AUS-SAGEN-L Archives

Archiver > AUS-SAGEN > 2004-03 > 1079527329


From: "Joan Fawcett" <>
Subject: [AUS-SAGEN] More new passenger lists online.
Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2004 23:49:23 +1100


190 new passenger and crew lists, from ships arriving at Sydney, (1850-1900)
have just been uploaded on to Mary Ann Warners MARINERS website.This
includes passengers from South Australia to Sydney, often via Melbourne.
http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/search.htm

Mary Ann has been indexing (with the assistance of wonderful volounteers!)
ships arriving at Sydney (1850-1900 at the moment).
The indexes are also linked to the ORIGINAL passenger list. The website is
hosted by the NSW Government and is free access.


The boats that arrived at Sydney come from not only in Australia, but also
from international ports.These include the regular steamers to Sydney from
Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Rockhampton and New Zealand, as well as ships
blow in for relief from
the weather, schooners from the South Sea islands, sailling ships from
places such as Hamburg, France, Mauritius, Asia and just about any where
else!
The crew lists are a goldmine of information, as the crew were made of
international and national seamen. So ships coming in will often have a
mixed crew of English, Irish, American,Sweden, Norwegian etc.

These lists often record Stoways found on the ships, Seamen or passengers
lost at sea, (remember,from all points of the compass), seamen discharged in
other countries. It is tragic to read of the loss of the men at sea,in the
Captain's original hand.

As the handwriting on these old lists are sometimes difficult to read, it
pays to very your search techniques. My Theodore Biscaino was found under
Bernier,Bisand etc. I found him by typing in Mexico (his birthplace) and
also plain Theodore, Theo,Theodor, Thdor etc (often the Captain's
abbreviated their crewmen's first names, so check under Jno for John, Jas
for James, Josph for Joseph ,Wm for William etc)Don;t just use surnames and
first names, use occupations as well (cook, steward, quarter master,
fireman, trimmer, AB, OS, Pantryman, F.C.Steward, Cuddy steward etc) as that
can help turn up an ancestor whose name is spelt differently. (One steamer
regularly called in at Sydney twice a month from interstate......the Captain
has spelt his Mate's name 7 different ways so far!!)
Also, use birthnation, as well as birthplace, (you will find men under
Barbadoes, South Sea islanders, Hobart,British, Great Britain, England,
English etc.US, America,American, etc).
Remember that Australian's were then considered British,but sometimes you
will find local references to Launceston, Hobart, Sydney etc, as a crewman's
native place.Just depends on what the Captain wrote.

if anyone would like to assist with indexing the ship's list I know Mary Ann
will welcome you with open arms. It only takes about half an hour per list,
and if you like you can just do a couple of ships to help out. It easy to do
and Mary Ann backs you all the way.

So if your family moved around interstate, or came to Australia via Sydney,
it is a very useful tool to search for a passenger or crewman. Or if you
have a 'swimmer' it might be worth checking.
If you know your ancestor arrived in a certain month and that particular
month is not yet indexed, feel welcome to jump aboard and index that
month......might turn up the one you seek <s>

best wishes
Jenny F

This thread: