Introduction
Journal 12 September 1834 – 23 September
Annie Maria Baxter‘s Journal ―Augusta Jessie‖ September 12th 1834
September 12th 1834 –We yesterday embarked on Board the Augusta Jessie1 – Convict ship bound for New South Wales– She is a very beautiful ship – I feel more at home here than I thought I ever should on any vessel – My Uncle,2 John and Archibald Douglas3 came to see us – We sail today I believe in the afternoon –
September13th Today we came from Deptford to about ½ a mile past Gravesend4 – A lovely day – The Doctor‘s wife (Mrs
McTurnan)5 is on Board – She is a very pleasant woman – In the Evening the Doctor & Baxter played at Backgammon together – I worked – […]
September 18th A sultry day – Mr Edinborough,6 Dr McTurnan, Baxter, Mrs McTurnan and myself went to Deal7 – A little dirty Place – We are past Dungeness8 & are going on very pleasantly indeed – I wrote to dear Harriet9 this evening – Tomorrow is her Birthday –
1 A 380-ton barque, built at Sunderland early in 1834 and making its maiden voyage as a convict transport after being fitted out at the naval dockyards at Deptford, on the south bank of the Thames and in close proximity to Chatham military barracks where the 50th (Queen‘s Own) Regiment of Foot (hereafter the 50th Foot) had been quartered prior to its departure for the Australian colonies. The Augusta Jessie (hereafter
AJ)was commanded by Henry Edenborough and the surgeon-superintendent was James McTernan, already a veteran of several voyages on convict transports. Prior to this voyage, McTernan had sailed to Hobart Town on the Sir Charles Forbes (1827), York I (1832) and to Sydney aboard the Ocean II (1823), Eliza II
(1829) and the Lady Hardwood (1831). (See Appendices I&II, Bateson 338-371.) He sailed on the Sarah to Hobart Town in 1837 and on the John Barry to Sydney in 1836. In 1823, on his first voyage to the
antipodes aboard the Ocean,McTernan had successfully dealt with a prisoner uprising (Bateson 218). 2
James Murray Hadden (q.v.).
3 Brothers of Cressy Douglas, a school friend of Annie Baxter (hereafter AB). AB was very fond of this family, especially their mother whom she regarded as a mother figure. When she returned to England in 1851 she visited the family at Ryde for an extended period.
4
On the right bank of the Thames, downstream from London, traditional centre for English customs‘ collection.
5 Harriet McTernan did not accompany her husband on the voyage. Presumably she disembarked at Portsmouth.
6
The last part of this name has been crossed out, the spelling apparently corrected and inserted above. Edenborough made several voyages to the Australian colonies between 1833 and 1837. In 1840 he settled on the pastoral property, Wollogorang, near Goulbourn in New South Wales (hereafter NSW).
7 Town in Kent, once a significant mercantile centre, but popular in the 19th century as a coastal holiday resort.
8 A promontory on the south coast of Kent which projects into the English Channel. 9 Harriet Woodward (q.v.), sister of AB.
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September 19th … – A beautiful Breeze10 springing up in the evening – I am not very well – The Pilot thinks we shall be in Portsmouth11 tomorrow – I wrote to Mrs Briggs12 on the 17th from Deal –
September 20thArrived at Spithead13 at two o‘clock in the afternoon – Dr & Mrs McTernan, Mr Weir14 and the Captain all went ashore – I wrote to my Uncle immediately – […]
September 23rd All on shore but myself and little Husband –
September 24th Mr & Mrs McTernan & I went into Portsmouth in the morning – Saw the Guard mounting15 – Convicts were coming on Board when we came from shore – I sent my picture to Harriet today –
September 25thNo one went ashore today except Mr Weir in the evening – I am not among the class of happy mortals – Nor shall I be so again until I return to my native land – My beautiful workbox is missing – I sincerely trust it is not lost – […]
September 27thWe have been at Spithead a week today – Harriet wrote me a most affectionate letter – A lovely day – […]
September 29th A lovely day – I am very sick – September 30th In the Bay of Biscay16 –
October the 1st Still in the Bay – & litterally so, as [illegible word] we are becalmed – Still sick – October 2ndQuite calm and I am so likewise – We have beautiful weather –
October 3rd Still in the Bay of Biscayos! We have a Mr Moss17 on Board with us – he is a Jew – Poor fellow he leads a sad life – To think that the Christian religion should be so abused as to
10 Superscript in original.
11 Sheltered port on the southern coast of England. Convicts were embarked onto transports at Portsmouth, Plymouth or Woolwich in England, and Cork in Ireland from nearby gaols or prison hulks (Hughes 138, Bateson 55).
12 Hannah Briggs (1808-1837), sister of Andrew Baxter, wife of William Briggs (q.v.).
13 The extensive, deep and sheltered channel between the north-eastern shore of the Isle of Wight and the mainland of England. On the western side a channel leads into Portsmouth Harbour.
14
Lieutenant James Weir (50th Foot).
15 Ceremony in which the military guard at important institutions is changed, now commonly known as the ―changing of the guard.‖ AB possibly observed this ceremony at Southsea Castle, Portsmouth.
16 A wide inlet of the Atlantic Ocean bounded by south-western France and north-western Spain, renowned for its treacherous waters; sea-sickness is commonly reported in voyage accounts.
17 Not listed on passenger list, possibly a ship‘s officer. AB later met him in Hobart Town where he was ―married, and doing very well as [a] Clerk in some Government Office‖ (9 Jan. 1845).
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scoff at, a person rather than tolerate a person of any other – The time will be when we shall see our folly – May our God who looks at & protects the Jews equally with the Gentile pardon our frailties – I am delighted poor Mrs Thornbury18 is getting so very much better – We are nearing the Cape– where my beloved William19 is– I only trust he is as happy as I wish him & he is then among the happiest of mortals – …
October 5th The Doctor read prayers to the Convicts – Nothing else occurred particular – October 6th I am reading the memoirs of the Empress Josephine20 – Fine weather –
October 7th This day year, my darling William was married & today, I believe my Hal is to enlist in the Corps of ―Matrimonials‖ – If my prayers be heard she will be very happy in them – ―Je ne me porte pas tres bien‖21
– How truly delightful in six years it will be to come & lay my bones in my dear Old England – I feel convinced a longer life will not be mine – […]
October 9thA fine day – … – I have just been on deck, walking by moonlight – It has given me the Blues! I suppose I must be a very very discontented person, for I am miserable with a good man, who says that he loves me,22 and with friends whom I have vanity enough to fancy will miss me from their circle – Today an accident was very near taking place with the Gunpowder23 – I am sure I shall be quite happy when I am alone with Baxter in N. S. Wales – at least I propose the same in advance –
October 10th This morning the Elizabeth Whale Boat passed us & the captains held a short parley – In the afternoon when we were all on deck, we saw two water spouts at a distance – One continued some time & was very beautiful – Today has been rather showery – I am now reading
18
Wife of Thomas Thornbury, an enlisted soldier of the 50th Foot. Unless otherwise specified, all persons named in the voyage record were soldiers of the 50th Foot or their wives. The names of women travelling with their husbands were not recorded and cannot be reproduced. Women – usually only five or six – were chosen by ballot to accompany their soldier husbands.
19
AB‘s brother, William Charles Hadden (q.v.). In 1834 he was serving with the Royal Engineers in the Cape Colony, a British colony established in 1806, known as the Cape Province or province of Cape of Good Hope following the union of South Africa in 1910.
20 Georgette Ducrest, Memoirs of the Empress Josephine: with Anecdotes of the Courts of Navarre and
Malmaison (London: Henry Colburn, 1828). 21 ―I don‘t feel very well‖ (French).
22 The phrase ―who says that he loves me‖ appears to be a replacement for other words. The faint outline of other words is suggested and the page is lighter, as if some words have been erased.
23
Possibly a reference to an incident related in Memories of the Past (hereafter Memories)in which a bullet is fired by one of the ―gentlemen … practising firing with pistols‖ into the cuddy where she had been sitting moments before (4).
78 ―Mary, Queen of Scots‖24
– Poor Mr Weir is not very well I think – I frequently now reproach myself with having been so constantly, (as I think) out of temper with dear Harriet & bring to mind her words ―Well, Annie dear, we won‘t quarrel as we may not allways be together‖ – How true those words were – I wish I could even hear her say that now – […]
October 12th & 13th Nothing in particular, but old Quotil flogged25 – What a pity that an Attaché of mine should misbehave himself so far – I feel very far from well – I am afraid my old
complaint is returning – We are going on but slowly – […]
October 20th A fair breeze – not quite so warm – A very imposing scene has just taken place – one of the Convicts died this evening & was buried immediately26 – It is a solemn sight – Particularly when we think that we must all come to the same, one day or other – Were I prepared (I mean in a religious point of view) I should be quite reconciled to die young – All the troubles of this world are then passed & nothing but happiness in sight – […]
October 22[nd] Today is very fine – We saw some flying fish27 – The Doctor, Captain & myself invented new alphabets – & Mr Moss made them out – I shall copy mine in the end of this book28 – […]
October 25th Becalmed – It is litterally boiling today – ―There is not /in the words of Captn
Stonehouse/ a breath to govern the hatmosphere, nor a cloud to govern the sky‖ 29– I have just had my Box playing – It reminds me of old Times – How silly girls are who leave friends & good ones too that love you them,30 to marry persons who profess to love them, but who soon get tired of their society – A few weeks back, I was vain enough to imagine that I was really loved – but for the future I shall know how to trust to appearance – I think after what I have suffered one way
24 Probably Henry Glassford Bell‘s Life of Mary Queen of Scots published 1828 in Edinburgh. Bell‘s was the most recent of a number of works about Mary Queen of Scots. His two volume work has a biographical rather than historical focus.
25 Jean Baptiste Quattel, native of Dominica convicted in Dominica of theft on 31 Aug. 1830 and
transported for life. The Surgeon‘s report comments that he was ―infamously bad [and] punished on board.‖ After arrival in VDL, ―being a most violent tempered man,‖ he was sent to Port Arthur (Con 301/1/37, Archives Office of Tasmania [hereafter AOT]).
26 Identified only as Joseph H. in the AJ Conduct Book (Con CSO 1/ 781/ 16664, AOT).
27 Any of various tropical fish of the family Exocoetidae capable of gliding considerable distances above the water by means of winglike pectoral fins.
28
This was not the case; no alphabet was recorded.
29 Not identified, either as a person known to AB or a literary figure.
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& the other for my husband, the least return (& the only one I ask for) he could make, would be to love me. There was a Shark caught today – The Doctor shot it very well – […]
October 28th … In the course of the morning we observed a vessel coming towards us – It proved to be an English Brig – We spoke to her – & the Captain & Baxter went on Board her with letters from all of us – I felt as happy as if I were allmost going to old England – […]
November 3rd… My left ancle has been inflam‘d for four days – I wrote to Hal, Toby,31 & Mother Reid32 – […]
November 8thToday, I have been married nine months – A fine day – […]
November 10th Today we crossed the line33 – a fine Breeze all day – I broke the little looking Glass – There is seven years misfortunes for me34 – […]
November 11thToday Neptune paid us a visit35 – A fresh Breeze all today – […]
November 14th A pleasant breeze this morning – a little wet in the early part of the morning = On the 10th Mrs Wade36 was confined with a young lady – It was very remiss in me to forget placing such an event in my journal on the proper day – However it‘s a way we military people have sometimes37 – […]
31 Later referred to as ―my beloved Uncle Toby‖ (12 May 1835), perhaps a relative from her mother‘s side or a close family friend (see also 5 Oct. 1835 and 1 June 1836).
32
Mother of Eliza, a school friend of AB (see 9 Jan. 1838). Mrs Reid, like Mrs Douglas, was a mother figure for AB.
33 Nautical term for sailing across the equator.
34 A persistent superstition, deriving from widespread belief that what a person saw when they looked in a mirror was not a simple reflection but ―a visible representation of the soul, which was temporarily divorced from the body. Such reflections could be asked questions about the future and if they trembled or broke up the prognosis was generally bad‖ (Pickering 171).
35 A nautical tradition associated with crossing the equator, where a seaman dressed as Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, visits the ship. Those who have not previously crossed the line are summoned to the ―court‖ of Neptune for trial. This summons was often followed by a ritual dunking in a tub of sea water. Initiates were sometimes lathered with ―soap and gunk‖ and roughly shaved (Hughes 154).
36 Mrs George Wade. 37
Like AB, Maria Nugent, wife of George Nugent, appointed Lt.-Governor and Commander- in-Chief of Jamaica in 1801, identifies herself as a military person in her journal of her Jamaican sojourn: ―but we are soldiers, and must have no will of our own‖ (2).
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November 20th A dull morning – on the 18th we were exactly under the Sun38 – The Doctor said I was a creature that day without any shadow – I hope he didn‘t mean without reflection likewise39 –
November 21stToday our latitude is 23o 40‘S – We saw five Albatross‘s, a very uncommon thing in this latitude – & almost equally so, a heavy Gale of wind – One or two uncommon ludicrous events took place during the squall – Some inexperienced ―shore-going‖ people were sitting on the weather gang-way & par consequence got a little more water to wash their faces, than is generally allowed on Board a ship – A little Convict Boy, who had not considered ―the perils & dangers of the deep‖ before he stole – was in the greatest possible fright – thinking – no doubt, all was over with him – (as the water was!) […]
November 24thMy birthday – I am eighteen – The Ships both ―en avant‖40 – A lovely day – ―Baxter is a wicked Boy‖ – […]
November 28th This day month my letters went to dear England – Last night I had a most delightful dream – I had been out in N. S. Wales – 6 years – & had just returned to my own dear old Country – I ought not to wish my lot, different from what it is, but certain I am that I shall not regret going home again – The Captain & I had a quarrel –
November 29th My little spouse41 took my part last night, like a hero – Fine day – Baxter caught a fine Dolphin the day before yesterday & did not keep it – […]
December 4thA fair Breeze – several whales & Birds about – We are one thousand miles from Land – My darling is reading ―Goldsmith‘s History of England‖42 out loud to me while I work – December 5th– I don‘t remember any time in my life that I was happier than I am now – Reading ―Gallery of Portraits‖ 43–
38
The point on the planet where the sun is exactly overhead, called the geographical position. The point where this occurs is moving over the earth from east to west at one minute every four seconds. It also moves very slowly from north to south, taking a year to go from the Tropic of Capricorn to the Tropic of Cancer and back again. The equator is crossed twice. The Nautical Almanac published annually since 1767 lists minute by minute the geographical position of the sun.
39 Superstitious persons believed that the absence of a shadow or reflection was a bad omen portending harm or death for the person concerned.
40 In front of [us] (French). 41
A word has been erased and replaced with ―spouse.‖
42 Oliver Goldsmith, History of England from the Earliest Times to the Death of George II (Dublin: Sleater and Chamberlain, 1789).
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December 6th I feel it very cold – one of the poor convicts is mad – God help him – it the most shocking calamity to be deprived of reason –
December 7th My old man is of age today – A Dutch ship close – […]
December 9th This morning an Albatross was caught larger than the other two – Mr Moss was very busy preserving the skins – The Down on them is beautiful – I made a pem [?] with ―Albatross‖ on it – Saw whales yesterday & today – The Doctor has preserved a claw which I am going to make into a reticule Bag 44– […]
December 16th Calm – No Birds about – I am so very very happy – My little Boy quite well – December 17th Both my child & myself have colds – Today he (meaning my boy) caught an Albatross and then somehow let it go –
December 18th Fine day & strong Breeze – I should like to know how my old Friends in England are – God Bless them all – We have pass‘d the Cape, where my darling is – & expect to see St Pauls45 on the 1st of January
December 19th Yesterday there were several whales about & numbers of Albatrosses – Today one