Author Archives: Stephanie Ryan

Arrivals in Moreton Bay 1849-1850: a population boost with a difference

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1849-1850 was a distinctive stage in the free settlement of Moreton Bay which had begun in 1842. For the first time significant numbers of people arrived in Brisbane, most not government assisted immigrants. Different groups created vigorous conflict which determined the colony’s future. They also necessitate checking various records to track their arrival. When the government-assisted Artemisia, the first ship to bring immigrants direct to Moreton Bay came in December 1848, it brought news of the Fortitude’s imminent arrival, which … Continue reading

Unclaimed mail, missing friends and the dead letter office.

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An issue which can torment researchers of pre-21st Century times is the missing letter: the failed communication, the lost opportunity to contact a friend, relative or business. What critical love letter, piece of family news, financial assistance, secrets, or other life-changing messages were lost? Why was it such a problem? What was the fate of the lost messages and parcels? For the 19th and most of the 20th Century, mailed messages, newspapers and goods were a vital link around the … Continue reading

Arrival of the Artemisia: an “important event in the annals of Moreton Bay – an epoch to be often reverted to”

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The Moreton Bay Courier 16 December 1848 p2 enthusiastically welcomed the Artemisia, the ‘first immigrant vessel direct from England’ to Brisbane. Instead of placing the notice in the shipping intelligence column, the paper provided extensive news about it in ‘a place of honour’. Why was this vessel’s arrival so significant? What was the preparation and passage like? What were the passengers coming to? The importance of the Artemisia At the time of the 1846 census the population of the County … Continue reading

The challenge of names and places in Irish family history.

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  When Hannah Skinner married, she was described as being from “Baltimore, Cork, Ireland” Brisbane Courier 8 June 1899 p7. Her marriage certificate echoed this place of origin and gave her age as 26. She had arrived in Brisbane 23 November 1891 as a dressmaker, aged 20. These records indicate, not unusually, varying years of birth. Hannah Skinner’s birth: civil records Civil (government) records and baptismal (church records) provide different information. The marriage civil records for those not Catholic commenced … Continue reading

Three different passenger lists, so who died on the Fiery Star journey of 1865?

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In April 1865 a dramatic, unforgettable sea tragedy occurred which haunted many for years. The Fiery Star, formerly the Comet, which brought immigrants to Queensland in 1863 and 1864, was making a return journey to England when disaster struck. Its wool cargo spontaneously combusted; the fire was devouring the ship as it approached the Chatham Islands near New Zealand. The highly respected Captain W H Yule decided to abandon ship taking seventy-two people: the cabin passengers and others who could … Continue reading