RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: Cymru42 on Thursday 11 June 09 00:02 BST (UK)
-
Hi
Am trying to locate proof of migration of James Hamilton Naismith to SA. He married Matilda Ann coldwell there in Port Adelaide in November 1882.
I have him as crew on the ship 'Wotonga' from Brisbane to Sydney in 1881, but that's all until his marriage.
He was born in Bishopwearmouth, England in November 1854.
Any assistance greatly appreciated!
Jacqui
-
I typed in the wotonga ship online, but cant find him on the list is that the full list online?
I can see him in SA having children, how did he get to Australia? Maybe he went to SA by land.
wendy
-
Wendy
found through Brisbane archives:
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1854
Age: 27
Port of Departure: Brisbane
Port of Arrival: Sydney, New South Wales
Voyage Arrival Date: 18 Sep 1881
Vessel Name: Wotonga
Origin Location: British
Jacqui :)
-
I know about the children in SA with Matilda (my great grandfather is the youngest of the 8). Stories have it that he came to SA in 1876, but I cannot find him in Australia (except for the Wotonga trip), nor can I seem locate him in England after the 1861 census. I can still locate his parents and some siblings in England after that date.
Am thinking of looking into convict records now, even though we have always been told there were no convicts in the family line - cover ups do occur!
-
Here is the passenger and crew list for the WOTONGA. He has many mentions ;)
http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/1881/06/015wot.htm
http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/1881/06/076wot.htm
http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/1881/07/059wot.htm
http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/1881/07/116wot.htm
http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/1881/08/015wot.htm
http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/1881/08/077wot.htm
http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/1881/09/066wot.htm
http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/1881/09/103wot.htm
http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/1881/10/078wot.htm
http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/1881/10/054wot.htm
http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/1881/11/065wot.htm
also the ELAMANG in 1881
http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/1881/02/096ela.htm
also the ALEXANDER in 1882
http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/1882/02/023ale.htm
also the ALEXANDRA in 1882
http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/1882/03/095ale.htm
could be more
Cheers Kris :)
-
Did he come with any other family? Ive typed him name into SA Archives online and nothing? Would his name be spelt any other way?
wendy
-
Did he come with any other family? Ive typed him name into SA Archives online and nothing? Would his name be spelt any other way?
wendy
The thought the passenger records at the SA Archives were the Official Assisted Passage Passenger Lists 1845 – 1886. Perhaps there are others. :-\
I would hazard a guess that the records listed by Kris are for coastal shipping. Unfortunately not all coastal ships listed their passengers by name but I note James is listed as a 3rd engineer on one of the records.. Many ships were involved the coastal freight trade and would carry a small number of passengers as well.
Note any online shipping records for him and then you could check to see if that particular ship arrived in Adelaide, however this database of ships is only for those with surviving passenger lists and may not list crew.
http://www.saghs.org.au/shipping.htm
He may have jumped ship....many did.
If you wished to follow that line there is a South Australian Deserters Register 1852-1890.
Cheers
Cando
-
Hi Jacqui,
Just to let you know he is not listed in the SA Deserters Register
Cheers Kris :)
-
Thanks all
Although there is a wealth of information that has been pointed out to me, for which I am extremely grateful, I still find myself with the same issue. :'(
My great greatgrandfather seems to have dropped off the radar for a few years. I have him as a 5 yr old in the 1861 census in England, then the rest of his family in the 1881 census - nothing in 1871. Then he supposedly appeared in Australia in 1876 (no real evidence), where he crewed on ships between Brisbane and Sydney in 1881 before marrying in SA in 1882.
This has been bugging me for 12 months now....... ??? ANY clues would be greatly appreciated!
Jacqui
-
Not a clue but a comment. Many lads were extremely young when they first went to sea. Perhaps this is why you can't find James on the 1871 census.
I have just had a look at the 1861 census and don't know if I have the correct family. Is his father John and Book Agent and mother Ellen both b. Scotland and living in Bishopwearmouth? Eldest son b. Scotland and James b. 5 years b. Bishopwearmouth and other siblings.
1871 Census RG10/5004/50/12
Living at 9 West Street, Bishopwearmouth
NAISMITH John 47 Assistant Post officer b. Scotland
NAISMITH Ellen 47 b. Scotland
NAISMITH Jane 11 Scholar b. Durham, Bishopwearmouth
NAISMITH Wm H 4 Scholar ditto
Cheers
Cando
-
Thanks Cando - this is the correct family. I tried looking for John and ellen (his parents) in 1871, but came up empty. At least I know they didn't jump around as much a their son seemed to!
Any ideas how I can locate crew from England to Australia c1876, to see if I can find him?
Jacqui
-
Unfortunately many manifests of ships arriving in Australia do not show crew members.
James would have had to serve an 'apprenticeship' to be a 3rd Engineer. My grandfather was a ship's engineer but he completed apprenticeship with a engineering manufacturing company on land before going to sea.
This website lists crew
http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/
Ancestry.com.au lists crew but they not identified as such, on database New South Wales, Australia, Unassisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1826-1922 My grandfather is listed as an unassisted immigrant 31 times between 1900 and 1910 arriving Sydney, when he was an engineer on ships on the coastal runs between Brisbane and Perth. It is definitely him as my very alert 98 year old father confirmed the names of the ships and added more.
I am sure I have read something about crew lists in Australia. I will have a search amongst my records.....Oh I can't believe I wrote that.... ::) Will get back to you ;D I must mention that my grandfather was at sea from 1895-1910 so the information available at that time may be quite different.
Cheers
Cando
-
My father informs me that an engineer would have a Certificate of Service and Certificate of Competency. He would also have a Crew Agreement.
As your ancestor may have been apprenticed/employed by an English shipping co, perhaps you could start your research here.
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/researchers/library/research-guides/the-merchant-navy/tracing-people-crewlists-agreements-logs
There are Crew Agreements at the National Library of Australia on a CD which is available commercially.
and
http://www.nla.gov.au/app/eresources/item/1387
A few more resources
http://www.anmm.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=89&c=166
Cheers
Cando