Mauritius - India - Melbourne - Australia - France - 1879

ATOSSA

The Far Side of the World

On 10th May 1879 William Bedford signed Agreement number 70742 as Shipowner and Master of ‘Atossa’ which was to take the ship “from London to Mauritius and any Port or Ports in Australia, India, China, Pacific or Atlantic Oceans, W. Indies and/or America, Voyaging to and from as legal freight may offer, thereof to a Port for orders, and to the Continent of Europe (if reqd.) and back to a final Port of Discharge in The United Kingdom. Voyage not to exceed two years.”

The crew list for the voyage to Mauritius was: -

NAME	AGE & PLACE OF BIRTH	CAPACITY (Certificate No.)	PREVIOUS SHIP & PORT AT WHICH REGISTERED
William Bedford	58 - Staines	Master (75849)	Atossa - Sunderland
Philip Dyer	44 - Plymouth	Mate (87192)	Fair Leader - Plymouth
Olaf Ohlsson	38 - Sweden	Boatswain	Milford – [?]
William Nyborg	51 - London	Carpenter	Asquilla - Liverpool
William Henry	41 - Nassau	Cook & Steward	Benarty - Leith
Charles Allen	29 - New York	AB	[?] - Liverpool
George (X) Burgess	24 - Jamaica	AB	Hibernica - Miramichi
John (X) Washington	29 - Turks Island	AB	Hibernica - Miramichi
Augustus Lambert	27 - Bermuda	AB	C. M. Davis - Montreal
Charles (X) Gunderson	30 - Norway	AB	Sir W. Raleigh - Aberdeen
H. Umland	30 - Hanover	AB	Forest King - Plymouth
Ephraim Whitehead	28 - Sunderland	AB	Peer of the Realm - Newcastle
Charles Brown	24 - London	AB	Warrior - London

The crew’s wages were: -

CAPACITY	MONTHLY WAGE	ADVANCE OF WAGES	MONTHLY ALLOTMENT
Mate	£6 10s 0d	-	£4 0s 0d
Boatswain	£3 15s 0d	£3 15s 0d	-
Carpenter	£4 10s 0d	£4 10s 0d	-
Cook & Steward	£4 10s 0d	£4 10s 0d	£2 5s 0d
All AB’s except Brown who did not receive any advance of wages.	£2 10s 0d	£2 10s 0d	-

The “Scale of Provisions to be allowed and served out to the Crew during the Voyage, in addition to the daily issue of Lime and Lemon Juice and Sugar, or other antiscorbutics in any case required by Law” were: -

1lb of bread every day.
1½lbs of beef on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
1¼lbs of pork on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
½lb of flour on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
¼ pint of peas on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
⅓lb rice on Saturdays.
A daily allowance of ⅛oz of tea.
A daily allowance of ½oz of coffee.
A weekly allowance of 12ozs of sugar.
A daily allowance of 3 quarts of water.
Equivalent at the Masters option.

The Agreement showed that the “Distance in feet and inches between centre of Maximum load line disc and upper edge of line indicating the position of the First Deck above it. 3ft 6ins.”

Ephraim Whitehead did not join the ship.

Augustus Lambert was born in Bermuda in 1854. At the time of the 1891 census he and his wife, Sarah were living at 8 Vigilance Buildings, Osbourne Street, Myton, Kingston upon Hull. 25-year-old Sarah was born in Barnard Castle, Durham.

Lloyd’s List shows that ‘Atossa’ ‘cleared outwards’ from London on 12th May 1879 with Bedford as Master.

On 15th May 1879 ‘Atossa’ was anchored off Deal. On 16th May 1879 ‘Atossa’ passed Dungeness sailing west. On 17th May 1879 ‘Atossa’ passed Beachy Head sailing west.

‘Atossa’ arrived in Mauritius on 24th August 1879. Articles were lodged with the Mercantile Marine Office on 26th August 1879.

Port Louis in Mauritius is described in the ‘Dues and Charges on Shipping at Foreign Ports’ manual as “in lat 20.10 S., long 57.30 E. Distance from Liverpool by the Cape 8,230 miles. The harbour can be entered by vessels drawing 26 feet, and is perfectly sheltered from all winds except from the N. W., which very seldom blow with any force except in a hurricane. Practically all cargo is landed by lighters. Exports – Sugar, rum, molasses, fibre, vanilla, cocoa-nut oil, etc. Imports – Provisions, cotton stuffs, iron, rice, hardware, cutlery, machinery, copper, linens, wine, coals, guano, etc.”

On 13th October 1879 the Superintendent of them Port Louis, Mauritius Mercantile Marine Office endorsed ‘Atossa’s Agreement. It read “I certify that I have sanctioned the discharge of the undermentioned Seamen on the ground of Mutual Consent: their balance of wages has been paid to them in Cash, in my presence and their effects have been delivered to them – viz.

Philip Dyer
William Henry
Chs. Gunderson
H. Umland
Chs. Brown

R’s 67.90c His Certificate of Competency returned to him.
R’s 34.00c
R’s 50.00c
R’s 50.00c
R’s 80.75c

Further: that the within named George Burgess has been left behind at this port in the Civil Hospital, with my Sanction, on the grounds of inability from sickness (affection of the lungs with a Commencing Phthisis) to proceed on the Voyage as per Medical Certificate produced to me: his balance of wages amounting to R’s 39.37c and his effects have been deposited at this office. Phthisis is now referred to as tuberculosis.

Further: that I have sanctioned the engagement of Louis Antonio, Manuel Alves, Robert Smith, Jose Silva, Isaac James & William Ritchie upon the terms mentioned in the within written Agreement, that I have ascertained and am satisfied that they fully understand the said Agreement and that they have signed the Same in my presence.

This Agreement was deposited at this office on the 26th August last & is this day returned. Mercantile Marine Office 13th October 1879. S. Carson Dy. Superintendent.”

On 16th October 1879 ‘Atossa’ sailed from Mauritius for Bombay.

The crew list for the voyage from Mauritius to Bombay (now Mumbai): -

NAME	AGE & PLACE OF BIRTH	CAPACITY (Certificate No.)	PREVIOUS SHIP & PORT AT WHICH REGISTERED
William Bedford	58 - Staines	Master (75849)	Atossa - Sunderland
Isaac James	30 - Sunderland	Mate (4037)	Ellen - Sunderland
Olaf Ohlsson	38 - Sweden	Boatswain	Milford - [?]
William Nyborg	51 - London	Carpenter	Asquilla - Liverpool
William Ritchie	36 - Glasgow	Cook & Steward	Polynesian - Glasgow
Charles Allen	29 - New York	AB	[?] - Liverpool
Manuel Alves	29 - Cape de Verde	AB	Callao - American Ship
John (X) Washington	29 - Turks Island	AB	Hibernica - Miramichi
Augustus Lambert	27 - Bermuda	AB	C. M. Davis - Montreal
Robert (X) Smith	35 - Tortola	AB	Siblas?
Jose (X) Silva	28 - Fayal	AB	XV Marza - Spanish Ship
Louis (X) Antonio	21 - Cape de Verde	AB	Clan Alpine - London

The crew’s wages were: -

CAPACITY	MONTHLY WAGE	ADVANCE OF WAGES
Mate	£6 0s 0d	-
Boatswain	£3 15s 0d	£3 15s 0d
Carpenter	£4 10s 0d	£4 10s 0d
Cook & Steward	£4 0s 0d	£4 0s 0d
AB: Allen, Washington, Lambert	£2 10s 0d	£2 10s 0d
AB: Antonio, Alves, Silva, Smith	£2 15s 0d	£2 15s 0d

The supply of provisions for the journey from Mauritius to Bombay remained the same as for the London to Mauritius voyage.

Isaac Frederick James was born in Sunderland on 4th May 1849. His father was David James and his mother, Elizabeth (nee Buchanan). Isaac was baptised at Bishopwearmouth on 25th May 1849. On 21st November 1864 he became an Indentured Apprentice aged 15 years, for a term of five years, to C. S. Moore of Sunderland. He served his apprenticeship on ‘Deerhound’ and continued as an Able-Bodied Seaman on the same ship, being twice engaged between 21st December 1869 and 16th March 1870, and 13th April 1870 and 17th January 1871. On 25th February 1871 Isaac applied for and was granted his Only Mates Certificate of Competency which was numbered 4037. At that time he gave his address as 6 White House Road, Sunderland. At the time of the 1911 census, Isaac was 61-years-old and lodging at 102, Herrington Street, Hendon, Sunderland. He died at the age of 84 years in 1933 in Sunderland.

‘Atossa’ arrived in Bombay on 9th November 1879.

Bombay 1880
Lala Deen Dayal via Wikimedia Commons

Bombay Harbour is described in the ‘Dues and Charges on Shipping at Foreign Ports’ manual as “in lat. 18.57 N., 72.51 E. Distance by sea from Liverpool via Cape of Good Hope 10,525 miles. There is from 23 to 30 feet of water in the port. Exports – Wheat, seeds, cotton, twist and yarn, hides, opium, tea, etc. Imports – Piece goods, iron, machinery, timber, kerosene oil, etc.”

On 19th November 1879 the Shipping Master at the Bombay Shipping Office endorsed ‘Atossa’s Agreement. It read “Certifieth that the Master of the Bk ‘Atossa’ deposited the ships Agreement in this office on 11th November 1879 and it is duly returned to him this day.”

On 22nd November 1879 ‘Atossa’ sailed from Bombay for Balasore, India. William Bedford endorsed ‘Atossa’s Agreement showing that there was “No Consul at Balasore”.

The entrance to the Booraballung River on which Balasore stands is described in the ‘Dues and Charges on Shipping at Foreign Ports’ manual as being “in lat.21.28 N., long 87.3 E. The town is 7 miles from the sea. Population, 21,000. Good anchorage will be found in 3½ to 4 fathoms, about 2 miles seaward of Balasore Road Buoy. Booraballung River has 2 feet on the bar at low water.”

‘Atossa’ had returned to Bombay by 2nd January 1880.

On 14th January 1880 the Shipping Master at the Bombay Shipping Office endorsed ‘Atossa’s Agreement. It read “Certifieth that the Master of the Barque ‘Atossa’ deposited the Ships Agreement in this office on 2nd January 1880 and it is duly returned to him this day.”

‘Atossa’ left Bombay on or soon after 14th January 1880 bound for Mauritius.

The crew and their pay and conditions remained the same as for the voyage from Mauritius to Bombay between 16th October 1879 and 9th November 1879.

On 24th March 1880 ‘Atossa’s Agreement was deposited at the Mercantile Marine Office in Port Louis, Mauritius.

On 25th March 1880 Charles Allen, John Washington, Augustus Lambert, Louis Antonio, Manuel Alves, Robert Smith and Jose Silva were all discharged from the ship by mutual consent. They were each paid the balance of their wages and their effects were delivered to them: -

Charles Allen
John Washington
Augustus Lambert
Louis Antonio
Manuel Alves
Robert Smith
Jose Silva

R’s 165.25c
R’s 149.50c
R’s 156.00c
R’s 113.42c
R’s 72.66c
R’s 105.92c
R’s 110.92c

On 27th March 1880, ‘Atossa’s 51-year-old carpenter William Nyborg died in hospital at Port Louis. Cause of death was given in the Register of Wages and Effects of Deceased Seamen as “Heart disease and Spleen”. Nyborg had £33 15s 8d wages owing to him. This was paid by the Superintendent at Poplar on 24th November 1880 to “Friends”. Nyborg’s tools were kept by the Master.

Possibly the same William Nyborg had featured in the New South Wales Police Gazette in 1854. Under the heading “Description of Seamen Deserters from Vessels in the Bay” was the entry, “Wm. Nyborg, carpenter, ‘Lady Elizabeth’, 4th May, 1854, 23 years of age, 5 feet 5 inches high, native place, Norway, sallow complexion, dark hair, speaks with a foreign accent.”

On 30th March 1880 Isaac James, Olaf Ohlsson and William Ritchie were discharged by mutual consent and paid the balance of their wages and their effects were delivered to them: -

Isaac James
Olaf Ohlsson
William Ritchie

R’s 287.50c His Certificate of Competency returned to him.
R’s 337.80c
R’s 165.92c

On 12th April 1880 William Bedford began engaging a new crew: -

NAME	AGE & PLACE OF BIRTH	CAPACITY (Certificate No.)	PREVIOUS SHIP & PORT AT WHICH REGISTERED
William Bedford	58 - Staines	Master (75849)	Atossa - Sunderland
Samuel Irwin	42 - Liverpool	Mate (89278)	Somerville - London
Alfred Charles Howett	33 - Kent	Bosun	Randolph - Arbroath
Charles Newman	38 - Germany	Cook & Steward	Stafford - Liverpool
Alfred (X) Ranger	23 - Chatham	AB	City of Manchester - Glasgow
George (X) Cardinus	23 - Greece	AB	City of Manchester - Glasgow
Thomas Studholm	20 - Liverpool	AB	City of Manchester - Glasgow
Alfred Bender	23 - London	AB	City of Manchester - Glasgow
John Shields	26 - Dublin	AB	City of Manchester - Glasgow
Christian Tracie	24 - Bremen	AB	Dutch Ship
William Wyatt	21 - London	AB	Liba - London
Thomas McDade	18 - Greenock	OS	Rosedale - Glasgow
Bertin Le Fevre	16 - Mauritius	Boy	First Ship

Samuel Irwin, the Mate was paid £7 0s 0d per calendar month and was advanced one month’s money before sailing. The Cook/Steward, Charles Newman was paid £4 10s 0d per calendar month with no advance of wages.

Edward Bennett, born in Chester, Cheshire in 1854, and Martin Jacobsen, 26-years-old and from Norway both signed on in the rank of Able-Seaman on 12th April 1880. Bennett who had previously served on ‘Lois’ of Aberystwyth failed to join ‘Atossa’. Jacobsen’s previous ship was the Dutch vessel ‘Admiral du Ruyter’ died later on the same day, 12th April 1880. Cause of death was given as “D. T.”

Delirium Tremens is the rapid onset of confusion usually caused by withdrawal from alcohol. Symptoms may include shaking, shivering, sweating and an irregular heart rate. Occasionally, high body temperature or seizures may result in death.

Samuel Irwin was born on 14th January 1837 in Liverpool and baptised on 9th February 1837 at St. Peter’s Church of England Church, Liverpool. His parents were Archibald and Margaret Irwin. He went to sea at the age of 22 years and served on fourteen ships between 27th August 1859 and 15th October 1868: -

SHIP, OFFICIAL NUMBER & PORT	RANK	FROM	TO
Crimean - Liverpool	AB AB	27th August 1859 3rd November 1859	21st October 1859 2nd January 1860
Venetian - Liverpool	AB	8th January 1860	23rd March 1860
Pudyona (17790) - Lancaster	OS AB	2nd April 1860 30th July 1860	18th July 1860 11th December 1860
Meander - Liverpool	OS	20th January 1861	20th March 1861
Avon – Windsor, Nova Scotia	AB	28th March 1861	5th August 1861
Sunshine (12750) - Rye	OS	10th August 1861	6th December 1861
Johnstone (24234) - Liverpool	AB	22nd December 1861	15th February 1862
Falcu (44639) - Liverpool	AB	28th July 1862	15th October 1862
Dayspring (15870) - Liverpool	AB	15th October 1862	4th May 1863
Cossack (27507) - Hull	AB AB AB	5th June 1863 31st August 1863 21st March 1864	16th August 1863 7th March 1864 18th April 1864
New York Packet (24244) - Lancaster	AB	4th August 1864	29th October 1864
Arabian (44668) - Liverpool	AB OS AB AB	13th November 1864 15th February 1865 30th June 1865 31st August 1865	7th February 1865 15th April 1865 18th August 1865 23rd October 1865
Lebanon (41213) – N. Shields	OS	29th March 1866	5th October 1866
Egyptian (42628) - Liverpool	Bosun Bosun Bosun	12th October 1866 22nd December 1866 28th February 1867	10th December 1866 19th February 1867 27th April 1867
Arabian (44668) - Liverpool	Bosun Bosun Bosun Bosun Bosun Bosun	22nd June 1867 17th October 1867 8th February 1868 18th April 1868 27th June 1868 15th August 1868	16th August 1867 7th December 1867 4th April 1868 8th June 1868 4th August 1868 15th October 1868

On 12th December 1868 Samuel was issued with his Second Mates Certificate of Competency. His address at that time was 6 Alcock Buildings, Morley Street, Kirkdale, Liverpool. Between 12th January 1870 and 27th August 1871 Samuel Irwin served on a further three ships: -

SHIP, OFFICIAL NUMBER & PORT	RANK	FROM	TO
First of May - Liverpool	2nd Mate	12th January 1870	6th July 1870
Julia - Liverpool	2nd Mate	13th August 1870	16th December 1870
Chieftain - Lancaster	2nd Mate	3rd April 1871	27th October 1871

Between 27th March 1875 and 21st August 1875 he served as Bosun on ‘Victoria’ of Windsor, Nova Scotia. On 29th November 1875 he was granted his Only Mates Certificate of Competency which was numbered 89278. His address at that time was 19 Boundary Street, Liverpool. He held a Royal Navy Reserve Volunteers Certificate numbered 39930.

On 16th April 1880 George Burgess who had been left behind in Port Louis in October 1879, died in hospital at Port Louis. He was 24 years old. Cause of death was dropsy, heart and kidney disease. Dropsy is an old term for the swelling of soft tissues due to the accumulation of excess water.

On 18th April 1880 ‘Atossa’ sailed from Mauritius for Melbourne, Australia.

On 3rd June 1880 ‘Atossa’ arrived off Port Phillip Heads, Victoria, Australia.

Port Phillip Heads is a dangerous stretch of water connecting Port Phillip and the Bass Strait. It is the only entrance for shipping into Melbourne. With a rocky seabed and the large tidal flows through the relatively narrow channel the area has claimed many ships.

‘Atossa’ arrived in Melbourne on 4th June 1880 from Port Louis, Mauritius. The agent for this passage was the Victoria Sugar Company.

Melbourne
Attributed to Charles Nettleton via Wikimedia Commons

The ‘Dues and Charges on Shipping at Foreign Ports’ manual describes “Melbourne on the River Yarra-Yarra, which falls into Hobson’s Bay, at the head of Port Phillip, is in lat. 37.49.5 S., long. 144.58.35 E. Distance from Liverpool by the Cape, 11,555 miles.”

The Age newspaper of Melbourne, Victoria reported on 5th June 1880 that “The bq. ‘Atossa’ from Mauritius the 18th of April, had some very bad weather to contend against while running down the easting. During it the boat was stove, a considerable portion of the bulwarks washed away, and the decks were continuously under water, with the exception of for a few days immediately after leaving. On the 29th of April one of the seamen named Martin Jacobson, a Norwegian, died after ten days illness. The ‘Atossa’ left on 18th of April, and had light winds and calms for the first few days, then strong S. W. Winds and a heavy cross sea until the 23rd. Light winds again set in, and after a couple of days were followed by S.E. and southerly gales until the 7th of May in 37° 35’ south and 76° 56’ east. On the 10th, in 37° 42’ south and 87° east, a very heavy W. N. W. gale commenced, and lasted forty-eight hours, and since then tempestuous winds and weather prevailed to arrival.”

On 5th June 1880 Alfred Charles Howett, Alfred Ranger, George Cardinus, Thomas Studholm, Alfred Bender, John Shields, Charles Tracie, Thomas McDade and William Wyatt were discharged from ‘Atossa’ in Melbourne.

On 2nd July 1880 Samuel Irwin was discharged from ‘Atossa’. He was paid £9 6s 0d which was the balance of his wages.

It was reported in Lloyd’s List that on 10th June 1880 that, “’Atossa’ barque, from Mauritius, during heavy weather had her main hatch stove in, and her long boat, which was on the main hatch, was broken to pieces.”

On 23rd July 1880 ‘Atossa’s Agreement was endorsed by the Superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office, Melbourne. It read “Vessel arrived 3rd. Articles deposited 4/6/80. Articles returned this day. I hereby certify that I have sanctioned the engagement of Geo. Connor, Andrew Lawden, Wm. Inglis, Matthew Sweeny, Jas. Jameson, Jas. Baillie, Jas. Jameson (sic), Geo. McDonald, Joseph Elsdon, H. Weatherby and W. A. Lund upon the terms mentioned in the within written agreement, that I am satisfied that they fully understand the said agreement and that they have signed the same in this office.

Also, that the within named A. C. Howett (-I-), A. Ranger (-I-), Geo Cardinus (-I-), Thos Studholm (-I-), Alfred Bender (-I-), John Shields (-I-), Chs Tracie (-I-), Thos McDade (-I-), Saml Irwin (£9 6s 0d), W Wyatt (-I-), have been discharged with my sanction, that the wages due them mentioned after their names have been paid to them in my presence.

Also that the within named B. Le Fevre has been left behind at this Port on the alleged grounds of his having deserted, that a proper entry of such desertion in the Official Log Book has been produced to me.

Also that the Master has reported the death of the within named Martin Jakobsen and that he has retained the effects.”

The crew list for the voyage from Melbourne to Rouen, France was: -

NAME	AGE & PLACE OF BIRTH	CAPACITY (Certificate No.)	PREVIOUS SHIP & PORT AT WHICH REGISTERED
William Bedford	58 - Staines	Master (75849)	Atossa - Sunderland
George Connor	32 - Aberdeen	Mate (C11067)	Martha
Joseph Elsdon	41 - Sunderland	Carpenter	Lanoma
Charles Newman	38 - Germany	Cook & Steward	Stafford - Liverpool
Andrew Lawden	36 - Aberdeen	AB	Brenda
William Inglis	43 - Glasgow	AB	Commonwealth
Matthew Sweeney	39 - Dublin	AB	Oamaru
James Jameson	28 - Liverpool	AB	Granite Slate - American Ship
James Baillie	26 - Dundee	AB	Thessalus
James (X) Jamieson	24 - Glasgow	AB	Granite Slate - American Ship
W. A. Lund	24 - Copenhagen	AB	Sir Walter Raleigh
H. Weatherby	19 - London	OS	Hampshire
George McDonald	20 - London	OS	Hampshire

Rates of pay were: -

CAPACITY	MONTHLY WAGE	ADVANCE OF WAGES
Mate	£7 0s 0d	£7 0s 0d
Carpenter	£5 10s 0d	£5 10s 0d
Cook & Steward	£4 10s 0d	-
AB	£4 0s 0d	£4 0s 0d
OS	£2 10s 0d	£2 10s 0d

On 26th July 1880 ‘Atossa’ cleared Melbourne bound for the United Kingdom.

The Age newspaper reported on 27th July 1880 that “’Atossa’ was towed off from Sandridge Town Pier yesterday to an anchorage in the Bay, whence she proceeds to a port in the United Kingdom.”

The Leader newspaper of Melbourne reported that ‘Atossa’ was carrying 5,848 bags of flour.

The Argus newspaper of Melbourne reported on 28th July 1880 that, “The barque ‘Atossa’, for England, was towed from the bay to the Heads yesterday by the steamer ‘Resolute’.

The Age newspaper reported that it was the ‘Albatross’ that had towed ‘Atossa’.

The Express and Telegraph newspaper of Adelaide also reported that ‘Atossa’ sailed from Melbourne on 27th July 1880.

‘Atossa’ arrived off Plymouth on 16th November 1880. Waiting for orders.

On 24th November1880 ‘Atossa’ arrived in Harve from Middlesbrough, en route to Rouen.

On 26th November 1880 ‘Atossa’ passed Quillebeuf, France bound for Rouen.

River Seine – English Channel to Rouen

The British Vice-Consul at Rouen stamped ‘Atossa’s Agreement recording that the ship arrived there on 27th November 1880.

The ‘Dues and Charges on Shipping at Foreign Ports’ manual described Quillebeuf and Rouen: -

“Quillebeuf, during spring tides vessels drawing 24 feet can ascend as far as this port. All vessels are bound to take a pilot off Harve or Honfleur, as the navigation of the Seine is at all times difficult, and the banks and shoals continually changing. Exports – Potatoes. Imports – Coals.”

“Rouen is situated on the river Seine, at about 56 miles from the sea. At spring tides vessels drawing 20 to 24 feet can safely come up. Exports – Gypsum, flour, wines, burr stones, sugar, ochre, etc. Imports – All kinds of grain, dari, manganese, sulphur ore, lead, wool, oil, cotton, rice, coffee, logwood, coal, pig-iron, deals, timber, etc.”

William Bedford endorsed the Agreement on 28th November 1880 showing that the voyage terminated that day in Rouen, France.

On 29th November 1880 ‘Atossa’s Carpenter and all Able-Bodied and Ordinary Seamen except Andrew Lawden were discharged from the ship by mutual consent. They were each paid the balance of their wages: -

Joseph Elsdon
William Inglis
Matthew Sweeney
James Jameson
James Baillie
James Jamieson
W. A. Lund
H. Weatherby
George McDonald

£15 17s 0d
£12 8s 10d
£11 2s 0d
£11 2s 0d
£10 16s 8d
£10 16s 8d
£12 3s 4d
£6 18s 0d
£6 9s 8d

On 1st December 1880 the Vice-Consul endorsed the Agreement “I hereby certify that the within named Charles Newman, Geo. Connor, Andrew Lawden, Wm. Inglis, Math. Sweeney, James Jameson, James Baillie, James Jamieson, Geo. McDonald, Jos. Elsdon, H. Weatherby, W. A. Lund have been discharged with my consent. That I have examined their accounts and found them correct and the balance due to them has been paid to them in my presence.”

On 8th December 1880 Mate, George Connor, Cook & Steward, Charles Newman and AB, Andrew Lawden were discharged from ‘Atossa’. They were each paid the balance of their wages: -

George Connor
Charles Newman
Andrew Lawden

£20 3s 6d
£35 3s 0d
£12 8s 10d

Agreement number 92018 completed on a ‘Half-Yearly Agreement and Account of Voyages and Crew of a Ship Engaged in the Home Trade Only’ form endorsed “To Proceed on a Foreign Voyage” was signed by William Bedford in Rouen, France on 18th January 1881.

Bedford gave his address as 3 Grace Street, Sunderland.

The Agreement covered a transfer “from Rouen to the Tyne”.

It showed that that the “Distance in feet and inches between centre of Maximum load line disc and upper edge of line indicating the position of the First Deck above it. 3ft 6ins.”

On 20th December 1880, H. Philips, Proconsul at the British Vice Consulate in Rouen endorsed ‘Atossa’s Agreement “I hereby certify that I have sanctioned the engagement of John Morgan, W. Davis, Charles Francis, James Johnson, John Johnson, Johan Roue, O. Pobetto, John McCarthy, Ant. Capacio, Luigi Antonio, Joseph Soye upon the terms mentioned in the within written agreement. That I have ascertained and am satisfied that they fully understand the said agreement and signed the same in my presence”.

The crew list for the voyage from Rouen to the River Tyne at South Shields was: -

NAME	AGE & PLACE OF BIRTH	CAPACITY (Certificate No.)	DATE SIGNED ON	PREVIOUS SHIP
William Bedford	58 - Staines	Master (75849)	9th January 1881	Atossa - Sunderland
John Morgan	24 - Belfast	Bosun	13th January 1881	Alva
Joseph Soye	22 - Belfast	Cook & Steward	21st January 1881	Contest
W. Davis	26 - England	AB	13th January 1881	Harry Bailey
Charles Francis	22 - Kingston	AB	17th January 1881	Anne Austin
James Johnson	25 - Nassau	AB	17th January 1881	Mayflower
John Johnson	28 - Norway	AB	21st January 1881	Foreign
Johan Roue	23 - Norway	AB	21st January 1881	Foreign
Oleqarier? Pobetto	23 - Chile	AB	21st January 1881	Foreign
John MacCarthy	28 - Belfast	AB	21st January 1881	Foreign
Antonio (X) Capacio	24 - Italy	AB	21st January 1881	Foreign
Luigi (X) Antonio	19 - Italy	AB	21st January 1881	Foreign

Rates of pay were: -

CAPACITY	WAGE FOR THE VOYAGE	ADVANCE OFWAGES
Bosun	£6 0s 0d	£5 0s 0d
Cook & Steward	£3 0s 0d	£2 10s 0d
AB: Davis, Francis, James Johnson	£2 10s 0d	£2 0s 0d
All other AB	£2 10s 0d	£2 10s 0d

The “Scale of Provisions to be allowed and served out to the Crew during the Voyage” read: -

On 23rd December 1880 ‘Atossa’ was reported to be passing through the roads at Harve.

On 2nd January 1881 ‘Atossa’ arrived at Shields from Rouen.

All crew members were discharged in South Shields on 2nd January 1881. Each man was judged by the Master to have been “Very Good” in their general conduct and ability in seamanship.

On 15th January 1881 Lloyd’s List recorded that ‘Atossa’ arrived at Sunderland from Shields.

On Thursday 20th January 1881 the Shields Daily Gazette newspaper reported that, “The brig ‘Atossa’, Bedford, of Sunderland, arrived in the Tyne this morning. The captain reports that a man named John Nyburg took ill and died in the hospital at Mauritius. Another seaman, named Martin Jacobson, died of delirium tremens on the passage from Mauritius to Melbourne.”

The ‘Register of Accounts of Wages and Effects of Deceased Seamen, &c., received and disposed of’ recorded that 26-year-old Martin Jacobson A.B. died of “Del. Trem.” On 28th April 1880 whilst the ship was at sea. Both the Master of ‘Atossa’ and the Port Superintendent at South Shields noted that there were no wages or effects to be dealt with.

Published in 1881, the Annual Report for 1880 by the Australian Government’s Health Officer, Mr. D. J. Williams, M.D., F.R.C.S. Lond. included a reference to the death of Martin Jacobson. It gave the cause of death as “Inflammation of the bowels”. The report mentioned that the crew numbered fourteen and that the voyage from Mauritius to Melbourne had taken 45 days.

South Africa and India 1881-1882 > >

The Story Begins	Absent Crew and Flying Jib 1872-1873	Rio De Janeiro, Barbados & Wilmington
The Construction of Atossa	Swansea to Valparaiso and return 1873	James Grevett
The Shipbuilding Thompson Family	The 1874 and 1875 Voyages	The Caribbean 1889
The Mercantile Navy List 1864	A Change of Master 1876	Grevett as Master
The First Master and Crew	New Owner and New Ports 1877	The 1890/1891 Survey
Dover to Valparaiso 1863-1864	Sugar and Onboard Offences	The Final Voyage
Peru and Wales	Demerara and London 1878-1879	Places Index
Chile and back 1864-1865	The Far Side of the World 1879-1881	Place Connections
Clements becomes Master	South Africa and India 1881-1882	Surnames Index
Official Log Entries 1866-1867	The Robinson Family	Ships Index
Return to Chile 1867	Ceylon and New York 1882-1883	Map of Chile
Chile Again 1868-1869	Brazil and India 1883-1884	Sources
Swansea to Coquimbo return 1869-1870	Cape Verde and the West Indies 1885
Chile and New York 1870-1871	October 1885 to October 1886
South America and Europe 1871	Twenty-One Months Away	© atossa.uk 2020

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