26th Jan 1853
Arrival of the ship Forres from London to Sydney 17th May 1853 Master Molison Cargo/other agent: Smith, Campbell & Co
Passenger / crew list; Molison Mrs tsg:477 Forsyth Mr tsg:477
Feb 1854
In Melbourne as Captain of the Blenheim- see British Shipping Index 1852-9 held at the Victorian Govt Archives. Owner: D. Dunbar Port of registry: London
'Canterbury', full-rigged ship of 681/789 tons built in Sunderland in 1851, owned by D. Dunbar, registered at London, captained by Molison, with a destined voyage to New Zealand. The vessel does not appear in the Register for 1856 onwards, maybe "sold foreign".
2 February 1855
Signs a Power of Attorney in favour of his 'half brother' James Molison, then resident in Sydney.
4 April 1856
Lancashire Witch sailed from Gravesend and arrived Auckland 1 August 1856 . A S Molison Captain. This was a troop ship and came via Australia and Wellington.
20 July 1856
Lancashire Witch entered Wellington Harbour, N.Z.
White Wings Vol. 2 Brett wrote: "In 1856 Lancashire Witch, 1368 tons, from London, via Australia, arrived July 20th. Brought 226 passengers, including 149 men of the 65th Regiment to Wellington.
Another vessel of the same name, a ship of 1574 tons, made several voyages to New Zealand in the sixties." Details given in White Wings, Vol. 1. Reference: 'White Wings' Vol. 2
The Illustrated London News Jan. 30, 1858
"CHINA -THE ATTACK ON CANTON"
"We take the following from the Overland China Mail of Dec. 16:-
The two squadrons are to act in concert, and, in token of the alliance, the British, on the 13th, hoisted the French, and the French the British, flags at the main on board the men-of war.... As nothing is further from probability than that Yeh will surrender unconditionally, the assault on the city, it is pretty
evident, will take place in the course of a few days. All the marines are in the river, and a portion were to land on the Honan side. The artillery are on board the troop-ship 'Moresfoot', ready to start. The party of Engineers arrived by mail-steamer, with, it is said, four companies of the 59th Regiment, are under orders to embark on board the LANCASHIRE WITCH, and about 300 hundred of the Chinese
Coolie Corps go up in the 'Inflexible'."
Until 31 October 1858- in command of ship 'Lancashire Witch' as a transport under the command of the Royal Navy. Since 4 April 1856- a 2 and a half year stint carrying troops.
31 December 1858- given a certificate of commendation by Rear-Admiral commanding the Naval transport. The certificate given in Hong Kong on this day. Certificate given by the Admiral as to the service given to the RN as Capt of a transport in period 8/6/1856-31/10/1858.
The Ship Whirlwind from Hong Kong out 114 days, arrived yesterday with 347 immigrants.
Captain Edghill reports that the Lancashire Witch left Hong Kong 15 days before the Whirlwind, and that when this last named vessel left the Cape of Good Hope, the other had not been heard of. The Whirlwind experienced some severe weather and it is to be hoped that no accident has occurred to the Lancashire Witch, now out 129 days.
[Royal Gazette, 1 Aug 1861]
We are glad to say that the Lancashire Witch arrived yesterday, after the unusually long passage of 131 days. She took in 461 immigrants and one birth occurred on board, but she lost 29 people during the voyage. Of these, 24 died, chiefly from diarrhoea, and 5 were missing, supposed to have been drowned either from suicide, or through accident; the last death took place three days ago. Of the 433 persons brought here 26 are females.
[Royal Gazette, 6 Aug 1861]
At around about this time, on a trip to Siam, he gave the King of Siam a sheep. The King wrote a letter to ASM thanking him and requesting another sheep be sent- a ram this time- 'to perpetuate the species.'
11 Feb 1862
Edwin Fox sailed from Colombo for London. Arrived London 29 May after a reasonably uneventful voyage.
6 April 1862
Duncan Dunbar II dies and gives ASM the right to have first purchase of any Dunbar vessels. The Edwin Fox was subsequently put up for sale after its return to London. It was bought by Edward Gellatly, a beneficiary of Dunbar and the Executor of his estate, for 7600 pounds. Gellatly later formed the partnership of Gellatly, Hankey and Sewell, but the ship's shares were not included in the partnership until 1866. Also, Captain Ferguson, who had been in command since the ship's early years, left and was replaced by Captain Francis Freemantle McLean, 50 years old.
Circa 15 Apr 1862
Edwin Fox sailed for London, having loaded at the ports of Calicut and Cochin. There is no record of the 1863 cargo, but Calicut is the home of calico. Arrived London on 28 August 1862.
11 Sept 1862
ASM buys 14/64ths of the 'Edwin Fox' from Edward Gellatly who had bought the whole ship. Gellatly had been in DDII's employ as well, and was also mentioned in his will. ASM's address was given as 8 Tredegar Sq, Mile End.
15 Sept 1862
Edwin Fox sailed from London for Bombay. There is no record of her cargo, but she probably carried her normal load of "London General" and "India Pale Ale". Arrived at Bombay on 29 January 1863.
To be continued...
