The Lydia, 1853

17th September 2025

The 173-ton brig Lydia was built at Stonelake's Yard in St Sampson, to specialise in carrying passengers to Adelaide and Melbourne. It eventually found a home in Australia. From The Age, 1934. In 1853 it sailed from St Sampson's harbour for Australia in front of a cheering crowd of 2,000 people. It was a most unusual place of departure from Guernsey, but it was the home of the ship and of Stonelake's yard. Sixty berths were available, of which 42 were taken up at £24 per passenger. 'The majority were tradesmen' (Coysh, 1985).

TO THE EDITOR OF THE AGE.
Sir. — The following extract from the "Guernsey News" of 20th March, 1903, may be of interest to your readers:
 
A NOTABLE LOCAL JUBILEE.
 
Fifty years ago next Tuesday, 24th March, a party of forty emigrants left St. Sampson's harbour in the brig Lydia for Adelaide and Port Phillip, Australia. Some 2,000 persons were present on the pier to see them off, most of whom had gone out from town. As the Lydia left the pierheads in tow of the steamer Princess Royal cheer upon cheer followed the departing vessel, and the greeting was echoed back till the swelling voices of the passengers and crew could no longer he heard. The Lydia was owned by Mr. Stonelake, and had been surveyed for the purpose by Messrs. John. James and William Mellish, emigration surveyors.
 
The master was Mr. Thomas Pardy, father of Mr. Thomas Pardy, now of St. Martin's, who was among the passengers. Of these latter there were twenty-seven adult males, chiefly single men: seven adult females and six children. Their names are as follows:
 
William Bienvenu, Elias Priaulx, Nicholas de Garis, William Doutch, Henry Adams. Charles Marquand, Elizabeth Follett, William A. Alley, Richard Draper, Peter Blondel, John Q. Le Pelley, William N. Wellington, Thomas Pardy. Jun., Thomas R. Bryant, Rachel Bryant, Henry Wincey, Amelia Wincey, Jane le Gallez, John F. Touzeau, Robert Patterson. Frederick R. Nicolle, Francis B. Nicolle, William Fox, Mrs. Fox, William Fox, Jun, : Georgina, Samuel, George, James and John Fox, children of William Fox; Henry Jolly, Elizabeth Jolly, Elijah Stranger, Margaret Stranger, Elijah James and Alfred
Stranger, Richard Stranger, Edward Kelley, Harriet Kelley, Samuel and Sarah Kelley.
 
The following comprised the crew:— Thomas Pardy, master; James L. Davenport, mate: Peter N. Robert, second mate; Robert Stonelake, owner's son: John H. Follet, cook: Charles A. White, steward; Thomas Pardy, Henry Martel, Mathew Taylor, Samuel Pengelly and Frederick E. Ward, seamen.
 
The crew of the Lydia went out on a wage of 1/ per month, but on commencing to discharge the cargo in Australia their pay was suddenly increased to £14 per month. Before they had reached the Equator their drinking water, which was stored in wooden tubs, was almost too nauseous to drink. This state of affairs lasted some time, when a terrific thunder storm came on, during which
they were able to collect a fresh supply. When off the Cape they lost William Fox, Jun., who fell overboard while drawing a bucket of water.
 
They eventually safely arrived in Adelaide after a passage of 135 days. We believe that only two survive, namely, Mr. Elias Priaulx and Mr. Thomas Pardy, although it is possible one or more of the passengers may still be living in Australia.
 
This extract was sent in June, 1903, by Mr. Edward Kelley, one of the passengers, to Mr. Elijah J. Stranger. My late mother was the wife of George Fox, one of the children mentioned among the
passengers of the Lydia. It is quite possible that Mr. E. J. Stranger is still alive, although it is over four years since I heard of him.
Yours, &c.
Clifton Hill.
E. M. FOX.

The newspaper report of March 25, 1853, in the Comet, is transcribed by Victor Coysh in his 'A short history of the town of St Sampson', Guernsey, Toucan Press, 1985, pp. 18-19. The occupation of the passengers is given, and ends with a long comemorative poem of a somewhat melancholy nature by William Cox, Jr., dated Guernsey, March 25, 1853.

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