Captain John Alexander McDonald papers, mainly relating to the convict ship Isabella Watson, 1838-1852

MLMSS 1808/Box 1
MLMSS 1808/Folder 2X

fonds

1838-1852

422709

Microfilm : CY 4980, frames 1-450

1 box and 1 outsize portfolio of textual material

Captain J. A. McDonald commanded the Isabella Watson on a voyage from Dublin, Ireland, to Sydney, N.S.W. in 1842 when 201 male convicts were transported to Hobart. The ship departed 15th January 1842, arriving in Hobart 3 August 1842. Robert Bower was the surgeon

BOX 1
ITEM 1
John A. McDonald personal log book of convict ship Isabella Watson, 21 December 1838-4 August 1842
Inside front cover: Ship Argyll Nov. 22 1838. Captain McDonald Isabella Watson Bound to Hobart town from London
Log of journey from London to Hobart, via Calcutta.

ITEM 2
John A. McDonald personal log book of convict ship Isabella Watson, 24 July 1842-14 December 1843
This log overlaps the other by a few days. It covers the arrival of the Isabella Watson in Hobart 3 Aug. 1842, and departure for Calcutta, 26 Sept. 1842
Pages are bound out of order

ITEM 3
John A. McDonald extract from the log 2 May-20 July, 1842
Extract relates to the convicts' attempted mutiny, annotated at a later date.
Note in front: 'Separate detailed account of what took place on board from 2 May until 20th July 1842. This may have been made out because of the ‘Enquiry’ into the mutiny during the voyage. The Enquiry took place at Hobart on 5th August 1842'

ITEM 4
John A. McDonald account book, 1840
Includes cash accounts relating to stores sold to crew and records for chronometer no. 752

ITEM 5
John A. McDonald account book, 1843, 1852
Accounts and lists of clothes sent to be washed, Mauritius, Calcutta, 1843, 1852

ITEM 6
John A. McDonald accounts and correspondence, 1839-1852
Correspondence relating to shipping, mainly invoices and receipts, lists of supplies, and letters, 19 Apr. 1842-1852. Includes a letter to his wife after reaching Sydney, 31 Aug. 1842 in which he writes there were two deaths and three births on the voyage, that he brought 56 of the mutineers in by irons, and of his reluctance to travel with convicts again

ITEM 7
Isabella Watson list of crew and convicts, 1842
Contains names of convicts, crew and military guard, signed by Robert Bower, Surgeon Superintendent

ITEM 8
Isabella Watson victualling book, 25 March-29 August 1842
Contains lists of provisions, expenditure and receipts, including an account of the daily issues of lemon juice, signed by Robert Bower, Surgeon Superintendent and J. A. McDonald, Master

FOLDER 2X
Items 1-11
Documents, 1840-1842, mainly relating to stores