Transportation of convicted persons from Britain effectively ceased to NSW in 1840.
The Matchless came from California to Sydney.
ADD : 1319 and 1320 ARE THE PRISONERS MENTIONED IN THE CUTTING BELOW
There is an index at NSW State Records Office that shows a John CORDIAL aged 27, a crewman on the ship Maria arriving from Melbourne to Sydney. The remarks column of the index has “Stewart, Scotland”. The actual image shows that John Cordial was the ship’s Stewart and he was from Scotland and the ship arrived in Sydney on May 15 1855.
http://srwww.records.nsw.gov.au/indexes/searchform.aspx?id=43Ancestry has a partnership arrangement with NSW SRO, whereby SOME of the NSW SRO holdings from part of their archives that are held on microfilm (most of the archives are not yet on microfilm), have been uploaded to Ancestry’s subscription site.
There’s a John Cordial, aged 28, from Hobart to Sydney on the Violar, arriving 25 Nov 1856. That chap was the Cook and Steward. All the crew are noted as England.
The 1854 Darlinghurst Gaol mention has John Cordial, born 1827, ex the Matchless, and standing 4ft 8, slight build, fresh complexion, can read and write.
TROVE
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/12954370 SMH 30 May 1854
Christopher Murray, Alfred Moss and
John Cordier, three seaman attached to the schooner Matchless, were charged with stealing portions of the cargo…. Captain Webster stated that he had commanded the vessel during her last voyage from San Francisco….. determined to take proceedings against the prisoners at Honolulu ….. not a British port ….. wait until he got to Sydney …… He frequently saw the cook (
Cordier) …. Bottle or two and stow them away under his bunk …… Moss and Cordier to twelve weeks’ imprisonment with hard labour. The other man was discharged …. Not sufficient to sustain conviction”
Cheers, JM