Person Sheet


Name Rosanna FITZPATRICK
Birth 1825
Father Edward FITZPATRICK
Mother Mary DONOHOE (1785-1869)
Spouses:
1 Peter HUNTER
Birth County Durham, England,
Burial Lake Rowan
Children: Ellen (Died as Infant) (1848-1849)
Ellen (1849-)
Mary (1851-)
Peter (1852-1913)
Anne Therese (1856-)
Elizabeth (1859-)
Sarah (1860-)
John James (1862-)
Catherine (1858-1891)
Notes for Rosanna FITZPATRICK
22Arrived 15\4\1844 on the ship Sea Queen, PORT PHILLIP
ARRIVALS-April 15, Sea Queen, barque, 465 tons, Martin, master, from London 29th Nov, and Cork 4th Jan, with 219 immigrants. Passengers-Mr and Mrs Wickham, Mr Edminstone, and Dr Curtis, surgeon superintendent

The 'Port Phillip Gazette' on Wednesday 17 April 1844, reported the vessel's arrival in Port Phillip as follows:

The bounty emigrant ship SEA QUEEN arrived on Monday last, with 219 emigrants, under the superintendance of Dr Curtis JP, who is an old resident of this colony, having been formerly police magistrate at Wellington, in the middle district, and subsequently he had charge of the medical department at Norfolk Island. Two thirds of the emigrants are English, consisting principally of single men, of a robust and healthy appearance, the remainder are Irish, the whole of whom will, no doubt, meet with immediate arrangements, being of the class that are mostly required here.

A mutiny broke out on board the SEA QUEEN amongst the crew, when on the eve of leaving Ireland, which compelled her to put back to the Cove of Cork, where the chief mate was sentenced to six weeks imprisonment and hard labour, and the remainder of the crew to fourteen days imprisonment with the forfeiture of wages; she was also compelled to put back four times from stress of weather.

Five deaths have taken place during the passage, viz., one male adult, one female adult, and three children; there has also been an addition to the number of passengers by the birth of seven infants. Mr F. Wickham, for many years an eminent practitioner at Launceston in the legal profession, has arrived by this vessel, accompanied by his lady, with the intention of settling in this province, to practise as a barrister, having been admitted to the bar whilst in England.

A second report on the same voyage -
Emigrants on the Calcutta barque Sea Queen sailed to the Colony as part of 2000 adults being sent out by Emigration Agents Messrs Carter & Bonus of London, under a contract with Her Majesty's Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners, at a cost of œ18-14-0 per statute adult.

The vessel made a protracted voyage to the Colony. After leaving London at the end of November she sailed for Cork, running into very stormy weather off the wild Cornish coast. After taking on Irish emigrants, the vessel set sail for Port Phillip, only to have the crew members mutiny on the first evening at sea. Putting the vessel back into the Cove of Cork, the Master firmly quelled therebellion. The First Mate was sentenced to six weeks imprisonment with hard labour, and therest of the crew t a fortnight in gaol and the forfeiture of their wages. When again ready to sail, on January 11, bad weather forced the barque back into port four times.

The 219 emigrants were very well-behaved and co-operative during the passage. Perhaps the summary justice handed out to the crew had made them cautious of committing any misdemeanor. The vessel had a comfortable height between decks, the water kept sweet, and provisions were good. While at anchor in Cork Harbour fresh supplies were brought on board daily, according to the provisions of the Emigration Charter. Although there were four deaths at sea, there was no outbreak of serious illness. THe Surgeon carried out his duties correctly, and his advice was particularly valued by his charges, for himself was an old Colonist, having lived in both Welington and on Norfolk Island.

At Port Phillip, the Immigration Board was concerned that the General Certificate from the Government Emigration Agent in London had been lost. As well, they were not happy with the baptismal and marriage certificates tendered by many immigrants, believing some to be forgeries. Some passengers had no certificates at all. One woman appeared much older than her baptismal certificate indicated. A 'strawplatter,' she was deaf and childlike, and was judged ineligible for the bounty on the grounds of her senility and trade. There were still far too many families with a number of young children arriving; it was very difficult for them to find work.

Peter Hunter originally of County Durham, England, married Rosetta Fitzpatrick at St. Francis' Roman Catholic Church, at Melbourne (Vic) in 1847. The couple commenced their married life on a farm at Morang, in Victoria, and it was here in 1852 that their son, Peter, was born.
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