Shortland cup and saucer

Coffee cup and saucer from the Chamberlain’s Worcester factory painted in a fresh looking pattern with ears of barley bound by a gilt bow, and bearing the Shortland family crest featuring a seahorse. Believed to have been owned by John Shortland, Agent for the Transports of the First Fleet.

John Shortland (senior) was born in 1739, and died in 1803. He served in the Royal Navy 1755-190, and in 1786 was appointed naval agent to the transports of the planned First Fleet at Portsmouth, responsible for preparing and distributing the stores and convicts aboard the 11 vessels of the fleet. John Shortland Snr was a senior officer on board ALEXANDER, a convict ship with 210 men on board. His son, John Shortland (junior), was born in 1769 and accompanied his father as Master’s Mate on HMS SIRIUS, which was captained by John Hunter and carried Governor Philip. John Shortland (junior) later went on to found the settlement of Newcastle.

On 14 July 1788, ALEXANDER under the command of Lieutenant John Shortland (senior) left Sydney for England making its way around the east of New Guinea, and across present day Indonesia to Batavia (present day Jakarta). Ravaged by scurvy and illness, by the time they researched the coast of Borneo only a single crew member was fit for duty aloft other than the officers and ALEXANDER finally limped into Batavia on 19 November 1788 with the assistance of the Dutch authorities.