Summary
Four-page, handwritten letter from Robert Beckett to his brother, recording his journey from England to Australia in 1867. Robert was born on 6 June 1838 in Cambridge, England. Prone to frequent illness, Robert was advised by his doctor to migrate to Australia. Robert departed Birkenhead (near Liverpool), England in December 1866 together with his wife Eliza and their four children. They travelled to Australia onboard the clipper ship 'Underley'. Following a 74-day journey the Becketts arrived in Hobson's Bay, Melbourne in March 1867. Robert obtained employment at the Walker, May & Company, a printing firm in Bourke Street West in the city. The family initially resided in the inner city suburbs of Carlton, Fitzroy and Albert Park before finally settling in their home 'Guildford Villa' in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne in the late 1880s. Robert died on 4 November 1890 following a prolonged period of ill-health. He was 52 years of age.
The letter is formatted as a diary beginning on 18 December 1866 when the Becketts farewelled their friends before leaving for Birkenhead. Robert describes various aspects of ship life, such as boarding procedures, family obligations, work and general conditions aboard the 'Underley'. Robert details how passengers endured low quality food and water, illness, stormy weather, cramped sleeping quarters, rambunctious children and a near collision with another vessel. The diary concludes with a letter from Robert to his brother Cole following the family's arrival to Melbourne. Robert intended to send his diary home to his family and friends and suggests that his letter be shown to his mother and friends. Robert also notes that his health has improved and is optimistic that the move to Australia will be beneficial to him and his family.
The 'Underley' was a White Star Line iron-hulled clipper sailing ship of 1,295 tons register, on her maiden voyage to Australia. She left Liverpool, England on 22nd December 1866 and arrived in Hobsons Bay, Melbourne on 8 March 1867 under the command of Captain Charles Browne with Dr Newbold as the Surgeon-Superintendent. Passengers included Mrs Doolittle in the first-class cabin and 255 in steerage. Lorimer, Marwood & Rome were the Melbourne agents. After discharging a large cargo the 'Underley' departed Melbourne under ballast for Point de Galle, Colombo, Ceylon, passing through Port Phillip Heads at noon on Thursday 11th April 1867. Five nights later the ship was almost capsized after her ballast shifted during a violent hurricane and was only saved by her mizzen top mast and main mast being cut away, with the latter also carrying off the fore topgallant mast. She turn back for Melbourne and limped into the safety of Port Phillip Bay a week after she had departed. After being thoroughly repaired at Williamstown with new iron masts fitted and rigged, the 'Underley' departed once more for Colombo and Calcutta with 11,685 'cakes' of copper and 127 horses aboard.
Physical Description
Four pages, handwritten in ink on light blue paper on both sides. The letter has been torn horizontally and repaired with sticky tape. Each page of the letter is numbered at the top, in blue pencil.
Significance
Robert Beckett's letter offers an insight into shipping experiences of migrants moving to Australia in the mid-1860s. Robert describes various aspects of ship life, such as boarding procedures, family obligations, work and general conditions aboard the 'Underley'. Robert details the reality of migrating to Australia over a period of 74 days and reveals the stressful nature of the journey. Passengers endured low quality food and water, illness, stormy weather, cramped sleeping quarters, rambunctious children and a near collision with another vessel.
Furthermore, the document is important in showing the early days of the Beckett family's migrant experience and serves as an interesting juxtaposition to the story of their settlement in Melbourne. The letter details the many stressful aspects of the family's journey to Victoria but their settlement in Melbourne appears to have been smoother. Although the Becketts were in debt for their journey and Robert continued to battle with his health upon arrival, the family eventually settled in the newly established area of Surrey Hills in the late 1880s. Some of Robert's children established themselves in Melbourne's Methodist community and in local and state politics. For instance, Walter and William became Methodist ministers, while Robert Jnr served as councillor for the Camberwell Shire between the 1890s and 1910s, including a stint as Mayor in 1907 and 1908. He also represented his East Yarra electorate in Victorian Parliament from 1913 until his death in 1917.
More Information
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Valerie Beckett, 12 Dec 2011
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Inscriptions
Transcription: (1) December 18, 1866 - Left home at half past seven this morning, and, after bidding my most intimate and dearest friends goodbye, left Easton Square at five past nine. Dec. 20th - Got to Birkenhead in the evening of the 18th. Staying at the Emigration Depot. Not allowed to leave it till we go on board. Storage Dormitory: it would accommodate 60 or 70 different families. On the right side, about 4 feet from the ground, a wide shelf stretches the entire length of the room; on this shelf flanks about 1 ½ or 2 feet high are placed at intervals of 4 feet; the vacant spaces are the receptacles for the beds; the under part of this shelf is similarly divided, and the left side of the room is arranged the same as the right. We are thus all sleeping in right of each other; but the light is so dim that we can see but little of our neighbours. Yesterday we all passed through two small rooms and had an interview with a different official in each. The first was the Emigration Commissioner, a Mr. Chard; the second the surgeon-superintendent of our party: the first inquired as to our identity, the second as to our health. We then opened our boxes and took out all we were likely to need for the next month. Our boxes were then official searched which operation consisted in looking inside the lid of one box and giving the top things a pat or two, and then marking all the five boxes as duly examined, and found according to bocker. We have good food, bright fires, and civility. What more could mortal [sic] desire? Am very glad to find there are praying people among us. Dec. 21. - Came on board the Underley to-day: was struck with the beauty of her shape and the height of her masts. Am very well satisfied with the look of our berths. Sunday 23. - First Sunday on board. Tug left us late this afternoon: have made very little way since. Wind dead against us. Commenced what we purpose to be a series of short religious services; they are led by one of the married men, an old Christian. Eliza bears us bravely. Many are sick but we are right as yet. When the tug left us an Irishman, by no means in love with the sea, and judging that a more intimate acquaintance with that element would only increase his disgust, hastily resolved to forego [Next page] (2) his journey. Of course this is what his traducers say: it may be that he only just remembered that he had forgotten to kiss his mother before leaving anyway the appearance of the tug alongside moved him very strongly and very quickly too, for he hastily rushed below, and brought up his bed and bedding, mess utensils, &c., and hurried to the saloon to look after the captain. Whether he got his permission to return or not I cannot say, but when he appeared again, the tug had left us and was some little distance on her way to Liverpool, to his great chagrin. Of course he is, for the day, the mark of all the wags on board. Friday, Dec. 28 - Have been very sick since Sunday; ditto Eliza and all on board. My better half is the better sailor as, while she is doing all the work of getting meals, &c., I am quite useless. Lizzie is not quite well, but there is very little the matter with Bob and Harry, & it is a nice job to go staggering after them in their rambles to extricate them from one difficulty or another. The sea has been rough all the week. We are nearly, if not quite across the Bay of Biscay. We have only one saloon passenger, a lady: I am told that they would not carry any gentlemen - on account of the girls no doubt. There are about 100 passengers who have received orders from their friends in Victoria, these are called warrant passengers, & are nearly all Irish and mostly single men. Two families have come through the agents employed by the Government Commissioner at Westminster - these are Lincolnshire men & agriculturalists: the rest are Miss Rye's emigrants. They number, including children, about 150. The crew & officers, cooks, &c., make perhaps near 50 or more: in all the ship carries about 300 souls. The Underley is an iron ship between 1200 and 1300 tons burthen, built this year at Lancaster & is now on her first voyage. Her officers are anxious to make a quick passage so as to give the ship such a character for speed as shall attract first class passengers: this anxiety is increased by the desire to reach Melbourne before the Castlemaine, a Black Ball chipper, which was tugged out of the Mersey at the same time as ourselves. On Christmas, as we were all sick, they gave us nothing but gruel all day. Sunday, Dec. 30 - Am just getting over the sea-sickness. Twelve [Next page] (3) families sleep in the same cabin; 2 of us sweep & scrape the deck of it each day; this morning I turned out early, & performed my part of the operation; don't at all like the job. At 11a.m prayers on the deck, led by the Doctor. Are now off the coast of Portugal. Have sailed out of the cold weather, & it is now delightful Spring. This evening I paced the deck for a considerable time pondering upon the mercies of God during the year now closing. How many have been my anxieties, but how much more abundant the mercies of God! How many obstacles there seemed to this journey; but all have been overcome & I am now fairly on my way. We had thought to have a great deal of help in the care of the children from the single women, but all communication between them and the rest of the passengers is strictly forbidden. In consequence I am compelled to turn nursery maid for the voyage. Dec. 31 - 320 miles north of Madeira [a Portuguese island]. I am very weak & ill, & without the essence of beef (a present from Mr. Robinson) should be very low indeed; as I am unable to eat a great part of the ship's rations. Jan. 2 - Sighted Madeira early this morning. Jan. 4 - Contrary winds: rough sea: general sickness. Narrow escape last night - nearly run into another vessel. The captain started up & rushed on deck in his shirt. The girls were woke up in a fright, & told we were about to go to the bottom & there was no small consternation in the cabin. It seems that we did actually strike but only a small part of the rigging was carried away. Had the vessels struck we should have had a hole made in us that it would have been difficult to stop, some of the sailors say impossible.
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Overall Dimensions
168 mm (Width), 207 mm (Height)
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References
Beckett, Robert. "Diary Extracts, 1855-1867". MS 9576, held at the State Library of Victoria. Beckett, Robert. Original letter donated to Museum Victoria by Val Beckett. Beckett, Val. "Notes on Family of Robert Beckett (1838-1890)", 2011, attached to the donated letter. Bendigo Advertiser, 11 Mar 1867, p.2, 'Arrived (Hobson's Bay)', [Link 1] accessed 17/06/2013. The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser, 27 Apr 1867, p.2, 'Perils of the Sea', [Link 2] accessed 17/06/2013. Bendigo Advertiser, 18 Jul 1867, p.2, [Link 3] & Bendigo Advertiser, 25 Jul 1867, p.2, 'Shipping Intelligence', [Link 4] accessed 17/06/2013.
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Keywords
Immigrant Voyages, Immigration, Letters, Migration & Settlement, Ships, Diaries, Shipboard Travel, Shipwrecks, Gender Roles, Religions: Methodist, Food, Printing Workers, English Immigration, Storms, Hobsons Bay Railway Pier, Children, Women's Work, English Immigration