Sources:
PORT OF AUCKLAND
ARRIVAL OF THE 'WAR SPIRIT' FROM LONDON
The ship War Spirit, 1234 tons register, J. R. Luckes, commander from London, left Gravesend on the evening of the 12th March; passed through the Downs on the 14th; pilot left the ship off Dartmouth on the 18th; crossed the equator on the 7th April. Got the S.E. trade winds in 6? degrees South, lasted only three days and a half, then light contrary winds to 32 degrees South. Passed the meridian of Greenwich on the 4th May in 44 degrees South. Ran down the easting in 45 degrees South. Came south of Tasmania and from Tasmania to this port. Had nothing but alternate heavy N.E. gales and calms, and light contrary winds. Sighted North Cape on the 22nd. instant. Passage 98 days from land to land; and 104 days from the Downs to Auckland. The War Spirit brings 222 passengers of all classes, in medical charge of Dr. J.F. Deck. Had seven births during the passage and one death, a German by an accident during a fearful gale of wind encountered in latitude 30 degrees south longitude 157 degrees east. Ship rose on the top of a very high sea and took a tremendous lurch to leeward, breaking away hen-coops, pig pens, &c., from their lashings which unfortunately fell on him, causing such severe injuries, that he died in two hours. There has been general good health, amongst the passengers during the voyage, and no deaths with the above melancholy exception. The following ships were spoken on this voyage:- 6th April, in latitude 1 degree 00 minutes north, longitude 26 degrees west, Dutch barque Whampoa, from Batavia to Rotterdam, 90 days out; much sickness on board; supplied her with medicines, &c. 7th April, in latitude 0 degrees 30 minutes south longitude 27 degrees west, French ship Charles Georges, from Marseilles to Bourbon, 38 days out. 20th May, latitude acc. 40 degrees 04 minutes south, longitude 66 degrees east, Dutch barque Henrietta Gertruida, from Amsterdam to Batavia, 93 days out, all well.
PASSENGERS.
William McRoberts, Thomas and Mrs Goudie, James Peacock, Samuel Harrison, George Smith, Charles and Jane Merritt, James Cooper, Rowland Danvers, James and Emma Moore, Jane Harrison, Henry Naylor, Charles and Mrs Walker; William, Mrs., John, and Bessie West; [transcriber note: obituary for William on the web site Presbyterian Church Archives of Aotearoa NZ] Susan Dunlop, John and Mrs Cumming, Wm. And Marie McWilliams; James, Mary, Robert, James, Hugh, and Jean Muir; Andrew McGeoch; Philip, Susan, William, Anne, and Susan Nichols; Grace and Thomas Smith, Martha Hunt, Richard and Zillah Ransome, Margaret and Fanny Barwise, William and Marian Lamb, William Muir; Richard, Emily, and Martin H. Coombe; Email David Hobday - descendant Coombe family Miss Osborne, Thomas Stewart, Wm. Porteous, Richard Olver; Thomas, Ellen, Madelina, and Warwick Monkhouse; [transcriber note: Alexander Turnbull Library has photographs of Thomas, Ellen, and Madelina] John Girvan, William Marr, Thomas Diamond, Joseph Miller; John, Margaret and Robert Thompson; Michael, Barbara, Anna, Theresa, and Johan Krippner; Johan, Anna, Joseph, Johan, and Carl Rouch; Johan, Elizabeth, Margaretta, and Elizabeth Titner; Joseph, Anna, Johan, Joseph, Carl, Wenzall and Andreas Karl; Email Anne & Andrew Karl - descendant KARL family Anton and Barbara Turnwold; Email Catherine Waite - descendant Turnwald family Michl. and Maria Tesentry; Peter, Margaretta, Dorothea, and Anna Glatz; Luzwig, Anna, Baral, Lorenz, Joseph, Katharina, and Elizabeth Turnwold; Email Catherine Waite - descendant Turnwald family Wenzell, Maria, Martin, and Maria Kass; Johan and Anna Raunan; Email Carla - descendant Rauner family Anton, Margaretta, Joseph, Barbara, and Anton Russeck; Thomas, Anna, Anna, and Andrew Pietrer; Joseph, Margaretta, Anna, Catherine, and Johann Paul; Email Carla - descendant Paul family Robert and Ann Wylie; William and Mrs McLeay; Mr. And Mrs. Woodhams; John, Agnes, William, Ann, Agnes, and John Wilson; William and Mary Taylor; John, Anna M., Robert, John, Anna, and Isaac Robinson; Johann and Elizabeth Scholum; Thomas, Barbara, Robert, Ann, John, Elizabeth, and Barbara Sargent; Email Carol Robocker - descendant Sargent family Anna Dabuer, Maria Schiska, Anna Schoben, Theresa Schuster, Cecilia Glatz, Maria Palisach, Katharine Raunnen, Maria Russick, Elizabeth Palisach, Martha Worshop, Anna and Stephen Schiska, Alfred Hibburt, Samuel Hill, Richard Wylie, Benedick Remigan, Paul Straka, Monzel Litzhum, Wenzel Bayer, Johan Krein, Wenzell and Martin Dallkoph, Email Corinna - descendant Wenzell Dallkoph Martin and Johan Raunnen, [transcriber note: Raunen above?] John Schollan, John Soutrap, Wenzell Reisema, Thomas Harris, James Guthrie, James Hunt, William Hogg, Nicholas McNiven, William Laing, Peter Hill, Joseph Battereby, Thomas Merrich, Isaac Allen, James Corlett, John Sobye, Harold Ward, Edwin Philbris, John Griffiths, Martin Schiska, Patrick Quinn, Joseph Wlack, Robert Campbell, George Chapman, and Thomas Olver.
Cabin.--
Mr. and Mrs. Kemp, four children and servant; Mr. and Mrs. Goodchild, three children and servant; Mr. and Mrs. Paget and daughter; Mrs. Tregear, Miss Tregear, Miss Ellen Tregear, Miss Hull, Miss Jane Wood, Messrs. De Lautour, [transcriber note: further on Cecil Albert DeLautour at Alexander Turnbull Library Manuscripts and Archives Collections] John Deck, Mather, Robert Aherne, Henry Gillett, Edward Tregear, Thomas Maltby, Henry Wilson, John Brunskill, John H. Wood, Francis Wardell.
"The Southern Cross" Saturday, 27 Jun 1863 pg 3
"TESTIMONIAL TO THE CAPTAIN AND DOCTOR OF THE 'WAR SPIRIT.'--The passengers by the 'War Spirit' have presented a very flattering testimonial to the captain and doctor of the 'War Spirit'. Want of space compels us to hold them over till tomorrow.
EMIGRANTS PER 'War Spirit.'--The following is the proportion of the various trades of the emigrants per 'War Spirit':--Farmers, 43; clerks, 3; plumber, 1; cabinet makers, 2; shopkeeper, 1; ploughman, 1; mason, 1; blacksmith, 2; farm servants, 4; female servants, 15; nurse, 1; carpenters, 7; housekeeper, 1; labourers, 12; sailor, 1; butchers, 3; smith, 1 gardener, 1; mechanics, 2; boot closer, 1; engineer, 1; wheelwright, 1.
"The Southern Cross" Tuesday, 30 Jun 1863 pg 2
TESTIMONIAL TO THE CAPTAIN AND DOCTOR OF THE WAR SPIRIT.
Ship War Spirit, June 22, 1863.
To Captain J. R. Luckes,
DEAR SIR,--As we are now approaching our destination, we desire to express
our thanks for your uniform kindness and courtesy to us, during our
voyage with you from London to Auckland.
Allow us to say that we have at all times felt the greatest confidence in your professional ability, and we beg to testify to your constant and unremitting attention to the safety of the ship and the comfort of all on board.
You have kindly rendered to us your excellent advice and assistance in all our amusements, such as theatrical representations, concerts, readings, conduct of our newspaper, &c., and the use of your private cabin and library has always been generously granted for our ease, study, or recreation.
Wishing you every blessing, and feeling that we shall have many pleasant reminiscences of our voyage in the 'War Spirit,' we are, &c-- Henry Kemp, John James Goodchild, John Brunskill, J. H. Wood. J. Field Deck, M.D., Anna Hull, Henry Gillett, M. A. E. Kemp, Jane Wood, John Deck, Robert Aherne, William P. Paget, J. C. Maltby, R. B. Goodchild, Mary Tregear, Ellen Tregear.
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We the undersigned passengers on board the War Spirit, from London to Auckland, desire to express to John Field Deck, Esq., M.D., M.R.C.S.E., J.R.C., P.E., our appreciation of the kind and prompt attention at all times shown in his capacity of Surgeon of this vessel.We feel that under the blessing of Almightly God, the Doctor's constant vigilance, unremitting exertions, and surgical skill, have averted any fatal results which might reasonably have been expected to take place where so large a proportion of our number are women and young children, seven children having been born on the voyage.
Although our number comprises various nations, thereby rendering his anxious labours so much more arduous, he has gained the affectionate esteem of all on board.
We would also respectfully beg to testify to his high moral bearing and kind courtesy on all occasions; and he carries with him the most heartfelt good wishes of all his fellow voyagers, and we trust he will meet with that success he so well merits, in New Zealand, to which country he is not returning.
Signed by 141 of the Passengers, the Captain, and Officers of the ship.
Note from the National Archives regarding settlement information for the "War Spirit" passengers: "The Register of Grantees - Special Settlements (Archives Reference: BAAZ 4115/1a pp63 - 65) to which the index refers, only lists those passengers on board the "War Spirit" who arrived in June 1863 as part of the Bohemian Puhoi settlement. The passengers on the ship who were of English, Irish or Scottish descent are not listed."
Last Updated on 18 Jun 2007
By Carol I Robocker-Andersen
Email: Carol Robocker