Bellona, Convict Voyage to New South Wales 1792-93

The Convict Transport Bellona voyage to New South Wales 1792

The Bellona was a square-sterned ship of 472 tons, built on the River Thames in 1782. Her master for the voyage to New South Wales was 23 year-old Matthew Boyd, younger brother of one of the merchants who owned the ship. Once the stores were secured and the free settlers were made comfortable, the Bellona moved down the Thames to Debtford to take on her 17 convicts from Newdegate Prison, all women. On Wednesday, 8th August 1792 she weighed anchor and set sail from Dover. They encountered heavy weather most of the way to Rio de Janeiro, where they anchored on 19th October. Weighing anchor once more on 29th October, gales and heavy sewlls continued to be the 'norm' until nearing Australia. The Bellona was moored in Sydney Cove on 16th January 1793. The settlers were helped ashore and, next day, the convicts were sent up-river to Parramatta in the ship's pinnace.

PASSENGER LISTS

Details for the ship Bellona (1793) from the Claim a Convict website at: http://www.hawkesbury.net.au/claimaconvict/shipDetails.php?shipId=27

Bellona voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1792 with 17 passengers from the Convict Records website at: https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bellona/1792

FURTHER READING

Convict Ship Bellona 1793 from the Free Settler or Felon? website at: https://www.jenwilletts.com/convict_ship_bellona_1793.htm

Bellona (1782 ship) from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellona_(1782_ship)