Obscure, Eccentric and Missing Lists from the Colony of New South Wales 1783~1823

List of the first Privates enlisted into the New South Wales Corps by Major Francis Grose in London – June 1789. None of whom embarked with the 2nd Fleet.

List of Nine superintendants of convicts, who had been appointed to work in Sydney, with previous employment noted, received aboard HMS Guardian for embarkation to NSW – 24 Aug 1789

List of 25 convicts with ages, occupation and trial details, sent from Portsmouth aboard HMS Guardian for Transportation to NSW – 8 Sep 1789 (note: Guardian was wrecked by iceberg strike off Cape of Good Hope Dec 1789)

Transfers from other Regiments to The NSW Corps or previous military service in England prior to departure – 1789

First recorded discharges from the NSW Corps with men provided in place of Aug – Dec 1789

Following are newly compiled lists of the first Companies of New South Wales Corps soldiers and family embarked to the colony with the Second Fleet. The listings vary only slightly from previous works and is the first time they are presented per vessel. Additional data has been utilised to allocate some previously unassigned men to vessels. The lists include eight men marked as embarked in the paylists but were discharged, deserted or died prior to or during the voyage and are hence unlikely to have arrived in NSW. With the Paylists remaining in England it was not possible for desertions or deaths during the voyage to be noted in them. Corps Paylists compiled aboard ship and in the colony for 1790- 1791 do not appear to have survived. It is only after the arrival of the English paylists aboard Pitt in 1792 that they reflect events in the colony. The following lists are subject to refinement as more research occurs and numbers are balanced

Embarkation of NSW Corps aboard Neptune Transport to NSW – 22 Oct 1789. Reported to be a Captain, a Lieutenant, a Serjeant, two Corporals, a Drummer, & 44 Ptes

Wives and children of NSW Corps recorded aboard Neptune Transport 26 Feb 1790. Reported to be six wives and three children on 26 Feb 1790. Listed here is also Elizabeth Connor, wife of Convict Michael Connor (Scarb.) and their three children. Connor was said to be a former soldier and as such was later pardoned and enlisted in the Colony.

Embarkation of NSW Corps aboard Scarborough Transport to NSW – 22 Oct 1789. Reported to be two Lieutenants, a Serjeant, a Corporal and 28 Ptes

Wives and children of NSW Corps recorded aboard Scarborough Transport 26 Feb 1790. Reported to be four wives and two children on 26 Feb 1790. Missing three wives and a child. Some may have arrived in NSW but did not appear in colony records

Embarkation of NSW Corps aboard Surprize Transport to NSW – 17 Nov 1789. Reported to be a Captain, an Ensign, a Serjeant, two Corporals and 26 Ptes

Wives and children of NSW Corps recorded aboard Surprize Transport 26 Feb 1790. Reported to be ten Wives and six children on 26 Feb 1790. Children under 1yr of age may not have been included in some listings as they were not victualled. Clearly some missing wives here. Some may have arrived in NSW but did not appear in colony records

Embarkation of NSW Corps of unconfirmed Vessel, most of these likely aboard Neptune Transport to NSW – 22 Oct 1789 (due to totals per vessel)

Convicts who arrived with the Second Fleet and later enlisted The NSW Corps

Children of convicts and soldiers who arrived with Second Fleet and enlisted the NSW Corps in later years

The General Return of the detachment of NSW Corps at Sydney 24 July 1790 reports a total of 8 NCO’s and 93 Ptes, less six who had deserted since Oct 1789, all of which aligns almost exactly with the above embarkation figures.

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