The Linen Copy of Jeffries’ 1816 Chart of Part of Hunter’s River (or the Coal River)
Pictured above is a linen copy of the 1816 Jeffries Chart of Part of Hunter’s River held in the State Library of New South Wales.
With regards to the State Library of NSW linen copy see Entry Here
Title:
Part of Hunter’s River [cartographic material] : (or the Coal River) / surveyed by Lieut C. Jeffries (a) Commander of H. M. G. Brig. Kangaroo.
Creator:
Jeffreys, Charles, 1782-1826
Date:
March 1816
Contents:
1 ms. map : col., tracing ; 33 x 25 cm, on sheet 37 x 30 cm.
Published
March 1816
Subjects:
Nautical charts — New South Wales — Hunter River
Rivers — New South Wales — Maps
Hunter River (N.S.W.) — Maps
Hunter River Region (N.S.W.) — Maps
Manuscript maps
Nautical charts
Language:
English
Notes:
“Lat 32°56’36” S Long 151°41’30” of anchorage”
Relief shown pictorially and soundings. Shows channels, navigational hazards, town high street, coal yards, light house commandants farm and sites of wrecks: Brig Nautilus lost 1816, H.M.C. Schooner Est [a]nina lost 1816, Ship Dundee lost 1812.
Tracing of original manuscript map.
Online images available via the State Library of NSW at:
http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/album/albumView.aspx?itemID=1255750&acmsid=0 ;
Digital order number c02507.
Mitchell Library copy: Mounted on linen.
Transferred from: F14/1.
Selected for Digitisation 2013.
Cartographic data:
Scale [ca. 1:12 672] 2 1/2 in. = 1/2 mile (E 150°45’04″/S 32°29’54”)
Time period of content:
1816
Download original 92.1MB PNG image here (save as)
https://hunterlivinghistories.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/1816-Jeffries.png
The Original in the Hydrographic Office
The original is held in the Hydrographic Office, Taunton United Kingdom, under the following title:
E186 Aust Folio 1 Part of the hunters River, 1816 (High Street, (Watt St) Lighthouse (Beacon) also three mine entrances to the south of Flagstaff Hill shown) Ship wreck Dundee lost 1812, Commandants Farm at Cottage Creek .Coal Yards and two lead lights shown at Watt St Wharf. Survey is by Lieutenant Jefferies commander of the Brig Kangaroo, March 1816. Scale is marked 1/2 “to the mile and an Insert of an Eye sketch of Crooks Haven Jervis Bay is included.
This information was provided by Doug Lithgow, who visited the Hydrographic Office in 2008 and viewed the original.
See his report here: https://hunterlivinghistories.com/2018/12/14/hydrographic/
Visit to the Archives of the Hydrographic Department, Ministry of Defence, Taunton, United Kingdom
Original Documentation Reel 6066 (1816)
PDF Pages 27-38 Transcribed by Karen Moller
His Majesty’s Brig Kangaroo
Sydney Cove February 8th 1816
Sir
I have this day received your letter conveying to me
His Excellency’s sentiments on mine of yesterdays date
And stating that I am to hold myself in readiness
to proceed on the shortest notice with provisions and prisoners to the
Settlement at Newcastle and to bring a return Cargo of Coals
and Cedar for this Government I have to state for His Excellency’s
information that I shall attentively and carefully comply with His Excellency’s
orders but in order to fullfill the tenet and confidence imposed
in me by His Majesty’s Ministers to do my duty towards
His Excellency and to justify my own conduct. I feel it a duty
incumbent on me to state to His Excellency that I have
received Captain Flinders Charts including Hunters River from
the Lords Commissions of the admiralty and that I have also
gathered such information as is practible and find that the
Settlement on Harbor at N. Castle is a dangerous and improper
place for so large a Vessel as the Kangaroo. I also beg to state
that no private feelings have actuated me on this decision but merely
the good of His Majesty’s Service, and to preserve so fine a Vessel as
the Kangaroo. I shall be happy to offer any information in my
power concerning the navigation of that river should His Excellency
think proper. In answer to that part of your letter concerning Wm (William) Fryers
a prisoner embarked on board the Kangaroo at Colombo, I have to state
that he made his escape at Prince of Wales Island by Cuting away
One of the boats from the Storm of the Brig between 7.55 and
8.15 of the same evening of October 24th 1815 as is entered in the
Accompanying Log Book of that date he was not in Terms
neither did he come on board in that state, The Clerk of His
Majesty’s Brig under my command having him discharged at Penang
has prevented me from sending my journal to His Excellency
I not having time to complete the copying of it, I have now the
Honor to send him herewith the Ships log books two in number
and should his Excellency wish a copy hereafter it shall be sent
He will also preview that on our voyage to Ceylon we passed the
only part of the Coast of New Holland heretofore unexplored a
Chart of which I have had the Honor to transmit to the
Transport board and Hydrographer of the Admiralty.
I have the Honor to be
Sir
your Obedient humble Servant
Charles Jeffreys (signed)
Lieutenant Commanding
and Senior Officer of
HMS & Vessels on the
New South Wales Station
To J. Thomas Campbell Esq
Secretary
& & &
Sydney
***
11
HMB Kangaroo Feb 13th 1816
Sir
In answer to that
part of you Letter of Yesterday
date stating that the Governor
desires to be informed when we
can sail for Newcastle, I have
to say that in consequence of
Having to land a proportion of
Stores &c it will be the
Latter end of this week before
we can sail.
I have the Honor to
be Sir
Your very Humble Servant
Charles Jeffries Commandant
J T Campbell Esquire
*****
11a
On H M Service
In answer Received 13 February 1816
J. T. Campbell Esq.
Secretary & & &
Sydney
From Charles Jeffreys
Kangaroo
****
16 Feb 1816
Instructions for Lieutenant
Charles Jeffreys Per N.
Commandant of H. M. Colonial
Brig Kangaroo. –
Sir,
1. On receipt of these Instructions
you are hereby directed to sail
for the Settlement of Newcastle
in Hunters River, Wind and Weather
permitting, with the Prisoners
under Colonial Sentences, and
the Provisions for the use
of that Settlement, shipped on
board the Kangaroo by the
Commissariat Department
here, and County Jailor; – Which
Prisoners and Provisions you
are to land at Newcastle immediately on
12a
on your arrival there; taking
the Receipt of the Commandant of
that Settlement for both. –
2. As soon as you have landed
there Convicts; and Provisions, at
Newcastle, you will acquaint
the Commandant that you are
ready to receive a full Lading
of Coals and Cedar there for
the use of Government; and
as soon as you have received
the same on board, together with
such Passengers as the Commandant
of Newcastle may have occasion
to send to Sydney on board the
Kangaroo, you will sail
from Hunter’s River and
Return again to Sydney with the least
possible delay. –
12b
3. The Navigation of Hunter’s
River being represented to me
as intricate, and dangerous
for large Vessels at certain times
of the Tides; I have deemed it
adviseable, for the greater security
of His Majesty’s Brig under your
Command, to appoint Mr Joseph
Ross to actions Pilot for carrying
the Kangaroo into and out of
that Harbour; at such times
of the Tide as he may judge
most suitable for her to go in
and come out of Hunter’s River.
4. You are accordingly hereby
directed to receive the above mentioned
Mr Joseph Ross as Pilot on board
The Brig under your Command;
and it is my desire that you
shall be entirely governed by his
advice and directions in sailing
into
12c
into and coming out of Hunter’s River;
giving over to him the charge of
the Brig as soon as you arrive
off the mouth of the Harbour
in approaching it, and allowing
him to continue in charge of her
in again coming out of the said
Harbour until he reports to you
that the Brig is out of all danger.
5. In the event of any accident befalling
the Brig Kangaroo, whilst under
charge of Mr Ross as her Pilot,
all responsibility and blame must attach
to him – and to me in appointing
him to that situation. – Hence
it follows that no blame or responsibility
can attach to you whilst
the Brig Kangaroo is immediately
under the direction of her Pilot Mr Ross.
I am, Sir,
your most obedient Servant
Government House
Sydney, 16th February 1816
13
His Majesty’s Brig Kangaroo
Watsons Bay 19th February 1816
Sir,
I have to request you will be
pleased to inform His Excellency the
Governor that have twice attempted to
Terence Kelly – preens the passage to N. Castle;
Benjamin Dean- have been obliged to put in here, ….
and Cement being against us – and that
an Mustering the Prisoners this morning
found the two Men named in the Morgen
Missing –
I am
Sir,
Your very humble Servant
Charles Jeffreys Lieutenant & Commandant
J T. Campbell Esquire
13a
On H M Service
To John Thomas Campbell Esquire
Secretary
Sydney
From Lieutenant Jeffreys
Received at 1206 19 February 1816
Send in less than
one hour
HM Brig
Kangaroo
14
List of Prisoners Received on Board HMB Kangaroo
at New Castle
No Entry Names Time Discharged
1 2 Mar 1816 Joseph Ryan
2 “ – “ H. M. Smith
3 “ – “ Nicholas Leacy sick
4 “ – “ Charles Adams
5 “ – “ Jn Galliand sick
6 “ – “ Rt Williams
7 “ – “ Jales Patshen
8 “ – “ Jos Ripheal
9 “ – “ Samuel Price
10 “ – “ Nic Rose
10 “ – “ Sun Duddet sick
11 “ – “ May Malony Dis – 5 Mar 1816 New Castle
12 “ – “ Mary Hughes
13 “ – “ Jn Malony Discharged 5 Mar 1816 Newcastle
14 “ – “ [ ] Malony Ditto Ditto Ditto
C Jeffreys Commandant
14a
To
The Commanding officer of H. M.
Colonial Brig Kangaroo.
Sir, you are hereby directed to
deliver over the within mentioned
Prisoners to the Bearer Mr
Hutchinson Prin. Sup. –
Sydney
12th March 1816 L Macquarie (signed)
[Transcribed by Karen Moller, 2019]