'Amelia Thompson'
'Amelia Thompson' arrived New Plymouth, New Zealand 3rd September, 1841 with 187 Devonshire emigrants. She sailed from London 25 March 1841 and arrived 5½ months later with a call at Salvador, Bahia, Brazil for four days then onward to Wellington, for a fortnight stop. The 447 ton vessel was named after the owner's wife.
New Zealand House, 5 Octagon, Plymouth March 15 1841. A list of persons whom the Plymouth Company of New Zealand have arranged to embark for the New-Plymouth Settlement in New-Zealand, as Steerage Passengers, per Ship Amelia Thompson, William Dawson, Commander, James Evans. Surgeon - Superintendent. William Brydges, Secretary
Embarkation order Name Age Sex Sp Ch Occupation Remarks 72 Allen John 11mns M 72 Allen Prudence 25 F Y 2 72 Allen Thomas 2 M 72 Allen William 26 M Y 2 Agr. Labourer 68 Autridge Charles 25 M Y 1 Agr. Labourer 68 Autridge Frances 23 M Y 1 68 Autridge John 5 M 65 Bayly Ann 4 F 65 Bayly Elizabeth 10 F 65 Bayly Isaac 11mns M 65 Bayly Susan 35 F Y 5 65 Bayly Thomas 36 M Y 5 Yeoman 65 Bayly Thomas 8 M 65 Bayly William 6 M Baker Miss F Bassett William M 60 Bayly Ann 2 F 67 Bayly Arthur 1 M 60 Bayly Daniel 6 M 60 Bayly Elizabeth 26 F Y 3 67 Bayly Grace 22 F Y 1 67 Bayly James 25 M Y 1 Agr. Labourer 60 Bayly Jane 11mns F 60 Bayly William 30 M Y 3 Yeoman 76 Billing Eliza 20 F Y 1 76 Billing Mary 8mns M 76 Billing William 39 M Y 1 Agr. Labourer Brown Charles M Major Brown Edwin M Y and master Brown Miss O. F Brown Mrs. Edwin F Y daughter born 14 June 1841 66 Bullott Edward 2 M 66 Bullott Eugene 25 M Y 2 Carpenter 66 Bullott Jane 9mns F Died at Plymouth 66 Bullott Susan 22 F Y 2 Chilman Richard M Cooke Capt. George John M Dalby Henry M Davy (master) M Davy Henry Leyson M Capt. Down(e) James M 75 Edgcumbe Ann 25 F Y 1 Youngest son buried at sea 7 June 1841 75 Edgcumbe James 1 M 75 Edgcumbe William 26 M Y 1 Agr. Labourer 69 Elliot Ann 21 F Y (and ? James) 69 Elliot Peter 24 M Y Agr. Labourer Evans James M Surgeon-Superintendent Fishley Samuel M 74 Giddy George 30 M Y 2 Agr. Labourer 74 Giddy Mary 1 F 74 Giddy Sally Ann 3mns F 74 Giddy Sarah 27 F Y 2 Goodall (master) M Goodall Isaac M 70 Grylls Ann 29 F Y 2 70 Grylls Elizabeth 4 F 70 Grylls John 11mns M 70 Grylls Richard 37 M Y 2 Carpenter Halse William M (and Henry) 79 Hambly Caroline 10 F 79 Hambly Charles 39 M Y 8 Agr. Labourer 79 Hambly Charles 9 M 79 Hambly John Rundle 11 M 79 Hambly Mary 36 F Y 8 79 Hambly Mary Jane 7 F Harris Jane F Hicks Thomas M Hicks Ann F Hoskin Arthur M Hoskin Arthur M Hoskin Eliza F Hoskin Elizabeth F Y Hoskin Josias M Y Hoskin William M Hunt Edward M Y 1 Hunt Edward M Hunt Susan F Y 1 Ibbotson Thomas M Johnson John M born at sea Johnson John M Y 3 Johnson Mary F Y 3 Johnson Mary F Johnson William 0 M Jones Edward M (? son Edward) Jones Mrs 26 F died 8 August, body buried at Wellington 9 Aug. King M son of Capt. King King Mrs F King Captain Henry M R.N. Lewthwaite John M 59 Lukies Elizabeth 27 F Y 2 59 Lukies Elizabeth 5 F 59 Lukies Emily 2 F 59 Lukies William 31 M Y 2 Agr. Labourer 59 Lukies William John 7 M Marshall Edmund M Matthews Samuel 25 M Y Labourer 71 Matthews Susannah 22 F Y Medland Grace F Y Medland John M Y Merchant Charles M Merchant Mrs F Merchant (master) M Newland Frances Agnes F Newland Francis M Newland John M Newland John M Newland Susan F Newland William M Oliver Francis M Oliver James 6 M died 29 August 1841 Oliver James M Y Oliver John M Oliver Mary F Oliver Matilda F Oliver Ruth F Y Oliver Samuel M Oliver Samuel M Oliver William M Oxenham Ann F Oxenham Hannah F Oxenham Thomas M Y 3 Oxenham Elizabeth F Y 3 son John born 18 June 1841 Oxenham Susannah F 73 Paynter Sarah 27 F Y 1 73 Paynter William 11mns M 73 Paynter William 30 M Y 1 Agr. Labourer 77 Pearce Grace 24 F Y 1 77 Pearce infant 1mn F died 8 August 1841, body buried 9th in Wellington 77 Pearce James 29 M Y 1 Agr. Labourer 62 Perry Bennett 18 M Perry Edwin 0 M born 27 March 1841 62 Perry Elizabeth 12 F 61 Perry Frances 38 F Y 7 62 Perry Frances 14 F 63 Perry Francis 5 M 61 Perry John 39 M Y 7 Carpenter 63 Perry Mary 16 F 63 Perry Walter 2 M 63 Perry William 9 M Roberts Mary Ann 0 F infant of Wm & Mary Roberts died 29 May 1841 Roberts John M Roberts Mary F Y 3 Roberts Jane F Roberts William M Y 3 Rundle Ann F Rundle Ann F Rundle Hannah F Rundle John M Rundle Jane F Rundle Richard M Rundle Richard M Rundle Sally-Ann F Rundle William M Sandercock Sarah F Screech Caroline F Seccombe John 7 M 64 Seccombe Richard 35 M Y 2 Agr. Labourer 64 Seccombe Sally 33 F Y 2 64 Seccombe William Henry 8 M Shaw Ebenezer M Shaw James T. M Schoolmaster Shaw Jane F Shaw Lydia F Shaw Mary Ann F Shaw Matilda F Shaw Sarah F Shaw William M 78 Shaxon Mary Ann 20 M Y 78 Shaxon William 23 M Y Agr. Labourer Shepherd John M St. George George M Veale Hannah F Veale Jane F Veale John M Veale Mrs. John F Veale Prudence F Veale Thomas M Wallace John M Wallace Robert M Webster Frederick L. M Webster James M Y 1 Webster Mrs F Y 1 Webster William Dawson 0 M born 16th March 1841. Named after the Captain. Williams John M Wood Elizabeth F Wood Harriet F Wood Richard MY = spouse ch = childrenI certify that I have carefully examined this List, and have stated all matters of what it is proper that the Company should be informed whether relating to Passage-Money or otherwise. The above is examined by me, and admitted to be correct.
Signed }James Evans Surgeon-Superintendent
}William Dawson, Commander of the Ship
Summary Males 104 Females 83 Men, women & children 187 equals 137 adults Plus ship's complement equals over 200 souls Information gleamed from multiple sources:
- One page of passenger list obtain from the Taranaki Museum
- Notes courtesy of a Bayly family researcher
- Rutherford, James The Establishment of the New Plymouth Settlement in New Zealand, 1841-1843: Chapter VII, Voyage of the barque "Amelia Thompson"
- Info courtesy of Dean Scapolo, Taranaki researcher.
Other resources:
- Passenger list appears in L.E. Ward's Early Wellington pg. 86
- Diary by J.A. Cooke is at the Canterbury Museum Archives (transcript)
- Diary by John Newland is at the Taranaki Museum, includes life at New Plymouth
- Passenger list is at the Taranaki Museum
- Taranaki Research
- In 1839 the Amelia Thompson went to Australia. Deaths from typhus.
Amelia Thompson barque, 477 tons
Sailed from Plymouth, 25th March 1841, arrived 3rd Sept, 1841 under the command of William Dawson. James Evans was Surgeon Superintendent. Wm. Thompson was the owner and Osberth Forsyth, the broker. Height between decks 6 and a half feet. John Watson first Mate, Murray second mate. William Black in charge of stores. This was the second of the 6 ships chartered by the Plymouth Company for the transport of goods and colonists to the newly founded settlement of New Plymouth, New Zealand. She was not engaged in the Australian trade route. The Amelia Thompson crossed the equator on 23 April 1841 but the prevailing south winds carried them far to the west and no progress was being made so the decision was made to break the monotony of the voyage and make for Bahia (Salvador), Brazil. After 4 days of replenishing the ship they sailed east around the Cape of Good Hope and passing through Bass Straight, Australia July 15 finally reached the New Zealand coast 28 July. Five days were spent between being becalmed and stormy weather which would not allow them into either Port Underwood (south) or Port Nicholson (north). Eventually they reached Wellington where they spent two weeks. On 13 August they sailed for New Plymouth but experienced similar conditions, having to shelter in tempestuous weather or were becalmed, reaching their destination 3 Sept. It took 13 days to unload passengers and goods as the ship lay many miles off shore as because of danger from currents, surf and reefs. Some of the longboats arrived in darkness and some were overturned but no lives were lost. It is reported there were 7 births and 7 deaths on the voyage. From there the ship returned to London via Batavia and Madras. [Posted to The Ships List by Lorrie Carter - 10 October 1997]The Amelia Thompson was a sailing bark, built in Sunderland in 1833.
Lloyd's Register of Shipping for 1834-1843 gives the following details for her:
Master: 1834-1835 - W. Pigot
1836-1838 - Tomlinson
1839-1843 - Dawson
Owner: 1834-1835 - not given
1836-1843 - John Pirie (from 1842, Sir John Pirie, bt.) (1781-1851), merchant ship broker and ship owner of London, sheriff of London and Middlesex 1831; Alderman of Cornhill ward 1834-1851; Lord Mayor of London 1841; created baronet 13 April 1842, in consequence of the birth of the Prince of Wales during his mayoralty.
Port of Registry: London
Port of Survey: 1834-1835 - not given
1836-1840 - London
1840-1843 - Clydeside
Destined Voyage:1834-1835 - not given
1836-1838 - Launceston
1839-1840 - Sydney
1840-1843 - New Zealand
On the morning of 23 May 1843, about 80 miles east by south of Madras, the Amelia Thompson, was suddenly overtaken by a heavy squall, which completely threw her on her beam ends, and she sank. Seven seamen were drowned; Captain Dawson and the remaining crew members (the bark appears to have been on a return voyage from Australia, as there is no reference to passengers) were rescued after 2 days [full account in the London Times, 14 September 1843, p. 7e]. For possible additional information on the wreck of the Amelia Thompson, see the casualties in Lloyd's List, indexed since 1838, on microfilm, in the Lloyd's Marine Collection at the Guildhall Library. [Posted to The Ships List by 23 Oct 1997 Michael Palmer ]Rutherford and Skinner write on page 137 in The Establishment of the New Plymouth Settlement in New Zealand. "In Seffern's 'Chronicles of Taranaki,' Major C. Brown whilst on board the Cornwall (1849) returning to New Plymouth learnt from Captain Dawson the history of the Amelia Thompson. "After leaving New Zealand in 1841, she went too to the Eastern Seas, and was employed in the China war, before going off to Madras... The vessel, it appears was lost off Madras, where she was 'taken aback', and went down stern first, Captain Dawson and the crew saving themselves in quarter boats. ."
Glossary:
11 months: The fare for those under one year was nil, because in both the cuddy and steerage classes did not receive any rations.
Yeoman: Man owning and farming his own land, middle class farmer
Aback: Against the masts, of sails pressed back by the wind.
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