Saturday, 5 April 2025

E is for Early Arrivals

Early Arrivals before the 1851 gold rush.

Before the gold rush of 1851, migration to Australia was shaped by various means—convict transportation, assisted migration schemes, and private recruitment efforts. Among those who arrived in the early years were my ancestors, each travelling under different circumstances but all contributing to the developing colonies.

So far I have highlighted the following ancestors In my previous A to Z posts:

  • William Carbis (4th great-grandfather) arrived in 1816 aboard the Ocean after being convicted of sheep stealing, a crime that reflected the harsh realities of survival in Cornwall during the early 19th century.

  • Reuben Wheeler (4th great-grandfather), his wife Elizabeth Wheeler nee Thomas (4th great-grandmother) and their two children, Selina Wheeler (3rd great-grandmother) George Wheeler, arrived in Port Philip in the Colony of New South Wales (which became the Colony of Victoria in 1851) aboard the Himalaya on the 26 Feb 1842.i

There remains one more to discuss during this period Thomas Crump (my 3rd great-grandfather) arrived in Sydney on 4 February 1841 aboard the Marquis of Hastings with his first wife Rebecca Crump.ii


Understanding the Paper Trial



Assisted migration schemes left behind a rich paper trail that provides valuable insights into the structured processes that shaped early migration to Australia. For Thomas Crump, who arrived in Sydney on February 4, 1841, aboard the Marquis of Hastings, two key documents shed light on his journey: the shipping manifest and the entitlement certificate.

Shipping Manifest

The shipping manifest is an essential document that provides details about immigrants arriving in Australia. For Thomas Crump, who arrived on February 4, 1841, aboard the Marquis of Hastings, the manifest confirms his date of arrival, the bounty paid for his passage, and the key individuals involved in arranging his migration.

However, not all shipping manifests were equally detailed. In the early days of migration, some manifests only numerically accounted for passengers, making it difficult to trace specific individuals today. Others included detailed information about unfunded immigrants, those who paid their own way, alongside those travelling under government-assisted schemes. The Marquis of Hastings manifest is one of the more comprehensive examples, offering insights into both funded and unfunded passengers.

This document also highlights the network of individuals involved in facilitating migration:iii

  • John Marshall (London-based Emigration Agent) – Selected emigrants and arranged their passage.

  • The Honorable Colonial Secretary – Granted official authorization for Marshall’s selections.

  • C.F. Warne (Sydney-based Agent) – Received and likely placed immigrants upon arrival.

The manifest highlights the collaborative effort between private enterprise and government oversight, ensuring that only those deemed suitable for colonial life were approved for assisted passage.

Entitlement Certificate

Entitlement certificates were issued by government agents to confirm that emigrants met strict criteria for assisted passage.iv 

These certificates were a critical part of the process for funded immigrants, as they ensured that recruiters or agents received their bounty payments upon the immigrants' arrival. Applicants were vetted based on their character, physical ability to work, and possession of skills deemed useful for colonial society.

The information required for these certificates was typically provided verbally by the applicant, supported by official documents such as parish records or references, and recorded by government agents on standardized forms. Once approved, the certificate served as formal authorization for subsidized travel to Australia.

More than just bureaucratic paperwork, the entitlement certificate represented a migrant’s acceptance into the colony. It was proof that they had been vetted, selected, and deemed capable of contributing to their new community. Without it, individuals would not have been eligible for government assistance during their journey.


Marshall Immigrants vs. the Bounty System

While both schemes helped populate the Australian colonies, key differences existed:

  • The Bounty System: A government initiative where multiple recruiters sponsored immigrants in exchange for bounty payments upon their arrival.

  • Marshall’s System: A privately run business where John Marshall independently arranged passages for emigrants, often receiving bounty payments but operating outside direct government control.

In Thomas Crump’s case, his selection was authorised by the Colonial Secretary but arranged through Marshall’s private network. Upon arrival in Sydney, C.F. Warne oversaw his reception and likely assisted with employment placement.

Why These Records Matter

These documents not only provide a glimpse into the lives of individual migrants but also reveal the complex collaboration between private enterprise and government policy in shaping Australia’s early migration systems. They highlight how colonial authorities sought to populate the young colonies with individuals capable of contributing to their growth—an effort that laid the foundation for Australia’s development before the transformative gold rush of 1851.

About the Ship: Marquis Hastings


The Marquis of Hastings is an interesting vessel, it had a varied service history, operating as both a convict transport and later as an immigrant ship. While information on its convict voyages is well-documented, details about specific immigrant voyages, such as the one carrying Thomas Crump and Rebecca Crump to Sydney on 4 February 1841 under John Marshall's emigration scheme, are less readily available.
  •  Name:   Marquis Hastings
  • Vessel:   Barque
  • Ton:       452
  • Master:  Cann
  • Agents:  W. Walker & Co.

Useful Links for Background



This April, as part of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge (#AtoZChallenge), where I’m sharing my ancestor's travel stories—one letter at a time. From long voyages by sea to overland treks, each post will focus on the journeys themselves—the routes they took, the challenges they faced, and the experiences along the way.

WikiTree Links:

Blog Post Meta Data

The URL for this post is https://ancestralresearchjournal.blogspot.com/2025/04/e-is-for-early-arrivals.html  originally published on 5 April 2025
Author 2025, Sandra Williamson

Sources

i  Ancestry,com, Shipping record for the Wheeler Family #35 on the Himalaya, February 1842 ‘Assisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1828-1896’. State Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood New South Wales, Australia; Persons on bounty ships arriving at Port Phillip (Agent's Immigrant Lists);Series: 5318; Reel: 2144; Item: [4/4814] Vessel Himalaya, p.236 [image 4 of 7] Accessed 25 January 2018. Accessed 25 January 2018.; Ancestry.con, Alphabetical entries #101-104 for Bounty Immigrants of the Wheeler family from the United Kingdom on the Himalaya 1842. ‘Victoria, Australia, Assisted and Unassisted Passenger Lists, 1839-1923’ Register of Assisted Immigrants from the United Kingdom. Microfiche VPRS 14. Public Record Office Victoria, North Melbourne, Victoria. p213 [image 420 of 753]

ii  Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Assisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1828-1896 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007; Passenger record for Thomas Crump, who arrived on 4 February 1841 on the vessel Marquis of Hastings in New South Wales Australia from Goudhurst, Kent, Citing State Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood New South Wales, Australia; Entitlement certificates of persons on bounty ships; Series: 5314;Reel: 1333

iii Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Assisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1828-1896 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007; Passenger record for Thomas Crump, who arrived on 4 February 1841 on the vessel Marquis of Hastings in New South Wales Australia from Goudhurst, Kent, Citing State Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood New South Wales, Australia; Entitlement certificates of persons on bounty ships; Series: 5314;Reel: 1333

iv Mackey, N., & Mackey, N. (2014). Certificate of Entitlements | Nola Mackey – Family History. Nolamackey.wordpress.com. Retrieved 11 July 2019, from https://nolamackey.wordpress.com/tag/certificate-of-entitlements/

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