Emigration

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SS Roma arrives Rockhampton, Qld, 18 Dec 1891

I recall my grandfather (Poppa) telling me that his father  (Grandpop) came from the County of Armagh to Australia in 1892.  Abraham’s obituary further stated that he arrived at Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, in 1892.

The following newspaper clippings were found via the National Library of Australia (NLA) online Newspaper archives ‘Trove’.  (www.trove.nla.gov.au)

Abraham Wilson was onboard SS Roma, travelling in steerage, London to Rockhampton.  SS Roma was apparently a cargo ship as well, therefore it stopped Rockhampton (& other ports) before arrival in Brisbane.  Abraham was travelling with his mother, Catherine, and brother Robert.

Rockhampton Newspaper Morning Bulletin Thursday 17 December 1891, page 4, under ‘Shipping’:

SS Roma pending arrival 17Dec1891

The above reads:  ’The B.I.S.N. Company’s s.s. Roma, from London via ports, is due in Port Alma on Friday.  The Roma has immigrants and 230 tons of general merchandise for this port.’

Rockhampton Newspaper Morning Bulletin Saturday 19 December 1891, page 4, under ‘Shipping arrivals’:

SSRoma19Dec1891

The above reads: ‘The B.I.S.N. Company’s s.s. Roma, from London via ports, is due in Port Alma to-day.  The Roma has immigrants and cargo for Rockhampton.  The immigrants will be brought up to town by the Ports and Rivers’ steamer Fitzroy, arriving in town about noon.

Brisbane Courier Wednesday 23 December 1891:

SS Roma Arrival 21 Dec 1891

The above reads:

December 21.- ROMA, R.M.S. 2727 tons, Captain J. Templeton, from London.  Passengers:  From London – Mr. A.M. MyIne; from Batavia- Major H.W. Perrin, Messrs W.G. Beattie, J. Clifford Smith, G.B. Forrest, and Chaleyer; from Thursday Island – Mrs. Fritzmaurice and 2 infants; from Townsville – Mr. W. A. Furgusson; and 64 immigrants.  The B.I. and Q.A. Company, Limited, agents.

I guess December 1891 is close enough to 1892 (the arrival year as told by Poppa).  I also checked the passenger lists to confirm Abraham’s arrival on this voyage.

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George and Jane Coleman (nee Wiltshire) – emigration to Australia

The source of information for this post is QLD Archives Immigration passenger lists 1800s, series ID 13086.

Soon after their marriage, on 12 May 1880, in Vernham Dean, England, George and Jane Coleman emigrated to Australia.

They sailed on the SS Carnatic, departing Plymouth 19 June 1880 and arriving Townsville.

 

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Wilsons – Emigration to Australia

QLD State Archives provides an online Passenger lists for emigration in the 1800s, Series ID 13086 is the reference.

Thomas Wilson emigrated to Australia first in 1885, aged 19 years on the Ship Dacca, London to Townsville.   He travelled as indentured, meaning a future Australian employer paid his passage, in return for a few years work.

Catherine Wilson, Abraham & Robert,  emigrated to Australia on SS Roma.  The ship sailed from London on the 30 October 1891, arriving  Brisbane 22 December 1891.  Abraham was listed as 12 years old, but he was actually 15 years old.  This might have been to pay a lower fare (as a child).  Abraham, travelling in steerage, disembarked in Rockhampton, 18 December 1891 (SS Roma arrival date confirmed in Rockhampton Newspaper Morning Bulletin).  Catherine’s age was listed as 40, occupation ‘wife’.  She also travelled in steerage, however her disembarkation point was listed as Townsville.

SS Roma details

Abraham Wilson - Emigration passenger listing

On SS Roma, Catherine, Robert and  Abraham were listed separately, not as part of a family group, as is normally the case on then Ship passenger lists.  The Ship passenger lists in National Archives show names of passengers meticulously recorded in alphabetical (surname) order, with family groups listed under the name of the father.  Ages are also recorded, and whether the passenger is male, female, married, single, child or infant (less than 12 months).

Abraham’s name does not appear under a family grouping, so he initially appeared to have travelled alone.  It was only because he was so young that I eventually referred back to the passenger list to see if there were more Wilson family listed.

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George Coleman – 14 Feb 1855 – 4 Sep 1943

George Coleman was the father of Emily Wilson.

George & Jane Coleman(?)

Note:  I have not confirmed the identify of the above, but I believe it is a photo of George and Jane Coleman on their wedding day.

George was born at Wilty and Birks, Shalbourne, England.  His parents were Thomas and Ann Coleman.

George married Jane Wiltshire 12 May 1880 in her home town of Vernham Dean.  They emigrated to Australia soon after, arriving by the time of their first child’s birth (Emily) on 8 May 1881.

George’s occupation was listed as labourer throughout his life.  However, on moving to Australia, 1880-1881, he was a drover at Wyandotte Station, near Cardwell Queensland, where he lived with Jane and his children.  By 1908, George, Jane and children had moved to South Townsville, living at 10 Fifth Avenue.

George outlived Jane by 21 years, eventually passing away 5 September 1943, in Townsville.

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Family History – the story so far

Joseph Raynor:

Born:   2 November 1866 – Messina Sicily (no birth certificate to verify this)

Parents:  Joseph Raynor (Master Mariner), Rosa Cefaly  (no verification of parents names or Joseph’s name)

Arrived in Australia:  – circa 1897 (family oral history)

Naturalisation:  – 11 Jan 1899 – Supreme Court Townsville (register entry found only – no oath of allegiance – he would have signed –  exists)

Enrolled to vote:  24 Jan 1899 (not yet verified)

Insolvency:   17 June 1899

Married:  4 March 1905 – Mary Jane Smyth

Employment:   SS Bobby Towns (based in Townsville), Waterside Worker (member of Waterside Workers Federation)

Will written:   24 July 1923

Homes:  Initially lived on Palmer St South Townsville, prior to moving to McIlwraith St (1915-16) and later purchased a home 9 March 1927  (date listed in his Estate File held at Queensland Archives).  Possibly rented the same home he later purchased.

Age pension:  On the pension at the time of his death.

Died:   14 February 1937

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Mary Jane Raynor (nee Smyth)

Born:   10 April 1884, Knapp St, Townsville

Parents:  

John Smyth (born Edinburgh Scotland? circa 1846-47) died 14 December 1883

Isabella Smyth nee Shiels  born Strabane, Tyrone, Ireland circa 1847-50) died 12 April 1909

Family Tree:  Limited search conducted so far – no ancestors yet verified.

Arrived in Australia:  – Parents and older siblings arrived 1882 – SS Stirlingshire, disembarked at Townsville.

Married:  4 March 1905 – Joseph Raynor

Homes:     Appears to have grown up in Wills St, Townsville, prior to moving to South Townsville with Joseph

Died:   27 December 1956

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Abraham Wilson

Born:   27 June 1876, Portadown, Armagh, Ireland

Parents:  

Christopher Wilson:  Occupation Weaver, later Shipbuilder, born 1831, died circa late 1880s in Belfast in a Shipyard accident.

Catherine Wilson (nee McFall):  Born circa 1835, died 5 November 1922, at Dunwich Asylum in Queensland.

Family Tree search so far:

Most of Abraham siblings names are known, however there is one female unknown (deceased at the time of Catherine’s death) – the sibling was probably born before 1864, as this is the year Ireland Births commenced being registered (prior to this it is Parish Church records).  Parents of Christopher & Catherine not yet located, but surnames are known.

Christopher & Catherine married 14 March 1853 at Moyntaghs, Armagh Ireland.

Catherine’s father’s name was John McFall, and her mother (Mary Sturger) married a Thomas Bunting (after Catherine was born), and Catherine assumed the surname of Bunting.  Catherine had a half-sister, Ann Eliza, who also later married a Wilson – a Robert Wilson (not apparently related to Christopher Wilson)

Arrived in Australia:  – December 1891, SS Roma, disembarked Rockhampton.  Mother Catherine and Brother Robert also onboard.  Older brother  Thomas Andrew emigrated earlier, arriving Townsville on SS Dacca.

Married:  9 December 1908 – Emily Jane Coleman (Townsville)

Employment:   Painter, Signwriter – initially employed by a German resident in Rockhampton, then later the Ross River Meatworks. Other later employment in Townsville.

 

Homes:  Rockhampton, Oonoonaba (Fairfield), Ninth Avenue Railway Estate

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