Dear List Members, In 1857 my ancestors, John POWER and Bridget HALLORAN, and their children migrated, from Ireland to Australia. They lived in Knockanalban, Kilmurry Ibrickane, Co Clare and embarked on the "Almora" from Liverpool bound for Melbourne, Australia. Could any list member please suggest from which port in Ireland they are most likely to have left to travel across to Liverpool and whether it was likely to be by sailing ship or steamer? Is there available an account of such a journey and the likely conditions travellers would encounter along any such similar undertaking - the wait for a passage out of Liverpool, the voyage to Australia, arrival in an Australian port, etc? Thanks in anticipation, Carmel McGrath Berwick, Vic

Dear Carmel and Listers, There is a diary written by William Kirk aboard the "Chatsworth' about the journey Scotland/Ireland/Moreton Bay, Brisbane, Qld in 1862. My great grandfather Thomas MELLIFONT was an immigrant on that ship. It is held at the John Oxley Library Brisbane. There is a Kirk Society Newsletter which makes reference to it as follows which I include here for the benefit of listers. http://www.kirksoc.co.uk/Society/Newsletters/ksnewsc.htm Regards Judith Mellifont. .......................................................... The Journal of William Kirk from Britain to Queensland 1862 Copied by Henry Jocheim in November 1980 from original writings which were made in a small note book 4" x 6" consisting of 16 pages, covering incidents on a journey of the sailing ship 'Chatsworth' from Queenstown on 11th April 1862, disembarking at Moreton Bay 5th September 1862. Friday 11th. Sailed from Queenstown Bay. A man coming up the side of our ship by a rope sliped, one of the sailors was half way down the side of the ship to jump in for him, when he was got hold of by the men in the lighter and escaped with his life. The first night at sea was annoyed by a drunken woman, the officer of the ship had to tie her hands and feet and put her in the lock up. Sunday 13th Sabbath, fair winds saw ship at distance exchanged colours and passed. This night a woman was delivered of a daughter who is named (Mary) Mary Chatsworth. Monday 14th Saw two Barks in the morning far in advance of us. by midday was closing up on them exchanging colours and passed, by night was out of sight. Tuesday 15th Saw two flying fish. Wednesday still running before the wind, nothing of importance today. Friday 18th Have just entered warm weather sun very hot not sailing so fast little wind. Monday 21st Another Sabbath over, had an English service in the fore noon, better than nothing Sabbath badly kept saw a ship about 10 miles off. A good wind today about 10 knots an hour. Friday 25th Things beginning to get into better order, all kinds of amusements on last a dancing ball. Saturday 26th Last night a concert some very good singing, the ships purser carries the belt again. Sunday 27th Still very warm but good wind, had an English service today at 12 o'clock, O how badly the Sabbath is kept here. Monday 28th Nothing of importance, singing and dancing after tea. Wednesday 30th A number of ships all around us, one homeward bound, every one is writing for home, The Captain has gone with the long boat with all the letters, the ship is bound for France. Wednesday 1st May A young child died this morning and was buried in the deep sea, the burial service was read. Saturday 3rd Still very hot with little wind, fearfully warm down below, deck all covered at night with beds nearly all the time, heavy rain today, the first shower since we left home. Monday 5th Another Sabbath gone had an English service at 10 o'clock and at 11 had a Scottish meeting about 50 attended I opened and closed, another Gentleman gave out the psalms and read another sermon. Passed the Line on the Sabbath morning, still very warm but some wind. Thursday 8th Another child born this morning, two gold watches raffled today, Pursers won them both. Still good wind, will be into cold weather in a day or two. Tuesday 13th Saw 3 ships in the morning at great distance. Wednesday 14th Today passed the "Trinidad", it stands very high above the sea. In the evening saw a water spout a beautiful sight. Was called to a young man from Ayrshire thought to be dying, conversed and prayed with him seems a good young man. Thursday 15th The pursuer got himself disgraced by selling the ships stores all the passengers was examined before the Captain today, it is found instead of 5 shillings he has been charging 7 shillings for a bottle of Brandy. Monday 19th Another child died yesterday and was put in the deep blue sea, the Roman priest read the sermon in Latin, I don't think he knew himself what he was saying. Thursday 18th A great movement has got up in the ship the Irish have got up a memorial in favour of the Captain .... for their kindness to the passengers. We Scottish & English think other wise we intend laying the whole case before the Government agent at Brisbane and let him to judge. It is laughable to hear the various reports of our landing some say two or three days others a week to fortnight the sailors are all scrubbing the ship making everything clean which I think is a token that we are not far off saw a ship ahead of us today the first we have seen in 6 weeks. Monday 27th Another 2 children died a number lying very ill I dont think we will ever sea land again no appearance as yet. Monday 21st A ship was close up to us yesterday, exchanged colours and passed. A fine farce happened the time the ship was passing. A great big Irishman went up the rigging for a better sight of her, a sailor followed him and tyed his hands to the rigging and there he stood a laughing stock to all. He had either to pay 2/6 or remain for 2 hours, however the mate ordered the men to let him down, he went to the captain and made his complaint, the captain told him he had nothing to do on the sailor property the whole passengers was on him and cheered him up and down the poop, he will not forget it while he lives. Thursday 30th Another child died last night which makes 10 deaths. we have been 100 and 8 days from Liverpool and no word of land yet. Wednesday 30th I have not kept this log for some days. We are now off the coast of Queensland but can not get into Moreton Bay. The wind is blowing off land we are just beating backward and forward making no progress if the wind does not shift we may be a week yet. Yesterday passed a very high rock it stands 1,000 feet above the sea, I dont know the name. Tuesday 5th We are now at anchor in Moreton Bay we have been beating around for a week & can not get in till this morning and here we must lye till we get a pilot another large ship the Helenslee came in at the same time full of passengers and is lying besides us. a Glasgow ship left 15 days behind us but has got a pilot and has left. a man has come on board and told us of a sister ship that has just landed in Brisbane that was 6 months 7 days on the way 57 deaths the greater part of them adults so we ought to be thankful we have had 11 deaths all children. The last one died this morning the only one that has got a coffin the mate and a number of sailors have gone ashore to bury it belongs to a man from Dublin it is the third child he has lost since he came on board. Thursday 7th We are now safely landed in Moreton Bay it is a large bay and beautiful scenery all around great number of small islands covered with small bushy trees here is 6 large ships all lying round us these will be about 2000 people all landed about one time & more expected every day. A steamer has come alongside of us and bought about 10 sheep and 9 legs of beef 3 bags of potatoes on account of measles we are afraid we will have to lye here 14 days but the Government Commissioner has not come on board yet. Monday Another ship has just anchored beside full of passengers from London, they have been more lucky than us in short voyages. Sabbath. Bad luck to Chatsworth all the rest of the ships are getting cleared out but our selves on account of the Measles, we are doomed to ride quarantine it maybe for weeks. another child died this morning now makes 12 deaths, another child was born today makes 4 births. The boats that went out to the island yesterday came back tonight with there selves all wet, they came upon an empty house with some furniture in it but no person to be seen, they brought away some things which I am afraid will bring themselves trouble. I forgot to say there was also a marriage bound today which makes a birth, a marriage, and a death in one day. Monday 11th Another two boats full of passengers have gone ashore to day and have taken the child to bury it on shore. It is likely another two will go tomorrow. We are getting a treat new fresh meat and potatoes and some a loafe of bread, there is no fish in the bay but have caught some large ones at the light house they were very fine two eat. Saturday 16th Still lying in Moreton Bay at quarantine, another 2 children died this week 14 deaths now, a number still ill as there is one we will not get out of this. Monday 18th We are getting worse & worse a married man with 4 children took ill Tuesday and was taken ashore to the island on Friday and died the same night, another woman has taken very ill and is ashore to say it is not expected she will live. I forgot to say the above mans youngest child died at the same time and were both buried in one grave. Those putting up tents on the shore and taking all the passengers on shore as fast as they can. It is thought we will have to lye here a fortnight yet, our Captain has taken ill but is expected will soon be better. Wednesday 20th I was ashore with all my luggage on Monday, no sooner landed when a message came in for all to get on board again as fast as possible as our ship was to be moved farther down river to island and there to remain till the Government is satisfied. it is a very hard case to keep us so long for the few cases of sickness. Now the Government and the Black Ball line does not agree and that is the cause of it all. Monday 10th we are now under way as steamer has come and is to tow us down to the island. the tents is to be put up and all is to go on shore, it is said there is plenty of fresh water. Tuesday 21st we are on land the island is a beautiful all covered with trees , it is a plain below & then rises to a great height well covered with trees to the top its 40 miles long in coming down the river we passed about 20 islands some of them beginning to be cleared and a good number of house here and there on them no one has any idea of the beauty of the place. The only comfort we have getting plenty of fresh grub, beef and mutton and potatoes for we eat every day but we can get letters away to our dear friends at home. this will be an experience job for the Black Ball but they well deserve it, in bringing so many Irish out and has cheated the Government so long now been 9 days here all in tents placed around about an old brick building which was once a convict settlement, it is a beautiful spot and plenty of fresh water and birds of all kinds. Some of our men shot 2 large snakes measuring about eight feet long, I shot some birds, I never saw very like of them before, a little to the west is a church yard spot on the sea side and a number of tomb stones none of them to the memory of Scottish men one of them belonged to Montrose whose name was David Keith Barlow ,he was a dr. and lost his life on the discharge of Duty fever having broke out in an emigrant ship when a great numbers died and were all buried here. Another was to the memory of George Mitchell so belonging to Scotland. We have now got our liberty from quarantine and a steamer is to tow us to Brisbane. I forgot to say that the grass on the island was so long that it took me up to the waist. A man with a scythe could cut a cart load very soon. The soil is light all sand up to the top of the hill and all covered with large trees and some very rare plants. I saw nothing I know except the common ferns, I saw plenty of them. There has been 21 deaths 18 children and three adults 2 men and a woman 4 of our sailors has made their escape from the ship. We are now in Brisbane other 9 sailors has made off, the Police has caught 3 of them, I saw them tried at the Police Court they got 12 weeks hard labour 2 of them was trying to swim across the river one of them got over the other sank and was drowned the first one tried to keep him up and get him out but poor Bill was gone. From the first I has kept out of the way of the woman that was drunk at Queenstown has been fined every day since she came here One day she was fined 10/- and today she was fined 1 pound. Thanks to Roslyn Roberts for this harrowing story. We often forget how our ancestors suffered as we sit in our Jumbo 747's flying across the world in one day. I have had to edit the story down a little but have tried to keep the spelling and presentation as it was written as much as possible some times William has his days and dates wrong and some times forgets where they are but that is fully understandable and he did a great job recording the days on board ship. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rob McGrath" <robmcg@ozemail.com.au> To: <AUS-IMMIGRATION-SHIPS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, April 26, 2002 3:18 PM Subject: [AUS-IMM-SHIPS] CLARE-LIVERPOOL-MELBOURNE- ALMORA (John POWER & Bridget HALLORAN) > Dear List Members, > > In 1857 my ancestors, John POWER and Bridget HALLORAN, and their children > migrated, from Ireland to Australia. They lived in Knockanalban, Kilmurry > Ibrickane, Co Clare and embarked on the "Almora" from Liverpool bound for > Melbourne, Australia. > > Could any list member please suggest from which port in Ireland they are > most likely to have left to travel across to Liverpool and whether it was > likely to be by sailing ship or steamer? > > Is there available an account of such a journey and the likely conditions > travellers would encounter along any such similar undertaking - the wait for > a passage out of Liverpool, the voyage to Australia, arrival in an > Australian port, etc? > > Thanks in anticipation, > > Carmel McGrath > Berwick, Vic > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > >