John Flett - Stebonheath?

[Jason46]

 I have a note written by my great grandfather's daughter stating that he arrived in Australia on the Stebonheath on 24 December 1854 but I cannot find him on the passenger's list. He had previously worked as a ship's carpenter on the Llanely - Quebec run and I am assuming he was working on this ship. How can I find out if he was employed on this ship? His wife, Jane (or Jean) Flett was supposed to have come to Melbourne on the White Swan, possibly 30 September 1860, but I can't find her either. Any assistance greatly appreciated!

[MonicaL]

Hi Jason

I can see on a transcription for the manifest that you mention a John Plette - could this be a mistranscription of Flett? I would bet on a yes 

He shows as aged 29.

No more info than that, on the index I am looking at. Also, can't see anything for wife Mary so far...

Monica 

[Jason46]

Thank you very much for that. Can you give me the name of the site that you saw this on. Also, his wife was Jean or Jane, noty Mary. Her maiden name was Smith and she supposedly came out with a brother, which could have been James, John or Simon but no name suppled.

[MonicaL]

I saw the entry for John Flett 1854 on a/try's Victoria, Australia, Assisted and Unassisted Passenger Lists There is no original image, just an indexed entry.

  Sorry about the ref to a Mary.

From same source, can't see an entry for the crossing of a ship called 'White Star' in 1860 unfortunately.

Monica

[trish1120]

There is also a John FLETT, Crew, age 27, Carp*, of Stromness on the "Herald" from London, arriving Sydney NSW 27 Aug 1856
(Source Anc.)

[trish1120]

Did John/Jean Marry 25 May 1854, Harray Church, Harray, , Orkney Isles?
(Source FreeREG)

So she would have been a Flett not Smith on Passenger List?

So in 1851 in Harray, Orkney we have;
Magnus SMITH, 57, Farmer
Margaret, 55
Magnus, 34
Elizabeth, 18
SIMON, 16
Robert, 13
Emelia, 10

1841 Jane is with them age 10.

[MonicaL]

That seems to be so Trish. A summary here www.kempfamilyhistory.com/familygroup.php?familyID=F10323&tree=adkemp

Monica

[MonicaL]

This link www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Jean_Smith_%2821%29 shows:

Jane was an unassisted immigrant on the Black Swan, in Jan 1861, at 35 yo. She was registered as Mrs Flett, and travelled with her 20 yo brother in law, James, who was a goldminer who returned to Orkneys later

A little discrepancy on dates etc. is that one son John shows as born on 11 Dec 1860 (death on  6 Jan 1861) Williamstown, Victoria

Monica

Added: there is an entry on the 'Black Swan' arriving at Port Phillip Bay, Australia on 5 January 1861. On board, as transcribed by a/try, is a Mrs Pilett, age 35 etc. Again, it is an indexed entry so original not available here to view to decipher better.

[trish1120]

Thanks for that Monica.
Lots of Flett info on FreeREG that I had been looking at.

Trish