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MERMAID
The Mermaid was a large wooden clipper of 1326 tons built in 1853 by J. McDonald of Saint John, New Brunswick and owned by D. Plain (Davies & Plain managers) of Cardiff. She was chartered by the White Star Line to run to Australian ports in the fifties. In 1859 she was in the New Zealand trade. On the '62 voyage she was chartered by the Shaw, Savill and Co. She made seven trips to Lyttelton all under the command of Captain Rose. Captain Henry Rose b. 1833 was the first manager of the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Shipping Company. Timeframes has a portrait of this gentleman who devoted fifty years to shipping. He captained the Merope, Mermaid, Rakaia and Waimate.
To
Auckland : Sailed July 11, arrived Oct. 19 1859, Captain White.
From London via Melbourne arrived Auckland Nov. 22 1860 under Captain Kerr.
Sailed Sep. 3 and arrived Dec. 16 1861 under Captain H. Rose.
To Lyttelton: Arrived Dec. 27 1862,
Feb. 16 1864 with 380 passengers,
Jan. 21 1865, Jan. 1
1866,
Jan. 5 1867, Jan. 2, 1868 and Jan. 8
1869 all under Captain
H. Rose.
From the Lyttelton Times, December 27, 1862
The favourite clipper ship Mermaid maintains her high reputation for speed and regularity. Less than eight months have elapsed since she left Lyttelton with a homeward cargo of wool, and of that period nearly two months and a half have been spent in London. As previously announced she made a run home in seventy-five days, and was safe in the docks on the 78th. Her outward trip has been hardly more lengthy, only reckoning eighty-one days from Plymouth to Lyttelton. On this occasion she brings out 267 passengers, the greater part Government immigrants, who are well spoken of as regards their conduct and a general stamp. She also brings a fair number of cabin passengers, several of whom are old familiar faces and therefore more welcome. Among the later we notice the Rev. H. Fendall, Mr. and Mrs. E. Jollie, Mrs. Phillips, and Mr. Gray. The passengers of all classes write in expressing feelings of warm regard for and attentive conduct of Captain Rose and his officers, most of whom are old friends, well appreciated in these parts. Four births occurred during the voyage and eight deaths. Seven of these were infants, and one adult, a Miss Buxton, sister of Mr. Buxton, saddler, Christchurch, who we believe died from the result of epilepsy.
Passengers by the Mermaid.
Arrived - December 27, ship, Mermaid, 1233 tons, Rose, from London. Passengers -
Mr and Mrs Baines
Mr and Mrs Lean and family
Mr and Mrs Jollie and child
Rev. H. Fendall [went back to England from Christchurch so made a round trip on the "Mermaid"]
Mrs Philips
Mrs Edwards
Miss Coe
Messrs Woodhouse, Barker, Langren, Leggitt, Elias, Hayward, and Gray
Government immigrants - Married Couples:
Surname Given name Sp #Children Origin Occupation Remarks Bates William Y 1 Lincolnshire Farm Labourer Bettle William Y 2 Northamptonshire Labourer Bradford J. Y 6 Oxfordshire Carpenter Browne William Y 1 Tyrone Ploughman Buxton John Y Staffordshire saddler Cassan John Y 1 Down Farm Labourer Chinery Charles Y 3 Norfolk Farm Labourer Clark A. Y Inverness-shire Ploughman Clarke Hans Y Down Farm Labourer Cocking T. Y Cornwall Farm Labourer Cole John W. Y 3 Middlesex Tailor Corrick John Y 3 Somersetshire Shoemaker Dalley William H. Y Cornwall Smith Dance George Y Worcestershire Labourer Deyell George Y Cavan Ploughman Diggle M. Y 4 Leicestershire Farm Labourer Evans Charles Y 2 Cornwall Farm Labourer Fletcher E. Y Gloucestershire Labourer Forquar George Y 1 Armagh Farm Labourer Gadd Alfred Y 3 Nottingham Gardener Greig Alexander Y 4 Aberdeenshire Labourer Griffiths William Y 3 Montgomeryshire Labourer Hawkins William Y Bucks Baker Howard Patrick Y 2 Cork Labourer Hudson Francis Y 4 Derbyshire Smith Hindly David Y 1 Forfarshire Ploughman (?Findlay) Keast J. Y Cornwall Farm Labourer M'Grath Charles Y 1 Down Farm Labourer M'Wha Matthew Y Down Farm Labourer Maneton J. Y 2 Cornwall Smith Moore James Y 1 Down Farm Labourer Murphy T. Y 1 Galway Shoemaker Oates J. Y 1 Cornwall Labourer Ravenhill Henry Y 1 Antrim Farm Labourer Satchell William Y 1 Warwickshire Bricklayer Shade William Y Alderney Farm Labourer Smith John Y Roxburghshire Ploughman Stan G.H. Y 2 Devonshire Tailor Stanbury J.F. Y 2 Devonshire Mason Stevenson Thomas Y 1 Down Farm Labourer Thompson John Y Yorkshire Mechanic Virtue James Y 2 Berwickshire Shoemaker Voghan George Y Cavan Farm Labourer Walters T.J. Y 1 Cornwall Smith Walters Thomas Y 1 Cornwall Smith Weir T. Y Antrim Farm Labourer unable to read one couple's name.
Single Women
Ainge Sarah Warwickshire Domestic Servant Bray Martha Cornwall Nursemaid Black Eliza Antrim Domestic Servant Boulger Kate Galway Domestic Servant Bow Marion Lanarkshire Domestic Servant Brien Mary Limerick Dairymaid Brien Elizabeth Limerick Dairymaid Brown Ann Fifeshire Brown Caroline Middlesex Milliner and nephew Buxton Mary Martha Staffordshire Domestic Servant Buxton Elizabeth Staffordshire Domestic Servant Byrne Anne Queen's County Domestic Servant Cardell Prudence Cornwall Domestic Servant Cariney Margaret Isle of Man Cariney Louisa Isle of Man Cariney Mrs Isle of man Cloe Edith E. Middlesex Domestic Servant Coghlin Mary Cork Cook Cole Edith E. Middlesex Domestic Servant Cole Eliza Ann Middlesex Cole Sarah J. Middlesex Nurse Cole Ellen R. Middlesex Milliner Cole Lucy E. Middlesex Governess Cole Catherine W. Middlesex Housekeeper Connel Bidelia Galway Domestic Servant Corbett Bridget Galway Dairymaid Corrick Eliza Somersetshire Domestic Servant Cox Dinah 1 GloucestershireDomestic Servant Daley Ellen Antrim Domestic Servant Deyell Sarah Cavan Farm Servant Donelly _ Tyrone Domestic Servant Downes Marion Lanarkshire Domestic Servant Dysert Mary Antrim Dairywoman Dysert Martha Antrim Dairywoman Fitzsimmons Jane Cornwall Domestic Servant Fitzsimmons Mary Cornwall Domestic Servant Glasgow Rosanna Antrim Dairywoman Glasgow Eliz. Antrim Dairywoman Gough Sarah A. 1 Staffordshire Domestic Servant Gray Grace Aryshire Domestic Servant Greasby Mary Yorkshire Greg Jean Buteshire Domestic Servant Gunn Ann Sutherland Domestic Servant Hudson Emma 4 Derbyshire James Elizabeth J. Cornwall Domestic Servant Jaures Sarah GloucestershireDomestic Servant Jenning H.M. Yorkshire Domestic Servant Keast Eliza M. Cornwall Keeley Katherine Limerick Dairymaid Keeman Margaret Derry Housemaid Madden Winifred Galway Domestic Servant Maguire Catherine Antrim Dairywoman Malley Biddy Galway Farm Servant McCeland Margaret Aramgh Domestic Servant Murphy May 1 Galway Domestic Servant Park Hannah Armagh Domestic Servant Parsons Louisa Bucks Domestic Servant Patterson Eliz. Cavan Farm Servant Radford Harriet Oxfordshire Richards Ann Glamorganshire Domestic Servant Stodden Grace Cornwall Domestic Servant Talmon Eliz. Notts Housekeeper Toms Clara Middlesex Dressmaker Wall Honora Queen's County Dairywoman Wall Bridget Queen's County Dairywoman Willis Mary Cornwall Dairywoman Worthington Margaret 1 Notts
Single Men
Bates George Leicestershire Farm Labourer Browne Joseph Staffordshire Labourer Bryne Martin Queen's County Farm Labourer Buxton William Staffordshire Campion Charles Staffordshire Farm Labourer Commins Michael Limerick Farm Labourer Corrick Albert Somersetshire Cox David Forfarshire Mason Donelly James Tyrone Farm Labourer Donelly Edward Tyrone Farm Labourer Geoghehan Patrick Galway Ploughman Ginavan John Limerick Farm Labourer Gray Charles Ayrshire Labourer Grey Thomas Buteshire Carpenter Gunn Donald Sutherland Labourer Gunn Robert Sutherland Labourer Head Edward John Cornwall Smith Hopkins Alfred Gloucestershire Labourer Howard Daniel Cork Labourer Howard Michael Cork Labourer Luddy William Limerick Farm Labourer Malley John Galway Farm Labourer Malley John Galway Farm Labourer Malley George Galway Farm Labourer Maneton Edwin Cornwall age 13 Menzies Archibald Gardener Paton James Ayrshire Labourer Plumridge William Bucks Farm Labourer Quick Paul Cornwall Carpenter Radford John Oxfordshire Richards Thomas Gloucestershire Farm Labourer Richards James Gloucestershire Farm Labourer Richards Joseph Gloucestershire Farm Labourer Rooney William Tyrone Farm Labourer Salmon P.H. Middlesex Labourer Smith John Forfarshire Cartwright Smith David Ayrshire Stonecutter Smith James Ayrshire Ploughman Virtue James Berkwickshire Labourer Wiiliams George Cornwall Farm Labourer Williams David Staffordshire Labourer
| Married couples and families | 153 | 153 = 46 couples (92) + 61 children |
| Single men | 40 | 41 |
| Single woman and children | 78 | 76 = 67 + 9 |
| Total souls � � � � � � | 271 | 270 plus 20+ in cabins |
| 290+ (my count) |
Note - There will probably be in addition 12 single women and 4 married
couples.
____________________
Information above courtesy of Jean Price. Page created 30 Nov. 2000. Jean's ancestor on this ship is Dinah COX (nee THOMAS from Lydney, Gloucestershire) and son. Dinah is Jean's great grandmother. Family legend has it that she originally travelled with the FENDALL family to NZ as a companion to the Fendall children. I have nothing to substantiate this (except she was on the same ship), but find it interesting that she travels on the same ship as the Fendalls back to England with her first born, on the round trip of the "Mermaid". The Rose of Sharon (F. Young & Co.'s line) 1500 tons, for Wellington and Canterbury on 20th Sept. 1856.
The Rev. FENDALL had been the vicar of Crambe, Yorkshire, and his sister was Mrs Bathurst, of Lydney Park, Lydney, Gloucestershire. Diane is found as a cabin passenger travelling with the Fendall family on the Rose of Sharon to Canterbury in 1857.] His 2nd eldest son, Walpole founded Fendalton, a suburb of Christchurch. Henry's uncle, John became Lieutenant-governor of Java and Singapore in 1816. Henry's father, William was Sheriff of Gloucester. Anglican History pdf
Timaru Herald
FENDALL. On the 27th May, 1882 at Ashbury, the residence of his son- in-law, Captain Belfield Woollcombe, R.N., the Rev. Henry Fendall, aged 87. [Buried in the Timaru Cemetery]____________________
Daily Southern Cross, 27 September 1862, Page 3
We copy the following from the Times, July 22nd : "To Henry Rose, Esq , captain of the ship 'Mermaid.' � July 19th, 1862 �Sir, we, the undersigned passengers by the ship 'Mermaid,' from Canterbury, New Zealand, to London, having, by the mercy of a kind providence, arrived at the place of our destination after a short and pleasant voyage of 73 days, cannot now take our leave of you without expressing the grateful sense we entertain of the constant, kind, and courteous attention which we have received at your hands We are quite sure you have not left a single opportunity unimproved of administering to our comfort and happiness by means consistent with the necessary ship regulations, and whilst if the hour of danger had come we should have placed the greatest confidence in your comage and skill as a commander . It gives us pleasure to acknowledge that in the hour of relaxation we found in you a cheerful, agreeable, and most gentlemanly companion. We feel too, that the same remarks equally apply to all the other officers of the ship, and we shall esteem it as a favour if you will covey to them the expression of our grateful acknowledgments. We are also bound to state that we have found the table ; arrangements on board your ship conducted upon so liberal a scale, that not only all the necessaries, but the greater part of the luxuries of her have been supplied to us in ample abundance. Sincerely wishing to yourself and the other officers of the ship every happiness, and much professional success, we remain, Sir, your very obedient servants, A. K. Abbott, Wm. Ewart, H. Fendall, W N. Millton, John Wallace, Thomas Fisher, M.D., Michael Lewis, John Miln, Arch. Clark and family.____________________
The two families children had 'identical names' but different birthdates.
My Opie ancestors under the surname 'Manaton' (Maneton in the Lyttelton Times) came from Calstock Parish, Cornwall. Peternell, my great great grandmother, married Francis Opie (d.1861), of Stithians, m. in Calstock in 1841 and she married John Manaton in 1862 just a week before the �Mermaid� sailed, settling in Christchurch. The official shipping list indicates that there were two Henrys and two Marys Manaton. In fact there was a Henry and a Mary Manaton and a 'Henry' and a Mary Opie. Henry Opie was in fact Charles Henry Adolphus Truscott Opie. CHAT Opie as he was known, was not called 'Henry' in any other circumstances, as far as I am aware, so it is tempting to think what form the conversation with the booking/boarding agent took. That said, the Lyttelton Times shows only two Manaton children in the married couples list, so the transcriber could not make sense of the four children officially listed, despite their recorded various ages. Our greater family believe that the 3rd Opie child (18 years) also came out on the journey, but paid full fare and was therefore a cabin passenger. He was not therefore recorded as a government immigrant and did not rate highly enough to get mentioned in the Lyttelton Times cabin passengers list. G R MacDonald in his "Dictionary of Biographies, Canterbury" obviously had problems reconciling the two Henrys' and 2 Marys', because he records one of each as 'Harry' and 'May'. Information courtesy of Melville Opie, posted 14 March 2008.
The Opie family emigrated to USA, from Devon, and returned to Cornwall, overall somewhere between 1845 and 1855. Their first child, Francis Thomas Opie, was registered birth certificate Oppey, so this may have been the family name by which they passaged to America. The second born, a son was born in Cornwall in 1847, was drowned in Lake Superior.
Cornwall Online Census Project�1861 Transcript of Piece RG9/1533 (Part 2), ED 4b Civil Parish of Luxulyan Folio 42 Page 9 38, Pontsmill Rashleigh Arms,1 Francis Opie Head M 51 Farmer And Inn Keeper, Stithians Cornwall Peternell Opie Wife M 41 Farmer's Wife, Calstock Cornwall Francis J. Opie Son U 16 Farmer's Son, Calstock Cornwall Charles Opie Son 7 Farmer's Son, USA. Overseas Brit. Subj. Mary A. Opie Dau 5 Farmer's Dau, St Blazey Cornwall
At that time, Cornwall was a (tin and copper) mining and
farming county. It was experiencing the effects of industrialisation, where
machinery was taking away the jobs of the workers (miners and labourers) and
also allowing the land barons to farm more comprehensively for themselves,
and so to close the tenencies.
Also, typhoid was rampant in London and other cites which were struggling to
cope with the disposessed, making migration to the cities unattractive. To
the more adventurous and the disillusioned, the promise lands of America,
Australia and NZ were increasingly attractive.
Plymouth was the favoured point of embarkation after
catastrophic collisions in the English Channel. Most of the immigrants were
of assisted passage. Assisted immigrants were generally required to be not
more than 40 years of age. Some occupations were favoured e.g. artisans and
farm labourers.
Peternell's brother-in-law was John Keast. He and his wife, Eliza, (Peternell's sister) were both recorded as 43 years, so one assumes that they liked their chances of assistance better as a labourer than saddler, his occuption in Cornwall. They had one child, Eliza Mary who was 12 years at the time, at which age she was required to travel in the single women accomodation.
Cornwall Online Census Project�1861 Transcript Piece RG9/1525 (Part 1) Civil Parish of Botus Fleming, ED 1 Folio 25 Page 28 Landrake Village John Keast, Head M 44 Saddler Callington Cornwall Eliza F Keast, Wife M 45 Calstock Cornwall Eliza M Keast, Dau U 12 Scholar Week St Mary Cornwall William Keast, Father W 65 Farmer Callington Cornwall
1861 England census records are divided into groups by county, then by parish, and in many cases by enumeration districts as well. An ED was considered to be roughly equivalent to the area that a census worker or "enumerator" could cover in one day.
ARRIVAL OF THE MERMAID
(From the "Lyttelton Times," February 18 1864)
Emigration to Canterbury : Shipping Lists 1856-1874
On Tuesday afternoon, about three o'clock, a large ship was made out in the
distance from the look out on the Sumner Road. The pilot reached her before
entering the heads. Soon afterwards Captain Thompson hoisted her number
on the mizzen mast of the Derwentwater. This was the signal for the
rest of the fine fleet of ships now at anchor in the harbour to give Captain
Rose a hearty welcome. In a few minutes the ships looked very gay with
bunting, as if dressed for some holiday occasion. The tide was almost half
flood, and a light breeze from the N.E. assisting the noble ship with her
cloud of canvas to make good way she was not more than an hour and a half in
reaching her anchorage. When rounded to, Captain Thompson saluted with his
16-ponders and dipped his ensigns. The Annie Wilson and Captain Clare
of the Canterbury took up firing. Captain Rose, of the Mermaid, was
not long in responding to the compliment, the crew and passengers joining
with a right good hearty cheer. Dr. Donald and another of the immigration
commissioners were alongside in a few minutes. After the anchor was down,
and on receiving satisfactory replies to the usual questions respecting the
health of the passengers the starboard gangway was lowered and they passed
upon deck. By this time several boats full of anxious friends had arrived,
and a regular struggle took place for the first shake of the hand with
Captain Rose, Mr M'Quade and other familiar friends. The Mermaid brings 338
passengers, chiefly immigrants. Dr.
P. A.Cocksidge (late of the Chrysolite)
comes out as surgeon-superintendent. During the voyages the passengers had
the benefit of fine weather nearly all the way out, in their own language,
�there was scarce one evening but they could dance on deck.� All are in high
spirits, and it is needless to say are satisfied with the ship and her
officers. One birth and three deaths occurred on the voyage.
W.H.R. Dale Album, Canterbury Museum
Assisted Emigration to Canterbury Families and Children page 32 Thorndon Thomas 37 Linlithgow Carpenter Mary 33 Mary 12 Transferred to pg22 Ellen 10 James 9 Catherine 6 Trail George 32 Aberdeen Farmer Laborer Elizabeth 31 Jane 9 George 4 Alexander 3 Elizabeth 1 Buchan William 37 Fifeshire Ploughman Margrie 37 Marjorry 14 Transferred to pg22 Helen 11 Eliza 4 Burke Martin 22 Fifeshire Ploughman Anne 21 Mary 5 months
Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, 7 January
1868
LYTTELTON. Arrived.�January 3, ship Mermaid, from London
On Nov. 10, 1883 the MERMAID of Cardiff left Quebec for Liverpool with a cargo of timber when, due to stress of weather - lost sails, rudder, etc, she was wrecked on the edge of the Salthouse Bank, (not the Horse Bank) England on December 13th 1883 as she had drifted ashore in the severe gale. The crew of twenty-one plus Captain Coward's two daughters, abandoned the wreck in two boats. The Lytham, St. Annes, Southport and Blackpool Lifeboats all launched to her assistance. The Lytham Lifeboat CHARLES BIGGS came up with the 2 boats as they were on the verge of sinking and rescued all twenty-three. The other three lifeboats returned to their stations. The MERMAID went to pieces and caused quite considerable trouble for a time with the cargo and wreckage floating up and down the river endangering other vessels, piers etc. The Lytham to Blackpool railway line was even blocked with wreckage at one time. A certain amount of equipment, cargo and metal hull sheathing was salvaged and taken to the Lytham wreck yard or stored at Stanner Point before the wreck was completely destroyed. Information courtesy of David Forshaw. UK. Posted 3 Dec. 2000.
Have tried the Canterbury Museum, and also NZ Archives, for an image of the 'Mermaid', but without success.
Lyttelton Times, 4 February 1860, Page 4 Cleared.
Feb. 3, ship Mermaid, 1233 tons, James
White,- for London. Chief Cabin Passengers.—Archdeacon Paul, Mrs. and Miss
Paul, Mr.C.E. and Mrs. Prichard and eight children; Miss Braitwaite, Messrs.
J. Cotterill, J. Porter, Hankinson, Watson, Pharyzer, Smyth, and Halstead.
Second cabin. Mr. and Mrs. Varyer, Mr. and Mrs. Duncan and six children,
Mrs. Blackie. Mr Blackie. Intermediate:— Mr. and Mrs. W. Crocombie, Mr. and
Mrs. W. Satchell, and child, Mr. and Mrs. J. Clarke, and two children, Mr.
and Mrs. J. Moore, E. Bond and child, Messrs. D. Thomas, J. Whitmore, and J.
Mereford.
Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, 23 January
1869, Page 3
Lyttelton Times, January 9. The clipper ship Mermaid, Captain Rose, arrived
in harbour yesterday morning, from London, after a passage of ninety-four
days. She brings 131 Government emigrants � Male adults, 35 ; female, ditto,
89; male children, 4 ; female, ditto, 2 ; infant, 1. The Commissioners
inspected the ship, and found everything in the most admirable order, and
the ship a pattern of cleanliness ; the single women's compartment being
especially neat. The Commissioners expressed themselves highly satisfied
with the whole of the arrangements throughout. There was no complaint made
by any of the emigrants or the passengers. The Mermaid brings out
several old colonists. She has also on board a splendid short-horn cow, also
some pure-bred Southdown sheep, and eight Merino rams. Mr. McQuade, the
purser, has also brought out some linnets, larks, blackbirds, canaries,
gold-finches, and also some pure-bred Cochin China fowls. The following are
the names of the passengers : Cabin � Mr. and Mrs. R. Wilkin, Messrs. James
David, John Robert, Miss Rachel Wilkin, Mr. and Mrs. Milton, family and
servant, Miss Pilgrim, Mr. and Mrs. Allen, Mr. Brown, and Mr. Bishop ;
second cabin � Mr. and Mrs. Palchett and family (9), Mr. and Mrs. Patchett,
jnn., Mrs. Preston, Mr. and Mrs. May, Master May, Messrs. Condell,
Goldsmith, Ogilvie, and Drummond. �