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The Prison Hulks
The British Government had the problem of overcrowding Prisons, particularly in the eighteenth century, so to alleviate this they established temporary gaols in the hulks of old ships moored in rivers and harbours around the country. Conditions were appalling and disease was rife in these badly ventilated holds.
Prison Hulk on the River Thames
Ships of the First Fleet
There were 11 ships in the First Fleet, H.M.S. SIRIUS Naval Flagship, H.M.S. SUPPLY Naval Tender, the smallest & fastest ship of the fleet, BORROWDALE Storeship, FISHBURN Storeship & GOLDEN GROVE Storeship. The Convict Transports were SCARBOROUGH, ALEXANDER, FRIENDSHIP, CHARLOTTE, PRINCE OF WALES and LADY PENRHYN.
H M S Supply Naval Tender
Not long after sailing the SUPPLY and FRIENDSHIP lost their masts in a huge swell which tossed the ships badly. Between Tenerife and Rio de Janeiro, trouble was experienced between some of the female convicts on the FRIENDSHIP. A fight broke out between four of these "ladies" and they had to be separated by the marines. Some of the seamen on board broke through the bulkheads into the prison and enticed the women into their quarters; these men were transferred to the SIRIUS and after being tried, were flogged.
The ALEXANDER reported illness, which was found to have been caused by bilge water which had not, contrary to Phillip's instructions, been pumped out daily and so had risen, becoming putrid and endangering the health of all on board.
After the fleet connected with the southeast trade winds, the SIRIUS lost her top sail, the BORROWDALE her foretop mast and a man was washed overboard from the ALEXANDER, due to the boisterous winds. After a vivid storm the winds subsided and the sailors could be lowered over the sides of the boats to enable them to scrape the barnacles that were hindering their progress. Another squall hit and both the LADY PENRHYN and the GOLDEN GROVE lost sails. Both ships tossed and rolled in a swell so high that those aboard LADY PENRHYN could not see the hulk of the GOLDEN GROVE a short 608 feet away.
Because Phillip had previously been a captain with the Portuguese navy, he had his sailors paint the SIRIUS, after the squall ceased, so it would look spick and span when it sailed into Rio de Janeiro. Here in Rio de Janeiro repairs to masts, rigging and sails damaged over the past months were carried out.
This Website last updated 16th January 2007