Part of the Acorn Archive

Hearts of Oak

 

               

The Sea Diary of William Gayer Michell

A Young Sailor’s Voyages 1893-1896

 

His mother gave him this note book on the 22^nd May 1893

This is in the form of a Floral Text Book,

( what we would now call a Birthday Book ).

He writes, mysteriously, on the flyleaf “Hawk’s P^b.”

He also writes, in a very stylised form, “Castle Gayer, Marazion”.

 

 

He records various names and dates,

and uses the Memoranda pages for his notes of the voyages.

Some of the names are of people he knew in Brisbane,

in particular the McKergows and the Wakefields.

Considering he was just 17 years of age, born 1876,

he had a keen interest in the lengths of passage.

This little book has been taken many miles around the world.

But there is no mention of cargo or name of the vessel.

It also appears the vessel was a sailing ship.

[ If anyone can help with details of this ship,

or the later history of William Gayer Michell,

or give a clue as to what is meant by Hawk’s P^b,

please contact me at the email address at the bottom of this page ]

 

William Gayer Michell gained his Master’s Competency Certificate 4^th April 1901, age 25.

Certificate

 

W G Michell was given his first ship to Master upon the illness of

Captain Edward Freeman Roach, whilst at Malta.

This was on the Hain ship TREKIEVE.

Crew List 4^th February 1904 to 18^th April 1904.

Roach Mariners of St Ives

 

 

Sailed from London Thursday 16^th June 1893.

Reached Brisbane River Monday 11^th September.

Reached Brisbane Quinlain and Fray’s Wharf Wed 13^th Sep.

Left Bulimba Brisbane Wed 16^th Nov.

Sighted Ice 9^th December. Weather Low about 8 bells, afternoon watch on deck.

38 days to Horn ( Cape ) from Brisbane. 25 from Horn to Line.

Passed Horn 23^rd Dec.

Line 17^th January 1894 about 8 bells first watch.

Passed Western Islands.

Reached Gravesend 8^th February ( Thursday ).

London Dock Friday 9^th February.

Home Sunday 17^th February. Home until 19^th May.

Left home Saturday 19^th May.

Sailed from East India Dock Wednesday morning 23^rd May.

Reached Line Friday 22^nd June, making the run in 30 days.

4^th and 5^th July surrounded by a shoal of fine sperm whales who frolic and gambol about to our amusement.

We caught a dolphin and had it for breakfast.

Passed land on starboard quarter which proved to be Tristan da Cunha, 11^th July.

Passed “Cape of Good Hope” between Thursday and Friday night 19^th and 20^th July, 28 days from “Line”, 58 days from London. [ Line being the Equator ].

Reached Morton Bay Sunday 2^nd September.

Reached Wharf ( Queen Lane Gray & Co ) Brisbane Tuesday morning 4^th September.

Left Musgrave Wharf S Brisbane Sunday midday 21^st October.

Left Hamilton which was reached Monday 22^nd October about midday and cast off from Tug “Beaver” at 11.30pm. [ Details of Beaver below ]

Saw East Coast of Australian Land on Thursday 25^th October.

Sighted “De Ramieres” [ Diego Ramirez ] ( Island off Cape Horn ) on Sunday morning 2^nd December.

41 days from Brisbane.

Round Cape Horn on Monday 3^rd December.

Crossed Line on Monday 31^st December. 21 days from Cape Horn,

70 days from Brisbane.

Passed Western Islands Saturday midnight 19^th January 1895, 20 days from Line.

Arrived London Wednesday 21^st February. London Docks 53 days from Line.

Sailed from London on Saturday 15^th June 1895.

From S W India Dock left home on Wednesday 12^th June.

Saw East of Lizard on Wednesday night 20^th June.

Crossed the Line on Tuesday at midnight 16^th July. 31 days from London.

Passed Meridian of East [ Greenwich Meridian ] on Monday 5^th August.

20 days from Line on Friday 9^th August we passed Longitude of Cape 4 days from Meridian and 24 days from Line.

On Monday 26^th August We passed Cape Leawen [ Cape Leeuwin ] 17 days from Cape and 21 days from Meridian.

Reached Moreton Bay Wednesday 11^th September 88 days from London.

Reached Parbury Lamb Wharf 13^th September.

Left Parbury’s Wharf 26^th November; Left Moreton Bay 27^th November.

Reached Cape Horn 5^th January 1896, 39 days from Brisbane.

Crossed Line 12^th February. 38 days from Cape Horn, 77 days from Brisbane.

Passed clear of Western Islands in evening 29^th February and March 1^st

106 days passage Brisbane to London.

Reached London Dock 13^th March; Got home 14^th March. Left home 7^th May.

Sailed from S W India Docks 12^th May.

Crossed Line 8^th June 27 days from London,

Crossed Meridian of East 25^th June 17 days from Line.

Passed Longitude of Cape of Good Hope 28^th June 3 days from Meridian, 20 days from Line and 47 days from London.

Reached Parbury’s Wharf Thursday 6^th August 86 days from London.

Left Musgrave Wharf Sunday 18^th October

and left Moreton Bay Monday 19^th October.

Passed Cape Horn 27^th November 39 days from Moreton Bay.

Lovely weather round Cape Horn.

Crossed Line 21^st December 24 days from Cape Horn.

Good Passage considering light winds we had.

 

~~~~o~o~~~~

 

Friends and Family

 

Mr Appleton 15^th October

George Bates 25^th June

[he was a sailor on the “Avon” at Falmouth in the 1881 Census]

Laura Blake 6^th September

Edgar B Brown 5^th February

J J Cable 14^th February

William Campbell 27^th September 1874 [ RN painter’s son ]

[ The Campbell family lived at 106 Charlotte St, Stoke Damerel, Devon ]

Louisa Trevelyan Dale 31^st July 1881 [gdtr of John Dale solicitor Helston]

Harry Fenton 31 July

B Frances 23^rd July [ Queensland ]

Owen E Freemantle 25^th August

J W Grigg 1^st July

Carrie F Hosking 10^th June 1875

Janie Hosking 31^st December 1871

[ Two of the children of Thomas F Hosking, Manure Merchant, of Fore St, Marazion. - Janie was Mary J Hosking ]

Richard Cornish Laity 9^th August 1849

Sarah Ann Laity 30^th April 1851

Harry T Laity 19^th November 1878

William Harvey Laity 19^th August 1890

[ The Laitys lived in Fore Street, Marazion. Richard Cornish Laity was a Saddler and Ironmonger ]

John Lander 8^th July

Ellen J L Leggo 28^th March

E J Baynard Leggo 14^th April

[ The daughters of Ann M Leggo of Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK; in 1891, living at Fore Street, Marazion. Their brother John B Leggo was born in St Saviours, Jersey, Channel Islands; the daughters were born at Ludgvan ]

Mr Lloyd 28^th September 1857

Mehetabel Mackergow 18^th April [nee Wakefield]

Ida M Mackergow 2^nd July [ daughter ]

E A Michell 18^th January

G R Michell 2^nd March

Robert C Michell 16^th July 1870

William Gayer Michell 7^th December 1876

H A Miller 13^th March 1874

Lilla Miller 4^th April 1880

Fred Miller J 29^th December 1873

Sidney Marly Miller 3^rd October 1878

[The Millers which he names were the children of Fred Miller, an accountant from Alton Hampshire, living in Camborne in 1891. Fred Miller had married Ann B Temby. Living with them in 1891 was her sister Sarah Temby. ]

Annie E J Phillips 8^th June

Edith M Phillips 8^th August

Herbert E Russell 31^st October 1872

[ Herbert E Russell was a painter’s son ( Albert E Russell ) of 112 Trelowarren St, Camborne ]

Walter H Seager 15^th April

[ Walter H. Seager was the painter son of George Seager, a Master Painter, of Clyde Villa Stapleton Rd, Bristol St George, Gloucester ]

P Shuttleworth 29^th May

John Oates Smale 23^rd November 1864

Edward M Smith 17^th February [ a traveller in wine ]

Lilly Temby 7^th March

May Temby 26^th October 1862

Ada Temby 26^th November 1897

Millie Temby 21^st November 1877

Fred Uren 15^th March

H M Wakefield 7^th May

F M Wakefield 25^th July

Margaret Wakefield 11^th August 1837 [ nee Birch of Hull, Yorkshire ]

Alfred Edwin Wakefield 6^th October

Nell Wakefield 24^th October

E Wakefield 7^th August

Robert Wallace 15^th November 1874

William Woodford 20^th August 1875

Harold Woodget 18^th August

[Son of Captain Richard Woodget of the Cutty Sark]

 

~~~~o~~~o~~~~

 

UK Census Records

 

1841 North Street, Marazion

Richard Michell,50,a Tailor, born Truro. [bur 24^th Jan 1884 age 92]

Elizabeth Michell ( nee Rooke ),50 [died 1^st Sep1869]

Annette Michell,25

Robert Glasson Michell,25 – Born Marazion

Elizabeth Michell,20

Tryphena Michell,20

 

Robert Michell’s elder brother was Richard Rooke Michell, born Marazion, 31^st Dec 1810. A timber, iron, coal and slate merchant as RG Michell. Also as tin smelters at Trereife. As RR Michell & Co at Madron. Died Wimpole St, London 15^th Apr 1872, buried Marazion. Married Mary Eastwood at Darfield E Yorkshie May 1832 – she died April 1850. A niece of Ambrose Oxley, she left four children. Elizabeth, Sarah, Mary and Ambrose. Each had the second name of Oxley. Sarah Oxley Michell married Edward Michell Millett ( son of  John Thomas Millett and grandson of Rev John Curnow Millett ) – he died 1871 aged 26. Edward Michell Millett was the uncle of Captain John Lester Vivian Millett; and JLV Millett thus became nephew of Robert Glasson Michell, by the marriage of Sarah Oxley Michell.

 

1851 North Street, Marazion

Robert Glasson Michell,36,Master Tailor

( Employing 3 Journeymen and 1 apprentice )

Mary Michell ( nee Bennett ),Wife,30 – born Camborne

 

1861 Town Square, Marazion

Robert Glasson Michell,Head,46,Merchant,Marazion

Mary Michell,Wife,40,Camborne

Sophia Bennett,Sister-in-law,U,35,Fundholder,Camborne

 

1871 Marazion

Robert Glasson  Michell , Widower, 56, Timber & Coal Merchant

Elizabeth Ann Clarke, Housekeeper, 27, born 1844 Ludgvan

Grace Ellen Clarke, Servant, U, 16, born 1855  Phillack

 

1881 Castle Gayer, Marazion

Robert Glasson Michell, Head, 66, Marazion, Retired Merchant

Elizabeth A. Michell ( nee Clarke ) Wife, 37, Ludgvan

Robert C. Michell, Son, Scholar, 10, Staverton, Devon

Richard G. Michell, Son, Scholar, 7, Staverton, Devon

William Gayer Michell, Son, Scholar, 4, Marazion

George R. Michell, Son, 3, Marazion

 

1891

Castle Gayer, Lays Lane, Marazion ( Now Leys Lane )

Elizabeth A Michell,Head,Widow,47,Ludgvan 18th January

Robert C Michell,Son,Single,20,Merchant’s Clerk,Employed,Staverton Devon

(born 16th July 1870 )

William Gayer Michell,Son,14,Scholar,Marazion (born 7th December 1876)

George R Michell,Son,13,Scholar,Marazion 2nd March

Grace Ellen Harvey ( nee Clarke ),Sister,Widow,35,Hayle

Edward J Miers,Boarder,Single,39,Search Asst British Museum,Brazil Rio de Janeiro,Lunatic

Alfred G Little,Boarder,Widower,43,Domestic Companion,Boston Lincolnshire

James R Marwood,Boarder,S,39,Attendant,Employed,Shoreditch Middlesex

Salomey Roberts,Servant,W,55,Gen Domestic Servant,Employed,Crowan

 

1891 Census : Downham, Norfolk

The Woodget Family

Richard, Head, 45, Master Mariner, born Burnham Norton, Norfolk

Maria, Wife, 47, born Brancaster, Norfolk

Richard J, Son, Single, 17, Apprenticed To Sea, born Burnham Overy, Norfolk

Harold G, Son, 15, Apprenticed To Sea, born Burnham Overy, Norfolk

Edgar R, Son, 14, Scholar, born Burnham Overy, Norfolk

Albert S, Son, 12, Scholar, born Burnham Overy, Norfolk

Cecily, Mother, Widower, 81, born East Rudham, Norfolk

Edith, Niece, Single, 22, born Burnham Overy, Norfolk

 

1901 Census – William Gayer Michell was living in Plymouth as a Boarder; he was a Mercantile Marine Officer. The address is at Nr 8 Ford Park, Emmanuel Parish, Mutley. The head of the household was John H Dymond ( born St Ewe and he was manager of The Corn and Porage Merchants) with his wife Fanny Dymond ( born Tregony ) and their daughter Florence, who had married Charles J Cooper, a Mercantile Marine Officer.

 

~~~~o~~~o~~~~

 

BEAVER  

ON 93034 

Steel Steamer

Built March 1886 by Ramage & Ferguson Ltd, Leith, Scotland

222 grt; 93 nrt

Length 135.2 ft; Breadth 21.6 ft; Depth 10.6 ft; Draft 8 ft.

Engines by Ramage & Ferguson Ltd, Leith

2 sets compound, Cylinders 17 and 34 inches. Stroke 18 inches

99 hp; Twin screw

Two raking masts.

Port of Registry : Brisbane  

 

 

The tug BEAVER set off for Brisbane, arriving in Moreton Bay on the 25th June 1886 after a 77 day voyage. The Brisbane Courier reported "She is furnished with a particularly shrill whistle known as Cran's Patent siren and its unearthly sound rather startled the inhabitants of Kangaroo Point as the vessel came round the point last evening". Also built by Ramage & Ferguson, the 271 ton tug OTTER had arrived in Brisbane in November 1884, and is to all intents a sister to the BEAVER. The OTTER was intended for Websters and Co. of Brisbane for excursion and tugboat service. She was purchased in 1885 by the Queensland Government for £15,000 and was overhauled and armed because of the threat of a Russian invasion. OTTER was fitted with armament; and so she was retained until c1943. But Websters needed a tug to replace OTTER and so placed another order from Ramage and Ferguson, namely for the BEAVER. Eventually the BEAVER was sold in 1903 to the Brisbane Tug and Steamship Company of Moreton Bay. She had her mainmast removed and the bridge deck shortened by 16ft. Passenger capacity was much reduced, but this was done to improve her towing capablity, by having the “hook” brought forward. 1^st October l940, Macdonald Hamilton & Co. purchased BEAVER and she saw service in Brisbane during WWII. In 1948 she was abandoned and in September she was stripped at Peter's Slip, Kangaroo Point. The engines removed and broken up for scrap, and William Collin & Sons Ltd. bought the hull for use as a sand and gravel barge.

 

Raymond Forward

25^th August 2007

 

My thanks to Dawn Michell Fetterman