Marine Private John Bates (....1790)

John Bates enlisted in the Royal Marines as part of the 5th Portsmouth Company. He served as

part of the convict guard on board the ship "Sirius " prior to its departure from England. John sailed with the ship to Port Jackson and arrived as part of the first Fleet.

On July 23 1790 he and two others Marine WILKINS John , Marine . Thomas, HARP, . and Midshipmen John Ferguson were in a boat in Port Jackson that was attacked by a Whale and sank .Thomas Harp, John Bates and John Ferguson HMS Sirius all drowned while John Wilkins was spared.

The boat they used would have been from the Naval vessels as these were naval ships and not under contract There fore they needed a Naval Officer on board The navy weren't allowed to use the private ships boats as these were under transport contract only

John Ferguson was a midshipman (Naval Rank) this is not a marine rank. The three I have as being killed that day were Bates, Harp Marines and Ferguson. Navy

References
Military records ,Pay rolls, Pay Musters, Cemetery Records, Church Records & General Muster Records, Mitchell Library ,Sydney Australia

The information is intended for short Historical value only,

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