Dear Listers The ship 'Anglia' arrived at the Port of Newcastle direct from London 24 Sep 1855. The occupation of just about every male passenger was something to do either building or running a train line ........... Abit like quite a few ships that arrived in the 1850s full of German vine dressers . Am particularly interested in Isaac HOLMES and wife Hannah and chn, Thomas, Mary Ann & Henry who were on this ship . Film # 2468 says he has a sister named WIGGINS already in Newcastle . Have tracked a few WIGGINS ladies and haven't found the right one yet I checked thru the Maitland Mercury to 10 Oct 1855 but could only find a ref in the shipping column to this ships arrival. Was nothing about a whole ship load of excavators arriving . Boyles has a few refs to Maitland rail line but only one before it opened and that was 17 Jan 1860 ......... 500 men working on the line between Maitland & Lochinvar Would Newcastle Library have any info ?? TIA Bye MargM Hunter Valley List Admin

Dear Marg I have four ancestors arriving in Newcastle on the "Blackfriar" in 1855. Two of the male adults had the occupations of excavator and labourer. The Maitland Mercury, 14/3/1855 records that there were 137 adults and 47 children aboard, also "They have had a very fine weather passage, and the emigrants are remarkably healthy, and are for the Hunter's River Railway Company." Regards Alan

Hi Marg and Listers Newspaper details on the Anglia arrival and departing Newcastle, as follows: --------------------------------- Arrival Details (Voyage 4 to Australia) The Barque Anglia, Captain Ball arrived yesterday afternoon from London and anchored in the Horse-shoe. She has railway navvies on board for the Hunter River Rail, also rail &c. Her immigrants 206 in numbers are in good health. An uncertainty exists as to whether the Anglia will remain here or go on to Sydney to land her passengers. The Captain has gone to Sydney, most probably to ascertain the proper course of proceeding. She has nearly 300 tons of railway iron on board, also a locomotive engine. She left on the 15th June and had a tolerable passage: no deaths, except infants and one man drowns off the Cape of Good Hope, and four births. Reference: Sydney Shipping Gazette dated 1 Oct 1855 Departure Details The Anglia departed Newcastle on the 13 December 1855 under the command of Captain Ball for Shanghai with 320 tons coal. Reference: Sydney Shipping Gazette dated 17 December 1855. --------------------------------- Best Wishes Denis ---------------------------------------------- Denis Hare 11 Estate Rd, Middle Park Q 4074 Ph: 07-32793414 Mob: 0419-334535 mailto:dhare@powerup.com.au http://www.au104.com 104 Reunion 2006 - See Web Site ----------------------------------------------- -----Original Message----- From: MargM [mailto:genknut@optusnet.com.au] Sent: Friday, 24 February 2006 5:18 PM To: AUS-NSW-Hunter-Valley-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Railway navvies 1855 ?? Dear Listers The ship 'Anglia' arrived at the Port of Newcastle direct from London 24 Sep 1855. The occupation of just about every male passenger was something to do either building or running a train line ........... Abit like quite a few ships that arrived in the 1850s full of German vine dressers . Am particularly interested in Isaac HOLMES and wife Hannah and chn, Thomas, Mary Ann & Henry who were on this ship . Film # 2468 says he has a sister named WIGGINS already in Newcastle . Have tracked a few WIGGINS ladies and haven't found the right one yet I checked thru the Maitland Mercury to 10 Oct 1855 but could only find a ref in the shipping column to this ships arrival. Was nothing about a whole ship load of excavators arriving . Boyles has a few refs to Maitland rail line but only one before it opened and that was 17 Jan 1860 ......... 500 men working on the line between Maitland & Lochinvar Would Newcastle Library have any info ?? TIA Bye MargM Hunter Valley List Admin ______________________________