A List of Known Hulks
The following is a list of known hulks which will be continually
added to. I would like to thank Mr Stephen Keates for his kindness in supplying information from his wonderful collection of hulks. Hulks were temporary gaols, England's answer to overcrowded penal institutions especially when the option of transportation was curbed. The vessels were usually retired naval fleet vessels or frigates without masts. They were usually permantly harboured in the mentioned ports and convicts sent there worked their way through a system which was similar to all penal institutions, good behaviour was rewarded especially through remitted sentences.The men might be compelled to work on nearby roads or government projects such as building sites, but were returned daily to the hulk. The 1826 Hulks Report offers further information, as does 1826.Convicts Life after Sentencing and also the 1826 England vs USA Penal Colonies news article. The 1834 Hulks at Woolwich report has further details and further articles are at the Convict Conditions webpage and also a report of the establishments in 1830 and more convict information can be found at Genseek's Convict Website.
Mr Keates's List of Hulks was first published in 'Family History Monthly', July 2002 and he intends to soon publish his extensive research on the hulks of England."The Convict hulks. England. There are four distinct periods of administration: - Private Enterprise, 1776 to 1802using contracted overseers,the merchants Duncan Campbell and Henry Bradley and an experienced gaoler William Cowdry for the Dunkirk at Plymouth. The first government Inspectorate, 1802 to 1815. Aaron Graham a Magistrate was appointed supervising the private contractors, Stewart Erskine at Woolwich, James Bradley brother of Henry followed by Andrew Hawes Dyne, later Bradley at Portsmouth, who all contracted independently. However the Navy Board had some controlling influence over convict labour and location of hulks. John Henry Capper a Home Office official 1815 to 1847 the Superintendent of Prisons and the Hulk Establishment. The individual hulks under the management of a Captain and Officers. From 1847 to 1858 there was a Managerial Committee, which was chaired by Joshua Jebb, this was concerned with all Prisons. There were two out stations under British Government control at Bermuda (1829-1864) and Gibraltar (1842-1870) and two hulks stationed in Ireland at Cork and Dublin under part Irish administration (1823-1838). For conditions on the Hulks the long view should be taken and during the Duncan Campbell period conditions on the hulks would appear to be better than those in the County gaols. The prisoners had a regular diet possibly better that many of the labouring poor of the late 18th Century. Campbell did not deliberately overcrowd his Hulks but some overcrowding did occur particularly when convict movements involved putting prisoners onto the transport ships, this appears to be at the time of the sailing of the First Fleet.
Ireland's Hulks.
Essex. 1830. Kingston/Dublin.. was set on fire 1830 "On Monday last, some of the convicts on board the Essex hulk, stationed at Kingston, near Dublin, set fire to that vessel in three places, close to the water. The flames were fortunately suppressed, and all on board,being upwards of three hundred prisoners, were transmitted to the Hercules convict ship which had only arrived in the harbour the preceeding Saturday to take to their destination." {LA151130} Cork. 1836. To be done away with "The hulk at Cork, for the reception of transported convicts, was to be done away with, and the stores constructed for the navy to be used instead. " (src:SMH220836)Australia's Hulks
Tasmania Duke of York.1830...River Derwent? 1830.July. "The Duke of York..hulk..a former powder magazine, now fitted up as receptacle for one of the chain gangs and moored short distance from shore..opposite Rev.Knopwood's cottage..." (src:CT July 2nd 1830) New South Wales Sydney. 1834 "In Consequence of the increase of doubly convicted offenders, the Government have come to the determination of purchasing a large vessel for an additional Hulk. The Phoenix having been found insufficient to contain the numerous characters of this description. The brig Harriett and the Indianna have it is said, been surveyed for that purpose, but it is supposed that neither of them will be capacious enough.." (src: SH Sept 15th 1834) Victoria (records relating to those men who served time about the hulks are held at the PRO IN Melbourne. Deborah, The Deborah arrived in Melbourne on the 15th Sept 1852. She was a ship of 600 tons and had departed Bristol on the 8th of June. Shorly after her arrival the Deborah was gazetted to become H.M Hulk for Sailors. Sucess. in Hobsons Bay Harbour 1852. President in Hobsons Bay Harbour 1852.England's Hulks
Royal Navy Hulks Overseas@ Graham.E.Watson Index of Hulks Name Years Situated At: Period of Time Alonzo 1815 - 1825 Woolwich 10 years Censor 1775-c1797 Woolwich 20 years Ceres 1787-c1797 Woolwich 10 years Justitia (1) 1776-1791 Woolwich 15 years Justitia (2) 1815-1830 Woolwich 15 years Justitia (3) 1830-52 Woolwich 15 years was subject to an Inquiry 1847 Justitia..a personal account of conditions Prudentia 1794-09 Woolwich 13 years Reception 1777- Woolwich 5 years Stanlislaus 1780-02 Woolwich 22 years Tayloe 1776-77 Woolwich 3 months Warrior 1840 Woolwich 15 years was subject to an Inquiry 1847 Warrior..Photo of Dasher 1826-43 Woolwich 17 years Sulphur 1848 Woolwich 1 month Hebe 1839-52 Woolwich 13 years Wye 1843-52 Woolwich 9 years Morning Star 1848-50 Woolwich. 2 years Unite 1847-47 Woolwich 10 years Leven 1836-40 Woolwich/Deptford 4 years Savage 1804-09 Woolwich 5 years Warrior 1840-57 Woolwich 17years Retribution 1803-35 Woolwich/Sheerness 32 years Discovery 1824 Woolwich/Deptford 6 years Dromedary 1825 Woolwich/Bermuda 30 years Defence 1850-57 Portsmouth/Woolwich 7 years Dolphin 1824-29 Chatham 8 years Euryalus 1826-43 Chatham/Gibraltar 17 years Fortitude 1833-44 Chatham 11 years Ganymede 1820-38 Chatham/Woolwich 18 years Canada 1826-34 Chatham 8 years Cumberland 1830-33 Chatham 3 years Dromedary 1825 Woolwich/Bermuda 30 years Antelope 1824 Bermuda 30 years Coromandel 1829 Bermuda 25 years Weymouth 1829 Bermuda 7 years Tenedos 1846 Bermuda 16 years Medway 1850 Bermuda 12 years Discovery 1820-33 Woolwich/Deptford 13 years Leven 1836-40 Woolwich/Deptford 4 years Thames 1840-44 Deptford/Bermuda years Chatham 1778-83 Plymouth 5 years Dunkirk 1784-91 Plymouth 5 years Alonzo 1828-35 Portsmouth 8 years Defence 1850-57 Portsmouth/Woolwich 7 years Laurel 1892-20 Portsmouth Harbour 28 years Leviathan 1818-44 Portsmouth 22years Sterling Castle 1840-55 Portsmouth 15 years Briton 1848-56 Portsmouth 8 years La Fortunee 1788-02 Langstone Harbour c13 years Portland 1802-16 Langstone Harbour 13 years Owen Glendower 1842 Gibralter 20 years Captivity 1st 1802-17 Gosport,Devonport 15 years Captivity 2nd 1826-34 Gosport/Devonport 8 years Lion 1788-00 Gosport 12 years York 1820-52 Gosport 32 years Bellerophon 1815-26 Sheerness 11 years Retribution 1803-35 Woolwich/Sheerness 30 years Zealand 1810-13 Sheerness 3 years Hardy 1824-33 Tipnor Lake 9 years Racoon hospital ship 1826 only.attached to YORK Miscell. 1830. Hulks Report. (CT Aug 6 1830) NB.This article is designed to assist in giving a general overview of the convict system. All original official records should be accessed to confirm any accounts of the convict system. Jenny Fawcett Further Links Children on Hulks -eyewitness account (Hazel Orr's site
