William SHEPHERD: Bounty immigrant

[Siouxsie]

Good afternoon,
I have recently received some information about my gggg grandfather (that is a mouthful when said aloud), William Shepherd.

William and his second wife Fanny (Reed) and three children arrived on 29th April 1844 on the vessel United Kingdom as Bounty immigrants in the 2nd wave of emigrants. He was an agricultural labourer from Helpringham, Lincolnshire.

He was sponsored by "Smith" of George Street Sydney and was indented for 3 months.

What I am really interested in is "Smith", and the Bounty scheme.....lots of references to books on the subject and some on women and Irish bounty immigrants, not much that has jumped out at me on the 2nd wave of Bounty emigrants.

Cheers
Susie

[LoneyBones]

Hi Susie,
I'd guess that "Smith" was the name of an Immigration Agent. Especially since your GGGG Grandfather was an Ag lab. and Smith was in George St Sydney.
Agents liaised between the Govt, the immigrants and the people who wanted workers.
It would depend if Smith was a large agency or not as to whether you will find any information about him/them.
We all know about Caroline Chisholm but there were many more people doing the same work at that time.
Good luck,
Leonie.

[Siouxsie]

Dear Leonie,
Many thanks........I am hoping a Rootschatter's family had dealings with "Smith" and has some info on the agency.

Cheers
Susie

[charlotteCH]

Hi, The Mitchell Library in Sydney may have early directories of Sydney and have Smith in it if indeed he's a Immigration agent as Leonie suggests maybe the case..
This is a possible way to go with this one.


How old was your William at the time of his arrival in Sydney?

good luck.

charlotte

[Siouxsie]

Dear Charlotte,
Many thanks.......I might send a request to the State Library. William was 32 (although the immigration records list him as 30).

Cheers
Susie

[charlotteCH]

Good idea Susie, and let us know how you go with this.

charlotte

[tropicalj]

I have a relative albeit from marriage  who on his marriage certificate  1/12/1843 in Sydney states Agent  his name was James Nicholson Smith and one of his witness was a Henry Hine Newman also Agent.  Just a coincidence no doubt cause he could have been any sort of agent. 

But a  thought  here you said he was sponsored by Smith of George Street  but  maybe Smith had land out of Sydney?

Jenn

[Siouxsie]

Dear Jenn,
Wow...maybe your relative was responsible for my gggg grandfather being here in Australia.....how cool would that be!!!!!

I am sure he had land out of Sydney, because the family moved out Parramatta way and farmed out there.......he then became the first orchardist in a line of orchardists and the sexton of St John's Cathedral at Parramatta (Samuel Marsden's Church).

The family apparently owned a lot of land out that way....and I have just received a photo of the family home as it stands today.
Cheers
Susie

Moderator Comment: Image Shrunk and turned for easy viewing

[LoneyBones]

I just had a quick look through my "Favourites" (but I now have hundreds, must do some cleaning  )
There are a couple of business directories on line from that era. I think it's via "City of Sydney" homepage. Try that anyway.
http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/

I found some early pubs and stuff there.
Leonie.