Just checked on Trove & yes it is Mackay, Qld. It seems as if this ship only sailed around Australian waters. He may have deserted in March of 1875 due to the ship being washed ashore in Mackay, because of severe weather conditions. Other than ancestry, I don't know of any other crew lists online, sorry I couldn't help with that. Cheers, Christine -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2012 9:53 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [AUS-QLD] Re a William Wathen deserted from the Kate Conley 1875 My great Grandfather William Wathen AB is shown on a list on the Mariners and Ships in Australian Waters as deserting this ship in Sydney May 3 1875 and he than came to Brisbane where he married a mother’s fathers mother I notice the records shows the ship sailed from Port McKay to Sydney does anyone know whether this reference refers to Mackay Queensland or is there another place called Port McKay. I have not be able to find much information on William as he died in Brisbane in 1882 and his wife put the same information his death certificate as on their marriage certificate. Are there any lists of seamen in Australia, I recall there was mention some years ago about someone was going to do such a list but no one I ask seems to know much about this subject. Barbara BNE

Hi, I also found this, I realise it is a year before his desertion from the Kate Conley, but it may be worth while checking into further. Cheers, Christine Queensland Police Gazette Index 1864-1874 Last Name: Wathin First Name: William Title: Topic: Prisoner to be discharged from Her Majesty's Gaol, Rockhampton during the month of December 1874; native of England Volume: XIII Page: 135 Date: 2 December 1874 State: Queensland Country: Australia