| Name | Thomas WILKINSON |
| Birth | 1817, Naas, County Kildare, Ireland |
| Death | 1879, Metropolitan Lunatic Asylum, Kew, Victoria, Age: 62 |
| Father |
Thomas WILKINSON, Shoemaker/shopkeeper, Naas, County Kildare, Ireland |
| Mother |
Bridget LYON |
| 1 | Ellen HENRY |
| Birth | 1831, Cookstown Co.Tyrone Ireland |
| Death | 1870, Ballarat Age: 39 |
| Father | James HENRY |
| Mother | Margaret (HENRY) |
| Marriage | 24 Jan 1850, Trinity Church Adelaide |
| Catherine (1851-1851) |
|
| Children | Leah (1854-1859) |
| Elizabeth (1858-1858) | |
| Martha (1859-1902) |
| 2 | Jane KELLEY |
| Birth | 1816, U.K. |
| Death | 1849, Adelaide, South Australia Age: 33 |
| Elizabeth Jane (1839- ) |
|
| Children | Allen
(1840-1924) Born in the UK to Thomas and Jane. Married a Mary
JAAP and settled in the Raglan area of the Victorian goldfields. |
| William George (1843- 1866) | |
| Ann Olivia (1845- ) |
Thomas WILKINSON, b. 1817 (UK), m. Jane KELLEY, b. 1816 (UK).
Arrived in Western Australia in 1841 aboard the emigrant ship "Ganges"
The emigrant ship "GANGES" sailed from London and Liverpool in England. The barque was captained by Samuel C. WALKER and arrived in Fremantle in the Swan River Colony on October 15, 1841 with 123 passengers. Cabin passenger, John Schoales, recruited many of the passengers in Ireland as indentured labourers and accompanied them on their voyage out to the Swan River Colony.
Another passenger, William Wade, recorded in later life his recollection of the voyage. William's memoirs are a fascinating insight into the nature of and conditions aboard voyages to the Swan River Colony at that time. Extracts from his reminiscences, the original manuscript of which is held at the Battye Library, Perth, follow:
"LIVERPOOL, THE LAST OF THE SOJOURN - 1841
It was Saturday and as far as memory serves me the eleventh of June but I am not quite certain of the day of the month but it was the day we must take up our residence on the food barque Ganges of the port of London bound for Fremantle Western Australia. It makes my hand shake today when I recall the event and I feel as if going through it again. We looked at each other without speaking. I saw a deeper paleness on poor Father's face as the horror drew near. We must be on board.
Page 62 - THE GANGES, THE NEW LIFE
That Saturday night was slept in our berths on the fore-hold of the ship which was fitted up for the single male passengers. When I say slept I am wrong for no sleep visited my eyes. I felt as if transferred to a new world. There were strange sounds, strange smells, strange people who kept tramping up and down the ladder all night long. My temples ached and my stomach heaved forecasting what was to follow ere long. The morning came at last. It was ushered in by the rattling of chains and the churning of paddle wheels and customary cries of seamen who were taking a ship out of dock and preparing for sea. On turning out and getting on deck we found a steam tug-boat along-side busily making fast to the ship by sundry chains and fastenings which I cannot describe better. We had the old Liverpool coal smoke about us and the tug gave us an extra supply. The weather had changed during the night and a drizzling rain was falling accompanied by a rather stiff breeze, cloudy of course making everything look miserable after the long spell of sunshine we had lately enjoyed.
The steam began to hiss and gurgle in the tug but the cabin passengers were not all on board. In the course of an hour they had all arrived and the movement from the dock began then in a short time we came to the gate by which the ship entered. ...we soon got out into the river again. Here another stop for it appears the Captain had not yet come on board. We saw a boat approaching and when it came along-side a little gentleman in a great coat and a tall black coat came aboard. I heard a seaman say "the Skipper's arrived", this was Captain Walker. He had a severe look but was not unhandsome, I thought a Captain would be wearing some mark of distinction about him and was disappointed. But presently appeared on the poop a dapper figure in a faded blue tight fitting jacket with brass buttons, wearing a sea cap with no lace. He looked over at the tug and muttered a few words disappearing at the same instant. This was the real Captain Walker.
The tug gave a snort and the ship a jerk, at once we were moving down the river to the sea.
Instantaneous with the ship's movement appeared on the poop a very handsome gentleman in shining blue and gold lace cap, spotless white pants, a ruddy face and black whiskers giving orders in a stern but not unmusical voice, which orders were repeated by a similar edition of himself on the quarterdeck to various seamen in various parts of the ship, which orders elicited sharp replies of "aye aye sir" from various quarters. These were the first and second mates. We saw very little of the Captain afterwards and thus we went out to sea.
There were two cooking galleys, one on the right side for the cabin and one on the left side for the immigrants or passengers. The cabin cook was an aged Scotsman with a very northern tongue, very feeble it seemed to me for an arduous billet. The other cook was a regular cockney or "varmint" with a voice and a temper like a fox terrier and would brook no second words from remonstrance. But I am getting before my subject somewhat.
We were by this time getting well out of the Mersey and beginning to see some curling waves when "breakfast" was called by the cook on the left. We went to investigate. There were three classes of passengers i.e. married couples, single women and single men and boys and we had only seen a few of the latter and had no conception of the numbers on board.
We were looking for the breakfast thinking of our eggs and bread and butter on land. We saw a sort of platform on deck on which there were two little tubs containing about a gallon each of some black liquid and a pile of what looked like dirty bits of board. There were three or four untidy, seedy, middle-aged men at the tubs and trying to break the things from the pile. Ship's biscuit they said, I took one to look at only. I thought of my butter biscuit at Belfast and shuddered. This was all covered by a bluish mould and harder than a piece of deal(?) board. I thought "if this is what we have to live on life will not be long for me".
When we had been a fortnight or three weeks at sea we passed the island of Madeira on our left hand. The aspect was of a great red mountain with patches of green up its side which I suppose were the vineyards we had heard of. I think we were about ten miles off but the weather were very clear and bright beyond anything we had ever before witnessed. It was a glimpse of fairyland coming out of our dull atmosphere. About a week later we met a deeply laden ship and were delighted to see her steering directly to us and as she approached we saw about being lowered were a number of men and an officer in the stern and they were soon climbing our sides and jumped on deck. I forgot to say that we knew the vessel was a British Merchant Ship by her flags. She was from the coast of Africa laden with palm oil bound for London. I do not remember the ship's name but they had been a good time getting their cargo and were very eager for news of home. We gave them all our newspapers and they left us a great lot of pumpkin and other vegetables and after having had some good chats with our sailors and immigrants, especially the girls, a signal from their own ship called them to attention, and so after many good wishes they bade us good-bye and proceeded on their way to the old country.
At this stage of our voyage I often of dark nights was attracted by the desire to look out on the surrounding surface of the ocean in its blackness and wonder about its depth, its immensity and its inhabitants and with a shudder attempt for a moment to realise what it would be to fall or to be thrown over-board into that dark abyss, then to reflect with thankfulness that to the present we had met with no storm or damaging weather or disaster of any kind and were now approaching the Cape of Good Hope of South Africa where we learned that the ship would call, but above all the care and mercy of God who had preserved us and carried us in safety over so many thousands of miles of ocean in answer to the prayers of our parents which we knew were continually going up for us. The thought of seeing the Cape cheered us. In gazing over the dark sea the sight was now and then relieved by a long bar of phosphorescent light in the water, sometimes rushing towards the ship and sometimes alongside.
A few days later land was announced and the Ganges head set for Table Bay. The wind was light and the ship proceeded slowly but we were quickly observed from the shore and before the anchor was down a small fleet of boats laden with vegetables, fruit, fresh bread, fish, negro women and jars of Cape wine was surrounding us. Bargaining became the order of the day, the oranges and fresh bread were eagerly bought and enjoyed. Crayfish and fresh crabs tempted many but not us. Oranges and bread suited us better than anything else and we enjoyed them to the full. The sight of Table Mountain was our next enjoyment, its grandeur filled our hearts with delight and admiration. The Captain, Mr Schoales and most of the cabin passengers prepared to go ashore but others were not permitted. The Ganges lay a long way out, at least three miles and Cape Town was just barely visible. There was some grumbling about it but it was unheeded.
There were signs about that some of the Cape vintage had found its way to the ship. The poor old cabin cook was drunk and helpless, stowed away in his bunk in the forecastle. A crank the name of Tom Hardey got a skinful and was on his knees on the deck praying to our horror that God would "sink the bloody ship to the bottom of the sea". A couple of sailors were fighting in the forecastle and bleeding each others noses and swearing. There was no cooking or preparation of food on that day. The two officers were taking it easy in their cabins. Mrs King and her daughter were the only ladies in the cabin and the steward attended upon them. The return of the Captain and the rest toward evening calmed the troubled waters for the time but as the ships business took them ashore again next day we had a mild rehearsal of the day before. Only one passenger, him above-named, fell before the shrine of the Bacchus and some of the Jacks and the two cooks, especially the latter, were still nonist inventis.
The appearance of Table Mountain at night was impressive. Flashes of light like musketry fire were continually scintillating from the face of the rock as if an action was proceeding, it might have been light from a window but we were too far off to discern. The third day dawned and orders were given to get ready for sea. The weather also began to show signs of change, there was considerable excitement among the seamen and several of them were drunk, one especially, Charlie of the bucket, he was particularly nasty and wanted to fight everybody. A few stern commands and threats restored a sort of order and the anchor was got up and the ship's head put to sea.
Meantime it began to blow. In the ardour of getting away the hawse holes in the ship's bows were not stopped after the anchors had been secured. Officer's heads at fault, and the forecastle was inundated and a sick sailor was washed out of his bed. The ship was plunging bows under and the water pouring in tons through the hawse holes, along the deck and penetrated the cabin. Poor old cook was nearly drowned before he was rescued. There was a commotion and the hard sharp tones of Captain Walker like a brass trumpet rated the officers. It was "Aye, Sir" here and "Aye, Sir" there, everywhere. Like the wind tearing through the rigging the stern voice of the Chief Officer answering the Captain and swearing like a tiger in the intervals, the "Ahoy, Ahoy" of the sailors all contributed to make a din worthy of the Cape of Storms.
OCTOBER 1841
... rough weather prevailed for a week after leaving the Cape but we were comforted by the fact of the wind being in our favour and bringing us every hour nearer to our destination. My brother at this stage was complaining and looked out of sorts but I was in the very best of health and spirits. The poor old cabin cook was found to be paralysed in his legs and unfit for further duty. He was a kindly homely old man and was very good to me during the great part of the journey at sea. He afterwards died in the hospital at Perth, WA. The damage of the forecastle killed him. A baby was born somewhere hereabouts, died and was consigned to the deep. The only case of death on the voyage. The shepherd and his two dogs, well and lively, fine weather now set in and the decks were enlivened by the married people and the girls swarming up out of their quarters and making merry.
OCTOBER 14, 1841
Towards evening we sighted Rottnest, one of the islands off Fremantle, and the ship was put about and kept in the offing during the night. By the earliest daylight her head was turned shoreward again under easy sail and we gradually drew towards some islands shining in the rising sun and presenting a most cheering aspect though the land was but rocks. As the morning advanced great excitement and activity pervaded us all and was increased by the sight of boats making towards us. Everyone put on his or her best and mounted and thronged on the ship's side, hearts beating and faces glowing with joy and anticipation. Now the pilot or harbour master's boat is alongside and the deputy harbour master steps on board ...
... There was there great shaking of hands and thousand questions never waiting to be answered about the voyage and everything imaginable. A great bubble of tongues but in our own familiar English and thus we arrived in Australian waters on the 15th day of October 1841, day ever memorable, and we cast anchor in Gages Road, Fremantle Harbour, Colony of Western Australia. Humble thanks to Almighty God for his prevailing mercy to us and bringing our voyage to a safe ending."
[Wade, William - Papers. MN 858. 949A, 1026A, 1075A. Battye Library Perth, WA]
"GANGES"
[15 October, 1841]
Passenger List
[15 October, 1841]
Passenger List
Passengers who embarked in London and those who passed through quarantine on arrival are listed below. Information was found in Con 36 and CSR 99/163-4 in the Battye Library in Perth, W.A. and in the Perth 'Inquirer' newspaper dated October 20, 1841.
CSR 99/163 said the ship brought 110 emigrants, 7 "Caddy" Passengers with two children and 4 intermediates.
Assisted migrants were listed in the following three distinct categories:
Married People and their families.
Unmarried Women with the nature of the Protection under which they were shipped.
(See the "Comments" column in the passenger list below.)
Single men.
In an effort to help you with your research we have amalgamated all of the passengers into one single list and sorted them alphabetically according to their surnames.
The only crew mentioned were:
WALKER Capt. Samuel C.
DUNN Charlie
WATSON John
Name Age Family/Single Occupation Religion Comments
ABBEY Thomas 30 F Labourer Protestant ......
ABBEY Mary Ann 20 F Servant Protestant ......
ANDERSON Jane 18 S Servant Protestant To be protected under a Commssioner's Orders
BALL Richard 22 S Labourer Protestant ......
BESSONET Mr J. .. S .... .... Cabin Passenger
BIRMINGHAM William 15 S Boy Protestant ......
BIRMINGHAM Mary Ann 15 S Servant Protestant To be protected by a Brother
BOULGER M. 28 F Quarryman Roman Catholic ......
BOULGER Mary 28 F .... .... Roman Catholic ......
BOULGER Mary 25 S Servant Roman Catholic To be protected by a Brother
BRIAN Willliam 25 S Shepherd Roman Catholic ......
BROWNE Christopher 30 S Shepherd Protestant ......
CONNOLLY James 20 S Shepherd Protestant ......
DALY Mr .. S .... .... Cabin Passenger
DAVEY C. .. S .... .... Intermediate Cabin Passenger
DAVIS J. .. S .... .... Intermediate Cabin Passenger
DELMORE John 30 F Sawyer Roman Catholic Surname could be DELAMERE?
DELMORE Mary 21 F .... .... Roman Catholic ......
DINELEY Dr William Pike .. S .... .... Cabin Passenger
DONOVAN John 20 F Servant Protestant ......
DONOVAN Mary Ann 22 F Housemaid Protestant ......
DORK William 26 S Labourer Protestant Was his surname DORK?
DOWDELL C. 34 S Brickmaker Protestant ......
DOWLAN James 26 F Labourer Roman Catholic ......
DOWLAN Jane 20 F Servant Roman Catholic ......
DOWLAN Mary 1 F .... .... .... .... ......
DREW Margaret 27 S Servant Roman Catholic To be protected by a Brother in law
HACKETT Thomas 27 F Labourer Roman Catholic ......
HACKETT Mary 26 F Servant Roman Catholic ......
HACKETT Anne 3 F .... .... Roman Catholic ......
HACKETT Nathaniel Ganges 2 mths F .... .... Roman Catholic ......
HACKETT Felix 24 S Labourer Roman Catholic ......
HALL W. .. S .... .... Intermediate Cabin Passenger
HARDEY Thomas 30 S Gardener Protestant ......
HARTIKEN Michael 23 S Labourer Roman Catholic ......
HENRY Owen 32 F Labourer Roman Catholic ......
HENRY Bridget 28 F Servant Roman Catholic ......
HEPINSTALL Anne 20 S Servant Protestant To be protected by a Brother in law
HICKEY Peter 20 S Labourer Roman Catholic ......
HICKS Richard 31 S Shepherd Protestant ......
HICKS Ben 24 S Bricklayer Protestant ......
HICKS Robert 19 S Farm Lad Protestant ......
HOLMES J. 19 S Printer Protestant ......
HOUSTON J. 30 S Hostler Protestant ......
KEEGAN Thomas 27 F Gardener & Labourer Roman Catholic ......
KEEGAN Eliza 25 F Cook Roman Catholic ......
KEEGAN Richard 8 mths F .... .... .... .... ......
KEHELY Timothy 24 S Labourer Roman Catholic Could his name have been John?
KERSLEY Richard 21 S Labourer Protestant ......
KILLAN John 26 S Labourer Roman Catholic ......
KING Rev. George .. F .... .... Cabin Passenger
KING Mrs Jane .. F .... .... Cabin Passenger
KING Emma .. F .... .... Cabin Passenger
LEARY Bridget 22 S Servant Roman Catholic To be protected by a Brother
LEEDON James 29 F Servant Protestant ......
LEEDON Jane 25 F Servant Protestant ......
LENNY Edward 28 S Labourer Roman Catholic ......
LOUGHRIDGE George 26 S Labourer Protestant ......
MALONE Gregory 27 S Brickmaker Roman Catholic ......
MARMION Patrick 26 S Labourer Roman Catholic ......
McDONNELL C. 18 S Labourer Roman Catholic ......
McINTOSH Ewan 28 S Shepherd Protestant ......
McKENNA James 21 S Labourer Roman Catholic ......
McKENNA John 21 S Labourer Roman Catholic ......
McKINLEY Rose 27 F Servant Roman Catholic Surname could be McKINLAY?
McKINLEY Patrick 26 F Labourer Roman Catholic Surname could be McKINLAY?
McKINLEY Rose 4 mths F .... .... Roman Catholic Surname could be McKINLAY?
McNAMARA James 29 S Labourer Roman Catholic ......
MILLER John 28 S Miller Protestant ......
MINION Martha 30 F Servant Protestant Surname could be MINSON?
MINION William 30 F Labourer Protestant Surname could be MINSON?
MINION Mary Ann 1 F .... .... Protestant Surname could be MINSON?
MOORE Thomas 32 S Labourer Roman Catholic ......
MORRISSEY William 30 S Shepherd Roman Catholic ......
NORRIS Patrick 22 S Shepherd Roman Catholic ......
O'BRIEN Dennis 21 S Servant Roman Catholic ......
O'MALLEY Dennis 25 S Shepherd Roman Catholic ......
OLIVER George 22 S Smith Protestant ......
OTWAY Thomas 22 S Labourer Protestant ......
POLLARD John Snr. 58 F .... .... Protestant ......
POLLARD Jane Snr. 38 F Dairy Woman Protestant ......
POLLARD John Jnr. 19 F Ploughman Protestant ......
POLLARD George 15 F Farmboy Protestant ......
POLLARD Jane Jnr. 12 F Farmgirl Protestant ......
POLLARD Thomas 7 F .... .... Protestant ......
POLLARD Michael 5 F .... .... Protestant ......
QUIN William 30 S Ploughman Protestant ......
RAISON Anne 20 S Servant Protestant To attend on Mrs King; was her surname RAISON?
REA Sarah 18 S Servant Protestant To be protected by a Brother
REA John 16 S Farm Lad Protestant ......
REEVES Mr R. .. S .... .... Cabin Passenger
RONAYNE David 21 S Shepherd Roman Catholic ......
RONAYNE Mary 18 S Servant Roman Catholic To be protected by a Brother
ROSS Margaret 25 S Waitress Roman Catholic To be protected by a Cousin
SCHOALES John Jnr. .. S .... .... Cabin Passenger
SMITH Bridget 36 S Cook Roman Catholic To be protected by a Nephew
SMITH Eliza 26 S Housemaid Roman Catholic To be protected by a Brother
SMITH James 24 S Milker Roman Catholic ......
SMITH Thomas 23 S Labourer Roman Catholic ......
SMITH Margaret 22 S Servant Protestant To be protected by a Cousin
STOYLE Sarah 28 S Nurserymaid Protestan To be a Servant to Mrs King's child
SUTTON George 37 S Bricklayer Protestant ......
SUTTON Jane 29 S Servant Protestant To be protected by a Brother
WADE Thomas Henry 20 S Labourer Protestant ......
WADE William 18 S Farm Lad Protestant ......
WARD John 26 S Servant Roman Catholic ......
WARD Anne 23 S Cook Roman Catholic To be protected by a Brother
WATSON J. 19 S Farm Boy Protestant ......
WELDON James 21 S Shepherd Protestant ......
WILKINSON Thomas 27 F Labourer Protestant ......
WILKINSON Jane 25 F Servant Protestant ......
WILKINSON Alan 1 F .... .... Protestant ......
WILKINSON Peter 22 S Labourer Protestant ......
WILLIAMS Thomas 38 F Labourer Protestant ......
WILLIAMS Eliza 28 F Servant Protestant ......
WILLIAMS Eliza 18 F Servant Protestant ......
WILLIAMS John 16 F Farm Lad Protestant ......
WILLIAMS Mary Ann 14 F Farm Girl Protestant ......
WILLIAMS Jane 10 F .... .... Protestant ......
WILLIAMS Margaret 7 F .... .... Protestant ......
WILLIAMS .... .... ? mths F .... .... .... .... ......
WRIGHT J. .. S .... .... Intermediate Cabin Passenger
REMARKS:
The Ganges seemed to be well suited for the passenger trade, being dry in bad weather & roomy 'tween decks - the accommodations were excellent. People were victualled by the ship at an average rate of 10lbs solid food & 21 quarts of water per week to each adult, the quality in general excellent, but two complaints made to the Superintendent on (?) points, both which were at once rectified.
The Surgeon was most attentive & kind, the high state of health in which the people came out is the (?) (?) of his skill. Diarrhoea prevailed when we first entered the tropics, induced by proper water drinking it yielded to simple remedies. Slight Scurvy appeared in one (?) whom it was discovered had been in the habit of bartering their fresh fruit with the Sailors for salt(?) provisions - on a rigid adherence to the dietary (?) being enforced the disease vanished.
Measures were early adopted to ensure exercise amongst the Emigrants by dancing on the Quarter Decks & swinging the females, the latter being a most favourite (?) … The people were exceedingly well conducted & every precaution taken to enforce complete separation of the unmarried persons (?) from the hour of clearing decks.
Signed Mr Schoales (?) In Charge
[ACC 36 CSR Vol. 127/214 & 215, State Records Office, Perth WA]
Thomas and the family left for Adelaide on the Velocity on 28 May, 1844.
Children:
Allen WILKINSON, b. 1840 (UK).
William WILKINSON, b. May, 1843 (W.A.).
[Dictionary of Western Australians; Inquirer]
South Australian Shipping Intelligence
1844, Apr 14
Velocity Brigantine - Master: Bogue from Swan River
Passengers:-
Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson and two children,
Mr. and Mrs. Thomson and child,
Mr. and Mrs. Tait and child,
Mr. Lockyer,
Mr. Smith and Mr. Solby, in the cabin;
Messrs Owen, Lefoy, Nicoll and Hall, and Miss Heritage in the steerage.