My ancestor James DAVIE arrived in 1852 and was on the ship “Josephine” in June 1852 heading for Melbourne. I cannot find when he arrived in Melbourne. He was aged 30 (born 1819) in Scotland. I also cannot find how he came to Port Jackson in April 1852. He was a “seaman”. I did find a James DAVIS aged 30 “seaman” and the e can be taken as an s. I have looked almost everywhere to no avail even asked a librarian and no real answer there either.
There is a 16 June 1852 Melbourne arrival for the Josephine: 17 Jun 1852 - SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. - Trove
BTW The name is rather common, so how can you be certain that this “Jas Davis” 30y is the person who you are actually looking for?
I assume that this where the year 1852 comes from: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/200813009/james-davie
Thank you very much for this information.
Kind regards
Valerie
Thank you for the information on the Josephine.
I would now like to know how James Davie/Davis (seaman) came to Port Jackson NSW arriving in April/June 1852 from Scotland as I cannot find him arriving any where.
I have been researching for 20 years so finding him on the Josephine is fantastic.
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Kind Regards
Valerie Davie/Banton
I’m wondering whether it might be possible that James had been part of a crew and that he could have deserted his ship to join the Victorian goldrush that had started a year earlier.
You might want to have look at the following book: Ships’ deserters, 1852-1900 including stragglers, strays and absentees from H.M. ships / J. Melton
Some locations where they have a copy: https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/8493951 (FYI I’ve noticed that this list is not complete, so it’s worth searching for it in your libraries’ catalogues)
Thank you for your suggestion. My mother always said that he might have deserted the ship because she couldn’t find him, she was researching way back in 1970’s no computers or phones back then and in the country not the City without all the information available now and I am still wondering if I have the correct person? His wife did not arrive until 1855 so I guess he had to save the money to bring her out to Australia.
I will check the deserters lists and see what I can find.
Again thank you for your efforts.
Valerie
yep - there are a few James DAVIS: I have one in my tree who was born in 1856 • Worcester, Worcestershire, England.
no James DAVIES tho.
We are DAVIE but get called Davie’s, Davy and everything else so hard to find much.
Thanks for your reply.
Valerie
Hi Jake
Everyone says DAVIES but we are DAVIE (no s). I believe that the i could be seen as s in the old days writing so I think I have the correct person James DAVIS a “Seaman” aged 30 on the “Josephine” in June 1852 in Port Jackson NSW who sailed to Melbourne on 7th July 1852 and arrived on 16th July 1852 (Trove newspaper). Unassisted passenger/crew?
What I would like to find is how he came to Port Jackson in June 1852. From Scotland. He married Jessie TAYLOR on 25 Sept 1851 and we thought he sailed shortly after, leaving his wife at home. His brother in law John TAYLOR sailed 13 November 1851 from the Port of Greenock arriving at Port Jackson NSW on 4th April 1852. Steamer of Greenock. Yarra Yarra - Duncan MacKellar, Master, Burthen 337 tons.
We always thought that they came out together? But now I see that on 6 Oct 1851 his occupation in Greenock Renfrewshire, Scotland was a “Ships Mate” so maybe he sailed as “crew” ? After the 6 October 1851.
James Davie - Mates Certificate No: 58438 Was dated 30 Sept 1851. He was a Ships Mate for 15 years in the British Merchant Service in Foreign Trade. His last trip was on the “Mary Shepherd” belonging to London Port in 1849-1851 in East Indies Trade.
I don’t know where to go from here but hope someone can help me find how James Davie/ Davis left Scotland and arrived in Port Jackson NSW Australia after 6 October 1851. He could have even gone via somewhere else then onto Australia?
Good luck to anyone that can help me as I have been looking for many, many years, but I am getting more information and closer to finding out how he came to Australia.
Kindest regards
Valerie
