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Friday 22 July 1836

Friday July 22. Went with my family on board the
Buffalo this afternoon. The Ship in considerable
confusion. Trunks, bales, barrels, packages and litter
of all sorts strewed about in most admired disorder.
Determined however to overlook as much as possible
inconveniences, common it is believed to the commence-
-ment of all voyages by sea! Although those which
surround us here appear rather formidable. Our
cabins by dint of soap and paint have been rendered
somewhat more comfortable than we at first seeing
them expected, not withstanding six feet by 7^1/2
leaves much scope for ingenuity in the art of
stowing away, and affords no more room than
our necessities require.

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Tuesday 19 July 1836

July 19^th Today Harriet has been much better. She slept well in the cot, and passed the greater part of the day on deck. In the course of the day we spoke the Mount Stuart Elphinstone on her voyage to Calcutta. In the evening Harriet saw for the first time the phosphorescence of the sea: on the breaking of a wave, or on the water being otherwise agitated, sparkles of great brilliance were abundant. The quantity of light emitted by each is probably equal to that of a glowworm; on a dark night I have seen the ship quite illuminated by this means – the phenomenon was first perceived by us in the Bay of Biscay & I am told that when at the Equator the intensity of the light will be much greater. The cause of this extraordinary appearance is said to be animalculae.

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Wednesday 20 July 1836

The Wind cont^d Squally from the S,W, accomp^d
with cold Weather, untill last Night, when it became
moderate, and veer’d round to South, but has been
nearly a Calm, the whole of this Day ________
On Monday we got a place, contrived down below, for
the two poor Ram’s (where the Carpenter, Second Mate,
and T, Waldron, live) as there is not hieght enough, in
the Pen’s for them to stand, without chafeing their Backs
against the top part of it, and during the many Gales
of Wind, that we have lately experienced, they have been
very much bruised, by tumbling about, upon the Deck’s,
On Monday our Cook likewise took very Ill, of Pains, in all
his Limbs, ____ and Yest^dy the chief Mate, also became
very unwell, they are both confined to their Beds, _____
But their is One of our Passenger’s, call’d James Jones, who
has been almost, a constant Customer, to the Medicine Chest,
ever since we left Dartmouth ______________

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Wednesday 13 July 1836

July 13^{th .}

… Our cabin party besides Capn & Mrs Duff, consists of ourselves, Mr, Mrs & Miss Brown, the Emigration agent, his wife and sister; Mr & Mrs Hallett, a merchant & purchaser of land who settles in the colony and who is in partnership with Duff; Mr Everard & his wife; and Mr Skipper, the son of a solicitor of Norwich who is articled to Mr Mann, the Attorney General of the colony. The first mate also dines in the cuddy; thus we have the unfortunate number of thirteen!

We fare sumptuously every day – Hot rolls for breakfast manufactured by our excellent black steward, eggs, rice, two sorts of cold meat, coffee, & every tolerable tea. At twelve luncheon: bread & cheese, the last of two kinds, both good, with admirable bottled porter, Hodgson’s pale ale wine & spirits. We dine at four; soup of an excellent quality, two joints, and poultry. As a sample: today we had pea soup, salt fish & eggs, haunch of mutton, fowls and pork – occasionally plum pudding. Then beer, porter, wine and spirits as the French say à la volonté, which is being interpreted, as much as you please. Tea at eight, and the grog bottles from nine to ten. This precision on my part is for the especial consideration of Household [?]. It is true the ducks & geese are sometimes worthy the appellation of matrons, but certainly everything is better than I found it at Ibbotson’s Hotel. Harriet gives the soups unequivocal praise, and while I am writing she is having for luncheon a basin of chicken broth, which calls forth a laudation at every mouthful.

The intermediate party (i.e. between the cabin and the steerage) consists of eighteen persons; one intends to keep an hotel in the colony, Mr Thomas and his family (he is the proprietor of the colonial newspaper), my clerk Mr Nantes, and four proprietors of land in South Australia. They fare differently to the cabin passengers, having fresh meat but once a week, and on other days salt fish, pork or beef.

The labourers and their families occupy the next compartment in the ship. Their number is about 50; they are all contented, and have reason to be so; in this place Mr Pollard & his wife are, with our servants. And now for a word about these. Pollard has volunteered to take charge of the poultry, the pigs & sheep, and my goats. He takes excessive pride in them & boasts of their condition daily; moreover he milks the goats, and performs upon the pigs and sheep when occasion requires the kindly offices of the butcher…

Friday 1 July 1836

…
On this day, July lst, my son William was taken ill of the scarlet
fever, and my youngest child Helen was so swollen with Oedema, referred to during the nineteenth century as ‘dropsy’. An abnormal accumulation of fluid beneath the skin or in one or more cavities of the body causing swelling of the soft tissues (usually in the lower legs and feet). dropsy
from the effects of the same disorder, which she and Mary both
had just before we left England, as to be confined to her bed
scarcely able to breathe.

On this day our To navigate difficult stretches of water, ships took pilots on board. Pilots were coastal navigators with knowledge of their local waters and they captained the ship through the channel or harbour. pilot left us and I sent letters to London,
Gosport, and Chalton near Petersfield, Hants.

We had hitherto walked on any part of the deck we pleased
and the mate said nothing to the contrary, but the day before the
captain arrived on board the following notice was posted at the
head of our stairs: ‘The passengers in the Cabins of lesser comfort than those occupied by privileged passengers and intermediate between them and the dormitory accommodation afforded the emigrants. intermediate cabins are
not allowed abaft the A machine used to lift heavy loads or to weigh an anchor. The hauling rope passes in turns around the body of the capstan, which is mounted on a vertical axle and rotated by means of horizontal bars affixed to its head. capstan .’ This produced an altercation
between Mr Thomas and some others with the mate, who was a
Scotchman and possessed a sufficient share of his national pride,
but as far as his duty was concerned was an excellent seaman. He
said it was usual with all passengers who were not in the state
cabins, and he should insist on the order being obeyed, which they
flatly told him they would not – and to show that it was dis-
regarded we went to any part of the deck, the same as before,
without being interfered with by anyone.

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Tuesday 28 June 1836

This 24 hours mostly strong winds from the NW with a heigh sea all resqusite sail set Steering to the Eastward Lattd 37.50 South Longd 69.41 East In the everning read to the little flock 8th chapt by Jerimiah Mr Richards and myself prayed and God seemed to be with us the Lord has once […]

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Thursday 30 June 1836

[excerpt of letter from Hare to Angas]

June 30 1836

Brig Emma

Lat. Long.

Dear Sir

You will be glad to hear that
the “Brig Emma” [and?] all that are in it are well at
this date, with every prospect that they will complete
the first and most arduous part of their journey
safely … I thought it well to write you a Letter
as there may be some affairs interesting to you
individually which would perhaps present no point
of Interest to the South Australian Company. Comp^y generally …
Perhaps it may interest you to give you a
slight sketch of our For most Christians the Sabbath is Sunday, the day they celebrate their religion. For other Christians and for Jewish people the Sabbath is Saturday. Sabbaths at sea –
… The 2^nd Sabbath Capt Nelson read the A liturgical prayer consisting of a series of petitions recited by a leader alternating with fixed responses by the congregation. litany &c and
I spoke for some time from the See topic of this name listed in the 'find out more' section at the bottom of the page. parable of the good
Samaritan , there had been a great deal of quarrelling
in the The area of between-decks occupied by steerage passengers, that is, those travelling at the cheapest rate. steerage during the week, the Acton men
backing one another against the rest &c
I endeavoured to shape my observations to meet these
circumstances… During the succeeding For most Christians the Sabbath is Sunday, the day they celebrate their religion. For other Christians and for Jewish people the Sabbath is Saturday. Sabbath
M^rsCaptain Nelson, thought that the A liturgical prayer consisting of a series of petitions recited by a leader alternating with fixed responses by the congregation. litany was
quite enough, and that Captⁿ Nelson & M^r Douglass
had much better perform the service… in this and
man[y] other affairs the direct interference of M^rs CaptⁿNelson has not only been injudicious but I think hurtful
to the general arrangements of the passengers and myself
…

Cape Town July 8 1836

Since writing the above …
…
with sincerest regards to Yourself from Myself and M^rs H

Believe me my dear Sir

yours truly

30th. The A flag hoisted ashore to indicate that the vessel has been cleared out at Customs and is legally free to leave port. However, on the day a ship is to sail a ‘Blue Peter’ is hoisted at the head of the foremast. This flag is blue with a central white square. custom house flag was set on the The mast nearest the bow on vessels with two or more masts. fore mast .

Mr. Kingston, Morphett and Gilbert came on board late last night stating that they had been to the Consul about manning the ship. On Captain Lipson observing that the delay to the expedition was most shameful, Kingston though not addressed, wanted to know if Captain Lipson imputed blame to him. Captain Lipson replied, that if he considered himself responsible for the sailing of the ship, he deserved censure. The conversation ended by Kingston saying he had nothing to do with the delay. Kingston said hastily, ‘don’t bother me,’ and retired to his cabin.

Friday 24 June 1836

Friday. 24th. Still at anchor in Rio. Kingston and Morphett came on board in a Sailing ships carried various smaller boats for different purposes. A shore boat was an open row boat for transporting people and goods between the ship and shore. shore boat and went off again; was informed by Morphett that they had hired or intended to have hired a carriage to call on the Ambassador: that they had taken rooms at Johnson’s Hotel.

23rd. Went in a boat with the ladies on a picknic expedition.

Friday 10 June 1836

This 24 hours gentle breeses from the NW all drawing sail set steering SE AM obsd a distance between the and which gives our longitude 13.49 E Lattd Obsd 35.47 South Read in private a chapt in Revers and bowed my knees before a throne of grace before God my saviour in the everning comenced […]

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Tuesday 7 June 1836

First part baffling winds from the SWd under short sail the got lighter made all resquite sail PM the wind freshning with rain Latt acc 34.47 S Longd 5.51 East This morning had the painfull task of seperating two of the crew from fighting but no sooner I came away but they went to it […]

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Friday 10 June 1836

During last Night, the Wind gradually veer’d round
to the Northward, and having had a fine Breeze, from
that Quarter, all this Day, we consider ourselves now to
be out of the S,E, Regular winds which move towards the equator within or near the tropics, the earth’s rotation dragging them such that in the northen hemisphere they blow from the north-eastward and in the southern from the south-eastward. Trade Winds ___________
Mrs Chandler being greatly recover’d, from the effects
of her late attempt of drowning, the Cap^t has given her
Husband strict orders, that whenever She comes upon
Deck, his is to watch her closely, as it is not improbable
That She might make another attempt _________

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Monday 6 June 1836

This 24 hours fresh breeses under duble reeft main top sail and single reeft fore top sail with reeft fore sail wind from the NN [sic] steering SE got in the starbo ard quater boat Longd by lunar 3.50 E by chr 2.31 E Lattd 34.4 South In the everning read to a few that […]

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Wednesday 8 June 1836

On Wednesday 8th. June we crossed the Equator and the usual absurd ceremony was performed on all the uninitiated except myself – my state of health and giving the Ship’s Company a A form of British currency, the gold sovereign has been minted to exacting specifications since 1817. Each sovereign contains exactly 7.3224 grams of gold (22 carats). It was worth nominally one pound.sovereign exempted me –

Sunday. 15th. Continued rain, occasional squalls, wind foul. Lat. 2. Long. 25.

Wednesday. 11th. Beaufust [?] made some cakes for Mrs. F. In this Lat. Found great comfort in the essence of coffee, which however, none have milk with it. The ship’s ale was good. Bread and honey and ham, the only things we could eat – not that we got ham – the best beverage was some lemon juice and sugar, made to effervesce with tartaric acid and soda. Thermometer generally about About 28 degrees Celsius.83 F in the cabin.

15th. May. Finding the day very close and not having observed any of the 25 of the The area of between-decks occupied by steerage passengers, that is, those travelling at the cheapest rate.steerage passengers on deck since the commencement of the damp weather, and being aware that there were 10 persons on the sick list I advised Kingston to insist upon the whole of the passengers coming up on deck to allow some of the foul air to escape. On examining the state of the berths, Bilge water accumulates in the bilge of a ship. The bilge is the lowest compartment on a ship, where the two sides meet at the keel.bilge water and vegetable matter had accumulated under the lower tier to [?] extent which must have proved highly prejudicial to health. The apathy of the steerage passengers was truly remarkable. This state of things was evidently caused by the want of attention to proper principles in fitting up the The area of between-decks occupied by steerage passengers, that is, those travelling at the cheapest rate.steerage . Previous to leaving the Dock the married persons should have been separated from the single men by An upright partition dividing a ship into compartments and serving to add structural rigidity.bulk heads and not by canvas, and tables should have been provided to enable the passengers to mess at regular hours and in comfort instead of making [t]heir berths a perpetual cook’s shop. Meals going on at all hours must be productive of dirt and disorder. I should certainly in future provide every grown up person with a canvas bag to contain a sufficient quantity of clothing for immediate use, and then prohibit the introduction of any boxes Between decks was the space between any two decks of a ship. It could be used for cargo or passengers but the term was associated with cheap accommodation for third class pasengers or emigrants on subsidised fares. Between decks provided accommodation without access to fresh air or natural light and was often cramped and crowded.between decks.

Another account of the death of the Chief Mate on the Lady Mary Pelham was included in a letter from Alexander Dawsey, second mate, to GF Angas, written on 3 June 1836:

To G F Angas Esq^r At Sea June 3^th 1836

Sir

It is with Feelings of some re
-gret I write you stateing the death of M^r I. Doine
Thompson on the 3^d of May after about Four days
illness perhapes and I may say unwillingly the
effects of his own Imprudent conduct in a very
excessive use of ardent Spirits which Finally
so undermin’d the nervious system as to cause
Mental derangement in which State he died
every means being used so far as Judgement
and the nature of the circumstances would
afford to recover him but without effect, his
excitement of Mind being Such as to admit
of no Argument that would induce him to
think otherwise, than that he was Surrounded
by the Most horrid Forms and Wretched phan
toms hurrying him into an eternal world, To
this extreme had his Vicious Propensities been
carried, In Fact from the time the Ship left
the River Mersey until death put a period
to His existence, he may truly be said to have
Spent in a State of Intoxication and drunk’ness
clandestinly using alike every Spirit in the
Ship even to a whole case of Wine excepting about
three bottles…
… Your’s with
every Sentiment of Respect

Very devoted Serv^tAlexander Dawsey

I rose this morning under some stress of mind
conserning the path of duty the wind fair
from the NE all ships out of the harbour
but our own I have experianced what it is
to be here in destress blowing from the SE
with a heigh sea I went on my knees and prayed to be
directed in the right way I afterwards consulted with
the mate we went on our knees togather and prayed
fervently to be directed the right way …

Sir

I have the pleasure to acknowledge receipt
of your letter, last evening, dated the 4^th, when I wrote you on
last saturday, it was late, & having but just come to an Anchor,
being at the time much fatigued, not having been in a bed for
nearly ten days, you will pardon my not writing you at the time
all particulars, which by your leave I will now endeavour to do –
…

The following day being Sunday, I requested all the Passengers
with some of the crew, to come on shore to church, to render thanks
for our safe delivery from the dangers we had escaped; when to my
great surprice one of them (Steven Session) has absconded & I have
not seen or heard of him since, he being completely terified to death
at the sea, & which I dont wonder at, I am sorry that he is gon, as
he was one of the best of the company’s servants on board, one of the
crew has also run away, the name of wood, but as he was a useless
fellow I have not made any serch for him, but has shipt another in
his place, the carpenter & the cook I am afraid they will not be sufiscantly
recovered to take to sea with me, therefor beg you will not Pay
the Carpenters note that I gave in London, and indeed it would be
a great benifet to the company to get clear of hime, for he is a
very useless and good for nothing fellow, & not by any means worth half
his Wages –; should you see M^r Simpson Father of my second mate, you
give very great hopes of the Prospects of his son, who I am happy to say
is a very praysworthy & promising young man, and in fact the best I
have in the Vessel, & I shall loose no oppertunity in putting him forward,
On Monday I had a To survey a ship is to inspect and determine the structural condition of it. survey , the result of which I hereby inclose
you a Copy, & am getting every thing repaird as fast as possible, & I expect
I shall be all ready by next monday, I with pleasure beg to inform you
that I have received every possible assistance & attention from M^rHingston of this place; and very Difrent from that received from
M^r Fox at Falmouth, who was only by chance shewn to me once
in passing, though I made it a rule to call at the Office every day we layd in that Port –
I was greatly surprised at meeting M^r Stephens in the street,
& he was eaqually surprised at meeting me, he informed me the unpleasant
situation they were placed in respecting the crew on board of the Duke
of York, I emidiately went with him & M^r Hingston on board, having
first got the The preventative service was the establishment of coastguards at numerous stations along the coast of the United Kingdom for the prevention of smuggling. It reported to Customs, which also had control of the revenue cutters which cruised off-shore. Commander of the preventetive service to follow us, with
his boats crew armed, and after having calld the men The stern or rear of a ship. Aft , questioning
them if they would get the Vessel underweigh, one of them being a
spokesman or ringleader, answared for the whol, & sayd they would not
without being put on Monthly Wages, finding it useless to contend with
them, I persuaded Captⁿ Morgan, to Make an example of him
in the first place, to the utmost extent of the law, to see how that
would work with the rest, & which I am happy to say had the desired
effect, for Captⁿ Morgan acordingly gave him in charge of the Naval
Officer, who very kindly offerd every assistance, & he was taken before
a Majistrate, I attended with M^r Stephens & the mate; where he
was sentenced to 21 days hard labour in Exceter Prison, two of the
crew having run away, the remainder very peasably went to their
duty, & to day (Wednesday) after having settled their afairs at Bricksham
I saw her leave the Bay with the wind NNW^t & fine weather,
but the wind is since changed to West, and no good prospect before
them, the glasses falling very much, M^r Stephens requested me to
write you of their sailing; he being very much fatigued, having from
from fatigue and angsiety not had a nights rest for some time, but
will write you before he get clear of the channel, if the weather
permits, he has wrote me a letter, the copy of which I have also
inclosed, should you aprove of those directions be so good as to
write me word, or any other advice you can favour me under
the present cercomstances, which shall be most punctualy be attended
to, as far as my humble abillities goes –
I beg to complain of the Person who supplyd the sugar &c
in the first place it is not sugar a tall, but apears to me to be
some rotten stuff taken out of the bottoms of Molasses cask, the
smell is past bearing, the loaf cheese is not worth the porterage,
nor is the quantety in either package I have yet oppend
of Porter wine or Brandy, and about half the A dark-brown, bitter beer brewed from charred or browned malt, thought originally to have been made especially for porters. Porter in small wine Bottles,
the Vinegar also very bad –; this complaint dont rest with me alone, but
M^r Stephens requested me particularly to write about it, informing you
that it was the same case with the Duke of York —
I also beg to complain of the muskets sent on board for the use
of the Vessel, not one in four are the locks of any use, & I beg to
asure you, that I have never had any of so bad a quallity to trade,
with the savages of the south sea Islands –
When you was absent, during my stay at Falmouth, I wrote
several times begging the favour to send me an Invoice of the Articles of clothing and bedding supplied or sold to sailors. Slops &
Tobacco, but have never received an answer –, I will feel greatly
obliged if you will be so kind as to order it to be sent, as I dont
know what to charge the men for them
Waiting you orders allow me most respectfully
to subscribe my self

Yours & the Company’s

Most Obedient humble servant - a common form of ending business letters.

George Martin

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Thursday 7 April 1836

7th. Still beating off Portland! Wind N.W.

Remark 1_.Nearly 3 weeks at sea between decks, still ‘Lumbered’ is an informal term mainly used in Britain to refer to someone being burdened with a thing, or things, unwanted. In shipping terminology, ‘much lumbered’ or ‘lumbered with’ were sometimes used to describe the state of decks that had become cluttered with cargo and other objects during storms. lumbered up, also the deck, Kingston complaining of the dirt below. I suggested that with troops, the men were ordered to parade with bare feet. He immediately determined to act upon this, and gave an order accordingly, Adams did not think proper to obey, but after some warning did so. The married passengers Chapman, Bristow, Hoare, Brown etc did not appear.

An untoward circumstance occurred soon after passing St. Antonio. one of the Cape Verde Islands. A favourite A breed of dog often used for hunting game. setter belonging to a passenger was thrown overboard during the night. Presumptive evidence fixed this act upon none [?] of the sailors.

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Monday 4 April 1836

At dawn of day I gave orders to the chief officer to get
up the seacond anchor he returned said the people
wished to speak with me after reading the word of
God as usall and commending my all to the God
of all grace I then went out to the people they
told me they whould not go out of the port
without monthly wages I said they aught to have
considered this before they signed When seafarers joined a ship they signed the articles. The captain signed them as well and they formed a contract that set out conditions of employment including how much crew would be paid, what food they would be given, and what hours they would be expected to work. The articles would also say that if a ship was in danger, the normal expectations of work would be set aside and the captain could call on his crew for whatever was needed to save the ship. The articles could form the basis for shipboard discipline, giving the captain authority to punish seafarers who broke them. articles I
asked them if they whould move the ship in
a safe place or a safe harbour they refused
to sail out of torbay M^r Stevens read the articles to them
M^r Stevens and myself went on shore for advice
from the Shipping agents provide local knowledge and represent ships in port. Their job is to provide anything that a ship might need. They may arrange a pilot to navigate a ship out of port, arrange clearances from customs or buy stores from local suppliers. agent came on board and offered
the people fivety pounds if they would proced
and if Whales came in the way to heave all
lumber over board that whould stop us Whale
ing for that was thier princable grevance but
they refused and whould not remove the ship
to a safe harbour M^r Stevens went on shore
went to Dartmouth and returned with CaptⁿTalbert of the royal navy and M^r Inkston
Loyds agent he had on his uniform with his
men with A pair of pistols. brace of pistols he called for me
to bring the articles and call the mens names
over I did so he asked the men if they signed
these When seafarers joined a ship they signed the articles. The captain signed them as well and they formed a contract that set out conditions of employment including how much crew would be paid, what food they would be given, and what hours they would be expected to work. The articles would also say that if a ship was in danger, the normal expectations of work would be set aside and the captain could call on his crew for whatever was needed to save the ship. The articles could form the basis for shipboard discipline, giving the captain authority to punish seafarers who broke them. articles which they replyd they did
he questioned them if they had any complaints
to make of my conduct towards them they
said no they where satisfied with the ship and
officers said the desipleing was good CaptⁿTalbert took Prichard the ringleader on shore with him
all the rest on board with the exception of Riley agreed
to go to thier duty – …

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