JOHN ROLLINGS - SECOND FLEET - One of 502 Convicts on “Neptune” 1790 Sentenced to 7 years at Launceston Assizes Transported to New South Wales

NAME: JOHN ROLLINGS TRANSPORTED AS: JOHN ROWLING ALSO KNOWN AS: John Rawling, John Rowling AGE:

TRIED: 24 March 1787, Launceston Assizes SENTENCE: Death Sentence recorded; Reprieved; Transportation for 7 Years CRIME: Stealing a Bay Mare

GAOL REPORT:

SHIP: Neptune (transferred from “Surprize”) - Departed Portsmouth 19 January 1790, arrived Botany Bay 26 June 1790, a voyage of 160 days. On board were 502 convicts - 424 male convicts (147 of whom died), and 78 female convicts (11 of whom died); in addition, 12 survivors of the “Guardian” joined the vessel in February 1790. Master Donald Trail, Surgeon William Gray

CONVICT VESSEL “NEPTUNE” – The “Neptune” was one of three vessels (Neptune/Surprise/Scarborough) that made up the Second Fleet to New South Wales. She embarked her convicts in December 1789 and sailed from England on 19 January 1790. Charles Bateson (“The Convict Ships 1787-1768”) claims that the “Neptune” carried 436 male convicts and 78 female convicts (a total of 514 convicts). She relanded three convicts before leaving England. One hundred and fifty eight convicts died aboard the “Neptune” during the voyage to Port Jackson – 147 men, and 11 women. The three ships of the Second Fleet arrived at the Cape of Good Hope, in company, on 13 April 1790, following a passage of just 84 days from Portsmouth. The “Neptune” embarked an additional twelve convicts at the Cape of Good Hope – survivors of the “Guardian” shipwreck. On 28 June 1790 the “Neptune” made landfall at Port Jackson, 158 days after leaving England. A letter from Governor to Under-Secretary Nepean reported that on the arrival of the Second Fleet the Surgeon’s Report had 488 convicts under medical treatment; prior to the ships’ arrival, there were no more than 50 people sick in the Colony.

SECOND FLEET – The Second Fleet was made up of six ships – , Surprise, Neptune, Scarborough, Guardian and Justinian – bringing much needed supplies to a Colony on the brink of starvation. The fleet, however, became known as the “Death Fleet” due to the large number of deaths among the convicts during the voyage. The Justinian was a stores ship, and the Guardian was wrecked at sea, with her survivors transferred to other ships of the fleet. In total, the Second Fleet carried 984 male convicts, 323 female convicts, members of the plus their wives and children, as well as Government officials; more than 1,580 people made up the fleet.

Conditions on the second fleet were diabolical..... From the " COVE CHRONICLE", 30th June, 1790. At last are here DIABOLICAL CONDITION OF THE CONVICTS THEREON 278 died on the fearsome journey to ". . . The landing of those who remained alive despite their misuse upon the recent voyage, could not fail to horrify those who watched. As they came on shore, these wretched people were hardly able to move hand or foot. Such as could not carry themselves upon their legs, crawled upon all fours. Those, who, through their afflictions, were not able to move, were thrown over the side of the ships; as sacks of flour would be thrown, into the small boats. Some expired in the boats; others as they reached the shore. Some fainted and were carried by those who fared better. More had not the opportunity even to leave their ocean prisons for as they came upon the decks, the fresh air only hastened their demise. A sight most outrageous to our eyes were the marks of leg irons upon the convicts, some so deep that one could nigh on see the bones ...... We learn that several children have been borne to women upon the Lady Juliana, the cause for which were the crews aboard African slave ships which met up with the transport at Santa Cruz...... So the Guardian is lost and with it our provisions. What, in the name of Heaven, is to become of us ? . . . "

NEWSPAPER REPORTS –

PUBLIC ADVERTISER (London), Monday, 2 April 1787 – On Tuesday last the Assizes for the County of Cornwall ended at Launceston, (Samuel Thomas, Esq, Sheriff), at which the following prisoners were tried and capitally convicted, viz: John Rawling, for stealing a horse, the property of Samuel Phillips; James alias Thomas Dale, convicted at the last Assizes for horse-stealing, charged for an escape from Bodmin Gaol; Thomas Hocking, for stealing a cow, the property of Edward Collins, of Probus; William Couch and John Gould, for house-breaking; James Elliott, for robbing the post-boy of the mail. Elliott and Couch were left for execution – and the others were reprieved.

REFERENCES – http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/AUS-PT-JACKSON-CONVICTS/2009-03/1236509009

Family Researcher: Karen Hodge - [email protected] http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/AUS-PT-JACKSON-CONVICTS/2009-03/1236483107

Claim-a-Convict: http://www.hawkesbury.net.au/claimaconvict/convictDetails.php?convictId=11861

Last Updated: 11 February 2011

Compiled by Trish Symonds