Hugh Alexander (abt. 1861 - 1932)

Born about 1861 in At Sea: on board the Gertrude, en route to New Zealand

Ancestors

Husband of Janet McCall (Hamilton) Alexander — married 21 Sep 1885 in the home of Mr Andrew Hamilton, South Wairoa, New Zealand

Descendants

Died 20 Jan 1932 at about age 71 in New Zealand

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Simon Canning [send private message]

Biography

Arrival of the ‘Gertrude’^[1]
We announced in yesterday’s edition the arrival of the ship ‘Gertrude’ 1,300 tons, Captain J. C. Congdon from London, but were unable to give a statement of her passage, with names of passengers and manifest. We now supply the particulars. She left the docks on the 1st November, and weighed anchor from Gravesend on the 4th. Sailed from the Downs on the 7th and took leave of Start Light, bearing N.N.E. 14 miles, on the 12th. Heavy gales of wind were here experienced: but afterwards succeeded by variable weather. Sailed outside Cape de Verd Islands, and on the 27th the Island of Antonio was sighted bearing E by N. 30 miles. The ship ‘City of Alberas’ from Glasgow, bound to Calcutta was spoken with the same day in lat. 15° 57’ N., long. 25° 31’ W. On the 29th signalled a Dutch barque from Amsterdam. Severe weather was met with on the 3rd December. On the 7th spoke the barque ‘Cornwallis’ 72 days from Madras, bound for London. The S.E. trades were struck in about 3° 46’ N. lat., the equator being crossed on the 7th December in long. 23° W. The trade were lost in about 28° 45’ S. lat. On the 26th December passed the meridian of the Cape of Good Hope: the easting being run down in 45° to 45 1/2° S. lat. During the early part of January heavy weather was met with, the vessel straining heavily and shipping large quantities of water. On the 6th February boarded the ‘Bengalean’ from Melbourne, 12 days out, bound for Callao, and at 8 a.m. on the same day made the land of New Zealand about 60 miles south of Cape Maria Van Diemen. Sailed down the coast with light winds and fine weather, and came to an anchor in the harbour about 9 o’clock on the night of Monday last. There were six deaths on board and one birth^[2]. The general health of the passengers throughout the voyage was good; and the ship comes into port in a very cleanly and creditable condition in every respect.

The kind and courteous attention of the Captain and officers to the wants of the passengers during the voyage has not been allowed to pass without a warm acknowledgement as the following testimonials will prove:-

Ship ‘Gertrude,’ Auckland, New Zealand, Feb. 10, 1863.

To Capt. Congdon. — We, the undersigned passengers on board the above vessel, beg to offer to you our thanks for the kind consideration you have shown for the health and comfort of all classes committed to your care during the speedy and pleasant voyage from London to Auckland under your command. We also tender our thanks for the unwearied attention you have paid to the navigation of the vessel; as well as extreme sobriety of your conduct, by which you have set an example to all under your charge, and we trust that peace, happiness and prosperity will attend your future career. [Here follow 76 signatures.]

On board the ‘Gertrude,’ 4th Feb., 1863.

To Mr. John Allen, The First Mate of The Ship ‘Gertrude.’ Dear Sir, — After a voyage from London of a most prosperous character, we the undersigned passengers of the ‘Gertrude,’ cannot separate without addressing our thanks to you for the many kind services you have rendered us, and at the same time to congratulate ourselves in having so able a seaman as second in command of the ship, and to whose skill and experience, under Divine Providence, so much is owing that our course to Auckland will terminate so favourably. With our hearty good wishes for your health and welfare, we remain, dear sir, yours very truly and obediently, [Here are appended 103 names.]

On board the ‘Gertrude,’ Feb. 6th, 1863.

We, the undersigned passengers by the ship ‘Gertrude,’ from London to Auckland, before landing, desire to present our sincere thanks to Mr. Duff, the second officer, for his very obliging and gentlemanly conduct towards all on board, and to express our best wishes for his happiness and future success, [Here follow 147 names.]

Passengers.
William Eastwood Ann, Nancy M., Alfred H., John, Jessy H., Edgar Walter H. do.; John Rowley, Robert F.M.G. Sandes, John Parrow; Edwin A. Plumley Julia, Emily J. Fanny Rosa H. do.; Emma Arney; Henry Cotteril, Harriet Alice Ellen do.; Charles Cornforth Ellen do.; Henry T. Beasley; George Thompson, Jeannie, Eliza, George L. Janet, Mary do.; Gervase Tibbits, Rachael Douglas, Henry J. Wakefield, Edward Makins; William H Worker, F.G. Jane, Mary N., Newton A. do.; Mary Found, Philip Howley, Joseph P. Walker, and infant; William Day, George Harper, Charles Brown, H.W. Hupert; George Blandford, Eliza Constance Blanch, Lillian, Morgan, Emily, Maud, Rosa do.; George S. Steele; John Mortimore, Martha do.; John Howard Annie do.; Ralph G. Fenwick, Austin Rawlings, Harriet Bach, Alfred Thomas Rachel do.; Richard Bach, Ellen, Helpen, Maria, Emily, Florence do.; James Eastwood, Charles do., Jane Hanson, Gerald Grace, Robert Carrole, Edmond Lysaght, William Burns, Agnes, James A. do.; Daniel Hogan, Thomas S. Webb, Mary Ann, Samuel, Mary Ann, Thomas Charlotte, Arthur, Emily, Sarah E. do., Harriet Griffiths; Alfred W. Robinson, Sarah, Alfred, Grombridge, Charlotte, Rebecca, Emily, Harry, Charles, do.; Harry Nathan, Thomas Lynch; William Hawkins, Deborah do., Margaret, Deborah, Mary Annie, James, Isabella do.; William Jones, Daniel Tallow, Mrs. do.; Mary Stenison, Charlotte, John do.; Robert Botham, Mary do.; and Bartholomew Craddock, Geo. Pyke; Alex. Bradley, Susanna, John, Jane, David, Franklin, Wm., Catherine, Robert, Susanna do.; Samuel Bradley, Mary, Jane Clokey, Thos. Williams; Jonathan Mumford, Ann do.; Jos. Smith, Lewis Marvin, Andrew Stein, T.L. Murray, Stewart Walker; John Turnbull, Jane, Jane do.; Joseph Edwards, Caroline, Caroline do.; Robt. Crosby, Geo. Bacon, George Nye; Andrew Alexander, Margaret, Margaret, Agnes, do.; George Camwell, Fanny Emma, Ann, do.; Jas. T. Bridges, Frank Percy, Henry Ball, Edward Moore; Wm. Robinson, Emma, Matthew do.; Robert Facon, William Benham, Samuel Fisher, Richard Ogden, James Scrimgear, James Little, Robert Stewart, Peter C. Cowland; Peter Cashmore, Ann, Thurza Ann, Benjamin, Ellen, William do.; Ellen Jephcote, W. McKenzie; Thos. Kirk, Sarah J., George, Thos. W. Harry, Amy do.; John Harrison, Abegeno P. Jones; Jas. Clarke, Elizabeth, Martha A. Ebenezer do.; Thos. Hammond, Mrs. M.A. do.; George Shepperd, Mrs. Emily, William, do.; Robert Campbell, Archibald do.; John Choal, Alice, Sarah, Catherine, Alfred J., James F. Elizabeth, William, do; Paul B. Cook, John J. do.; Sarah Lord; William Chadwick, Jane do.; Robert Smith, John Wrigley, Thomas Horne; Thomas Hindle, Sarah, Ellen, Ann, Emma do.; Henry J. Baker, Mary Ann do.; John Oliver, Esther, John do.; Samuel Howard, Grace Lamberton, Jas. Hersey, Lydia Ward, William Furness, Alfred B. Gregory; Mrs Elizabeth E. Bloomfield, Frances do., Mary Ann, Charles, Ellen, Frederick W., Samuel, Emma Alice, Grace do.; Clement Witheford, Elizabeth, Clement, Joseph H., Edward, Walter do.; Frank Dawson, William B. Farrand; Theophilus Cooper, Susanna, Susanna Jane, Theophilis, Wm., Edward, Charles do ; Edward Mund Pilkington; William S. Burgess, Charles Byatt, Charles and Robert Byatt; John, Charlotte, John C., Jane F., William J , Sarah, Clara E , and Arthur Moginie; Thomas Palethorpe, John Attenborough, Henry White, Albert E. Brooks, Thomas Wheat, Joseph Braithwaite, Joseph Fitchey, Otho and Arthur Poyser; Joseph A. Glenn, William Muckleston; John, Maria, Edward, and Martha Martin; Mary Woodman, John Thompson, Thomas Jones, Emma Adams, John Bell, Joseph Johnson, Peter Brown, William, Pollyxfen; Jane, William, Sarah, and Elizabeth Pearce; James B. Hoyet, Elizabeth, Mary Jane, Lydia, Sarah Ann, Elizabeth do.; William Morley, Mary Ann, Ann E., Charles do.; Robert Spick, Jane do.; John Wood; Mrs John do.; Henry Pope, James Hurle, Howard Fletcher, George Cook, Jas. H. Duckworth, John H. Thompson, Charles Elliott, William H. Hazard, George E. Turner; William Evenson, Sarah do.; John H. Brothy, Edwin Martin, John Smith, Janet Hendry do.; Mrs. Robt., Thomas, and Walter Bullen; Joseph B., Sarah, Joseph H., Sydney M., and Daisy Tremanan; G. Pinter, Sarah Kirk; Henry, Eliza, Albert, and John Cook; David Noldershaw; Thomas and Ellen Jones; Jesse H. and Sarah Haughan; Samuel White, Elizabeth do.

Cabin : — Edward C. Antrous; W.H. and Mrs. Hicks; Mr Porter, Edmund Broderip, Richard M.M. Masefield; Rev. W., Mrs Jane Worker, and infant; William Oliff, John Slater, F.S. Somerfield, James D. Mossman.

The following is the classification of professions and trades : — 1 accountant, 40 farmers, 5 drapers, a dentist, 1 merchant, 1 jeweller, 3 warehousemen, 1 millwright, 1 gardener, 1 groom, 1 leather seller, 7 clerks, 2 agents, 2 engineers, 1 chemist, 13 laborers, 2 blacksmiths, 1 ganger, 1 housewife, 11 servants, 1 lawyer, 4 shoemakers, 6 farm servants, 1 ploughman, 2 millwrights, 9 carpenters, 1 shipwright, 1 pawn-broker, 2 printers, 1 smith, 1 leather dresser, 1 assistant cook, 1 plasterer, 1 grocer, 1 shopman, 3 joiners, 2 painters, 1 cabinet maker, 1 schoolmaster, 1 tailor, 1 overlooker, 4 butchers, 2 lace makers, 2 millers, 1 watchmaker, 1 dressmaker, 1 mason, 1 mechanic, 2 sailors, 1 ropemaker, 1 dealer.

Sources

1. ↑ Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIX, Issue 1736, 11 February 1863, Page 3 Arrival of the 'Gertrude'
2. ↑ This is likely a reference to Hugh Alexander, although in the passenger listing it only mentions Andrew, Margaret, Margaret and Agnes

• Civil Registration
  • Marriage - Central Register Office for New Zealand