Letters of recommendation for Captain David Jones
Maker
Houlder Line
(British, 1856 - 1980)
Date1864 - 1888
Object numberANMS0239[001]
NameTestimonial
MediumInk on paper
DimensionsOverall: 258 × 202 mm, 0.05 kg
ClassificationsEphemera
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Joan Jones
DescriptionEleven typed letters recommending Captain David Jones. There are eleven in total, each from a different person or company of different locations in England and Australia. The letters range between the dates 28 March 1866 and 10 May 1888.
The letters of recommendation are from:
James Greig – Master of QUEEN OF MONTROSE, 1864
John Rees – Master of XANTHIPPE, 1866
John N. Evans – Owner of KILLIA LASS, 1887
Robert Dickens and Company – 1887
W. Siddeley and Company – The United Australian Coastal Service, 1887
John Potter and Company – 1888
F. Green and Company – 1888
W. Edward Jones – The Gwynedd Shipping Company Limited, 1888
Lewis Davies – 1888
Lewis Davies and Company – 1888
Houlder, Brothers and Company – 1888
At the time of these letters being written, Captain Jones was late of the ship CARDIGAN CASTLE and was applying for positions in Melbourne, Australia.HistoryCaptain David Jones was born at Aberaeron, Cardiganshire, South Wales on February 3, 1841. He died 25 December 1926, aged 85 years. He was, in his early years, master of many famous clippers, including the steamer CARDIGAN CASTLE, on which he made six trips to Australia. In 1885 he accepted a position as chief surveyor of the Marine Underwriters' Association in Melbourne. In 1889 he left this position to take up office with the Victorian Stevedores' Company. He retired eight years later to Armadale, Victoria. He is buried at the Williamstown Cemetery.
In addition to being highly recommended by these shipping agentrs and owners, Captain Jones was highly regarded by those who sailed with him. In an extract from the Sydney Morning Herald on 21 August 1883, a report was published reagrding the exceptionally good conditions on board the CARDIGAN CASTLE on its arrival into Sydney:
"The Immigrant Ship CARDIGAN CASTLE
The fine iron clipper ship CARDIGAN CASTLE, of the Victoria Line, entered the Heads yesterday afternoon, having 384 Government immigrants on board. The steam-tug Commodore towed her to Watson's Bay where she was boarded by Dr Sibley, the assistant health officer who made a thorough inspection of the whole of the interior arrangements of the vessel, carefully examined the passengers and, ascertaining there had been no infectious sickness during the voyage, at once granted her pratique, and expressed a high opinion of the condition of every part of the ship and the appearance of the immigrants.
The CARDIGAN CASTLE was then towed to an anchorage in the upper part of Neutral Bay, where she was boarded by our reporter, who found every part of the ship to be in the most scrupulous order and as clean as hands could make it. There was also an abscence of that unpleasant odour which seems peculiar to immigrant vessels, the most strict discipline having been exercised with regard to cleanliness; and there is not the least doubt that the absence of sickness of a contagious or infectious nature was due entirely to the observation of this primary law of health. Notwithstanding that discipline has been strict, the most harmonious relations appear to have existed between the officers and crew of the ship and their numerous passengers. The surgeon-superintendent is Mr J.M.McDonagh, F.R.C.S., I., son of Dr.McDonagh, of this city and the matron is Miss Chicken.
The fact that there has been little or no sickness, and that the ship comes into port in admirable order, is some testimony to the manner in which the surgeon-superintendent performed his duties; but in addition to this is the fact that he has been presented with addresses from the married couples, single men and single women all of the most flattering kind. That from the married people spoke of the many acts of kindness they had received from him, and of his "chronic good humour," which did so much to cheer up the sick, and added that he had done all in his power to make th voyage a pleasant one.
Captain David Jones, the master of the CARDIGAN CASTLE was also the recipient of an address from the whole of the immigrants in which he was thanked for the "extreme kindness and attention to their welfare" which he had shown. Whether or not Miss Chicken got a testimonial or not did not transpire but it was easily seen that she had acquitted herself to the satisfaction not only of the captain and surgeon but also of her numerous charges.
The immigrants are classified as follows:-
Married couples, 50; single men, 84; single women, 82; girls under 12, 49; infants ,18 - a total of 384 souls, equal to 316 statute adults. The general health of the community on board was remarkably good during the whole voyage. The only deaths that occurred were those of three infants under one year, from convulions, and there was one premature birth. The immigrants are spoken of as cleanly and respectable people, which their appearance fully confirms. Amongst the males are general labourers, shipsmiths, blacksmiths, carpernters and joiners, stonemasons, plasterers, railway porters, bakers, plumbers and gasfitters, bricklayers, sawyers, gardeners, farmers.The single women are mostly domestic servants.
As the whole of the arrangements on board were excellent in every respect, it may be as well to state on the testimony of Captain Jones and the surgeon, that the officer for immigration at London, Mr. T.H. Phillips, was most particular in seeing that the food was of the best quality , and that the interests of the immigrants were carefully studied, even to the minutest detail. "SignificanceThese papers of Captain Jones provide a continuous link from seaman to master in one sailor's life. The connection with Australia is strong - having captained ships here from England, Captain Jones emigrated and continued his
association with the sea. He was a very highly respected master as is evidenced in these numerous letters of introduction and recommendation by the owners of the vessels he captained.
