The Shackamaxon in Liverpool
Harbour
SHACKAMAXON
The "Shackamaxon" was described
as a frigate-like vessel of approx. 1200 tons (various tonnages ranging
from 1119 to 2500 quoted by different sources) belonging to the Port of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was launched on 10 July 1851 and went to
sea on 2 August. Length 175 feet overall, 37 feet 6 inches beam. Height
between decks 7 feet 3 inches. On 7 Feb 1853 an auction of her fittings
was advertised, so she may not have made further runs as an immigrant ship.
But she was obviously very new at the time. There is also reference to
a change in the English law about that time regarding the conditions under
which immigrants could be carried, and that was given as a possible reason
she left Liverpool hurriedly with a number of passengers who were already
sick/dying. -
The Shackamaxon in Liverpool
Harbour
The United States Ship "Shackamaxon"
(Capt. West) sailed with almost 700 passengers from Liverpool, England
on 4 Oct 1852, arriving Adelaide, South Australia on 19 Jan 1853. Included
in that number was the combined Eastment/Young family. On the shipping
records the family appeared as follows:
Unfortunately, the voyage was not a smooth one for many of those on board. Approximately 10% of the passengers, mostly children, died during the trip. One of those was young Edward Eastment, then aged 16 years. A report was written by the Religious Instructor of the Shackamaxon to the South Australian Colonial Secretary complaining about the incompetence of the surgeon Superintendent of the ship (Dr Allison). In that report Mr Fawsett quotes from a letter from one of the sailors, Thomas Moore, as follows:
"... Underneath the Steward (?), lay a boy named Richard Eastment about 15 yrs old, if he had been a dog he could not have been worse looked after by Dr. Allison. On the Wenesday (sic) night I asked for something for him, he gave me one powder for him - from that time till Monday afternoon he did not get one single thing from the doctor. Several times I sent his mother off to ask for some sago or medicine for him but she could not get anything. I one day sent her off to him for some sago; he told her to give him biscuits; she said her son was dying (sic) and could not eat biscuits. "Soak it, woman." & he contemptuously walked away from her. The poor woman's son died about 27th October a complete skeleton..."
The South Australian Register of Wednesday,
26th January, 1853, reported as follows:
"THE SHACKAMAXON" - We hear that a petition signed by more than 100 of the adult emirants by the Shackamaxon, has been presented to the Governor, praying for a investigation into the manner in which the Surgeon-Superintendent of that ship discharged his duties during the voyage. The circumstances certainly warrant the strictest enquiry, and the Surgeon-Superintendent will probably see his own interest in supporting the application which is said to have been made; while the new Immigration Agent is called upon to establish such a character for the effectual discharge of the duties of his office as may afford the public a guarantee for his future career."
An enquiry was held into Dr Allison's competence,
but the results do not appear to have ever been published.
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