convicts walking

[Andcarred]

Hi Ken,

Pure speculation on my part but I would say prisoners from Newgate probably went by cart or wagon to Portsmouth due to the number of prisoners in Newgate.   Once on the hulk York I doubt they would have been brought back to London to embark on the ship to Australia but that the ship would have sailed around to Portsmouth and picked them up there.  If there is a surviving Surgeons Journal for the voyage of the particular ship you are interested in it might give details of where and how the convicts were embarked. 

Convicts leaving the hulk to work on projects would have been rowed, or had to row themselves, to the jobs they were required to do.   Times spent on hulks varied considerably according to how long it took to get ships ready for the long voyage to Australia, the health of the prisoner, the trade skills of the prisoner, the jobs requiring to be done ashore, the weather conditions at the time, the state of seaworthiness of the ship, the time it took to press gang a crew to sail the ship etc.  All in all I think life on the hulks was horrific.  A cruel, dirty, disease ridden, immoral hell on earth.

Andcarred

[Bilge]

Have you seen this article about prison life aboard the hulks?

http://www.victorianlondon.org/prisons/hulks.htm

York rebellion
 
As late as 1848, a serious rebellion broke out on the York. This vessel had served as a hulk at Gosport and London since 1820. The conditions of confinement aboard her were terrible and this must have contributed to the unrest.

Typically, she housed about 500 convicts in cramped conditions. The ringleaders of the disturbance were transferred to a land prison and the hulk was taken out of

[eustace]

Hi Ancarred
Thanks for the speculative comment. It is helpful and seems reasonable.
There is a brief record of the voyage. It records the stay at the Cape, but no stop at Portsmouth. This isn't necessary decisive information.
There is a Surgeons report. I knew of it, but it is only on film in the Mitchell Library in Sydney. I have to wait to see it until I go to Sydney again for some other reason.
Thanks for the excellent references to prisoners and hulks. I will go through them carefully.
I can only agree with your comments about conditions on hulks.
Eustace

 
 
 
 

[eustace]

Hello Bilge
I see now that you sent me the excellent references to prisons and hulks. Many thanks !
I had not seen the reference. I have skimmed the text and noticed tha tit leads to other references. It will take me a little time to read it all carefully.
I had read of the York rebellion. It occurred after the time of my convict, but I am sure he also had a terrible time on the hulk. He was luckier regarding the convict ship. It was one of the few voyages that suffered no loss of life en route.
Eustace