First Fleet 1788 - Alexander

Samuel Bird

described as 5'7", stout and of dark complexion, was sentenced to 7 years' transportation at Croydon in 1785 with James Bird. He was transported on the Alexander. By 1790 he was allowed to fish the harbour with William Bryant, who had charge of the fishing boats. On 28 March 1791, when he had only 16 months to serve, Bird escaped with Bryant, Bryants wife and children, and six other convicts, in the Governor's 6-oared cutter (the best boat in the fishing fleet), making for Batavia. Ten weeks later they reached Koepang, Timor, where they posed as survivors of a wreck until Bryant gave them away after a drunken quarrel with his wife. They were later handed over to Captain Edwards, who had gone in search of the Bounty mutineers. Bird died on the voyage to England between Batavia and the Cape of Good Hope.

Copyright unknown

Alexander Index

This website is a part of
Virtual Australia
Visit the Full Index

Problems/Broken Links can be reported to
virtualaustralia@yahoo.com

The owner and author of this website is not of indigenous descent - and therefore will not provide information on the indigenous viewpoint. This is best left up to the authors of Indigenous websites. I would not want to offend a wonderful culture by writing something incorrect.

All text and graphics unless otherwise stated are �1998-2000 Kim Holden, Virtual Australia.
If you believe any of the graphics or text to be copyright to you, please email me to discuss the matter.
All rights reserved. No part of this site may be reproduced in any form without the express permission of the owner of
Virtual Australia or the copyright owners of the included information.
Any offenders will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.