Caernarfon Record Welsh diaries

Out of copyright. Unrestricted access

Two photocopied voyage diaries: Margaret Stephens, 1868; Edward Roberts, 1886. Diary by Margaret Stephens who sailed from Liverpool to Brisbane in 1866-1877 on board the clipper ship 'Naval Reserve'. A single woman aged 20, the daughter of the landlord of the Britannia Inn, Pool Street, Caernarfon, she recorded in detail her voyage under the watchful eyes of the ships Matron and Doctor. Margaret Stephens recorded the highlights and tragedies of the voyage, including infantile deaths, drownings and a mutiny. She only remained in Queensland a few months before sailing from Moreton Bay as companion to the wife of Captain De Young and governess to their children, to Callao, the Chincha Islands, South America and Cape Horn; celebrating her 21st birthday on 7 July 1857 aboard the 'Naval Reserve', soon after returning home. [The photocopied diary is written in English and Welsh]. Journal of Edward Roberts sailed from London, 22 May 1886 on board the 'Merkara' hoping to find employment and to see his brothers John and Richard who had emigrated to Australia several years earlier. Edward arrived in Townsville, 13 July 1886 and travelled by rail to Charters Towers where he was met by his brother Richard and family. [The photocopied journal is written in Welsh, there are two copies].