First 8 Ships

PROCLAMATION DAY IN 1836.

THE FIRST FLEET.

The vessel which has the honor of being the pioneer ship to South Australia—that is to say, the first to bring out colonists to our shores—was the Duke of York, one of the old fashioned, staunch honest old wooden crafts of a type honored in those days, some sixty years ago, but which would " look like a wherry to a whaler" compared with the big roomy iron clippers of our time, even as these appear insignificant alongside the floating palaces which now carry our mails. For those comparatively primitive days she was suitable, and it is a pity that we have not a sketch of her in her habit as she lived a life on the ocean wave.

Here are her particulars from the records of her day and generation, and the passenger lists of the rest of the first fleet.

At Kangaroo Island, 28th July, 1830.—Duke of York, 197 tons, Capt. R. G. Morgan, 38 passengers and 4 children.—Mr. Thomas Hudson Beare, Mrs. Mary Ann Beare, Miss Charlotte Beare, Misses Lucy, Arabella, and Mary Ann Beare, Messrs. William L. Beare, Thomas Mitchell, G. Massiney, Israel Mazey, Charles Powell, Robert Russell, Samuel Stephens, I). H. Scheyvogle, and William West.

At Kangaroo Island, July 30th, 1830.—Lady Mary Pelham, 200 tons, Capt. Robert Ross, 29 passengers.

At Kangaroo Island, August 10th, 1836.—John Pirie, 105 tons, Capt. George Martin, 28 passengers —Mrs. Capt. Martin, Capt. Henry Simpson, Mr. Henry Alford, Mrs. Elizabeth Collins.

At Kangaroo Island, August 18th, 1830; Rapid Bay, September 3rd, 1836.—Rapid, 102 tons. Capt. William Light, 25 passengers.- Lieut. W. G. Field, R.N. (on leave), Mr. W. J. K. Pullen. Mr. Wm. Claughton, Mr. Wm. Jacob, Dr. John Woodforde, Mr. Alfred Barker, Mr. William Chattfield, Mr. William Hill (4th officer), Mr. George Mildred, R.N. (on leave), Mr. Hiram Mildred, William Bradley, William Gandy, William Lowes, George Penton, James Freemantle, Miss Gandy, Mrs.Bradley. John Thorn, William Tuckey, William Bell. William Hodges, Robert Buck, Robert Buck jun., George Childs, John Duncan.

At Kangaroo Island, September 11th, 1836; Holdfast Bay, November 5th, 1836, Cygnet, 239 tons, Capt. John Rolls.—Mr. G. S. Kingston. Mr. B. T. Finniss, Mrs. B. T. Finniss, Dr. E. Wright, Mrs. Dr. Wright, Charles Wright, Thomas Wright, Robert Wright, Mrs. W. H. Neale, Mrs. Neale, Master Neale, Misses Neale (3), Capt. ThomasLipson, R.N., Mrs. Lipson, Misses Emma, Eliza, and Mary Lipson, R. G. Symonds, John Cannon, Berry Lipson, Thomas Lipson, jnr., Alfred Hardy,Thomas Gilbert, John Morphett. Thomas Powell, R. G. Thomas, William Williams, Edward Parsons, John Goodman, Thomas Bell, Mrs. Bell and 2 children, Samuel Chapman, Mrs. Chapman, Mr. Green, Hugh Quin, Mrs. Green and 2 children, James Hoare, Mrs. Hoare, 8tephen Paris, Mrs. Paris, Robert Bristow, Mrs. Bristow and son and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Marshall, Mr. and Mrs. Adams. John Brinnan, and Wm. Adams, Selhy Brown, G. Friend, B. Stone, Charles Parrington, John Locket, Basil Sladden, Smythett Sladden, Isaac Sladden, Thomas Rogers. John Afford, A. Heath, Thomas Avery, E. Harrington, Edwd. Stubbington, John Corney, John Levey, Joseph Finch, J. Osborn. J. Welman, William Teesdale, and David Devine.

At Kangaroo Island, October 5th, 1836 The Emma, 164 tons, Capt. Nelson.—Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Hare, Mr. Henry Douglas, Mr. and Mrs. W. Wilkins and child, Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Brisford and daughter, Mr. J. Bennett, Mr. and Mrs. O. Lines [?arr. Schah 1837?]

At Kangaroo Island, November 2nd, 1836; Holdfast Bay, November 8th, 1836.—The Africaine, 316 tons, Captain John Finlay Duff.—Robert Gouger, Mrs. Gouger, John Brown, Mrs. Brown, Dr. C. G. Everard, Mrs. Everard, Charles G. Everard, William Everard, John Hallett, Mrs. Hallett, Robert Thomas. Mrs. Thomas, William Kyffin, Frances, Mary, and Helen Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. I,ewis, Mr. and Mrs. Coltman, Mr. and Mrs. John Snoswell, Mathew Smith, Mrs. Mary Smith, Messrs. Robert Fisher, Andrew Jacobs, John Briggs, Daniel Cox, Alfred Warren, Benjamin Smith, Alfred Young, James Windebanks, Slater, Drown, Masters, Ward, William Wiliams, Arthur Gliddon, H. Hill, Berry Wickham, Wickham, jun., Samuel East, Mrs. East, and 2 sons and 4 daughters, Mr. and Mrs. Callan and 3 sons and 1 daughter, Mr. and Mrs. W. Bushell, 1 son and 1 daughter, Mr. and Mrs. G. Parcills and 2 sons, Mr. and Mrs. Pollard, Messrs. John Cronk, J. M. Skipper, Wickhams (3), and Lillywhite, Mary Vincent, and Eliza Clark.

At Kangaroo Island, November 30th, 1836.—The Tam O'Shanter, Captain Freeman, 74 passengers.— John Stuckey, Mrs. Stuckey, William Phillips, Mrs.Phillips, and 3 children, F. Allen, Mrs. Allen, P. Lee, Mrs. Lee, J. Bell, Mrs. Bell, Forbes, Mrs. Forbes, and 2 children, Woods, Mrs. Woods, and child, Seaborne, Mrs. Seaborne, Captain Brom ley, Messrs. Catchlove (sen.), Catchlove (jun.),George White, John White, Henry Gilbert, William Fouke, William Nation, J. E. Barnard, W. Moseley, W. T. Skuce, Botting, J. Clarke, Wm. Jaques, Thos.Masters, William Guthrie, William Bailes, Wm. Hardington, Surflcn, Allen, jun., Josiah Rogers, R. Ross, R. A. Rogers, and W. T. Rogers, Mrs. Rogers, Mary F. Rogers, Fanny Rogers, Clara Rogers, Allen (2), Maria Catchlove and Jane Catchlove.

At Port Lincoln, December 24th, 1836; Holdfast Bay, December 28th, 1836.—The H.M.S. Buffalo, Captain John Hindmarsh, R.N., 174 passengers.— Captain John Hindmsrsh, R.N. ...

...

It was early in the year 1836 that the South Australian Company laid on a number of vessels in London to take colonists to this land of promise, the Duke of York being one of the earliest on the list of departures. She was the Mayflower of the Pilgrim Fathers of the Great South Land, and she anchored in Nepean Bay, Kangaroo Island, on July 27, 1836, according to the data furnished some years ago by the late Mr. Robert Russell, who lived long enough to see the Adelaide of huts grow into a city of stone mansions. Of her and the Lady Mary Pelham, which anchored the day after, and which had been practically her consort on the voyage out, more anon.

The year was only middle-aged, and before its close a fair number of emigrants found their way over the long, wide, weary waste of waters to the untried shores of Holdfast Bay, and a sturdy lot they were.

In 1836 the total tonnage of the shipping was 2,592. During 1838 102 vessels arrived, and the largest tonnage was 600. Between 1838 and 1842 it had mounted up to 48,725, and from 1843 to 1847 came to 34,546; from 1848 to 1852 the figures were 155,768; and from 1873 to 1877 the tonnage was 617,232; while in 1895 the figures were 1,483,440; and for the first nine months of 1896, 1,186,070. In 1895 1,106 vessels arrived, and during the first nine months of 1896, 931.

Leaving England the Lady Mary Pelham started first, but fell in company with the Duke of York near the end of the voyage, and anticipated reaching the wished-for haven before any other ship, as, in parting company, she flirtfully signalled the Duke, " Do you want a tow ?" but the Duke sighted Kangaroo Island on July 26th, and anchored first, to the huge delight of all on board, as the island was believed to be the mainland. Mrs. Beare's infant girl was taken ashore in the arms of a sailor (Robert Russell), who, wading through the water to the beach, planted the child's tiny feet in the sand so that it might be the first to set foot on the new land. The veteran Robert Russell, before his death at a ripe old age, was wont to give a graphic account of the voyage and the first landing, and he described the Duke of York as "a Falmouth packet, a good sea-boat and fast ; built with bulwarks man o'-war fashion."

Respecting the arrival at Kangaroo Island, Mr. W. L. Beare says: "The vessel anchored directly off what is now known as Queenscliffe, and the first tents were pitched there. Our instructions were to land directly on the point known as Kingscote, but there was no clear space on which to pitch a tent until it was cleared. All hands, ship hands particularly, were anxious to get the cargo out of the Duke so that they could get to work whaling, for which the crew and officers engaged on what was then termed 'lays.' By about the middle of September the ship was ready for sea, but the night before a man named Massey and four or five others left the ship and got into the bush. The captain could not go without these men as he could not man enough boats, so he, with some others, started off to find them. This he managed to do, but then both parties got lost. As they did not return for a day or two Mr. Stephens got one or two of the Islanders, as they were called, to go for them. They came up to the lost ones some time after dark and found that they were all on their knees at prayers. They came on them so quickly that none heard them before they dropped on their knees beside them. All the Islanders wore moccasins in those days."

After leaving Kangaroo Island, the Duke left on a whaling cruise—after transhipping her passengers—and was wrecked near Keppel Island, which the crew succeeded in reaching in boats.

TO THE EDITOR,

Sir— Much has been said and written at different times as to who are the pioneers of our City of Adelaide and its surroundings in the colony of South Australia. Some of these accounts are imperfect on many points in a minor degree, and perhaps only observable by the pioneer himself. As the proprietor of the pioneer newspaper, the South Australian Register, on behalf of the few remaining I would ask you to insert the following notes as a help to future records of the commencement of the colony :—

Commencing with Kangaroo Island we find the arrival of the Duke of York on July 27 1836, followed by the Lady Mary Pelham, Emma, John Pirie, Sarah and Elizabeth, and others. The first of these vessels sent out by the South Australian Company to form a whaling station and settlement landed their colonists on the Island, but they cannot be called the first white settlers there, as they found (Governor) Whalland, Bates, Walker, Jacob Cooper, Battes, and Mate, who had been in possession of the land for years, and as far as we know there is very little authentic record of their ever having been on the mainland.

On August 18, 1836, just 50 years ago to-day, the first vessel sent out under the auspices of the Colonization Commissions for South Australia arrived in the colony. I refer to the surveying brig Rapid,162 tons, which left London May 1, 1836, commanded by Colonel William Light, having on board Lieutenant William George Field, R.N., W. J. S. (now Admiral) Pullen, R.N., William Hill, William Jacob, George Claughton, Dr. John Woodforde, Maria Gandy, George Gandy, William Lawes, George Penton, James Freemantle, David Bradley, Sarah Bradley, Alfred Barker, William Chatfield, John Thorn, John Duncan, George Childs, George Mildred, Robert Buck, Robert Buck, jun., William Tuckey, William Bell, William Hodges, Hiram Mildred. Of these there are now remaining — Admiral Pullen, in England ; in the colony, William Jacob, John Thorn, William Hodges, Robert Buck, and Hiram Mildred.

After a short examination of the Island Colonel light made for the mainland, casting anchor in Rapid Bay, or as it was called by the natives Yatagolinga, and here may be said to have been the first landing of the pioneers or colonists of South Australia, who were followed by the arrivals in the Cygnet, Buffalo, Africaine, John Renwick, William Hutt, Coromandel, and others during the year 1836. Other writers having given the subsequent history of the colony I will not trespass further on your space unless it be to add that at the request of some of the few survivors of the first ship and members of the Old Colonists' Association I forward these notes which are still fresh from the memories of the past.

I am, Sir, &c, HIRAM MILDRED,

Hon. Secretary of the Old Colonists' Association. Adelaide, S.A., August 18. 1886

South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Wednesday 8 December 1886, page 7

SHIPPING ARRIVALS IN 1836 AND 1837.

We have compiled at the request of a correspondent the following list of ships which arrived in the years 1836 and 1837 :— Duke of York, barque, 200 tons, Morgan, master, from England. Arrived at Nepean Bay on July 27, 1836, with 38 passengers.

Lady Mary Pelham, barque, 200 tons, R. Ross, master, from England. Arrived at Nepean Bay July 30, 1836, with 29 passengers.

John Pirie, schooner, 120 tons, G. Martin, master, from England. Arrived at Nepean Bay August 16, 1836, with 28 passengers.

Rapid, brig, 160 tons, Colonel W. Light, master, from England. Arrived at Nepean Bay August 2 , 1836, with 24 passengers.

Cygnet, barque, 239 tons, J. Rolls, master, from England. Arrived at Nepean Bay September 11, 1836, with 84 passengers.

Emma, brig, 200 tons, T. Nelson, master, from England. Arrived at Nepean Bay October 5, 1836, with 22 passengers.

Africaine, barque, 317 tons, J. F. Duff, master, from England. Arrived at Holdfast Bay on November 4 (sic), 1836, with 76 passengers.

Tam o' Shanter, barque, 450 tons, Freeman, master, from England. Arrived at Holdfast Bay December 17 (sic), 1836, with 74 passengers.

H.M.S. Buffalo, 480 tons, Captain John Hindmarsh, R.N., from England. Arrived at Holdfast Bay December 28, 1836, 174 passengers.

Coromandel, ship, 600 tons, from England and the Cape. Arrived at Holdfast Bay January 12, 1837.

William Hutt, brig, 240 tons, from England and the Cape. Arrived at Port Adelaide.

John Renwick, ship, 400 tons, from England and the Cape. Arrived at Port Adelaide February 10, 1837.

Mary and Jane, brig, 200 tons, from the Cape. Arrived at Holdfast Bay.

South Australian, barque, 200 tons, from England. Arrived at Nepean Bay April 22, 1837.

Sarah and Elizabeth, barque, 450 tons, from England. Arrived at Nepean Bay April 24, 1837.

Shah, schooner, 160 tons, from England. Arrived at Port Adelaide May 4, 1837.

Isabella, barque, 300 tons, from London and Launceston. Arrived at Holdfast Bay.

Lord Hobart, brig, Riley, master, from Cape of Good Hope, with stock and general cargo. Arrived July 9, 1837.

Abeona, schooner, Hawson, mastsr, from Mauritius, via Swan River and King George's Sound, with 24 passengers and general cargo. Arrived July 29, 1837.

Solway, barque, 400 tons, from Hamburg, with 52 German immigrants and cargo. Arrived October 16, 1837.

Katherine Stewart Forbes, barque, 480 tons, Fell, master, from London, with immigrants and general cargo. Arrived October 17, 1837.

Hartley, barque, 350 tons, Fewson, master, from London, With immigrants and general cargo. Arrived October 20, 1837.

Peter Proctor, brig, Barlow, master, from Calcutta, with passengers, stock, and general cargo. Arrived November 23, 1837.

Lady Emma, barque, Hurst, master, from London, with passengers, stock, and general cargo. Arrived December 4, 1837.

Navarino, barque, Warming, master, from London, with passengers, stock, and general cargo. Arrived December 6, 1837.