Oriental1840

Oriental
Ship: 506 tons
Captain:  William Wilson
Surgeon Superintendent: Dr J. Fitzgerald
Sailed London 15th Sept 1839 - arrived Port Nicholson 31st Jan 1840

First ship to sail from London, and second to reach Port Nicholson, was the Oriental, 506 tons, Captain William Wilson, by which 155 people came out, 62 being males and 93 females. Among the prominent passengers may be  mentioned the Hon. Henry Petre (son of Lord Petrie), Major Hormbrook, Mr Francis Molesworth (brother of Sir William Molesworth, Bart.), Mr George Duppa, Mr W. B. D. Mantell (son of Dr Gideon Mantell, an eminent geologist) and Mr Dudley Sinclair (son of Sir George Sinclair, Bart., M. P.). Sailing from Gravesend on September 15th and Deal six days later, she called at the Island of Santiago, Cape Verde Group, and that was the last land seen until on January 22nd she entered Port Hardy, that being the day the Aurora reached Port Nicholson. Some natives seen here advised them there was a pakeha on the island, and they set of in their canoes to fetch him, spreading their blankets for sails. The man was Maclaren, the whaler, who brought a letter left by Colonel Wakefield ordering the ship to Port Nicholson. The wind blowing strong into the harbour , it was three days before the Oriental got out, and even then she just escaped going ashore on the rocks called Nelson's Monument. It was not until the 29th the the ship was off Port Nicholson, and then the wind failed, Captain Wilson was a good deal perplexed by the long line of rocks that runs right out from Sinclair Head, and next day he sent the mate away in the cutter to investigate. Of course the mate soon discovered the entrance, but there was no wind, the weather was thick, and there was a strong ebb tide, so the anchor was dropped. The following morning Colonel Wakefield came out in a ships boat, bring with him a pilot. Though there was a head wind, the Oriental beat into harbour, and at 6p.m. on January 31st she dropped anchor off Somes Island, receiving a salute of guns from the Cuba and the Aurora. Then began the work of embarking. For a few days the weather was rough, but on the 3rd February, a fine spell set in. It was decided to settle the new arrivals on the banks of the Hutt river, about a mile up from the mouth. On the 5th the disembarkation started in real earnest.The ship's boat's were used to take the heavy stuff up the river, but the bulk of the passengers tramped to their new home, over a roughly-made track, carrying in their hands or on their backs such light things as they could manage. By the 15th of the month all the cabin passengers, who had until then lived aboard, moved ashore, and by March 6th the last of the cargo was out.
White Wings Sir Henry Brett

Extracts from the log of Oriental

Name Age Comments
Anderson David 20
Anderson James 40 Widower
Anderson James 22
Ann 23
Anderson John 24
Baker John 29
Eliza 27
Son 10
Barton Richard 37
Betts Henry 20
Binns Richard 29
Mary Ann 28
Daughter 6
Daughter 2
Boyton Henry 37
Burgess W.B. 30
Catchpool E. 26
Wife 23
Clark George 20
Cockburn James 29
Jane 29
Son 7
Son 2
Cormacher Peter 20
Crouther Ann 15
Crouther Isaiah 30
Ann 36
Daughter 8
Daughter 5
Dean Jabez 21
Ann 19
Son 5months
Detcham Robert 38
Downey John 23
Mary 23
Son 3months
Duppa George 21
Eaton Daniel William 17
Eaton John W. 16
Eaton Arthur 15
Eaton Richard A. 53 Widower
Son 12
Son 10
Elsdon William 25
Estaugh Samuel 21
Ann 22
Everett William 20
Fairbrother Richard 23
Sophia Eliza 22
Fardon William 16
Fitzgerald Dr J.P. 23
Foulds William 21
Garner John 36
Mary Ann 29
Son 8
Son 6
Daughter 4
Garrod Henry 37
Mary Ann 23
Gatley Charles 22
Ann 23
Grant William 20
Grimm Mary Ann 15 Daughter of Martha Lewis
Hodges Alfred 32
Holmes James 26
Ann 24
Son 10months
Hopper E.B. 40
Hornbrook Alexander 24
Hort A. 25
Howes Joseph 21
Mary Ann 20
Daughter 13months
Ingham Samuel 16
Isaac Francis 27
Mary 29
Daughter 2
Jarvis Alexander 24
Johnson John 30
Ann 32
Daughter 9
Daughter 7
Daughter 4
Daughter 2
Daughter 10months
Kentish John 29
Eliza 29
Kettle Charles Henry 18
Ladd John 25
Levy Benjamin 21
Levy Solomon 23
Lewis David 34
Martha 35
Lewis John 25
Lewis Miss 23
Linfoot Richard 27
Ellen 26
McKay Alexander 26
Daughter 7
McKay William 20
McKenzie Thomas 20
McLennan Donald 19
Mantell W. 21
Meech Henry 28
Mary Ann 25
Molesworth F.A. 21
Moreing Henry 25
O'Brien John 22
Ellen 25
Palfrey John 51
Ellen 31
Payne George 29
Maria 22
Petre Hon Henry 19
Rodgers Charles 29
Cecelia 20
Salmon John 20
Eliza 20
Sayer Richard Burgess 21
Seed Richard 27
Harriet 25
Shand A.W. 25
Wife 19
Sinclair Dudley 21
Spencer Abel 27
Grace 23
Spiers James 27
Harriet 30
Sutherland Alexander 34
Eppa 28
Christina 7months
Katherine Born at sea
Sutherland John 23
Mary 23
Daughter 6months
Taylor William 29
Sophia 27
Tucker Josiah 17
Walker John 26
Eliza 21
Daughter 2months
Walton Ann 27 Widow
Daughter 18months
Welch William 33
Ann 32
Mary 12
Annie Maria 10
William 8
Henry 6
Elizabeth 5
Jane 2
James 3months
Wrigley Thomas 15
                                  
LEVY FAMILY:
Solomon and Benjamin Levy were brothers who travelled to Wellington on this voyage of Oriental. An elder brother, Samuel, was to have made the voyage but gave his place to Benjamin. Benjamin married Ester Solomon in Wellington in 1842. Esther had arrived on board the Birman. Also on the Birman was Jane Harvey who married Solomon Levy. If you have a connection to this family contact Clyde Hurrell at [email protected]

                                  

LEWIS Family:
David LEWIS [born 1803], occupation clerk, wife Martha Lewis, n�e MASTERS. They brought Martha’s daughter, Mary Ann GRIMM with them. In 1848, Mary Ann married William Nicholas LUXFORD, who had arrived in Wellington on the ‘Adelaide in 1840. Family originally from London, England. David Lewis was educated at Lampeter College with a view to his entering the Anglican Church but became attracted to the teachings of John WESLEY and instead became a lay member of the Wesleyan Church, while working in London as a hatter. After they settled in Wellington, they became resident in firstly Karori Road and later, by 1845, in Tinakori Road in Wellington. David first intended to go into business with George DUPPA, the emigration agent and member of the management committee of the New Zealand Company, who had recommended him and who travelled with David on the Oriental. George DUPPA decided, however, to relocate to Auckland but recommended David LEWIS to Colonel WAKEFIELD, who employed David, first working as a clerk and then later as a Commissioner of Crown Lands. David was appointed a magistrate in the Province of Wellington in 1866, and in 1868 was appointed a Justice of the Peace. David Lewis died in Wellington in 1892, and was buried in the Karori Cemetery, Wellington. If you have a connection with this family or require more information please contact Michael Butler.

                                  

Copyright Denise & Peter 1999, 2000, 2001

Reference:
Archives New Zealand

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