant as well as a quick passage of 100 days, touching at the Islands of Tristan 'Acunha and St. Paul's and for several days were in company with a French ship laden with Emigrants. They also spoke the ship Gilmore, with settlers for Swan River, and the William with Sir Edward Parry. R.N. and family on board.
They arrived in Port Jackson on the 6th December 1829."
Regarding the ship's surgeon (Alick Osborne), it continues:
"He recorded that the weather was fine for most of the voyage, allowing the prisoners to be on deck all day. the prisons were kept clean and dry with stoves lighted all day and only the oldest men suffered any scurvy. Bark and wine was used as an effective prophylactic treatment. All but one of the men were landed in robust health. Edward Bullock having died on the passage out.
A muster was held on board on 10th December 1829 by Colonial Secretary Alexander McLeay. The convict indents reveal information such as name, age, education, religion, marital status, family, native place, occupation, offense, when and where tried, previous convictions, physical description and where and to whom assigned on arrival. There is also occasional information regarding tickets of leave, pardons and deaths."
The Sydney Gazette reported;
"We always feel much pleasure in adverting to the continued display of humanity and attention manifested in the importation of prisoners to this "our favored land. "Yesterday 199 male prisoners were landed from the Sarah, Captain Columbine, Superintendent, A. Osborne, Esq. Their state and condition was such, as to show that every attention must have been paid to their health and comfort on the voyage. The experienced Superintendent has been here often before, always receiving the approbation of the Authorities: and we need only say, that the appearance of the prisoners landed yesterday was seldom equalled, never excelled. Captain Columbine is entitled to equal praise for his cheerful and cordial co-operation in every thing tending to the comfort of the people. The conduct of the detachment of the 63d, under Lieutenant Croly, is said to have been most exemplary; and indeed the unanimity and harmony which prevailed amongst all parties in the Sarah, proves that the promotion of the general good was the only predominant feeling. This is as it should be, and cannot fail to be duly appreciated in the highest quarter.
It is not a little remarkable that this is the second cargo of prisoners landed at Sydney under the superintendence of this gentleman within the present year, the first being by the Sophia on the 28th January - a circumstance which has not to our knowledge occurred to any other individual since the establishment of the Colony. - Sydney Gazette 8 December 1829."
Sources:
http://www.jenwilletts.com/convict_ship_sarah_1829.htm
http://www.jenwilletts.com/alick_osborne.htm
The Sydney Gazette also listed the Sarah as having brought papers from London, giving us a view into a world without regular mail.
Source: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/2194053
Perhaps, it's irony being expressed in the Sydney Gazette's article, perhaps it's just the way people accepted the world they lived in. It doesn't seem that "...the promotion of the general good was the only predominant feeling" when one learns about the treatment of convict prisoners.
One website describes the treatment of prisoners on convict transports:
"The exhibits on the ship include a branding iron with which convicts were branded on the palms of the hand with a broad arrow. They were chained to a triangle while this operation was being performed. Dangerous prisoners were rendered helpless by the use of a body iron with handcuffs attached. There is an iron straight jacket, and a spiked collar, the chain of which was kept short to keep the convict in a stooping posture. The silent guard is a ringed stone of Australian blue granite to which twenty convicts were chained at a time. With wrists and ankles fastened to the flogging frame, the prisoner was at the complete mercy of the convict flagellator"
Source: http://www.discovermorningtonpeninsula.com.au/fascinatingfacts/collins-torture.php
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| Source: http://lrrpublic.cli.det.nsw.edu.au/lrrSecure/Sites/Web/13651/13655/ applets/11632_match_artefact/mat11632_text.htm |
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