Was not previously married

Wayne Index Archives
c501 - 875 - 1747
or
c301 - 875 - 1747

Passengers per "Charles Kerr"
From London to Launceston arriving 20th November 1835 with 229 immigrants.

KERRISON
Stephen Aged 35 Bailiff of shepherd
Mary 33
Caroline 15
John 13
Eliza 12
Stephen jnr 6
Cornelius 4
Harriett 4
James 1

Was not previously married.

Possibly two other children Stephen KERRISON, infant, buried 20th May 1825, Norfolk, England and Mary KERRISON, infant, buried 28th May 1825, Norfolk, England.

Lived married life in Norfolk England, Swan Bay East Tamar and "Wyndham" Cottage, Winkleigh, Tasmania, Australia.

Wayne Index Archives
c501 - 875 - 1747
or
c301 - 875 - 1747

Passengers per "Charles Kerr"
From London to Launceston arriving 20th November 1835 with 229 immigrants.

KERRISON
Stephen Aged 35 Bailiff of shepherd
Mary 33
Caroline 15
John 13
Eliza 12
Stephen jnr 6
Cornelius 4
Harriett 4
James 1


Stephen KERRISON, born 13 May 1798, baptized 3 Jun 1798, Wymondham, Norfolk, England, died 28 Oct 1881, buried Supply Creek, West Tamar, Tasmania. SOURCE NOTES: The Kerrison family departed from Gravesend, on the Thames estuary, on board the "Charles Kerr" 0n 9.7.1835. She arrived at Launceston on 20.11.1835, a voyage of 134 days - very slow, even by her standards. The actual date of arrival is in doubt. As recorded in "Kerrison in Tasmania", the family came ashore on 21.11.1835, all that is except for Caroline, who came ashore on 19 November. A letter from the Archives Office of Tasmania, dated 18 Dec 1981, states that the “Charles Kerr” arrived on 20 Nov.

The "Charles Kerr' was a ship (i.e. at least 3 masts, all square rigged) of 463 tons, and had been built at Sunderland in 1826. She later made at least one voyage as a convict transport, arriving Hobart on 9.10.1837 after a voyage of 123 days.

Stephen went into the services of Mr. J. Cox of "Clarendon", near Launceston. His father was the man who built the first road over the Blue Mountains. James Cox married Eliza Eddington, the illegitimate daughter of David Collins, who was in charge of the frist settlement of Hobart. Married 2 Oct1820, St.Mary&St.Thos., Norfolk, England, Mary GOODINGS, born about 1802, died 24 Jan 1880, Launceston, Tasmania.


INFO FROM TASMANIA: THE VOYAGE; CSO1/815/17435; pages 173-175 ( Tassy Records):

Launceston, Nov 20th., 1835.
To James Henty, Esquire.
Sir,
A sense of duty towards an individual whose ability as a Seaman and whose conduct as a Gentleman during the Voyage of the "Charles Kerr" from England to this place - it would be injustice to allow to remain unnoticed, induced me to intrude myself on your notice by means of this letter with a view to bring that conduct under the attention of the Authority of this Colony by whom I am convinced it will not fail to be duly appreciated.

For some time before the arrival of the "Charles Kerr" at this port, it was the wish of all persons on board, to present Captain Arnold with a note of thanks for his very gentlemanly conduct and great attention towards them on the passage, and upon making the Land on Tuesday last, I at the request of the passengers, generally addressed a note to the superintendant, desiring him to inform Captain Arnold of their wish and to know when it would be convenient to him to receive a deputation for the purpose of presenting it.

To that note I received a reply from Mr. Weymouth informing us that Captain Arnold did not feel himself at liberty to leave for one moment the duty of his ship, a prudence we have since seen the value of, as we had not then heard the melancholy accounts of the wrecks on King George's Headland or Sound , - but upon the Pilot coming on board to take charge of the ship, he would be proud to receive the proposed deputation - the pilot came on board on Wednesday morning - the remainder of that day was - and we waitred until afternoon when after speaking to Mr Weymouth, I received a note from him informing me that Captain Arnold did not want to receive any formal tribute of thanks from the passengers - a decision we had not time or oppurtunity to prevail on him to forego - to which you of your own knowledge can bear testimony.

We believe his public duties and the anxiety consequent on approaching the port, banished from his mind all feelings of a private nature and it is therefore our wish that the authorities should not be precluded by his disinterestedness from knowing our sentiments recollecting this truly meritorious and amiable commander. I, in consequence, take the liberty to request on behalf of the passengers generally that you as consigner (consignee?) of the "Charles Kerr" will take an opportunity of laying before them the accompanying paper which however humbly couched will vie in sincerity with one of a a more elaborate or eloquent description.
I am, Sir, with much respect, your
obedient and humble servant, signed James Sibley.


CSO1/815/17435;pages 176-178:
To Hargord Arnold, Esq., Commander of the "Charles Kerr":
Bass Strait, November 28th 1835.

Sir,
We, the undersigned passengers of the "Charles Kerr" from England to Van Diemen's Land, desire, previous to leaving the vessel, to present you with our sincere and heartfelt thanks for the gentlemanly conduct and for the kind and considerate attention you have shown us during the time we have been on the voyage.

Without referring to the reasons that induced us to leave England by your ship, or our pretensions on arriving in the land of our adoption, we consider ourselves peculiarly fortunate that you should have been chosen to conduct our Voyage from that part of the World to this, for without intending any disrespect to the service of which you are unquestionably destined to become a distinguished member - we imagine some improper person might have been found, but I feel convinced at the same time, that no one more proper than yourself could possibly have been selected to conduct so important and delicate a commission.

It had given us great pleasure to observe and we have equal pleasure in recording that during the indisposition of your officers and from numerous inexplicable causes, peculiarly incident in the life of a seaman, the general regard you have shown to the comfort of the passengers and crew, that steady perseverence of conduct and promptness of execution we cannot too much admire and but insufficiently commend.

We have only now, Sir, to express a hope, that during the time you may think proper to continue in your present important and enterprising a situation, your voyage may be prosperous and happy, that the conduct by which you have been guided on the present occasion, may guide you the remainder of your public life, and that upon your retirement into private society, you may carry with you the kind protection(?) of that providence who through you have so graciously conducted us to the shores of this Land, the approbation fo your friends and the testimony of a good conscience, an Honest Man's Best Reward.

signed (48 passengers, including 22 men including Steven Kerrison).

There was an article about the “Supply River Church” and the families who worshipped there on 5th May 2007, page 31.1