Log of the Dromedary – Monday August 30, 1819. 8.30 a.m. – Punished James Ashton, P, 69th Regiment, with 24 lashes for drunkenness and insubordinate conduct and James Douleray, P[rivate], of the 84th Regiment, 12 lashes for the same.
11th September 1819 the Dromedary sailed from England to Sydney and Hobart with 370 male prisoners on board
Transportation wasn’t restricted solely to felons, but also soldiers and mariners convicted by Court Martial of varying offences. Alexander McCurdy a stone cutter by trade, from Ballycastle and a trooper in the 11th Light Dragoons, was convicted by Court Martial at Blandecques, France when part of Wellington’s Army of Occupation and sentenced to 7 years transportation. He was held on Prison Hulk Laurel being transported on Dromedary September 1819 to Van Diemans Land arriving 10th January 1820
Other soldiers convicted by Court Martial and on board the Dromedary were Patrick McGahan ‘H’ Troop Royal Artillery Drivers and Waterloo Veteran – Jeremiah Donoghue from Gibraltar – Thomas Daniel Hedderley a Royal Marine Gunner from Portsmouth – Ronald McEachen from Domarary – John Welsh from Gibraltar
28th January 1820 from the diary of Governor Lachlan Macquarie
– Friday – This morning at 8,O’Clock anchored in Sydney Cove H. M. Storeship “Dromedary” Commanded by Capt. Richard Skinner, Master in the Royal Navy, with 370 Male Convictsfrom England – whence She sailed on the 11th. of Septr. last; Mr. George Fairfowl of the R. Navy being the Surgeon Supdt., and the Guard consisting of 1 Ensign & 57 Soldiers of the 69th. & 84th. Regiments being Commanded by Capt. R. A. Cruise of the latter Corps
27th January 1821 – Extract from Hobart Town Gazette and Van Diemens Land Advertiser – “From the Sydney Gazette of the 30th ult, we copy the following:- Special Criminal Court – Yesterday a Court was purposely convened for the trial of James Dunleavy, Thomas Lynch, James Horan and James Grady, Privates in the 84th Regiment, who were doing duty on His majesty’s store ship Dromedary at the Bay of Island, for the wilful murder of William Allridge a seaman belonging to the said vessel on the night of the 21st November last (1820) in the harbour of Whangarooa. The trial commenced at ten in the morning, and continued till five in the evening; when the prisoner James Dunleavy, who was charged as the principal in the indictment, was adjudged Guilty of Wilful Murder. – The other prisoners were acquitted. In consequence of a motion being made for an arrest of judgement by the prisoners solicitor Mr Garling, sentence has been deferred till Tuesday next, to which day the Court adjourned
For a resume of the trial see profile of James Dunleavey – I have transcript of the trial
On the return from to England – Captain Skinner’s Log – 10th June 1821; two men found concealed in the hold, William White and Peter Penny – see Profile Captain Richard Cruise for newspaper report
4th July 1821 at anchor Plymouth Sound
5th July 1821 the prisoners William White and Peter Penny were handed over to the Civil Powers.