Quarantine of the Hydaspes

So many stories of ancestors and relatives are mentioned in the newspapers of the past. During April 2020 for the A - Z blog challenge, I am listing the types of stories or information I have found in newspapers with examples for each letter of the alphabet. My clippings include a variety of articles about relatives of my children's ancestors.

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As we stay at home, or are quarantined during the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020 it is interesting to look back on a variety of circumstances where people have been quarantined. Our ancestors often underwent long sea voyages to migrate to Australia or New Zealand. While they may have been relieved to arrive at the end of several months, how disappointing must it have been to be held in quarantine for an additional month. This is what the Walmsley family faced when they arrived in 1874. The cause of the quarantine was 'scarlatina fever.'

IN August 1874 the "Hydaspes" sailed from Gravesend headed to Auckland, New Zealand. On board were John Andrew Walmsley, His wife Grace Ann Tonson and their 5 children.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXX, Issue 5346, 10 October 1874, Page 2
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18741010.2.4.1

The ship's arrival was keenly awaited in Auckland with advertisements appearing in the papers for sales of goods to make way for new stock arriving from England.  Some also advertised goods expected to arrive, a wide variety from delicate china to billiard tables and ploughs. 77 days after departure, the ship telegraphed its arrival. The first sign that trouble was afoot was contained in this notice - 11 deaths from scarlatina.

Evening Star, Issue 3653, 6 November 1874, Page 2
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD18741106.2.3

The ship was immediately placed in quarantine

Evening Star, Issue 3654, 7 November 1874, Page 2
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD18741107.2.12

A long report to the Central Board of health followed detailing the deaths of 6 children and the fumigation measures necessary both aboard the ship and on the island where the passengers were to be quarantined for 8 -10 days. (1)  By November 11th the ship had been thoroughly disinfected by every known process, while every article of bedding or clothing likely to hold the infection has been burned or consigned to the deep.(2)

On the 14th  November, one week into quarantine, the Star Pigeon sent this message:

"All are most anxious to be released, especially the single girls, who think it a great hardship that they should be kept apart from the boys when this is such a fine place for flirting." (3)

One would think  the passengers may have been sick of each other's company but with the single men and women kept in separate quarters on the ship, this was just a continuation of the same but now on land.

Relief was not at hand as by the 17th November, two new cases of the fever had broken out in quarantine. The ship's Captain Babot alleged that diseased immigrants had been placed aboard his ship before they left England. The saloon passengers and the cargo were released the next day. The immigrants, still in quarantine,were indignant at this variance of their treatment.  They must have wondered why should those who had travelled in the comfort of the cabins be released before the rest of the passengers.

By the 25th it was deemed that they they should be ready for release from quarantine and that the single men would be the first to leave but unfortunately another case of fever occurred.

Do we detect a similar pattern to the "Ruby Princess" 2020 situation?

Auckland Star, Volume V, Issue 1496, 26 November 1874, Page 3
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS18741126.2.28

Finally on November 30th the end of the quarantine was in sight but there followed a bureaucratic bungle! The North Shore Ferry Company angled for increased fees to bring the immigrants to Auckland, (4) Finally on 3rd December the single men and women were landed in Auckland after spending a full four weeks in quarantine. Shortly after the families followed.

The Walmsley family then settled in Auckland. John and Grace Walmsley are gt.gt.gt grandparents of my children. I have not yet found when they moved to Ballarat in Victoria but it was probably sometime in 1886 after their son in law Edward Payne had been declared bankrupt. This advertisement was for their previously occupied confectionery shop. More about him to come under the letter V.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 98, 24 April 1886, Page 7
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS18860424.2.81.2

John Andrew Walmsley m Grace Ann Tonson

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Mary Agnes Walmsley m. Edward John William Payne

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Grace Walmsley Payne m. John Michael Galvin

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John Dominic Galvin m Phyllis Yvonne Stirling 

1. "CENTRAL BOARD OF HEALTH", Auckland Star, Volume V, Issue 1480, 7 November 1874, Page 3 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS18741107.2.18

2. New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 4055, 11 November 1874, Page 2, 

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18741111.2.10

3. Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1894, 14 November 1874, Page 3

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THA18741114.2.9

4. " The Hydaspes Immigrants", Auckland Star, Volume V, Issue 1499, 30 November 1874, Page 2,  https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS18741130.2.13

 This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin