Trial (ship)
Encyclopedia
The Trial was a ship that was seized by convicts and eventually wrecked on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales
, Australia
in 1816.
The Trial was a brig
owned by the merchant Simeon Lord
. While waiting near the Sow and Pigs Reef in Port Jackson
for good winds to take it to Port Dalrymple it was seized by a group of thirteen convicts. The ship was sailed northwards but was wrecked some 97 kilometres (60 mi) north of Port Stephens
in what is now called Trial Bay. The survivors of the wreck constructed a new boat out of the remains of the ship but, according to the local aborigines, the ship capsized and all thirteen convicts were drowned. The master of the ship, William Bennett, his crew and some passengers, numbering eight or ten in total (including a woman and child) were abandoned at Trial Bay by the convicts. These survivors attempted to walk back to Sydney
but disappeared without trace.
On 12 January 1817, the Lady Nelson
was dispatched from Newcastle
, under the command of Thomas Whyte, to search for the Trial. Whyte was successful, finding the remains of the Trial on 14 January which consisted of a canvas tent and smashed timbers.
Stories of a white woman living in a wretched state among the aborigines persisted, believed perhaps to have been a stowaway on the Trial. In 1831 apparently a reward was offered for restoration of such a survivor of the Trial, resulting in a woman said to be Emily Bardon, wife of the captain, being found, but 14 years of living wild had left her demented and she died soon after being reunited with her relations.
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1816.
The Trial was a brig
Brig
A brig is a sailing vessel with two square-rigged masts. During the Age of Sail, brigs were seen as fast and manoeuvrable and were used as both naval warships and merchant vessels. They were especially popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries...
owned by the merchant Simeon Lord
Simeon Lord
Simeon Lord was a pioneer merchant and a magistrate in Australia. He became a prominent trader in Sydney, buying and selling ship cargoes. Despite being an emancipist Lord was made a magistrate by Governor Lachlan Macquarie, and he became a frequent guest at government house. His business...
. While waiting near the Sow and Pigs Reef in Port Jackson
Port Jackson
Port Jackson, containing Sydney Harbour, is the natural harbour of Sydney, Australia. It is known for its beauty, and in particular, as the location of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge...
for good winds to take it to Port Dalrymple it was seized by a group of thirteen convicts. The ship was sailed northwards but was wrecked some 97 kilometres (60 mi) north of Port Stephens
Port Stephens
Port Stephens is a large natural harbour located about north-east of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. It lies wholly within the Port Stephens Local Government Area although its northern shoreline forms the boundary between the Port Stephens and Great Lakes LGAs...
in what is now called Trial Bay. The survivors of the wreck constructed a new boat out of the remains of the ship but, according to the local aborigines, the ship capsized and all thirteen convicts were drowned. The master of the ship, William Bennett, his crew and some passengers, numbering eight or ten in total (including a woman and child) were abandoned at Trial Bay by the convicts. These survivors attempted to walk back to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
but disappeared without trace.
On 12 January 1817, the Lady Nelson
Lady Nelson
The Royal Navy purchased Lady Nelson in 1799. She spent her career exploring the coast of Australia in the early years of the 19th century. She was the first known vessel to sail eastward through Bass Strait, the first to sail along the South coast of Victoria, as well as the first to enter Port...
was dispatched from Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
, under the command of Thomas Whyte, to search for the Trial. Whyte was successful, finding the remains of the Trial on 14 January which consisted of a canvas tent and smashed timbers.
Stories of a white woman living in a wretched state among the aborigines persisted, believed perhaps to have been a stowaway on the Trial. In 1831 apparently a reward was offered for restoration of such a survivor of the Trial, resulting in a woman said to be Emily Bardon, wife of the captain, being found, but 14 years of living wild had left her demented and she died soon after being reunited with her relations.