1869 Shipping route from UK to New Zealand

[lpearce]

I am trying to find information on Thomas Walker born about 1840; he was a Sergeant Major in the 68th Foot and married to Sarah Hutchinson b. 1844.

I think I have found the birth references for their three children
Christopher b. 1861 in Rangoon, Burma, Sarah b.1867 Perth Scotland, and Thomas b. 1869 in Jamaica.

Rangoon and Perth could fit with Thomas being a Sergeant Major in the 68th Foot, but Jamaica seems to be a problem.

By 1869 the 68th foot were in New Zealand or on their way from Burma no evidence they were in the Caribbean so I am trying to understand the Jamaica connection.

I am thinking that maybe Thomas's wife was on her way back or to New Zealand from the UK.

My question is therefore what would be the likely route of Naval shipping to and from New Zealand from the UK in 1869.
Is the Caribbean like to be on the route?

[Thrall]

Hi Ipearce, judging by the routes the wheat carrying sailing ships took, from New Zealand the way lies east over the Pacific, round Cape Horn and then north to the UK. To go west from New Zealand would be against the wind and even the early steamers used the conventional routes where appropriate to save time and coal. A stop in the Caribbean for victuals or to pick up passengers for Blighty would be more than likely. Was the birth registered in Jamaica or possibly on arrival there?

Guid hunting,

Thrall

[Hugh Stevely]

Hi All i could be wrong but did not the Suez Canal opened in Egypt November 17th 1869- 101 miles across the Isthmus of Suez linked to the Medediterranean and Red Sea 25 ft deep 72 ft wide at the bottom 200 to 300 ft wide at the Surface i think they came this way to the UK ? later on- Caribbean could be on Route after the UK ?

Hugh.

[Thrall]

Hi Hugh, yes, Suez, (Aida, Verdi!) in full swing, but all the same one has to know whether the ship was a steamer or not. Quite a few around but a specialist could perhaps say whether the navy was totally mechanised at this point, 1869. I hae ma doots, but am very willing to listen. A steamer with sails would I think, not have attempted to go "uphill" from N.Z.

Guid hunting,

Thrall

[Hugh Stevely]

Hi Thrall before its opening in 1869 goods were some times off-loaded from Ships and carried over land between the Mediterranean and the red Sea.

Regards Hugh.

[FionaZ]

Hi All,
My ggrandfather sailed to NZ on the Blair Drummond, a sailing ship, in 1879 and the ships log said that they came in sight of the Brazillian Coast before crossing the Atlantic and rounding the Cape of Good Hope, then crossing the Indian Ocean and going south of Tasmania to round South Island before arriving in Dunedin. The trip took 91 days.
Cheers,
Fiona

[Hugh Stevely]

Hi Fiona i was just looking at info on the Blair Drummond.


Vessel Name BLAIR DRUMMOND.

Vessel ID 599980211.

Vessel Type Ship.

Tonnage 1,450

Built c 1874

Vessel Abstract a brief description of how a crew member fell over board and drowned June 1889 while the Blair Drummond was on a Voyage from London to Auckland.

Hugh.

[FionaZ]

Hi Hugh,
Thanks for that. I got my information from http://www.library.otago.ac.nz/pdf/hoc_ ... lletin.pdf who have quite a lot of information about ships and passenger lists. I emailed the library and they were very helpful....even looking up the school record for the children of the family.
Cheers, Fiona

[Hugh Stevely]

Hi Fiona thanks for the link some good reading and info-- try this one.


http://www.nzmaritimeindex.org.nz/ixsearchvessels.asp


Cheers Hugh.