Mary Ann Aldis (1794-1889)
A Brig – such as the one Mary Ann may have sailed in. The Brig Anne, sailing from Kings Lynn was about the same size as this one.
It would be fanciful to suggest that Mary Ann and her children sailed on ‘The Ship Anne’ in April 1836 or 1837, arriving some 2-3 months later; we simply do not know. Passenger manifests have not survived, nor have quarantine registers from Grosse Ile Quebec. Other ships bound for Quebec were ‘The Ardwell’ which left Kings Lynn on the 5th of May 1836, ‘The Alibon’ which sailed from Lowestoft, and ‘The Brunswick’ and ‘Protector’ which went from Yarmouth. ‘The Norwich Mercury’ of the 18th of April 1836 also mentions ‘The Baltic’, ‘Wellington’ and ‘Venus’, also leaving from Yarmouth. When the brig ‘Shannon’ sailed from Kings
Lynn on Good Friday 1835, Daniel Gurney of Gurneys Bank (later Barclays) donated Bibles and Prayer Books. We cannot be certain even that Mary Ann did sail to Quebec rather than to America, which her subscription advertisement mentions; but the balance of probability is that she did. All that is certain is that by November 1837 the family had made its way to Chatham, Kent, Ontario where Mary Ann purchased land in the township of Raleigh.
Emigrants to Canada - Essential Clothing and Provisions
Contemporary records provide detailed information as to the requirements and recommendations for emigrants to Canada. “The Petworth Project” (p.49) lists the basic necessities as recommended in 1832: bedding, blankets, sheets etc, pewter plates or wooden trenchers, knives, forks and spoons, metal cups and mugs, tin kettles working tools of all descriptions.
A large tin can or watering pot is also recommended. Page 50 of the same work lists the recommended clothing for labourers at a total purchase cost of approximately £2.10.00 for a man and £1.17.00 for a woman.
A Fur Cap
A warm Great Coat
A fluching Jacket (fluching was a coarse woollen cloth)
Ditto Trowsers
A Duck Frock (a smock made of strong linen or cotton but lighter than canvas)
Two pairs Trowsers
Two Jersey Frocks
Four Shirts
Four pair Stockings
Three pairs Shoes
A Bible and a Prayer Book
Women in the same proportion, especially a warm cloak
Guestwick (Norfolk) parish papers include a list of the food and provisions taken on board by the Long family for their journey from Yarmouth in 1832. The total cost of these sundries was almost £70.
| Guestwick papers 1832,1836,1839,1840 PD5/21 and PD5/33(5) | |
|---|---|
| 1 & 2 - Loan for Emigration Document and Indenture signed by the Church Wardens on behalf of the ratepayers of Guestwick borrowing £200 from the Poor Law Commissioners in London. Exactly the same legal documentation as for Brinton. Obviously a standard document that went out to every parish that wanted to borrow money to assist emigration. | |
| Mr Southall’s Bill | 9..18..0 |
| Mr Fuller’s Bill | 1.. 4..0 |
| Girl Long pair of shoes | 4..6 |
| Potatoes | 4..0 |
| To the ship - Dinner and carrying luggage | 10..0 |
| Tuck and Keeler | 6..6 |
| Bottle of Rum and Gin | 8..4 |
| Candles | 6..6 |
| P Codling | £1..0..0 |
| R Hardingham | £3..0..0 |
| D. Hardingham | £3..0..0 |
| Martha Long | £4..0..0 |
| Journey to Yarmouth | £1..10..0 |
| (then a bit torn off. The total bill which was given as that of Mr Soames came to £60 | |
| American Expenses 1832 A full sheet headed Mr Soame To E. Lonthid(?) | |
|---|---|
| 3 - Small piece of paper, unfortunately with part missing detailing the expenses for an emigrant to America in 1832 | |
| Journey to Yarmouth | £1..10..0 |
| Passage For Long and family | £30..0..0 |
| 3cwts Ship Bread | £3..6..0 |
| 10 stone Flour | £1..6..8 |
| 4 stone prime bacon | £1..12..0 |
| 14 stone butter | £14..0..0 |
| 12 packets Groats | £2..6..0 |
| 14 lbs Cheese | £8..9..0 |
| 2 lbs tea | 10..8 |
| 14 lbs Sugar | 7..0 |
| 14 lbs Rice | 5..10 |
| 4 lbs currants | 3..0 |
| 1/4 lb pepper 1/4 lb mustard | 1..0 |
| 1 lb tobacco | 3..9 |
| 1/2 gallon vinegar | 1..8 |
| 1 packet peas | 2..0 |
| 3 1/2 lbs salt | 2 |
| 12 lbs treacle | 4..0 |
| Flour Sack | 2..6 |
| Biscuit Sacks | 5..0 |
| Treacle and Vinegar Bottles | 1..8 |
| Paid E Lonthid | £9..18..2 |
Mary Ann and her family, which included three teenage boys, would have needed all of this - and more!