Edward Conyngham left Cove of Cork on the Letitia, which was wrecked at St Jago in the cape Verde Islands. Other ships involved in enabling the passengers to reach Hobart and Sydney are included on this page below “Letitia” –
“Hesperus”, Anne”, “Mary” , “Jupiter” and “Champion”
“LETITIA”
This was the first ship on whuich the emigrant party, including Edward Conyngham, left Cove in 1828. Wrecked in the harbour of St Jago in the Cape Verde Islands, they transferred to the American Ship “Hesperus” to Rio de Janiero, then the “Ann” to Hobart and Port Jackson.
My account of the wreck and the subsequent circumstances of the survivors’ onward journey to New South Wales is covered separately.
- 1828 ‘Letitia’
- (Sometimes spelt ‘Laetitia’.)
- 700 tons. Built 1824. Capt. Hanbury Clements, ex RN
- ex Cove 20 July, 1828 arr Cape Verde Islands at Port Prava (St Jago) 14 August, 1828, wrecked there on 19 August 1828.
LAETITIA/ LETITIA
(Green book – Underwriters)
Master: Captain H. Clements
Rigging: Barque; single deck with beams;
sheathed in copper in 1828; fastened with copper bolts. Tonnage: 351 tons Construction: in New Brunswick; vessel 5 years old; repairs to damages in 1825; some repairs in 1828.
Owners: Lascombe & Co.
Draught under load: 17 feet; Port of survey: Cowes; Voyage: sailed for New South Wales
(Red Book – Shipowners)
Master: Captain R. Simon
Rigging: Barque; single deck with beams; fastened with copper bolts
Tonnage: 350 tons; Construction: 1824 in Saint John, NB; good repairs in 1828
Owners: Stroker & Co.
Draught under load: 16 feet; Port of survey: Dublin; Voyage: sailed for Québec
[Source: Lloyd’s Register of British and Foreign Shipping.]
“MARY”
1828 ‘Mary’ Certain Letitia survivors.
- Captain Shuttleworth. Ship 368t. 22 crew.
- London 7.7.1828* – St Jago (Cape Verde Is.) 21.8.1828 – Hobart 19.12.1828. 53 passengers . One died. Lost foremast in heavy storm off the Cape. * Port Jackson record states 2.7.1828
- Left Hobart for Sydney 6.1.1829 with 24 passengers and merchandise and sheep. [Port Jackson arrival records states left Hobart 7 January with 25 passengers.]
- Arr. Sydney 20.1.1829.
MARY
(Green Book)
Master: Captain Shutleworth
Rigging: Ship; 2 decks
Tonnage: 369 tons
Construction: in Ipswich; vessel 18 years old; good repairs in 1822
Owners: Wigram & Co.
Draught under load: 17 feet; Port of survey: London; Voyage: sailed for Van Diemen Land
(Red Book)
Master: Captain Shutleworth
Rigging: Ship; 2 decks; sheathed in copper in 1825; new copper in 1827
Tonnage: 369 tons; Construction: 1811 in Ipswich
Owners: Wigram
Draught under load: 17 feet; Port of survey: London; Voyage: sailed for New South Wales
[Source: Lloyd’s Register of British and Foreign Shipping.]
Report of the Surveyor and Searcher of Customs, Port Jackson to the Colonial Secretary –
- Vessel’s name: MARY Arrived this day, 20 January, 1829
Tonnage: 378 t. 22 men ; Master’s Name: Shuttleworth
From whence: London and Hobart Town; When sailed: 2 July, 7 January; Lading: Sundries
Passengers- all except Ann Weston described as “Settlers”: Major Rhode, Henry Douglass, Elizabeth Myers plus five children incl Joseph, Charles Campbell, Benjamin/Lucy Lee plus four children, Thomas Lee, George/Ann Poulton plus 1 child, Thomas Gilman, Samuel Dove, Benjamin and Sarah Ann Samada, and Ann Weston plus 1 male child U12.
Mary – 1828 (Certain Letitia survivors.)
- Captain Shuttleworth. Ship 368t. 22 crew.
- London 7.7.1828* – St Jago (Cape Verde Is.) 21.8.1828 – Hobart 19.12.1828. 53 passengers . One died. Lost foremast in heavy storm off the Cape.
[NOTE: 53 passengers of whom Mrs Weston and child; and Mr Murphy were the Letitia survivors taken on board at St Jago.]
* Port Jackson record states 2.7.1828
- Left Hobart for Sydney 6.1.1829 with 24 passengers and merchandise and sheep. [Port Jackson arrival records states left Hobart 7 January with 25 passengers.]
- Arr. Sydney 20.1.1829.
- Reel 1286 lists emigrants ”from London and Hobart town”:
| CABIN | CHILDREN | COUNTRY | Trade or calling |
| Campbell, Chas | Britain | Settler | |
| Douglas, Henry | do | Do | |
| Myers, Joseph | do | do | |
| Myers, Elizabeth | 3 | ||
| Rohde, Major | do | do | |
| Samuda, B and S | |||
| Weston,Ann | 1 | ||
| STEERAGE | |||
| Dove, Samuel | |||
| Gilman, Thos | |||
| Lee, Benjamin | |||
| Lee, Lucy | 4 | ||
| Lee, Thomas | |||
| Poulton, George | |||
| Poulton, Ann | 1 |
“JUPITER”
Jupiter – 1829
- Ship, Capt Weldy. Built 1796. 347 tons. 19 crew.
- London 22.8.1828 – Rio 24.11.1828 – Sydney 22.2.1829
- Passenger Captain Hanbury Clements RN ,(described arrival passenger list as” Late master of the Letitia, shipwrecked”), Mrs Margaret Clements and 2 male children under 12, to settle. The list of 29 passengers who arrived Sydney on the Jupiter includes no names, apart from the Clements, which appear on the list below.[Report of ship arrival 22.2.1829 Port Jackson.] Reel 1286 lists emigrants as Hanbury Clements, Clements Margt, 2 children, Lieutenant AP, R.N.. Other names were Cabin: Fatade, Foreman, Green, Montefiore, Mecatto. Steerage: Brodie, Delton, Matthew, Sanders, Smith, Thurston, Turnley, Williams.
- Jupiter embarked the Clements family in St Jago.
Report to the Colonial Secretary, of Ship arrived Port Jackson, this day 22 February, 1829.
- Vessel’s Name: JUPITER
Tonnage: 347t. 19 men
Master’s Name: Weldy
From whence: London and Rio
When sailed: 22 August, 24 November
Lading: Merchandise
14 cabin passengers, 15 steerage. Total 29. Names available. The only names of interest are “Hanbury Clements, Margaret Clements and 2 male children under 12 yrs. Described as from England and “Late Master of the Letitia, wrecked.”