The Ship ‘ David Malcolm ’ and Voyage to South Australia 1847-8

This account is part of an unpublished digital trilogy recounting the settlement of Thomas Curnow in South Australia on the Gawler Plains compiled by Rev E.A. Curnow. 

This is a description of the voyage from Plymouth undertaken by my great, great grandfather Thomas Curnow, b1811 (6141) 35 years, his wife Elizabeth, b1794 (6143) 54 years, their two children Mary Ann 12 years and Thomas 9 years, plus two step-children Elizabeth Roberts, 22 years and Richard Moyle 15 years. 

This summary account is drawn from a number of sources related to the voyage. A better understanding of what took place on the high seas will be obtained by first taking time to read  the various backgrounds to the sources. With more than one source available it has been possible not only to compile the overall story but to compare various accounts and to consider the same voyage made by the same ship twelve months later. The list of sources are documented at the end of this chapter. The actual documents to be read can be found in Appendix 1&2 at the end of the Index of chapters.

At about 4pm on the 21^st of December 1847 the barque, “David Malcolm” with its Master Jacob William Smith at the wheel cast off from the migration wharf at Plymouth. With a fair wind the land was soon out of sight, but it was not long before most of the 250 passengers were  struggling with sea-sickness. 

(Letter A. This letter which describes the actual voyage of our ancestors and is used as our main source says that people were sick for two to three days. Letter C describing the same voyage twelve months later in 1849 says, “Out of 330 people not more than six were exempt,” and it continued for a fortnight. In any case the sickness of so many at once leaves little to the imagination.)

The weather was favourable in the main but passing the Bay of Biscay strong winds tossed the ship and passengers around. (According to Letter C, a week after setting sail their ship was becalmed for twenty-four hours near Madeira) Fine weather then prevailed and on Christmas Day people dressed in a blouse were able to lie about on deck in the sun. On 15^th of January the ship crossed the line in very light winds. Then the ship was becalmed and it became very hot. A few bathed in the sea and overnight several slept on the deck (Letter C also recorded very hot conditions when crossing the line followed by bad weather for ten days when Lucy Hart injured her shoulder and arm)

There was only one bad wind all the way. On that occasion it was said, “The gale was against us and the sailors worked hard to double reef the sails. One seaman fell overboard and was lost”. At this point details of this accident on the “David Malcolm” vary. Letter A says the person lost overboard was not a regular sailor but the son of a gentleman who was sending him to Australia because of his bad conduct. He had been very wild and his father sent him under the care of the Captain to work his passage. During the storm he was sent to lash a tar tub that had capsized. He slipped on the spilt tar and fell overboard. One of the sailors tried to save him but was not in time. He was only able to catch his cap as he was falling. An attempt was made to launch a life boat but without success. This was on Friday evening about 8pm and the wind continued to blow hard until 5 o’clock Saturday afternoon. (An account, Note B, claims that the lost seaman was passenger Matthew Hunt’s brother, Robert, who was on the same ship.  Perhaps he was regarded as crew. Robert Hunt is not on the passenger list). Another account said he was wrestling at the time and rolled overboard. The S. A. Register said, “A seaman who was washed overboard in a gale of wind was the only adult lost during the voyage”)

There was another challenge for the Pearce family in addition to the voyage itself, William’s wife Susan was pregnant. Even in this condition the couple spoke well of the care of the Doctor and Master to make them as comfortable as possible. “I think that two pleasanter men never crossed the sea. The Master particularly.” wrote William. (Letter C also described the Captain and doctor as very kind.) 

The Pearce’s description of the 1848 voyage has a freshness and enthusiasm about it and spoke of enjoying the voyage very much. The children were hearty, William was putting on weight and they seem to have managed well. Both Letter A and C present glowing reports of Australia saying they will never return to England. They both appeal to their family and friends to come to Australia. Three times Letter A urges the family not to fear the voyage; it is lightly described as a “nothing”. 

Females used the deck sewing nearly all-day William was the Schoolmaster and Parish Clerk so that on Sunday he would stand by the Doctor. After 9 he would read prayers, lead singing and hand out Psalms. There was entertainment in the evenings on deck—some would dance, some jumped, hunted the slipper, while others sang or played cards, “In fact everyone on board seemed to enjoy themselves in some way or other”. Under the surface of what seems to have been for most, a very straight forward, pleasant voyage to South Australia it seems there was another story unfolding.

Unbeknown to others it appears a number of the crew were planning to jump ship in Adelaide. A dispute had also arisen involving the cook and allegations that he had stolen some equipment (Note C told a different story claiming the cook had in fact died. While firm evidence later makes it clear that this did not happen, in light of the detail that follows and that is passed on by note C the dispute seems to have led to the cook either being locked up or relieved of his duty).

The story passed down recalls the following. 

“Matthew Hunt put on his best suit and approached the Captain for the job as cook. The Captain looked at him in his Sunday best and in a gruff voice said, “You look as though you need someone to cook for you” “No sir”, replied Matthew, “I can cook.” And he told him of his experience at sea with the whalers off the American coast. Matthew being a stout man of stature must have impressed the Captain, where upon he said, “Hunt I can give you a better job than that,” and immediately made him the ships Constable for the rest of the voyage. (It was confirmed on the passenger list that he was paid 2 pounds for this task) There had been a lot of bad behaviour and violence since the ship left England.”

About a fortnight before arriving in South Australia, at 8pm on 9^th March Susan Pearce gave birth to a daughter Clara Elizabeth Malcolm Pearce. (One of 6 births during the voyage) On Tuesday the 21^st at 12 noon William reported, “We sighted land for the first time since leaving Plymouth, Kangaroo Island was like a cloud rising out of the sea. I was up till very late in the evening, it being a moonlight night so that we could see it nicely.” Next morning (Wednesday) by 9 am the island of Australia could be seen and all eyes were fixed on it. About 10 pm the Captain entered Holdfast Bay opposite the Light ship” (Flagship)…at Semaphore anchorage where the mails were off loaded.

It was reported in the Register D, “Early dawn Thursday 23^rd March the fine barque with 250 emigrants on board made her appearance in the Gulf. She was soon abreast of the flagstaff and the males were in town before the usual time of opening the Post Office, The emigrants are chiefly from Huntingdonshire, Wiltshire, Devon and Cornwall.” 

During the Thursday the ship sailed in the Bay awaiting high tide to enter the Port River. A Pilot brought the ship over a bar at 4 pm with a slight wind. On Friday morning, the ship was towed up to the wharf at 10 am. “We were mustered for the Inspector then at liberty to go ashore. We soon had lots of people on board in search of servants—Young women get £16.20 a year. There was great demand for labour.”

The Hunt Note B said, “There were drays drawn by bullocks waiting to take people to Adelaide,”7 miles away. 

Letter C mentions that it was the custom for emigrants to stay on board 14 days after they arrived until they could get work. William Pearce went to Adelaide on Saturday; got work and took a house.

Register D. According to the Saturday paper 1^st April 1848 at the Police Court of Wednesday 29^th. Henry Allan, the cook, was charged of being absent without leave and sentenced to one month in jail. Allen claimed he had been wrongly accused of theft and had gone to seek help. The master of the vessel “David Malcolm” stated he had lost six men since the vessel had arrived and that it was the prisoner’s intention to desert ship.

The 1,500-mile (2,400 km) passage to Australia took 93 days. This was probably an important voyage in that after a lull of 5 years, Government Assisted Passage was restored and the passenger travelled under the protection of the State. Thus, the remark at the end of the report of Register D indicated that the arrival of the “David Malcolm” was seen as the dawn of better days ahead not only for the emigrants but for the future of South Australia. “The disastrous failure in England had been succeeded by a return of confidence.”

(Another emigrant ship had been despatched from the old country in January 1848)

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Summary Sources:  Events during the Voyage 

Letter A 

Date: 30^th April 1848 (Approx. a month  after arrival in Australia)

From: William and Susan Pearce (no relation to the Curnows) written to his father at Leighton, Buzzard, Bedfordshire England.        

Detail: An excellent personal account  of the actual voyage that our Curnow pioneers were passengers on. It is used as a basis for the summary of the voyage. The full text is available as an Appendix to this chapter.

Supplied: By Tom Dearlove via S.A. Genealogical Society also Mag. and Mollie     Frost, Two Wells, SA, 2001. ‘To South Australian Shore They Came’. Monica Porter.

Hunt Note B 

From: Family Oral tradition notes. 

Detail: Description and memory of voyage passed down

Supplied: By Mr Roy Hunt, Two Wells. SA. 1999.

Letter C

Date: 1852 recalling 1849

From: Lucy A. Hart, wife of John Hart to mother in Hampshire England.

Detail: Sailed 4^th January 1849 on “David Malcolm” from Plymouth. Being about 12 months after the voyage of our relatives it is used as a comparison alongside the 1848 account of the voyage.

Supplied: By Margaret Witherspoon, North Blackburn, Vic. also book,  Age of Sail’, Robin Haines, p165.

S.A. Register D 

Date: Saturday 25^th March 1848 and 1^st April 1848.

Detail: Local Adelaide paper description of arrival of “David Malcolm” and report of Police Court Wed. 29^th March 1848.

Other details about the ship, “David Malcolm” and individual passengers can be found in an Appendix 1 & 2. Extra Appendix material has not been provided here but personal enquiries are welcome.

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Passenger List         David Malcolm 1848
Surname & Christian Name	Family	Known Details
Bouch / Bough, Joseph	Cabin
Meynott, Chas. Esq	Cabin
Neales, J. J.	Cabin	Surgeon Superintendent
Sanders, Wm	Cabin
Tonnell, Wm Esq	Cabin
Whitcomb, George Esq	and Lady   Cabin
Atkins, Joseph	Wife and two children
Baker, Thomas		Employed as Chief Nate-paid 1penny per head
Baker, Mrs	and two children	Wife of Thomas
Barnes, James	Wife and two chindren
Batch, John	and wife	Their only child died at sea
Blyth, Jane
Boundy, Cornelius		Married on the “David Malcolm” to Anne Rowe passenger
Breman, William
Brooks, Emma
Butters, John	Wife and child
Byrne, Mary
Byrne, John
Cathyn / Catu?n, George	Wife and child
Chirgwin, John
Chirgwin, John
Chirgwin Caroline
Chirgwin, William M
Clarke, Robert
Colman William	Wife and child
Craker, George
Crowle, John	Wife Caroline and eight children	All children from his previous marriage. This couple had other children born in Australia. Fred born Adelaide 26/5/1853 married Harriet Smethurst in 1877. Related to Doug Webster/ Anglican home group Langwarrin 2009. Also to Dennis Eastwood, Nth Blackburn U.C. 1980’s
Crowle, James
Crowle, John
Crowle, William	Wife and two children
Curnow, Thomas	Wife Elizabeth and two children	Children Mary Ann 12y Thomas 9y, passengers also step children Elizabeth Roberts and Richard Moyle. Lived Peachy Belt, two miles from Virginia.S A from 1853
Davis, John		Appears to be known as Davis at Virginia, Davies in other places? Miner /farmer, residence Burra, Peachy Belt, Later Married Elizabeth Roberts, daughter to Elizabeth Curnow’s via first marriage. Step daughter to Thomas Curnow. John died 1866 accident. See “Observer” Paper  (There was a John Samuel Prisk Davies who came 1857 from Gilmore Eng. Died 1860 Peachy Belt.)
Davis,  Samuel		Brother to John
Dowling , Robert
Driver, John	Wife and two children
Easom, David
Edmonds, William
Farr, Christopher	Wife
Foyle, Edward	Wife
Foyle, John	Wife and child
Foyle, Caroline
Foyle, Fanny
Frost, Jabey  b. 1820/21	Wife Mary Ann and child	Their first child-born / died on the voyage
Frost, Samuel b. May 1824	Wife Ann & child Martha b April 1847, d .Sept 1929	Mollie Frost, Two Wells, relative supplied. William Pearce letter info, Sept. 2001
Frost, William b. June 1822	Wife Rebecca and three children	One child born at sea. Fanny b.June 1844 met CH Daniel Lower Light.  Later lived at Bowmans. Grandson Charles Hilton lived in Balaklava  neighbour to Ted & B Curnow 1997
Gamlen / Gamden,Eli	Wife
Green, George
Gregory, William P.	Wife and four children
Growcut, Elizabeth
Growcut, Sarah
Harding, James H	Wife and five children	One child born at sea
Harding, William		Parents, Aaron and Ellis- formerly Sargent, nee Packham
Hill, Stephen
Hill, Thomas
Hunt, Matthew		Employed as Constable on voyage- paid Two pounds. He was born 1814, went to sea at 14y/later tenant farmer for Lord Salisbury. died 1905 Notes from Mr Roy Hunt, relative Two Wells. April 1999.
Hunt, Mrs Elizabeth	and two children, James and Emma	Wife of Matthew (nee Lemon) Lost two children of malnu- trition and decided to migrate. Elizabeth sewed 4 sovereigns into a calico belt for voyage
Jarran, Edward
Jenkin, Charles	Wife and four children	Born1811, Stone Mason, moved to Riverton, – died 1878, Eldest son William owned farm Trewinna, wheat buyer, Riverton. Second son Samuel, born 1842 Cornwall. Married Ann Colwill, born 1844, lived Parkside. Related to Margaret. Witherspoon Nth Blackburn U.C.1980’s
Kempster, Joseph	Wife and four children
Kempster, George
Langford, John	Wife and three children
Lee, Jemima
Lemon, Sarah		Employed on voyage/ hospital Assistant, paid three pounds May have been related to Mrs Elizabeth Hunt, passenger
Lee/Leo, William	Wife and child
Mallon, Abraham	Wife
Matters, Robert	Wife and two children	One child born at sea.
Matters, William	Wife and two children
Meek, James	Wife and three children
Messanger, Thomas
Moyle, Richard		15 year old son to Elizabeth Curnow, Step son to Thomas Curnow, passengers.
Murfett, Richard
Nicholson, James	Wife and two children
Oke, Phillip J.	Wife and two children
Ostler, George
Paull, John		Possible second Master on voyage.
Pearce, William	Wife and three children	One born at sea./Letter home about voyage, appeared  S.A. Geneaological Soc.Mag./ also Frost family/ Two Wells
Redden, John	Wife and two children	Employed as cooks assistant, paid three pounds
Redden, Mrs	and two children	Wife of John
Richards, John
Rattley/Ridley, John	Wife and four children
Robertson, Stephen		Employed as Constable on voyage, paid two pounds
Robertson, Mrs	and child	Child died at sea
Robertson, Mary
Rogers, John P.	and four children
Roberts, Elizabeth		22year old daughter to Elizabeth Curnow, Step daughter to Thomas Curnow, Married John Davis. Passenger in 1849 Holy Trinity, SA. Lived Peachy Belt. Later married Thomas Crotty
Rowe, Francis		Brother of Josiah and William. Married 1848. Local Preacher. Settled 1856, Fairview Farm. “To SA Shores they Came” pub 1986 See p161.
Rowe, Anne		Married Cornelius Boundy, passenger at sea.
Secombe, Henry	Wife and child	Child John farmed Gawler River, married Jane Diment 1871. Related Rev Kevin Secomb& Barry Diment S.A. See Book, “Pioneering Para Plains”, P57.
Semens, Grace	and one child	Three Semens (usually spelt Semmens) related to Rev Prof. Robert Gribben, were from Manaccan, Cornwall
Semens, Richard	Wife and three children
Semens, Edemab
Sexton, Jonathon	Wife
Springbett, Samuel Jnr
Springbett, Edward
Sprongbett, Eleanor
Springbett, John
Taylor, Joseph	Wife
Toman, Elizabeth	and three children
Toman, Mary Ann
Tremaine, William	Wife and three children
Walker, John B.	Wife
Watkins, William	Wife and child	Child died at sea
Waywood, Mary
Whichich, Charles
Williams, Richard	Wife and four children
Williams, William	Wife and four children
Williams, Elizabeth
Williams, John
Williams, Thomas
Williams, William	and four children
Williams, Elizabeth
Worth Noting: Some information about passengers here is available via the normal passenger list. It is worth noting however that without any specific, serious research of passengers being undertaken, it is surprising how many people with information or an interest in this voyage have emerged. Particularly the families who have roots north of Adelaide at Gawler River, Two Wells and Virginia. This may suggest that although removed from 1848 by generations and over 160 years, it is still possible to reconnect in some way with pioneering families and a residue of the feelings that flowed as they left the past behind to established their roots  to occupy this ancient land. It is amazing that after160 years, that I have been able to personally reconnect with so many pioneering families who had ancestors or links connected to this Voyage. ◘ For more information about these families see File Appendix 1. Extra Information about the “David Malcolm” Appendix 1. Extra Information about Passengers on the “David Malcolm” 1848 & 1849. Appendix 2.                         a. The “David Malcolm” other Voyages b. Emigration to South Australia c. Original Newspaper Intelligence 1848 d. Whitby Rocks Stranding 1879 Image above courtesy of the State Library of South Australia. May be saved or printed for research or study. If you wish to use any of them for any other purposes, you must contact the State Library of South Australia to request permission.