Frederick Meredith

Frederick Meredith (5 October 1763 – 23 June 1836) was a sailor of the First Fleet and an early free settler in New South Wales. He arrived in Australia in 1788 aboard the transport Scarborough, later served as an able seaman and baker on HMS Sirius, and subsequently returned to the colony as a settler, becoming a landholder, baker, and colonial constable.

Early life Frederick Meredith was born on 5 October 1763 in England. His birthplace is variously recorded as Durham, Ludlow, Shropshire, and as Denham, near Harefield, which he nominated when signing on to HMS Sirius. He was literate and appears to have had experience relevant to agriculture and baking prior to his naval service.

First Fleet service Meredith joined the transport Scarborough as steward to Captain John Marshall and sailed with the First Fleet from Portsmouth on 13 May 1787, arriving at Sydney Cove in January 1788. On 2 May 1788 he transferred to HMS Sirius as an able seaman and baker.

In February 1788 Meredith was brought before the colonial magistrates for supplying rum to a convict, contrary to Governor Arthur Phillip’s regulations. He was sentenced to 100 lashes, later reduced to 50 following petitions from Captain Marshall and others.

Garden Island Later in 1788, Meredith, as a member of the crew of HMS Sirius, was assigned to assist with the establishment of gardens on Garden Island, then known as Sirius Garden Island. A rock carving bearing the inscription “FM 1788”, attributed to Meredith, remains visible on the island and has been identified as a notable early colonial artefact.

As a crew member of HMS Sirius, Meredith took part in several supply voyages, including the ship’s hazardous expedition to Cape Town in 1788–1789 to obtain provisions for the struggling colony. Sirius returned to Sydney on 20 February 1789. The vessel was wrecked at Norfolk Island on 19 March 1790.

Following the wreck, Meredith returned to Sydney and later departed for England aboard the Dutch ship Waaksamheid, leaving in March 1791 and arriving in April 1792.

Return as a settler Meredith returned to New South Wales as a free settler aboard the Bellona, arriving in Sydney in January 1793. He held the position of Chief Constable until his retirement.