Earnshaw Family Reunion. The Diary

For five years we searched for our Earnshaw family on passenger lists from England to New Zealand, with no luck. There is no mention of them on passenger lists or in newspaper articles announcing the arrival of ships. Then Bill Earnshaw of Hokitika heard of the Henry Schofield Diary at the library in Christchurch that mentioned an Earnshaw family. What a discovery!

Henry Schofield was born in 1841 at Longline Dore, near Sheffield, in Yorkshire, England. The 1851 census shows our Earnshaw family was living in Dore. It appears that Schofield and young Thomas Earnshaw jr. were good friends. Henry Schofield and our Earnshaw family travelled together from England to New Zealand on the Mermaid, commanded by Captain Rose, arriving at Lyttleton on February 16, 1864.

Fortunately, Henry Schofield kept a diary during the 99 day voyage and for some time after their arrival at Lyttleton Harbor in New Zealand. Following are the excerpts from Henry Schofields diary that mention our Earnshaw family. Some non-pertinent entries have been retained to show what life was like on the ship for Thomas, Elizabeth and children. We are grateful to Henry Schofield. It not for him we would not have this record.
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An account of Henry Schofield's travels and adventures from leaving home, Long Line Dore, near Sheffield, Yorkshire in England to New Zealand by the ship 'Mermaid' commanded by Captain Rose.

November 10th - fine
Started from Sheffield at half past 9 o'clock by train to London, after bidding parents good-bye. Arrived at London about 4 o'clock in the afternoon and went to Bishop's Lodging house No. 9 Pratt Terrace Kings Cross. Went to the shipping office Leadenhall street and paid my passage money. Sent two letters home, one for my father and the other for Earnshaws then went to bed.

November 11th - fine
Got our goods taken from Kings Cross Station to harbour which was about 10 miles, got permission to board and went to buy the tinned things that were wanted on the voyage. Got tea and bread and butter, then went to bed in my bunk on board the ship Mermaid for the first time in the East Indian docks.

November 16th - wet and windy
Had breakfast and dinner on salt pork, fish. Day of sickness. Saw France and tacked about a great deal, the wind not being a fair one. I went to bed very ill without tea.

November 22 - Sunday
For dinner plum pudding and bouilli. (Note 1) I lay me down on deck and talked of home sweet home. Got tea with last crust of bread from England which was made by my mother which was very good. Had services on deck by the Captain.

November 27 - Wet and windy
I was very wet all night from water coming overboard. For dinner potatoes and bouilli. Mrs. Earnshaw made me some flour pancakes.

November 29 - wet
Sunday. Had service in morning by the Captain. For dinner spice pudding, potatoes and bouilli. At night it began to thunder and lightening and blow, knocking the ship about, and boxes and everything else, and about 12 or 1 o'clock at night it was awful for we feared we should go down and nothing else.

December 2 - fine
Last night a young sailor got down amongst the young women, but was caught and sent to the top of main mast. I dreamt I was very poorly. The watch was found asleep. Was a fight between Cook and Tom Snowdan stopped by 2nd mate. Brown cut my hair. Took my bed on deck and slept in my bunk for first time, the weather beginning to get warm having always slept with Tom Earnshaw. for dinner beef and potatoes. Going about 4 knots per hour. Saw 2 ships then went to bed.

December 4 - fine
Got a cup of mountain flax tea from Mr. Earnshaw. Opened my box found a spice loaf and some apples. For dinner potatoes and bouilli, Hadfield completed being Captain of the mess. Saw one ship going about 10 knots. Borrowed Cassels book of Keers. At night a spice cake. Snowdon's lot having one which they thought was drugged. Singing and dancing.

December 5 - Dull
Tom Earnshaw commences being captain of our mess. helped him to bring groceries, biscuits, flour, raisins, pickles, lime juice, mustard, pepper and sale and salt beef and rice for dinner. Washed my towel. Mrs Earnshaw put a watchpocket in these trousers I got off brother James. I took two of Carthew's pills, not been very well and went to bed after dinner. Going about 9 knots an hours. Made a spice pudding for Sunday.

December 10 - fine
Commenced having more water with being in tropics. Learning Paul to cipher on slate. Saw a many flying fish. Going about 8 knots an hour. For dinner, spice pudding, pork and pea soup. Brown telling me where he had lived. Playing at Blind Mans Bluff and Cat and Mouse.

December 11 -fine
Saw a ship bound for England and a slaver for Africa. About 6 knots. For dinner pudding and bouilli. Read the family economist, the lice began to make their appearance. Saw flying fish.

December 13 - fine
5th Sunday. An Irishman died about 4 o'clock aged 42 and was put overboard into the sea at 12 o'clock. Had service. Saw a shark and a hawk on deck, very hot. Lice running about on deck. I got one onto me. The Captain and doctor and passengers had a wash on forecastle wanting them to come off. For dinner Spice pudding and Bouilli. Norwegian Tom told me of his father's deathly murder.

December 16 - fine
Saw some flying fish. For dinner plum pudding and bouilli. 6 knots per hour. Lightening at night and a steamer passed at about 12 o'clock homeward bound. A young man named Tom Bowman was found with a married woman in the watercloset by the Doctor at night. For tea currant cakes with butter. I slept on deck all night.

December 17 - fine
Got up off deck about 4 o'clock and saw a ship pass us, the Brahmin a large one bound for Brazil. Reading the British Trident of Naval Warfare. The wind drove us good way out of our course. Very hot expecting to cross the line very soon. Going about 3 knots per hour. We had a sham court and judge, about that affair the other night. For dinner pork and pea soup tea fruit cake. A little infant 5 months died in Mary Earnshaw's arms about 4 o'clock and put overboard at half past 4 o'clock.

December 21 - fine
Mr Grey died last night at 5 o'clock and was put overboard this morning at 8 o'clock aged 40 years, leaving a wife and 12 children. A fine day, good wind going about 10 knots per hour. For dinner plum pudding and salt pork and pea soup and preserved potatoes. Saw flying fish and a many birds from Trinidad. Joe went gathering, got about 3 for a spree and basket of tar and sticks set adrift on fire last night. 2 men caught in galley with a married woman.

December 25 - Christmas Day - hot, fine
About 1000 miles south of line 16 deg, 25 mins, lat, 30 deg. long at noon. 7 knots per hour. Got water, fresh potatoes and spice pudding for dinner which was good. I made it myself. We all had a glass of grog each given us. Began to eat spice loaf from home. Had service I felt quite happy. I finished my Captainsy tonight. My Earnshaw's hat went overboard.

December 28 - fine
Could hardly sleep last night for toothache and the rats over me. Saw 2 ships, 1 the Anglesea for Melbourne from London, 49 days out with about 500 passngers on board, going about 4 knots per hour. For dinner pea soup and pork. For tea fat cakes. I commenced eating my butter which was a very good, and brought from home and used some of my own sugar.

January 3 - fine
Lent Keer Arabian Nights. Borrowed Rose Douglas of him. 8 knots, 36 lat, 18 longitude. 8th Sunday. An Irishwoman died last night aged 61, put overboard at half past 8 o'clock this morning.

January 8 - fine
Had some mountain flax tea of Mrs. Earnshaw. Got billhook (Note 2) of hers cleaned and greased it and got some canvas off boat swain to layer it. Dinner Bouilli, pea soup and rice and tea cakes and butter from home. 8 knots an hour. The sun all beautiful and red, a very rough night.

January 11 - fine
Getting a piece of wood for my box to strengthen it. Caught a large Albatross, 10 foot across. Burnell knocked a man's hat of into sea. 2 knots per hour. For dinner rice and pork and pea soup for tea. A good loaf by Mr. Earnshaw. Broke my pocket knife. Sewing my sheet. Got some cocoa.
January 13 - fine
Dreamt that I was at book cooks. Saw great many albatross and Black fisMaking 6 rope loops. Gave Mrs. Earnshaw raisins, currants and my lard to make a spice cake. For dinner spice pudding and bouili. Going 11 knots, 42.5 Lat, S 14 degrees 11 mins. long east. An albatross shot, playing at dominoes.

January 15 - fine
Tom Earnshaw began to be Captain of Mess. I had a row with Mr. and Mrs. Earnshaw about George last night. Made an exchange with bells for a collar for aknife. A man tried to raffle a pair of buffalow horns for 2 pound. Today we were 11 hours and 120 min before London time. 6 knots. Dinner sale beef and rice. Washed my towel.

January 19 - fine
For breakfast scones and butter. For dinner pie made of pork and preserved potatoes, tea bread and butter. Going about 11 knots per hour. Reading Gulliver's Travels. George Earnshaw scaled himself. Near 4000 miles from New Zealand. The ship was going all on one side all night.

January 20 - fine and cold
Got a new set of sails as the others having been ripped to ribbons. Reading Cassels Paper. Bought a pocket knife and pipe for 1/- of Tom Earnshaw. 10 knots per hour. Tom had very bad toothache. I got provision for him. Passed the Crozet Islands, 45 lat, 46 degrees long. Dinner Bouillie. I gave Joe Peters some brandy. He was not feeling very well.

January 22 - fine
Dreaming of home with sister Hannah. Saw a manybirds, and some caught. Hanging clothes out for Mrs. Earnshaw.

January 26 - fine and cold
Washed my trousers. Saw a barque for Australia. Playing at cards with Earnshaws. 8 knots per hour, 79 deg. Long East. Past St. Paul's Islands. Dinner beef and spice pudding. Music at night.

January 30 - fine
My Captainship commenced. Got provisions, biscuits, raisins, salt and pickles, molasses, lime juice. Made a pudding of oatmeal. For dinner salt beef and Rice and pudding. Got my ring of Dick (Note 3) for 3. 12 knots per hour, 98 deg. Long. Made a spice pudding for Sunday. Had porter (Note 4) amongst us. Played at cards at Earnshaws.

February 2 - dull
Got water and biscuit currents, tea, sugar and butter. Made a pudding for dinner. Beef and spice pudding. Was very rough and wintry, but after going about 13 knots per hour, 116 deg. long. Tom Earnshaw broke J. Browns box lid. Playing at cards with Earnshaws.

February 3 - wet
Got water, biscuits, coffee, flour, cheese, grinding coffee. Made a loaf spice pudding for dinner, boulli. Reading Mr. H. book to Earnshaws. 2 knots per hour, 120 deg. long. made a loaf at night. Got spice loaf of Earnshawes.

February 4 - fine
I dreamt I was going with the milkcart. Got water biscuits, made a spice pudding and a loaf. Dinner pork and pea soup and lots of fishes. Bought a waistcoat of Copsey 1/6 and Tom a coat for 4/6. 9 knots, 124 deg. long. had a squall put a hook pot in my box. Was 8 hours and 16 mins. before London sailors telling tales one of childbirth.

February 5 - fine, equally very cold and hail
Got water biscuits and flour oatmeak, preserved potatoes and pie for dinner. 10 knots per hour 130 deg. long. Finished my Captainship and sailor put in irons for being drunk and chained to main mast.

February 8th - fine
Washed my jacket and towel. Sailor set free from prison. Scraping and painting masts. Dinner pie pork and pea soup. Tea bread and cold port. Talking with Wells and Carthew about N.Z. Learing a sailor to read and learning me to plait 6 going about 5 knots, 114 deb. long. reading ship's papers to Earnshaws.

February 10th - fine and cold
Was talking with the prisoner Hood till 12 o'clock at night on deck. Saw Aurora Boreales in Southern region for first time and Magellen clouds and the Southern Cross had a row with Scotch on forecastle about a lad. A man in a fit. Went to sleep in afternoon. Washing ordered to be stopped. 9 knots, 153 deg. long. Row between Scotch and Irish.

February 12 - fine and warm
Commenced drawing cable chain out of hold and made fast to both anchors which was a great day with us. 100 miles of Stewart Island. Had a row with burrell and Harsale about tea and flour.

February 13 - fine and warm
Dreaming of Aunt Matilda and ship being wrecked. Dinner pie, rice and salt beef. Cleaning our mess out. The sailors cleaning and washing the ship side. I went to top of foremast at 2 o'clock, saw a ship the first for 6 weeks. 7 knots per hour, 165 deg. long, 80 miles from Stewart Island. I had toothache very bad, the first mate saw land the first time from leaving England from mainmast. Head at 7 o'clock at night which was then Snares rocks. Wrote a letter for Earnshaws to George Keene.

February 15th -
Saw land of otago at 6 o'clock in the morning at 10 knots per hour. Got anchors overside. Saw a ship and a whale screwed my box down. Dinner pork and pea soup. Past the brig Hero from the Bluff harbor to Sydney with 400 sheep on boat. Got on topmast. Saw Timaru.

February 16 - fine and calm
Got up about 5 o'clock. Saw Akaroa about 6 miles off and got up in top foremast and had a good view of it. Heaved the lead. 30 fathom. Saw porpoises and sharks and whales, ducks and seaweed and shrimps and many other things and a many vessels. Breakfast bread and butter. Dinner salt beef, pickles and potatoes. Tea bread and butter. Past pigeon Bay, saw Lyttelton heads. Got to them about 6 o'clock when the harbour master came on board and piloted us in the harbour. When we dropped anchor at 20 min. past 7 o'clock pm in Port, the inspectors came on board at 8 went through the vessel, saw the Brothers Pride which had lost 48 passengers in her voyage.

February 17th - fine and hot
Got up between 4 and 5 o'clock. Knocked chaff out of my bed. Washed myself and tied all up ready to be off. A hamper of vegetables and fish for breakfast for first chap came on board. Bread and butter and tea. Made ready and got off Mermaid about 1 o'clock into a little boat rowed to Lyttelton. Cost 1/6. Got dinner 1/6 and then started to go over the hills at 2 o'clock was very hot, saw 9 ships in the harbour. Carrying my bedding and got to Ferrymead at 5 o'clock. Took train to Christchurch 1/3 and then started to go up to the country to Papanui. Left Mr. and Mrs. Earnshaw and children at a house in Durham Street and we got to Mr. Bookers Papanui about 9 o'clock at night. Very tired, then got tea and went to bed, having been 99 days on board the ship "Mermaid" and 101 days from my father's home in England to a home in New Zealand.

Note 1. Bouilli \Bou`illi"\, n. [F., fr. bouillir to boil.] (Cookery) Boiled or stewed meat; beef boiled with vegetables in water from which its gravy is to be made; beef from which bouillon or soup has been made. [1913 Webster]