THE FIRST FOUR SHIPS

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26264, 8 November 1950, Page 8

THE FIRST FOUR SHIPS

PASSENGER LISTS TO BE DISPLAYED Did grandfather arrive in one of the First Four Ships’ There i, more uncertainty on this point among Canterbury residents thaii might be supposed, according to members of the staff of the Canterbury Museum. Since the opening of the early colonists' exhibition many persons have asked them for the answer.

'Visitors to the exhibition will soon be able to find the answer for themselves. The museum has obtained photostat copies of the passenger list, of the first six ships to arrive with settlers. The original lists are in the library of the Lands and Deeds Office at Christchurch. , Copies of the passenger list for the Cressy are at present on display in the early colonists’ room and the other lists will be put up in a few days. The list for the Cressy shows that there were 220 passengers jn the ship. Of these 166 were free or assisted steerage passengers, 27 were fore cabin passengers, and 27 chief cabin passengers. The list indicates whether the passengers were married or single, their age, occupation, and family. The first six ships, in order of arrival were: the Charlotte Jane (December 16. 1850), the Randolph (December 16. 1850); the Sir George Seymour (December 17, 1850); tire Cressv (December 27, 1850); the Castle Eden (February 7, 1851); and the Isabella Hercus (March 1. 185 D.