Life onboard the early convict transportation ships could be brutal.  The mortality rate was often high.  Dr Heather Clarke describes the conditions of these early voyages and the turning point that brought about better conditions for convicts.  She also discusses a much-loved form of exercise on the ships - dancing and music.

LINKS

www.colonialdance.com.au

https://www.facebook.com/earlycolonialdance

Grab a copy of Convict Sydney, the real-life stories of 32 prisoners:

www.jennifer-twemlow.com

Support Convict Australia and receive goodies such as the Convict Australia Newsletter:

https://www.patreon.com/ConvictAustralia

Join the conversation on our Facebook & Instagram pages:

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Start your search for your convict ancestors:

https://prf.hn/click/camref:1100ldych

FURTHER READING

Dancing on convict ships  https://www.colonialdance.com.au/dancing-on-convict-ships-3147.html

Dr William Redfern https://www.colonialdance.com.au/dr-william-redfern-3182.html

Jen Willetts'  Free Settler or Felon site has detailed information about convict ships and their surgeons https://www.freesettlerorfelon.com/convict_ships_australia.html

Surgeons at Sea via The National Archives https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/surgeonsatsea/

Bateson, C. (1969). The convict ships: 1787-1868 (Vol. 2nd). Glasgow: Brown, Son & Ferguson.

Oxley, D. (1996). Convict maids: the forced migration of women to Australia. Cambridge; Melbourne;: Cambridge University Press.

Pearn, J. (1995). Surgeon-superintendents on convict ships transportation from England to Australia. .

Redfern, W., & Edited by Watson, F. (1814). Report on Convict Ships. La Trobe University Library: Historical records of Australia. Series I Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1959.9/519540.

Rees, S. (2000). The Floating Brothel. Sydney: Hodder Headline Australia.

Smith, B. (2009). A cargo of women: Susannah Watson and the Convicts of the Princess Royal. Crows Nest, N.S.W.; Hove: Allen & Unwin; Roundhouse [distributor].

Music by Ahjay Stelino