Thomas Arbuthnot (ship)

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The ship Thomas Arbuthnot was a fast sailing ship, weighing 523 tons (using old measurements), 621 tons (using new measurements). She carried the first Australian gold from Australia to England 1851.

Probably named after and owned by Thomas Arbuthnot of Meethill (1792-1872), merchant, shipowner and (Provost of Peterhead) [1].

History:

Owners: Arbuthnot (sic).
Port of Registry: Peterhead.
Constructed 1841 in Aberdeen.
She departed Greenock 17 June 1841 and arrived Port Phillip, Melbourne 2 October 1841 (the master was Brown).
She cleared from Melbourne 9 November 1841 for Calcutta (master was Brown).
Some repairs in 1842.
New keel and further repairs 1844.
In 1845 the ship was sheathed in yellow metal.
In 1847 she was surveyed in London; the master was Captain J Smith. She sailed for Madras.
She sailed from Portland 10 January 1847 to Victoria 4 May 1847 (the master was John Thomson).
She arrived Botany Bay, Sydney 17 January 1849
She sailed from Plymouth 28 October 1849 to Botany Bay, Sydney 3 February 1850 (master was G H Heaton) Passengers. Surgeon-Superintendent, Charles Edward Strutt, and Sir Arthur Hodgson both kept diaries. This ship is referred to in the title of Richard Reid & Cheryl Mongan's book A decent set of girls: The Irish Famine Orphans of the Thomas Arbuthnot, 1849-1850. Many of the girls, who had been brought to Australia under the scheme for female immigration promoted by Earl Grey, married and settled at Yass, and Gundagai, New South Wales. Others went to Moreton Bay, present day Brisbane [2].
She sailed Sydney (24 Sept 1850) to Gravesend.
Letter in "The Times" 10 Sept 1851 describing the problems bringing the first gold to England (Captain G H Heaton).
She sailed in ballast Sydney (1 July 1852) to Guam (the master was Banatyne, weight 621 tons).
She sailed from Plymouth (9 June 1855) to Port Adelaide, South Australia, arriving 12 September 1855 (Captain R Martin), surgeon J O'Donnell. 2 births 0 death, 252 emigrants.
She acted as a convict ship, carring 90 boys from Pankhurst Prison to Australia in 1858.