The ship 'Brothers' was a
Brigantine
(two masted vessel) of 99 tons. It was built at Northwich, Cheshire and registered in Weymouth on 18 July 1795. On 7 January 1807 it was purchased by a Mr William Dearing, refitted and registered at Rye on 16 May 1811.
Testimony of
Robert Towns Commander of the ship H.M.S. Brothers
"One case in point occurred among the emigrants brought out by me in the 'Brothers'. It was that of a man named George Butt, who, with his wife and six children, would have been refused by the Board of Examination, in consequence of his age exceeding the prescribed limits, had it not been for the kind assistance of Major
Edward Macarthur and the parish from which he came, by whom his passage-money was paid.
The conduct of this family was most unexceptional. I may here instance the case of two families in Lincolnshire, who were actually rejected, although the ages of the men did not exceed 34 or 35, and the women were not above 30 or 32, one with a family of seven children, the other with one of six, three or four of whom in each family were grown-up boys and girls capable of performing the labour of adults".
The voyage would probably be made in from fifteen to twenty weeks. Each family had a separate cabin six feet square, or of proportionate size, with a sleeping berth of the same length and four feet wide. The bedding provided for them was of a better description than most persons of their class possess, and suitable no only for the voyage, but to serve in their dwellings on shore.
If there were in the family more than one child, a separate berth and bedding were provided; and where there were six children, they were divided between two cabins, (as in cabins 8 and 9), occupied by two brothers. All the bedding and utensils were lettered and numbered according to the cabins. The utensils were of a very substantial kind, because it is difficult to repair or replace them at sea.
The space occupied by the families, with the passages between the cabins, was for their exclusive use, and no other persons were to sleep there. They were to be required to take no part in the ordinary duties of the ship, and to be subject to no molestation in the passing the line, or during any part of the voyage. Their provisions were to be issued daily in proportionate quantities, and to be cooked for them. A printed scale was hung up in the cabin, that everyone might see how much he was entitled. Excepting in the case of sickness, or at the request of the surgeon, neither wine nor spirits were allowed, but tea and sugar amply.
Materials were supplied for their occupation at sea. Wool-bagging and twine for the men, and shirting for the women; and the better to stimulate them to industry, the same prices were to be given for work on shore. The value might be taken out in linen, or in little additional comforts, as coffee, flour, and raisins.
Divine service would be performed every Sunday, and books were provided for their mental, moral, and religious instruction, as well as a school for the children during the voyage. They were themselves to assemble every night and morning for family prayer, a book of which was given to each person. This part of regulations was kindly superintended by a gentleman of the Church Missionary Society, and his wife, passengers on the ship.
Such are the details of one of the earliest attempts at systematic emigration to New south Wales. It will be for men of benevolent minds to consider how this attempt may be improved upon; and whether, if conducted on these principles, it may not be the means of opening to the poor a channel by which, in season of distress, they may pass from a state of hard and necessitous servitude to one of comfort, and eventually of independence.
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The expense of this emigration was about 18 pounds 14 shillings for each grown person, and is thus estimated; 6
16 Men & 16 Women
=
32 Adults
24 Children, equal to 8 Grown Persons
=
8 Adults
Passage to Sydney
=
40 Adults
£700 .
0s .
0d
Beds, Bedding and Utensils
£ 47 .
17s .
7d
Total
£747 .
17s .
7d
Cost Per Person (40)
£ 18 .
13s .
11d
Statement of the number of men, women and children, composing 16 families, embarked for New South Wales on board the 'Brothers' and the bedding, utensils, books, materials for employment, and provisions for the voyage.
Details of the sixteen families recruited in 1836 to work on the Macarthur Estate at The Cowpastures, situated on the Nepean River. These Families were initially settled at Cawdor and then in 1841, relocated to the present day site of Camden, New South Wales:
Elias Thorne aged 25, Sarah Thorne aged 21, James Brady aged 27, Ann Brady aged 21, James New aged 23, Mary New aged 23, Morrice New aged 4, Charlotte New aged 2, George Vincent aged 27, Jane vincent aged 27, Benjamin Weekes aged 24, Francis Weekes aged 24, Hanna Weekes aged 21, Eliza Ann Weekes aged 3, Ritchard Weekes aged 25, Mary Weekes aged 24, William Weekes aged 3, Elizabeth Weekes aged 1, Henry Norris aged 30, Caroline Norris aged 28, Many Ann Norris aged 9, Daniel Norris aged 6, George Norris aged 3, William Norris aged 1, Stephen Butt aged 22, Martha Butt aged 21, George Butt aged 33, Charlotte Butt aged 34, Jane Butt aged 14, Samuel Butt aged 12, William Butt aged 9, Robert Butt aged 6, Stephen Butt aged 3, Caroline Butt aged 1, Thomas Cox aged 23, Sophia Cox aged 21, John Cox aged 1, William Elliot aged 19, Thomas Smith aged 28, Charlotte Smith aged 25, Henry Gumbleton aged 26, Jane Gumbleton aged 26, Martha Gumbleton aged 17, Caroline Gumbleton aged 3, Emeline Gumbleton aged 2, Samuel Wright aged 31, Ann Wright aged 29, Sarah Wright aged 9, James Wright aged 6, Jane Wright aged 3, Charlotte Wright aged 1, Samuel Arnold aged 24, Ann Arnold aged 24, Sarah Ann Arnold.
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