This week I turn my attention to the Davenport branch of the family tree. Dad's maternal grandmother was Florence Cowan, nee Davenport. Florence was the 8th of 10 children born to John and Elizabeth Davenport.
John Davenport was born in 1824, the son of 'carver and gilder' William Davenport and his wife Charlotte, and grew up in the Bethnal Green/Shoreditch area, part of London's East End. In 1849, at age 24, John sailed out from London to Adelaide on board the Calcutta. He married fellow immigrant Elizabeth Froggatt in Adelaide in 1851 (she had arrived just three days before John on the Florentia) but once the gold rush hit they came to Victoria to try their luck at Fryers Creek - this is where Florence was born in 1865. By 1872, John had brought his family to Ascot Vale where he set up business as a painter. It was here that Florence met and married local architect Joseph Charles Martin Cowan (whom I previously wrote about in my three part post 'An Eminent Ancestor').
When I started researching this branch of the family, I connected online with a 3rd cousin in Adelaide named Lesley. She was a descendant from Florence's brother Edwin and had a wealth of information on the Davenports, so on my next trip across to SA I met up with her to learn more. It turned out that she had a copy of John Davenport's diary of his voyage out to Australia on the Calcutta! However was it our John Davenport? While signed by John Davenport, it reads more as a ship's log, with much nautical terminology; now the ship's steward is listed therein as a Mr. Davenport, so it seems logical that the steward would be the author. Would our John Davenport have joined a ship's crew only to leave the ship at Adelaide? But wait - the passenger list also records a Mr Davenport as a cabin passenger as well as a Mr Davenport in steerage. Either of these passengers could easily also have been named John, and could be our ancestor. So I am not sure we can assume that this log is 'our' John's work, but regardless, it remains a valuable record of the journey taken by him, and indeed is the only such record we have from any of my family's immigrant ancestors.*
Reading the log reveals that the voyage cost £15-0-0, requiring a deposit of £7-10-0 and the balance of £7-10-0 to be paid before embarkation. There were three classes of accommodation on board - cabin, intermediate and steerage (it is not clear to which the above price refers). Mess utensils and bedding were to be provided by the passengers. The following quantities of water and provisions, at a minimum, were required to be supplied by law:
To each statute adult 3 quarts of water, daily, exclusive of what is necessary for cooking the articles required by the Passenger Act to be issued in a cooked state; and a weekly allowance of provisions according to the following scale:
While the voyage was relatively free of drama, it still makes for interesting reading. What follows is many of the daily entries John recorded, though I have edited out his positional readings, most of the weather observations, and the less noteworthy onboard occurrences (in some places I have summarised a few entries into a short paragraph):
Left London docks at 1/2 past 1 pm, towed down to Gravesend same afternoon.
Jan 27-29
Remained at Gravesend taking in livestock.
Jan 30
Left Gravesend in afternoon, but the Pilot being inebriated the Captain not wishing to risk the lives of the passengers anchored two miles lower down the river..
Jan 31
The anchor arrived at Deal at 1/2 past 4pm. The pilot still got the liquor on him leaves the vessel, which proceeds on its course.
Progress is slow over the following days. Beachy Head (near Brighton) remained in sight for three days. The Isle of Wight, St Albans Head, the Isle of Portland, Torquay and Pendenniss Castle at Falmouth are all mentioned as they are passed.
Feb 11
Thank God, out of Channel and riding on the glassy bosom of the Atlantic. Lost sight of England, lovely day, passengers took tea on deck.
The crew 'spoke' to two other vessels that they passed, homeward bound to England. Prayers are held regularly, in various locations on the ship, throughout the voyage. They pass Coruna in Spain on 14 February, as the weather begins to warm, with favourable breezes.
Feb 19Off Madeira. A fresh passenger: Mrs Franks had a daughter, both mother and child doing well. Jas. Miller (one of the crew) put in irons for robbing the cargo. Shoals of porpoises ahead.
Feb 20
Mr & Mrs Edwards' child which has been ill during the voyage aged 15 months dies at 1/2 past 11 this morning, and buried at sunset. Mr Jones (cabin) during the absence of the Captain alters the sextant and threw the vessel out of its course.
Feb 22
Off the island of Palma, one of the Canary Islands. Jacobs makes a fool of himself on the violin.
Feb 25
Entered the Tropics at 4pm.
Mar 1
Island of St Tiago [Santiago, one of the Cape Verde Islands] in full view. Cast anchor at between 11 and 12 (morning), visited by the Customs House officer. Exchanged glass bottles with the natives and old clothes for oranges, coconuts, eggs and turkeys and the produce. The island of St Tiago is the chief of islands belonging to the Portuguese and is used for the penal settlement. The convicts become shopkeepers, save money, and deal in slaves. Everything in the island is very dear except what it produces in the way of oranges, bananas and coconuts. Americans have a station here. The island is fortified. The natives (male) go quite naked. Those of the passengers who went ashore were carried on the shoulders of the slaves through the surge.
Mar 2
Exchanging with the natives Barker, Randall, Petch and Trenbath were overtaken with wine, obliged to be hauled up from boat by ropes into the vessel. The vessel got a supply of water.
Mar 3
Oranges, coconuts, eggs and bananas in the ascendant.
Mar 6
One of the crew caught three Benetos [bonitos (a type of fish)], one cooked for steerage and cabin. Miller who had been confined for robbing the cargo liberated.
Mar 8
Partial eclipse of the moon lasting from 1/2 past 9 to 11, two hours later than at Greenwich.
Mar 9
A sail ahead 1/2 past 6, slight rain, 1/2 past 11 another sail ahead, both outward bound; spoke to a French vessel homeward bound to Calais belonging to Nantes, exchanged the longitude with a Dutch barque homeward bound.
Mar 10
Sharks ahead, a shark nailed, and in a new element, tail cut off and dissected, not after the fashion of King's College. A portion cooked for the passengers.
Mar 12
Squallish all day with rain. Spoke to Gratitude, homeward bound from Adelaide to Swansea with ore. 7pm Thomas, Master of the Intermediate put in the stocks for attempting when in liquor to [?] Mr Teasier or any person that touched him.
Mar 13
The mate threatens to put Jack King in the stacks, but on returning to bed is brought up by order of the Captain, expostulation between the Captain and some of the passengers.
Mar 14
A heavy squall in the course of the day, spree on deck between the crew and passengers, saturating each other with the rain water. Another shark brought up on deck, cut up and thrown overboard.
Mar 16
Vessel gone back 10 miles from yesterday. Captain's birthday who stands treat. Sherry flows free. Booze in the evening between the passengers of the steerage and the intermediate. Intoxication in the ascendant - quarreling- peace made by the interference of the crew.
Mar 17
St Patrick's Day. Passengers a little merry, a boozy party on deck. John King threatens the life of the mate and Tom Boone, and is put in the stocks.
Mar 18
A sail in sight, the vessel put to to receive it comes up in a few hours to the Egypt from Bristol bound to Brazil. The captains visit each other. The Egypt proceeds on her course having been 35 days from Bristol.
Mar 24
A meat pie stolen from No 1 Mess during the night.
The Calcutta is off the coast of Brazil by March 27 but on April 2 is 'supposed to be 1000 miles out of her course'. Occasional rows are reported between passengers. Over the next days several more ships from England and France bound for India pass by the Calcutta.
Mar 29Davy drinks the wine. Trewin kills the sheep.
Apr 1
A booby shot by Mr Glover Sen.
Apr 5
Nautical Tack blacks his face, the Tailor tars it, has his head shaved. Mrs Randall taken unwell, and remains so all the evening. Nautical Tack goes to bed minus his hair.
Apr 6
Mrs Randall delivered of a daughter at 10 mins past 12 (midnight), attended by Mrs Reading and Mrs Barker.
Apr 18
Replaced broken top mast with a new one.
Apr 21
A pig killed, the females on board to be treated to a piece of fresh meat the next day.
Apr 22
The old (ships) cook's birthday, got as drunk as Davy's son, obliged to be carried down to bed by King and Mann, fell head over heels into his berth.
Apr 27
The weather rather calm. Great dissatisfaction evinced by most passengers at seeing every vessel passing us.
May 1
Davey who has been confined for some days to his bed with a boil on his penis getting better.
May 2
Two in the morning a gale set in. Four o'clock a tremendous sea washed over the deack which inundated the steerage - several of the passengers alarmed. The hatchways battened down. The main top sails turned to ribbons and several others damaged between 11 and 12 in the morning. Mr Stevens (first mate) received a severe blow on the face from the rear of the fore mast (starboard side) which incapacitated him from attending his duties. Mr Owen (ship's carpenter) acting for him till he recovers. Mr Scurry (steerage) fractured his collar bone through falling against one of the spars, which is likely to confine him to his bunk for some time. The passengers compelled to get their meals the best way they could.
May 4
Good news, passed the Cape [Cape of Good Hope, South Africa] at last. Joy beaming on the faces of the passengers at the prospect of fine weather.
May 5
All right - able to wash decks with safety. All persons ill from the effects of the gale fast recovering. New sails put up in place of those torn by the gale.
May 6
A splendid morning. The Heavens smiling upon our efforts - all persons on deck up to a late hour of the evening. The Captain shed tears on the Poop while delivering an extempore prayer of thanksgiving to God for saving the ship's crew and passengers from the ravages of the late gale. Difference in time earlier than London 1 [hr]-52 [min]-7 [sec]
But no sooner had the weather improved than strong breezes and wet weather with storms returned, as the ship now headed east across the Indian Ocean.
May 712 noon passed Barker's Rock Harbour side. 7pm A shower of hail 9 (night) the vessel gave an awful lurch, Martha (Intermediate) hurt her leg, a box falling against her. 1/2 past 9 the vessel heaved to and remained so the remainder of the night.
May 9
The lower fore mast stensail boom on the starboard side broke away. Wind getting up 1/2 past 6pm rain with thunder and lightning.
May 13
Capt. treated the women and children to mutton broth and cake. Time earlier than London 3 hours 10 minutes and 52 seconds.
May 15
Hatchway closed at 4pm, vessel rolled heavily during the night. The crockery and tinware rolled about. Mr Frank's daughter (Ann Alice) taken ill with an inflammation on the chest.
May 19
Another sheep butchered by Snewin, not after the manner or the style of Newgate Market.
May 21
St Paul's Island in the distance. At 1/2 past 8 (morning) passed the island. Row in the Intermediate between the Canaries and the first mate. Ditto between Mr Davenport (not the steward) and Harry Young.
May 24
Old Davey not likely to find his six penny worth of St Jago so cheap for his money. The carpenter makes a ladder for the hold. Ship's boats being painted in preparation being made for Adelaide.
May 25
Davey gets worse, wishes the vessel had not called in at St Jago.
May 27
Whitsunday. Difference in time 6 hours, 19 mins, 5 seconds.
May 28
Taylor goes down into the forecastle and the crew black his face - he quarrels with Kerr which nearly ended in a scraping match. Whit Monday kept up by crew with the aid of Harris' potato cans.
May 29
All alive on deck scraping the oars to look like new. New faces not often at things but anxious for shore. A large whale lies off starboard. 'Log' the carpenter refused to lend a hammer and gauge to the mate to broach a cask of water - an altercation ensued and the Capt. threatens the carpenter that should he do it again, he will leave him in Adelaide, and that he spent too much of his time with the canaries.
May 31
Magnificent day - the deck crowded with passengers. The stokers fired off one of the cannons to clear it.
Jun 3
Divine service in the steerage only in the evening, prayers on the Poop in the morning, the Doctor officiating, the Captain being confined to his berth with the bowel complaint.
Jun 4
1/2 past 2am A tremendous sea, the vessel rolling awfully.
Jun 6
A lovely rising of the Moon, passengers in high glee. A slight soaping match between the elder Jacobs and Charley man. No damage done.
Jun 8
A large south seagull caught on the poop and decapitated.
Jun 9
Breakfast - long faces pulled and all sorts of rumours about the time of reaching our destination. A meat pie belonging to Le Grange and Trenbath stolen out of the oven - minus a dinner on Sunday. Ropes cut in the steerage.
Jun 12
Judges and jury in the evening, the tailor found guilty of cutting the ropes and sentenced to receive 1 dozen lashes which was inflicted.
Jun 13
Passengers in high glee with the hope of seeing Adelaide in a few days. A lunar observation taken this morning - vessel proceeding in her right course, but winds rather baffling. Case tried in the evening of Nisi Prins. Breach of Promise of Marriage. Morley and Boone, damages laid at £10,000. Counsel for plaintiff Sey. Trenbath, for defendant Mr King. During the time the jury were retiring to consider the verdict the defendant entered into an agreement to marry the plaintiff which was agreed to another day O'God.
Jun 14
Baffling winds continue which baffles the captain. Case of seduction tried in the evening. Butler and Davey. Damages laid at £10,000. Counsel for the plaintiff Sey. Reading and for the defendant Sey. Trenbath. Judge presuming on this case and preceding case Justice Moore. Verdict for plaintiff with £3000 damages. Trial lasted 2 hours.
Jun 15
Cases tried befor Mr Justice Moore. Breach of promise between George Ryan Fulford and Martha Goldsmith, damages laid at £20,000. Counsel for the plaintiff Mr Sey. Reading, for the defendant Mr Sey. Trenbath. Verdict for the plaintiff one farthing. Mr Glover makes likenesses of the Judge and Counsel.
Jun 16
A concert in the steerage in the evening. Sung the Old Church Bells.
Jun 19
Everyone appears to be occupied. No plans to commemorate Waterloo Day in honour of the Hero of two fights, which was much to be regretted as the guns were ready. Slush lamps burnt in the steerage and Intermediate there being no oil left.
Jun 20
Sailing for Adelaide, passengers rations reduced nearly one half.
Jun 21
Passengers alive and out of bed 4am. 8am sailors aloft on the lookout. 11am Kangaroo Island in sight. 5pm Yorke Peninsula on Starboard side in the Investigator shails.
Jun 22
Came to anchor
The following day, the ships arrival in Adelaide was reported in the South Australian Register:
Notwithstanding the unusually long passage, great harmony seems to have prevailed on board the Calcutta for on reaching our port the passengers presented the commander with a testimonial of their high opinion of his nautical skill, sound judgment, and prompt attention to their wants.
After 148 days at sea - nearly five months - it was indeed a long journey, even for the pre-steamship era. But thankfully it delivered John Davenport safely, I am sure I speak on behalf of all his descendants when I say that we are grateful for that!
After establishing himself in Ascot Vale, John Davenport made it to the age of 58, passing away in 1882 just nine days after wife Elizabeth, herself just 55 (purchasing his death certificate ended up being a two-for-one deal, as they are listed one after the other on the same sheet!). Both are buried in the Melbourne Cemetery.
*John Davenport's 'diary' has since been digitised and is available online on the State Library of South Australia's website. The National Library of Australia has a microfilm copy, and interestingly on their website also debate the true identity of the author, concluding like me that the nautical observations would suggest it is likely to have been written by the ship's steward.
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