Thomas Crawford's Diary, 1825

We’re grateful to Thomas’s great-great-granddaughter, Jean May Hegarty, for sharing this picture of Thomas:

Find out more about Thomas and his family here.

Tuesday 25th. The wind during the forenoon was very light, with a strong current, both of which prevented us from making any progress. The Land which we are very near, presents an appearance comparatively level. Soon after breakfast we saw smoke on the Land, which extended some way along the shore & were informed by the prisoner on board that the natives on seeing the ship were making the signal for us to land. Immediately after dinner the wind came off the Land, & we are now sailing at a smart rate 1/4 to 9 P.M.

Monday 24th. The weather very pleasant & the wind fair. At dinner time when the cheese was put upon the table the Boatswain came down, & told us that the Land was in sight on the [unclear] Bows on the [unclear] side, the course was N. N. W. The Whales are numerous on these seas, & we have seen a great many today.

Friday 28th. Sweet on deck in the morning about 7 oClock & we were then close to [unclear] past a very high rocky Land, where a number of the Natives had kindled fires; & on reaching the point of the rock on land were saluted by the natives who set up the most hideous yells on perceiving the ship. We saw them with the Glass standing on the point of the rock. About tea time we were close by under the Light house on the heads, where we were boarded by the Pilot who took us up till within a short way of the Cove, [unclear] we were obliged to Anchor on account of a heavy tide against us & a wind. The Pilot sent up word to town by the [unclear] boat to Robert that the Triton had arrived. He immediately came down with his Servant & roused me from bed, where I had not properly fallen asleep; it was then about mid night, & I put on my clothes & went up to town.

We leveled at the Dock yard & walked up to the house at Cockle Bay.

Thursday 27th. This morning it blew a gale off the Land, which is in sight; but yesterday we could not see it (except from the Mast head,) being driven out to sea during the preceding night, with contrary wind. On the Coast there is a conical hill, called the Pigeon house which resembles very much North Berwick Law. We have been beating about all day endeavouring to get close in shore, & we are now on a tack bearing upon Mount Dromedary (1/4 to 8 P.M.) & intend putting about on another tack to keep in shore, as it just now blows hard off the Land.

Wednesday 26th. The wind contrary & blowing pretty fresh all the morning, but it has now calmed very much 1 oClock P.M. yesterday, the weather being fine we put up the Royal Masts.

Mr. Ryrie has a Piano on board, which has just been played & resembles very much in tune the Piano at Hillend.

Sunday 23d. Octor. Soon after breakfast we were all assembled in the Cabin, where Capt. Crear read the Morning Service of the Church of England and read a Sermon. In the evening the boys were all brought into the Cabin & Capt. Crear read a Sermon to us all along with the boys.

I was very sick on account of the ship labouring much in a broken sea, but I did not vomit. But I sat at Table during dinner and eat very little. During the time the wine was on the Table the wind became light, the sea became smooth, and I became quite well; the Cook who was out last voyage was also sick, & one of the men.

Saturday 22d. The wind during the day was light & we made little progress. The land was in sight all day. About dinner time the wind became contrary & began to blow strong. Our Cabin party is small now; Mr. Ryrie’s family, myself, Mr. Little & Mr. Fisher, are the only Cabin passengers.

Friday 21st. This morning we weighed anchor & set sail for Sydney. The weather was very wet before breakfast, but afterwards became fair & very hot. We have a prisoner on board for Sydney, for Boat stealing. The wind down the was very light till tea time, when we had a pretty smart wind. We left the River about dark; & running along the coast experienced a very heavy squall of the Land. One afternoon before we left Hobart Town, a mouse was caught on board almost entirely white, with the head of a greyish colour, & a greyish spot above the tail, all the rest was white.