Emigration/Shipping - Robert Elam PHARR- COMPLETED

[Joan Tate]

Hi John
No I haven't received any from you either. I'll attach the certificate now and we'll have to come up with something.
Joan

Moderator Comment: certificate removed only a small section of a certificate may be displayed for help with handwriting.

[jannieg]

Hi I am also looking for information on the Pharr family I am the granddaughter of Lillian Mary Josephine Pharr daughter of Henry Hero and sister of James and John

any information you have would be very helpful

[ferndale]

Hi Jannieg,

Lovely to hear from you, and a big apology to all the other replies.  Sorry I have not been back in tough with you all, but I am nursing my mum with cancer, so I'm away quite a lot.  Going away again tomorrow.

This is just to let you know you are not forgotten.

Cheers for now Ferndale.

[nhabe]

I have been researching the Pharrs for years in the U.S. The mention
of Robert Elam Pharr (b. 1828) got my interest. He disappeared in the late 1840's
and  headed for the California Gold Rush. Last that was ever heard was that he was
In Dubin, NSW. He was never heard from again. If this is the same person I can help
With his ancestors (Ireland/North Carolina/Tennessee, etc).

"He married a fine Irish Catholic girl" has been recorded.

I actually  have been to Sydney and Brisbane on a U .S. Destroyer in
The 1950's. Finest people I ever met.

Jim

[nhabe]

I attempted to send a scan of the entire page in my book concerning Robert Elam Pharr. It apparently was too large. I chopped the scan to a smaller section of the page.

Jim

Louisiana, USA

Still to large. I'll just type the paragraph:

"Robert Elam Pharr was born in Cabarrus Co. N. C. and baptized by Rev. John McCamey Wilson, pastor, in 1828. He moved with his parents Robert Pharr 1.4.2 and Nancy Allen near Raleigh, Shelby Co. Tenn. in 1837. He joined the Presbyterian Church in 11/22/1844. He went to California in the "gold rush" in 1847 and soon afterwards went to Australia. In 1888 he was living in Dubbs, New South Wales, and engaged in railway construction work (Henry Newton Pharr tried to contact some member of the family in Australia in 1950 but had no response to his letters)"

Henry Newton Pharr is the author of "Pharrs and Farrs", c 1955 and has an extensive ancestry/history of the Pharrs. Book has over 500 pages. I do have a very rare original book.

Moderator: Please see that interested parties see this message. It appears that we may be researching the same person. I have extensive files on the Pharrs no recorded in the book.

[capitalkiwi]

Hello Pharr researchers,

I am a college professor doing some research into early shipping disputes in Australia/NZ, and came across this information that I thought you might find helpful.

Robert Elam Pharr was a seaman aboard the barque "Tartar" (312t, port of registry San Francisco).

The vessel arrived in Port Jackson, Sydney NSW on 22 August 1853. The vessel had left San Fran on 22 April 1853 and travelled via the Sandwich Islands and New Zealand. It had a crew of 16, 150 steerage passengers, and 2 cabin passengers (8 came from Sandwich Is, none from NZ it would seem). The master's name was Matthew Madigan.

Shortly after arriving in Sydney Pharr and a crewmate (the steward William Henry Lewis) had the Tartar arrested in order to claim unpaid wages in the Vice Admiralty Court of New South Wales.

In the action he is named as Robert Elam Pharr, seaman, “of Sydney”, claiming £20
(also William Henry Lewis, steward, “of Sydney”, claiming £62)

From my research it appears that most people taking actions in the Vice Ad Court were described as "of Sydney", even if they had come straight from the US/UK, which I believe was a lawyer's "little white lie" in order to make sure there were no issues of jurisdiction (eg, look, here's a local lad claiming wages, nothing unusual here). Pharr's claim was filed on 31 August 1853 and withdrawn a few days later, again not an uncommon outcome, suggesting they got paid.

This material came from the NSW State Records office near Penrith, which holds the Vice Admiralty Court files (his is case no 103), which I have photographed. The arrival records for the Tartar can be found in the "ships and mariners in Australian waters" database found on their website - just go to the arrival month mentioned above and they had pdfs of the records.

I hope this helps - it was a pleasant surprise to find the name (such a distinct one!) when I searched for more details. In exchange I would gladly receive anything that helped flesh out his story a little post arrival in Sydney.

Best wishes,

capitalkiwi

[ferndale]

Hi John,

Better late than never.  I deeply apologise for my very late delay.  My mum passed after about 18 mths  ago of cancer, then I got viral meningitis and UVitis . So I am finally getting back to the Pharr's and family history in general.

I spoke to a newly found Pharr cousin today (we are in Oz), but a very busy man, but has promised to let me have any contacts or info.   

New cousin is grand son of my grandfathers sister.  Willing to share info too Cousin?

Cheers Ferndale.

[ferndale]

Hi I am also looking for information on the Pharr family I am the granddaughter of Lillian Mary Josephine Pharr daughter of Henry Hero and sister of James and John

any information you have would be very helpful

Hi jannieg,

I am the great niece thru marriage  to James Fredrick Pharr who  married my grandfather's sister
Elsie Myra Stapleton.(See Qld BDM's).  I spoke to James' grandson last weekend who  lives in Victoria, Australia, but he is going overseas but has told me there is info on the Pharr family going back to the 11th Century and 14th century for the Stapletons,  back to Germany. (Boy did my eyes light up).  He has promised to contact the person who now has the files, but I'm not holding my breath just yet.

My mother used to play with James's children during the war years (WW2).
I am more than willing to exchange any info.  Cheers Ferndale.

[Craigellachie2019]

If anyone is still interested in the Pharr line - I have only just become aware of it.  I am in Qld, Australia.  My line is McAuliffe and one married a Stapleton and those who know where Pharr fits may be interested in liaising.  I am trying to complete the McAuliffe tree to the best of my ability - and hoping the elusive Achilles that popped in in Ireland will be able to be traced.