* Two convicts, William and Mary Bryant, escaped in a small boat with their two young children in March 1791. They sailed north along the coast of New South Wales and eventually reached Timor, where they were rescued by the Portuguese.
* A group of six convicts, led by Richard Miles, escaped overland in May 1792. They headed west across the Blue Mountains, but were eventually captured by Aboriginal people and returned to the colony.
* In February 1794, a group of 14 convicts, led by William Cox, seized a ship and sailed away from the colony. They were pursued by a British warship and eventually surrendered.
These are just a few of the many attempts by convicts to escape from the colony on the First Fleet. The harsh conditions of the colony made escape a tempting option for many, but the risks were high and few attempts were successful.