RAPID 1836

"RAPID" was 756 tons "old measure",
three-masted square-rigged ship.
Close in the wake of the 3 vessels dispatched by
the South Australian Company came the first of the
Commissioners' Ships, the 162 ton brig RAPID.

She reached Kingscote, Kangaroo Island,
on 20 August, 1836, having sailed
from London on 1 May, 1836.
(Another source said she was 153 tons, left London
on May 4th, and arrived on August 19th, 1836).


B 2006, "The Rapid" in Rapid Bay, 1836. Image courtesy of the State Library of South Australia
The Commissioners of the South Australian Company had appointed two vessels to carry their official Survey Party out to South Australia. They owned the RAPID, but only chartered the CYGNET.
In their first report, the Commissioners said that in addition to Col. William Light, who was in Command,
the RAPID carried Messrs Field, Pullen, and Hill, as her First, Second and Third Officers, respectively.
Also on board were the following
and a crew of 13 seamen.

STEERAGE PASSENGERS (Notes):

Mrs. Charles William BRADLEY
Mr William CLAUGHTON - junior assistant surveyor
Mr Edward GANDY (1819-1884)
Mrs Maria GANDY
Mr William GANDY
Mr Thomas GEPP (1809-1894)
Mr W. JACOBS - Assistant Surveyor
Mr William LAWES (1801-1858)
Mr James LOWIS
Mr R.N. MILDRED
Mr George MILDRED (1807-1874)
Mr Hiram MILDRED (1822-1892)
Mr John THORPE (1828-1903)
Mr John WOODFORDE - Surgeon (1811-1866) 		SHIP'S OFFICERS AND CREW (Notes):
LIGHT, William, Captain (1796-1854)
FIELD, W.G. Chief Officer
PULLEN, W.S. 2nd Officer
HILL, R. K. 3rd Officer
BELL / BALL, Wm.
BARKER, Alfred (1813-1880)
BRADLEY, (Charles) Wm.
BUCK Robt. - born in 1795.
He worked as a ships cook, master marriner and lighterman.
CHATFIELD, Wm.
CHILDS, Geo. J.
DUNCAN, John
FREEMANTLE Wm. J.
GODDARD / COPPARD, Robt.
HODGES, W.M.
MILDEN / MILDRED, Joseph
PENTON / PANTON, Geo.
THORNE, J.F.
TUCKEY, Wm. (1813-1864)