NEPTUNE
- SWISS - 1904
Neptune was one of the notorious Second Fleet ships to Port
Jackson. Built in the River Thames in 1779, at 809 tons she
was the largest ship of the fleet. In company with Surprize
and Scarborough she sailed from England with 421 male and
78 female convicts on 19 January 1790. Her master was Donald
Traill and surgeon was William Gray. She arrived at the Cape
of Good Hope on 13 April 1790, and spent sixteen days there,
taking on provisions, and twelve male convicts from HMS Guardian
which had been wrecked after striking an iceberg. She and
Scarborough were parted from Surprize in heavy weather and
arrived at Port Jackson on 28 June 160 days out from England.
During the voyage 158 convicts died (31%) and 269 (53%) were
sick when landed.
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