A to Z Challenge - F is for Fremantle

Snippets from the life of Martha Sarah Ellis.

Truly, a peculiar reception

Martha arrived in Fremantle on the 8^th October 1889 aboard the SS Nairnshire. But before she and the other girls could go ashore the “[o]fficer of Health came on board and inspected the women. Once this formality was over they were able to disembark.”[1]  Martha must have felt excited and somewhat overwhelmed by the chaotic proceedings but arrangements for their arrival were less than adequate.

Figure 1 189?,  Early Fremantle harbour [picture] / Shaw Brothers, photographers, Leederville, W.A  http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-143445880

The experience of girls arriving was vividly described in a local paper. “On the wharf, a crowd of men stood waiting to stare at us, as if we were prize cattle. I never saw a shabbier collection of men before (that's quits, anyhow), and the remarks some of them made about us caused my ears to tingle. Then a gruff official ordered us to get into order, and off we were marched in charge of a couple of policemen, like prisoners, the crowd following to gaze at us.”[2]

The girls were taken to the immigration depot. “The building at present in use as a Depot at Fremantle is quite unsuitable. It is exactly opposite to a public-house and too much exposed to observation. There does not appear to be any possibility of keeping the girls inside the enclosure (I do not think there are even gates which could be locked); nor do the caretaker and his wife seem to be vested with sufficient authority to compel obedience to rules.”[3]

It caused such an uproar that the “Associates of the Girls' Friendly Society ... made urgent representations to the Colonial Secretary to make better arrangements for the reception of the expected immigrant girls.”[4]  Most of the newly arriving girls were relatively young and many had never been away from parental protection, or adult supervision. “The girls have been inveigled into public houses, they have been known to drink both wine and spirits there to excess, nor has the depot been sacred from the intrusion of drunken sailors, who refuse to depart.”[5]

I wonder what Sarah and her sister Kate wrote home to their parents about their experiences on the ship and arriving in Fremantle ... 

To Read more about Martha's life for articles previously posted for the A to Z Challenges click the Letters below:-

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

Sources

---

[1] ERICKSON, R. (1992). The bride ships: experiences of immigrants arriving in Western Australia, 1849-1889. Carlisle, W.A., Hesperian Press.

[2] Anon, 'THE GOLDEN WEST.', The Inquirer and Commercial News, 29 May 1896, p. 12. [ http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66532077  , viewed 11 Feb 2017]

[3] Anon, 'THE CARE OF FEMALE IMMIGRANTS.', 17 December 1889, p. 3, Col.4. [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3130616, viewed 12 Feb 2017]

[4] 1891 'ST. GEORGE'S CATHEDRAL PARISH.', The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), 11 April, p. 3. , viewed 14 Mar 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3141885

[56] F. Goldsmith, ‘CORRESPONDENCE. FEMALE IMMIGRANTS. To THE EDITOR.’ The West Australian, Saturday 28 February 1891 p 3

United British Women’s Emigration Association

Recently I read a Blog Post by Moya Sharp concerning the “United British Women’s Emigration Scheme”  transcribing an article that she had found in the “West Australian” dated the 24 March 1894 to read her original post click here.  The article piqued my interest prompting me to revisit my, albeit limited, research concern the “United British Women’s Emigration Association” and the role that they played bringing young women to Western Australia.

My ancestor Martha Sarah Ellis and her sister Kate Ellen Ellis travelled out to Australia on the SS Nairnshire from England to Perth under auspices of the Association in 1889 (more details about their journey can be found here and here).[1]

In 1894 a report was published entitled the “United British Women’s Emigration Association Report”, contained within the report were interesting titbits on the work of the Association, as shown below.[2]

Figure 1 United British Women's Emigration Association, Report 1894, Winchester: Warren and Son, Printers and Publishers. [Accessed 5 November 2016 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-52874072] page 7

Figure 2 United British Women's Emigration Association, Report 1894, Winchester: Warren and Son, Printers and Publishers. [Accessed 5 November 2016 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-52874072], page 10

The newspapers of the day also revealed other interesting material concerning the young women who came across under the scheme of Free Passages sponsored by the West Australian Government.

Figure 3 Anon., 'THE LADIES' COLUMN. SEEKING NEW HOMES', Western Mail, 2 February 1901, p. 36 [Accessed 05 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article33199584] excerpt 

Figure 4  Anon, 'THE IMMIGRANT GIRLS', Western Mail, 15 October 1897, p. 27. [Accessed 05 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article33145319] Note Miss Monk who supervised many of the trips of the girls out to Australia – presumably she is the older woman standing on the far left of the photo

There appears to have been a mixed response from the public concerning the newly arrived girls.  Some felt that despite the best efforts of the Association some girls were unsuitable for the life they would eventually find for themselves and were unprepared for what lay before them.  Others were desperate for domestic help or perhaps the opportunity/possibility of finding a wife.

Figure 5 Anon, 'NEWS OF THE DAY.', The Daily News, 16 March 1889, p. 3.,  [Accessed 05 Nov 2016, 05 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77373635]

Interesting Times.

Images

Figure 1 United British Women's Emigration Association, Report 1894, Winchester: Warren and Son, Printers and Publishers. [Accessed 5 November 2016 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-52874072] page 7

Figure 2 United British Women's Emigration Association, Report 1894, Winchester: Warren and Son, Printers and Publishers. [Accessed 5 November 2016 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-52874072], page 10

Figure 3 Anon., 'THE LADIES' COLUMN. SEEKING NEW HOMES', Western Mail, 2 February 1901, p. 36 [Accessed 05 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article33199584] excerpt  

Figure 4  Anon, 'THE IMMIGRANT GIRLS', Western Mail, 15 October 1897, p. 27. [Accessed 05 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article33145319] Note Miss Monk who supervised many of the trips of the girls out to Australia – presumably she is the older woman standing on the far left of the photo

Figure 5 Anon, 'NEWS OF THE DAY.', The Daily News, 16 March 1889, p. 3.,  [Accessed 05 Nov 2016, 05 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77373635]

Sources

[1]  Shipping Records for the ‘Nairnshire’, Page 3 Passenger listing, 8 Oct 1885; Passenger and Crew Lists; Shipping Records for the ‘Nairnshire’; State Records Office, Western Australia. [Copy of the original record provided via email by Tom Reynolds from the State Records Office of Western Australia on 8 February 2013 (Tom Reynolds tom.reynolds@sro.wa.gov.au)Note no reference was given.  Reference  created from known sources]

Travelling on the SS Nairnshire in 1889

There are conflicting reports concerning the SS Nairnshire’s departure from England, some Australian newspapers reported her as leaving on the 21st August 1889, another one gave the date as  26th August as the departure date. [1]

Figure 1  Annotated Map of the journey of the SS Nairnshire in 1890 from London to Fremantle, for more details, see below.

The ambiguity of dates probably reflects the chaos as they left the London shores as the 1889 dock strike began to take hold. They only just manage to escape the strike which involved which was reported as

“completely paralysed the loading of all vessels on the berth. ...The strike is assuming ranch larger proportions than was at first anticipated, and has now .spread to the carters. Several manufacturers are, I hear, expecting their men to go out to-morrow. There are at present between 40,000 and 50,000 men on strike.” [2]

Figure 2 Manifesto Poster of the South Side Central Strike Committee, 1889, for more details see below.

What must have the passengers felt as they moved through the swelling crowds of men milling around the docks? Men who were desperately looking for work, their families hungry, and a feeling that there was no future or relief in sight.

After leaving England the Nairnshire went round the Cape, to avoid the seasonal extreme heat of the Red Sea.[3] There is some confusion about the timing of different stages of the journey. The Argus reported that they had “fine weather to Las Palmas, reaching there on August 28. The voyage was resumed on August 30”and there the “snow storms and hail squalls were frequent, but there were no disastrous gales.”[4] Whereas the Sydney Morning Herald reported that the “Nairnshire left London on August 26, and called at Las Palmas on September 3. She coaled and left the same day and after experiencing strong trades and head seas she arrived at Cape town September 26 and left next day.”[5] Regardless of the timing it is clear that the first leg of the journey was quite pleasant but on the last leg they experienced bad weather.  On arrival the weather at Fremantle was “persistently boisterous.[6] In total the voyage took 43 days, 3 hours and 17 minutes from London to Fremantle.[7]

Life on Board ship during the voyage

On board were 48 were servant girls who were travelling in steerage, with enhanced “security derived from there being no other third-class passengers carried."[8] Unlike the Saloon Passengers, the girls were all under the supervision of Miss Monk, a well respected Matron. It was the task of the Matron to look after their well fare and guard their reputations during the journey.  The importance of this protection cannot be underestimated, this “questioning of their virtue had far-reaching consequences as the unvirtuous woman was lost: she could not qualify for domestic service anymore and was “damaged goods” for marriage.” [9] 

As one of the girls from another vessel describes, we were divided “into 'messes,' ... crowded together like sheep. We slept, and had our meals, and even had the hospital all in one room ... Our bunks were roughly put up in rows side by side and above each other. When we took our clothes off, we mostly threw them on our bunks because there was nowhere else to put them. Then we each had served out to us a common enamelled-tin plate and mug and a knife and fork — the whole tied up in a cloth net, It wasn't nice to eat and drink from chipped tin-ware, but then what better could poor servant girls expect. We got a hard mattress, coarse sheets, and a blue blanket ...”[x]

During the fine days, the girls were able to up on deck to sing nursery rhyme songs, dance around and reminisce over childhood fancies.  Mrs Monk would have supplied “work material, books, magazines, and materials for games and entertainments” that could be used when indoors during inclement weather or in the evenings"[11] Other accounts include descriptions of “games of all kinds being organised to beguile the hours of daylight; whilst in the evening there was a continuous round of amusements in the shape of concerts, parlour games, amateur theatricals, etc”[12]

Arrival at Fremantle

They were greeted by blustery weather when they arrived in Fremantle, but the girls must have been so relieved when we finally saw Western Australia, even if they had to remain on the vessel until the next morning after having arrived so late at 8pm in the evening of October 8, 1899.

In the 1890s the experience of girls arriving was vividly described in a local paper. “On the wharf a crowd of men stood waiting to stare at us, as if we were prize cattle. I never saw a shabbier collection of men before (that's quite, anyhow), and the remarks some of them made about us caused my ears to tingle. Then a gruff official ordered us to get into order, and off we were marched in charge of a couple of policemen, like prisoners, the crowd following to gaze at us.”[13] It must have seem very strange that the first reception as they “were escorted by the police on their first walk on Australian soil. Truly, a peculiar reception.[14]

I wonder how my Great-Grandmother Martha Sarah Ellis felt as first stepped foot on Australian soil?

Image Credits

Figure 1  Annotated Map of the journey of the SS Nairnshire in 1890 from London to Fremantle. – This map is made up of the following graphical elements

1.       "World Map Template - Steampunk/Victorian Style". Accessed February 3 2016. http://floppybootstomp.deviantart.com/art/World-Map-Template-Steampunk-Victorian-Style-295299981 . Orange travel line added by Sandra Williamson;

2.       Photographer unknown, S.S. NAIRNSHIRE, ca. 1900, digital image,  David Little collection of steamships, SLV.(This work is out of copyright);

3.       Photographer unknown, Studio portrait of a young lady thought to be Martha Sarah Ellis possibly taken circa 1888 (before she leaves England for Australia), digital image,  Jim Bennett's Private Photo  Collection currently held by Dorothy Bennett

Figure 2 Artist unknown, Manifesto Poster of the South Side Central Strike Committee, issued during the London Dock Strike of 1889, Scanned from Rodney Mace, British Trade Union Posters: An Illustrated History [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:South_Side_Central_Strike_Committee.jpg#, Accessed 11 February 2017]

Source Citations

1.   Anon, 'SHIPPING.', The Inquirer and Commercial News, 25 September 1889, p. 6, Col.1. , [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66089423, viewed 10 Feb 2017]; Anon, 'ENGLISH SHIPPING NEWS.', The Daily News, 24 September 1889, p. 2, Col.5, [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article84575862, viewed 10 Feb 2017]
2.   Anon, 'SHIPPING.', The Inquirer and Commercial News, 25 September 1889, p. 6, Col.1. , [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66089423, viewed 10 Feb 2017]
3.   Anon, 'ENGLISH SHIPPING NEWS.', The Daily News, 24 September 1889, p. 2, Col.5, [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article84575862, viewed 10 Feb 2017]
4.   Anon, 'SHIPPING REPORTS. THE S.S NAIRNSHIRE', The Argus, 29 October 1889, p. 9, Col.8. , [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8565779, viewed 10 Feb 2017]
5.   Anon, 'THE S.S NAIRNSHIRE.', The Sydney Morning Herald, 15 November 1890, p. 8, Col.2, [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13799437, viewed 10 Feb 2017]
6.   Anon, 'THE S.S NAIRNSHIRE.', The Sydney Morning Herald, 15 November 1890, p. 8, Col.1, [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13799437, viewed 10 Feb 2017]
7.   Anon, 'THE S.S NAIRNSHIRE.', The Sydney Morning Herald, 15 November 1890, p. 8, Col.2, [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13799437, viewed 10 Feb 2017]
8.   Anon, 'Notes from London.', Kalgoorlie Western Argus, 14 December 1899, p. 12. , [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32203258, viewed 11 Feb 2017]
9.   Coralie Canot. The Undesirable Spinster: The Organised Emigration of British Single Women, 1851-1914. Literature. 2013, p.34
10.   Anon, 'THE GOLDEN WEST.', The Inquirer and Commercial News, 29 May 1896, p. 12, Col.6.[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66532077, viewed 11 Feb 2017]
11.   Anon, 'Notes from London.', Kalgoorlie Western Argus, 14 December 1899, p. 12. , [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32203258, viewed 11 Feb 2017]
12. Anon, 'THE LADIES' COLUMN. SEEKING NEW HOMES.', Western Mai, 2 February 1901, p. 54, Col.2.[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article33199584, viewed 11 Feb 2017]
13.   Anon, 'THE GOLDEN WEST.', The Inquirer and Commercial News, 29 May 1896, p. 12. [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66532077, viewed 11 Feb 2017]
14.   Anon, 'NEWS AND NOTES.', The West Australian, 27 May 1896, p. 4, Col.8, [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3090945, viewed 11 Feb 2017]

Further Reading

More information about the Ship SS Nairnshire

More information on the United British Women’s Emigration Association 

Edit History

Originally posted on the 02/02/2016
Edited and updated 03/02/2016 & 4/2/2016
Edited and revised on the 11/02/2017

SS Nairnshire

Figure 1 Photographer unknown, S.S. NAIRNSHIRE, ca. 1900, digital image,  David Little collection of steamships, SLV.(This work is out of copyright)

Her First Journey

Nairnshire, s.s. sailed on the 21st August 1889. According to the newspapers,

“just escaping a strike that has taken place by the dock labourers, stevedores, &c, which for the present has completely paralysed the loading of all vessels on the berth. ... The strike is assuming ranch larger proportions than was at first anticipated and has now .spread to the carters. Several manufacturers are, I hear, expecting their men to go out to-morrow. There are at present between 40,000 and 50,000 men on strike."[1]

The price of the fare to Australia

In 1889 the ticket fare was 35 guineas for the saloon or for steerage ticket began at 14 guineas.[2] The 48 servant girls travelling in steerage all under the supervision of Miss Monk were government sponsored immigrants.

The 1889 Passenger List

Unfortunately, Miss Monks journal of the trip does not although I understand there is a copy of the diary for the Nairnshire’s voyage to WA between May and July 1895.

The following is a transcription of the third page of the Shipping Manifest for the SS Nairnshire arriving in Fremantle on the 9^th October 1889 (with additional notes, see below for more detail)

- Passengers -

**Miss J Castle (for Adelaide) [Julia]	10. Miss A Wright	38. Miss K Bennett
*J Ellison, (for Sydney) [Dr John]	11. Miss E Marcham	39. Miss A Smith
*G. F. Moore (for Fremantle)	12. Miss S Pepworth	40. Miss H Pearce
*Miss Davies [Davis]	13. Miss J Whitehead	41. Miss S Jackman
*M De Nerny	14. Miss J Barnett	42. Miss C Aitkens
*Miss Agnes De Nerny [Mrs. De Nerny]	15. Miss R Reaves	43. Miss E Cowl
*E. G. Price [Mr]	16. Miss A Valvemt	44. Miss B Harper
*J. Mc Donald [Miss Jean MacDonald]	17. Miss M Burt	45. Miss E Rowles
*Mis D Moore [Dora]	18. Miss M Wild	46. Miss M Mowett
*E. P. Logan [Miss Jean for Melbourne] [Mr]	19. Miss M Yorman	47. Miss E Hall
*Miss Goodwin	20. Miss R McNamara	48. Miss S Jackson
*Mrs. Lovegrove	21. Miss A Symon	49. Miss M Williams
Miss Lovegrove	22. Miss S Waller
C Lovegrove	23. Miss A Lovegrove [note- Miss A Lovegrove is probably not a servant girl but travelling with her mother & family]
E Lovegrove	24. Miss E Moris
P Lovegrove	25. Miss M Nibes
*T. W. Fladgate [Mr]	26. Miss R Wright
*S. Smith [Mr. S.F. Smith]	27. Miss M Ellis
*Miss Monk Steerage - 48 female domestic servants, in charge of Miss Monk, matron	28. Miss K Ellis
1. Miss E A Chadwick	29. Miss H Westroll
2. Miss E Allison(s)	30. Miss E Hasleby
3. Miss E James	31. Miss M.A Hasleby
4. Miss C Hedges	32. Miss Marion Hayward
5. Miss A Wilson	33. Miss A Turner
6. Miss Amy Blanks	34. Miss C Owens
7. Miss M Wilson	35. Miss R Randle
8. Miss L Glover	36. Miss A Tullis
9. Miss E Hancroft	37. Miss A Williams

I do declare that the above Content is a true Account of all the goods shipped or intended to be shipped on board the above-named ship, and correct in all other particulars
Custom House Freemantle.
Signed and declared this 9 day of Octr 1889  Wallace Master Wallce before me S Woresley Clifton Collector.[3]

Legend for Passenger List for information in addition to that found of the passenger list:=
* Anon, 'The S.S Nairnshire.', The West Australian, 24 September 1889, p. 3, Col.1, [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3128686, viewed 09 Feb 2017]
** Anon, 'ENGLISH SHIPPING NEWS.', Western Mail, 28 September 1889, p. 22, Col.3, [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32731075, viewed 09 Feb 2017]

Where I have managed to find information about any of the girls under Mrs Monks care I have linked it to their names.  Note my main research interest in the passengers is Martha Ellis and her sister Kate Elllis.

Further Reading

See below for more details about the ship's design.
To read more about the Travelling on the SS Nairnshire in 1889 click here

SS Nairnshire beginnings 

Launched in 1889, “from the well-known building-yard of R. and W. Hawthorn, Leslie and Co., New-castle-on-Tyne.”, the S.S. NAIRNSHIRE was classed as 100 A1 at Lloyd's.” [4] (The ‘Lloyd's Register’ classification - “ship hulls were graded by a lettered scale (A being the best), and ship's fittings (masts, rigging, and other equipment) were graded by number (1 being the best).”) [5]

Her mechanical design

She was “a new steel screw vessel, ..., her dimensions are as follows:- Length, 360ft 5in; beam, 47ft. 7in.; and depth of hold, 24 ft. 21a. This gives her a gross measurement of 3,720 tons. The net register is 2,428 tons. The hull is partitioned off as usual by watertight bulkheads, and the bottom is also cellular, so as to admit of the use of water ballast. The lines of the vessel are shapely, and the great beam denotes extensive carrying capacity. ... The Nairnshire has a straight stem and an elliptic stern, and she is schooner rigged. She is engined on the triple expansion principle, and the cylinders are 27in., 44in., and 71in. in diameter. The piston stroke is 48in. The machinery can drive the vessel 11 knots on a moderate consumption of fuel. The engines work on a boiler pressure of 160lb., and they are of 2,200 - horse power effective. The boilers are of steel, are double ended, and are fitted with Brown's patent furnaces. The engines are complete in all respects, and are thoroughly well finished as to workmanship. The refrigerating machinery is Lightfoot's patent, manufactured by Siebe, Gorman, and Co. There are two engines, as in the case of the steamship Star of England, which was here recently. The engines are powerful and effective, and the patent has given satisfaction wherever It has been tried. The Nairnshire is fully equipped otherwise with steam appliances for steering the vessel, working the windlass, winches, &c., and in so far as fittings are concerned she is complete. The electric light which is installed on board is Woodside's system”[6]

“This steamer has been specially constructed for the frozen meat trade from New Zealand, and has refrigerating chambers capable of bringing home an immense number of sheep each trip.”[7]

Her Interior

“This vessel has exceptionally good passenger accommodation, ... , has a smoking room on deck, and her accommodation generally is similar to that of a first class mail steamer.” [8] “There is a large saloon aft, ... richly decorated with polished Hungarian ash, oak, mahogany, and other woods of price. The saloon Is a spacious apartment, and there is berthing accommodation for 36 passengers, The saloon when lit up with the electric light shows to great effect.”[9]

Sources

[1] Anon, 'ENGLISH SHIPPING NEWS.', The West Australian, 24 September 1889, p. 3., Col.1. [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3128686, viewed 09 Feb 2017]
[2] Anon,  'SHIPPING', The West Australian, 4 September 1889, p. 2. Col.9. [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3128210, viewed 09 Feb 2017]
[3] Shipping Records for the ‘Nairnshire’, Page 3 Passenger listing, 8 Oct 1889; Passenger and Crew Lists; Shipping Records for the ‘Nairnshire’; State Records Office, Western Australia
[4] Anon, 'SHIPPING NOTES.', The West Australian, 10 October 1889, p. 3, Col.1. [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3129033, viewed 09 Feb 2017; Anon, 'SHIPPING.', The West Australian, 14 August 1889, p. 2. Col.6.  [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3127711, viewed 09 Feb 2017]
[5] Wikipedia, ‘Lloyd's Register’, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd's_Register. Accessed 9 February 2017.
[6] Anon, 'SHIPPING REPORTS.', The Argus, 29 October 1889, p. 9, Col.8. [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8565779, viewed 09 Feb 2017]
[7] Anon, 'SHIPPING.', The Daily News, 24 September 1889, p. 2., Col.5, [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article84575862, viewed 09 Feb 2017]
[8] Anon, 'ENGLISH SHIPPING NEWS.', Western Mail, 14 September 1889, p. 19. Col.3. [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32730609, viewed 09 Feb 2017]
[9] Anon, 'SHIPPING REPORTS.', The Argus, 29 October 1889, p. 9, Col.8. [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8565779, viewed 09 Feb 2017]

Edit History

Originally posted on the 26 January 2016
Updated and revised on 7 February 2017
Updated and revised on 10 February 2017