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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

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?