Australian Royalty: Genealogy of the colony of NSW

Andrew was a private marine of the 25th (Portsmouth) Company who came to Sydney aboard the ship Alexander.

Andrew with other marines sailed as a convict guard on the ill-fated voyage of the Sirius to Norfolk Island in March 1790. The Sirius hit a reef just north of Norfolk Island and sank. It is not known whether Andrew was still on board when the ship hit the reef. All personnel and livestock were otherwise landed safely. The settlers on the island had been able to produce some food but stores had to be sent from Sydney to compliment their diet. Strict rationing was enforced on the convicts and the marines. The marines were reduced to three quarters of what they had previously received. They were disgruntled by this and alleged that the convicts were better off than them and that they had to pay the convicts with flour for fresh vegetables that the convicts grew themselves.
The marines staged one of the first strikes in the Colony by refusing to collect their rations from the store until the matter was rectified. Their bluff was called and they were told that if they did not collect their rations there would be a roll call, and they would have to march to the store house and those of the marines from the two companies who refused would be dealt with. So the revolt crumbled and the marines gave no further trouble.
Lieutenant Ralph Clark, the keeper of the records stated in his journal that he had been afraid of bloodshed and the men were the most mutinous he had ever seen and he would liked to have hanged the principals - one of whom was Andrew Fishburn.

Lieutenant Ralph Clark's journal of 9 Apr 1791 states, inter alia:
' -- This being the day according to the orders &c of the [*] January last for Stopping two pounds of flour from every male Convict and the Store not admitting of more than three fourths of the full allowance of Flour and Salt provisions to be issued to the Cival (sic) and Military on this Island Majr. Ross order no more than three fourhts of the full allowance to be Issued -- the Marines Refused to take there provisions from the Store Keeper alledgin that the Convicts were better off than they were one there Six pounds of Flour for the[y] had Gardians which the[y] had not and that they were obliged to pay for greens to the Convicts two pounds of flour a week or goe without greens --the[y] then were asked whose falt it was that the[y] had not Guardians --the[y] made manny idle and Vague excuses but the[y] would not take there Ration -- what they wanted and which I believe to be the truth was that they were trying who Should be Master Majr. Ross or them as the[y] wanted Majr. Ross to Recall the order which he Issued out but Much to the Credit of Majr. Ross as an officer is a thing he would not doe -- he Sent Captain Johnstone to the Men again to tell them that he would not be sending to them any more to know why the[y] would not take there provisions but would take other measures with them and desird Capt. Johnstone to goe down and call the Role of the two Companies and inform them that he (Capt. Johnstone) would march them to the Store House and See which man would dare to Refuse to take his Rations -- Capt. Johnstone Returnd to Majr. Ross and informd him that he had told the Men what he had desird him to Say and had orderd the men not to be out of there barracks for that half after one he Should March them to the Store house and See of they would Refuse to take there provisions and that more than two thirds of the Men would take there provisions -- Majr. Ross informed Capt. Johnstone that when he Marchd the Men to the Store House that he Should take the oppotrunity to disarm them for Such men were not to be trusted with arms which Capt. Johnstone and myself agreed in -- at half after one Capt. Johnstone, Creswell, Faddy and myself went down to the Barrack Yard to March the Men to the Store when Capt. Johnstone orderd the Men to get three Bags &c, to get there provisions in which Some of the Men Joseph Lewis and Some others came up and Spoke to Capt. Johnstone and Said that the[y] would goe and take there provisions and would not give him ore any body any further trouble and were Sorry then had given So much which I was very Glad to find for ane hour before this I did not think it would have been So well Settled without a great dele of Blood -- this day had been near one of the most Critical days in my life never was Club Law near taking place in any part of the World that ir was in this -- I wish that were were fairly away from this Island for I am affraid if we Stay much longer we will not get away without a great dele of Bloodshed for our men here are the Most Mutinous Set I ever was amongst and are ripe for rising against any Authority -- the principals among them are Thomas Tynon, Andrw. Fisbourn, Francis Mee, John Baily, John Roberts, Elias Bishop and William Simms -- The[y] were the principal Speakers, particular the four first -- I wish that I was only Despotic for three hours I would hang the above Seven and then make the Rest draw lots for every fift man and I would hang them also weather the[y] had any hand with the other or not but because the[y] keep Such bad Company or they Should hang me.'

On Sunday 10th April he records:
'Majr. Ross sent for Jno. Ascott who had been his Servant a few days since but had parted with him on account of his Running after the women and askd him what the Men intended doing Yesterday if he had not taking there provisions -- he Said that he did not no but that the men had looked very cool on him Since Yesterday because he was the first man that Said he would take his provisions So much So that he asked all the men in the Barrack to lend him a knife and none of them would that Francis Mee Said that Marching Regiment Should Stick together when I made ANew South Waleser (Acott) and there officers Should also -- Majr. Ross Send for Joseph Ratford and askd him if he knew what the men intended to die of the[y] had not taking there provisions -- he Said that he was not amongst the men exept when Capt. Johnstone orderd the Companies to fall in that rough then as he dose now that the men were wrong for he did not expect to be so long on full allowance as he had been for he did not think the Store could have afforded to have given full allowance So long as it has done -- I askd Henry Parsons to day what they intended doing if the[y] had not taking there provisions as the[y] had -- Parons made me (Ratford) for aNew South Waleser that we Should have gone to the Store and Demanded our full allowance of the Store Keeper and if he would not have given use, it Should have taking what was offered use but Should done nothing more which is what I learn from Parsons'.

On 4 Mar 1790 he was sent by Sirius to Norfolk Island. Here in April 1791 he was one of the leaders in a marine protest about provisions, a protest firmly dealt with by the commandant, Major Ross. Ralph Clark, notoriously intolerant, thought Ross should have done more than threaten punishment 'Our men here are the Most Mutinous Set I ever was amongst and are ripe for rising against any Authority., the principals among them are Thomas Tynon, Andw Fishbourn, Francis Mee, John Bailey [Hailey], John Roberts, Elias Bishop and William Simms...I wish that I was only despotic for three hours...I would hang them also weather the[y] had any hand with the other or not but because the[y] deep Such bad Company or they Should hang me'.

On 23 Apr 1791 Fishburn embarked for Port Jackson by 'Supply' and at Port Jackson he did duty aboard Gorgon as carpenter from 11 Oct to 17 Dec. In Apr 1792 he joined the NSW Corps and on 3 Dec 1794 received a 25 acre grant at Petersham Hill.

"There also died Andrew Fishburn, a private in the New South Wales corps, but formerly belonging to the marine detachment serving in this country, who had been a very useful carpenter in the settlement..."

Andrew Fishburn buried 23 Jul 1796