Newton Digby Fowell [Crew "Sirius" 1788]

Newton Digby FOWELL was born 30/7/1768 Blackhall, Devon, England (second son of John FOWELL and Mary DIGBY)

Newton was a Midshipman in Royal Navy and he arrived in Sydney Cove on 26/1/1788 on "Sirius".

In 1790 he was to sail on "Supply" to Norfolk Island however due to bad weather he remained on the ship.

Newton died on 25/8/1790 on "Supply" in Batavia (Fever)

LINKS

• http://www.historyaustralia.org.au/twconvic/1519
• http://fffsouthernhighlands.org.au/?page_id=357
• http://www.printsandprintmaking.gov.au/artists/15176/
• https://www.daao.org.au/bio/newton-digby-fowell/events/
• https://www.daao.org.au/bio/newton-digby-fowell/biography/

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Midshipman on THE SIRIUS part of the First Fleet to Australia

Hon'd Father

I left London near a week since with Henry Pauncefort who has Joined the Edgar Capt Thompson I've got him Settled in a good Mess and done all in my Power to get him Introduced to the Gentlemen which my Mess Mates have been good enough to do and Promised to pay some Attention to him after I am gone which will be soon as the Sirius is now at Spithead what I call soon is about a Fortnight. However I hope to have another Letter from you before I sail you may depend on my Writing by every Opportunity in Short I shall always keep a Letter Wrote Ready to Send away when at Sea. I intend going on board the Sirius to Night to get on her books and will then let you know more of the matter - I Rec'd a Bill the other Day from my Brother James

Which you was good enough to send me I am very much obliged to you for it & my fitting out for so Advantagous a Voyage I don't at Present think but that I shall soon be Confirmed - I should be much obliged to you if you could send me some more Money as my Mess will be 10 Guineas and I have a Quadrant to Buy which will Cost 3 Guineas I hear Capt Palmer has lost his Luggar & has to pay £300 for her I hope it is not true he has been good enough to write to Capt Hunter about me Make my best Respects to Capt & Mrs. O. & C Palmer & Compts to all the Club

and am Hon'd Father

Your dutiful Son

N Fowell

24 Feb.ry

Letter was sent to John Fowell Esqr

Black Hall

So Brent

Devon

Feb. 1787

Born Newton Digby Fowell (1768-1790) in Devonshire, England, Fowell joined the First Fleet as a Midshipman on 25 February 1787. He had been recommended to Captain Arthur Phillip by Evan Nepean and he quickly impressed Phillip. He was befriended by Philip Gidley King who, during the voyage to New South Wales, confided his appointment as Lieutenant Governor of Norfolk Island.

In December 1789 Fowell was appointed 2nd Lieutenant on the Sirius following King's appointment to Norfolk Island. After the Sirius was wrecked at Norfolk Island in March 1790, he was posted to the Supply.

Newton Fowell observed and described the voyage to New South Wales, and the early founding years of the colony, observing and describing discipline in the colony and on Norfolk Island, flora and fauna, the local Aborignal people, food shortages and public buildings. In a letter dated 12 July 1788, he recorded that Phillip named the settlement Albion rather than Sydney on 4 June 1788, the King's birthday.

In late 1789 Fowell was sent on board the Alexander to Cape Town where the ship remained for six weeks taking provisions for the colony. In April 1790, prevented by bad weather from landing at Norfolk Island as had been planned, Fowell was forced to continue to Batavia on the Supply, again on a mission to procure supplies. In Batavia, Fowell contracted fever and died at sea on 25 August 1790.

His last letter, written to his family on 31 July 1790, reached England in December 1790. Fowell's letters were preserved in the family home, Blackhall in Devon, until 1987.

The letter were sold at Sutherbys in London

The State Library of New South Wales purchased the letters for $400,000