The Mountstuart Elphinstone arrived in Moreton Bay on 01 November 1849, with transported convicts and convict exiles on board. The local burghers went out to meet the ship, and selected the best (or least worst) of those on board to work on stations and in businesses about South East Queensland. The convicts were then disembarked,Continue reading “November 1, 1849 – the arrival of the Mount Stuart Elphinstone.”
Category Archives: Transportation
The Amity drops anchor at Redcliffe- September 12, 1824
On 12 September 1824, the brig Amity dropped anchor at Redcliffe, with a manifest of convicts and soldiers under the direction of Lt Miller (the first Commandant), John Oxley, Alan Cunningham and Lt Butler. They were twice (or thrice in some cases) convicted felons, and their task was to set up a new penal colonyContinue reading “The Amity drops anchor at Redcliffe- September 12, 1824”
Captain Logan and Mr Hall
In 1830, a Sydney newspaper named The Monitor published a series of articles alleging that the Commandant of the Moreton Bay Penal Settlement was a bloodthirsty tyrant, and possibly a murderer. That Commandant, Captain Patrick Logan of the 57th Regiment, had prepared to sue Hall for libel, when his own murder intervened. What led toContinue reading “Captain Logan and Mr Hall”
Jack Bushman’s Tale Part 2 – Moreton Bay
ANOTHER TASTE OF THE CAT-O-NINE TAILS – LIFE IN MISERY – DEATH IN PREFERENCE. As soon as I had been ” told off” properly, I was put into the “chain gang.” I was ironed very heavily; the weight I should fancy of my Moreton Bay ornaments being about 16 lbs. I was sent to workContinue reading “Jack Bushman’s Tale Part 2 – Moreton Bay”
Convict Runaways: The life of David Bracewell (Wandi).
In my recent posts on James “Duramboi” Davis, I have referred in passing to David Bracewell (sometimes called Bracefell or Bracefield), known as “Wandi” to the indigenous people of Eumundi. I think now is perhaps a good time to fill in the details. David Bracewell was born in Shadwell, London in 1805 and worked asContinue reading “Convict Runaways: The life of David Bracewell (Wandi).”
Convict Runaways. James “Duramboi” Davis.
This is the first in a series of posts on the life of James Davis or “Duramboi”. The best-known convict absconder from Moreton Bay, he was considered a very bad character in his teens but after 14 years with the indigenous people of the Wide Bay area, went on to be an Interpreter for indigenousContinue reading “Convict Runaways. James “Duramboi” Davis.”
Convict Runaways – George Brown, escapee, draftsman, constable and trouble-maker.
George Brown was one of the most flagrant absconders from Moreton Bay. And, like his namesake Sheik Brown, his story is extraordinary. George Brown was said to have born in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) around 1800, and was a seaman and servant by trade. Like Sheik Brown, he was an indigenous Sri Lankan or possiblyContinue reading “Convict Runaways – George Brown, escapee, draftsman, constable and trouble-maker.”
A long, strange trip (Part 1)
I was going to write a quick post about the Moreton Bay prisoners who were born far from the United Kingdom, and found their way to the settlement. I’ve decided to make this Part 1, because of the sheer number of extraordinary stories that I came across. AFRICA Francis Andrews, born about 1796 in Africa,Continue reading “A long, strange trip (Part 1)”
Moreton Bay and More 