HMS Sirius Crew not aboard the ship March 1790

Not all the assigned crew members and ship’s marines were aboard HMS Sirius for the Mar 1790 voyage to Norfolk Island, they are noted in HMS Sirius muster by not being mustered on 20 Mar 1790 on Norfolk Island the day after the shipwreck, and being mustered in Apr 1790 at Port Jackson.

David Collins wrote about the crew who remained in Sydney and some earlier promotions of members of HMS Sirius ship’s company and the state of affairs in Sydney: On the 5th the Sirius and the Supply left the cove, but did not get to sea until the following day, when at the close of the evening they were scarcely to be discerned from the south head. At the little post at this place Captain Hunter left the gunner, a midshipman, and six of the Sirius’s people. Mr. Maxwell, one of her lieutenants, having been for a considerable time past in a melancholy and declining way, and his disorder pronounced by the surgeons to be insanity, he was discharged from the ship, and had taken up his residence on shore under the care of the surgeon, with proper people who were left from the ship to attend him. This was the second officer whose situation in the Sirius it became necessary to have filled. Lieutenant King, the commandant of Norfolk Island, had for some time been discharged from the ship’s books; and Mr. Newton Fowell, a young gentleman of the Sirius’s quarter-deck, being deemed well qualified, was appointed by the governor (as the naval commanding officer) to succeed him. To fill the vacancy occasioned by Mr. Maxwell’s unfortunate state of health, Mr. Henry Waterhouse, a young gentleman of promising abilities, was taken from the quarter-deck. Both these appointments were to wait the confirmation of the lords commissioners of the admiralty. (David Collins, An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, Volume 1).

This list includes all HMS Sirius crew members from May 1787 and their crew number who not aboard HMS Sirius for the voyage to Norfolk Island in March 1790 including the gunner, a midshipman and six able seaman who stayed behind at the post at South Head.

1: Captain Arthur Phillip, Governor of NSW in Jan 1788, transferred to HM Supply during the voyage to NSW.
4: Peter Ross, gunner by warrant 25 Oct 1786, remained at Port Jackson at the South Head lookout. Transferred to HM Supply, died 6 Aug 1790 at Batavia.
9: Thomas Freeman, Clerk, appointed under commissary 1 Feb 1788 at Sydney Cove, discharged from HMS Sirius books 9 Jul 1790, on his appointed as deputy storekeeper of Norfolk Island, arriving on Norfolk per Surprize in Aug 1790.
10: Samuel Rotton, Masters Mate, discharged 28 Sep 1787 at Rio de Janeiro during the voyage to NSW.
11: John Livingstone, able Seaman, discharged 12 Sep 1788 at Sydney Cove, he travelled to Norfolk Island per Golden Grove Oct 1788. Culprits on Norfolk Island: Golden Grove Ebook
12: George Graves, boatswain’s mate, died 10 Jul 1788 Port Jackson, buried at the Rocks burial ground, headstone today is on display at the Rocks Discovery Centre Sydney.
26: David Phillips, ship’s carpenter mate, joined HMS Sirius 28 Oct 1796 at Deptford.
27: John Robertson, able seaman, transferred to HM Supply 29 Jan 1788 at Sydney Cove.
52: George Elderidge, able seaman, discharged 31 Jan 1789 at Cape of Good Hope.
62: John Punton, able seaman, ran ship, 12 Feb 1789 at Cape of Good Hope.
68: Philip Neldor, able seaman, discharged 2 Jan 1789 at Cape of Good Hope, sent home to England per Alexander.
69: Daniel Southwell, midshipman, joined 28 Oct 1786 at Deptford, discharged to Haslar Hospital Portsmouth 22 Mar to 11 May 1887, he then rejoined HMS Sirius for the voyage to NSW as crew member 195, promoted to Masters Mate 29 Sep 1787, remained at Port Jackson at the South Head lookout.
70: Patrick Vallence, Midshipman, joined 28 Oct 1786 at Deptford, transferred to Friendship 13 Aug 1787 at Rio de Janeiro, drowned 29 Oct 1787 whilst at the Cape of Good Hope.
72: David Sealey, Masters Mate, discharged 28 Sep 1787 at Rio de Janeiro.
73: George Maxwell, 3rd Lieutenant, discharged 27 Dec 1789 to Hospital at Port Jackson.
74: Hugh Kerr, coxswain.
80: Michael Morton, Master, discharged 31 Aug 1787, invalided at Rio de Janeiro.
82: Bernie Maher, able seaman, died 7 Aug 1789 at Port Jackson.
83: Phillip Gidley King, 2nd Lieutenant, discharged 11 Feb 1788, became Commandant of Norfolk Island.
91: George Bouchier Worgon, Surgeon, remained at Sydney Cove assisting at the Hospital.
92: John Davis, Gunners Mate.
96: Thomas Webb, able seaman, travelled to Norfolk Island per Golden Grove Oct 1788. Seaman Settlers of Colonial Norfolk Island 1788 – 1814
97: Robert Webb, able seaman, travelled to Norfolk Island per Golden Grove Oct 1788. Seaman Settlers of Colonial Norfolk Island 1788 – 1814
103: Francis Hill, master’s mate, died 8 Nov 1789 Port Jackson.
106: John Shine, able seaman, died at sea 30 Dec 1788.
110: James Cunningham, midshipman and master’s mate, travelled to Norfolk Island per HM Supply in Mar 1788, drowned 6 Aug 1788, Norfolk Island.
111: John Berriman, purser’s stewart, promoted to able seaman 16 Jun 1788, promoted to corporal 9 May 1789.
118: Joseph Caldwell – able seaman, died at sea Dec 1788.
119: Lawrence Tureene – able seaman, transferred to HM Supply 29 Jan 1788 at Port Jackson.
120: John Parker, Master at Arms, discharged 2 Jan 1789, he took sick at the Cape of Good Hope, Feb 1789, sent home to England per Alexander.
123: Thomas Desmond, able seaman, transferred to Scarborough 13 Feb 1788 at Port Jackson.
126: William Pritchard – able seaman, deserted the ship 27 Jan 1789 at the Cape of Good Hope.
141: John Bryant, able seaman.
144: John McDonald, able seaman, transferred to HM Supply 29 Jan 1788 at Port Jackson, died 10 Apr 1788 Port Jackson.
147: Walter Brody, able seaman.
148: Edward Dodd (Henry Edward Dodd), able seaman, died 1 Jan 1791 Parramatta.
152: William Westbrook, able seaman, travelled to Norfolk Island per HM Supply Mar 1788, drowned 6 Aug 1788.
153: Thomas Jamison, Surgeon first mate, HMS Sirius 1788, travelled to Norfolk Island per HM Supply Mar 1788.
154: Thomas Daveny, able seaman, appointed superintendent Jan 1788. Died July 1795.
157: Roger Morley/Murley, able seaman. He travelled to Norfolk Island per HM Supply Mar 1788
161: Henry Brewer, midshipman died 1796 Sydney.
164: Robert Yule , able seaman, he embarked on the Dutch vessel Waaksamheid for England, discharged at the Cape of Good Hope on 18 Jan 1792, where he died 27 Mar 1792.
171: Furzey Fombell, able seaman.
172: John Benjamin Jones, able Seaman, discharged 7 Apr 1791 by request at Port Jackson.
180: David Davies, able seaman 23 Mar 1787, promoted to 2nd gunner 10 May 1788, ran ship 5 Feb 1789 at Cape of Good Hope.
181: James Wilson, able seaman, ran ship, 14 Feb 1789 at the Cape of Good Hope.
182: Henry Fitzgerald – able seaman, died 13 Dec 1788 at sea.
186: Cornelius Harragan – able seaman, transferred to HM Supply 29 Jan 1788 at Port Jackson.
189: James Lewis, able seaman, ran ship, 12 Feb 1789 at the Cape of Good Hope.
190: Paul Joseph, ran ship, 3 Sep 1787 at Rio de Janeiro.
195: Daniel Southwell, midshipman (see crew number 69 above).
197: John Titeunnt, able seaman, went missing 6 May 1788.
198: Alexander Wallis, ran ship, 13 Feb 1789 at the Cape of Good Hope.
201: John William Kerr, able seaman, joined HMS Sirius, 1 Nov 1787 at Cape of Good Hope, ran ship, 14 Feb 1789 at the Cape of Good Hope.
202: Jonathan Bell, able seaman, joined HMS Sirius, 1 Nov 1787 at Cape of Good Hope, died 26 Jul 1788 Sydney Cove.
203: John Ward, able seaman, joined HMS Sirius, 1 Nov 1787 at Cape of Good Hope.
205: George March, able seaman, transferred from the Scarborough to HMS Sirius 30 Jan 1788, transferred back to the Scarborough 1 May 1788.
206: Stephen Donovan, able seaman, transferred from the Alexander to HMS Sirius on 30 Jan 1788, travelled to Norfolk Island per Golden Grove Oct 1788, promoted to midshipman 28 Dec 1789. Culprits on Norfolk Island: Golden Grove Ebook
207: Thomas Wilson, able seaman, transferred from the Scarborough to HMS Sirius 30 Jan 1788, ran ship 6 May 1788 Port Jackson.
208: Archibald Andrew Lodwick, transferred from the Charlotte to HMS Sirius 30 Jan 1788, returned to the Charlotte 3 May 1788.
209: Christopher Palmer, able seaman, transferred from HM Supply to HMS Sirius 18 Feb 1788, returned to HM Supply on 10 Jun 1788.
210: Frederick Meredith, able seaman, transferred from the Scarborough to HMS Sirius 2 May 1788.
213: William/John Cooper, HMS Sirius 1789, able Seaman, died 14 Feb 1790 Sydney Cove.
215: William Phillips, able seaman, HMS Sirius 1789, died 30 Jan 1789 Cape of Good Hope.
218: Daniel Donovan, able seaman, HMS Sirius 1789, returned to England in 1791, discharged sick from HMS Sirius books 18 Jan 1792 at Cape of Good Hope.
226: William Gray: Able Seaman, HMS Sirius 1789.
230: James Brady, HMS Sirius 1789, transferred to Neptune 23 Aug 1790
233: Anthony Potts, Able Seaman, HMS Sirius 1789, transferred to Neptune 21 Aug 1790
237: Ham Rust, Able Seaman, HMS Sirius 1789, transferred to Neptune 21 Aug 1790.

Reference: HMS Sirius Musters, 1786 – 1790, TNA, ADM 36/10978.

Image: View of Sydney Cove sketched by Captain John Hunter, 20 Aug 1788, An Historical Journal of the Transactions at Port Jackson and Norfolk Island. The Golden Grove is position on the left with the Fishburn on the right. SLNSW: Digital Order Number: a1978104