News articles of the 'Seaflower' pirates

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]

We are happy to announce, that accounts have been received from Port Dalrymple of the schooner Seaflower, which was piratically seized by six convicts, near Oyster Bay, about a month ago. The pirates, as was suspected, went towards the Straits ; and the Commandant of port Dalrymple, who had received notice by express of the event, left no time in dispatching a well-armed boat to intercept them. The Government boat descried the schooner at anchor off Waterhouse Island, on the 9th ult. ; her boat, with three of the pirates, being on shore ; this boat was intercepted and secured, and the three criminals are now in custody at George Town. The remainder in the schooner put to sea, and the Government boat pursued for several hours ; but, owing to the very heavy sea, could not then come up with her. The schooner had no provisions but a few mutton birds, and no compass and the pirates had lost their powder on shore. Thus having no means of leaving the coast, the desperate and misguided criminals (who are stated to have quarrelled amongst themselves) can hardly fail of being overtaken in some of the rivers or inlets, a persevering search being continued after them. HOBART TOWN. (1822, March 2). Hobart Town Gazette and Van Diemen's Land Advertiser (Tas. : 1821 - 1825), p. 2.

Mr. Smith, of Appin, nephew of Charles Throsby , Esq. arrived in Sydney on Wednesday with unpleasant tidings. The following are the outlines of what comes within our knowledge :-The whaler Perseverance, Captain Dixon, of and from the port of London, has been very recently wrecked on some of the islands in Bass's Streights. Five boats, containing the captain, officers, and crew, left the wreck for this port ; one of which has providentially succeeded in gaining the Five Islands ; from whence three men peregrinated to Appin, where they were benevolently and hospitably received, having left behind with the boat two of their companions, who were too fatigued to travel. Two boats are strongly suspected to have perished, from the circumstance of their separation in a storm. The other two may be expected in Sydney Cove every hour. Two or three of the crew, we learn, were lost at the wreck. "We shall exert ourselves to obtain a faithful account of the lamentable event. Sydney. (1822, March 8). The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), p. 3.

Last week we promised to exert ourselves in the procurance of further information relative to the reported loss of the Perseverance whaler. Such intelligence has been obtained by the Superintendent of Police these last few days as to set the matter of the wreck of the Perseverance quite at rest; the whole of which turns out to be a fabricated story. The two men, who reported themselves as being part of the crew of the boat, are now in custody. They say that their names are, John Shields and Wm Anderson. The following is the statement now given :—Shields and Anderson, with five others, now at large in the Colony, seized the pilot's boat in the Derwent River, and then succeeded in boarding and cutting out a small schooner belonging to Edward Lord, Esq. at Hobart Town, laden with sundries. They speedily put to sea, bearing away for the coast of New Holland. Off the Five Islands they were seen, for a considerable time, throwing articles overboard, by the men variously employed in that district; and the vessel was also observed to steer direct for the rocks, on which she soon was dashed to pieces. Shields and Anderson then proceeded to Appin, and gave the account reported in our last. The others have hitherto successfully eluded the adroitness of our Police ; but the measures adopted for their speedy apprehension cannot very long be rendered abortive. What gave rise to suspicion in the first instance upon this transaction was, that the pirates in custody grossly prevaricated in their statements, and upon examining them apart, each had his own tale, so that at length confusion so possessed their minds, that the fact itself became reluctantly and necessarily disclosed. Sydney. (1822, March 15). The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), p. 2.

In the Sydney Gazette of the 15th instant, we find an account of the schooner Seaflower, which was seized by piratical convicts near Oyster Bay, and of which a report was given in our Paper of the 2d instant, when three of the six men had been taken in the Straits. It appears that this vessel had been run ashore by the remaining pirates, on the Coast of New South Wales, near the Five Islands. Two of the convicts had been already taken ; and therefore one only remained, for whom active search and pursuit was made. The result of this criminal attempt will therefore be the condign punishment of those concerned in it. HOBART TOWN. (1822, March 30). Hobart Town Gazette and Van Diemen's Land Advertiser (Tas. : 1821 - 1825), p. 2.

Matthew Travers, Richard Hurlstone, and Robert Greenhill (convicts), pleaded guilty to the charges of absconding from the Public Works, and of feloniously stealing and carrying away a Schooner, the property of Messrs. Kemp and Co. They were sentenced to receive 150 lashes each, and to be transported to Macquarie Harbour for the remainder of their respective sentences. HOBART TOWN. (1822, April 6). Hobart Town Gazette and Van Diemen's Land Advertiser (Tas. : 1821 - 1825), p. 2.

The report that was inserted in our Gazette of the 8th ult. relative to the supposed loss of the Perseverance whaler, will be satisfactorily explained away in the perusal of the following article, which is extracted from the Hobart Town Gazette of the 1st ultimo: "We are happy to announce, that accounts have been received from Port Dalrymple of the schooner Seaflower, which was piratically seized by six convicts, near Oyster Bay, about a month ago. The pirates, as was suspected, went towards the Straits; and the Commandant of Port Dalrymple, who had received notice by express of the event, lost no time in dispatching a well-armed boat to intercept them. The Government boat descried the schooner at anchor off Waterhouse Island, on the 9th ult. her boat, with three of the pirates, being on shore : this boat was intercepted and secured, and the three criminals are now in custody at George Town. The remainder in the schooner put to sea, and the Government boat pursued for several hours; but, owing to the very heavy sea, could not then come up with her. The schooner had no previsions but a few mutton birds, and no compass ; and the pirates had lost their powder on shore. Thus having no means of leaving the coast, the desperate and misguided criminals (who are stated to have quarrelled amongst themselves) can hardly fail of being overtaken in some of the rivers or inlets, persevering search being continued after them."-Two of these pirates are in Sydney gaol."Sydney. (1822, April 26). The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), p. 3.

Matthew Travers, Rich. Hurlstone, and Rob. Greenhill, convicts under sentence of transportation to Macquarie Harbour, pleaded guilty to the charge of attempting to break prison, on Sunday night the 31st ult.: as they appeared very sorry for their offence, they were only sentenced to receive 25 lashes each. HOBART TOWN. (1822, May 4). Hobart Town Gazette and Van Diemen's Land Advertiser (Tas. : 1821 - 1825), p. 2.

At a Bench of Magistrates, held at the Court house in Hobart Town, on Saturday last (in the absence of the Deputy Judge Advocate), the Rev. Robert Knopwood, M. A. in the Chair; John Wilkinson and William Walker, convicts, pleaded guilty to the charge of absconding from the Public Works ; and, in conjunction with Matthew Travers and others, stealing and carrying away a schooner, the property of Anthony Fenn Kemp, Esq. and Co.—They were sentenced to receive 150 lashes, and to be transported to Macquarie Harbour for the remainder of their sentence. HOBART TOWN. (1822, October 12). Hobart Town Gazette and Van Diemen's Land Advertiser (Tas. : 1821 - 1825), p. 2.

NOTE: Matthew Travers and Robert Greenhill were in Alexander Pearce's first escape group in Sep 1822 and died in their attempt at freedom.

The owner and builder of the schooner 'Seaflower' was William Maycock: In William Maycock's petition ... In 1823 petitioner lost a schooner called the Sea Flower trading from Hobart Town to Oyster Bay which was taken by bushrangers Loss £200 ... . [Mary Long certifies] ... the first one foundered in sight of land and unfortunately two of my assigned servants was drowned ... . ^[1]