Emmigration From England 1841

The barque "Birman" from Gravesend to Wellington, NZ.

Birman: Voyage Facts

Departed Gravesend, England: 13 October 1841
Arrived Wellington, New Zealand: 1 March 1842

Captain:	John Cleland
Surgeon Superintendent:	James Motherwell
Cabin Passengers:1	1 Male Adult
Steerage Passengers:1 Adult	68 Male 65 Female
Steerage Passengers:1 Children under 15	53 Male 48 Female
Total Passengers:1	235
Births:2	5
Deaths:2	12
Length of Voyage:	139 days

The Passengers

The last column is a link to those who have an interest in particular passengers. If you would like to add your details, please send a message to Peter Sim.

Name	Age	Occupation/Comments	Links
Thomas Agaga	19	A New Zealander
Eli Allen	20	Blacksmith	* 1 *
Ann Bell	15	Sempstress (Seamstress)
John Bell Jane Elizabeth John Thomas Jane	34 39 12 10 7 4	Agricultural Labourer Wife
William Bell Hannah Mary Sarah Jane George Sarah	39 39 13 12 10 7	Joiner Wife
John Bradshaw Mary Ann	28 22	Basket Maker Wife
Martha Briggs	38	House Servant, Widow
George Green Buck Mary Ann Alexandrina	23 24 9m	Smith & Labourer Wife	* 2 *
Henry Gregory Buck Elizabeth Buck Jane Harvey Ann Harvey Eli Harvey Leah Harvey Levi Buck	33 36 13 11 9 7 3	Smith & Miner Wife Servant	* 1 *
Robert Burford	18	Servant
Robert Holt Carpenter Harriet	21? 23	Carpenter Wife
Thomas Cayley Mary Ann Rebecca Thomas Celia William Joseph Alexander	38 37 13 11 9 7 5 Inf	Shipwright, Ship's Constable Wife
Henry Chapman Sarah Sarah	22 27 9m	Mason Wife Died at sea (3 January 1842) Chronic Hydrocephaly
James Chapple Maria James Edward	30 28 7 1	Cabinet Maker Wife Died at sea (24 November 1841) Diarrhoea
Joseph Clapham Sarah Susannah Sarah George Ellen William Thomas Thomas Henry Elizabeth Joseph Charles	38 37 20 18 16 14 12 5 3	Labourer & Carpenter Wife Servant Servant Labourer	* 1 *
Charles Collis Ann Harriet Charles	30 31 9 2	Agricultural Labourer Wife
Matthew Cronin	16	Agricultural Labourer
Patrick Cronin Mary Timothy Mary Morris	38 36 11 9 6	Agricultural Labourer Wife
Samuel Crowther Eliza Jane	20 18 1	Mason Wife Died at sea (2 December 1841) Diarrhoea & Hydrocephaly	* 1 *
Emma Davey	14	Servant
William Davey Elizabeth Eliza Susan Amelia John	37 35 12 10 5 11m	Slater & Plasterer Wife
Robert Day Sarah	26 20	Agricultural Labourer Wife
John Duck Eliza Louiza Elizabeth	23 21 4m	Carpenter & Cabinet Maker Wife Died at sea (28 December 1841) Acute Bronchitis
Susanna Martha Dunn	14	Sempstress (Seamstress)
William Dunn Mary Ann William Thomas Anna Walter John	38 37 11 7 5 9m	Labourer, Ship's Constable Wife
Mary Ferguson	30	Servant
John Furniss	14	Labourer
Smith Furniss	17	Joiner
William Furniss Sarah	28 27	Joiner & Cabinet Maker Wife
Andrew H. Gillespie Christian Charles Haggarty Andrew Janet	36 36 9 7 6	Joiner, middle name is Haggarty Wife
George Haigh Elizabeth Abraham George Agness Bell	33 35 9 7 2	Gardener & Agricultural Labourer Wife
John Harding Emma	21 20	Carpenter & Turner Wife
James H. Hill	26	Farmer
Charles Hobbs Sarah George Child Domingo	30 31 7 ? Inf	Carpenter Wife
Charles Hodges Louiza Jane	20 19	Sawyer Wife
William Hodges Elizabeth Joseph Epex	24 21 7w	Sawyer Wife
George Prior Hunt Ann Sophia	32 26	Bricklayer Wife
Joseph Hurley Winifred Sarah Ann	26 30 5	Carpenter Wife
William Ladbroke Eliza	23 22	Shepherd & Ploughman Wife
Elizabeth Levi	20	Servant
Evan Lewis Ann Edward David Mary Ann Joseph	39 32 10 8 2 6w	Gardener Wife
George Lismore Mary Ann	24 22	Gardener Wife
Lewis Lowndes Mary Ann	28 25	Carpenter Wife
William Ludwell Harriet	36 35	Plasterer & Painter Wife
Samuel Maxton Henrietta	26 20	Baker Wife
James Mellor Mary Mary Ellen	28 24 11m	Smith Wife
Charles Mills Elizabeth Sophia Edward Henry Alfred Elizabeth Mary Robert	38 40 12 10 6 3 1	Carpenter Wife Died at sea (23 January 1842) Chronic Hydrocephaly
Thomas Mills	14	Clerk
Daniel Milson Elizabeth	30 31?	Carpenter Wife
John Monk Phoebe Ellen Emma Lucy Julia William Frances Sophia	32 32 10 8 7 5 3 Inf	Agricultural Labourer & Gardener Wife	* 2 *
Thomas Morgan Mary Ann John William Thomas Child	32 34 8 6 1 Inf	Brickmaker Wife Born & died at sea (20 November 1841) Overlaid by Mother	* 1 *
William Nott Ann	26 32	Agricultural Labourer Wife
Thomas Parry Mary	28 21	Carpenter Wife, Sempstress (Seamstress)
Mary Patterson	18	Housemaid
Robert Patterson Ellen Jane	39 39 13	Gardener Wife
William Patterson	15	Painter
Stephen Penfold Harriet Hannah Harriet Ellen Elanor Harriet Esther	31 32 5 4 2 1	Carpenter Wife Died at sea (8 December 1841) Tabes Mesenterica	* 1 *
George Perkins Sarah	23 22	Baker Wife
John Phillips Hannah George Mary Ann Eliza Emma	34 34 13 10 7 3	Sawyer Wife, Died at sea (11 December 1841) Phthisis Died at sea (30 January 1842) Phthisis
John Read Prudence	35 38	Agricultural Labourer Wife
James Richards Sarah Charles	22 23 2	Plasterer & Tailor Wife Died at sea (16 January 1842) Infection of lungs after measles
Henry Sargent Louiza Catherine Henry George John	25 24 4 6m	Agricultural Labourer, Ship's Constable Wife Died at sea (19 January 1842) Infection of lungs after measles
Esther Solomon	18	Servant
Jordan Sparks Mary Ann Sarah	28 22 5	Painter & Glazier Wife
Robert Startup Sophia George	23 19 2	Labourer Wife
Charles Stewart	16	Labourer
Lewis Stewart	18	Labourer
Richard Stewart Mary Ferdinand Alexander Agnes Richard Ellen	39 38 13 10 8 4 Inf	Labourer Wife
George Taylor Sarah Isabella Elizabeth	38 27 4 11m	Agricultural Labourer Wife
William Tonks Jane Sarah Ann George Rose Hannah William Enoch Janet	35 36 13 11 8 5 2 3m	Brickmaker & Miner Wife Died at sea (8 January 1842) Infection of lungs	* 1 *
Joseph Torr Julia William Henry Thomas John	27 29 4 2 10m	Carpenter Wife
James Vaughan Jane Augustus	37 37 13	Plumber & Glazier Wife
George Waters Susan Louiza Ann Susan Jane	30 28 5 4m	Plumber & Agricultural Labourer, Constable Wife
Thomas Waters	16	Plumber & Agricultural Labourer	* 1 *

One scheduled passenger did not embark: George Gill.

Acknowledgements: my thanks to Denise & Peter who wrote when I asked if I could use this material: "Certainly you may copy the Birman list from our site. Could you please acknowledge us as the contributor and Archives New Zealand as the source." Also, I have referred to Early Wellington compiled by Louis E. Ward, p103.

[Note: This account of the Birman's departure is taken from Louis E. Ward's book Early Wellington. Full details of the book are given at the end of this excerpt.]

In the ship Birman, leaving Gravesend about a year after the despatch of the New Zealand Company's first chartered expeditionary ship Tory we find a typical example of an emigrant ship, and of the conditions under which intending settlers lived during their lengthy journey to a strange country.

From a letter published in 1848 (No. 257, Vol. 9 of Chamber's Journal) is taken the following arresting sketch of the sailing of the Birman.

The black and lofty hulk of a three-master ship of 800 tons register was lying in the river off Gravesend, waiting for the captain. Its destination was New Zealand, with a small stock of merchandise and 200 emigrants on board.

The scene on deck, to inexperienced landsmen's eyes, was one of inextricable confusion. A heavy shower had fallen about half an hour before; the decks, filthy with mud and mire, brought on board by visitors and lagging emigrants, were crowded and blocked up in all directions with stores of every description, mingled in indescribable disorder, amidst coils of rope and cable links, chairs, spare poles and timber, casks, boxes, bales and packages soddened with rain. Invisible, but imprisoned pigs were mingling their squeals and grunts in testimony of their disapproval, while a few others, either not yet housed or broken loose, took their chances with the human population, and grunted amongst the cordage for the few vegetables scattered about. Near the entry to the first cabin stood a couple of immense hencoops, cruelly crammed with live occupants, whose ragged and ruffled heads, projecting through the rails, gave token of unusual contact with rough weather and rougher usage.

Aloft in the rigging hung whole quarters of oxen newly slain, and the occasional bleating of sheep, stowed away in some undiscoverable recess, gave proof of the praiseworthy determination to stick to fresh provisions as long as it was possible to do so. Though a sparkling rain was still falling, the deck was populated with emigrants and parties of friends about to be sundered in a few brief moments, many of them probably for ever.

Some were buoyant with hope, and enjoyed the anticipation of employment, and plenty, to which it was too evident they were strangers. Others were downcast and cut a sorry figure to appear courageous; some were weeping bitterly; some were joking with uproarious but forced merriment; some made their way, as well as they could, towards the open hatchway, over piles of packages and through parties of miserable leave-takers, and got down the ladder into the huge belly of the ship.

A few candles glimmered here and there through its enormous length; but the darkness was too great to distinguish anything in the immediate vicinity of the hatchway.

As vision grew accustomed to gloom, we saw scenes of disorder greater than on deck above.

Every kind of receptacle, box, basket, bundle and cask of all shapes and sizes, were scattered on the floor, and amongst them lounged or squatted, as best they could, more than a hundred people of various callings, ages, and of both sexes.

Some had tramped it for miles and were resting in the oblivion of sleep, in spite of the din of voices and the lumbering of heavy articles about and around them.

Others had just arrived, and were busily engaged in the vain attempt to find vacant spaces whereon to settle themselves and their provisions and goods.

Some clamouring to be shown their berths, while others complained of the locality allotted them, far from the hatchway, and in almost total darkness. Crowds of little children who could scarcely walk, tottered about amongst the lumber, prattling and pleased with the novelty; aged men and women sat calm and still amidst the hubbub, waiting for their turn to be disposed of. A grandmother of a large party of self-exiles bound to the Antipodes, sat on a small bundle sucking the end of an empty dudeen; close by sat a pretty and interesting young girl upon a blue, spotless trunk, writing a letter, an upturned cask her table, her inkstand a tea-cup.

Her tears fell faster upon the paper than the words from her pen; which at intervals she laid down to wring her hands and hide her anguished head in her handkerchief.

"Come, old girl," said a bystander at length, "let me finish it for you; I'll tell our friends how merry we all are"--and he took the pen from her hand and assisted her tenderly up the ladder for a mouthful of fresh air. He then sat down and completed the epistle.

A small recess, about six and a half feet in width and height, formed the whole accommodation for each family for the next four or five months, clean and comfortable as expectations warranted.

Circumstances prevented better accommodation. Having inspected domestic arrangements and deposited their contributions to the marine larder, some pushed aside the curtains that enclosed their compartment, and went for a tour of inspection.

The sun was now shining brightly down the hatchway; some of the lumber was now stored away; many were on deck, but the place was still crowded, and it was a job to make way through groups busy in packing and arranging.

Some of the berths situated far away from the light of day, and visible only by the gleam of a dull candle suspended in a horn lantern, seemed too awfully dismal.

Between the berths, on each side of the vessel, piles of merchandise and ballast, reaching almost breast high, extended nearly the entire length of the interior.

Around the light of a single lantern suspended from a crossbeam, were congregated about a dozen middle-aged men of the class of small tradesmen, singing--"When passing through the waters deep, I ask in faith His promised aid."

The confused and incessant noises were above and around them as the oldest of the band raised his hand and solemnly said, "Let us pray."

As his peroration progressed, the perspiration streamed down his channelled features and lterally dropped upon his clothes.

It was a scene such as a Rembrandt might have embodied in a glorious picture.

The gleaming light on the face of the suppliant, partially obscured by the shadow of his raised hand, the deep dense darkness of the background, the dim discovered forms of the distant figures of the group; the statue-like motionless physiognomy of the nearer distances contrasted with the supplicating earnestness of the speaker; all together supplied the materials for a composition such as that monarch of the dark masters delighted to portray.

The morning sun was shining on the hills above Gravesend when the black looking hulk, for so many days an object of curiosity and interest, had disappeared from the river.

Anticipations for a fair wind were not realised; seasickness was prevalent as rough weather was encountered. The nights were most miserable and discouraging, and the majority of the passengers were longing to set foot ashore, and regretting having committed themselves to the hateful sea.

The ship had been driven back twice in attempting to start from the Downs, and the passengers were looking forward with horror to a third attempt which was to be made that night. Their apprehensions were groundless, for after a successful attempt they cleared the Downs next day and proceeded onward on a speedy and a prosperous voyage. The ship arrived at the Cape of Good Hope on the last day of the year, and the passengers who had been tossing for weeks on the billows, were delighted with the place. Soft bread and fresh meat, a luxury, were now to be had, and some were fortunate enough to obtain wine at fourpence and sixpence a bottle, and fine mutton and beef at three-halfpence a pound.

Some desired to finish their journey and stay there, as employment was plentiful, provisions were cheap, but rents were high and the weather was as warm there in December as the English summer.

The passengers had parted with seasickness, and now had voracious appetites. Grog was served up on Christmas Day, and they pleasurably anticipated a pint of wine on New Year's Day.

Services were conducted on board by the doctor [James Motherwell], who officiated as chaplain. Games were initiated by some of the energetic ones, resulting, in most cases, in the formation of friendships that in after life withstood the trials and vicissitudes of an early colonist's life.

Source:
Early Wellington Compiled by Louis E. Ward
Reprinted 1975 by Capper Press, Christchurch, New Zealand. pp8-10.