• Description: Barque
• Tonnage: 389
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• Owner(s):
• Master(s): Andrew McTaggart (1841)
• Surgeon Supt(s):
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There were two Runnymedes which ran to Australia as convict transports.

Built in London in 1825, the 389 ton A1 barque Runnymede I in 1839-40 ran from London to HobartTown in 99 days, equalling the runs of the Morley (1820), Countess of Harcourt (1821) and for convict transports second only to the Sarah (1837), which had arrived in 97 days. The Runnymede sailed from London on 20 December 1839, her master W B Forward and surgeon Peter Fisher in charge of 200 male prisoners (boy convicts), all of whom were landed safely. She arrived in HobartTown on 28 March 1840. The British Sovereign set a new record with a 92 day passage in 1840-41.

On 25 April 1841 the Runnymede departed London with 222 assisted emigrants, sponsored by Mr John Marshall. Her master was Andrew McTaggart and surgeon John Dunne. After a voyage of 127 days she reached Port Jackson on 30 August 1841. One of 200 Roman Catholics on board was Catherine Fairlie, 18, an unmarried house servant from Co Cavan IRL, who later (August 1847) married John Humphries in Sydney to whom she bore some ten children, mostly in the Narrabri - Gunnedah region on NSW. On the voyage Catherine was under the protection of James Flynn whose accompanying wife Betsy, 18, was able to “…milk and make butter”.

Schooling on board attracted 64-100 adults and children. A Margaret Flynn assisted in the ship’s hospital. Illnesses included the usual diarrhoea, incipient fever and slight infection of the lungs. One infant died en route. Of conditions aboard, Dunne wrote in his Surgeon’s Journal:

What regulations for the preservation of health and cleanliness:
All emigrants who were not complaining, out of their berths at 7.00 am, when the weather would permit after breakfast male and female appointments cleaned out thoroughly and water clostes daily attended.
What occupations and amusements:
Amusing and instruction books put on board by Mr. Marshall distributed amongst them – dancing on the main deck after 6 o’clock weather permitting – at 9.00 pm all females below and doors locked.

Joy McLoughlin (2 June 2002) wrote

Another passenger who arrived on The Runnymede in Port Jackson 30th August 1841 was Mary MacGowran/McGovern … [a free settler] … under the care of Mr and Mrs Huntley. On 25th September 1842 she married Edward Mitchell at the Roman Catholic church Mulgoa, and went on to bear 5 children. She died 12th January 1895 and was buried 14th January in Lower Mittagong NSW. … Edward Mitchell (Co Rosscommon) was conscripted, deserted, and sentenced to 14 years transportation. He arrived on the Eliza 5 in 1829. He was assigned to a John Wylde and got his Ticket of Leave in 1838.

The Runnymede was wrecked near the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal during 1844.

Source(s):

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If you have any queries about this vessel, or information to add, please eMail
Ross Beattie ( rossbtgenealogy@gmail.com )
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