Summary

IMPORTANT UPDATE: A clear version of the passenger list is now available at FamilySearch. It was uploaded on 18 July 2022. The copy available at FamilySearch was apparently made from the original handwritten record which is in the custody of the Archives Department, Public Library of New South Wales and was microfilmed by the Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City, Utah in New South Wales in 1961. The digitised verson was made available at FamilySearch.com on 18 July 2022.^[1] The copy available at Ancestry.com is mostly unreadable.

The Cateaux Wattel (also recorded as Cateau Wattel, Catteaux Wattel, Catteaux Wattell in various media) was a Belgium built cargo ship named after her owner, Cateaux, Wattel & Co. She was built in Antwerp in 1854.

On 9 December 1854, she sailed from Antwerp carrying 430 German immigrants, mostly vine dressers and their families, bound for the Colony of New South Wales. She was under the command of Captain Louis Meyer, with Louis Delmer the first mate, Auguste Zimmerman, the second mate, and Antonie Muller, the ship's doctor. The crew were all Belgians. This was her first voyage and took only 90 days which reportedly pleased her owners.

Note: Some records list her port of origin as Hamburgh in Germany and her arrival date as 12 March. Possibly she docked on 9 March but passengers remained on board until 12 March.

Newspaper Articles

Sydney Morning Herald, 12 March 1854, page 2:

The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), 14 March, 1855 p. 2:

Crew and Passengers

Crew List

Louis Delmer, 1st Mate, 27^[5]

Passenger List

Transcription by Susan Stopford © 2022-2024 Susan Stopford

This is a work in progress. Please leave a comment below or send me a personal message if you spot an error in a list or know more. Thanks!

Others: (this information added by Jenny Johnston and sourced from "Lina Moffit")^[6]

• Bruckmann, Sebastian 29, vinedresser from (looks like) Kiederich; parents both dead (looks like) Phillip & Catherina brought out by A Scott, looks like Aslo Island
• Bruckmann, Magdalena 27, wife; parents both dead - (looks like) Auton/Cluton & Catherina
• Deger, Johannes 30, vinedresser from Kei----; parents Ludwig & Barbara brought out by John Taylor, Lochinvar
• Deger, Catherine 21,wife
• Demiwald (?), Jacon 36, vinedresser from Kei----; parents Rudolph and Magdalena brought out by W D Kelman, Kirktown?
• Demiwald, Margaretta 27, wife; parents Justus and Elizabeth Gold, both dead with Jacob 3, Rudolphe 2
• Diehm, Heinrich, Elizabethia, Christina, Elizabetha, Valentin & Andreas from Dertingen and Kembach, Wertheim, Germany brought out by A. Holden, Penshurst
• Gruz, Johannes, 42, vinedresser from Voluzitea ?; parents Heinrich & ? both dead brought out by --- J. MacArthur; wife - Charita from Eicheubulet ? parents Valentino and Mary Anna both dead

German Families in the Shoalhaven

Alexander Berry Esq, employed the following people who were on the Cateaux Wattel.^[7]

• ANTES, Johan & family
• ERBERT, Johan & family
• LANE (R) & family
• LAUFF, Johan & family
• LOHBERT, Johan & family
• MONTAG, A., and family
• MULLER, Johan & Family
• Heinrich Weigand (abt.1826-1887) (Henry) & family

Destruction by Fire (1860)

She was destroyed by fire in Sydney Harbour on 4 May 1860, while loading cargo at Botts' Wharf. The fire possibly started in bags of Kauri Gum but there were claims that the fire may have been deliberately lit by one of the crew. The flames quickly engulfed the vessel. With the assistance of the Steamer 'Rapid' & aid from the French Man-of-War, the burning ship was towed into the stream opposite Dawe's Battery where attempts were made to sink her. William Sass was committed for setting fire to the ship. According to one newspaper article, her hull and spars were sold on 11 May for £160. The remainder of the wreck is believed to sit in the Harbour.^[8][9][10]

Sources

1. ↑ "Australia, New South Wales, Assisted Immigrants Inwards, 1828-1890", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJY-D9PV-2?cc=3661064 : 18 July 2022), > image 1 of 1.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} NSW Inward Shipping Record 12 March 1855
3. ↑ 1855 'Advertising', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 12 March, p. 2. , viewed 26 Aug 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12966605
4. ↑ 1855 'Sydney News.', The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), 14 March, p. 2. , viewed 26 Aug 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article698852
5. ↑ Louis Delmer "Unassisted Immigrants Index 1842-1855", New South Wales State Archives & Records, NSW Government, Compiled by Ms Aileen Trinder and Ms Pat Fearnley (formerly Stemp) of Pastkeys, passenger lists, citing: Reel No. 401, Index Number 43. (INX-43-68022 - DELMER, Louis : accessed 21 August 2022). Name: Louis Delmer, Age: 27, Ship: Cateaux Wattel, Departure Place: Antwerp, Arrival Date: 12 Mar 1855, Status: C, Remarks: 1st Mate, Belgian; Hamburg in SMH. Image of Cateaux Wattel crew list available at Ancestry.com.au. Ancestry Record 1210 #1432531, accessed on 21 Aug 2022 (subscription $).
6. ↑ See: [TSL] The Catteaux Wattel 1855 Gmy - Australia 01/05/2001: [Posted by "Lina Moffit" <d*@optusnet.com.au>] at: http://www.oulton.org/cwa/newsships.nsf/pages/2D8666D46DA016B5852569CB00261204
7. ↑ Shoalhaven Family History Society, Time Traveller Magazine, June 1994, copy held by Jenny Johnston
8. ↑ 1860 'BURNING OF THE BARQUE CATTEAUX WATTEL.', Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1875), 4 May, p. 8. , viewed 26 Aug 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60409737
9. ↑ 1860 'LATEST NEWS.', The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), 12 May, p. 3. , viewed 26 Aug 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18676403
10. ↑ WRECKSite, viewed 26 Aug 2021.

See also:

• arrival: Catteaux Wattel from Australian Shipping 1788-1968 at: http://www.blaxland.com/ozships/events/2/185.htm#11589
• CATTEAUX WATTEL on the Mariners and ships in Australian Waters website at: http://marinersandships.com.au/1855/03/035cat.htm
• CATTEAUX WATTEL, Arrival 9 Mar 1855 Image of passenger manifest available at Ancestry.com. Search: New South Wales, Australia, Unassisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1826-1922 at https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=1210
• Sydney News. from The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893) of Wednesday 14 March 1855, Page 2. at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/698852

Acknowledgements

• Thank you to Margaret (Gale) Haining for creating this free space page and to Lina Moffit for her work transcribing part of the manifest and for providing additional information. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Margaret, Lina and others.