Canadian Convicts on the HMS Buffalo to Australia 1839-1840

Extracted from "HMS Buffalo" by Robert Sexton, published 1984.

Transcribed, Compiled and Submitted by
Jim McKane, Ontario, Canada
jamckane[at]gmail.com

From 1839 to 1840 a number of convicts were transported from the British colony of Canada, known then as Upper & Lower Canada, for taking part in the rebellions against the British crown. 82 were American patriots, who had crossed the border, and 58 were French prisoners from Lower Canada while 5 civil prisoners.

The Buffalo departed from Quebec on 28th September 1839, sailed via Rio de Janeiro, and arrived off Hobart, Tasmania, on 11th February 1840. The Americans were disembarked, but the French convicts from Lower Canada were sent on to Sydney, New South Wales. On 26th February the Buffalo arrived in Sydney with the 58 French-Canadian political prisoners, who were interned near present-day Concord, resulting in the naming of Canada Bay, French Bay and Exile Bay. They were apparently treated much better than the Americans; they were liberated sooner, and assisted in getting home.

For further information, please go to: Convicts to Australia

Code Column
L - French Canadians, convicted at Montreal
U - American patriots, convicted at Fort Henry, Toronto