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ARRIVAL OF THE DOUGLAS AND OTHER SHIPS: Natal Witness March 2 1849
The following passenger lists include well-known coastal vessels which made regular voyages between Table Bay and Natal: the Gem, commanded by W. GLENDINING, Douglas with her captain, SMERDON, and Rosebud, under A MURISON. At 100 tons and less, these schooners were small - the mere thought of the choppy passage from the Cape makes one feel queasy. (Incidentally, it was the Rosebud which brought J C BYRNE to Natal from Table Bay in July 1851 to attend the proceedings of his bankruptcy case.)
Of particular note is the arrival of Rev Wm IRELAND, the American missionary and his first wife, Jane. They had called briefly at the Cape, leaving for Natal on January 14th and reaching that port just under a month later. It's possible that the Douglas had made a stop at Algoa Bay, as this ship usually made the journey in about 8 - 11 days, weather permitting.
Rev IRELAND was destined to take over from J C BRYANT (see letter from him in article on the Aliwal) who was retiring due to ill-health from the mission at Ifume where he had laboured for two years. This mission station was 35 miles south of Durban and 6 miles inland from the sea. The first Mrs Ireland died on January 25 1862, and the widower went home to America, bringing back with him to Natal a second wife, in 1865 - he chose well: she was Oriana GROUT, daughter of the veteran missionary, Rev Aldin GROUT. [See Pictures at end of Page.] Between 1865 and 1881, IRELAND was the principal of the now famous Adams College, and 5 children of the 7 born to him and Oriana survived.
In 1885 Wm Ireland read his historical paper on the occasion of the Jubilee of the American Mission; the basis for this paper was his original "Sketch of the Zulu Mission" written some time earlier. He died in 1888, and his widow was put in charge of the girls on the Mission. She returned to America in 1897, dying there in 1902, but their daughter Lilla Lacon IRELAND is recorded as being at Adams Mission in 1900. She too returned briefly to America, but came back to Natal, remaining until the 1930s and teaching at Inanda Seminary.
Rev IRELAND's rooms are still preserved at Adams College Museum, and his name and work are remembered with gratitude and esteem to the present day. Recently two of his descendants, Isabel JACKSON and Jane McINNES, visited Natal from Michigan and were welcomed by Adams College. It was a most auspicious moment for their pilgrimage, since Adams were celebrating the anniversary of the founding of the mission.
SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE
ARRIVALS
Feb 8th - Gem, schooner, 102 tons, W Glendining, from Table Bay, 12th January, from Algoa Bay, 29th January. About 90 tons general cargo.
PASSENGERS
From Cape Town
Capt Griffith
Lieut Rollins, 45th Regiment
Mr A Patrick
Mrs Edwards
Jos Helman
From Algoa Bay
Messrs
Kuhr
Caldecott and son
Mrs Webb and child
Four Labourers in the Steerage.
H Jargal, Agent.
Feb 15th - Douglas, schooner, 99 tons, W Smerdon, from Table Bay, January 14th. Cargo sundries.
PASSENGERS
Mrs Capt Shaw, 3 children, and 3 servants
Mr and the Rev Mr Ireland, American Missionary
Rev J Green, Rector of Pietermaritzburg
Mr Green, Surveyor, and Mrs Green, 1 child
and servant, Mr Whitta
Two Steerage passengers
GC Cato, Agent.
DEPARTURES
Feb 23rd - Douglas, in ballast.
The Rosebud is supposed to have sailed yesterday.
VESSELS EXPECTED
The Norfolk, from Algoa Bay.
Feb 16th - Rosebud, schooner, 83 tons, A Murison, from Cape Town, Jan 21st. 120 tons general cargo.
PASSENGERS
Mrs Short and family
Mrs Brown and family
Messrs
Fordham
Cannon
Herbert
JA Ross, Agent.
PASSENGERS
Major and Mrs Seagram and child
Messrs
Marquard
Hursthouse
Vos
Smuts
Martin
GC Cato, Agent
GC Cato, Agent.
Workington, from Table Bay.
GC Cato, Agent.
The Romp and the Elizabeth Jane were advertised in London to leave on the 10th or 15th November, and about 40 passengers had taken their passage for Natal.
GC Cato, Agent.
