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The 'George Henderson'
Departed Nova Scotia 4 Dec. 1859
Arrived Cape Town 6 Feb. 1860
Arrived Sydney, AUS 4 April 1860
Arrived Auckland, NZ 27 April 1860
Wrecked off New Plymouth Aug. 1860The brig "George Henderson", 171 tons, was built in Pugwash by Levi Woodworth Eaton who was a shipbuilder and merchant in the town. It was the last ship he built in Nova Scotia as he felt the best days of shipbuilding there were ended and he decided to go to New Zealand with his family.
The ship set sail from Pugwash on 4 December 1859. For the next nine days they suffered storms as they headed south and then the weather became warmer and more settled. The ship crossed the Equator on 30 December and the customary ceremony of Neptune "coming on board" and blackening the faces of some of the passengers and crew was observed. As they approached Cape Town the winds became very light and only 200 miles were achieved in over a week. Land, (South Africa) was sighted on the 6 February and the vessel came to anchor in Simmonds Bay, Cape Town, late that same evening. The following day most of those on board went ashore and some washed their clothes in a stream that entered the Bay close to the town. Apparently some of the younger men enjoyed a "happy" time with some of the local washer women. The town, (Cape Town) was described as a mile long with with many buildings of stone and covered with a type of plaster and there was a lot of activity. In the harbour, at that time, were ten large merchant ships and five Men 'o War. The ships main cargo was coal to be unloaded in the harbour. Food was considered expensive with beef at 8d (240d = 1 pound) and potatoes 10/-s (120d) a bushel. Wine was cheap and so was fruit.
An additional 28 passengers boarded and 3 from Pugwash stayed. They were reported to have stayed for 15 days but the "Henderson" set sail for Sydney on 26 February (20 days). They arrived in Sydney on 4 April 1860. It is reported that virtually the whole complement of passengers stayed in Australia, many going to the goldfields and some took to farming, but the Eaton family went on to New Zealand and in 1888 Levi Eaton was reported to have 20 grandchildren.
The "Henderson" was wrecked at Henui Beach, New Plymouth during a gale on August 16 1860. No lives were lost and the crew returned to Sydney, with the exception of the Eatons. It is unfortunate that there does not appear to be a record of those leaving Pugwash only those that arrived in Sydney. Dan McLennan later went to New Zealand.
The following list include everyone on board the ship when she arrived in Sydney:CREW
Name Rank George Eaton Mate Hugh Kennedy 2ndMate William McKenn O/Seaman Richard Ledbetter O/Seaman George Page O/Seaman Archibald Dawson O/Seaman William Orchard O/Seaman Thomas Dawson O/Seaman Albert Eaton O/Seaman Thomas Severn O/Seaman Isabella McLennan Stewardess
PASSENGERS
Anna Biglo J. Fulton Margaret McLean Annie Biglo J. Gerguson N. McLean I. Biglo (Jr.) J. Grahame Mrs McLean I. Biglo T. Harley C. McLeod Sarah Biglo G. Hines J. Malone Christopher J. Hoare Marion R. Bryaens Rev. D. Hobbs J. Marrowbey F. Chipman Mrs Hobbs R. Morrison G. Chipman John Hughes W. Morrison H. Chipman John Hume A. Murray Margaret Chipman - Mrs James J. Myers Mrs Chipman Kennedy D. Nicholson P. Coi C. A. Kennedy J. Nicholson P. Dogval A. MacLeod O. Nicholson Mr J. Eaton McDonald R. Noble Mrs Eaton A. McEachron Page L.W. Eaton Mrs McKinnon D. Rhoubin Miss Eaton G. McLean S. South S.W. Eaton J. McLean Mrs Stratford Mrs Ferguson M. McLean Watson Signed John James
I have a photocopy of the original list and the writing gets smaller as it goes down the page as the clerk realised he would not get them all on one page. Some of the names are very difficult to read. My Grandfather was the John Hume listed.
References:
1. Account of the voyage was taken from letters written by the two of passengers who sailed on it with my grandfather (yes grandfather), John Calvin HUME. He also was born in 1835 at Baddeck and lived in Pugwash and helped build the ship.
2. The passenger list was obtained by a relative of Mr Hume from New South Wales Archives a few years ago. A list for this ship was given in "The History of Pugwash" by James F. Smith but it was not complete.
� 1998-2001 Keith Hume, Kent, England
This page may be freely linked to but not duplicated in any fashion without Keith Hume's consent. Email khume@netcomuk.co.uk
Researching:- HULME, DAWSON (In Lancs.)
HUME, McKAY (New Brunswick & Nova Scotia)
SHERMAN, SIMMONS AND CHASE (USA & Canada)
SHERRING & BLUNDEN (Hampshire, England)
FALL (Ireland & Australia)
Credit goes to Mr Hume for the research and supplying the information. Thank you.
Pugwash - an native word for deep water - a tiny fishing village located in north-eastern Nova Scotia. Only 75 km from the ferry to P.E.I. or 185 km from Halifax, the provincial capital._________________________________
The Southern Cross 1 May 1860 page 2
Imports - Foreign
Per George Henderson, from Pugwash, Nova Scotia
-2 cases amptrotype, 40 barrels salt, and 2800 bricks.
Port of Auckland, entered inwards
April 27 1860 - George Henderson, brig, 171 tons, John James, from
Pugwash, Nova Scotia, via Sydney. Passengers-
Chipman Mr and Mrs and 3 children Christipher Mr de Blaquier Mr Eaton Mr L.W Mr and Mrs Eaton Miss Eaton Mr G Fulton Mr J Johnes Mrs and son McKinnon Capt. and Mrs McEacheren Miss Morris Dr Stratfrord Mrs and 3 sons_______________________________The Southern Cross Tuesday 26th June 1860 pg2
Arrived June 25 - The George Henderson, 171 tons, Captain James, arrived in harbour on Sunday morning, fifteen days from Newcastle. She brings a cargo of coal consigned to Messrs Thornton, Smith and Firth. The brig has encountered baffling winds on her voyage down. Henderson and Macfarlane, agents.The Southern Cross Friday 20th July 1860 pg2
Sailed July 16 - George Henderson, brig, James, for Taranaki.
Levi Woodworth Eaton and Sarah Bigelow Family History information can be found here on Keith Berry's page. Levi was born August 23 1811 and died September 20 1897 at 86 years of age.
Death record--Nova Scotia--District 2 Cumberland. Register Number 2477
First Name George. Last Name Eaton. Birthplace (New Zealand).
Age 14 years DOD 1876-9-26
Parents: George
Mary Ann Crane
Spouse: Eaton
Frederick William Wallace Wooden Ships & Iron Men / publisher George Sully
& Company NY 1937. Does not mention the 'George Henderson' but well
worth reading if you are interested in the old-time shipping of the Maritime Provinces of
Canada. A 'Bluenose' is a Nova Scotian: so called from the cold climate. "The
Bluenose mate was a fearless and splendid seaman. He never spoke. He
roared, and his voice would boom around the decks in a gorgeous mixture of commands and
picturesque oaths. The Bluenose second mate was usually a mere
youth but he was an extremely capable youth or he would not be second mate on a Bluenose
ship.
In a British North American ship, the steward may be a man or a
woman. It was quite common thing for a man and his wife to look after the cooking
and the upkeep of the cabin quarters - either one going in the galley and doing the
cooking. A stewardess was much better than a man in many
ways. She usually kept the cabin neater, could make more out of the food provided in
the way of tasty dishes, and would superintend things pretty much in the manner of a
boarding house mistress or housekeeper ashore.
The only British North American vessels carrying a native crew
were the fishing and coasting schooners, and possibly some of the smaller brigs and
brigantines. The crews of the deep-water ships and barques were composed of all
nationalities and seamen were picked up in whatever ports they happened to require
them"
When a vessel is named after a person it is alphabetised by the first name. Thus the George Henderson is alphabetised under "G" rather than "H." Often the George Henderson is seen referred to as "the Henderson." Also for vessels with multiple word names, the vessels are alphabetised by the initial word in the name.