RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: ashleighn19 on Tuesday 27 December 11 06:51 GMT (UK)
-
Hi All,
I'm seeking information about the ship "Rockhampton" which departed Liverpool on 17th June 1863, arriving Queensland (Keppell Bay/Rockhampton) October 12th. Specifically, I'm looking for details of the route taken by the ship, how much passage was, and if the immigrants on board were assisted or unassisted. I also know from previous research that there were many deaths on board, as well us very unhygienic conditions and would love to know if there were any records of such illness, or similar kept on board and if they still exist.
I've read everything on trove that has come up when I search for it, and I am aware that a inquiry may have been held, and would also love to find any records of this inquiry.
Any help would be muchly appreciated :)
Thanks
Ash
-
There is this site which gives quite a good account
http://www.cqhistory.com/wiki/pmwiki.php/Events/Ship-TheRockhampton
regards,
Ros
-
Maybe the Qls Archives would have something about the shipand its passengers on this voyage.
Qld Public Libray might also be helpful.
charlotte
-
Hey All,
Ros, I've seen that one, it gave me some fantastic info at the beginning.. thanks for pointing it out to me again:)
Charlotte, I'm starting to think I may have to go spend a day at the QLD Archives :) Just worried I'll get all the way down there and they won't have anything :(
Thanks again for the help!
Ash
-
Ash, why not email them or phone, explain distances involved and ask can they give you some idea of how much info they hold?
Can't do any harm.
charlotte
-
Shall do that Charlotte... thanks so much :) The Archives are closed till after new years, but I'll call them next week.
thanks again :)
-
Ash, are you in Sydney?
I can pop to the Archives and see what I can dig up on the Rockhampton for you. I don't live too far away. ;)
I haven't read the link posted by Ros yet, but will do so now.
Added: I just skimmed through the above link which gives a reasonable amount of detail. Just thinking about some of the facts that you are interested in .... you may be able to find some of the answers by just looking at the film of the passenger lists eg number of deaths, assisted or unassisted passengers. Have you already done this? If not, if you give me the name of the person/s you are researching I can find the appropriate film and read through the lists. Ages ago (sorry I can't remember the details of how I found this information) I looked up a similar report about conditions on board a ship - there were complaints about the captain being drunk, cramped conditions, leaking 'plumbing' etc. (very interesting)
-
Hey Ruskie,
I'm not, I've recently moved to the Sunny Coast... so its not a real matter of not being able to get there, its more logistics as I don't currently have a car and its not exactly easily accessible by public transport.
If you are able to, and wouldn't mind having a quick look to see if the archives have the info im looking for, that way at least I can come down and spend the day looking through it, rather than coming all the way down there and not finding anything.
I'm looking mainly for Samuel and Annie Bowden, however I seem to have found John Guern Halliday on the crew list, but I'm not 100% sure where I found that, and even if it is the correct one.
The Bowden's and the Hallidays are my main focus at the moment, so anything you can find would be greatly appreciated.
Ash
-
Still a long trek from the Sunshine Coast, even by car. ;)
I'll check when the Archives reopen after New Year and get along as soon as possible. :)
-
Thanks Ruskie :)
-
Ash, I've got some info for you about the 'Rockhampton'. Tis too late now but I'll try to get it typed up for you tomorrow.
There are quite a few files regarding the journey, so you might like to plan a trip to the Archives some day to check it all for yourself.
I had limited time today, but managed to look at a couple of things for you. As a teaser, your Samuel and Annie Bowden lost an infant son Samuel on the voyage. And yes, there was a John Halliday (no middle name) on the crew list. He was 32 (I think, it was difficult to read) and from Wigton and was a "seaman". Does that fit in with what you know about him?
More to come tomorrow ... ;)
-
Yes, thats all right :) Its good to know that my theory was right... and I cannot wait to read what you have found. I think I'm going to plan a trip in a few weeks :)
Thanks so much, like I said, can't wait :)
-
Some more details as promised:
“Rockhampton” departed Liverpool 18 Jun 1863, Arrived 13 Oct 1863
In the files “Index to Ships”- related to the Rockhampton are many cards including:
Crew list
List of ships arriving in Qld under the Land Orders System
Table showing various details of the voyage
Bond of ships
Letter re dispatch of vessel
Health Officer’s reports
Police magistrate’s report
Passenger list
Letter re arrival in Brisbane instead of Northern ports
Reassurance of crown solicitor if necessary to prosecute Captain
Land orders
Statement of Surgeon
Water police report: record of drunkenness and disorderly conduct by crew
Report on ship
Water police report: record of crewmen deserting
Report of infant mortality on board
Files relating to this voyage appear to continue up until 1864. I did note that the “Rockhampton” made another voyage in 1866 and some of the cards, (presumably those dated 1866) relate to this voyage. The records of the 1866 voyage were destroyed by flood according to a note written in the immigration book, so I’m not sure what is on the cards relating to the 1866 voyage.
Each of the above cards has details of where to locate the information. Some are indexed in books, some on film etc. I didn’t have time to check everything (which would probably take a full day) but I did check a few things.
Also, the title on card can promise more than it delivers .
As an example I checked DUP COL/12 p644 “Details of the voyage” which is in a book on the shelf, because I knew you were interested in the route the ship travelled. This was just a simple table with many names of ships and some really basic information – there were 460 passengers and 135 of them were “Cotton co-operatives” (I don’t know what this would be), the tonnage of the ship was 1059 and there were “nil” ports of call on the journey.
COL/A45 63/2488 is on film and is the Health Officer’s Report (a preprinted sheet with answers to standard questions). Some Q and A’s:
Q. What ports have you X( sorry I can’t read my own writing) on your passage?
A. off Moreton Bay
Q. Any persons suffered from sickness, how many etc?
A. Measles since 2 days after leaving Liverpool, 50 afflicted, several children died. Diptheria – 5 have died. Diarrhoea. Most recent death – infant 6 mths old died of convulsion induced by teething. 6 still sick on board – diarrhoea and catarrh.
The Bowdens were listed in the Assisted Immigrants book. I looked them up on the film:
IMM/112 page 169 film Z1957 (virtually no details, just a list of names):
Disembarked Rockhampton
BOWDEN
Samuel age 34
Anne 22
Samuel B dead
Emigrants embarked: 467
Deaths: 29
Births: 4
Landed: 323
(The book was one printed up for Pacific Islander's immigration asking for details such as ”native language” and “English” but with all these headings crossed out)
Crew List COL/A43; 63/1877 [film Z5669] (John’s details are in a crease in the page so a bit difficult to read)
John Halliday (no middle name)
age 32 or 22 place of birth Wigton
“seaman”
Anyway, that should help you a bit, but it would probably be worthwhile you making a day of it yourself as there are more files to look up. Some may have loads of information, and others virtually nothing. You may like to take a USB to copy some of this information onto. You can also print out copies from anything on film such as immigration records, so take plenty of change.
-
Thanks so much Ruskie. :) Thinking of heading down there next weekend. :)
-
Check the opening times Ash. ;) Also, I think you will need a full day. I've never been to the Archives on a Saturday, but if it's busy, there'll probably be a wait for help from the Archivist, maybe even for the viewers. If you can get there during the week, especially early in the week, it should be pretty empty. Check before you go to make sure they're not having any events or special thingies going on. Good luck. ;D
-
And pop back to let us know how you got on. ;D
-
And pop back to let us know how you got on after your Archives visit. ;D
-
Hi Ash - I have just noticed a place called Wigston near Leicester while looking for something else completely unrelated to your "Rockhampton" thread.
As I said there was a crease in the book where John Halliday's details were, so difficult to read the place name.
Hence unsure if the place was Wigton in Scotland or the new Wigston I've just discovered, or another place with similar name. John's marriage or d/c should clear that up.
Added: I've just checked the Surname Profiler and Halliday is largely a Scottish surname, with the highest concentration in the SW corner, so maybe the place name is Wigton after all. ;)
-
Hi Ash and Ruskie, I am looking into my family who also arrived on The Rockhampton. Joseph Walsh and family. I am new at this. Where are the archives that you looked up for the above information please - QLD or Sydney ? I would appreciate any help you could give me.
-
Hi LeighJ,
I found a passenger list at the QLD State Archives. I've just looked up the sheet I have and there is a Joseph Walsh on the page that I have.
If you would like, I can email you the image that I have. Send me your email address, prob better to message it to me directly, and I'll send it through to you.
Ash
-
Welcome to rootschat Leigh.
This is such an old thread that I had forgotten all about it. The information you are looking for would be at the Queensland State Archives - I see Ash has been able to help you out.
Here is a link to the Qld State Archives website:
http://www.archives.qld.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx
They have been gradually putting more and more information online since this thread started, though I don't know how far they have progressed with passenger lists. You may find something of interest for your family.
In case you need them, BMD indexes can be found here:
https://www.qld.gov.au/law/births-deaths-marriages-and-divorces/family-history-research/
-
Thanks Ashleigh and Ruskie,
As you are about to discover I really am a bit of a dunce. I have accessed the two links and I did manage to find a list with Joseph Walsh on the passenger list (which is possibly the one you have). So - so far, so good. However I am not sure how to private message you ?1/ ??? to double check.
Also how do you access the 'Index to Ships' that you referred to ?
Also you mentioned microfilche film and the reference numbers COL/A45 63/2488 as being the Health Officers Report (I believe my family lost their 2 year old on the trip over and would like to find out why and/or how).
I have been into the Archives in Canberra and asked there about these references and they couldn't help. Are they pertinent only for Brisbane ?!?
I am amazed at what I have been able to find so far but am now interested in getting the paperwork to back it up and fill in personal details.
Thanks for the fast reply
Leigh
-
Hi Leigh.
I'm a bit rusty on all the reference numbers, but you might find something about the Index to Ships on the Qld State Archives website I linked to. I think it will eventually all end up online, but I have no idea how much, if any, of the shipping records, and related information, are online yet.
If not on line, they will be viewable at the Qld State Archives as per my lookup for Ash in 2012. Generally, on immigration records, there is no information, apart from name and the total number of deaths on board ship, however there may be more for to this ship as there were several files related to it. You can see in my reply to Ash that the Health Officers Report mentions deaths and causes - there may not be individual name and causes of death given for each, so try not to get your hopes up. :)
I don't know how much (if any) duplicated information there may be at any other archives, of holdings at the Queensland State Archives, but I'm not surprised that Canberra are unable to help you.
You can send someone a PM by clicking on their name which will take you to the appropriate messaging page - you need a couple of posts before the PM system is activated so if you have already tried to send one and been unable to do so, your lack of posts may be the reason. You should be OK to PM now. :)
And, there's no such thing as a dunce here on rootschat! :)
I haven't been to the Archives for years, but if you get stuck, give me a shout and I'll see if I can help.