Matilda (1790 ship) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
|
|---|---|
 Kingdom of France |
|
| Launched | 1779 |
 Great Britain |
|
| Name | Matilda |
| Acquired | 1790 |
| Fate | Wrecked in 1792 |
| Notes | Three decks. Copper sheathing. Underwent a good repair in 1791 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 460 (bm) |
| Draft | 18 ft (5.5 m) |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
The ship Matilda was built in France and launched in 1779. Later, she became a whaling ship for a British company called Camden, Calvert and King. Her first big trip as a whaler was in 1790. Captain Matthew Weatherhead sailed her to New South Wales in Australia and then into the Pacific Ocean.
Carrying Convicts to Australia
In 1791, Matilda was listed in Lloyd's Register, a famous record of ships. Her owners were Calvert & Co., and she sailed between London and Botany Bay in Australia.
Around this time, the ship was used to transport convicts from England to Australia. This was part of what was known as the Third Fleet.
Matilda left Portsmouth on March 27, 1791. She arrived in Port Jackson, New South Wales, on August 1. The ship had started with 250 male convicts. Sadly, 25 of them passed away during the long journey.
Nineteen officers and men from the New South Wales Corps were on board. They acted as guards for the convicts. When Matilda reached Port Jackson, she needed some repairs.
Whaling Adventures
After dropping off the convicts, Captain Weatherhead took Matilda on a whaling trip. They hunted whales in the waters near New South Wales or off Van Diemen's Land (which is now called Tasmania).
Records from New South Wales show that Matilda left for India in November. It seems she sailed past the Marquesas Islands on her way. Other records say Matilda left Port Jackson on December 28, heading for Peru.
What Happened to Matilda?
Matilda was wrecked on February 25, 1792. She hit a hidden sandbank, which was later named Matilda Island.
The crew managed to survive the shipwreck. They returned to Tahiti on March 5, 1792.
Later, the 21 crew members and one convict who had stowed away were rescued. Captain William Bligh, sailing on HMS Providence, picked up some of them at Matavai Bay. Other ships, Jenny and Britannia, rescued the rest.
Six people from the crew decided not to return home. They chose to stay and live in Tahiti. Their names were James O'Connor, James Butcher, John Williams, William Yaty, Andrew Cornelius Lind, and Samuel Pollend.
