The ASCENDANT 1851

The ASCENDANT    562 tons barque,
from London September 22nd 1850
via Plymouth October 3rd 1850,
with Captain Robert Spencer,
arrived at Port Adelaide, South Australia
January 15th 1851

The first ship from England to S.A.
with government passengers for 1851.
   From the diary of a passenger, a Mr Archibald Shaw,    we have learned the following:
   The journey took 104 days at an average of 5 - 5.5 knots.
   1850 Oct 5: Bay of Biscay, Hurricane force winds
   1850 Oct 10: Blowing heavy gale. Sea coming in on both sides.
        Ship running 10 - 11knots.
   1850 Oct 13: Sabbath. Very calm and beautifully warm.
        Religious service on deck.    1850 Oct 14: Ship did not make her own length.
   1850 Oct 16: Sick child died (buried next day)
   1850 Nov 27: A child died suddenly and buried at 5 O'Clock.
   1850 Dec 8: Buried another child of whooping cough.
   1850 Dec 30: Child died and was buried.
   1851 Jan 8: Two children died and were buried.
   1851 Jan 4: Still W and blowing. We had the heaviest sea
        as yet last night, shipping seas on each side on deck. Today not so much.
        ? 11.5 knots. Course S.E. Since 3 days, no person can walk the deck dry.
   1851 Jan 20: Wind S.W. Going 11 knots. Cold weather ;
        Women and children creeping to their beds, Rough sea.

The South Australian REGISTER reported (January 16, 1851):
The long looked for ship the ASCENDANT has at length arrived, and we are now enabled to welcome to our shores Mr George Fyfe ANGAS, ESQ.,
one whose name is honourably identified with South Australia from the commencement of its political existence.

    George Fife ANGAS was born on 1 May 1789 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, (Religion: Baptist)
        He worked as a Merchant, politician and pastrolist, and died aged 90 in 1879 at his residence Lindsay House, Angaston, near Adelaide SA.
    He married Rosetta French in London. Their children were Rosetta French (1813-1898), Sarah Lindsay (1816-1898), Emma (1818-1885),
        George French (1822-1886), John Howard (1823-1904), Mary Ann (1826-1831), and William Henry (1832-1879).

His son John (previously arrived in 1843 on board the MADRAS from London) came to the Port to greet his parents and brother William. That evening Mrs Angus travelled to town with her sons. Mr Angas preferred not to leave the vessel until noon the next day. The colonists intend to demonstrate their high esteem at a reception, in recognition of his early and successful efforts in the formation of the colony, the large stake he ventured in it, and his unremitting exertions on behalf of South Australia from the moment it struggled into existence.

CABIN PASSENGERS: George Fife ANGAS, Esq. (1789-1879), his wife Rosetta nee French (1796-January 11,1867) and their son William Henry (1832 - 1879)
BRAZIL, Henry - Cabin,
COODE / GOODE, Mr - Cabin,
FOX, Mr and six children, - Cabin
FOX, Mrs - Cabin passenger died on voyage,
GAMMON, Mr (Religious Instructor), - Cabin
KAY, Mr - Cabin,
RIDPATH, Edward - Cabin,
ROCK, Dennis (Surgeon-superintendent), - Cabin
AKERS Priscilla - born 1819 Woolwich Kent
BASSETT, George, 18 of Kent
BASTIER / BASTIAN, Henry 48 of Cornwall
BASTIER / BASTIAN, Jane (nee Jenkyn) 45
BASTIER / BASTIAN, Henry 26
BASTIER / BASTIAN, John 18
BASTIER / BASTIAN, Ann 16
BASTIAN / BASTIER, Mary 13
BASTIER / BASTIAN, William 11
BASTIER / BASTIAN, Sampson 10
BASTIER / BASTIAN, Richard 7
BASTIER / BASTIAN, Thomas inf - died at sea aged 6 mths
BERRY / BARRY, David 38 of Clare, Ireland
BERRY / BARRY, Honora 36 and six children - listed separately
BERRY / BARRY, Bridget 16 died at sea
BERRY / BARRY, Ann 13
BERRY / BARRY, Honora 11
BERRY / BARRY, Eleanor 9
BERRY / BARRY, Patrick 7
BERRY / BARRY, Susanna 3
BLIGHT, Joseph 23 from Cornwall
BLIGHT Elizabeth 28
BLIGHT William Henry inf, died at sea aged 6 months
BRAY Anne 57 of Cornwall
BRAY Ambrose 14, of Cornwall
BROOM, Mrs J. (listed in SA REGISTER, not on Purser's list)
BROOM, A.M. (infant boy born on voyage, died on voyage aged 1 month)
BROWN William 23 of Hants.
BROWN, E, (listed in SA REGISTER, not on Purser's list)
BROWNING / BOWERING Richard 47, of Somerset
BROWNING / BOWERING Elizabeth (England) 47
BROWNING / BOWERING James 27
BROWNING / BOWERING Sarah 25
BROWNING / BOWERING Benjamin 13
BROWNING / BOWERING Jonathan 10
BROWNING / BOWERING Mary 7
BROWNING / BOWERING John 4
BROWNING / BOWERING Ann 13 died at sea
BUDDLE Henry 38 Schoolmaster of Kent
BUDDLE Henry 5
BUDDLE M. Thomas 7
BUDDLE Mary A. 45 matron
BULL Robert 22 Sawyer, of Huntingdonshire
BULL Sarah 22
BULL Mary E. 2
BULL, boy - born on voyage, (listed in SA REGISTER, not on Purser's list)
BUTTRICK / BATTRICK, Henry 54, of Dorset
BUTTRICK / BATTRICK, Martha 54
BUTTRICK / BATTRICK, Charlotte 30
BUTTRICK / BATTRICK, Elizabeth 26
BATTRICK / BUTTRICK, George 23
BUTTRICK / BATTRICK, William 20
BUTTRICK / BATTRICK, Charles 9
CALLAGHER, G, (listed in SA REGISTER, not on Purser's list)
CASEY Henry 26 of Cavan (on Purser's list, but not in SA REGISTER)
CASEY John 20 of Cornwall (on Purser's list, but not in SA REGISTER)
CHAPLING Edward 22, of Herts.
COCKS John 33 of Cornwall
COLE Aaron 23 of Cornwall
COLE Elizabeth 18 (wife of Aaron) and boy born on voyage,
COLE Silas 21 of Cornwall, and Ann 20
COLEMAN Patrick 35 of Tipperary, Ire.
CONNOR / CONNON Matthew 22 of Kings Co., Ire.
COTTON Benjamin 21 , of Herts.
COTTON Winifred (Humphries) 25
COTTON Mary 1
CUBLEY William Edward 18, of Derby
CULLEN Patrick 34 of Wicklow, Ireland
CULLEN Elizabeth (nee Ryan) 34
CULLEN Jane inf died at sea
D'ARCY Alice 22 Tipperary, Ire.
DENSHAM John 43 of Devon
DENSHAM Susan 32
DENSHAM John 10
DENSHAM George 8
DENSHAM William 6
DENSHAM Elias 4
DINGLE Edward 20 from Devon (on Purser's list, but not in SA REGISTER)
DOYLE Patrick 36 of Wicklow, Ire.
DUNN James 19, of Aberdeen
EBBLETT Ellen M. 18 Middlesex
EGGINGTON Robert 23, of Surrey
EGGINGTON Elizabeth King (nee Richards) 28
EGGINGTON William King 8
EGGINGTON Jane 1
ELLIOTT Margaret 26 Middlesex
FORDOR / FORDEN, John 44 Bricklayer, of Derby
FORDOR / FORDEN, Elizabeth 44
FORDOR / FORDEN, George C 9
FORDOR / FORDEN, Pricilla 17
FORDOR / FORDEN, John 14
FORDOR / FORDEN, William 3
GALLAGHER George 20 of Wicklow, Ire.
    (on Purser's list, but not in SA REGISTER)
GEORGE Samuel 25 of Cornwall
GEORGE Elizabeth 25
GORDON William 34 of Queens. Ire
GORDON Amelia 27
GORDON Richard inf
GRENFELL William 56 of Cornwall - died at sea
GRENFELL Ann 58
GRENFELL John 23
GRENFELL Nancy 20
GRENFELL Elizabeth 20
GRENFELL Thomas 8
HASSELL William 32 - born 1818 Rochester, Kent
HASSELL Pricilla 31
HASSELL William 11
HASSELL Pricilla 9 - born 1841 Woolwich Kent
HEALY / HEALEY, George 24 of Middlesex
HEALY / HEALEY, Sarah 22
HIGGINS / HUGGINS, Julia A. 21 of Middlesex
HOGAN Michael 21, of Clare, Ireland
JAPE, John and wife child (listed in SA REGISTER, not on Purser's list)
JARVIS Eliza 22 of Norfolk
JENKIN Richard 19, of Devon
JONES Samuel 30 of Cornwall
JONES Elizabeth 26
JONES Elizabeth 5
JONES Mary 3
JUBIN, Ellen, (listed in SA REGISTER, not on Purser's list)
KEATS Joseph 16 of Somerset
KELLY Hugh 28 of Wicklow, Ire.
KELLY Mary 26 Kilkenny, Ire.
KENNING, J, (listed in SA REGISTER, not on Purser's list)
KIRK William 61, of Lincoln
LADGROVE James 27 of Surrey (on Purser's list, but not in SA REGISTER)
LADGROVE Jane 31
LADGROVE Jane 3
LADGROVE Mary 1
LANE John Taylor 34, of Devon
LANE Priscilla Slee (nee Frain) 35
LANE Mary 13
LANE William Henry 10
LANE Rhoda 6
LANE Priscilla 4
LANE Ellen 1 died at sea
LAMPRIA / LAMPIN, John 29 of Cornwall (on Purser's list, but not in SA REGISTER)
LAMPRIA / LAMPIN, Jane 23, and girl born on voyage
LAMPRIA / LAMPIN, Eliza 3
LAMPRIA / LAMPIN, Ann 13 died at sea
LANGFORD Phoebe 32 Kent
LEONARD Joseph 33 of Tipperary, Ire.
LEONARD Sarah 34
LEONARD Michael 8
LEONARD James 5
LEONARD Mary 2 died at sea
LITTLETON Jacob 43, of Cornwall
LITTLETON Jane 39
LITTLETON Mary 17
LITTLETON John 16
LITTLETON Elizabeth 14
LITTLETON Thomas 12
LITTLETON Eliza 10
LITTLETON Mary 5
LITTLETON Emma 3
LITTLETON William inf
MARTIN / MARTYN, Thomas 24 - Cornwall
MARTIN / MARTYN, William C. 22 - Cornwall
MAUGHAN Pat. 22, of Wicklow, Ire.
MAYGER / MAYER, William 31 Agr. Labourer & Shepherd, of Somerset
MAYGER / MAYER, Sally 36
MAYGER / MAYER, George 11
MAYGER / MAYER, William John 8
McBROWN Elizabeth 20 Armagh, Ire. (on Purser's list, but not in SA REGISTER)
McCARTHY Peter 37, of Clare, Ireland
McCARTHY Honora (nee Reynolds) 36
McCARTHY Martin 17
McCARTHY Mary 14
McCARTHY Cathe. 12
McCARTHY Biddy 10
McCARTHY Pat. 6
McCARTHY Honora 3
McPHERSON Archibald 40, of Inverness
McPHERSON Janet 35
McPHERSON Janet 12
McPHERSON John 10
McPHERSON Jane 9
McPHERSON Lachlan 7
McPHERSON Ewan 4
McPHERSON Angas [Angus] 2
MICHAEL John 21 of Aberdeen
MOORE Sarah 20 Cavan
MORGAN William 32 Sussex
MORGAN Charlotte 31 - wife of William
MORGAN William 4 (son of William)
MORGAN George 2 (son of William)
MORGAN Richard 40 - Glamorgan
MURPHY Matthew 21, of Cavan, Ire.
NEEDS Sarah 18 Somerset
NICHOLS / NICHOLLS, Noah 27, of Norfolk
NOLAN Dorothy 20 Wicklow, Ire.
O'BRIEN Jane 19 Wicklow, Ire.
OSBORNE Margaret (Mary A. ?), 30 from Cornwall
OSBORNE Charlotte 10, child from Cornwall
PEARCE Henry 49 of Cornwall
PEARCE Ann (nee Strout) died at sea aged 54
PEARCE Sarah 19 Cornwall
PEARCE James 17, of Cornwall
PEARCE William 13
PEARCE Sarah 19 (possibly duplicate)
PEARCE James 17 (possibly duplicate)
PLUMPIN / PLAMPIN, Edward 22, of Suffolk
PRINGLE, E (listed in SA REGISTER, not on Purser's list)
PROUT Sally of Cornwall died at sea aged 54
PROUT John 25 - Cornwall
PROUT Thomazina 19 Cornwall
PROUT Henry 12 child Cornwall
QUINN John 27, of Cork, Ire.
REYNOLDS Peter 25 - Clare, Ire.
ROUSE John 40, of Lincoln
ROUSE Mary 36
ROUSE William Wilcox 15
ROUSE Sarah 12
ROUSE Betsy 8
ROUSE John Thomas 6
RUSSELL William Henry 37, of Aberdeen
RUSSELL Cathe. 38
RUSSELL Mary 15
RUSSELL Margaret 13
RUSSELL James 11
RUSSELL Elizabeth 10
RUSSELL Isabella 6
RYAN William 29, of Kings Co., Ire.
SADGROVE, James and Jane and two children
    (listed in SA REGISTER, not on Purser's list)
SAMSON, J and wife and two children (listed in SA REGISTER, not on Purser's list)
SHAW / SHAWE, Archibald 42, of Argyle - see Diary above
SHAW / SHAWE, Ann 40
SHAW / SHAWE, Marion 19 Argyle
SHAW / SHAWE, Donald 17, of Argyle
SHAW / SHAWE, Neil 14, of Argyle
SHAW / SHAWE, Cath. 11
SHAW / SHAWE, John 7
SHAW / SHAWE, Janet 5
SLEEMAN Jane 22 Cornwall
SMITH Emma 23 Middlesex
SMITH James 26 of Gloucester
STOUT Sophia A. 21 Middlesex
TAPE John 22, of Devon (on Purser's list, but not in SA REGISTER)
TAPE Fanny (nee Grills) 21
TAPE Sarah 1
THOMAS Lavinia 18 Cornwall
TOBIN Ellen 33 Tipperary, Ire. (on Purser's list, but not in SA REGISTER)
TOTTLE Ann 16 Somerset
TRAINER Ann 19 Cavan (on Purser's list, but not in SA REGISTER)
TRELOAR, James 29 of Cornwall (on Purser's list, but not in SA REGISTER)
TRELOAR, Elizabeth 28 (wife of James)
TRELOAR, John 18 - Cornwall
TRENOUTH Susan 58 of Cornwall
TRENOUTH Richard 20 of Cornwall
TREVAR, J and wife (listed in SA REGISTER, not on Purser's list)
TREWAR, Anne (listed in SA REGISTER, not on Purser's list)
TREWARTHA, Susan 33 from Cornwall
TROUGHTON, Sally 52 died on voyage - Deaths Return-SAGov.Gazette 1866
VENNING John 32 from Devon (on Purser's list, but not in SA REGISTER)
WHITE James 19 from Tipperary, Ire.
WHITE Phineas 23, of York
WHITE Mary (nee Lawrence) 22
WHITE, W and S and child (listed in SA REGISTER, not on Purser's list)
WHITEMAN Robert 13 of Somerset
WHITEMAN, E W R (listed in SA REGISTER, not on Purser's list)
WILLIAMS Edward 34 - Wicklow, Ire.
WILSON James 35, of Aberdeen
WILSON Catherine (nee Essels) 30, wife of James
WILSON James 5
WILSON Margaret 4
WILSON Elizabeth 2
WILSON Christian inf
WRIGHT William 24 from Derby (on Purser's list, but not in SA REGISTER)
WRIGHT S 21, wife of William
WRIGHT Rose 1 (daughter of William)
WRIGHT Mary A. inf (daughter of William)
WRIGHT Walter 20 Derby

The actual passenger list indicates 11 deaths, 3 adults & 8 children during the voyage (date and cause of death not indicated, all buried at sea):
Bridget BARRY - aged 16yr, Thomas BASTIAN / BASLAIN - an infant, William Henry BLIGHT - an infant, Mrs FOX - died on voyage
Ann BOWERING / BROWNING - only 1yr, Ellen LANE - only 1yr, Jane CULLEN - an infant, William GRENFELL - aged 56yr
Ann LAMPIN - aged 1yr, Mary LEONARD - aged 2yr, Ann PEARCE - aged 50yr, Sally TROUGHTON - aged 52yr.

Births on voyage:      Mrs J. Broom - boy, Mrs Bull - boy, Mrs Cole - boy, Mrs Lampria - girl.
Sources: principally The South Australian Register (newspaper)
and a copy of the original shipping list (from the Mortlock Library in South Australia).
THE SHIPLIST website was consulted for comparisons

Cargo of the Ascendant: 12 bales, 2 cases, J Roberts; 12 bales, C Goode; 6 bales, 4 cases, P M Nicol
14 cases, 2 boxes, 12 bags, 381 bars iron, 3 bundles, Major Cambell; 1 box, Maples; 100 tons coals, G S Walters;
1 case, Brunskill; 1 case, Hawkes; 1 case, Flaxman; 3 cases, Garside;
18 firkins, 15 tins, 17 jars, 26 cases, 14 casks, 2 bales, 3 chests, 10 kegs, 6 bundles, 1 roller, 3 trunks, G F Angas.

Any and all copyrighted graphics are acknowledged as of their respective owners.