Passengers by The 'Lancashire
Witch'
"Lyttelton Times", October 15, 1863
Ar
rived - October 13, Lancashire Witch, ship, 1383 tons, West,
from London. Passengers - Mr. and Mrs. Solomon and two daughters; Mr. and Mrs. Harris,
three children and servant; Mrs. and Miss Carruthers, Messrs Rawlings, Gollin, Otway and
Jones, and Dr McLean, surgeon superintendent.
Full passenger listing and Horler and Murton info.
Shipboard Diaries
Three male passengers wrote diaries during
this 1863 Lancashire Witch voyage to Lyttelton. The Price
and Carr diaries can
only be read at the Canterbury Museum Library, and may not be photocopied due to
there age so keen genealogy buffs made hand handwritten notes and have kindly
forward the material and now the transcriptions are online. Each will open in separate
windows so you can compare events. The original Carr diary is at the Alexander
Turnbull Library in Wellington.
Arthur PRICE Steerage - family section
Henry Thorne SHEPHERD Cabin
David CARR
Steerage - single men. 'account
is like a breath of reality'
Government Immigrants
Surname First Name Sex Sps Chd Occupation
Aidkin Mary Elizabeth F Y Carpenter Cambridgeshire Aitken Andrew M Y 3 Ploughman Dunbartonshire Allan Geo. Wm. M Y 2 Painter Allison William M Carpenter Perthshire Anderson Andrew M Y Ploughman Forfarshire Anderson Catherine F Dairywoman Forfarshire Anderson John M Y Farm Labourer Aberdeenshire Archibald James M Y 2 Farm Labourer Baker Jonathan M Farm Labourer Chester Barnes Anthony M Farm Labourer Wiltshire Bartley Thomas M Gardner Yorkshire Bates Harriet F Domestic Servant Lincolnshire Bates Thomas M Gardner Lincolnshire Beattie William M Farm Labourer Lanarkshire Beaven Sohpia F Dressmaker Middlesex Beckingham Ann F Cook Middlesex Belch John M Y 1 Carpenter Bellman Charles M Y 1 Bricklayer Middlesex Bennett Edward M Y 4 Carpenter Kent Bennett John M Y Carpenter Shropshire Blanche Auguste M Y Farm Labourer Alderney Blyth James M Y 2 Farm Labourer Forfarshire Bowmaker John M Y 3 Carpenter Durham Boyd Emma F Laundress Notts Brackenrigde Alex M Y 1 Carpenter Lanarkshire Brassel Harriet F Domestic Servant Surrey Brassell George M Y 4 Farm Labourer Surrey Brassell John M Farm Labourer Surrey Brassell Robert M Farm Labourer Surrey Brewner George M Y Farm Labourer Brinkman Fritz M Y Farm Labourer Brown Luke M Y 4 Farm Labourer Leicestershire Buchamp George W. M Y 3 Farm Labourer Middlesex Buckett Wm. M Y 1 Tailor Oxfordshire Budd Wm. M Y 1 Farm Labourer Staffordshire Bulter George M Y Farm Labourer Warwickshire Bush William M Y 1 Carpenter Warwickshire Butterwick Margaret F Domestic Servant Yorkshire Callaghan Ellen F Domestic Servant Middlesex Carey Emily F Domestic Servant Middlesex Carey Sarah F Domestic Servant Middlesex Carey Thomas M Y 3 Shoemaker Carr David M Farm Labourer Forfarshire Carter John M Y 1 Farm Labourer Kent Cass Francis M Y 1 Farm Labourer Yorkshire Cheeseworth John M Farm Labourer Cheshire Comyns Alfred M Y 2 Farm Labourer Hants Comyns Elizabeth F Domestic Servant Hants Comyns Sarah F Domestic Servant Hants Cook Emma F Domestic Servant Leicestershire Coutts Peter M Y Ploughman Perthshire Craig John M Y Farm Labourer Crow Wm. M Y 4 Farm Labourer Crown George M Y 3 Farm Labourer Surrey Cullen Jane F Domestic Servant Lanarkshire Dalton Henry M Farm Labourer Yorkshire Dalton Thomas M Y Farm Labourer Yorkshire Dawson Henry M Y 5 Carpenter Dixon S.A. F Domestic Servant Surrey Dixon Thomas M Y 2 Farm Labourer Surrey Doel James M Y 5 Farm Labourer Wiltshire Doughty Ann F Domestic Servant Warwickshire Dow James M Carpenter Perthshire Druffen Mary F Domestic Servant Scotland Duncan Alex M Shepherd Kincardineshire Duncan David M Shepherd Kincardineshire Duncan Peter M Blacksmith Forfarshire Dunkley Thomas M Farm Labourer Northamptonshire Duthie Alex M Farm Labourer Aberdeenshire Duthie James M Farm Labourer Forfarshire Dyer Clara F 1 Cook Middlesex Eadie William M Y 2 Bricklayer Edwards Margaret F Domestic Servant Aberdeenshire Elkers Henry M Y Farm Labourer Elliot Wm M Y Gardner Surrey Evans Benjamin M Farm Labourer Montgomeryshire Falconer James M Shepherd Caithness Fenton Robert M Farm Labourer Lanarkshire Fielding Mary F Domestic Servant Cheshire Fleming Henry M Y 1 Blacksmith Shropshire Gamble Wm M Y 1 Gardner Yorkshire Gammie James M Y Blacksmith Aberdeenshire Gernard James M Farm Labourer Aberdeenshire Giles Richard M Farm Labourer Yorkshire Gobbart Anne F Domestic Servant Germany Gobbart Joham M Farm Labourer Germany Goodman John M Y 4 Farm Labourer Trotts Grice George M Y 2 Farm Labourer Yorkshire Hackett Hannah F Domestic Servant Oxfordshire Hall Thomas M Y Farm Labourer Shropshire Harris E.C. M Farm Labourer Middlesex Harrop James M Y Carpenter Kent Hellewell Wright M Farm Labourer Yorkshire Helliwell Grace F Weaver Helliwell Hannah F Weaver Helliwell J.H. M Clothmaker/Weaver Helliwell Thomas M Carpenter Yorkshire Henderson James T. M Farm Labourer Perthshire Henderson Janet F Domestic Servant Perthshire Henderson John M Y 2 Farm Labourer Edinburgh Henderson John M Y 2 Farm Labourer Perthshire Hendrey Alex M Carpenter Perthshire Hick Francis M Y 3 Farm Labourer Yorkshire Higgs Hannah F Domestic Servant Gloucestershire Higgs John M Y Farm Labourer Hight Henry M Y 3 Farm Labourer Notts Holland George M Farm Labourer Yorkshire Horler John M Farm Labourer Somersetshire Howard Ann F Domestic Servant Cheshire Huband Eliza F Domestic Servant Warwickshire Huband George M Y Farm Labourer Warwickshire Huband Henry M Farm Labourer Warwickshire Hudson Henry M Y Farm Labourer Warwickshire Hutton Maria F Domestic Servant Warwickshire Jacques Thomas M Farm Labourer Northamptonshire Jones Edward M Y Blacksmith Worcestershire Jones Henry M Y Farm Labourer Surrey Joyce James M Shepherd Dunbartonshire Kirk William M Miller Wigtonshire Kister Behrend M Y 1 Farm Labourer Knox Margaret F Domestic Servant Aberdeenshire Lamb John M Y Farm Labourer Shropshire Leeder Patrick M Y Blacksmith Cork Lindsay Jessie F Domestic Servant Fifeshire M'Cutcheon Geo. M Y 1 Shoemaker Lanarkshire M'Farlane Elizabeth F Domestic Servant Scotland M'Jackson Helen F Domestic Servant Buteshire M'Nicol M. F Domestic Servant Perthshire M'Williams Anne F Domestic Servant Carlow Manning Wm. M Y 4 Farm Labourer Gloucestershire Marshall John M Farm Labourer Lincolnshire Mason Alex M Ploughman Kincardineshire Mehrtems Hemrich M Farm Labourer Germany Meiehoff Christopher M Farm Labourer Germany Menzies Adam M Plasterer Lanarkshire Menzies Chas M Y Ploughman Stirlingshire Mills John M Y 2 Farm Labourer Lancashire Mills Thomas M Y 2 Carpenter Devonshire Morrison Eliza F Domestic Servant Surrey Munro Betsy F Domestic Servant Sutherland Munro Robert M Y Farm Labourer Caithness Munton Thomas M Y 2 Farm Labourer Leicestershire Murray Jessie F Domestic Servant Sutherland Muster John M Farm Labourer Leicestershire Muzzall Thomas M Y Carpenter Sussex Oatley Eliza F Dressmaker Oram Herbert M Painter Sommersetshire Ottea John M Y Farm Labourer Pain Eliza F Dressmaker Pain Mary Ann F Dressmaker Pain Ophelia F Dressmaker Parsons Thomas M Farm Labourer Devonshire Paw Clara F Domestic Servant Oxfordshire Pelvin Richard M Y 3 Farm Labourer Kent Pierce Wm. R. M Y Farm Labourer Lancashire Prestidge Jesse M Y 6 Carpenter Prestidge Sarah F Domestic Servant Northamptonshire Price Henry M Y 2 Farm Labourer Gloucestershire Ray Charles M Farm Labourer Warwickshire Ridgway M. A. F Domestic Servant Warwickshire Robbie James M Y Ploughman Forfarshire Robertson Duncan M Y Carpenter Robson Jane F Domestic Servant Yorkshire Rogers Hannah F Domestic Servant Northumberland Rowbotham Joseph M Y 2 Farm Labourer Notts Sayer Joseph M Farm Labourer Shropshire Shale Helen F Domestic Servant Warwickshire Shipley Burton M Y 3 Farm Labourer Yorkshire Simons William M Farm Labourer Leicestershire Smith George M Y Farm Labourer Yorkshire Smith Sophia F Domestic Servant Lanarkshire Sneddon Maria F Cook Stirlingshire Soames Henry M Y 2 Bricklayer Stanton Bridget F Domestic Servant Cork Sterling David M Y 2 Farm Labourer Stirlingshire Steward William M Clothmaker/Weaver Storey William M Farm Labourer Yorkshire Stouyer Martha F Domestic Servant Shropshire Strathes Jessie F Domestic Servant Lanarkshire Strauyrer Joseph M Farm Labourer Shropshire Sutherland Hugh M Y 1 Carpenter Renfrewshire Sutherland William M Farm Labourer Renfrewshire Tayery Catherine F Domestic Servant Lanarkshire Thomson Thomas M Farm Labourer Durham Thorold Dorothy F Domestic Servant Leicestershire Tracey Edward M Y Blacksmith Middlesex Upton Wm. M Y 1 Carpenter Pembrokeshire Watson David M Farm Labourer Yorkshire Watson Margaret F Domestic Servant Scotland Watts Annie F Domestic Servant Wiltshire Webb George M Farm Labourer Wiltshire Wells Richard M Ploughman Lanarkshire Wells William M Farm Labourer Lanarkshire White George M Y 2 Farm Labourer Aberdeenshire Widges Frederick M Y 2 Farm Labourer Germany Winter Alfred M Farm Labourer Leicestershire Winter John M Farm Labourer Leicestershire Winter Michael M Farm Labourer Leicestershire Yardley Eli M Y 1 Printer Warwickshire Young Elizabeth F Domestic Servant Scotland
Total 420 souls
Above passenger list tally: Sum: 418
Cabin:17
Children: 119 Deaths children: 23 Births: 9
Adults not including spouse: 200 Sps = spouse present: 82
Deaths adults: 3
Reference: Page 76, W.H. R. Dale Album, Canterbury Museum, Christchurch, New Zealand (W.H. R. Dale Album is a book with newspaper clippings from The Lyttelton Times, passenger lists and voyage reports are in chronological order, photocopying is permitted). The original embarkation register of the 1863 sailing of the 'Lancashire Witch', is at National Archives in Wellington.
National Archives of New Zealand: IM CH 4/52
Transcript of the cover and 2 double pages of the Embarkation Register
Ship Lancashire Witch
Sailed 4th July 1863
Arrived 13th October 1863
Both pages headed:
ASSISTED EMIGRATION to CANTERBURY, NEW ZEALAND by the Ship ‘Lancashire Witch’ 1863.
Page 6: Families and Children [the 6 columns of costs not transcribed]
George Brasell 45 Surrey Farm Laborer Janet do. 36 Robert do. 18 Age crossed through; entry endorsed ‘Transferred to page 16’ John do. 16 Age crossed through; entry endorsed ‘Transferred to page 16’ Harriet do. 13 Age crossed through; entry endorsed ‘Transferred to page 22’ Louisa do. 11 George do. 9 Emma do. 7 Elizabeth do. 5 (Marginal note: Landed at Timaru)
George Huband 43 Warwick Farm laborer Mary do. 42 (Marginal note: Landed at Timaru)
William Budd 21 Staffordshire Farm laborer Emma do. 21 Emma do. Infant (Marginal note: Landed at Timaru)John Carter 26 Kent Farm Laborer Emma J. do. 26 Anne Mary do. 2James Doell 35 Wilts. Farm Laborer Maria do. 35 Frank do. 11 Ann do. 8 Elizabeth do. 5 Frederick do. Infant Fanny do. 10 [Family group is bracketed from James down to Frederick]Henry Elkers 28 Germany Laborer Catherine do. 27 (Marginal note: Landed at Timaru)
Jonathan BAKER
was a laborer who came from
Macclesfield in Cheshire. He married Ann Earnshaw in 1867 in Christchurch.
They had 13 children, one died at 13 from drowning; they lived in the ChCh area
and Ohoka, Kaiapoi area’s. Jonathan was a plate layer, ganger, on the Railways
almost till his death from what I can understand, he and wife Ann both died in
1905 in ChCh living in the Merivale area. Son, Thomas, my G.Grandfather, was a
wool classer as was brother James, the other brothers that I know about were a
railway worker who is buried in Timaru and another ended up farming in the
Woodbury area and is buried there. I don’t know what happened to the others.
Eventually, Thomas Baker (father) brought into the Scour and eventually owned
it. Info. on the family appears in local district history books. When my
grandparents grew old and moved out of the family home into a place in Geraldine
that was the last of the Baker's in Winchester
which is a shame as they were involved in a lot of things in the area, in fact
my cousin has somehow managed to get the wee street by the
Wolseley Hotel renamed to Baker St. Thomas
seemed to be quite successful and my Grandfather Jack grew up in ChCh and
eventually moved to Winchester to learn more of the Wool trade, scouring etc. at
McCaskill's who owned the scour then, he boarded with them, and eventually that
became the family home when Jack, must have brought it, opposite the school on
the Main Rd. He also worked in Waimate. Information
courtesy of Vicki
Baker. Posted 29
May 2007.
George BRASELL
was born in Buckinghamshire in 1816, the 9th of Thomas Brasell's 16 children and the 4th
child of his father's second marriage. George married Harriet Harding in 1842 at East
Claydon and their first 5 children were born in Buckinghamshire. The firstborn, Thomas,
died at Quainton in November 1847 aged 3 years. George & Harriet moved to Barnes in
Surrey about 1852 and George junior, Emma and Elizabeth were born there. Harriet died of
consumption in 1859 and is buried in the Churchyard of Saint Mary in Barnes. George
married Janet Thomas, his housekeeper, in April 1863 and the family sailed for New Zealand
on the 'Lancashire Witch' 4 months later. They landed at Timaru in October and
lived in the town until George bought 44 acres at Pareora in November 1867. He died there
in 1912, aged 95.
George's married children lived in and around Timaru, except for John, who went to
Duntroon, and Louisa, who married Nathaniel Barton and lived in Christchurch.
The spouses of the first generation are as follows:
Robert m. Eliza Emily Lane
John m. Mary Jane Smith
Harriett Jane m. (1)William Bebbington and (2) Robert Campbell
Lousa m. Nathaniel Barton
George m. Amy Chivers
Emma m. Charles Saxon
Elizabeth died unmarried in 1880 aged 23.
All the present-day Brasells in New Zealand are descended from the original George and
even the John Brasell who settled in the Hutt Valley in the 1890s turned out to be
George's nephew.
I am Jane Curry, great granddaughter of Harriett
Jane Brasell and Robert Campbell. I will be pleased to share the family data I have
collected over the past 15 years and delighted to receive updated information. Posted 12 Aug. 1999
CAREY:
Thomas and Emily Carey were passengers on the Lancashire Witch along with their five children: Emily, Sarah, Charles, Mary and George. All survived the journey.
Emily Carey died at Gloucester St, on 13th Feb, 1888 and is buried at Linwood, and Thomas Carey died at
Hanmer Street, Avonsie, Christchurch on 25th Sept 1898 and is also buried
at Linwood.
The Star Tuesday 14th February 1888 page 2
The friends of Mr Thomas Carey are respectfully informed that the funeral of his late Wife, Emily Maylon, will leave his residence, 189,
Gloucester street west, To-morrow, February 15th, at 2.30 p.m. for the New Cemetery.
H. Furhmann,
Undertaker,109, Colombo street.
Sarah married William Matthews in 1867 at Newtown NSW Australia. Sarah and William lived at Kangaloon near Bowral NSW where they had all
eight
children. She died in 1908 and is buried at Rookwood NSW.
Her brother Charles married Mary Moore in Bowral NSW, in 1882. He died in 1916 at Bowral.
Apparently George married (nee Martin) and had three daughters. He opened a shoe
shop in Kaiapoi in 1901.
Margaret Williams, great, great granddaughter, of Thomas and Emily, wrote I am still researching when Sarah and Charles came to Australia. The passenger lists are incomplete which makes it difficult. Posted 8 Dec. 2004
HIGHT: Henry Hight was born 1835/1836 in Broughton, Northamptonshire, son of Samuel Hight and Mary Ward. His wife, Elizabeth Mee, was born in Burton Latimer, Northants and baptised on 22 June 1837 at nearby Finedon Wesleyan Church, daughter of Thomas Mee and Harriett Barker. The couple were married in 1857/1858 in either Burton Latimer or Kettering. Henry worked in England on his father's and uncle's farms, and as a gardener. They had a son and two daughters before emigrating to New Zealand on the Lancashire Witch. The 'Nottinghamshire' reference in the original shipping list appears to be an error for 'Northamptonshire'. On arrival in Canterbury, Henry took up the position of head gardener on the property of Mr Watts Russell at Ilam; he later worked for Mr Henry Lance at Halswell and then farmed in the Rolleston/Weedons area. During this time he and Elizabeth had a daughter at Ilam, a son at Halswell, and two daughters and a son at Rolleston. In 1874 the family moved to Brookside, where Henry had purchased a 184 acre farm called 'Crystal Fountain'. The land was then covered with flax and raupo, and was so covered with swamp and stumps that it could not be reached by horse. Henry drained it and planted pasture, gardens, and orchards. The two youngest children, a daughter and a son, were born here.
Henry established a herd of Shorthorn cattle in 1878, and he was a very successful breeder of milking Shorthorns, winning a prize for the best butterfat producing cow. In 1889 he was running 600 sheep, and his stock won over 200 prizes at A&P shows. Elizabeth signed the 1893 Women's Suffrage petition. Henry and Elizabeth retired to St Albans Street in Christchurch by 1909. He died at home on 16 July 1913; she died at home on 14 May 1919. They are buried in the churchyard of St. Paul's, Papanui, Christchurch. Information courtesy of Suzanne Website
Edward JONES and Louisa Harper were married 17 May, 1863 at Stourbridge, Co.Worcestershire, England in the parish of Old Swinford. After arriving in New Zealand they had eight children from 1864 to 1878. Their eldest child, Emma Louisa Jones, had a daughter Dora Winifred who married into the DUFFEILD family in New Zealand.
Cyclopeadia of New Zealand Canterbury Vol. 3: Edward was employed as carriage builder, Sydenham Carriage Works, Colombo Street. Mr Jones arrived in the Colony in 1863 by the ship Lancashire Witch and is a native of Stourbridge, Worcestershire. He learnt his trade under his father in England and on arriving in New Zealand worked at his calling for various employers for about five years before starting on his own account in Tuam Street, Christchurch. This business he conducted for about ten years, selling it out then and purchasing the present concern in 1880. Mr Jones has made many improvements in several classes of vehicles, especially in four wheelers, vans and steel framed roadsters, and imports steel and other requisites. The premises cover about a quarter of an acre of ground.
Christchurch Press 8 Nov. 1912 p. 5. 'Mr Edward Jones, JP., a well known local coach-builder, died yesterday at his residence, 35 Byron Street, Sydenham. He arrived in the year 1863 and was well known in political and civic matters, having been on the Sydenham Council for 25 years, on the Sydenham School Committee for 15 years and president of the Sydenham Club for 37 years. He was also an officer in Orange and Oddfellow lodges and was chairman for the Hon. W P Reeves when he was elected to represent a Christchurch seat. Mr Reeves presented him with a set of books on political subjects on his leaving for England to take up the Agent-Generalship. He leaves a widow, four sons and three daughters.' Information courtesy of Geoff Green. Posted 18 May, 2000
Henry JONES who emigrated to Timaru, New Zealand in October l863 from England. Henry had married Ann Wiseman in Scarborough on 29th March l859. They appear on the 1861 census for York, living with Ann's widowed mother, Elizabeth Wiseman. According to that census Henry was a 27 year old "fisherman" born in Epsom, Surrey. His wedding certificate has his father as William - a labourer. Henry and Ann settled in NZ to raise their children: They had 4 sons, Henry (1864) William,(1865) Fred (1872) and Thomas (1873). Also they had one daughter Lucy, born 1870. Only William left NZ and moved to Rockhampton, Queensland where he married an Irish girl and had 8 children. Lucy married Adam Adamson, Henry and Fred stayed single and Thomas married Annie O'Donnell.
Dr Duncan McLean
Timaru Herald, 13 September 1871, Page 2
It is with deep regret we have to record the demise of this gentleman, which
took place at his residence, Timaru, on Monday last. The deceased gentleman has
resided in Timaru since the year 1863 or the early part of 1864. He had,
previous to that date, paid a flying visit to the Colony in the ship Echunga
then landed immigrants in Timaru, and Dr McLean went back to England in her,
returning in 1863 in the Lancashire Witch, in which vessel he was also in
official charge as doctor. This vessel also landed immigrants at Timaru. On
board the Lancashire Witch there were, all told, nearly 500 souls, and on
getting into the tropics, scarlet fever, in a most virulent form broke out.
Thirty-three deaths occurred, and at one time there were 250 cases of sickness
on board. It was then that the sterling qualities of the good doctor shone
forth, for he was the only physician on board, and besides having to combat with
a dread disease, his means for doing so were sadly crippled, the stock of
medicines running short, and the vessel having to put into Simon's Bay, Cape of
Good Hope, for a fresh supply. As a passenger by that unfortunate vessel tells
us "By day and by night Dr Mclean was unremitting in his attention, and doing
all one man could possibly do to stem the fatal tide of disease which was
sweeping the vessel. To the children especially he was most kind and many a
young life was saved by his thoughtful and preserving care. Frequently he
supplied them with delicacies out of private means, which otherwise were not
procurable." When a good man dies the community at large suffers. A wife and a
family of four young children are left to mourn his loss.
Thomas MILLS was a carpenter from Newton Abbot, Devon. He was baptised there on 23 March 1827. His parents ran the Dartmouth Inn. His wife was Susanna Parsons from the St Erney/Landrake area of Cornwall. She was born 10 March 1839 in Poldrissick and her family were farmers. The couple were married in Exeter on 20 April 1859 and lived in London prior to their voyage on the Lancashire Witch. The passenger list shows they travelled with two sons Thomas and Henry. Thomas was born in Pimlico, London on 12 Dec 1859. He died in Timaru on 21 Oct 1863, less than 2 weeks after arrival and seems to have been a further casualty of the illness on board. Henry is totally unknown to any descendants and though listed as a male was possibly actually their daughter Mary who was born in Islington, London on 2 July 1861. Her passage to New Zealand is otherwise a mystery. They also sailed with Susanna’s 15 year old brother Thomas Harris Parsons jnr. Another child, William, was born on board ship on 16 Sep when it was in the Southern Indian Ocean.
The Mills family settled in Sandietown, Timaru where Thomas operated as a builder and contractor. He was probably responsible for several of the early buildings in Timaru. He features in an intriguing court case in the Timaru Herald of Sat 9 Sep and 16 Sep 1865 where he was wrongly accused of theft and subsequently tried unsuccessfully to sue for damages for false imprisonment.
Thomas Harris Parsons jnr was the person featured in the Timaru Borough Council minutes of 12 May 1874 and the Timaru Herald of 13 May in connection with the construction of a powder magazine at Patiti Point. Thomas did not believe the plans were satisfactory.
The Mills family were joined in Timaru in 1865 and 1867 by Susanna’s parents, Thomas Harris Parsons and Mary, and all of her siblings: Phillipa Thompson and her husband George, James and his wife Betsy, Mary Betsy Lang and William Moses. Thomas Mills advanced Susanna’s parents’ fares. James Parsons operated a blacksmith and iron foundry in Church Street.
About 1879 the Mills family moved to Christchurch where Thomas was a contractor and in 1882 to Taranaki where he took up farming. Two of his sons played rugby for Taranaki and one, Hugh, became an All Black. Several of the Mills descendants still live in that province.
The Parsons also all left Timaru by the mid 1880s. Thomas Harris Parsons snr. joined the Mills in Taranaki, his wife having died in Timaru in 1879. The Thompsons went to Christchurch and James and Thomas, who had married James’s sister-in-law, went to Australia, first to Sydney then Western Australia. William Moses also visited Australia but ended up in Auckland. Mary Betsy Lang married James Spence in Timaru and they also moved to Taranaki, settling in New Plymouth. Information courtesy of Paul Bickerstaff great-great grandson of Thomas Mills, posted 28 October, 2007.
Thomas MUNTON married to Catherine Bird at Waltham on Wold, 26 Aug, 1858. They left England with their two daughters, Elizabeth Ann and Eliza. Thomas Munton was in poor health, and the sea voyage and life in NZ was recommended by a Dr. Shortly. After arriving in Lyttelton, Thomas died (1863)
Catherine remarried a William Musson in 1865. William was a close friend of Thomas and they had been to school together in Waltham-on Wold. Catherine had 2 sons and 2 daughters to William and died on 3rd June, 1904, Canterbury. Elizabeth Ann was born in 1861 and married James Walter Smart at age 17 St James, Cust. She died 26th Dec, 1934 at Christchurch . James Walter Smart died in 1926 in Christchurch. Information courtesy of Cathy Dale. Posted 28 Dec. 1999 Cathy wrote: If I can help anyone with this line of research I would be most pleased to forward any information on, either via email or post. Update Oct. 2004.
Sutherland brothers on the Lancashire Witch.
Hugh and William Sutherland were brothers from Portree on the Isle of Skye, Inverness-shire, Scotland. William was born 24 March 1839 and came to NZ as a single man, a farm labourer.
Hugh was born about 1829, married Mary CAMERON in Renfrew, Scotland on 7 June 1861.
They came to NZ together with their first daughter Marion. Marion was one of the many children who died on the voyage on 23 Sept 1863 of "marasmus" at the age of 7 months.
Hugh and Mary first settled at Timaru where seven of their children were born. A further two were
born in the North Island after they moved to the Mercer / Rangariri area where they farmed for many years.
Hugh died 29 September at Te Kauwhata and is buried at Huntly along with his wife Mary who died 31 May
1907. Information courtesy of Gillian.
Gillian does not know much about what happened to William but is working on it.
Knows more about Hugh as he was her gt gt grandfather. Posted 24 Nov. 2002
Richard PELVIN
(1821 Gravel Pits, Kensington - 1902 Timaru) Educated in England, he joined
the army January 1837 and in October sailed as a guard on the convict ship 'Moffat'
to join his regiment quartered at Sydney. Later duty took him to Norfolk Island.
In 1841 sent to India, rank now full corporal and did not return until 1853 to
England. He served next in Malta during the Crimean war (rank Sergeant) before
returning to serve in both England and Ireland. He married in 1856 Elizabeth Beake (
1825 Somerset - 1914 Timaru) and on applying for army discharge 1/7/1863. The Pelvins and
their four children under 6yrs immediately left from Kent to sail to New Zealand on the 'Lancashire
Witch'. He and Elizabeth were hospital attendants. Richard stated -
"Doctor MacLean was a thorough gentleman. I have known him send his dinner from the
cabin table The doctor and I were about day and night, though he could scarcely crawl, as
he was ill himself." The Captain rewarded Richard with £5. In Timaru his
first colonial job was Barrack Master at the Immigration Barracks and his wife assisted
him in his duties. Richard was also Drill Instructor of the volunteers in 1866. e then
bought land at Claremont where he built a stone house and became a farmer. In
1876 he bought 400 acres and in 1882 bought another 440 acres in the Redcliff district. He
was a member of the Ikawai School Committee. They had seven sons and two daughters.
Their inscription at the Timaru Cemetery reads:
Richard, husband of Elizabeth Pelvin, late Colour Sgt of H.M 51st regiment,
d. May 3, 1902 age 83.
Also his wife Elizabeth d. Oct 15th 1914, age 89.
Hawera & Normanby Star, 21 May 1902, Page 2
A very old soldier died at Timaru the other day in the name of Sergt.-Major
Richard Pelvin. When a mere lad of 16 he enlisted and at one time or other in
his long career had served in Norfolk Island, India (where he was stationed in
the stirring times of the forties), Malta, and Ireland. After five years service
in the West Kent Militia at Maidstone, Sergeant Pelvin decided to migrate to New
Zealand and landed at Timaru in 1863, and as a colonist he proved himself to be
as valuable as he was a soldier in the armies of King George IV and of Queen
Victoria.
Many of Richard's descendants were no doubt influenced by his long army career spanning from Jan. 1837 to July 1863 and again after his arrival in South Canterbury on the Lancashire Witch, when he trained volunteers. Walter was the son of Arthur Ernest Pelvin 1876 - 1943. Arthur was 9th child of Richard. Walter's (Wattie) three other brothers were in the army; Ernest on coast watching duties with a Canterbury Regiment, Les went to Egypt; Herbert to Italy with the 11th Reinforcement and Wattie No 496685, was assigned to the POW Camp at Featherston.
Bruce Fawthrop Pelvin was son of Alfred Pelvin (1861 - 1921). Alfred was the 4th child of Richard Pelvin. His mother was Mary Robertson nee Bruce 1863 - 1926, dau. of James Fawthrop Bruce and Ann Garvey nee Calder, mill owner, Waimate. Bruce's brothers - Henry (Harry) William Pelvin, was eldest son of Alfred Pelvin, trade blacksmith, 8th Reinforcement WW1. Died Rannerdale Home 11/11/1925. Death attributable to being gassed WW1. Worked as a harvester mill hand, farm hand and was a popular dance musician. Younger brother was Richard (Dick) Pelvin, service WW1.Both Bruce and Walter were grandsons of Richard Pelvin.
Information and dairies courtesy of Winsome Griffin. Please contact Winsome if you have further information you would like information on the above families. Posted 19 Aug. 1999 and updated 23 March 2002.
Jesse PRESTIDGE
was born in the Northamptonshire village of Moreton Pinkney c.1830, he worked as a
carpenter. He married Jane Dunkley who came from West Haddon, Northants on 12 April
1852 at St Andrew's Church, Rugby, Warwickshire where six children were born to them -
five boys and a girl. Jesse and Jane decided to emigrate to New Zealand and Sarah, Jesse's younger unmarried sister, who worked as a
domestic servant, decided to accompany them on the long voyage. Jane's brother -
Thomas Dunkley (who married Alice Prestidge - she was Jesse's Auntie although only ten
years older than him) also decided to go with them all as his two infant sons and wife
Alice had tragically died, leaving him alone. Thomas Dunkley succumbed to illness on board the Lancashire
Witch and died from scarletina maligna. He was buried at sea on 5 September 1863.
Jesse and Jane went on to have three more children, all boys, after their arrival in New
Zealand - Samuel and Charles were born at Christchurch and Joseph was born at Hororata.
Should anyone want to know about "The Moreton Pinkney Prestidge's" I would be
only to happy to help. Sheila Titcombe 2 July 2000
Shipley.
Half a dozen families were from
Nafferton, England (a village on the Yorkshire
Wolds.) Conditions and wages were poor for farm labourer and advertisements for
labourers in New Zealand caught the attention of the families. Passengers
from that area included: Robert Holland grandfather to Sir Sidney Holland
(National Prime Minister of NZ 1949-1957).
Burton Shipley. His great grandson also called Burton Shipley still farms in
Ashburton and is married to Jenny Shipley, the former Prime Minister of New
Zealand. Jenny Shipley received the distinguished companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year Honours list Dec. 31 2002. She spent 15 years in politics. Became an MP in 1987 and was a cabinet minister between 1990 and 1997. She became New Zealand's first woman prime minister on December 8, 1997 (National Party). She held the top job till December 1999.
William Storey. His son, Percy Wright Storey, was a former South Canterbury All
Black
Margaret Butterick, from Yorkshire, married Thomas Bates, a passenger, on 31 May 1864 Parish Church, Kaiapoi.
Witnesses: Henry Dalton and Jane Robson. Jane was also a passenger and from
Nafferton.
SHIPMATES REUNION
Christchurch Press Saturday 18 October,1913
Passengers by Lancashire Witch after Fifty Years.
At Freeman’s Cafe yesterday afternoon there was a reunion of passengers who came
to the Dominion in the ship Lancashire Witch which arrived at Lyttelton fifty
years ago, on October 13th,1863. There was a gratifyingly large number mustered,
over which Mr. Henry Holland (Mayor of Christchurch) presided. It was on the initiative of
Mr. Holland that the gathering was held. Those present who were passengers on the "Lancashire
Witch" were:
Mr Henry Holland (Mayor of Christchurch)
Mr Charles Yates (Chch)
Mr R. Munro (Chch)
Mrs William Elliott (Bennetts Junction)
Mrs N. Barton (formerly Miss Louisa Breesall)
Mrs C. Jones (Sydenham)
Mrs J .F .Fleming (Chch)
Mr J .Sinclair (Chch)
Mr G .W. Leadley (Ashburton)
Mrs Giles (nee Mary Ann Cass)
Mrs Fitzpatrick (nee Mary Jane Leadley)
Walter Prestidge, Jesse Prestidge
Mrs Price
A.C. Price
Edward Bennett
H. Mehrtens
J .H. Helliwell
Gilbert Dixon
Thomas Arthur Dixon
Francis Cass
J .W .Bowman
Adam Menzies
Mr F. Doell (Linwood)
Mr Richard Berry Wells (Timaru)
Mr M. Winter (Bennetts Junction)
Mrs J .W. Sawle (nee Miss Jane Shepherd)
Mrs G .R .Rankin (nee Miss Mary Draffin) (Spreydon)
Mrs C .Hadfield (Chch)
Mr G.W. Holland
In addition Mrs. James Walter Smart (nee Elizabeth Ann Munton) and her sister Mrs Robert Kingsbury (nee Eliza Munton) travelled by train from Ashburton and Cust respectively to attend this reunion and may have been later arrivals at the reunion. The party sat down to afternoon tea and the opportunity was taken advantage of for an interchange of reminiscences. The Mayor, after the toast of "The King" had been honoured, read apologies from several passengers who found it impossible to be present.
The apologies were from:
Mr G .W. Allen (12 Dublin St ,Christchurch)
Mr J. Robbie (Palmerston North)
Mr Thomas Prestidge (Addington)
Mrs and Miss Menzies (Opawa)
Mr J .Martin
Mr Robert N. Adair (Bryndwwyr) and others.
Mr Holland said that as one of the younger generation of those who landed by the Lancashire Witch, it gave him great pleasure to see so large a gathering of those who had landed in Christchurch under circumstances somewhat different from those now existing. He had been informed that the site on which the building stood in which they were assembled was bought originally at 38 pounds per foot, and that recently 500 pounds per foot had been refused for it. He referred to the few incidents of the voyage of the "Witch" that he could recall.
Mr. George Holland said that he had been looking forward with keen pleasure to the day’s function .He could remember coming from Lyttelton to the ferry in a little steamer. At the time when the "Witch" arrived he did not think that there was then a room large enough in Christchurch to hold them; and if there had been, the streets would have been left very bare.
He thought that without egotism he could claim that the passengers of the "Witch" had left their mark on the history of the Dominion. They had supplied a Mayor for Christchurch and one of the passengers, the late Mr. P. Duncan, had founded an agricultural implements works that would do credit to a bigger country. He hoped that all present were happy and prosperous, and thought that a fitting manner in which to commemorate the anniversary of the arrival of the "Witch" was by extending a helping hand to those who had not been so fortunate or by assisting those who had suffered by the recent colliery catastrophe in Wales.
Mr. G.W. Leadley, in proposing the health of "Surviving Shipmates" said that they were only a remnant seeing that the "Witch" brought 430 souls to the Dominion. The passengers by the "Witch" could claim that they had not lived and laboured in vain, but had assisted in taming the wilderness and made it bloom like the rose. He saw present Mr. Prestidge, whose father Jacob Prestidge was noteworthy for having brought the largest family to the Dominion in the "Witch"
The toast was heartily honoured and several of those present spoke to it. Mr. G. Holland proposed the toast of "Departed Shipmates" which was fittingly honoured. Before the gathering broke up the party was photographed.
(Christchurch NZ "Press" Saturday 18 October 1913 Reunion held at Freemans Cafe held on Friday,17th October 1913, with additions of two persons known to have attended but not reported as such)
FIFTY YEARS AGO
(from "Lyttelton Times" of Saturday Oct 17,1863)
Considerable apathy appears to exist on the part of the authorities in dealing with the
present large arrivals of immigrants. "Lancashire Witch" came in on Tuesday last
with 420 passengers and the "Victory" with 200 more is now outside the Heads,
yet not a soul has been landed from the former vessel at the time we write this. Report
says that the immigrants were to be landed in Camp Bay, but that the houses recently
erected there were found to be unfit to receive them. We hear also that the Immigration
Officer in Lyttelton is incapacitated from ill health ,but these can hardly be considered
sufficient reasons for keeping 400 people confined to the limits of a ship one hour longer
than necessary. (reprinted in "Lyttelton Times" in their issue of Oct
18,1913)
The Lancashire Witch
LANCASHIRE WITCH
Master: Captain J. Mollison
Rigging: Ship; sheathed in felt and yellow metal in 1855
Tonnage: 1,386 tons
Construction: 1854 in Québec, using oak and tamarack
Owners: D. Dunbar
Port of registry: London
Port of survey: London
Voyage: none listed
The same entry appears in the 1857 edition. Captain Mollison and the Dunbar fleet were regular visitors to Australia and
New Zealand.
In 1856 Lancashire
Witch, 1368 tons, from London, via Australia, arrived in Wellington on
July 20th. She had left Gravesend on 4 April 1856. Brought 226 passengers,
including 149 men of the 65th Regiment to Wellington. Assistant Surgeon Birkett of the 74th
Reg; A. S. Molison was the "Witch's" Commander. Another vessel of the same
name, a ship of 1574 tons, made several voyages to New Zealand in the sixties.
Details given in White Wings, Vol. 1. Reference: 'White Wings' Vol.
2 She was eleven years off the stocks when she commenced trading to
New Zealand. She was owned by Firnie and Co. of Liverpool, and in 1863 was
chartered by the Shaw, Savill Co. Reference: White Wings by Brett. Vol.
1. Arrived Lyttelton Oct. 13 1863 and July 29
1867.
The Illustrated London News April 27,
1867:
LANCASHIRE WITCH,
"The ship Lancashire Witch, 1574 tons register, sailed recently from London for
Canterbury NZ, with a full complement of cabin passengers, and about 110 in the steerage.
Of the latter 85 were Government passengers, and amongst them 52 single women, to whom
free passages were given."
Southern Cross, Saturday June 3rd 1865 Page 4
The Lancashire Witch arrived Auckland June 2
1865 under the command of Capt. George King with 490 passengers. She left Start
Point on the 13th February. The Lancashire Witch was in Auckland about nine years ago, but since then has been entirely refitted at a cost of
£22,000. She belongs to Messrs. Seymour, Peacock, and Co.; and has been chartered by Messrs. Shaw, Saville, and Co. She is consigned to Mr. W. Graham.
Dr. Wills, the father of the famous Australian explorer, has come out as surgeon of the ship.
A volunteer brigade was organized during the voyage, and the members regularly drilled by Sergeant-Major
Roberts. All the passengers are sent out by Captain Daldy. Twelve children have died during the voyage, and there have been five births.
The Illustrated London News Jan. 30,
1858
"CHINA -THE ATTACK ON CANTON"
"We take the following from the Overland China Mail of Dec. 16:-
The two squadrons are to act in concert, and, in token of the alliance, the British, on
the 13th, hoisted the French, and British, flags at the main on board the
men-of war.... As nothing is further from probability than that Yeh will surrender
unconditionally, the assault on the city, it is pretty evident, will take place in the
course of a few days. All the marines are in the river, and a portion were to land
on the Honan side. The artillery are on board the troop-ship 'Moresfoot', ready to
start. The party of Engineers arrived by mail-steamer, with, it is said,
four companies of the 59th Regiment, are under orders to embark on board the LANCASHIRE
WITCH, and about 300 hundred of the Chinese Coolie Corps go up in the 'Inflexible'."
From the "Lyttelton Times", October 17, 1863
The Lancashire Witch is still off the quarantine ground. The arrangements of the authorities are not completed for bringing the immigrants ashore in Lyttelton or taking them around to Christchurch, and they refuse to land in Camp Bay. It is reported that fifteen went ashore on the Quarantine Ground on Wednesday night after the ship was admitted to pratique, and found the place deserted, no person in charge to receive them, nor any provisions for their subsistence. After finding their way to Rhode's Bay they arrived in Lyttelton on Friday afternoon half famished. This delay has caused great dissatisfaction amongst the passengers. We hear that the Health officer condemns the buildings erected on the quarantine ground as not suitable for the intended.
"...with the assistance of the light breeze from the north-east, the Brother's Pride was brought up just astern of the Lancashire Witch..."
NOTES:
Location of Counties
Channel Islands: Alderney
Ireland:
Carlow & Cork
Scotland: Aberdeenshire, Buteshire, Caithness, Dunbartonshire,
Lanarkshire, Montgomeryshire, Pembrokeshire, Perthshire, Renfrewshire, Stirlingshire
'South Canterbury - A Record Of Settlement' Oliver A. Gillespie, published by South Canterbury Centennial History Committee, 1958. Reports 125 landed at Timaru including a Henry FLEMING and wife who settled at Fairlie, South Canterbury. They were Mrs. A. J. Davey's grandparents. The Timaru Herald was established as a weekly 11 June 1864.
White Wings Vol. 1. "She was a full rigged ship of 1574 tons...made her first passage to Lyttelton in 1863, and the 420 immigrants who embarked at London experienced a very trying and anxious time. Shortly after her departure scarlet fever broke out, and before reaching Lyttelton three adults and 23 children had died and were buried at sea... Called at Capetown for fresh provisions...Owing to disease on board neither saloon nor steerage passengers were permitted to land. 93 days to Timaru and 96 days to Lyttelton.
(The details in White Wings Vol. 1. is the above excerpt referring to the voyage to Camp Bay, Lyttelton from London via Capetown and Timaru in 1863 under Captain West so the tonnage is either quoted wrong in the 1863 The Lyttelton Times newspaper or in the 1924 White Wings Vol. 1. as both extracts the newspaper and White Wings Vol. 1 refer to the same voyage. She was chartered by the Shaw, Savill Co in 1863. She left London July 5, 1863.)
The Frederick W. Wallace - Record of Canadian Shipping 1786-1920. Lancashire Witch; tonnage 1574, year built 1854; built at Quebec, New Zealand Packet. 1887, owner: Hulkin Callao.
Log of Logs Vol. 1 by Ian Nicholson. Page 295. "The wooden clipper ship Lancashire Witch, built in Quebec in 1858. From a lithograph after T.G. Dutton." The black & white photograph of the Lancashire Witch is the same picture as offered in colour by NZ Print Warehouse
NZ Print Warehouse : Commercial site. Prints of immigrant ships and town views recorded by early settlers including the Lancashire Witch by T.G. Dutton.
If you have any information regarding the passengers listed or the Lancashire Witch please email, Olwyn, so we can share data with the genealogical community.
Passenger Lists Timaru
South Canterbury NZGenWeb Project
This page may be freely linked to but not duplicated in any fashion, wholly or in part, except for private study. © 1998 - 2009 Olwyn Whitehouse