SS Roma

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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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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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Abraham Wilson (Obituary) – Townsville Daily Bulletin – 1969 (date u/k)

Abraham Wilson’s obituary appeared in the Townsville (Bulletin?) on (date?)

It read:

Abraham Wilson died in Townsville on May 27 at the age of 92.  He was born in Northern Ireland in 1876 and arrived in Australia at Rockhampton in 1892, on the ship S.S. Roma.  He came to Townsville in 1901.  He lived at Oonoonba during cyclone Leonta, working in the tin shop at Ross River Meatworks.

He married Emily Jane Coleman of South Townsville, in 1908, taking up residence at Railway Estate, living there until his retirement to Pallarenda, Townsville in 1965.

Having been taught painting trade, while in Rockhampton, by a German resident there, worked as such in and around Townsville for approximately 40 years.  He was noted for his ability in paint colour mixing, signwriting, house painting, coach painting and lining of same, graining of altars in churches, gold leaf lettering and landscape paintings in oil.  Oldtimers alive to-day who knew him refer to him as one of the best in his day in his profession.

He was respected by all who knew him.  He loved band music, playing in the Wesleyan Band in Townsville, and with a circus band in Rockhampton as a side drummer.  He also played clarinet and accordion.  He was a keen fisherman for many years on and around Townsville’s Harbour breakwaters and enjoyed talking of his experiences as such.  His means of transport to and from wherever he wished to go, be it work or fishing, throughout his life in Townsville, were his legs only.  He was a non-drinker and non-smoker.

He is survived by his wife and sons Henry, Edward, William, Gordon and daughter Lillian (Mrs J. Hatton), all of Townsville.