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Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: margmasson on Thursday 06 March 14 05:32 GMT (UK)

Title: Ship "Runnymede"
Post by: margmasson on Thursday 06 March 14 05:32 GMT (UK)
 One of my Ancestors arrived in Portland, aboard this ship in June 1852. Does anyone know anything about this ship? Is it the same "Runnymede" that brought convicts to Tasmania in earlier years?
                Marg.
Title: Re: Ship "Runnymede"
Post by: judb on Thursday 06 March 14 06:31 GMT (UK)
There are some references for the ship which arrived 1852:

It seems to have come "unexpectedly' into Portland with emigrants aboard, and should, it appears, have arrived in Melbourne.  According to this biography of William Rutledge some seventy immigrants left the ship at Portland.

Rutledge had been appealing in vain for years for emigrants to be sent direct to Port Fairy to ease the shortage of farm labourers and domestic servants. In 1852, when the emigrant ship Runnymede came unexpectedly into Portland Bay, he sent his brother Lloyd, armed with blank forms of agreement, to board the ship. Despite Rutledge's complaints of 'obstruction and malversation' when Police Magistrate James Blair tried to prevent these doubtful activities, Lloyd got away with seventy souls.
http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/rutledge-william-billy-2622

 However, this may not be entirely true as this reference suggests that the person mentioned was sponsored by a family in Port Fairy.
http://genforum.genealogy.com/englandcountry/messages/49318.html

TROVE mention:
212 immigrants, barque of 408 tons, master Jones, from Liverpool 23 February.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/4785699

This site suggests that there were 2 ships of the same name and that the one which brought convicts to Tasmania was wrecked in 1844.
http://magni.webcity.com.au/~rnb47409/vessels/runnymede.html

Judith

Title: Re: Ship "Runnymede"
Post by: sparrett on Thursday 06 March 14 06:38 GMT (UK)
http://members.iinet.net.au/~perthdps/convicts/con-wa18.html

This item says there was yet another ship of the name which brought its first load of convicts to Western Australia in 1856 having been built in 1854.

It also brought some passengers on the 1856 voyage.

Sue
Title: Re: Ship "Runnymede"
Post by: cherokee on Thursday 06 March 14 06:45 GMT (UK)
 :)Hi on one of my sources RUNNYMEDE sailed to Australia from 1836 until 1856 to Sydney, Hobart, Portland, Hobart town, Freemantle etc. 17 voyages listed to and from Australia . On one voyage it has convict vessell noted, on others it has a barque 390 ton and sometimes 388 ton. From 1872 to 1892 a ship by the same name was sailing in Queensland waters, can find no reference to prove it may be the same ship or not. Hope this is of some help Cherokee
Title: Re: Ship "Runnymede"
Post by: Neil Todd on Thursday 06 March 14 06:52 GMT (UK)
From http://archive.org/stream/colonialclippers00lubbrich/colonialclippers00lubbrich_djvu.txt

A Book. Digitised by Microsoft. "THE COLONIAL CLIPPERS"
From a passage in the book
"Early Fast Passages Outward.

Constance, Captain Godfrey, left Plymouth, 17th July, 1850, arrived

Port Adelaide, ist October, 1850 — 76 days.
Runnymede, Captain Brown, left Liverpool, 2 ist February, 1852 ;

arrived Port Adelaide, 4tli May, 1852 — 72 days.
Ayina, Captain Downward, left Liverpool, 6th April, 1852 ; arrived

Port Adelaide, 21st June, 1852 — 76 days.

Constance was owned by James Beazley, Runny-
mede was a ship hired by the Emigration Commis-
sioners, and Anna was a Fox Line packet. They
were all under 1000 tons. Other passages which I "

Neil
Title: Re: Ship "Runnymede"
Post by: Neil Todd on Thursday 06 March 14 07:15 GMT (UK)
From Lloyds Shipping Register.

Runnymede owned by Barton & Co Liverpool. J Brown Capt. 452 Ton. Contracted normally Liverpool to India. Builders at StJohn "I think that is Nova Scotia" .Barque Part sheathed, copper nailed

Neil
Title: Re: Ship "Runnymede"
Post by: margmasson on Thursday 06 March 14 08:28 GMT (UK)
Dear Judith, Sue, Cherokee and Neal, thank you all for your helpful information. I am trying to research the ships that brought my ancestors to Australia. I found a picture of "Runnymede", but am not sure which one it is! Once again thank you for your help. It is much appreciated.
                                Marg
Title: Re: Ship "Runnymede"
Post by: Neil Todd on Thursday 06 March 14 10:08 GMT (UK)
Depending on what the other Runnymede is, the one your person came on, as in last post a Barque

Neil
Title: Re: Ship "Runnymede"
Post by: margmasson on Thursday 06 March 14 18:36 GMT (UK)
 Thank you very much for that, Neil.
                           Marg.
Title: Re: Ship "Runnymede"
Post by: Peterleut on Thursday 26 September 19 03:44 BST (UK)
Hi, I am new to this site. I also had ancestors that arrived on the "Runnymede" at Portland, Vic. in June 1852. I have the original of a very detailed letter written by my ancestor to his parents in Scotland after arrival. I would love to get in touch with you. I too am curious about the ship. My limited research shows a Runnymede constructed in 1825 and wrecked at Bay of Bengal in 1844, then Runnymede 2 constructed in 1854 and wrecked off the Kimberley coast in 1878. so, which one was the ship that our ancestors came on? it was definitely the Runnymede as the passenger list and our ancestors letter confirms. So... was there another Runnymede or was it the one that sank in the Bay of Bengal and its year of sinking is wrong?
Title: Re: Ship "Runnymede"
Post by: matthewj64 on Thursday 26 September 19 04:43 BST (UK)
Hi and welcome!

Report here of the loss of the Runnymede, Nov. 1844
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12880494

M
Title: Re: Ship "Runnymede"
Post by: Peterleut on Thursday 26 September 19 04:50 BST (UK)
Thanks Mathew. I wonder here the barque, Runnymede that arrived with my ancestors at Portland in 1852 came from?? this confirms the first Runnymede, the ship that had carried convicts to Australia, did, in fact sink in 1844.
Title: Re: Ship "Runnymede"
Post by: matthewj64 on Tuesday 01 October 19 09:31 BST (UK)
From Lloyds Shipping Register.

Runnymede owned by Barton & Co Liverpool. J Brown Capt. 452 Ton. Contracted normally Liverpool to India. Builders at StJohn "I think that is Nova Scotia" .Barque Part sheathed, copper nailed

Neil

Following up on what Neil found previously, the article linked below from May 1852 talks of the Mangerton, Quebec-built, 1100 tons, owners Messrs. Barton and Brown, Cook-street, Liverpool who also own the Runnymede
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article114835579

M
Title: Re: Ship "Runnymede"
Post by: LoganH on Wednesday 02 October 19 12:02 BST (UK)
The Shipping Gazette and Syndey General Trade List (Volume 9, Number 428. 12th June 1852, Page 163, Column 3).
The Runnymede arrived at Portland Bay on the 2nd instant, from Liverpool the 23rd January, with 212 immigrants.
------
Newspaper - Empire (Syndey NSW) Saturday 19th June 1852, page 2. Portland Shipping.

Arrivals. - (June 2) Runnymede, barque, 408 tons, James Brown, master, from Liverpool 23rd February. No cargo or mail. Passengers - Surgeon-Superintendent, and 212 immigrants.
Squatters be of good cheer. - We learn from our last files of English papers, and the information is fully confirmed by the arrival of the Runnymede, emigrant ship, in our Bay, yesterday morning, with 212 immigrants, that the Emma Eugenia, 388 tons, another vessel for Portland direct, may be immediately expected in our harbour with a large complement of both sexes, all  of whom belong to the labouring classes; thus the lack of servants for the interior will be supplied most opportunity; not only so, but a regular succession of emigrant vessels will, from time to time, continue to arrive, freighted with the very description of labour that the colony, and our portion of it in particular,most pressingly requires. We have thus the gratifying assurance that settlers will, in a brief time, have their necessities supplied adequate to their wishes, ardent, urgent, and numerous as they are. The Runnymede, on leaving this , is bound for Bombay: her stay will not be protracted here. The Collector's destination is Melbourne, not Portland, as formerly intimated. This circumstance is immaterial, in consequence of the above named barque bringing the immigrants who were expected about this date, and who are safely anchored in our spacious bay.  Since the above was in type, we learn that the Runnymede had to continued with baffling winds for nearly a month, abreast of Kangaroo Island, otherwise she would  have made a passage unprecedently rapid.
The passengers unite in bearing unequivocal testimony to the uniform kindness of the captain as a gentleman, and his judgment as a mariner: and to the skill, humane deportment, and attention of the Surgeon-Superintendent, professionally.   And, on the other hand, Captain Brown and the Doctor record, with pleasure, the good conduct of the immigrants. - Portland Herald.
Title: Re: Ship "Runnymede"
Post by: Peterleut on Wednesday 02 October 19 12:26 BST (UK)
Thanks very much Mathew and Logan for your replies and information. All these ships with the same name makes it difficult. I also found another Runnymede, a barque as well, built in Tasmania. My problem is there is much information in the first Runnymede, where and when it was built and lost in the Bay of Bengal in 1844. there is similar information on Runnymede 2 that was built in 1854 and sunk off the Kimberley coast in 1876 (I am quoting this from memory). There is also information on the Runnymede built in Tasmania and sunk in Frenchmans Bay. But we haven't been able to find the same detail on the Runnymede that arrived in Portland Bay 2nd June 1852, although we do now know it who it was owned by and that Liverpool was it's home port. It seems it was a good ship and quite fast. I understand the ship was usually on the Liverpool to India run, and soon after arriving in Portland Bay in 1852 she sailed for India and returned to Portland. I appreciate the article reproduced by Logan, interestingly, whilst my great, great grandfather did have very kind words about Captain Brown in his letter home, he was not at all happy with the surgeon. I quote..." On Friday 4th sunset, they came on board again and we were all taken on the poop and examined. They were very civil men and knew how to treat men. They asked us each if we had any complaints to make against the Captain or the Surgeon and I can tell you there were plenty complaints as we were very badly dealt with. We had only 2 quarts of water for the first month where we should have had 3 so we had to make a strike for more. We had short allowance of preserved meat, we had short allowance of coffee, bad beef and pork and several other things which were kept or given us. Sometimes we could not bear the smell of the water and they would give us no spirits to put amongst it. We had a little lime juice but were soon put on half allowance.  It was the Surgeon’s post to see us get our rights and he was the very one that kept them from us.  He was seldom from his cabin and when he did come it was with a frown upon his countenance. He would come among the young men and call us a parcel of dam blackguards or thieves but I believe he was not so far mistaken when he called us thieves for I don’t exactly know how much I lost."
Thank you Mathew and Logan again for your information. you have both assisted in increasing our knowledge considerably and it is much appreciated.

Peter
Title: Re: Ship "Runnymede"
Post by: LoganH on Thursday 03 October 19 03:39 BST (UK)
Did a bit more research using the Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping for 1852.
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=FD8SAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=editions:0Ftz6zT302-gFzEJxA5c6C&lr=&hl=en#v=onepage&q&f=false (https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=FD8SAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=editions:0Ftz6zT302-gFzEJxA5c6C&lr=&hl=en#v=onepage&q&f=false)

Don't want to breach copyright by posting image of data - so you can look it up yourself -

I am still learning to decrypt data but -

 2nd column -    Ships name and build – Runneymede Bkptr&ca51r&Y =Bk – Barque, pt – part, r&ca – Felt and Copper sheathed, 1851r&Y

3rd Column-   M.51ptI.B.   -J.Brown –Master’s name. Received certificate of qualification – 1851 qualified for ship class - I.B. (Third class & Barque)
4th Column-   452.- 408 – Ship tons (refitted to 408 ton)
5th Column -   St.Jhn HkB&P.w.pt r.&cs.51. –Built St. Johns in 1851 Timber used on vessels construction HK – Hackmatack and Pine. Part Felt and Copper sheathed.
6th Column-   When built 1851.
7th Column   Owners -   Barton & C. Liverpool
8th Column   Port belonging to -Liverpool
9th Column -    Destined voyage Liv.India – Liverpool to India.
10th Column-   Number of years fleet assigned – 6.
11th Column-    Classification for Hull and Stores -   A 1 – Last surveyed 1851.