Matilda (1779)

Career (France)
Launched:	1779
Career (England)
Name:	Matilda
Fate:	wrecked in 1792.
General characteristics
Tons burthen:	460
Sail plan:	Ship rig

Matilda was a convict ship dispatched in 1791 from England to Australia. She was built in 1779 in France. Under the command of Master Matthew Weatherhead, she departed Portsmouth on 27 March 1791, with 250 male convicts as part of the third fleet and arrived on 1 August 1791 in Port Jackson, New South Wales. Twenty-five convicts died during the voyage and the ship required repairs. Matilda was used as a whaler after her arrival. She left Sydney for the Marquesas Islands, however was wrecked in February 1792 on a shoal, later named Matilda Island.^[1] The survivors of 21 crew and one convict stowaway were later rescued, with some later picked up by Captain William Bligh on HMS Providence at Matavi Bay, while others were picked up by Jenny and Britannia.^[2]

Notes

1. ^ "The Sydney Morning Herald, Tuesday 30 June 1857. p.3.". http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/page/1496322. Retrieved 20 July 2011. 
2. ^ "The Mercury (Hobart, Tasmania), Friday 18 March 1921. p.6.". http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/23488926. Retrieved 20 July 2011. 

References

• Matilda