Bound for South Australia 1836 Belief Systems Week 2 Captain Morgan

Overview Between February and July 1836 nine ships left Britain bound for the newly created province of South Australia. On-board the ships were passengers who over many long months braved the perils of the ocean, including some of the most treacherous seas in the world to begin a new life on the other side of the world. This resource uses the stories from these nine ships as recorded by the passengers and crew in their personal journals.

Contents Introduction Journal entries Inquiry Questions Relevant images Glossary of terms

Introduction We catch up with Captain Morgan and the Duke of York again this week. He has a lot on his mind with not only a pregnant wife at home to worry about but also a ferocious storm. However Captain Morgan’s religious beliefs and values help guide him through these tough times. Let’s have a closer look at the things that are important to Captain Morgan.

Journal entries Tuesday 1 March 1836 Captain Robert Morgan, on board the Duke of York wrote: This day commenced with strong winds and a heigh sea the vessel verry laboursome and the sea beating over the deck the dear passengers all sick the decks much lumbred and the people dissatisfied as to the commencement of our voyage at 11 AM made the land and took a pilot for the Isle of white at 2 PM came to anchor at the mother bank this afternoon blows verry hard gave 40 fathoms of cable my communion with God has not bing so sweet as at other times in the everning it blew a perfect gale let go the seacond anchor and gave 70 fathoms of cable I experianced how good and servesable this anchor is to the vessel and how much more is Christ to the beliveing soulfathoms

Thursday 3 March 1836 Captain Robert Morgan, on board the Duke of York wrote: … recd[?] a letter from my beloved wife and child and bless God for surporting her in the trying hour … read the explanation of the 145th Psalm and lay down in peacetrying hour

Friday 4 March 1836 Captain Robert Morgan, on board the Duke of York wrote: After private prayer and Christain conversation took boat and went to cows … – blowing hard let go the seacond anchor – sent a letter home to my beloved wife

Inquiry Questions What evidence do we see of Captain Morgan’s religious practices? What values and beliefs do we see evidence of onboard the Duke of York?

Images Sea sickness attitudes off the Lizard, by George French Angus, 1843

"Cowes" engraved by H.Winckles after a drawing by T.Barber, published in Barber's Isle of Wight, 1834

Glossary of terms Fathoms A fathom is a measure of depth in the imperial measurement system used in the nineteenth century. One fathom is equal to six feet or 1.83 metres. ‘Trying hour’ Labour, childbirth. Pilot To navigate difficult stretches of water, ships took pilots on board. Pilots were coastal navigators with knowledge of their local waters and they captained the ship through the channel or harbour. Return to Journal Entries