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List of assisted and free passengers per ship Blue Jacket, 1,559 tons reg., 4,750 tons burden. Sailed from London 18 July 1866 under the command of Captain James White. Arrived Lyttelton 14 Oct. 1866. Ninety days.
Press 13th Oct. 1866 pg2 (opens in another window)Aitken John 26 M Farm Laborer Ross-shire Banks Helenia 21 F Domestic Servant Essex Begg James 25 M Blacksmith Cathness-shire Bowick John 21 M Blacksmith Kincardineshire Brady Eliza 30 F Domestic Servant Down Bridges Regnidda W. 28 F Domestic Servant Middlesex Brock Hy. Wm. 25 M Farm Laborer Cornwall Brock Samuel 30 M Farm Laborer Cornwall Buggy Margaret 26 M Domestic Servant Queens Bull Sarah Ann 25 F Domestic Servant Suffolk Burns Mary 25 F Dressmaker Armagh Bygrave Emma 21 F Domestic Servant Norfolk Cainrcnae Martha 22 F Domestic Servant Tyrone Cairns John 22 M Farm Laborer Forfarshire Campbell Eliza 20 F Domestic Servant Clare Campbell Isabella 22 F Y Inverness-shire Campbell Ronald 23 M Y Shepherd Inverness-shire Cantwell Julia 24 F Domestic Servant Waterford Cantwell Mary 24 F Domestic Servant Waterford Cartwright Eliza 18 F Farm Servant Louth Cartwright Jane 24 F Y Louth Cartwright John 26 M Y Farm Laborer Louth Grandson settled at Waitohi, S. Canterbury Cleland William 26 M Gardener Down Clifford Alicia 20 F Domestic Servant Somersetshire Coney Mary 30 F Domestic Servant Galway Connell Anne 24 F Domestic Servant Waterford Connell Bridget 22 F Domestic Servant Waterford Connell Cathe 20 F Domestic Servant Galway Cooke James 20 M Ploughman Yorkshire Copland James 26 M Ploughman Aberdeenshire Cowie Mary Ann 23 F Domestic Servant Aberdeenshire Crawford Eliza 20 F Domestic Servant Fermanagh Crawford Mary A. 20 F Domestic Servant Fermanagh Crawford Mary A. 22 F Domestic Servant Fermanagh Cummingham Margaret 28 F Domestic Servant Louth Curline Ann 38 F Nurse Middlesex Curline Mary A. 18 F Domestic Servant Middlesex Donohue James 20 M Groom Carlow Donovan Dora 20 F Dairy Maid Cork Doran Jane 27 F Domestic Servant Driscoll Ellen 27 F Domestic Servant Cork Driscoll Hannah 18 F Domestic Servant Middlesex Duggan Margaret 30 F Domestic Servant Galway Ekins Bessy 25 F Domestic Servant Mayo Evans Mary Ann 20 F Domestic Servant Oxfordshire Faley Eliza 28 F Domestic Servant Galway Fay Ellen 22 F Farm Servant Galway Fox Harriet A. 22 F Domestic Servant Kent Fraser John 21 M Shepherd Inverness-shire Fulcher Ann 17 F Domestic Servant Norfolk Gaway Bridget 19 F Domestic Servant Mayo Gaze Emma 26 F Domestic Servant Cornwall Gilmore Annie 20 F Domestic Servant Wexford Gilmore Honor 24 F Domestic Servant Galway Glanville Thomas 44 M Brickmaker Guernsey Grahame Hugh 24 M Shepherd Sutherlandshire Graves Sarah 28 F Domestic Servant Yorkshire Gunw Davidina 19 F Domestic Servant Sutherlandshire Hall Emma 29 F Domestic Servant Surrey Heighton Amelia 22 F Domestic Servant Middlesex Hicks Charlotte 38 F Domestic Servant Middlesex Hier John 22 M Gardener Warwickshire Hoare Saul 20 M Farm Laborer Cornwall Hongaw Anna 18 F Domestic Servant Cork Hongaw Honora 22 F Domestic Servant Cork Houston Cathe. 20 F Domestic Servant Donegal Keady Mary 22 F Domestic Servant Galway Kiernan Ann 36 F Y 3 Kiernan Charles 46 M Y 3 Gardener Middlesex Kiernan Charles 16 M Upholsterer Middlesex Kiernan Henry 3 M Kiernan Mary Ann 13 F Middlesex Ladd Ellen 22 F Cook Lincolnshire Lamb George 22 M Farm Laborer Aberdeenshire Landrekin James 22 M Farm Laborer Cromarty Leo Bridget 24 F Domestic Servant Limerick Little Ada 21 F Domestic Servant Yorkshire Longhrey Bridget 21 F Domestic Servant Donegal Lynskey William 20 M Clerk Mayo Magor Jelmia 17 F Domestic Servant Down Maher Thomas 25 M Farm Laborer Wicklow Manson Hughina 25 F Y Manson William 25 M Y Shepherd Caithness-shire Matheson Margaret 24 F Domestic Servant Ross-shire McBeath Andrew 23 M Shepherd Caithness-shire McCallum John 26 M Watchmaker Renfrewshire McClure Catherine 22 F Domestic Servant Donegal McCarthy Jereweh 4 M McDonald Donald 26 M Shepherd Inverness-shire McGregor Lewis 23 M Shepherd Aberdeenshire McGuiness Maria 22 F Domestic Servant Galway McKay Cathe 23 F Y 3 McKay Daniel 38 M Y 3 Shepherd Sutherlandshire McKay Hugh 2 M McKay Mary 6mos F McKay Thomson 19 M Shepherd Sutherlandshire McLean Alex 26 M Farm Laborer Ross-shire McLean Mary A. 23 F Domestic Servant Scotland McLeod Murdock 33 M Y Shepherd Sutherlandshire McLeod Robina 27 F Domestic Servant Ross-shire McLeod Cathe 22 F Y McNamara Barnard 35 M Y Farm Laborer Down McNamara Cathe 38 F Y McNaught Christina 22 F 1 Aberdeenshire McNaught Robert 21 M Saddler Kircudbrightshire McNaught William 2 M Aberdeenshire McQueen Ann 22 F Dairy Maid Inverness-shire McRae Ann 27 F Y 2 McRae Jean 2 F McRae John 29 M Y 2 Ploughman Sutherlandshire McRae Joseph 17 M Shepherd Ross-shire McRae Mary 10mos F McRea Magdalea 28 F Domestic Servant Sutherlandshire Melhuish Annie 18 F Domestic Servant Devonshire Melhuish Mary 26 F Domestic Servant Devonshire Melhuish William 22 M Farm Laborer Devonshire Melvin Annie 20 F Domestic Servant Galway Meyer Heinrich L. 31 M Farm Laborer Germany Meyerhall Wilhelm 25 M Laborer Germany Miller Harry 24 M Y Farm Laborer Caithness-shire Miller Helen 24 F Y Mills Hannah 30 F 1 Weaver Yorkshire Mills Maria 5 F Yorkshire Moran Sarah 19 F Domestic Servant Mayo Morgan John 24 M Shepherd Aberdeenshire Morris Charles 23 M Farm Laborer Oxfordshire O'Connor Bridget 21 F Domestic Servant Clare Potter Louisa 18 F Cook Essex Potter Sarah E. 16 F Domestic Servant Essex Ridder Chris. F. 45 M Y 8 Farm Laborer Germany Ridder Christopher 11 M Ridder Diana 23 F Domestic Servant Germany Ridder Dorrea 18 F Domestic Servant Germany Ridder Hannah 46 F Y 8 Ridder Heinrich 16 M Laborer Germany Ridder John inf M Ridder Maria 5 F Ridder Sophia 8 F Ridder Wilhelm 14 M Laborer Germany Robertson Jessie 28 F Domestic Servant Forfarshire Ross Christy 26 F Domestic Servant Sutherland Ross Jessie 26 F Domestic Servant Sutherland-shire Ryan Mary 24 F Dairy Maid Tipperary Scully Honora 25 F Domestic Servant Galway Searle John 22 M Searle Joseph 24 M Sheppard Joseph 17 M Laborer Somersetshire Simpson Charles 22 M Y Farm Laborer Donegal Simpson Fanny J. 22 F Embroiderss Down Simpson Jeminia 29 F Y Smart Samuel 24 M Ploughman Aberdeenshire Smith Agnes 16 F Domestic Servant Warwickshire Smith Agnes 49 F 4 MATRON Staffordshire Smith Alexander 28 M Shepherd Inverness-shire Smith Andrew 27 M Y Shepherd Inverness-shire Smith Ann 18 F Y Smith Annie 26 F Domestic Servant Notts Smith Caroline 14 F Warwickshire Smith Elizabeth 12 F Warwickshire Sutherland Isabella 22 F Domestic Servant Caithness-shire Tasker Stephen 20 M Carpenter Essex Taylor Mary 17 F Domestic Servant Middlesex Tipler Jane E, 21 F Domestic Servant Oxfordshire Tooney Margaret 24 F Domestic Servant Tipperary Tregoning John 24 M Y Farm Laborer Cornwall Tregoning Tabitha 22 F Y Wath George 23 M Farm Laborer Aberdeenshire Watson John 23 M Renfrewshire Webber Elizabeth 18 F Domestic Servant Devonshire Webber Hannah 14 F Domestic Servant Devonshire Whyte James 29 M Farm Labourer Aberdeenshire Young Mary L. 27 F Domestic Servant SurreyY = spouse
# = children
Summary Married Couples and Children 29� Single Men 44 Single Women 91� Total 165 Reference: Canterbury Association (London, England) Lyttelton shipping list Published: Salt Lake City, Utah : Genealogical Society of Salt Lake City, 1973. Copy of passenger lists of some Canterbury Association emigrant ships, 1850-1866, held in the Canterbury Museum. Available on microfilm at Family History Centres worldwide through their loan programme.
Note: The 'Blue Jacket' 1,790 tons, clipper ship, was built in East Boston, USA by Robt E Jackson and was launched on 27 August 1854 for the White Star Line with a length of 235 feet (72 m) and a beam of 41 feet or 12.5 metres she was a 1790 ton wooden ship. Steel sheathed with a dark blue hull from which she partly earned her name, the other reason being the carved figure of a sailor or bluejacket which was her figurehead, she sailed from Liverpool on her first Australian voyage to Melbourne 6 March 1855 under Capt. E. Underwood, 68 days. For the next 15 years she carried migrants to Australia and NZ often doing 20 knots. There was another 'Blue Jacket', clipper ship, built in Canada in 1854 and was renamed 'White Star'. picture
Note: I am missing the names of the cabin passengers: George Watt? Johann & Louisa Gerken?, Thomas Head Stoker?,
Star 18 August 1898, Page 3 Obituary
MR DAVID HUME CHRISTIE. Mr D. H. Christie, one of the early Canterbury colonists, and for very many years a prominent and respected resident of Christchurch and neighbourhood, went over to the great majority this morning at Rangiora, where he had resided as landlord of the Plough Hotel for about two and a half years. Mr Christie was a native of Dundee, and came to Lyttelton in 1863 in the ship David J. Fleming. After five years' experience of the early settler's life partly on the West Coast, he paid a visit to his native land, but soon returned to Canterbury again, his voyage out being made in the ill-fated Blue Jacket, -which, was burnt at sea on her return trip home. Mr Christie then entered into the baking and confectionery business in Christchurch, which he carried on with success for a considerable number of years. In 1888 he entered the hotel business, his successive charges being the Shades, Tattersail's, White Horse, and the Plough Hotel. In all his business relations he won the highest respect, and he also gained the close friendship of very many of those with whom he became acquainted by a genial and kindly nature. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, his mother Lodge being the Thistle of Dundee, which he joined at the age of eighteen. In Christchurch he joined the Robert Burns Lodge, of which he was a past officer. He was also a prominent member of the Orange Society, being Grand Master of the Middle Island in 1881, in which year he laid the foundation stone of the Southbridge Orange Lodge. During the following year he made a trip Home and represented the New Zealand Grand Lodge at the Triennial Council of the Society, held in London. He j was an enthusiastic bowler, and when in Christchurch was a well-known figure on the Canterbury Club's bowling green. His death resulted from an affection of the throat which troubled him for fifteen months. His wife predeceased him and he leaves a family of three sons and a daughter, the latter being Mrs W. B. Borman, of Opawa. The funeral will probably take place on Sunday, and he will be buried beside the grave of his wife in the Addington Cemetery.The Timaru Herald Wednesday 13 February 1867 page 2
The ship Blue Jacket, Captain James White, cleared at the customs for London yesterday. She has, in addition to a full cargo of wool, skins, &c., fourteen boxes gold dust, valued at 60,140 pounds, the entire cargo being estimated at 131,720 pounds. The whole of the Blue Jacket's saloon accommodation, and the greater part of the second cabin is, we, believe occupied. Yesterday afternoon she dropped down, and anchored off Parsons rock. Press, 30th. January.
Fate: She also made voyages to Lyttelton in 1865 and October 1868 and a trip to Auckland from Liverpool via Bass Strait under the command of Capt. Hugh Clarke in 1859. On February 13, 1869 she left Lyttelton for London with seventy-one passengers and crew, and a cargo of 4,646 bales wool and flax, and other produce, and fifteen boxes of gold, valued at 63,000 pounds and when off the Falkland Islands she was totally destroyed by fire. Thomas Crampton in his diary dated March 10, 1869 reads "At 1.30 pm a fire broke out, ship burnt ......... all escaped". Captain White, chief officer, six of the crew and the passengers in the cutter were rescued by the barque Pyrmont bound for Falmouth, after six days ands six nights of intolerable hardships. Two lifeboats were launched, one was swamped and the other rescued after twenty-one days adrift along with several boxes of gold.
References: Timaru Herald July 3 1869 page 2.
White Wings Vol. 1 by Brett (1924)
Log of Logs Vol.1 by Nicholson. The 'Blue Jacket' took a load of troublesome cargo, gold miners, from Melbourne to Port Chalmers, early 1860's. ref. Lubbock.The Star 27th Dec. 1871 pg 3
Captain Frederick Cearns, master of the Sam Cearns, and late chief officer of the ship Blue Jacket.The Times, Tuesday, May 18, 1869; pg. 9, & May 22 1869 pg 11.
A telegram from Queenstown announced the total loss of the homeward-bound ship Blue Jacket, a fine ship of 1,442 tons register sailed from Lyttelton on the 13th February, 1869, with a cargo of wool and produce and 15 boxes of gold (bullion), seven saloon passengers, 13 second-class passengers, a crew of 39, surgeon and stewardess. Burnt on 9th March and abandoned in lat. 50S., long 47 W.
Passengers:
Saloon:
Mr and Mrs C. George Saxon
Mr and Mrs R. Douglas Campbell
Mr C M Wakefield (?Mr E.M. Wakefield)
Second cabin:
Miss Sarah Sheffield
Mrs Anna Carson and two children
Mr Thomas Crampton
Mr T.H. Lippett and son
Mr Ansell J Ellis
Mr George Williams
Mr H. Milner
Mr and Mrs George Faulkner and three children
Mr A. Edmunds
The Times Thursday, May 20, 1869; pg. 7 Burning Of The Blue Jacket
On March 5th passed Cape Horn. On 9th March at 1:0 pm , lat. 50 26 S., long 47 W., wind W.N.W., fine breeze, smoke was observed to issue from the forehatch. Immediately the hatch was removed, when a volume of smoke rushed up. Both fire-engines were immediately started to work by the crew and passengers, the fire-buckets being also put into immediate requisition. After two hours' incessant labour by all hands the fire seemed to decrease, and an attempt was made to break out cargo, and throw overboard the bales in the forehatch, so as to get at the fire, but did not succeed, the flames rushing from the starboard wing; the hatch was immediately closed and covered with tarpaulins, wet sails, &c. the engines playing into the holes where the deck lights had been, and though which the flames could be distinctly seen coming from the flax, the flames were put out as far as the hose pipes could reach, when these were closed up others opened, until it was discovered that the coals in the forepeak were on fire, when all hope of saving the ship was abandoned. The boats were at once got ready, provisions, water &c. The most perfect order and discipline were maintain. The first boat lowered was the cutter, into which the ladies, children and passengers, and some crew were put. The remainder of the crew took to the lifeboats. At 10 p.m. the flames were noticed to burst up the topgallant forecastle. Before leaving the ship she was hove to on the starboard tack, drifting to the south-east.March 10th - Regulated the boats, dividing the crew equally in lifeboats, putting Mr R. Bell, second officer in charge of one, and MR Webber, third officer, and the boatswain in charge of the other. The cutter was taken by Captain White and the first officer, Mr F. Williams, there being in her the fourth officer, two seamen, three stewards, one boy, and all the passengers (total 37), and the two lifeboats carrying 31 souls between them. All the boats in company.
March 11th - Smoke still visible from the burning hull of the ship, boats in company, wind fresh from the westward, sea rising. Both lifeboats were lost sight of during the day, though they had strict orders to keep company. Proceeded on course for five days, experiencing strong westerly gales, the sea washing over the boats continually, drenching every one to the skin.
March 16th, at 5.30 a.m., lat 50 55 S, long 53 51 W, all being in a very exhausted state from hunger, thirst, wet and cramp, a sail hove in sight, running down towards boat, proving to be the bark Pyrmont.On Monday there arrived in Cork Harbour the Hamburg bark Pyrmont, from Iquique bound for Falmouth, England for orders, Captain R. Niemeyer [Neemeyer], who had on board Captain White, of the Blue Jacket, her first officer, seven crew, and all her passengers. Captain Niemeyer experienced heavy weather to Cape Horn, which he rounded on the 12th March, and four days after, in latitude 50 deg. 55 min. south, and longitude 53 deg. 51 min. west, he fell in with a boat containing Captain White of the Blue Jacket, seven of her crew and the passengers and immediately took all on board (the boat being abandoned). They had been in the boat seven days and suffered so much exposure and want that two of her crew - Thomas Apsey, third steward, Mr Farrington, fourth officer, lost his reason and gradually sank, till he died on the 21st of March, and John Ellis, a second-class passenger - died (March 28) shortly after being taken onboard the Pyrmont. All were almost naked, as owning to the haste in which they had to leave the Blue Jacket. The crew and passengers took to the boats, three accommodated them. Besides provisions there was placed on board each a chest containing 4,000 sovereigns. 48,000 sovereigns were lost on the Blue Jacket. Captain Niemeyer ran short of provisions, but fortunately he met two vessels, the Carrick [?Carricks], March 28, lat. 28.5 S., long 29 W, and on April 1st, lat. 25S., long 29W, from Liverpool, bound to Calcutta, and the Yorkshire, Captain Anderson, from which he obtained such supplies as lasted him till his arrival and took on two second-class passengers, named Edwards [Mr R. Milner] and Mr G. Williams, and one able seaman Robert Grimshaw [Grimshart or Grimstead], who desired to proceed to Melbourne. One boat is missing containing 30 of the crew.
The Times, Saturday, Jul 03, 1869; pg. 12
Stanley Falkland Islands, May 1
The Antonio Vincent (McAuliffe, master), arrived here on the 3rd April, bound from Swam-sea for Valparaiso, having on board a boat's crew of eight men (three having died) of the ship Blue Jacket, from Lyttelton, NZ to London, which burnt at sea on the 9th March. About 10,000l in gold was in the boat, and will be forwarded by Her Majesty's ship Megaera. Another report brought by the Foam from Stanley, F.I. the Antonio Vincent brought to Stanley, nine men and 1 gold bard, valued at 15,000l, ex Blue Jacket; the men were in the boat from the 9th to the 29th of March, four died in the boat, and three on board the Antonio Vincent. It is the third mate's boat that has been picked up. The captain stated that each boat had only one box of gold, severally valued at 4,000l. There were 31 men in the two lifeboats.The Times, Saturday, Jul 10, 1869; pg. 10
A letter received from Mr A. Webber, who was in chare of the boat picked up by the Antonio Vincent. "I am sorry to say I cannot give the captain a very good character. I forgot to tell you that we had saved three boxes of gold from the ship, valued at 10,000L. When he heard of the gold he went into a frightful rage, put the boatswain and two seamen in irons and chained them down - men who were not able to lift a pound of weight, whose bones were sticking through their skin - and several times threatened the boatswain's life. We just got sufficient food to keep us alive and that was all. Well, these islands were the nearest place. The Almighty favoured us with a fair wind, and we arrived here on the Sunday. The captain and a passenger he had with him went on shore and reported that he had picked up some wrecked sailors, and from what he could make out, we had murdered every one on board, and then set fire to the ship, and taken the gold and left her. When the doctor came on board he at once ordered the irons to be taken off.
Another letter states he and the rest of the crew are on their way home on board Her Majesty's Megaera, and says words cannot express the kindness with which they have been treated by every one on board.List of Officers and crew in two missing lifeboats
Mr R.J. Bell, second officer
Mr A. Webber, third officer
James Cox, boatswain
Michael Burgess, carpenter
Thomas Birch, sailmaker
John Williams, chief cook
Walter Taylor, second-cabin steward
James Rotham, engine-driver
Arthur Thompson, butcher
Charles Mayo, cook's assistant
Samuel Madoc, apprentice
A.B. seamen
Thomas Small
Alexander Robertson
Samuel Brown
John Jones
Jesse Brown
Edward Wilkson
William Robinson
Hector McKay
William Morgan
William Henderson
B. Nelson
___Frizey
Thomas King
William Cobby
William Mace
John Kavana
Samuel ___ (surname not known; he went by the name of "Old Sam:, A. B. seamen
Ordinary seamen
Joshua Osborn
John Maconald
Charles Bakinsfield, boyPainting on glass: The National Library of Australia has a painting of the Blue Jacket, Captain E. Underwood, passing an iceberg lat. 49 south, 1855, en-route to Australia by Thomas Baines. Also page 64 Log of Logs Vol.1
Other voyages : 1859 1865 1867
North Otago Times, 18 January 1870, Page 2
Captain James White, the master of the ill-fated ship Blue Jacket, burnt off the Falkland Islands, while on a voyage from Christchurch (N.Z.) to London, has again come out to Victoria, in command of the good ship Charlotte Gladstone.
"Keep a sharp lookout!"
inscribed on the figure-head scroll of the 'Blue Jacket'This page may be freely linked to but not duplicated in any fashion, wholly or in part, except for private study.
