Lady Mary Pelham

30 July:

On this day in 1836 the second ship to reach South Australia with emigrants to the new colony, the Lady Mary Pelham, sailed into Nepean Bay, Kangaroo Island.  Part of the fleet put together by the South Australian Company, the Lady Mary Pelham finally left English waters on 7 April after wild weather had held them up for a week.  Launched in 1816, the ship had been converted to a barque (three masts) in 1830, with further conversions a few years later when it was fitted out as a whaler for service in South Australian waters. 

Due to a lack of complete records, it is impossible to know exactly how many passengers and crew were on board.  As the crew of the Lady Mary Pelham was considered to be an addition to the population of the new colony, in many records they are included in a passenger count of 29.  Other records indicate that the Lady Mary Pelham carried two full fare-paying passengers, Cornelius Birdseye (31) and his wife Charlotte (30) ; five Assisted Emigrants; and a crew of 25, commanded by Captain Robert Ross.  With the arrival of this ship at Kangaroo Island, the population of the new colony more than doubled.

James Doine Thompson

First Mate on this voyage was James Doine Thompson.  His wife, Mary, was one of the Assisted Emigrants on board, hoping to start a new life with her husband on the other side of the world.  Stories abound about the drunkenness and cruelty on board the Lady Mary Pelham.  A letter written by the Second Mate, Alexander Dawsey, says that James Doine Thompson and the Third Mate, Walter Edmunds, were drunk from the moment they left England.  Unfortunately for Thompson, his excessive drinking brought on a ‘brain fever’ and he died aged 25 on 3 May 1836, after four days of terrifying delirium.  Mary Thompson apparently arrived at Kangaroo Island but there is no further information as to her fate after that.

Cornelius Birdseye

Cornelius Birdseye was employed as the Overseer of the South Australian Company’s livestock and he was in charge of the flock of 29 sheep on board the Lady Mary Pelham.  The presence of the sheep caused continuous friction with the Captain and crew, who complained that they limited their ability to catch a whale if the opportunity arose.  Cornelius & Charlotte stayed on Kangaroo Island until mid-1837 when they took up their grant of a town acre on the north side of Hindley Street, Adelaide.  They farmed on this property and by the late 1840’s Cornelius was buying up other tracts of land around the colony.  Cornelius & Charlotte left South Australia in February 1854, retiring to Brixton, South London.  They had no children.  Cornelius retained ownership of all of the land and business interests he had amassed during his 18 years in the colony.  Charlotte died in Brixton on 23 May 1864.  Cornelius remarried in 1867, and when he died on 28 February 1880 all of his property, including the South Australian holdings, was left to his second wife, Emma [c.1845-07 Dec 1926].  A portion of the SA land was sold in 1881 for the Aldgate – Nairne rail line.  Emma sold the rest of the property in a series of sales during 1883.

• Anthea Taylor

Part 2.

ON THIS DAY  30 July 1836

The Lady Mary Pelham sailed into Nepean Bay, Kangaroo Island the second ship with emigrants to the new colony. She was under the command of Captain Robert Ross.

Like most voyages, it was never ‘plain sailing’. Both passenger & crew kept George Fife Angas & the SA Company back in England informed of events on board.

Death of Chief Mate

The First Mate on this voyage was James Doine Thompson.  His wife, Mary, was one of the Assisted Emigrants on board, hoping to start a new life with her husband on the other side of the world.

A letter written by the Second Mate, Alexander Dawsey, says James Doine Thompson & the Third Mate, Walter Edmunds, were drunk from the moment they left England.

Unfortunately for Thompson, his excessive drinking brought on  'brain fever' & he died 3 May, barely a month into the voyage, aged 25, after four days of delirium.  

‘To G F Angas Esqr At Sea June 3th 1836
Sir
It is with Feelings of some regret I write you stateing the death of Mr J. DoineThompson on the 3d of May after about Four days illness perhapes and I may say unwillingly, the effects of his own Imprudent conduct in a very excessive use of ardent Spirits which Finally so undermin’d the nervious system as to cause Mental derangement in which State he died’

Your’s with every Sentiment of Respect
Very devoted Servt
Alexander Dawsey
On board the Ship Lady Mary Pelham ,of the Cape of Good Hope’

The man’s widow, Mary Thompson was left to continue alone ‘ a stranger, among a strange people going to a strange land’. 

There is no further information as to her fate after arriving at Kangaroo Island.

Passenger deals with Mutiny:

Cornelius Birdseye was employed as  Overseer of the South Australian Company's livestock in charge of 29 sheep on board the Lady Mary Pelham.  The sheep caused continuous friction with the Captain & crew, who complained that they limited their ability to catch a whale if the opportunity arose.  

‘Mr Angas, Sir

Heard of Mutiny took no notice of it thought it was only sailors talk – since have heard they meant to take a fitting night for the occasion to throw the Sheep &c overboard, or as they termed it to dowse the dirt a term used for the sheep &c’

I now remain, Your humble, But faithful Servant

Cornelius Birdseye

Cornelius & Charlotte left Kangaroo Island  mid-1837 to take up their grant of a town acre 55 on the north side of Hindley Street, Adelaide. They farmed this property & by the late 1840's Cornelius was buying up other tracts of land around the colony.  In February 1854 Cornelius & Charlotte left South Australia, retiring to Brixton, South London.  They had no children.  Cornelius retained ownership of all land & business interests amassed during his 18 years in the colony.  Charlotte died 23 May 1864 & Cornelius remarried in 1867. When he died on 28 February 1880 all his property, including the South Australian holdings, was left to his second wife, Emma [c.1845-07 Dec 1926] .  

A portion of the SA land was sold in 1881 for the Aldgate - Nairne rail line.  Emma sold the rest of the property in a series of sales during 1883.

Fate

The Lady Mary Pelham served as a whaler & transport between Van Diemen's Land & Portland, Victoria. She was wrecked in 1849. She was anchored off the port awaiting a favourable wind when a fierce gale broke her chains. Captain Wing deliberately beached her, with the result that no lives were lost & most of her cargo was salvaged. Her back was broken & by mid-October wave action had completely broken her up

Apart from the fact that he was master of the Lady Mary Pelham  in 1836, the early life &  career of Captain Robert Ross is a mystery.

• Anthea Taylor