Clara, Immigrant Voyage to Western Australia 1853

Date: 1 Jun 1853 to 3 Sep 1853
Location: Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia
Surnames/tags: Peachy Mateer Phillips

West Aust Free 1851-1860 - Ship Tree

The Clara was lying in the West India Docks on the Isle of Dogs, London when she was chartered by the Colonial Land and Emigration Commission on the 14 April 1853.

The shipping agent handling the Clara was Lachlan & McLeod. The Clara could legally carry 279/265 statute adults. She was to be at Southampton dock by 1 June to prepare to transport emigrants to Perth, Western Australia on 7th June. ^[1]

Dr Mateer was listed as the surgeon for the voyage that would transport 49 married couples, 5 single men, 124 single females and 99 children 326 souls.

---

THE INDEPENDENT JOURNAL. from The Perth Gazette and Independent Journal of Politics and News (WA : 1848 - 1864) of Friday 22 July 1853, Page 2. at: [1] ..... The news relating to this colony is of little importance, save perhaps the intelligence that there are now on their passage about 1300 people, comprised in the following vessels : The Sir Robert Small sailed from Cork on the 29th April with 300 convicts and a pensioner guard which with their women and children, usually numbers about 120; the Phoebe Dunbar sailed from the Downs on the 5th May with 375 convicts and a pensioner Guard ; the Clara was to be ready to sail on 1st June with 275 statute adult emigrants, numbering probably 350 soul ; the John Panter sailed from Devonport 25th March, and from Cadiz 29th April with about 50 pas-sengers; and the Devonshire, with cargo, was named to sail on 14th May, but was not ex- pected to leave until the end of that month. _________________________________________

The Perth Gazette and Independent Journal of Politics and News (WA : 1848 - 1864) of Friday 9 September 1853, Page 2. at: [2]

Shipping Intelligence.

ARRIVED. On the 3rd inst., the ship Clara. H. Peachy, master, from London, with 312 Emigrants, in charge of Dr Matur. On the 4th inst., the schooner Louisa, Collinson, master, from King George's Sound Passengers 21. On the 8th inst., the brig Prima Donna, 224 tons, from England, bound for Melbourne. IN HARBOUR. Ships Robert Small, Phoeba Dunbar, and Clara; barques John Panter, aud Nepaulese Ambassador; brig Hero ; brigantine Louisa and Empress ; schooners, Gold Seeker and Gil Blas.

IMPORTS. Per Clara from London-50 cases stout, 50 do., ale, 10 hhd brandy, 25 cases wine, 300 bags rice, order ; 1689 pkgs Gibson, Murray, Dyett & Co.; 22 do. Commissariat; 10 do. W. & R. Habgood ; 6 cases, Lieut. Helpman.

The brig Prima Donna, from England, 28th May, bound for Melbourne, has put in for water and provisions. We believe she has no passengers. __________________________________________

The Perth Gazette and Independent Journal of Politics and News (WA : 1848 - 1864) of Friday 9 September 1853, Page 2. [3]

THE INDEPENDENT JOURNAL

"Vox populi, vox Dei."

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1853. The Clara with 312 Government Emigrants, including 48 married couples with their children and 125 Female Servants, arrived on Saturday last, after a quick passage of 85 days, having left on the 11th June. She brings little more intelligence than that received by the Phoebe Dunbar. __________________________________________

Surplus stores for sale ex Clara https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/65742006?searchTerm=Ship%20Clara

---

The Clara’s Maiden Voyage

The Clara’s Captain, Crew and Passengers

Master - Captain Henry Peachy

Surgeon Superintendent - William Mateer MD

Officer - Mr Stone ?

Mate or Seaman Thomas John - Warder 1855

Seaman John Doyle - WA Water Police 1853

Seaman Thomas Wardle ? - WA Water Police

Passengers each have a profile and have been added to the Category: Clara, Arrived 3 Sep 1853.

124 unknown passengers

68 Identified Single females

37 Unidentified single females - no profiles

19 - 7 Wives and their children granted free passage to join their convict husbands as follows;

Mrs Jane Brodie and her two daughters

Mrs Hannah Bufton and five children

Mrs Mary A Swallow

Mrs Jane Hendry and son William

Mrs Elizabeth Buchanan

Mrs Louisa Prescott and daughters Rhoda and Sarah

Mrs Elizabeth Walton and daughters Rose and Fanny

5 Single Males

James Tourner, James Wauhop

101 Children

Children identified

Children unidentified - no profile

5 Children died during the voyage

Beatrice Beattie, Mary Ann Churchyard, Sarah Fisher, Mary McDonald and Charles Riley (Reilly)

2 Children were born during the voyage

The Martin and Byrne families both had daughters in July.

48 Married Couples

Of the 48 married couples all men have a profile - some name spelling variations detected.

Some families have not been found in WA more information is required to create a profile for their wives and children, they may have left for the eastern colonies on not arrived at all.

13 - Richard Condron, William Lee, John Regan, Alfred Bare, Henry Hearn, John Willis, Michael Rielly, James Murfil, Alfred Bare, Joseph Hayes, Henry Bowler, Henry Cowley, John Friend,

Henry Miller policeman 1854

Richard Hunt policeman 1854 left WA 1854

5 Wives maiden names unknown

13 Wives unidentified plus their children - no profiles created.

Research aides; WA BDM Online Index, Trove, Ancestry, Find a Grave, SA Genealogy,