Voyage aboard the
'Simon Taylor'
The 'Simon Taylor' departed from London on 29 April 1842. On board were a total of 245 persons.
Adults - 141 (82 males, 59 females)
Children between the ages of 7 and 14 years - 34 (20 males, 14
females)
Children under the age of 7 years - 44 (20 males, 24 females)
Crew - 26
During the 111 day non stop voyage there were two deaths, a male
and a female child both under the age of 7 years. Happily there
were also two births - one male and one female.
Arriving at Fremantle on 20 August 1842, the trip of 111 days
was considered at the time to be a fast trip.
Included amongst the passengers were 18 Parkhurst boys. These
boys varied in ages between 13 and 16 years and were being removed
from the Parkhurst Prison under a conditional pardon from the
Crown. (this pardon was forwarded to the Governor of the Colony
by the same vessel).
Regulations were applicable to the owners and masters of the 'Simon
Taylor' to provide medical comforts for the passengers which were
to be as follows
per 100 passengers to be issued at the discretion of the Surgeon
to the sick or the preserve the health of the passengers.
- 1 cwt of oatmeal
- 28 lbs of West India arrowroot
- 150 lbs of sago for children under seven years of age
- 50 lbs of preserved beef
- 400 pints of lemon juice in one gallon stone bottles
- 300 lbs of sugar
- 60 lbs of scotch barley
- 12 bottles of port wine
- 12 bottles of sherry wine
- 100 gallons of approved stout, at least 6 dozen bottles
- 10 gallons of brandy
- 10 gallons of rum
- 10 gallons of vinegar
- 6 dozen pints of preserved milk, only for infants who need it
Samual Caporn was paid £5 for his duties as schoolteacher
for the duration of the vouage and it is believed he was the guardian
of the 18 Parkhurst boys. The 'Simon Taylor' arrived in Fremantle
on Saturday 20 August 1842. The weather was 64 degrees F. There
was a strong breeze and the sky was cloudy.
The newspaper of the day, 'The Inquirer' reported on Wednesday
24 August 1842
"By the arrival of the 'Simon Taylor', we have English
news down to the 30th April last. The 'Simon Taylor'
brings to this Colony, 219 emigrants, men, women children being
the first lot consigned by the home Government on our labour fund.
The health of the emigrants is reported to be very good, two out
of the whole number shipped died on the passage from what cause
we have not as yet heard" It also stated that two children
were born. The newcomers were received on their landing by R.
Brown Esq., the Resident Magistrate at Fremantle. "They
are chiefly agricultural labourers, of the good old English sort,
ruddy and smock-frocked, which we take to be the distinguishing
marks of the English peasant".
The agents in Western Australia for the 'Simon Taylor' were Mangles
and Co.
Reference:
Papers by Robert and Jenny Caporn
'The Inquirer' 20 August 1842
Additional sites:
Timeline of the Simon Taylor
The Parkhurst Boys on the Simon Taylor
Passenger List of the Simon Taylor