THE  HIES  ISLE  OF  SKYE  IMMIGRANTS
The party of 372 souls from the Isle of Skye was appointed to sail in the Barque "Georgiana," of 798 tons from Greenock on the Clyde (Glasgow) on the 13th. July 1852, to the Colonies ( Point Henry, Geelong. Vic. Australia.)
They travelled from Portree on the Isle of Skye by steamer to Oban and on to Glasgow.

THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  "GEORGIANA"
The "Georgiana"- 798 tons.    Master: Robert Murray
Passengers: 372.     Surgeon Superintendent: William Gilbie
Departed:  Glasgow.   July   13th.  1852.
Arrived:  Point  Henry,  Geelong,  Vic.  Australia.  October  16th.  1852

A full list of the passengers has been compiled  by Bill Clarke

The Skye Immigrants sailed from the Clyde at Greenock, in Glasgow, on the "Georgiana" bound for Point Henry in Geelong, Australia. Dr MacLeod presented the emigrants with Gaelic Bibles, and Psalm books. The 23rd Psalm was sung before they left Greenock, and sailed down the Clyde. How devastated they must have all felt, leaving their beloved homeland, family and friends, knowing they would probably never return.

THE  VOYAGE:
They encountered a violent thunderstorm off the west coast of Ireland. Alex Cameron states in a letter, we met with a contrary wind off the west side of Ireland and that kept us for 8 or 9 days. Alex Cameron bought a fiddle in Greenock, which he played during the voyage. Captain Murray and the Doctor insisted they all dance on deck every night. This along with the porridge maintained their good health.

Extract from the Report of the Emigration Board at Geelong   29 Oct 1852
The ventilation between decks was very good – the windsail piped through a separate opening in the deck. The great height between decks of nine feet is a great advantage. The fastenings in the single women’s quarters were in good order. The Hospitals were clean and in good order. The berths, tables and other fittings between decks were in a highly satisfactory state of cleanliness.

The provisions, water and stores appear to have been of good quality. The health of the Immigrants  was good throughout the greater part of the voyage. Diarrhoea, Dysentery, and a few cases of scurvy were presented on board, but they soon recovered under the care of the Surgeon Superintendent. There were two deaths and two births during the voyage.

Schools were established early in the voyage. Divine Service was performed daily in the Gaelic Language. The board were pleased with the orderly, healthy and cleanly appearance of the Immigrants, who were satisfied with the treatment they had received during the voyage.

Geelong Advertiser   /  Monday 18 October 1852
The Immigrants are described as being of a superior class.
“MUTINY  ON  THE  GEORGIANA”
On Sunday morning the Captain Murray, had no idea of any disturbance on board the Georgiana. He took his gig and visited the “Brilliant” lying along side and breakfasted with his namesake Captain Murray. The ships were anchored out in the Bay because of the shallow water. He returned to the Georgiana at noon to be confronted by 17 of the crew, including Warrant Officers, who told the Captain that it was their intention to abandon ship and go to the gold diggings.

Captain Murray replied that the ship was chartered to go on to Sydney, with a penalty of 3000 pounds, and he would not give his consent to their project until they had taken the ship on to Sydney. On the return journey they would return to Geelong, and he would give them two months leave of absence. The leaders of the Mutiny were the boatswain, sail maker, and cook, who replied the last of the gold diggings would be over by then.

Captain Murray warned the mutineers, that if he saw anyone lowering the lifeboat to go ashore, he would shoot them. The mutineers continued to lower the lifeboat and the Captain fired, shooting and killing the cook James Cross. The Surgeon came to the aid of Captain Murray, probably saving his life as the mutineers held a gun to his head.

The sail maker and a seaman McDougall attacked Captain Murray, kicking him in the head, lashed him to the wheel, and left him for dead. The Surgeon, first, second and third mates were forced down below deck and the hatches fastened. The lifeboat was then lowered and the mutineers made ashore and escaped.
 

MUTINY  REPORT
Extracts.  from  the  Melbourne  Argus
( Geelong,  from our own  Correspondent.  Monday  18 October, 1852.)

Thursday 21 st. October 1852
Seventeen men got into the boat, and landed at Point Henry, leaving the boat on the beach, from which she was brought back to the Georgiana by the crew of the Brilliant. The Captain on being released immediately came onshore, and gave information to the police, who started off in pursuit of the offenders. On reaching the public house kept by Mr Elliott, near Point Henry, they ascertained that the runaways had called there and left their baggage behind them, having previously asked the way to the Barrabool Hills; they left Elliott's about half  past  3 o'clock.

The  Geelong  Advertiser  and  Intelligencer
THE  LATE  MUTINY

Tuesday  October  19th.  1852
Yesterday morning, Troopers Jones and Keating were again despatched, and returned to town with two of the seaman in custody. They were surprised in the Bellarine district, about four miles from where they had landed the previous day.

THE   DESERTERS.
John McNeil,  Malcolm McDonald,  Thomas Anderson,  Philip Vibert,  Thomas Hardee and McNaughton, six Seamen belonging to the "Georgiana," were charged by the Master of that vessel  with  desertion.

The Captain said he should waive the graver charge of felony, and proceed against the men for desertion only. The Captain detailed the circumstances of the act of desertion, which occurred on the afternoon of the 17th. October. The six prisoners were apparently acting under orders or at the instigation of others who headed them.

The prisoners were remanded on the 2nd November, as reported in the Geelong Advertiser, and again on the 4th November, owing to the witnesses not being present. The trial was reported in the Melbourne Argus on the 24th December 1852.

THE  MUTINEERS
Thomas Dawson and Thomas Hardee, were placed before the bench, charged with being concerned with several other articled seamen, belonging to the barque "Georgiana," in mutinous and felonious conduct on board, on the noon of Sunday last.

THE  VERDICT  OF  THE  JURY
The opinion of this Jury is, that the deceased, James Cross, came to his death by a gun shot wound inflicted by Captain Murray in the execution of his duty as Master of the Barque "Georgiana."

This Jury therefore, returns a verdict in this inquest of "Justified Homicide."

This Jury cannot separate without expressing their sympathy for Captain Murray, at the very painful position he had been placed in and their entire approbation of his conduct under circumstances of so trying and serious a nature.

At the same time this Jury desires to convey their strong disapprobation at the unmanly conduct of the male immigrants in refusing to aid the Captain in the trying emergency he was placed in. James Cowie   ( Foreman )

MUTINY  CONTROVERSY.
The opinions differed as to where the Captain's jurisdiction ended. Was it when the ship anchored off Point Henry, in Corio Bay, or when it berthed in Sydney at the completion of the charter? Did he have the right to protect his ship to the extent of taking a human life?  Many ships were losing crew for the gold diggings on arrival in Australia. It was believed that the port should have been provided with a police boat and crew to assist Captains at times like this. Maybe even a simple telegraph at the port would have helped in these situations.

Footnote
Who could blame the immigrants, for declining to assist the Captain? The crew had previously come below to ask for their help, with their planned escape. The immigrants refused, and they were  threatened by the mutineers, and told that they would be shot if they came on deck. The immigrants feared for their lives, and the first thoughts of the men would have been to protect their wives and children. Many of them had several children and how would they have survived in this strange unknown land if the mutineers had killed their father and mother?

They had left their homeland under extreme hardship to try and make a new start in life. After a long sea voyage of 96 days, they had just arrived safely, and were then to be confronted with a Mutiny on board ship, this must have been quite terrifying for everyone on board.

SENTENCES  OF  MUTINEERS
21st.  December 1852   Magistrate  Mr  J. A'Beckett.
Witness  Captain  Murray stated.
"My  face  was  very  much  beaten  &  I  had  several  stabs  in  the  back."
The Prisoners  were  all  found  guilty  of  maliciously  inflicting  bodily  harm,  and  robbery.

Thomas Dawson: Was placed before the sitting Magistrates, charged by Captain Murray of the "Georgiana,"  with Mutinous  Conduct  on  board  that  vessel  on  Sunday  17th.  October.  Committed  for  trial  for  Robbery  and Assault.

The Court sentenced Thomas Dawson to work on the roads of the Colony for the period of two Years.

John  Mc Neil,     Malcolm  Mc Donald,     Thomas  Anderson,
Andrew  Mc Norton,     Thomas  Hardee,      Philip  Vibert.
Were committed for  trail  for  assault  on  the  person  of  Robert  Murray.

The Court sentenced the other six, to work on the roads of the Colony for a period of one year.

Statements of Witnesses:
Obtained from the Keeper of Public Records, Melbourne, VIC. Australia
Witnesses:  Captain Robert Murray.
Surgeon:  William Gilbie.
Chief Mate:     James Parker Boyd,
Immigrant Witnesses:  Malcolm McLeod, John Cameron,
 

Extracts for this Internet  report have been  taken from my book
 “The Voyage & Mutiny of the Georgiana.” 1852

For further information contact.   Lorraine McKenzie   Email:  loremck@jc.com.au

I am compiling a database of the descendants of the original Georgiana Immigrants.
This has already helped many descendants to find others who are researching the same family.

A Georgiana Reunion is being planned for Saturday 12th October 2002.
In Geelong, Australia
To celebrate the 150th Anniversary
Of the Georgiana’s arrival in Australia.
Any  descendants of the original Immigrants will be most welcome.
At the last Reunion in 1994, there were people from all over Australia .

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