Bound for South Australia 1836Conflict Onboard

Week 14

At sea in the ‘Africaine’, 1836. by John Michael Skipper. Courtesy of the Art Gallery of South Australia

Overview Between February and July 1836 nine ships left Britain bound for the newly created province of South Australia. On-board the ships were passengers who over many long months braved the perils of the ocean, including some of the most treacherous seas in the world to begin a new life on the other side of the world.

This resource uses the stories from these nine ships as recorded by the passengers and crew in their personal journals.

Contents

• Introduction• Journal entries• Inquiry Questions• Relevant images • Glossary of terms

Introduction This week we hear that not everyone is getting along so well onboard our ships. A ‘disagreeable quarrel’ has broken out between the chief mate and the carpenter onboard the John Pirie. Meanwhile George Kingston and Captain Lipson have had yet another row onboard the Cygnet. We’ll have a look at the types of situations that lead to conflict onboard and the strategies used to solve problems between people onboard.

Journal entriesThursday 26 May 1836

John Pirie journal writer, on board the John Pirie wrote:

The Wind has contd from the S,Eastward, since Tuesday,accompd with most beautiful Weather _______This Afternoon a disagreeable Quarrel took place betweenMr Davies, (our chief Mate ) and the Carpenter, ___It appears the latter wanted some Nails, when the Matetold him to be more careful of the Ships Stores , andcharged him with having recd a great many things inLondon, of which he could give no account, this waspassionately denied by the Carpenter, and caused veryangry Words, that soon produced Blows, however theywere parted without having hurt each other much, afterwhich Capt Martin coincided with the Mate, and blamedthe Carpenter for not fulfiling his duty, in many respects,but all of which the latter strongly denied, and complain’dof having recd very hard usage, ever since leaving England,however, after making use of very strong Language, to eachother, they separated mutually displeased _________

Saturday 28 May 1836

Boyle Travers Finniss, on board the Cygnet wrote:

Within 18 miles of Bahia on the Brazilian coast, steering S.W. This being the King’s birthday , drank H.M.’s health with 3 times three, and sent several bottles of wine to the steerage . Kingston and the Captain had another row. Saw a large species of gull.

Inquiry Questions • What types of conflicts might occur onboard?

• How might conflicts have been resolved?

• What was the captain’s role in resolving conflict?

Images

Captain Thomas Lipson, ca 1855. Image from the State Library of South Australia, [B11169]

Glossary of Terms chief Mate • First officer directly coming under the command of the captain. Ships’ Mates were responsible

for supervising watches, crew, navigation and safety equipment, and sometimes even served as the ship’s doctor.

King’s birthday • King William IV’s birthday was celebrated in May 1836. His 71st birthday actually fell on 21

August 1836. Historically, official birthday celebrations of the British monarch bore no relation to the actual day of the current monarch’s birthday.

Ships Stores• Provision of food, drink, medical comforts, and equipment for all passengers and crew to survive

the voyage.

Return to Journal Entries