First Fleet - People of The First Fleet

People of The First Fleet

The exact number of people directly associated with the First Fleet will likely never be established, as all accounts of the event vary slightly. Mollie Gillen gives the following statistics:

A total of 1420 persons have been identified as embarking on the First Fleet in 1787. 1373 are believed to have landed at Sydney Cove in January 1788. While the names of all crew members of Sirus and Supply are known, the six transports and three storeships may have carried as many as 110 more seamen than have been identified (no complete musters have survived for these ships). The total number of persons embarking on the First Fleet would, therefore be approximately 1530 with about 1483 reaching Sydney Cove

Ropes, crockery, glass panes for the governor's windows, ready-cut wood, cooking equipment (including some complete cast-iron stoves), and a miscellany of weapons were needed. Other items included tools, agricultural implements, seeds, spirits, medical supplies, bandages, surgical instruments, handcuffs, leg irons and chains. A prefabricated house for the governor was constructed and packed flat. 5,000 bricks for construction and thousands of nails were loaded. The party had to rely on only its provisions to survive until it could make use of local materials, assuming suitable supplies existed, and could grow its own food and raise livestock.