Account of Joseph Towan Nancarrow's Migration

In the 1860s, the decline of copper and tin mining in Cornwall left many miners unemployed.  Like so many other Cornishmen John Nancarrow had migrated to Moonta in South Australia where the newly-opened copper mines were booming and work was plentiful.  He had soon established himself well, and in August 1872 he nominated his brother William and his family to be Government-assisted migrants.  Under the scheme that operated at the time, John lodged £42 in Adelaide as a contribution to their "passage or outfit".

Joseph Towan Nancarow aged 38, with three of his daughters - Jane (13), Edie (6) and Myrtle (4) - shortly after the death of his first wife in 1894. Until their father was remarried in the following year, some of the children were farmed out to relatives, and Jane became the housekeeper and mother.; Source: Ron Roberts, Adelaide.

On the eve of their departure, William and the younger children were each presented with a bible from the Redruth Primitive Methodist Church and Sunday School, where William had long been a church worker and served as a Sunday school teacher.  

The first stage of their long journey was an exciting adventure in itself - a train trip from Redruth to Plymouth where they were due to join the City of Adelaide.

The ship had started its voyage on 11th April 1873 from London, where she had taken on some general cargo and several cabin-class paying passengers.  Plymouth was the assembly point for the 86 assisted passage emigrants who would travel steerage.  Of these, 49 were English, there were 36 Irish and 1 lone Scotsman; their trades were given as servants, housekeepers, dressmakers, copper miners and labourers.

Also boarding the City of Adelaide at Plymouth on that day, to make the same voyage, was William and John's widowed sister Elizabeth Edwards (46) with her daughters Bessie (11) and Sarah Jane (10).  Elizabeth's husband, Thomas, a copper miner in Cornwall, died when Sarah was eight days old.

The ‘tween decks were fitted up in the regulation way to accommodate the steerage migrants, although the space was not entirely clear, since a part before the main hatchway had been filled with cargo.   

William (44) & Elizabeth Nancarrow (43) with their three youngest children Sarah (11), John (9), and Maria (5), were berthed in the married couples section on the starboard side of the main hatchway.  There were fifteen children accompanying their parents (only one other large family group) & several young couples with babies.

William Jr (20) and Joseph Nancarrow (17) were in the forward compartment with 22 other single men, most of similar age.  At the rear of the deck was the compartment for 26 single females, including Elizabeth Jane (19) and Mary Nancarrow (14).  Some of these women were domestic servants, but the majority were either travelling with family members, or were due to join them in the colony.

The City of Adelaide with Llewellyn Bowen as Master, carrying its cargo of general merchandise and 107 passengers, including the "gentry" in the first-class and second-class cabins, left her berth in Plymouth Harbour at 11.00 am on Thursday morning 17th April bound for South Australia.

A good northerly wind the next day soon took her past the Eddystone Light, where her sister-ship, the South Australian, was sighted on the inward voyage carrying cargo from Adelaide to London.

For the first four weeks there was a continuance of the exceptionally fine weather.  They had made good progress, and by April 28th they had been in sight of Madeira.  On May 4th they passed the Jacob taking troops from Bordeaux to Monte Video.  The brisk trade winds commenced on May 12th and the "City" overtook the British ship Araby Maid travelling from London to Otago, but the winds were lost as they neared the Equator 2 days later.

Unusually for the region, the wind then came in from the westward, and the "City" had to cross the line on a starboard tack under reduced canvas.  By May 15th she had made progress to the south and picked up the trade winds again for about ten days, although they proved not equal to the usual average.  On May 25th, strong north-west winds set in which took her between Tristan de Cunha and Gough's Island and down into the "roaring forties".

She rounded the Cape of Good Hope on Friday June 6th, and for more than two weeks enjoyed a fine run before the wind across the Southern Ocean.

The Nancarrows and their fellow travellers would have been considered fortunate to experience what was an exceptionally good voyage for those days.  The weather had been kind, although the ship did roll excessively at times, as if she was not in the best trim.

The ship was certainly not over-crowded, there were no serious health problems, and there were no deaths on board.  The passengers had great respect for their doctor.  His discipline was stringent, although some resented it at first - until they realised that this was for their mutual benefit.

The passengers and crew combined to produce their own amusement, and much of the time was passed with amateur theatricals and other entertainments which were greatly appreciated.  Everybody generally maintained very good spirits.

The fine run was interrupted only by some very heavy weather on the Monday June 23rd when, after running before a gale for a few days, the ship was compelled to heave to.  The migrants were confined below decks, the main hatchway was secured, and the ship was brought to the wind until the violence of the gale moderated.

On June 26th they were off Cape Leeuwin, but well south of it in Latitude 41degrees, and they sighted Cape Borda on Kangaroo Island the following Tuesday night.  Then, very early in the morning of Thursday July 3rd and 76 days out of Plymouth, the City of Adelaide arrived at the Semaphore Anchorage.

Later that morning, after she had been boarded by the Health Officer (who found everybody to be fit), the Customs, and the representative of Harrold Bros, Town & Port Agents, several of the cabin passengers arranged to land at the Semaphore Jetty.

Newspaper reporters met the ship to collect the overseas news parcels and to record the arrival of the migrants.  One noted that "the single men are all healthy looking and ought from all appearances to make good colonists".

Captain Bowen was highly praised by his passengers, and not only did they arrange for the customary testimony to appear in the papers, but they also organised a handsome present for him as well.  As a whole they expressed a good opinion of their treatment by the ship's officers - except for one malcontent who complained because his wife was not supplied with bottled porter.

Later that day the City of Adelaide set all her sails with the intention of proceeding into the river to Port Adelaide, but the wind headed her and she was obliged to wait for the tug's services on the Friday morning.  The extended family of twelve Nancarrows/Edwards were able to disembark eventually, and prepare for the journey to Moonta where they duly arrived safely at Cross Roads.