Charles (Ah Ship) Shipp (abt. 1838 - 1885)

Born about 1838 in Canton, China [uncertain]

Died 11 Aug 1885 at about age 47 in Sydney, Colony of New South Wales

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Biography

Bio written and researched by Susan Stopford. First publ. here on 22 October 2023. Last update: 21 December 2023. This profile is a work in progress. If you know more and would like to contribute, please leave a Comment below or send me a Private Message. Thanks.
©2023 Susan Stopford.

"Charles Ah Ship” (as he was known in Sydney) was a Chinese born storekeeper, carpenter and cabinet maker who lived and worked in The Rocks area of Sydney town, New South Wales in the mid to late 19th century. Interestingly, he crossed paths with at least two of the Colony's most prominent figures. In 1863, he was married by the Rev. Dr. John Dunmore Lang, a Scottish-born Australian Presbyterian minister, writer, historian, politician and activist . His Naturalisation Certificate was signed by Sir Henry Parkes, a colonial Australian politician and longest non-consecutive Premier of the Colony of New South Wales.

Birth

Charles (Ah Ship) Shipp has Chinese Roots.

Charles’ name at birth is not known. Charles is almost certainly a name he assumed in Australia. The syllable Ah- (阿) appears at the beginning of many Australian Chinese surnames, roughly equivalent to Mister, so was almost certainly not part of his name at birth. However, it was formally incorporated into the family name in New South Wales. The origins of “Ship” (later spelt "Shipp" in New South Wales) are also uncertain.

His date and place of birth are uncertain. His Naturalisation Certificate (dated 13 July 1880) and issued in the name of “Charles Ah Ship”, shows he was a native of Canton, aged 42 years, and a Cabinet Maker, who arrived in the Colony of New South Wales by the Ship “Windsor” in 1856. If correct, this would place his birth about 1838, in either Canton province (now Guangdong) or in the city of Canton (now Guangzhou).^[1]

The NSW Death Index shows he was a son of Gum You and Mary.^[2]

Immigration and Early Years in Australia

Charles (Ah Ship) Shipp came free to the Colony of South Australia (1836-1900)

One descendent claims Charles was originally a gold miner, one of about 17,000 Chinese miners who landed in Robe, South Australia and walked to the Victoria goldfields to escape punitive anti-Chinese landing taxes. According to the same researcher, Charles ended up moving to Braidwood, in New South Wales before later settling in the Rocks area in Sydney.^[3]

Life in Sydney

Charles Ah Ship was married and died in Colony of New South Wales))

As the gold rushes subsided, many Chinese including Charles Ah Ship made their way to Sydney. Charles became a storekeeper, operating a business from premises in Lower George street in The Rocks district.

He married Ellen McCormick in Sydney on 16 April 1867.^[4] Birth certificates later issued for their children William and Eva show Ellen was born in Goulburn, New South Wales, about 1850 (inferred from her age as recorded when their births were registered). Ellen was living in Liverpool Street prior to their marriage. Charles and Ellen were married by Rev. Dr. Lang, a Scottish-born Australian Presbyterian minister.

It seems their marriage got off to a rocky start as Charles claimed Ellen left him the day after their nuptials, prompting Charles to place a notice in the local newspaper just nine days after they were wed in which he made it known he would not be responsible for any debts incurred by Ellen. This notice was published on the very same day as their marriage notice.^[5]

Extracts from The Sydney Morning Herald, 25 April 1867:

From the Hymeneal Register on page 1, col 1:

MARRIAGES.

On the 16th instant, by the Rev. Dr. Lang, CHARLES AH SHIP to ELLEN M'CORMICK, of Liverpool-street.^[5]

From the advertising columns of the same date:

NOTICE. — I, CHARLES AH SHIP, Will not be answerable for any DEBTS contracted by my Wife, ELLEN AH SHIP (late Ellen M'Cormick), she having left her home on the 17th instant, and has never returned since. CHARLES AH SHIP.^[6]

This unfortunate turn of events and unusual juxtaposition did not go unnoticed and was the subject of at least one somewhat unkind article published in a rival publication.^[7]

By the end of 1867, Ah Shipp's business was in trouble and he was subsequently declared insolvent. Later, he workes as a carpenter and cabinet maker.

It seems Charles and Ellen were eventually reconciled as they went on to have at least eight children together:^[8]

• Charles (Ah Ship) Shipp (1870-1917) (birth reg’d Sydney)^[9]
• Joseph (Ah Ship) Shipp (abt.1873-abt.1917) (birth reg’d 1873 – place unknown)^[10][11][12] See also:Joseph Shipp (bef.1879-1917)^[13]
• Mary Theresa Ah Ship (1874-1875) (born 21 Nov 1874 in Sydney; died 29 Dec 1875)^[14][15]
• James Ah Ship (abt.1876-abt.1934) (birth reg’d 1877, Sydney)^[16]
• William Edward Ship (birth reg’d 1879, Sydney)^[17] See:William Edward Schipp
• Eva May Shipp (1881-1934) (born 25 September 1881, Little Essex Street, The Rocks)^[18] Later: Eva May Pert, Eva May Kavanagh
• Florence M Ah Ship (birth reg’d 1884, Sydney)^[19]

Two sons served in the Great War. Joseph Shipp, was killed at Ypres in Belgium in WW1, and has recently been recognised as one of a number of Chinese Anzacs. James Shipp served and returned.

Death

Charles died in Sydney on 11 August 1885.^[2] His name (spelt “Charles Shipp”) is inscribed on a headstone in Rookwood Catholic Cemeteries and Crematoria, Rookwood, Cumberland Council, New South Wales, Australia . The headstone is weathered and difficult to read. However, there is a short inscription between the words "Charles" and "Shipp" which might very well be "AH".^[20] He was survived by his wife Ellen Shipp, and seven children, Charles, Joseph, James, William, Eva, and Florence.^[8]

His widow, Ellen Shipp, died in 1930. Her remains was interred alongside Charles at Rookwood and her name is inscribed below his.

Research Notes

1. Some researchers think Joseph Ship, William Edward Shipp and Eva May Shipp were the children of Carl Frederick Schipp (1851-1885) and his partner Ellen (some show Ellen Nowlan, others show Ellen McCormick). However, there is no record of any marriage between Carl Frederick Schipp and Ellen (Nolan, Nowlan or McCormick or similar in NSW or Qld). Also, no children are listed on Frederick Schipp's death certificate. It follows, it seems more likely these are the children of Charles Ah Ship and Ellen Ah Ship (formerly Ellen McCormick). Stopford-19 02:15, 22 October 2023 (UTC)

2. Some researchers think their son Joseph Ah Ship was the Joseph Shipp who died in or near Balmain East in 1903.^[21] However, death notices and subsequent memorial published for Private Private Joseph Shipp (bef.1879-1917) indicate he was a son of Ellen and a brother of Jim, Will, Eva and Florrie.^[22] It seems likely the man known as Private Ah Shipp who died at Ypres was the Joseph Ah Ship born in 1873 but he was possibly a younger brother.

Sources

1. ↑ Naturalization: "New South Wales, Australia, Certificates of Naturalization, 1849-1903", database with images
   State Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia; Series: Registers of Certificates of Naturalization, 1849-1859 and 1876-1903; Series Number: NRS 1040; Roll: 131
   Ancestry Record 1549 #1151 (requires subscription, accessed 22 October 2023)
   Name: Charles Ah Ship; Estimated Birth Year: abt 1838; Age: 42; Birth Place: Canton; Date Arrived: 1856; Naturalization Date: 12 Jul 1880.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Death Index: (NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages : accessed 22 Oct 2023), index entry for CHARLES SHIPP; Father's Given Names: GUM YOU, Mother's Given Names: MARY; District: SYDNEY; Registration Number: 1635/1885. [NSW Death Index shows Event Date=11 August 1885]
3. ↑ Internet Search: Accessed by Susan Stopford on 22 October 2022. Story published on a business website by a descendant now living and working in Sydney
4. ↑ Marriage Index: (NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages : accessed 13 Oct 2023), Index entry for CHARLES A H SHIP and ELLEN MCCORMICK; District: SYDNEY; Registration Number: 321/1867 {NSW Marriage Index shows Event Date=16 April 1867]
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Marriage Notice: 1867 'Family Notices', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 25 April, p. 1. , viewed 22 Oct 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13141770
6. ↑ 1867 'Advertising', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 25 April, p. 1. , viewed 22 Oct 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13141769
7. ↑ Newspaper Article about separation: 1867 'A Ship-ping Casualty.', Sydney Punch (NSW : 1864 - 1888), 27 April, p. 1. , viewed 22 Oct 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article253068902
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Memorial (newspaper): 1900 'Family Notices', Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931), 11 August, p. 4. , viewed 23 Oct 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article112586426

   SHIPP.—In sad and loving memory of my dear husband, Charles Shipp, who departed this life August 11, 1885. Inserted by his loving wife, sons, and daughters, Ellen Shipp, Charles, Joseph, James, William, Eva, and Florence. R.I.P.

9. ↑ Birth Index - Charles Ah Ship: (NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages : accessed 22 Oct 2023), index entry for CHARLES AH SHIP; Father's Given Names: CHARLES, Mother's Given Names: ELLEN; District: SYDNEY; Registration Number: 1548/1870
10. ↑ Birth Index - Joseph Ahship: (NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages : accessed 12 Oct 2023), index entry for JOSEPH AHSHIP; Father's Given Names: CHARLES, Mother's Given Names: ELLEN; District: [No data]; Registration Number: 1011/1873_Joseph.Ship
11. ↑ Birth Index - Joseph Ah Ship: (NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages : accessed 12 Oct 2023), index entry for JOSEPH AH SHIP; Father's Given Names: CHARLES, Mother's Given Names: ELLEN; District: [No data]; Registration Number: 1011/1873_Joseph.Ship
12. ↑ Birth Index - Joseph Ship: (NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages : accessed 12 Oct 2023), index entry for JOSEPH SHIP; Father's Given Names: CHARLES, Mother's Given Names: ELLEN; District: [No data]; Registration Number: 1011/1873
13. ↑ Private Joseph Shipp (bef.1879-1917) may be the same person or a younger brother.
14. ↑ Birth Index-Mary Theresa Ah Ship ("Charlestship"): (NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages : accessed 29 Oct 2023), index entry for MARY THERESA CHARLESTSHIP; Father's Given Names: CHARLES, Mother's Given Names: ELLEN; District: SYDNEY; Registration Number: 2991/1874. [NSW Birth Index shows Event Date=21 November 1874]
    

    Note: In the NSW civil births records, Mary's name has been incorrectly indexed as "Mary Theresa CHARLESTSHIPP". This may be an error in the index or in the original record. The NSW Death Index shows "Mary T Ah Ship".

15. ↑ Death Index - Mary T Ah Ship: (NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages : accessed 29 Oct 2023), index entry for MARY T AH SHIP; Father's Given Names: CHARLES, Mother's Given Names: ELLEN; District: SYDNEY; Registration Number: 2649/1875. [NSW Death Index shows Event Date = 29 December 1875]
16. ↑ Birth Index - James Ah Ship: (NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages : accessed 22 Oct 2023), index entry for JAMES AH SHIP; Father's Given Names: CHARLES, Mother's Given Names: ELLEN; District: SYDNEY; Registration Number: 75/1877
17. ↑ Birth Index -William Edward Ship: (NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages : accessed 22 Oct 2023), index entry for WILLIAM EDWARD SHIP; Father's Given Names: CHARLES, Mother's Given Names: ELLEN; District: SYDNEY; Registration Number: 1941/1879
18. ↑ Birth Index -Eva May Shipp: (NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages : accessed 22 Oct 2023), index entry for EVA MAY SHIPP; Father's Given Names: CHARLES, Mother's Given Names: ELLEN; District: SYDNEY; Registration Number: 3100/1881
19. ↑ Birth Index -Florence M Ah Ship: (NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages : accessed 22 Oct 2023), index entry for FLORENCE M AH SHIP; Father's Given Names: CHARLES, Mother's Given Names: ELLEN; District: SYDNEY; Registration Number: 1270/1884
20. ↑ Memorial: "Find a Grave", database with images
    Find A Grave: Memorial #150522518 (accessed 22 October 2023)
    Memorial page for Charles Shipp (unknown-13 Aug 1885), citing Rookwood Catholic Cemeteries and Crematoria, Rookwood, Cumberland Council, New South Wales, Australia (plot: Sect. M1 Row CC Plot 551); Maintained by jlong (contributor 48741020).
21. ↑ Death Index (NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages : accessed 23 Oct 2023), index entry for JOSEPH SHIPP; Father's Given Names: [No information], Mother's Given Names: [No information] ; District: BALMAIN SOUTH; Registration Number: 672/1903
22. ↑ Memorials for Private Joseph Shipp: 1918 'Family Notices', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 17 September, p. 6. , viewed 23 Oct 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15802959