Seaman Jacob Nagle wrote: HMS Sirius after striking the reef at Norfolk Island there was over four feet to seven feet, (accounts do vary) and flowing in fast into the hull of the bulging ship, now located even closer to shore before the swell broke once more against the ship, the crew were able get one boat alongside, and send safely ashore Captain Cook’s timepiece and two marines wives, pregnant Maria Nash and Margaret Gilbourne. Captain Hunter then ordered the mast to be cut away by cutting the lanyards and rigging, within less than ten minutes every mast was over her side and the ship an entire wreck.[1]

First Fleet Marine John Nash and his wife Maria son John Nash was born between 23 Jul and 7 Aug 1790 on Norfolk Island.

Also aboard HMS Sirius for the voyage to Norfolk Island in Mar 1790 were some pregnant women convicts.

1. Mary Spencer: Son Francis Spencer was born 1 Aug 1790 Norfolk Island.
Father was convict James Squire who never went to Norfolk Island.
2. Ann Beazley/Beardsley: daughter Diana Beazley born between Aug and Nov 1790 Norfolk Island.
Father was Marine John McCarty who later re-joined Ann on Norfolk Island per Atlantic Nov 1791 (Marine Settler).
3. Mary Davis: daughter Mary – Charlotte Davis born between Aug and Nov 1790 Norfolk Island.
Father was Marine Thomas Bishop who later re-joined Mary on Norfolk Island per Atlantic Nov 1791 (Marine Settler).
4. Elizabeth Fitzgerald: twin daughters Mary and Susannah born between Aug and Nov 1790 Norfolk Island.
Father was Marine William Mitchell who later re-joined Elizabeth on Norfolk Island per Atlantic Nov 1791 (Marine Settler).

This list of births and dates were collated in 2019 using quantitative research of the statistical data by public historian Cathy Dunn using Commandant Robert Ross report that were 15 births on Norfolk Island for the time of his arrival (HMS Sirius Mar 1790) and 11 February 1791, in addition to historical evidence in the 1792 – 1796 Victualling Book and other Norfolk Island population reports of August 1790. These birth dates are far more accurate to those extracted from the 1792 – 1796 Victualling Book as dates in this records have been proven to be the dates going onto the stores and used in secondary records/publications. [2]

[1] Jacob Nagle, Jacob Nagle his Book A.D. One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty Nine May 19th. Canton. Stark County Ohio, 1775-1802.
[2] HRA, Series 1, volume 1, p. 236.