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Was he a deserter?

Sailors "jumped ship" in New Zealand

Jumped ship at Port Nicholson in 1841 & in 1840
Graph 1900-1954

Desertions by seaman from both merchantmen and warships in harbour were common,
 particularly in the gold rush era in Australia, (1850s), New Zealand (1862+) and San Francisco.

Desertions were common at the maritime community of Port Chalmers in the early days. In December 1849 the Rev. Thomas Burns noted George Ireland and two sailors from the Kelso living with the Carey's and at various places around the harbour he noted deserters from the John Wickliffe, Phillip Laing, Victory, Larkins and Ajax. Todd McGregor, aged 22, crewman on Philip Laing deserted.  Robert Montgomery McDowall, an apprentice seaman from the ship Mooltan, and stayed in Dunedin and became a schoolteacher. He married Christina Harrison (ex Blundell) in 1854, and died on 5/2/1903. The ship's second and third stewards, John Johnstone and Peter McGill, were discharged at Port Chalmers. John McDonald deserted the Peter Denny in September 1865 and headed for the Waipori diggings. Flooded out there he took labouring jobs in Dunedin before returning to sea. After trying the Grey field he returned to Dunedin and became master of the tug Koputai.

Constables were paid a reward for bringing back seaman. This saved the captains having to pay £20-25 a month to induce a local man to sign on in place of a man whose wages were only £4 10s a month. Many were caught by Constable Coffey and returned to their ship. Four men refused to wash the deck of the big Reliance on a Sunday in September 1859 and had a charge against them dismissed. Seven seamen deserted from the Rajah in October 1853 received three months imprisonment with hard labour. The same sentence was given to nine seamen who deserted who struck when the barque Thetis arrived in September 1854. She was described as 'a leaky old tub' and 'an old sieve.' When the Strathallan anchored in 1858, 18 of her crew went on strike and were prosecuted. Ten returned to the ship, seven were imprisoned and James Strachan escaped to Waitai. Reference: Port Chalmers and Its People by Ian Church. Robert Brown, A.B. 28, of Aberdeen was a deserter. He joined the crew of the schooner Jane Lockhart, 80 tons, in Port Chalmers 7 Feb. 1862 and sailed for Sydney under command of John L. Clulow

January 23 1858 page 5 Otago Witness
Monday Jan. 18. All the crew of the Strathallan were brought up at the instance of Mr Grieve, the newly appointed master of the ship, on charge of being absent from the ship without leave. It would appear that the former master of the ship, John Todd, had behaved so ill on the voyage out that the men were determined not to return in the vessel unless he resigned his command, and engaged not to return in the vessel. This had been conceded by Todd and hence the appointment of chief mate, Mr Grieve. Mr Macandrew, the second mate, and nine of the crew agreed to go on board and resume their duties, and seven who were refractory were sentenced to 10 weeks imprisonment with hard labour, and were adjudged to forfeit from their waged the sums as would be incurred in hiring substitutes.

Otago Witness Saturday October 8 1853
Whereas, by virtue of several Acts of Parliament, the aiding the crew of any ship, barque, or other vessel to desert from their service, and the in any way harbouring or assisting any such crew after they have so deserted, is highly criminal and severely punishable; Notice is hereby given, by Messrs James Macandrew & Co., Merchants, Dunedin, agents for the Barque "Rajah," at present lying in Otago Harbour, that if any person or persons shall in any way aid or assist any of the crew of the said vessel who shall desert their said service, every such person will be prosecuted to the utmost rigour of law. And further, the said James Macandrew & Co. hereby offer a reward of £10 to any person who shall give such information as shall lead to the conviction of any person guilty of any of the above illegal acts.

James Macandrew & Co.
Dunedin, 7th October, 1853

Timaru Herald, 23 July 1864, Page 4
Desertion from the Ship Ivanhoe — Yesterday four seamen belonging to the ship Ivanhoe were convicted and sentenced to three months 1 imprisonment with hard labor for this offence; In addition to the above, a sum of £24, expended m their capture, will be deducted from their wages. These men were arrested near Timaru. It is stated that they will have to appear on the still more serious charge of robbery. Some of the missing property taken out of the immigrants' luggage has been recovered through the vigilance of the police. — Lyttelton Times, June 19.

Otago Witness Saturday 2nd Sept. 1865 page 14. Sea Wages 
    249th section of the Merchant Shipping Act declared that entries and certificates of desertion aboard should be copied, sent home to the Register-General of Seaman in England.

    The first division of the 243rd clause of the Merchant Shipping Act gave a magistrate power to order twelve weeks' imprisonment for desertion and forfeit all or any part of the clothes and effects left on board by any convicted seaman and to forfeit all or any part of the wages or emoluments earned.

Evening Post,30 October 1900, Page 4
Masters of vessels coming to New Zealand ports continue to, complain of the hardship they are exposed to if they carry among their crews seamen of other nations than the British, as much, us they have to enter into a Bond with the Government for £100 without receiving any adequate protection from the Customs or police authorities. They contend that if such a law is necessary, surely it is the duty of the- Government to protect shipowners and masters by placing at their disposal detectives or others who shall be able to check the desertions which have of late been so numerous. There is a case in point at present in Lyttelton, where a seaman has deserted from the Macduff. Captain Huelin at first offered a reward of £10, but has increased the offer to £20 for the man's apprehension, because the ship will be called upon to pay to the authorities here £100 should she sail and leave the man on shore.

Cressy  12 Deserters at Lyttelton January 1851
Surname 	First  Age Place of Birth Rank 		Register Ticket
Barry 		John 	22 Cork 	OS 		303 224
Bishop 		Samuel 	29 Somerset 	AB 		378 471
Bradley 	Richard 23 St Johns 	OS 		411 236
Brown 		John 	23 Bailings? 	Boy 		503 084
Burns 		William 29 Denny 	AB 		505 183
Fiezehen 	Trenham 21 Kent 	Butcher 	452 817
Hare 		William 20 Poplar 	Cuddy servant 	 25 064	 d. 13 August 1885 age 53, Anglican, buried at Waimate. 
Harrison 	George 	29 Anapolis 	AB 		Foreign
Jones 		James 	31 Wales 	AB 		164 302
Sheen 		David 	17 Poplar 	OS Boy 		503 174
Spokes 		Thomas 	31 London 	Boatswain 	 12 893
White 		David 	21 Kilkaldy 	Ord Seaman 	411 989

Sir George Seymour 18 Deserters at Lyttelton January 1851
Surname 	First 	 Age 	Place of Birth 	Rank 	Register Ticket
Allan 		John 		27 Scotland 	AB 		295 295
Broad 		George 		37 Middlesex 	AB 		434 141
Cubitt 		Richard George 	27 Stacton? 	AB 		478 880
Ewings 		William 	28 St Lukes 	AB 		387 385
Foster 		John 		16 London 	AB 		373 084
Green 		Joseph Thomas L 21 Burton 	4th Mate	 18 084
Holgraves 	Robert 		36 Liverpool 	AB 		436 377
Johnson 	Richard 	37 London 	AB 		436 377
Jones 		Thomas 		25 Dingle 	AB 		 98 147
Loverock 	Charles George 	25 Hull 	AB 		367 575
Lucam(s) 	William 	28 London 	AB 		 15 945
Miller 		John 		19 Kent 	OS 		378 378
Neuman 		Charles James 	19 Falmouth 	OS 		345 409
Sparling 	Philip Ross 	17 Halifax 	Butcher 	328 415
Stokes 		William 	23 Hythe 	AB 		 23 078
Toms 		Edward George 	23 Plymouth 	3rd Mate 	478 309
Treggar 	James 		27 Cornwall 	Bosum 		 17 499

Otago Witness August 21 1852
The discovery of gold diggings will in all probability put a stop to the obtaining of crews for whaling voyages, at least for a time; The failure of the Auckland Islands scheme does not surprise us; One of the chief reasons for choosing the Aucklands as a station was to prevent the desertion of the crews, and by compulsion to make them work the time stipulated for in the articles. This compulsion is all very well to check the vagrant spirit of a few seamen who would else desert their ships at every port in which a pretty lass or a glass of grog offered their seductions to the susceptible Jack. Viewed in this light, the term of the articles thoughtlessly signed is nothing less than so many years of slavery. It is a well known fact that a considerable proportion of the population of New Zealand, especially in the older settlement, consists of sailors who have either deserted or been discharged from emigrant ships; and although they might possibly refuse to go on one voyage, they would in all probability go the next; and as vessels would return to the same port, the loss from one would supply another, the sailor would return to his home and become a fixed member of the community.

Otago Witness June 30 1855
Arrived. June 26, the Governor, whaler, 147 tons, Burns, from Sydney, some five months out. Clean ship, having seen no fish on the coast of New Zealand. Master, first mate, and greater part of the crew deserted her at Bluff, New Zealand, second mate bringing her on to this port.

1859  - Robert Taylor jumped ship at Lyttelton. Interestingly enough his wife-to-be, Susan Barwell, travelled on the same ship, the "Zealandia" passenger list.

Mr Robert John Taylor decided to go out to the Colonies. He accordingly went to a shipping office and took ship for New Zealand in the full-rigged ship “Zealandia” in command of Captain Foster, in August 1859. They reached Lyttelton on November 12th and he and five others quietly slipped away in the middle of the night and made for Christchurch. One of the party had been in New Zealand before. Mr Taylor recalled the climb over the Port Hills, and the descent to Heathcote, where they cooed for the ferry man, who made much noise and used very strong language at their getting him out in the small hours of the morning He could see they were runaways, and commented on it. However, they got safely over and reached Christchurch at daybreak where there were from 1200 to 1500 inhabitants at that time. They made for Kaiapoi via Papanui. They had a tarpaulin muster, and found they had 13s between them, so they went to the “pub” at Papanui and had a “blow-out” which left them on the rocks. They started off for Kaiapoi, and someone met them and remarked that they had run away from the ship. “I’ll give you a tip”, he said, and advised them to stick together and ask for Revell, going to meet him in pairs. The first two were to go straight away, while he and the others made for the Orea Bush where they struck a cock’s and were treated well, but found no place to sleep in and burrowed into a heap of straw and spent the night there. Next morning they had a good feed and were given some food to take with them. They got to the bush and met some bushmen, who treated them very hospitably, and they stayed with them for three weeks. They had only one blanket between three and slept on the clay floor. After their tucker was gone they set out for Port Levy, and went to a farm house there. They sent them a huge jug of milk and some cheese, but to their disgust they found it was buttermilk. They next made for Pigeon Bay and from the hills they could see their old boat lying in the harbour. They joined a camp as bushmen, and Mr Taylor got a mate and started hand sawing. He stayed at the Bays, sawing for two years. They never had any cash at this time, all business being done on the barter system and he changed mates several times. All bushmen were runaway sailors. The last mate he had was a Norwegian named Jack Christie. He quite unexpectedly went and took unto himself a wife, bringing her along to their shack, which had only one room and one bunk. “Things were considerably mixed and most perplexing” stated Mr Taylor so after about a fortnight of this state of things, they set to work to build a decent looking hut of two rooms, making things much more comfortable. This experience, Mr Taylor said, was one of the most awkward he ever encountered. Later on he left, and went on to Akaroa and took a Dutchman as mate. He remembered taking an order from Ebenezer Hay to cut out timber for a church at Lyttelton. Their total cash in sight for the whole job was L12 each! After receiving this big sum, Mr Taylor decided to get married and he did so, marrying Miss Barwell at Christchurch after which he returned to the Bays, but found he could make no headway, so decided to again return to Christchurch where he got a job on the road at 3s 6d per day. Some of his old shipmates seeing him on the road immediately called out their recognition and his overseer, who was a midget with the voice of a lion, yelled out that no straight-backs were allowed there. He promptly stuck his pick in the ground and walked of. His wife was surprised at his return so early and asked him what they were to do. He replied, “Oh, trust in Providence”.

George Stonehouse 30 April 2007
I am researching the Stonehouse family. My great grandfather William Thomas Osborne Stonehouse (b. 1837) apparently jumped ship at Lyttelton or Akaroa, 1859? Possibly with Robert John Taylor. He eventually ended up in Waihi Bush / Geraldine and in 1869 married Mary McKee (b. 1849 Belfast, Ireland) at St Mary’s Church, Geraldine. Robert and Susan Taylor were the witnesses. He was in the Geraldine Rifles, owned a section in Geraldine, possibly worked making tarpaulins (had been a sailmaker), and belonged to Oddfellows Lodge. I believe that he was born in England. May have been with the Royal Navy. I would like any information about where he was born and what ship he came to NZ on, and also any information about Mary McKee who died at the age of 40, having had seven children.

---

Otago Witness September 28 1861 page 6
Any delay through the desertion of seamen, must occasion very great losses, both to charterers and shipowners. It is a mistake to suppose that seamen desert of their own accord, the exceptions (and rare they are). The seeds of mistrust are sown on board by the recant runner, glowing accounts of colonial prosperity are circulated, plum-duff, sea-pie, grog, sweethearts - completely undermine the sailor's respect for his engagements, and a bottle uncorked at the auspicious moment, turns the scale-beam of his mind in favour of desertion. Secrecy among shipmates sworn, the appointed hour approached, and away darts the skiff, snakelike, to continue the blackguard game. ... Alexander Pyle, September 14 1861.

You may never be able to identify which vessel an immigrant ancestor was aboard but your research can still lead back to the old country! Many jumped ship, stowed away or came in their own vessels.

Otago Witness September 14 1861
Desertion of Crews - The crew of the "Pladda" made a most determined effort to escape from the ship on Monday night. Eighteen of the crew had been apparently watching an opportunity, and upon the officer of the watch turning his back, made for one of the boats. The first officer, who was on the poop, fired a pistol to arouse the captain and assistance. The men, alarmed, cut the tackle of the boat, but in so doing let the stern down before the boat was free at the bow, when she capsized, and the whole of the men were precipitated into the water. Fifteen were rescued and taken on board; three were, however, missing, but whether they were drowned or not cannot be ascertained. That some one or all escaped is assumed from the boat of a vessel; lying astern of the "Pladda" having been cut adrift and left on the beach. The whole of the men taken have been convicted of desertion, and sentenced to six week' imprisonment

The most serious complaints have been made of the desertion of crews from their ships. We are informed that the "Arabia" and the "Ocean Chief" are both lying at the lower port deserted, the crews having got off. In one case, we are informed, they constructed a raft, on which they managed to reach the shore.

Otago Witness February 8 1862 page 4
Destruction of the "Ocean Chief" by fire at the Bluff Harbour. Total loss. From the Southern News, Jan. 25.
On Thursday morning a dense smoke was seen to arise from Bluff Harbour. It continued throughput the day, and a resident observed to a friend, more in joke than in earnest, "There's a ship on fire at the Bluff" About ten p.m. M. Thomson (of the firm of Thompson and Crispe, for whom the Ocean Chief had brought so large a cargo of sheep), accompanied by Capt. John Howell of Jacob's River, arrived in Invercargill with the astonishing intelligence that the noble vessel had been maliciously set on fire the previous night - that all efforts to extinguish the flames had been unavailing - and that she was burnt down to her copper. 
    That this was the act of an incendiary, or incendiaries - a deep laid conspiracy-was proved by the manner in which the force and other pumps and hose had been bored and cut so as to render them useless. 

It is supposed that the cause of this wicked act was a desire on the part of some of the crew to desert; and it is a strange circumstance that the Ocean Chief should have thus destroyed so soon after the occurrences of three similar disasters in the harbours of Port Jackson and Hobson's Bay.

Capt. T. Brown wrote a letter to inform Capt. A.J. Elles, Collector of "Her Majesty's Customs, Invercargill" Mr Thompson, accompanied Capt. Morris and Mr W.H. Pearson and some additional policemen to the Bluff. Mr Price, Resident Magistrate proceeded to the Bluff. Only some stores were saved.

The Star Friday 10 August 1877 page 2
Lyttelton before W. Donald, Esq., R.M.
Desertion - Nicohol Joensen and Anthony Helgeson, seaman belonging to the barque Ocean Chief, were brought up charged by Captain Cook with this offence, and sentenced to ten days' imprisonment.

Otago Witness 4 February 1882 pg 13
Burning of the barque Manhegan, at Newcastle. William Hewson, aged 19, a seaman belonging to the barque, was charged with willfully setting fire to the vessel. George Dunbar stated that previous to arrival all hands agreed upon deserting, and after arrival at the port they proceeded to put their scheme into operation, which was to carry their clothes on board another vessel, the Andrea, piece by piece, and then clear out. Thomas Knight a cabin boy corroborated the evidence. The whole crew was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment for desertion.

Otago Witness. March 1st 1862 pg5
On Feb. 21, the body of a man was found at the Heads. It was identified by the Captain of the "Young American." as one of the missing seaman from his ship who had attempted to escape at the same time as the man Fleming, who it will be remembered was drowned on Sunday night, when attempting to swim ashore with a bundle of corks attached to his back. It was known that the man who accompanied Fleming had tied his boots to his belt. Inquest. The body of Alfred Harwood, seaman belonging to the Young America. Alonzo Merchant, second officer to the Young America. Three men missing shortly after the vessel anchored at the heads on the 12th inst. Robert Watts said he was a seaman belonging to the ship Young America. He saw the deceased jump overboard. Accidentally drowned.

Otago Witness Friday January 20 1865 pg14
From the Lyttelton Times of the 12th inst., that on the previous morning, 'the steamer Mullough was coming out of the Harbor, and when off Godley Heads, she struck against a tub in which a man was perceived. A rope having been thrown to him he came on board and turned out to be a runaway sailor from the Eastern Empire. The vessel in which he attempted his hazardouus voyage is a common tub, about eighteen inches in depth and four feet in diameter. He was well provisioned with a bottle of rum and a boot full of ship biscuits. When the steamer was near the Ferry, the sailor plunged overboard, and gaining the shore, he was seen to run along the Ferry road in the direction of Christchurch.

Otago Witness May 27th 1865 pg 14
During the stay at Poverty Bay, Brown the deserter, regarding whom so many stories have been a float, was captured by a party from the H.M.S. Esk., Captain Luce. This man has been somewhat represented s aiding and abetting the rebels, and sometimes as being compelled by them to carry the heads of Europeans. Brown was taken before General Cameron and charged with having deserted from the 57th Regiment at Taranaki, between two and three years ago, having, it is said, broken out of the Stockade. He denied ever having been in the army at all, and said he came to new Zealand in a whaler called the Mary Ann, and, after living some time with the Ngapuhi, went down the east Coast, where he says he has been acting as a "stock -jobber," Five men of the 57th, who are at present in the Albert Barracks, it is said, are ready to swear to him being a deserter. Brown will be tried by Court Martial for simple desertion.

Daily Southern Cross, 1 June 1868, Page 3
Informations were laid on Saturday against several seamen, who were absent from H.M. s. 'Brisk' without leave, and warrants were granted for their speedy apprehension. At the Police Court, on Saturday, two drunkards were fined 5s. and 10s. respectively. Thomas Swan, a seaman belonging to the barque 'Charlotte An', pleaded guilty to being absent from his ship without leave, but, the charge being withdrawn by the captain of the vessel, he was dismissed and sent on board his ship. An application was made by an officer of H.M.s. 'Brisk' for a warrant against a man named Francis Falcon, who had persuaded the boatswain's mate to desert from the said vessel, contrary to the Navy Discipline Act. Detective Ternahan was entrusted with the warrant, and at once left the Court for the man's lodgings, but on his arrival there he found the bird had flown.

Otago Witness, 19 October 1872, Page 15
George Thornhill, for alleged desertion from the ship Hydaspes, was brought up at the Port Chalmers Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday. As there was some doubt whether he had been allowed liberty or not, he was simply ordered on board the ship.

Otago Witness Saturday 2nd January 1875
A warrant was issued for the arrest of David Carpenter, the carpenters of the Auckland (Captain Stevens). The Police, with Sergt. Neil at their head, went in search of the man, and first proceeded to the barque Record, which had left the Railway Pier in the morning and was lying in the stream ready for sea. They found him locked in a cabin from the inside along with his carpenter's tools and his clothes.

The Star, Wednesday February 9th 1876
Lyttelton, Tuesday Feb. 8
(Before W. Donald, Esq., R.M.)
Desertion - John Larkins was charged with deserting from the ship Conflict. Constable Daley proved the arrest of prisoner. The Captain did not appear to prosecute, and the Bench ordered the accused on board his ship.

The Star Tuesday 15 February 1876
Lyttelton  - Magisterial
Absent Without Leave - George Peace was charged by Captain Parker of the barque Hadda with this offence. The accused expressed himself wiling to return to work, and the Bench ordered him on Board his ship.

The Star Saturday February 19 1876
Lyttelton - Magisterial
Absent Without Leave - Ernest Winter, a seaman belonging to the Prince Alfred, was charged by Captain Bennett with this offence. and sentenced to three days' imprisonment.

Southland Times, Saturday, 15 April 1876
Auckland, Friday
A disturbance took place at Onehunga, owning to a party of blue jackets attempting to rescue a deserter from a constable. The party drew knives, and some one struck the constable across the face with a piece of scantling, breaking the bridge of his nose, and otherwise injuring him.

The Star Nov. 24 1876  Lyttelton - Absent Without Leave
Frederick C. Lenby, a seaman belonging to the Annie S. Hall, was bought up on a warrant charged with this offence. The captain agreed to give defendant his discharge. The case was accordingly allowed to be withdrawn.

The Star 28 Dec. 1876 Lyttelton - Absent Without Leave -
John Augustus Raymond was charged by Captain Giles, of the s.s. Gazelle, with absenting himself from the vessel without leave. The Bench fined accused 20s, or in default 96 hours imprisonment for drunkenness.

The Star 28 Dec. 1876  Lyttelton - Desertion -
William Leatherby and William T. Gordon, seaman, were charged by Captain Devitt, with deserting the ship Waimea. The bench ordered accused on board at the request of the Captain.

The Star Thursday January 13 1877 pg 2
Absent Without Leave - David Jones, cook and steward on board the barque Island City, was charged by Captain Williams with this offence. The Bench sentenced the accused to three days' imprisonment with hard labor.

The Star - January 16 1877 Lyttelton - Magisterial
Absent without leave. - John Smith was charged with this offence, by captain Scotland of the ship Rangitikei, and sentenced to 7 days imprisonment with hard labour.

The Star January 23rd 1877 page 2
Edward Pittard was charged with having deserted from the ship Cardigan Castle. The case was adjourned until tomorrow to allow of Captain Davies being in attendence.
Adolph Carlsen was next charges by Captain Levack, with deserting from the barque Schieballion, and sentenced to eight weeks' imprisonment with hard labour.

The Star January 23rd 1877 page 2
Stowaways - Edward Pittard, and Adolph Carlsen were brought up, charged with stowing away on board the barque Mary Ann Annison. At the request of Captain Hughes, the charge was withdrawn, on the understanding that the accused should go on board their vessel.

The Star 24 January 1877
Desertion - Edward Pittard, belonging to the ship Cardigan Castle, was charged with the above offence by Captain Davies, and sentenced to eight weeks' imprisonment with hard labour.

Otago Witness January 26 1878  page 10 column 3
Resident Magistrate's Court, Port Chalmers
Tuesday, 22nd, January. (Before T.A. Mansford, Esq., R.M.)
Ship Desertion:  George Holms, Thomas Farmer, and John Hocking were charged on the information of Thomas Davis, master of the ship Dallam Tower, with deserting from that vessel on the 17th instant. The prisoners, who had been arrested at Palmerston on the 20th instant, pleaded guilty, and were each sentenced to 12 weeks' imprisonment with hard labour.

The Star - Christchurch Monday 19 August 1878
Absent without leave - Robert Bailey, a seaman on board the barque Australian Sovereign, was charged with this offence, and sentenced to 48 hours imprisonment. with hard labour.

Timaru Herald Tuesday 7 January 1879
Resident's Magistrate's Court
Ship Desertion
Nicholas Lee was brought up on the information of Robert Soutar - captain of the barque Elizabeth - charging him with having, on the 2nd November last, deserted the said vessel. He was further charged on a second information with refusing to join the vessel. Robert Soutar - I engaged Nicholas Lee on the 15th August last for six months and he was to sail to any port in the Australian Colonies. On arriving at Timaru he asked me for his discharge, and he wanted to leave the vessel. I refused to give him his discharge. He hurt himself. Was admitted to the hospital. He was suffering from lumbago. Walter Rogers first mate on the Elizabeth. Case dismissed.

Star, 29 January 1879, Page 2 Lyttelton
Wednesday, Jan. 29. (Before W. Donald, H. R. Webb, and T. H. Potts, Esqs.) DESERTION.— Wm. I. Leo and John Swift, seamen on board the ship Waikato, were charged by Captain Worster with this offence. Constable Glacken deposed to arresting the accused at an early hour this morning; they were carrying a box between them, and on arresting them Leo admitted that he was deserting from the ship. Captain Worstcr gave evidence that accused were deserters from the ship, and the Bench sentenced them to six weeks' hard labour .

Southland Times Wednesday 23 April 1879
By a telegram from Captain McDiarmid of the brig Moa, we learn that the three seaman belonging to the barque Albatross, for whose apprehension a reward of £30 had been offered, had stowed themselves away on board his vessel when leaving the Bluff. Captain McDiarmid placed the three men in custody at Timaru, whence they will be forwarded to Bluff.

North Otago Times, 31 October 1882, Page 2
LYTTELTON. October 30.
Hoinrich Thioton, a deserter from the Gord Hoyo, at Timaru, was arrested at Lyttelton to-day, This is the genius who constructed the novel raft to enable him to escape.

North Otago Times, 27 November 1883, Page 2
CHRISTCHURCH. November 26.
The body of William Thomas, a seaman of the Firth of Dornoch, which sailed recently for London, was found floating in the Lyttelton harbor this morning. He had been reported a deserter. It is supposed that whilst attempting to board his ship he fell and fractured his skull against the side.

Otago Witness 22 December 1883 pg 15
During the progress of a case of desertion heard at the Resident Magistrate's Court in Wellington, Captain Harkness, of the barque Fusilier, informed the Bench that few people in this quarter of the globe were aware of the difficulty, which masters experienced in getting crews in New York. There was little trouble in inducing men to place their names on the articles, but his experience was that it was no easy thing to get them out of the harbour. Frequently the men were chloroformed and taken out of the ships by people interested in retaining them in port, and for some days before he left New York for Wellington he had been obliged to place an armed watch on board in order to prevent the sailors from being taken away.- Post.

Timaru Herald, 2 April 1885, Page 2
Resident Magistrate's Court, Timaru. — J. H. Sutter, Esq., J.P., and His Worship the Mayor presided at this Court yesterday. C. Smith and D. Hyden, charged with unlawfully deserting the barque Deva on the night of March 29th, were, after the offence had been proved, ordered to be imprisoned till the 4th inst, to be then put on board their vessel, and to pay all expenses.

Timaru Herald Saturday 19 November 1887 page 2
All hope is now given up concerning the safety of the Liverpool barque Lizzie Iredale, which, it is feared, has foundered at sea with all on board - viz., seventeen persons, including the captain's wife. The Lizzie Iredale, with a cargo of coals, left Newcastle on March 4th for San Diego, near San Francisco, and since that time nothing has been heard of her. All of the seaman, with one exception, joined the ship in Newcastle (N.S.W.), as the original seaman who sailed in the Lizzie Iredale from England deserted at Newcastle.

Timaru Herald Tuesday April 2nd 1889 pg2
Several deserters from the Navy were sent to England with the time expired men of the Australian squadron by the Tongariro. One man's case caused some sympathy. He left H.M.S. Nelson six years ago in Auckland, and being a carpenter by trade started business in the Northern district, where he had done remarkably well. A short time back he married a most respectable young lady, and within a few hours afterwards was arrested as a deserter, and is now on his way to England, leaving a young weeping bride behind him.

Timaru Herald Friday 31 May 1889 pg2
Mistaken Identity:  Seaman Thompson, who in mistake for seaman Floyd, of the H.M.S. Calliope, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment for desertion, having proved the mistake to the satisfaction of the Admiralty, the latter are considering the question of compensating him.

Timaru Herald Monday 10 July 1899
Magisterial - Timaru before C.A. Wray.
Two vagrants were brought before the Court. One was a lad who was found penniless and sleeping in the boatshed a few nights ago and remanded. He explained that he was a German boy who went to sea in a steamer trading from Hamburg to Philadelphia; that at the latter port he was taken off by a boardingmaster who promised him better wages; and he came in another vessel to the colonies; that he came to Timaru from Greymouth in the schooner Sir Henry, being told he could get a ship Home again. He had to sleep out because he had no money. Sergeant Fraser stated that Constable Crawford, Labour Bureau Agent, had found employment at Geraldine for the lad, who preferred not to go to sea, and this being the case he did not press the charge. His Worship dismisses the case and urged the boy to behave himself and do his best to earn a living.

Timaru Herald  Tuesday 18 July 1899
F. LeCren and C.H. Williams sent to gaol for 14 days the German youth who has been loafing about Timaru for a week or two. He was discharged from custody on Saturday week, Constable Crawford having undertaken to find him employment. The lad was kept at the station and given a change of clothing. On Sunday, the boy started to wash his clothes, but when he had half done, he left them and bolted. Witness met with him on Thursday and took him back to the station, and got him temporary work on the barque Allonby, but he ran away from the ship leaving his clothes behind him. He had signed articles for the run Home in the Anna Sofia, but deserted from her. He appeared to be weak in the head. It was decided to send the lad to gaol for fourteen days to be observed as to his mental condition.

Timaru Herald Oct. 11 1900 page 2
The two seamen who deserted from the Norwegian barque Hippales, at Westport, have so far evaded capture. The captain of the barque is bound under the Immigration Restriction Act to take the men away from New Zealand or forfeit £100 per man to the Government.
Oct. 12. The barque Hippalos sailed to-day for the Caroline Islands with a cargo of coal consigned to a German company. The vessel has been delayed a fortnight pending the search for two deserting sailors. The captain deposited £200 with the customs, the penalty.

Evening Post,28 March 1911, Page 8
Dargaville, This Day. Two sailors from the Norwegian barque Decima mysteriously disappeared about a month ago. They were traced to another ship at Auckland, and under arrest the deserters were brought back to Kaipara last night. As the Decima is not sailing for Liverpool until tomorrow, the men are kept under arrest.

Evening Post,  21 March 1912, Page 10 NAVAL DESERTER.
THE CASE OF ERNEST BOYES. DISCHARGE GRANTED. Christchurch:
20th March. Ernest Frank Boyes, who was arrested at Frankton, charged with desertion from the Navy in 1906, was brought to Lyttelton yesterday and placed on H.M.S. Pioneer. In view of the circumstances of the case, however, the Naval authorities have given Boyes his discharge, and he returns to his farm.

Having attained the highest position in the Navy it was possible for him to attain, that of chief yeoman and signalling instructor on the Pioneer, and falling in love with our country and with one of our women, Ernest Frank Boyes decided to forsake the life - of a sailorman and settle down in New Zealand. This was in December, 1906. He married and settled down in Hamilton under an assumed name. However, the' authorities on H.M.S. Pioneer, taking into consideration the fact that he had taken "French leave" of the - warship, and that he had still a few years service to put in before he was entitled to discharge, issued a warrant calling upon the Inspector of Police to deliver Ernest Frank Boyes, a deserter from H.M.S. Pioneer, into the hands of one Braithwaite. The police could not find Boyes to deliver to Braithwaite the years rolled on. In the meantime Boyes had established a nice little business in Hamilton, became the father of children, the owner of some land, and was highly respected as a reputable member of society. But gradually it got rumoured around that the name Boyes went under was an assumed one. This finally reached the ears of the police, and enquiries led to Boyes being arrested and charged with deserting from the Pioneer in 1906. It was stated in the Auckland Police Court that Boyes's time expired some two years ago. and that as the wariship had been recommissioned in the meantime, and the crew discharged, it was quite possible that the authorities might not want Boyes. The case was adjourned so that the police could communicate with the authorities, the Pioneer being at Lyttelton. When the case was called again in the Police Court, before Mr. E. C. Cutton, S.M., Mr. Alan Moody, who appeared for Boyes, said no reply had! been recieved from the authorities, and asked the Magistrate to take the responsibility of granting bail, on accused promising to report himself to the commander of the Pioneer directly he should be required; and to report himself daily to the police at Hamilton. Counsel said he had looked up the English Act under which the warrant had been issued, and he could find no mention of bail. Mr. Moody also said he understood that at the Coronation of King George all deserters from the Army and Navy were granted free pardons, though he could find no evidence as to that to place before the Court. He thought the cause of the delay in hearing from the Pioneer was that the matter was being referred to the Commander-in-Chief in Australia. Mr. Moody said there was nothing in the Naval Discipline- Act against bail being granted, and ' he contended that bail should be granted under New Zealand laws. The warrant commanded the Inspector of Police to deliver Boyes into the safe keeping of one Braithwaite, but as it was not known where Braithwaite is or even if he exists at all, Boyes might remain in custody for an indefinite period. Eventually a remand was granted, and now Boyes has obtained his dibchnrge from the Navy
 

The Times, Friday, Jul 02, 1937; pg. 4;
Seamen Sent To Prison. Stokehold Crew WHO Delayed Ship
The Port of Caroline was a vessel of 8,263 tons and carried a crew of 76 men, of whom the defendants belonged to the stoking department. The vessel sailed from London for Australia and New Zealand. On May 1 when at Timaru, NZ, a notice was posted that the ship should sail at 4 p.m. but the cargo was not aboard till 6 p.m. The captain (George S. Hall), informed that 12 firemen and trimmers were absent and at 7 p.m. that five had not come aboard. At 8 o'clock he was told only two men were absent, and he decided to sail. The ship was unmoored and the pilot came aboard, but the captain was then told that the firemen and trimmers refused to take the vessel to sea until the two absent men were aboard. A deputation of five of the men waited on the captain and repeated their grievance. The captain failing to persuade the men to work, had to remoor, and as a result of this another ship was unable to get to the quay and had to go to another port an send her Timaru cargo overland. At 4 am on May 2 the two missing men were found on board and at 7 am the vessel was able to go to sea. The stokehold crew consisted of 21 men, and at several of the ship's ports of call there had been absentees. For the defence, the leading man of each of the three watches was called and said that there had been previous shortages of the stokehold staff, and on this occasion they took a stand for their own safety and the safety of the ship. The magistrate sentenced each of the defendants to four weeks' imprisonment. He felt that discipline on board ships must be maintained.

Timaru Herald 20 May 2005
Fewer foreign fishermen jumping ship.
The Department of Labour has put in place measures to halt the increasing trend, and to find those who have previously jumped ship and are living in the country illegally. Figures supplied to the Herald showed 22 fishermen have jumped ship in Timaru during the last seven months. Nationwide, there have been 139 cases during the last 11 months. Twenty-five of the fishermen have now been caught by the department. There have been three new cases in Lyttelton, which have all occurred this month. One of these measures includes hiring private investigators to search vineyards, an industry known to attract ship jumpers.

Evening Post, 15 April 1911, Page 12
The barque Wendur, which reached London recently from Tacoma, brought the latest news from Pitcairn Island. A boat with 18 of the natives put off, and covered nearly 20 miles to intercept the Wendur and learn, the latest occcurences in the outside world. The Islanders informed the master of the vessel that the population numbered 150, females-being in-the majority. All enjoyed remarkably good health, and appeared contented with their lot. The oldest inhabitant, Mr. Christian, who is 91 years of age, is a grandson of Fletcher Christian, who was 'leader of the mutineers of the Bounty.

Evening Post, 2 September 1911, Page 5
It was on Pitcairn's Island that, 1790, the mutineers of the Bounty formed their first settlement. The Bounty was an armed ship. The mutineers put their captain, Bligh, and nineteen men into an open boat, with, a small supply of provisions, near Annamooka, one of the Friendly Isles, on 28th April, 1789. These reached the island of Timor, 6outh of the Moluccas, in June, 1789, after a voyage of nearly 4000 miles. Some of the mutineers were tried in September, 1792 ; six were condemned and three executed. Ten of the mutineers made their home on. Pitcairn's Island, the fact remaining unknown in England until accidentally discovered in 1814. The men married women from a, neighbouring island. In 1856 they were removed to Norfolk Island, but later many of them returned to Pitcairn's.

Evening Post, 16 October 1908
THEFT OF A BOILER FROM THE BOUNTY. A DEMONSTRATION.
NORFOLK ISLAND, This Day. John F. Young, a member of the Executive Council, was acquitted on a charge of being an accessory before the fact to stealing the copper boiler of the Bounty. Theirs was a demonstration over the result of the trial, the islanders singing the National Anthem. The Bounty was an English ship whose crew, after leaving Tahiti, mutinied, in 1789, under the leader Fletcher Christian. The captain, Bligh, and eighteen of the crew were set adrift in a small boat, and ultimately reached England. The mutineers, under the lead of John Adams, settled on Pitcairn Island. They mingled with the natives, and formed eventually a curiously isolated, bit civilised, community. Norfolk Island was peopled by them.

North Otago Times, 10 February 1879, Page 2
Rear-Admiral de Horsey, Commander-in- Chief of the Pacific station, has forwarded to the Admiralty an account of his visit in the Shah to Pitcairn Island on the 8th September. The population, whom he found in a satisfactory condition, numbered 41 males and 40 females, comprising but one survivor of the generation which immediately followed the mutineers. That survivor is Elizabeth Young, aged about 88, daughter of John Mills, gunnels mate of the Bounty, and of an Otaheitian mother. The oldest man is Thursday October Christain, aged 59, grandson of Fletcher Christian, master's mate of the vessel. As many as 68 (men, women, and children) eagerly accepted the invitation of the rear-admiral to visit the Shah. He proposes that a ship of war should visit Pitcairn annually, and expresses his conviction that the colony is deserving such attention and encouragement as Her Majesty's Government should think fit to hold out to it.

Daily Southern Cross, 13 November 1873,
THE ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC No I.
There is something worth knowing at the bottom of all this, if one could only get at the truth. Ay ! but truth is so hard 'o get at, as we have a notable instance in the case of the mutiny of the ' Bounty' — a story so well known to the world that one would have thought it altogether disposed of. But hero we have now, more than 80 years after, a new history of that affair, published with evidence so reliable that we find the leading newspapers of Great Britain lauding the memory of Fletcher Christian as "an unfortunate, brave, and honourable man," and lamenting that Captain Bligh "should have ever afterwards been permitted to hold his Majesty's commission, instead of being held up to universal contempt." Truly Time is the great avenger, and sets many a man's memory right before posterity ; but if that is any advantage to the dead man is not so obvious.

Daily Southern Cross, 22 February 1853, Page 4
Pitcairn Island. (From the Panama Star.)
It will "be in "the recollection of many of our readers, that Captain Folger, of the American barque Topaz, of Boston gave, information in the year 1809, to the British Admiralty, that in the preceding year he had landed on Pitcairn Island, in latitude 25 deg. 4 sec. south, and longitude 130 deg. 8 sec. west, and found there an Englishman named Alexander Smith, the only person remaining of nine of the mutineers who escaped in the Bounty, Capt. W. Blight, R.N. The mutineers first proceeded to Otaheite, where they provided themselves with wives and six Otaheitean men as servants, three of whom were allowed to take their wives, and arrived at Pitcairn Island in 1790, where they destroyed the ship. Lieutenant Christian, the leader of the mutiny, destroyed himself, or was killed shortly after his arrival. Some four years afterwards the Otaheiteans secretly revolted, and killed all the Englishmen, with the exception of Alexander Smith, who secreted himself, although dangerously wounded with a musket ball in the neck. The widows of the deceased Englishmen combined together and killed the whole of the Otaheiteans leaving Smith, the only man alive on the island, with eight or nine women and several small children. Upon Captain Folger's visit in 1808, the population amounted to about thirty-five, children of the mutineers, who acknowledged Smith as father and commander of them all. They spoke English, and were educated by him in a religious and moral way. Alexander Smith's real name was John Adams, by which "he became known to the world, on account of the admirable manner in which brought up this  interesting young colony, entrusted to his care.  The island has constantly visited by English and
other men-of-war, and by whalers but happily no Colonial Office has interfered to interrupt the harmony which prevails in this community. H.M.S. Portland lately visited the island, and Admiral Moresby' took so much interest in the welfare of the islanders, that he undertook, at his own expense, to send the Pastor, Mr. Nobbs, to "England, to receive ordination from the Bishop of London. Mr. Nobbs was one of the passengers from Valparaiso, in the Cortes; and it is highly creditable to the captain and owners of that fine steamer, that upon the offer of payment of passage money by the Pastor, it was refused, on the plea that he had conferred so many services on the American whalers, which had visited Pitcairn Island that they were happy to be serviceable to so humane and excellent a man. In the year 1850, five gentlemen were left on the Island, in consequence of the vessel from which they landed having been blown off the island during the night. From a work published last year by Mr. Walter Brodie, one of the detenus, we learn that the island is flourishing. The inhabitants amount to about 150, all born on the island, with the exception of Mr. Nobbs, Messrs. Buffet and Evans, who have been allowed to remain upon the island for upwards of 28 years. Mr. Nobbs married Sarah Christian, grand-daughter of Fletcher Christian, acting Lieutenant of the Bounty, by whom he has eight sons and two daughters.
     In 1831, the Islanders were conveyed by the British Government to Tahiti, as it was feared that the island would not furnish sufficient food for- the increasing population. There they weresoon visited by sickness, and having lost, twelve of their number, they made up their mind to return, and it is remarkable that with the copper bolts of the Bounty, which had been brought to Tahiti from Pitcairn Island, by the islanders, they were enabled to charter a vessel to take them back. , Mr. Brodie gives a very favourable account of  George Nobbs, their present teacher and lay minister, whose arrival in 1828 he considers to have been one of the providential occurrences in the history of Pitcairn Island. .. This gentleman is desirous, to obtain a larger island from the British Government, as it becomes evident that emigration will soon become necessary. The chief food of the islanders is vegetable, as they cannot afford to keep cattle, as they consume more than they produce. Norfolk Island has been mentioned as a suitable place, and as it is no longer to be used as a penal settlement, it could not be better employed. Pitcairn Island is peculiarly interesting at this moment, as it is about half-way between Panama and Australia, and when the steamers begin to run, they will have to, touch there for water and vegetables, and at the Gambier Islands, about 300 miles from. Pitcairn. Mr. Nobbs assuring us that there are not 20 dollars in the whole island. Their code of laws, although simple, is effective, and might be adopted in many countries with- greater pretensions to civilization. .We regret to learn that the country is not favourable to longevity, as no native has ever passed, the age of fifty years, although the women generally outlive the men.

Evening Post, 8 December 1902, Page 5
MUTINY ON THE HIGH SEAS. THE MATE OF A SHIP KILLED. LONDON, 6th December.
Captain Peattie, of the Liverpool ship Leicester Castle, has reported at Queenstown that three American seamen whom he engaged at San Francisco mutinied when the vessel was three hundred miles northward of Pitcairn Island. They shot the captain in the breast and arm, and killed the second mate. The three desperadoes disappeared from the ship during the night on a frail raft. Doubtelss they were drowned.

NZPA Friday 16, December 2005
Calls for the Government to take a tougher stance on ship-jumping. The Department of Labour says it is confident the six Vietnamese ship-jumpers caught in Nelson this week did not leave their vessels because of the standards aboard. The men deserted their ships at Lyttelton and Nelson ports more than a year ago, but were found on Tuesday night at three homes in Nelson. They are being held in custody in the Nelson police cells, but are expected to be sent home to Vietnam in the next few days. Department of Labour group manager for border security said it was the responsibility of the shipping agents to return the men to Vietnam and cover the costs. The department will not say what ships the men deserted. Figures supplied to the Nelson Mail show that between July 1 last year and June 30 this year 152 foreign crew members deserted their ships while berthed at New Zealand ports. Maritime Union general secretary said that given the high number of foreign crew jumping ship in New Zealand it was time the Government took a tougher stand. If New Zealand companies were going to continue bringing foreign ships and crew to fish New Zealand quota in joint ventures, ship-jumping was going to continue unless the government took some action. Some crew from poorer countries jumped ship after "looking over the side" and seeing what New Zealand offered. Before foreign crew were allowed to come to New Zealand there should be assurances given that they would not jump ship and that there were good conditions on board the boats to stop them wanting to leave. If those conditions were not met and crew jumped ship, the vessels should not be allowed to return to New Zealand. The union has said some foreign crew working in New Zealand waters are subject to exploitation, low pay and abuse.

The seaman would vacate the port area where he "jumped" and disappear into the hills often assuming a different name, but many didn't change their name.

Contributions welcome

Just because he was Norwegian doesn't mean he was on a Norwegian ship.

The Timaru Herald Saturday 30th June 1866.
The Norwegian ship Lindsay, Captain C.B. Berg, from Tonsberg, Norway, arrived in Lyttelton harbour on Monday at three a.m. She left Tonsberg on the 19th February. Left Ryde, Isle of Wright, on the 3rd March, crossed the equator on the 28 March. All well on board. She brings a large cargo of Norway pine timber.

In a notice dated 11 October 1858 James Doig, seaman, deserted ship in New Zealand with James Benny. He was described as 5ft 7in high, brown hair, and gray or hazel eyes. A reward of £1 was posted for their apprehension. It is presumed he left London after he got Helen Dackers with child and then did not like the sea life. There is no record of James in New Zealand after 1863 so he probably left the country. James was born in 1836 in London, ENG to Andrew Doig and May Anderson. James was in the Royal Navy on the ship Maggie. When Charles G. Tripp took the Orari Gorge Station, near Geraldine, South Canterbury, NZ, over from a Mr. Smith in 1863, the first shepherds were the brothers Andrew and William Grant and Andrew Young. The shepherds before the above mentioned were three runaway sailors - Thomas Crofton, his mate James Doig, and Hughie the Welshman. On the neighbouring station, Peel Forest, a partner, George James Dennistoun had been a midshipman in the Royal Navy.

Alexander BEAIN b.c1851 s/o Alexander and Eliza Beain (nee GING) from Guernsey, Channel Islands, jumped ship in New Zealand about1869. He was a ship's engineer and settled in Napier. Carol Spragg

Bill Smith's great grandfather, who was a sailor and deserted the ship Opawa at Lyttelton and later married his great grandmother, an assisted emigrant on the Opawa.
The Lyttelton Times 9 December 1878 Page 4
On New Years Day, 1879, William Bowman became the second, of what would grow to become five sailors, to be absent without leave from the Opawa. The first to desert the ship was Joseph Smith who was absent on 16 December 1878, only ten days after the ship's arrival. The third and fourth deserters, Alfred Johnson and John Christian (from Finland and Norway respectively), deserted on the 4th of January 1879. The fifth and final sailor taking his leave E.R. Stock deserted on 17 January 1879. As well as these deserters left in the port of Lyttelton there were ten others who left with "mutual consent". These included the ships surgeon Dr R Bowen Hogg. An entry in the Agreement and Account of Crew shows William’s desertion and his subsequential loss of pay.

Olaus Pauli Wiberg was b. 1853/54 in Trondheim, Norway. Deserted from one of the Whalers that piled the New Zealand coast about 1880/1881.  Occupation was sailmaker. Settled in Christchurch. Naturalised 13 Nov. 1890 in Christchurch and was a railway worker. He named the children Bloomfield Olaus Pauli, Jorgen, Olena, Sydney, Mary, and Isabell Bgata Wiberg. If you have any information regarding this family please contact Olwyn.

Sandra Eckert's grandfather, Albert Comfort, b June 1, 1888, was a merchant seaman who "jumped ship" in Lyttelton and eventually sent for his parents and four of his siblings who came out to NZ on Ionic in 1913.

Henry Fisk b. c.1843 Dallinghoo, Suffolk. Parents: Isaac = Anna [Hannah] Weyman, Woodbridge St. Mary, Suffolk in 1851; Henry went to sea in 1855, jumped ship at Otago, New Zealand in 1862, married Mary Mercer McWilliam 1867, Blenheim and had 6 sons & 2 daughters. Died in Wellington in 1920.

New Zealand was seen as the land of opportunity by these men. Many entered a variety of occupations, married, raised families and did very well for themselves.

The deserters and absentees from His Majesty's Service late 1907 and 1908
Source: 'New Zealand Police Gazette' for 1908 from Archives NZ, Wellington.

Name						Vessel		Port
George Robert GREEN 				Challenger 	Auckland
Aubrey Harold SMITH 				Challenger 	Auckland
Malcolm McGregor, Wm Qusha Joynes		Challenger 	Wellington
and Wm Arthur Lake 				Challenger 	Wellington
John ORTON & Albert FLAXMAN 		 	Challenger	Wellington
Robert HOLLAND 					Encounter	Auckland
Thomas RAVENSCROFT 				Encounter 	Wellington
William THOMPSON and Stephen ATKINS 		Encounter 	Wellington
William Henry MARTIN 			 	Encounter  	Timaru
George E CRASKE 			 	Pegasus  	Wellington
George ANDERSON, Albert STYANTS and Dennis LONG	Pegasus 	Lyttelton
John SMITH 					Pegasus		Lyttelton
Charles BANNISTER and Charles CLEMENTS		Pegasus 	Port Chalmers
James S GIBBON  				Pegasus
Aubrey Harold SMITH	 		 	Pioneer		Nelson
Henry G J JONES & William T MILLIAR 	 	Pioneer 	Lyttelton
Frank Albert John SMITH and William T MILLAR 	Pioneer		Lyttelton
George H Tobin, Wm Barham, Edward H Forman	Pioneer		Lyttelton
and Percy G Lester and Patrick J Quinn 		Pioneer 	Lyttelton
Daniel LIVINGSTONE 				Pioneer 	Lyttelton
William D MURPHY and Thomas Albert BIRCHFIELD 	Pioneer		Lyttelton
George W BATES and Sydney B R STRINGFELLOW 	Pioneer 	Timaru
Frank A BARTON					Pioneer		Port Chalmers
Wm F Connell, Albert H French & David Dillon 	Powerful 	Wellington
Stephen TILLER, John THORNTON and Joseph EDGE 	Powerful 	Wellington
Fred MOORE 					Powerful 	Wellington
William MARKS and Samuel DUNBAR 		Powerful 	Lyttelton
Charles E BIDDLE and John R MARQUIS 		Prometheus 	Lyttelton
George William HINE 				Prometheus 	Lyttelton
Frederick BRUSH 				Pyramus  	Wellington
Francis Charles Laird and Aubery Harold Smith were being sought for breaking out of the HMS Challenger

The Master of the ship would inform his local shipping agent, the latter
would inform the police. The Master or agent would inform the head office of
the Shipping Company if British registered.

A 2nd class cruiser HMS Challenger, 5600 tons was stationed in Australia and South Pacific 1905-1910.

On her world scientific cruise, 1873-76, HMS Challenger, 2306 tons, Captain G.S. Nares, with a total complement of 243, had 61 ratings desert, mainly in Australia and New Zealand. March 1, 1874 she shaped a course for Melbourne. Many of the crew deserted to stay on in Victoria. Those Challenger men who had not yet been out to this far-flung corner of empire had heard stories of the legendary Australian hospitality and they were not disappointed. The tedium of dredging and sounding very likely accounted for the high attrition of ship's personnel by desertion and distressed by confinement in a ship that was only 200 feet long and 40 feet wide and it is not surprising almost two dozen men had gone missing in Australia, tempted by the extraordinary beauty of the land, the opportunities for settlement, and their distaste for another two years of cramped confinement in the ship. Five seamen had deserted in Halifax, lured by the promise of instant wealth in the great territories of the United States, while another had been discharged and yet another hospitalized. Certainly their brief stopover in Halifax had hemorrhaged their manpower. Perhaps Nares thought that if they did touch home soil again, he would lose most of his crew.

The Challenger spent a month in Australia, and another five weeks at Sydney, before crossing the Tasman Sea for Wellington. Just before sunset Challenger, entered the great sea lake known as Port Nicholson. They made anchor among the other ships at the Queen’s Wharf in Wellington. The Challenger stayed less than a week in New Zealand and forewent the planned trip to Auckland. “At Wellington we found the governor staying, so instead of remaining only a couple of days, and then going on to Auckland, we stayed the whole prescribed New Zealand time there, where there was nothing to be seen and less to be done. . . .” The weather was wet and windy and nobody was sorry when they set sail again, on July 7th, for Fiji and the Friendly Isles. Before they left New Zealand, though, Campbell noted one peculiarity of New Zealand house construction. “Earthquakes necessitate building of houses out of wood, slight shocks frightening Wellington occasionally; one in particular 26 years ago partially shook the town down, thereby causing panic.”

New Zealand Seafarers Records

The majority of the primary records of New Zealand seafarers including the Customs Dept. and Marine Dept. records were lost due to a major fire in 1952. The Marine Dept. in major New Zealand ports and the Customs Dept. on their behalf in the smaller ports, kept registers of seafarers signing on as crew and discharges. Archives NZ, in Wellington does hold Marine Dept. archives of inquiries into maritime incidents such as collisions, and crew and vessel names can be found in these. They also have manual indexes of ships' deserters in New Zealand, extracted from the NZ Police Gazette. The Christchurch office of Archives NZ does have Customs Records which are "highly readable" relating to Lyttelton from the end of the 1840s to the 1870s. In a few cases there is reference to sailors who jumped ship. Port company records and Seamans' Union records are secondary sources to check.

The New Zealand Police Gazette

 In 2009 the Police Museum but they advised they no longer held copies. The New Zealand Police Gazette (are an official police publication of notings and prisoners) is not indexed sufficiently to make a search an easy task. The gazette has an information embargo of 70 years or 100 years to ensure confidentiality and privacy are maintained. The "clean slate" legislation came in last November 2004. Gazettes older than this, including provincial gazettes such as the Otago and Canterbury provincial police gazettes, are able to be accessed through Archives New Zealand. Information held at the New Zealand Police Museum in Porirua is duplicated at Archives New Zealand in Wellington and the Police Museum directs researchers to Archives NZ as they are not resourced sufficiently to cope with requests. Police Gazettes: In annual bound volumes with index, at all four Archives (AK/WN/CH/DN).

The University of Waikato Library
The New Zealand Police Gazette. Periodical  Publisher: Wellington : Government Printer,
Notes: 1896, 1901-1908, 1909-1910,1915. EMBARGOED FOR 100 YEARS

The Christchurch Cities Libraries has a complete set of the Canterbury Police Gazette 1871 -77. The Canterbury Police Gazette was published from 1863 until 1876. They contain inquests, lists of stolen items, warrants of arrest with descriptions of the criminals, lists of apprehensions and discharges and trial results. The Police Gazettes for the Canterbury district 1869-1871 is online.
May 1 1869 Canterbury Police Gazette : W.H. Sullivan and Edward Fitzgerald - Offence: Deserting from the ship E. Adams. Arrested by Constable Judge, Akaroa. Sent on board.
July 1 1870 Canterbury Police Gazette:  J.W.D.G. Yon and John Rottenburg, charged with deserting ship "Ce-es" Arrested by Detective Feast. Sent on board.

November 1 1870 Canterbury Police Gazette
Deserted from the ship Monarch, on the 2nd, 4th, and 9th October, 1870, whilst lying at Port Lyttelton, the persons described below.
Philip Andrews: a Scotchman, 22 years of age, dark complexion, 5ft. 7 in, high, dark hair and whiskers.
Henry Swanson; an Irishman, 22 years of age, 5ft 8in high, slight build, effeminate voice, tuft of beard on chin.
John Collins: 24 years of age, Englishman, short, stout build, round shoulders, fresh complexion, full face; brown hair and whiskers, and moustache.
Daniel Sayle; 30 years of age 5ft 7in. high, very dark complexion, spotted on face, tuft of beard on chin, moustache, a native of the Isle of Mann.
____ McKenzie, a Scotchman, about 5ft 6in, high, dark complexion, slight whiskers and moustache, dark hair.
__ Fulton, aged 24, 5ft 6in, slight build, thin face, an Irishman, wears a cap with broad top.
Henry Rennie: aged 29, tall, thin build, dark complexion, tattooed on both arms and rings on the middle of the right hand, bullet scar above right ankle on left leg, beard and moustache close.
William Freeman: aged 22, looks very young, little hair on face, walks with a slight stoop.
Robert Lundy, aged 24, a big man, with red moustache, and a tuft of beard on chin, an Irishman, walks very slovenly in a stooping rolling gait.
Walter Martin: aged 23, medium height, walks with a stoop, swings his arms in a peculiar manner, wore moustache and tuft.
John Condin: aged 30, an Irishman, moustache and beard cut short, light grey eyes.
Edmund Fagg; aged 34, 5ft 6 in, high red hair worn long, moustache, and tuft of beard on chin, hooked nose, a peculiar expression about the eyes, a rolling gait.
Fulton returned, and Freeman has been arrested; the rest are still at large.

1 April 1871 Canterbury Police Gazette
Description of prisoner discharged from Her Majesty's Gaol
George Kidd, England, Desertion from ship "Glenmark", sentence 2 months, age 22, 5ft 9", stout, fresh complexion, dark brown hair, blue eyes, scar on left shin. seaman.

1 December 1871 Canterbury Police Gazette
Peter Mark and Edwin Killburwhite charged with deserting the brig Shalldy. Arrested by Constable Davidson. Sentenced to 4 weeks imprisonment.

1 December 1871 Canterbury Police Gazette
Robert Hihhirs charged with deserting from the ship Merope. Arrested by Constable Wilson. Committed to one month's imprisonment, and sent on board.

Otago Police Gazette November 2nd 1868
On the 14th ulto., as the British ship “Caller Ou” was making for Otago Heads, outward bound, one of the seamen, named Frederick Hill, who was engaged with others taking in sail, fell overboard, and although a life bouy and grating were thrown to him, and a boat at once lowered, he sank before the boat could reach him. Deceased was a native of London, where he joined the “Caller Ou.”

Otago Police Gazette December 4th 1868
Thomas Robertson & John McCracken were both charged at Port Chalmers, Otago, with deserting from the ship “William Davie” They were apprehended by the water police and the court ordered them to be placed back aboard the vessel.

Otago Police Gazette December 4th 1868
Charles Norman was charged at Port Chalmers with assaulting the Chief Officer of the barque Summer Cloud. He was sentenced to 4 weeks hard labour. Arrested by Constable Samuel Hughes 308 Port Chalmers Water Police.

Otago Police Gazette February 1st 1869 & 4 Dec 1868
John Ross, a seaman was charged with desertion from the “Schleswig Bride” and sentenced in the Dunedin court on November 5th 1868, to 12 weeks hard labour. Arrested by Constable John Bevin 430 Dunedin Police.

Otago-Nominal-Index to 1876: searches electoral rolls and street directories for Otago and Southland. Names from the Otago Police Gazette are currently being added, they are up to 1865 as of Jan. 2005. Event: Criminal offender; desertion

BAXTER 		William 27-30 	Merchant ship 	Brechin Castle 	Port Chalmers 01/26/1864 Able seaman A native of Scotland
GOURLAY 	Robert 	age 19 	Merchant ship 	Brechin Castle 	Port Chalmers 01/26/1864 A native of Scotland
McLOUGHLIN 	Alexander 20 	Merchant ship 	Brechin Castle 	Port Chalmers 01/26/1864 Able seaman A native of Scotland
BOYD 		James 		ship 		Caribou 	Port Chalmers Arrested by Constable Patrick Kinsella Dunedin Police; sentenced to 12 weeks with hard labour
GARDINER 	Andrew 		ship 		Caribou 	Port Chalmers 09/01/1865 Arrested by Constable Patrick Kinsella Dunedin Police; sentenced to 12 weeks with hard labour
KERR 		Alexander 	ship 		Caribou 	Port Chalmers 09/01/1865 Arrested by Constable Patrick Kinsella Dunedin Police; sentenced to 12 weeks with hard labour
RODGER 		John 		ship 		Caribou 	Port Chalmers 09/01/1865 Arrested by Constable Patrick Kinsella Dunedin Police; sentenced to 12 weeks with hard labour
JENKINS 	John 	27  	HM brig 	Ellen   	Port Chalmers 9/03/1862 A Welshman, a steward
BINES 		A 	42 			Queen of India 	Port Chalmers 07/30/1865 Native of Madeira 
McCORMACK 	George 	22 			Queen of India	Port Chalmers 07/30/1865 A Scotchman
McGLASHAN 	William 20 			Queen of India	Port Chalmers 07/30/1865 A Scotchman
MURDOCH 	Peter 	19  	ship 		Atholl 2nd mate Port Chalmers 11/30/1861 supposed gone to the Tuapeka diggings
ROBINSON 	David 	35 	ship 		Winged Arrow 	Port Chalmers 11/12/1861 deserted along with four other seamen; warrant issued for arrest
BROWN John 27.  McGOWAN, William 27.  POWELL, Andrew 25.  WELCH, John  21.
GIBSON 		- 	35 or 36Merchant vessel Bombay 		Port Chalmers 12/31/1863 Steward A Scotchman
McNABB		 - 	20 	Merchant vessel Bombay 		Port Chalmers 12/31/1863 Able seaman
SMITH 		- 	26 	Merchant vessel Bombay 		Port Chalmers 12/31/1863 Cook A Scotchman
SKINNER 	William c. 30 	Merchant vessel General Wyndham Port Chalmers 12/24/1863 ship's carpenter
VEALS 		Charles 25  	HM ship 	Pelorus 	at Auckland 09/07/1861 A Englishman; seen about two months since at Dunedin; £3 reward offered by the Govt.
WELBY 		Harry 	18  	Merchant ship	Chariot of Fame at Dunedin  01/01/1862 missing, supposed gone to diggings 
WESTON 		Franklin 22 	British ship 	Mystery  	Port Chalmers 03/24/1864 3rd mate £5 reward offered by the Captain
Names 		not known X3	British ship 	Mystery  	Port Chalmers 05/19/1864 ages 19, 20 and 21
- 		George 	22-23	British ship 	Ulcoats  	Port Chalmers 04/09/1864  steward Supposed will make for Dunedin
DUTHIE 		George 	19 	British ship 	Resolute 	Port Chalmers 03/19/1864 apprentice Scotch accent; supposed to be in Dunedin
EVANS 		Richard 25 	British ship 	Resolute 	Port Chalmers 03/19/1864 Supposed gone to Blueskin
HUSSEY 		William 	British ship 	Resolute 	Port Chalmers 03/19/1864 A.B. An Englishman
McAULEY 	William 	British ship 	Resolute 	Port Chalmers 03/19/1864 A.B. A Scotchman
McKECHNEY 	John 		British ship 	Resolute 	Port Chalmers 03/19/1864 A.B. A Scotchman
SMITH 		Charles 	British ship 	Resolute 	Port Chalmers 03/19/1864 A.B. A German
WALKER 		James 		British ship 	Resolute 	Port Chalmers 03/19/1864 A.B. An Englishman
WILLIAMS 	James 		British ship 	Resolute 	Port Chalmers 03/19/1864 A.B. A Liverpool man
WILSON 		Andrew 		British ship 	Resolute 	Port Chalmers 03/19/1864 A.B. A foreigner
CUNNINGHAM 	James 		British barque 	Vectis 		Port Chalmers 05/02/1864 Has the appearance of a Frenchman
DAVY 		Little Davy 	British barque 	Vectis 		Port Chalmers 05/02/1864 A Scotchman
GALAGHAR 	John 		British barque 	Vectis 		Port Chalmers 05/02/1864 An Irishman
KEANE 		George 		British barque 	Vectis 		Port Chalmers 05/02/1864 An Irishman
M'DONALD 	Donald 		British barque 	Vectis 		Port Chalmers 05/02/1864 
McKINNON 	Hector 		British barque 	Vectis 		Port Chalmers 05/02/1864 A Highlandman
McPHAIS 	Donald 		British barque 	Vectis 		Port Chalmers 05/02/1864 
PEET 		George 		British barque 	Vectis 		Port Chalmers 05/02/1864 A native of Aberdeen
REES 		James 		British barque 	Vectis 		Port Chalmers 05/02/1864 
MANUEL 		Joseph 		British ship 	Mary Frances 	Port Chalmers 06/05/1864 A seaman Portuguese; £3 reward offered for apprehension
ROBINSON 	John 		British ship 	Mary Frances 	Port Chalmers 06/05/1864 A seaman A Swede; £3 reward offered for apprehension
SAMMERS 	- 		British ship 	Mary Frances 	Port Chalmers 06/05/1864 A seaman A Swede; £3 reward offered for apprehension
ANDERSON 	James 30 	British brig   	Ismyr   	Dunedin Bay 03/03/1864 A.B. A Scotchman
SMITH 		Owen 25 	British brig   	Ismyr   	Dunedin Bay 03/03/1864 An Irishman cook and steward
HENDERSON	- 28 		British barque 	Gazelle 	Dunedin Bay 03/13/1864 A.B.
NIGHTINGALE 	George 16 	British barque 	Gazelle 	Dunedin Bay 03/13/1864 boy
SPROTT 		- 24 		British barque 	Gazelle 	Dunedin Bay 03/13/1864 A.B.
JEFFERY		Robert Percy	ship 		Warrior Queen 	Port Chalmers 	before 1 Mar 1866 
Arrested by Constable Samuel Hughes 305 Port Chalmers Water Police; sentenced to 12 weeks' hard labour 
BOYD		William R 	ship 		Strathspey 	Dunedin 	before 1 May 1866 
Arrested by Constable Patrick Bergin 494 Dunedin Police; sentenced to 1 month's hard labor
CORNELIUS 	Charles D 	ship 		Bengal 		Port Chalmers	before 1 Oct 1866 
Arrested by Constable Michael Sullivan 302,  Water Police; sentenced to 12 weeks' hard labor 
DAY 		Edward 		ship 		Bengal 		before 1 Oct 1866 
Arrested by Constable Michael Sullivan 302, Port Chalmers Water Police; sentenced to 12 weeks' hard labor 
MAIL		Theophilus 	ship 		Bengal 		before 1 Oct 1866 
Arrested by Constable Michael Sullivan 302, Port Chalmers Water Police; sentenced to 12 weeks' hard labor
McDOWELL	Edward 		ship 		Josephine 	before 1 Apr 1867
Arrested by Constable Samuel Hughes 308 Port Chalmers Water Police; 12 weeks' labor 
McNEILL 	Adam		ship 		Countess Russell before 1 Apr 1867 absent without leave 
Arrested by Constable Michael Sullivan 302 Port Chalmers Water Police; 4 weeks' labor 
STANLEY 	Michael 	ship 		Countess Russell  arrested absent without leave 
WILSON 		William 	ship 		Warrior Queen 	before 1 May 1867 absent without leave Arrested
CAMPBELL 	Donald 		ship 		Caribou 	before 6 Aug 1868 
Arrested by Constable Michael Sullivan 302 Port Chalmers Water Police; 3 months' labor
COOPER 		William 	ship 		Caribou 	before 6 Aug 1868 arrested

22 Jun 1863 Otago Police Gazette pg 63 : Reward offered £3 for apprehension within three months; £2 within six months, £1 within twelve months; after twelve months nothing twelve months; after twelve months nothing.
BACON Charles - HMS "Harrier" 24y 6m rating, A.B. Criminal offender; desertion 6 Apr 1863 .
Born Waterford, Ireland; former ships "St Jean D'Acre" and "Harrier."

BROWN, George 24y 6m rating, A.B. Criminal offender; desertion 6 Apr 1863
Born Great Brookhampton, Hertford; former ships "Trusty", "Acorn" and "Harrier."

HOWARD, Henry - HMS "Harrier" 23, rating, ordinary Criminal offender; desertion 6 Apr 1863
Born Maidstone, Kent; former ships "Iris" and "Fawn."

OTTEWELL, Edward, 19, rating, boy, Criminal offender; desertion 6 Apr 1863
Born Ripley, Derbyshire; former ships "Majestic" and "Harrier."

The following extract from the Shipping Gazette and Sydney General Trade List for 7 Feb 1852: "Mr Beit questioned Mr Inspector Powell at some length as to the authority by which the Water Police Magistrates gave permission to seamen to employ themselves, without the sanctions of the masters of the ships from which they had deserted." So - find work - keep out of trouble - and make yourself scare if  your old ship comes into port - and eventually you merge in with the local population . .Wages were higher in Australia than the UK, especially at times when "gold fever" was running high and crews were hard to come by. In the mid 1840s which suggested that some 1400 seamen had arrived in the port, whereas only about 1100 were registered as departing from the same port during the same period which suggests that this wasn't an unusual way of travelling to Australia.

BOOKS

Sexton, Rae The Deserters: Military and Naval Deserters as Settlers in Australia and New Zealand 1800 - 1865. Magill, S.A.: Australasian Maritime Historical Society, 1984. 1998 Third edition (Revised, typeset) Contains the name, age, description, dates and places of enlistment and desertion, and place of birth of each deserter. Also includes the names of ships in Sydney Harbour, 1850-1860. The 1143 names and descriptions listed do not include those advertised as being re- captured. This list was prepared from government gazettes from all Colonies of Australia and the Provinces of New Zealand and from advertisements in the early Sydney Gazette newspaper.  extract

Melton, Jim  Ship's Deserters 1852-1900; Including Stragglers, Strays & Absentees from HM Ships 1986 544pp Library of Australia 17 Mitchell St, Sydney, NSW. Indexed 10,000 desertions and absences by seamen throughout the Australian colonies - from NSW Government Gazette and NSW Police Gazette, which took over the role of reporting desertions in 1862. Gives a brief biographical profile of the men.  From June 1864 desertions from the New Zealand began to feature in the notices. Only about 400 where ever captured. Peak period for desertions were the 1880s. Includes a ships index. Many where from H.M. Ships. e.g.  

ANDERSON, Frederick J. HMS Curacoa 17.6.1891 at Lyttelton: AB, a native of Plymouth, 19yrs, 5’ 3½", fair hair, brown eyes, fair complexion, scar on forehead.

ATWORTHY, William HMS Curacoa 17.6.1891 at Lyttelton: Stoker, 12th instant, a native of Devon, 25yrs, 5’ 5½", brown hair, grey eyes, dark complexion.
 
BISHOP, Wm. G. J. HMS Tauranga 31/4/1900 at Wellington, Private, R.M.L.I. (Royal Marine), b. England, about 23yrs, 5’ 5 6/10", brown hair, dark grey eyes, fresh complexion. British ensign, "FAITH, HOPE, and CHARITY", right forearm; cross, heart, "W.R.L.", right forearm.

BLANCKENSEE Barnett HMS Blanche 1.6.1874 at Auckland. Gun room servant, born on the 12th August, 1852, at Birmingham, 5’, red hair, grey eyes, freckled; looks like a German Jew. £3 reward.

BOND, Philip HMS Mildura pre 3.1.1900 at Auckland, Stoker, b. Liverpool, England, about 22yrs, 5’ 4", dark brown hair, grey eyes, fair complexion. Anchor on left hand, bracelet left wrist, cross flags and anchor left forearm, anchor and "GB" right forearm.
 
BOWDEN, Wm. R. HMS Lizard 16.10.1893 at Auckland. AB, born at St. Cleer, Cornwall, 20yrs, 5’ 1 3/4", brown hair, blue eyes, fresh comp. £5 NSW.

BRANNIGAN, William HMS Royalist 7.1.1899 at Auckland. AB, born at Staleybridge, Lancaster, 24yrs, 5’4", dark-brown hair, brown eyes, fresh complexion, bracelet tattooed on left wrist and tattoo mark on left hand.

BROOKS, Robert HMS Tauranga 14/4/1898 at Auckland. Private, Royal Marines, born in Walworth, London, about 23yrs, 5’ 8 6/10", brown hair, grey eyes, fresh complex-ion, scar on both eyebrows, tattooed on left forearm. £3 reward.

BROWN, Henry HMS Mohawk pre 2.5.1900 at Wellington, Ord., b. in England, about 21yrs, 5’ 9", brown hair, brown eyes, dark complexion.

BURGESS, William Henry George HMS Royalist at Auckland 10 or 14.1.1899 Ordinary seaman, b. Gateshead, Durham, Eng. 19yrs, 5’ 6", black hair, grey eyes, dark complexion; tattoo marks between forefinger and thumb of left hand. £3 reward.

CARR, Patrick HMS Wallaroo 9.3.1896. Stoker, 2nd class, born at Nonaghan, Ireland, about 25yrs, 5’ 3", dark hair, hazel eyes, sallow complexion. £3 reward, if apprehended within two years. Plus £5 NSW.

CASSON, Arthur William HMS Diamond 12.10.1888 at Auckland. B. at London, 18yrs, 5’ 6½", blue eyes, brown hair, fresh complexion.

COLE, William Llewellyn HMS Curacoa 24.10.1893 at Auckland. Ordinary, b. Dalston, Middlesex, Eng., about 19yrs, 5’ 4", light-brown hair, brown eyes, fair complexion, anchor tattooed on back of let t hand. £3 < 2yrs. Plus £5.

COCHRANE, Francis Angelo HMS Ringdove 13.5.1899 at Auckland. AB, b. in England, about 25yrs, 5’ 3", dark hair, brown eyes, dark complexion, scar in centre of forehead. £3 reward, if apprehended within two years.

COLLINS William HMS Nymphe 5.8.1878 Wellington. Ord seaman, b. 3 Nov. 1859, at Karylebone, London, 5’ 5", light brown hair, grey eyes, fresh complexion. Red scar on left shin, rose on breast.

The HMS/ sloop Nymphe 1574 tons under Captain Townsend was at the Australian Station including New Zealand 1875-1878.

CURTIS Christe. R. HMS Wolverine 10.5.1878 at Auckland. OS, born on the 5th May, 1859, at South Hackney, London, 5’ 6", very slight, hair, grey eyes, fresh complexion, a smooth, prominent face, stoops much. £3O. Plus £5. Admiralty.

DAVIES HMS Alacrity pre 31.12.1879 from at Auckland. Leading seaman, 5’ 7", fresh complexion, brown eyes, brown curly hair, tattooed on both arms, scar on right shin.

EAST, Joseph HMS Mildura, 27.11.1897 at Port Chalmers: AB, b. in Kingsland, Middlesex, Eng., about 28yrs, 5’ 4", brown hair, blue eyes, fresh complexion, cross flags on left wrist.

ELLIS, William Charles HMS Mildura 13.11.1895 Sydney. Doe. 3rd class, born at Dunedin, New Zealand, about 19yrs, 5’, brown hair, blue eyes, dark complexion.

FITZGERALD, Thomas HMS Rosario pre 11.9.1872 Has been re-arrested, Sydney. Identified with Stephen Stanford, who deserted HMS Rosario, at NZ

 GARDNER Saml. J. HMS Blanche 19.6.1874 at Auckland. Wardroom cook, born on the 5th September, 1846, at Plymouth, Devon, 5’ 5", brown hair, dark sunken eyes, pale complexion. £3 reward.

GODDEN, John HMS Dart 13.5.1889 at Auckland. B. Ibrset, England, 27yrs, 5’ l", grey eyes, light hair, fresh complexion. £3 reward, if apprehended within two years. Plus £5 NZ.

GOODCHILD, Robert Percival HMS Katoomba 26.12.1892at Auckland. Bugler, RMLI born at Cork, Ireland, about 19yrs, 5’ 6", light-brown hair, grey eyes, fresh complexion, slight tattoo mark on left fore arm ( anchor and spot ). £3 reward, if apprehended within two years. Plus £5 NSW.

GRABB, Frederick HMS Ringdove 1896, deserter at Auckland, arrested Newcastle, NSW, Water Police. Handed to Naval Authorities, Sydney.

GRAHAM, Malcolm HMS Wallaroo Auckland, 9/3/1896. Stoker, 2nd class, b. Glasgow, Scotland, about 22yrs, 5’ 4 3/4", dark hair, hazel eyes, fair complexion, tattooed "A Kinnon", right forearm. £3 reward. Notice repeated. £3 reward each, if apprehended within two years. Plus £5 NSW. April 1896. Now reported to be on board.

GREENHILL, Frederick HMS Katoomba Lyttelton 8 Feb. 1893. Dom. 3rd class, b. at Ararat, Victoria, about 21yrs, 5’ 6", dark hair, brown eyes, fresh complexion, cross ( very faint ) tattooed on left arm.

GROWENOR William HMS Nymphe 12.7.1878 Wellington. Ord seaman, born on the 2nd May, 1859, at Ellerton, Gloucester, 5’ 5", brown hair, brown eyes, fair complexion.

GUEST, Edward HMS Tauranga 6/12/1898 at Auckland. Private, RMLI, born at Deal, Kent, 20yrs, 5’ 6", blue eyes, brown hair, fresh complexion, burn scar on chest, scar back of head.

HAINES, Alfred Ernest Leopold 19yrs HMS Rapid Port Chalmers 11/4/1896 O.S. b. at Ryde, Isle of Wight, yrs, 5’ 5", brown eyes, brown hair, fresh complexion, tattoo spot left arm. £3 reward, if apprehended within two years. Plus £5 NSW.

HAVERD Joseph HMS Nymphe 23.6.1878 Wellington OS b. 28 February, 1859, at Westham, Essex, 5’ 6", light brown hair, blue eyes, fresh complexion. Anchor, flags tattooed on left wrist.

KERRY, Alf. J. HMS Lark 6.2.1883 at Auckland. AB, b. in Liverpool, 20yrs, 5’ 6", dark complexion, brown hair, hazel eyes.

MANLEY, Adam HMS Mildura 6.12.1897 at Port Chalmers. AB, born in Hillingdon, Middlesex, England, about 27yrs, 5’ 7", light-brown hair, blue eyes, fair complexion. £3 reward, if apprehended within two years.

MASSEY Saml. HMS Wolverine 3.4.1878 Deserted at Auckland, New Zealand: Leading stoker, born at Stockport, Lancashire, on the 14th March, 1848, 5’ 10", dark brown hair, grey eyes, pale complexion, Prince of Wales Plume on left fore arm; can work as a blacksmith, engine fitter, or stoker; is a good hand at Christy Minstrels, and was on this station before, in HMS "Cossack".

MORIGHAN Patrick HMS Nymphe 23.7.1878 Wellington. Private, R.M.L.I., b. 8 Nov. Banada, Sligo, 5’ 6", dark hair, blue eyes, fair complexion.

McCARTHY John HMS Nymphe 23.7.1878 Wellington, New Zealand: Able seaman, born on the 9th November, 1853, at Milton, Kent, 5' 5", dark hair, hazel eyes, freckled complexion.

McEWAN, John HMS Blanche pre 9.7.1873 Warrant officer’s servant, b. January, 1845, but looks younger, at Auckland; 5’, fresh complexion, dark brown hair, blue eyes. £3 reward.

McGREGOR, Frederick T. HMS Wallaroo 9.4.1895 at Auckland. Stoker, 2nd class, born at Larkhall, Lanarkshire, England, about 21yrs, 5' 6", light hair, brown eyes, fair complexion. £3 reward. Plus £5 NSW 15.4.1896 deserters are now said to be on board their ship.

HMS Wallaroo 3rd class cruiser, 2575 tons, ex. "Persian" Aux. Squadron Australian Station and NZ. 1891-1906.  Became guardship at Chatham in 1914. Renamed Wallington in March 1919, changing back to original in 1920 before being sold for scrap.

McINTOSH, Walter HMS Ringdove 2.6.1899 at Gisborne. Armourer’s mate, b. Paisley, Scotland, about 29yrs, 5’ 9", brown hair, brown eyes, fresh complexion. £3 reward, if apprehended within two years.

McINTOSH, Wm. HMS Tauranga 6.11.1898 at Wellington. Armourer’s mate, born in Glasgow, about 27yrs, 5’ 9", brown hair, brown eyes, fresh complexion. £3 reward, if apprehended within two years.

McNAB, Peter HMS Royalist 10.12.1898 at Auckland. AB, born in Scotland, about 20yrs, 5’ 2", dark hair, grey eyes, fresh complexion.

MILFORD, Alfred HMS Ringarooma 1.3.1892 at Auckland, b at Devonport, Devon, England, 38yrs, 5’ 7", dark brown hair, blue eyes, fair complexion.

MORIGHAN Patrick HMS Nymphe 23.6.1878 Wellington, New Zealand. Private, R.M.L.I., b. 8 November, 1857, at Banada, Sligo, 5’ 6", dark hair, blue eyes, fair complexion.

MOTLEY, William G. HMS Mildura 17.1.1898 Lyttelton. Down. 2nd class, born in Woodville, NZ about 16yrs, 5’ 3 3/4", dark-brown hair, blue eyes, fresh complexion

HMS Mildura 3rd class cruiser, 2575 tons, ex. "HMS Perlous" Aux. Squadron Australian Station and NZ. 1891-1905.

MOWERER, Arthur Leonard HMS Mildura 22.11.1900 at Lyttelton. Stoker, b. England, 27yrs, 5’ 6 3/4", light-brown hair, grey eyes, brownish complexion; scar on back of left hand.

O’CONNOR Michael HMS Dido from Sydney on 4.10.1875 AB, b. London, 20yrs, 5’ 7½", brown hair, very blue eyes, fresh complexion, no whiskers &c. He will probably endeavour to make his way to Nelson or Greymouth, NZ. £3 reward.
 
PIL, Ah HMS Cordelia pre 13.5.1891 at Auckland. 3rd class cook, born in Canton, 28yrs, 5’ 7½", dark hair, black eyes, dark complexion, cut over each eye. £3 reward each, if apprehended within two years. Plus £5 Col. Govts.

PILGRIM, William HMS Royalist 6.5.1897 at Auckland. Ord., b. Norwich, England, about 29yrs, 5’ 4", brown hair, blue eyes, fresh complexion

POIDEWIN John HMS Nymphe 5.8.1878 Wellington. Ord seaman, born on the 30th September, 1857, at St. Lawrence, Jersey, 5’ 5", light brown hair, blue eyes, fair complexion. Scar on left hand.

POPE, George Alfred HMS Rapid 18.8.1895 at Auckland. Ordinary seaman, born in Somerset, England, about 18yrs, 5’ 7½", light-brown hair, fresh complexion, scar side of right cheek.

POWELL, Wm. Hy. HMS Katoomba on 29.6.1893 at Auckland. Stoker, b. Radnorshire, Wales, about 22yrs, 5’ 4", brown hair, brown eyes, fair complexion, cut on under lip.
 
PRICE, Joseph HMS Wallaroo  29.5.1896 at Auckland,.  A stoker, b. Edinburgh, Scotland, about 21yrs, 5’ 3", dark hair, brown eyes, fresh complexion, tattoo dot on both thumbs.

RANKIN, Charles Edward HMS Tauranga 22 at Wellington 14/2/1900 AB, b. England, about 22yrs, 5’ B", dark-brown hair, grey eyes, fair complexion.

SHIRES Francis HMS Wolverine at Auckland 8/5/1878 Stoker, b. Islington, London, in March, l857, 5’ 6", brown hair, blue eyes, pale complexion; a painter. Supposed to have relatives in the vicinity of Surry Hills, Sydney.

SMITH, William HMS Torch 25/11/1897 at Auckland. Stoker, b. Maidstone, Kent, about 23yrs, 5’ 6", black hair, dark brown eyes, fresh complexion. £3 reward, if apprehended within two years.

TAIT, Albert HMS Ringarooma pre 24/6/1896 Stoker, b. at Auckland 22yrs, 5’ 9", blue eyes, light brown hair, sallow complexion.

VENNALL, William H. J. HMS Mildura pre 3/1/1900 at Auckland AB b. Hastings, England, about 21yrs, 5’ 6", brown hair, grey eyes, fresh complexion.

WEBBER, Jas HMS Nymphe 5/8/1878 Wellington OS b. 8 June, 1860 at St. Gormans, Cornwall, 5’ 4", brown hair, grey eyes, fresh complexion.

WEEKS, Charles W. HMS Orlando 3/8/1892 at Auckland. Stoker, b. Chatham, England, 26yrs, 5’ 4", dark-brown hair, hazel eyes, fresh complexion. £3 reward, if apprehended within two years. Plus £5 NSW.

WILLIAMS, John HMS Curacoa 5/1/1894 at Lyttelton. Private, R.M.L.I b. Llanover, Abergaveny, Monmouthshire, about 29yrs, 5’ 6 3/4", brown hair, blue eyes, fresh complexion.

WOODHOUSE, Joseph E. HMS Wallaroo 25/1/1895 at Auckland. Stoker, b. Wales, about 24yrs, 5’3", brown hair, blue eyes, fresh complexion, scar end of small finger right hand. £3 reward, if apprehended within two years. Plus £5 NSW.

WOOLLEY, Joseph HMS Mohawk pre 2/5/1900 at Wellington, Ord., b. Wales, about 18yrs, 5’ 6", dark brown hair, grey eyes, dark complexion, numerous dark spots (from explosion ) on face. £3 reward if apprehended within two years.
 

• Watts. My Ancestor was a Merchant Seaman by Chris and Michael Watts. Explains how to trace a seaman's record.
   

• South Australia Archives

Here are some mariners who appeared in Oamaru Court, NZ

September 10 1877
Frederick LOW a 25 year old English sailor was sentenced in the Oamaru District Court to 14 days hard labour following his conviction on a breach of the Shipping Act.

May 2 1878
James POLSON, 21 year old Swedish seaman was sentenced in Oamaru District Court to 5 weeks hard labour or a L5 fine for assaulting police. The fine was paid the same day.

January 30 1879
Patrick GREENWAY, 34 year old Irish seaman, sentenced in Oamaru District Court to 42 days hard labour for larceny.

April 29 1880
John SHOREMAN, 27 year old American seaman, sentenced to 6 days hard labour for obscene language. Served sentence at Oamaru gaol,

October 16 1880
Peter MCKENNA, 25 year old Nova Scotia seaman, sentenced to 2 months hard labour & 8 months imprisonment in default of bail (sentences concurrent) on 2 charges of damaging property. One previous conviction.

February 4 1881
Edward ROBERTS, 45 year Welsh seaman and labourer, sentenced to 28 days hard labour for breach of peace. Served sentence at Oamaru gaol.

February 26 1881
Frederick J THORSBY, 29 year old English seaman, sentenced to 2 months hard labour for assault.

March 27 1883
Harry JOHNSON, 28 year old Dutch seaman, sentenced to 6 weeks hard labour for larceny.

March 30 1883
Martin ANDERSON, 28 year old Norwegian seaman, sentenced to 14 days hard labour for refusing to work on board ship.

March 30 1883
Luil BERG, 27 year old Norwegian seaman, sentenced to 14 days hard labour for refusing to work on board ship.

April 23 1883
Thomas MASON, 24 year old English sailor, sentenced to 7 days hard labour for assault. Served sentence at Oamaru gaol.

November 14 1883
Charles LEHMAN, 24 year old German sailor, sentenced to 4 weeks hard labour for disobeying orders on board ship. Served sentence at Oamaru gaol.

September 9 1884
Richard GIBLIN alias James GALLAGHER alias Patrick MURPHY alias John MORAN alias James MCMANUS, 22 year old Irish seaman and shoemaker, sentenced to years hard labour for forgery. 1 p/c

November 13 1884
George COOPER, 33 year old English seaman, sentenced to 48 hours hard labour for malicious injury to property. Served sentence at Oamaru gaol.

February 28 1885
Mathew G SHARPLEY, 23 year old London born fireman, sentenced to 14 days hard labour for larceny. Served sentence at Oamaru gaol.

April 27 1885
Howell E WILLIAMS, 22 year old Liverpool born seaman, sentenced to 7 days hard labour for larceny. Served sentence at Oamaru gaol.

July 23 1885
John ROBERTSON, 27 year old Scottish seaman, sentenced to 7 days hard labour for being A.W.O.L. from his ship. Served sentence at Oamaru gaol.

June 4 1886
James Martin 28 year old Norwegian seaman, sentenced to 6 months hard labour for larceny. On June 21 1886 he received an additional 14 days hard labour for larceny and on September 7 1886 a further 12 months hard labour for burglary. All sentences cumulative. It was noted he had a bullet wound in his left cheek. At some stage he was transferred to Lyttelton gaol where he completed his sentence.

September 21 1886
William WILSON alias MCKENZIE, 32 year old Scottish seaman and labourer, sentenced to 3 days hard labour for larceny. Served sentence at Oamaru gaol.

September 7 1886
James MARTIN,26 year old Norwegian seaman and labourer, sentenced to 12 months hard labour for burglary and larceny, on expiration of previous sentences. He was acquitted on similar charge. 2 p/cs.

April 21 1887
George alias Thomas INGRAM, 46 year old English seaman and lumper, sentenced to 1 months hard labour for larceny. 1 p/c.

September 6 1887
John MCGUIRE alias BAKER, 24 year old seaman, born in New Orleans, sentenced to 2 years hard labour for breaking into and stealing from a
shop. On September 7 he was sentenced to 12 months hard labour for larceny to be cumulative on earlier sentence.

September 6 1887
James SCOTT alias COOK alias SMITH, 28 year old Scottish seaman, sentenced to 2 years hard labour for larceny. On March 13 1888 he was sentenced to 3 years penal servitude for housebreaking, both sentences concurrent. He was transferred to Wellington gaol. Several p/cs.

March 3 1888
Robert MCCLUSKY, 33 year old Irish seaman and labourer, sentenced to 2 months hard labour for larceny.

March 13 1888
John BURKE alias J C KEATING, 28 year old English seaman, acquitted on charge of housebreaking.

December 21 1889
Robert BENNETT, 26 year old ploughman & seaman, born Cork, fined 2 pounds plus costs or 7 days hard labour for cruelty to animals.

February 15 1890
Frederick LEVINE, 23 year old sailor, born Copenhagen, sentenced to 7 days hard labour for obscene language and a concurrent 7 days for “refusing to quit licensed premises”. Served sentence at Oamaru gaol.

August 18 1890
John TUCKER, 26 year old English fireman, was sentenced to 14 days hard labour for indecent language. Served sentence at Oamaru gaol.

August 18 1890
Joseph KAYLEY, 22 year English fireman, sentenced to 7 days hard labour for indecent language, 7 days hard labour for assaulting police (concurrent) and 48 hour imprisonment for threatening behaviour. Served sentence at Oamaru gaol.

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Archway  - Deserter

Biger Roald Bramer Rasmussen 	- Deserter 1957 1958 Wgtn 
C.F.S. Boorg 			- Deserter 1957 1957 Wgtn 
Hans Olav Modahl 		- Deserter ex "Maricopa" (ship) 1961 1962 Wgtn 
Jaroslav Josef Prokop 		- Deserter ex "Condesa" (ship) 1957 1957 Wgtn 
Olaf Danlgren 			- Deserter ex "Benoil" (ship) 1954 1954 Wgtn 
A Lyell, SS "Holmdale" 		(ship): Protests at being treated as a deserter when forced to leave ship by Cooks and Stewards Union 1926 1926 Wgtn 
A Thomson, SS "Kurow" 		(ship): Refused to go to sea and posted as deserter but the shore superintendent and local manager of USS Co and Secretary Seamen's Union ask that wages be paid to him 1926 1927 Wgtn 
Angirios Candiliofis 		- Deserter ex "Sambrian" (ship) 1946 1947 Wgtn 
HJ Hawkins 			- Deserter, SS "Akaroa" (ship) 1945 1946 Wgtn 
Master of schooner "Morning Light" (ship) engaging L Taylor, boy deserter from barque "Hazel Craig" (ship) 1915 1915 Wgtn 
Refund of wages to R Strachan, SS "Wanaka" (ship) wrongly treated as deserter 1919 1919 Wgtn 
S Resenius, SS "Monowai" 	(ship), recommends that seamen be not treated as deserter as he was in hospital 1915 1915 Wgtn 
George Greenaway, Bay of Islands - Record Missing 19 May 1836 Regarding recovery of a boat from "Anastatia" (ship), taken by a deserter, turned adrift and found by Monga-nui, son of River who now claims it. 
Private Thomas Wakefield (deserter) - February-March 1867 1867 1867 Wgtn 
Preben Nielsen and Kjell Jonassen deserters ex "Thordis" (ship) 1962 1962 Wgtn 

Captain Townsend - 13 August 1878 - Stating that there have been fourteen desertions from the "Nymph" (ship) in the last month, and that it is most probable that the deserters have been given aid by New Zealanders, and requesting that great effort be made to bring the deserters to justice
- Enclosed: F Atchison to Col Whitmore stating that it is believe that a man named Jones aided three deserters and placed them on the schooner "Enterprise" (ship), and requesting the aid of Capt Townsend in prosecuting him - 15 August 1878

- Memo: Grey to the Governor forwarding above letter from Atchison together with a statement on the deserters who have already been apprehended - 17 August 1878 1878 1878 Wgtn

M Hurtel, Commander "L'Albatros" (ship) (Havre) - Regarding 3 deserters from his ship; who fled to the ship "Pacific" (ship) (commanded by Captain Miller). Captain Miller refused to give them up. Asks for help from Busby. (p154)
- 2 April 1839 - Note by Busby that he went with Captain Hurtel to "Pacific" (ship), but it was opposition from view that made it impossible to give up deserters, not Captain Miller.

JR Clendon, "Pacific" (ship), Kororareka - Regarding desertions from "L'Albatros" (ship). States the facts, Captain has called on him to help him recover the deserters. Suggests that Busby's presence will help the affair to be quietly wound up.

20 March 1835 - Henry Careless, Surgeon to barque "Luisa" (ship) - Regarding Captain Wright refusing to take back on board seaman by the name of "Joey." Wellington
20 March 1835 - Henry Careless, Surgeon, "Luisa" (ship),- On behalf of Captain Wright states that as "Joey" was AWOL for 12 hours, he forfeited his property. Joey had signed the articles to be obedient, and Captain Wright cannot think of taking him on board again.
20 March 1835 - Busby to Captain Wright, "Luisa" (ship) - Draft letter, asking that Captain Wright think again. If "Joey" is entered on ship's articles he cannot be left against his will in the Bay of Islands, and if he is a passenger Wright cannot retain any of his property.
20 March 1835 - Busby to Captain Wright, "Luisa" (ship) - Unless Captain Wright receives "Joey" on board, or gives up his property (on which condition "Joey" is willing to be left at the Bay), Busby will have Wright prosecuted on his arrival in London. The penalty for leaving a seaman abroad against his will is 3 months imprisonment.

19 May 1836 - George Greenaway, Bay of Islands - Regarding recovery of a boat from "Anastatia" (ship), taken by a deserter, turned adrift and found by Monga-nui, son of River who now claims it Annexed: Busby notes that it has since been recovered.

Auckland 1878 - Captain Townsend - 28 June 1878 - Stating that the bill for the maintenance of three seamen in the Mount Eden Gaol was paid to the Mayor before the "Nymph" (ship) left Auckland
Wellington 1926:J McDermott, SS "Maheno" (ship) - Absent without leave - Maintenance expenses reimbursement out of forfeited wages.
Wellington 1928: J Connolly, SS "Storm" (ship): Absent at time of sailing and given a good discharge: New man engaged but Connolly returns on board: What is position?
Wellington 1930: Seamen absent without leave being injured and put into hospital: Can wages be used to defray expenses?

Ships very seldom stopped en-route as they did not want crew or passengers jumping ship

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Last 	Name First Name Ship Name Port of Registry 	Departure Date Comments					Rank/Position 
ALBRO 	Edward 		FAVORITE 	Fairhaven 	8/27/1843 	on at the Bay of Islands, NZ 01/22/1845 Did not return from voyage Seaman 
ANTHONY Silas 		FAVORITE 	Fairhaven 	8/27/1843 	on at the Bay of Islands, NZ 01/16/1845 Did not return from voyage Seaman
BAKER 	Thomas R. 	RUSSELL 	New Bedford 	8/28/1845 	Deserted at NZ 
BOLTON 	Thomas William 	CANTON PACKET 	New Bedford 	10/13/1845 	on at Sydney NSW 10/13/1846 prisoned at Russell, NZ failure to board 
CONKLIN Harry 		SOUTH BOSTON 	Fairhaven 	11/3/1842 	Deserted at NZ 01/25/1844 Ordinary 
CORMAN 	Frank 		MOCTEZUMA 	New Bedford 	8/28/1841 	on at the Bay of Islands, NZ did not return Ordinary
FORTIER Joseph 		GENERAL PIKE 	New Bedford 	9/7/1843 	Deserted at NZ 
GENTIUS Charles 	DRAPER 		New Bedford 	4/30/1842 	Deserted at NZ 
GILLMAN John B. 	GENERAL PIKE 	New Bedford 	9/7/1843 	Deserted at NZ 
HAWKINS Adrian 		CANTON PACKET 	New Bedford 	10/13/1845 	on at Sydney NSW 10/09/1846 prisoned at Russell, NZ failure to board bark 
HILL 	John B. 	GENERAL PIKE 	New Bedford 	9/7/1843 	Deserted at NZ 
HILLS 	Arnold 		MOCTEZUMA 	New Bedford 	8/28/1841  	on at the Bay of Islands, NZ 08/21/1843 did not return Seaman
LAMB 	William 	CANTON PACKET 	New Bedford 	10/13/1845 	on at Sydney NSW 10/09/1846 prisoned at Russell, NZ failure to board 
LONG 	William 	SOUTH BOSTON 	Fairhaven 	11/3/1842  	Deserted at NZ 01/25/1844 Blacksmith
LOWE 	Thomas 		SOUTH BOSTON 	Fairhaven 	11/3/1842 	Deserted at NZ 01/25/1844 Ordinary
LOWE 	Thomas G. 	SOUTH BOSTON 	Fairhaven 	11/3/1842 	Deserted at NZ 01/25/1844 Greenhand
MASON 	JAMES 		OCEAN 		New Bedford 	12/31/1844  	Deserted at Whangaroa NZ 03/21/1848 Greenhand
MCLEAN 	Alexander 	ADDISON 	Fairhaven 	6/9/1834 	Deserted at NZ 01/25/1835 
MILLER 	William 	ADDISON 	Fairhaven 	6/9/1834 	Deserted at NZ 01/25/1835 age 12, residence NY, 5' 10
POOLE 	James 		CANTON PACKET 	Fairhaven	10/13/1845 	Imprisoned at Russell, NZ for failure to board bark 
ROSSIN 	William 	SOUTH BOSTON 	Fairhaven 	11/3/1842 	Deserted at NZ 01/25/1844 Seaman 
SMITH 	Lewis 		ADDISON 	Fairhaven 	6/9/1834 	Deserted at NZ 01/25/1835 age 25, black, 5'5" 
TENY 	Peter 		SOUTH BOSTON 	Fairhaven 	11/3/1842  	Deserted at NZ 01/25/1844 Greenhand
THORP 	Daniel D. 	OCEAN 		Fairhaven 	12/31/1844 	Deserted at Whangaroa NZ 03/12/1847 Ordinary 
TIMSON 	James  		ADDISON 	Fairhaven 	6/9/1834 	Deserted at NZ 01/25/1835 age 23

Our ancestors were much more mobile than we generally think!