Holland-Hayward Family

Voyage of the S.S. 'Bayley'

The Bayley's big sister!!!

George P. Holland kept a diary of his voyage from Wellington to London, via Cape Horn, in what was said to be in October to December 1880, at the age of 21. However, as he married in New Zealand on 1 January 1881, the date of the voyage is probably some time later. This would explain the reference to 'Gertie' in the text and also Gertrude's sister's address at Peasenhall. George recorded his date of departure from Wellington as Wednesday 15 October, which was not possible in 1880 or (apparently) in subsequent years until 1890, when 15 October occurred on a Wednesday.

Although the location of the original is presently unknown to myself, a handwritten transcript of the diary, which was of approximately 22 pages, has also been created and distributed among descendants. The following is a copy of that.

For the most part, spelling mistakes, phonetic spellings and (lack of basic) grammar are copied directly from the transcript. It is assumed that these are copies of the originals - which is what the transcriber aimed to do. The original transcriber was Ngaire Motley (nee Holland) of Matamata. Some use of capitals or removal of capitals has occurred in the course of the typescript to make reading easier though.

Left Wellington 15 Oct. 1880 (or more likely 1890), Wednesday, at 3 p.m. Strong wind was blowing and blew all night.

16th. Strong wind still blowing and a very heavy sea is running the ship seems at the mercy of the waves for we are shipping sea's all quarters the chaps say they never saw her role so much before, it is owing to her deck being loaded with coal which makes her top heavy so far we have a favourable wind felt quite sick a little.

17th. Fair wind sea very rough.

18th. Change of wind sea still rough this should be Saturday, but we are to have two Saturday's so as to loose time the wind is blowing very strong the ship not rolling so much. 7 p.m. the S.S. Arawara just showing in sight she was to have left a day after us it is still the 18th the S.S. Arawara passed us during the night strong wind still blowing accompanied with hale and rain the sea is still rough we have a favourable wind the main engines bearing run hot and they had to be stoped. Now to Bunk and get ready for 12 o'clock on duty. every sines (signs) of a rough night, by the by this is grog night, anyone can have mine rum. Ho it is to rum for me.

19th. At last it is Sunday a good fair breeze blowing every think going well, this is duff day. Ho - what duff a current here and their. I would pitty any one that fell over board after eating it. This is our first Sunday at sea every think must goisn't just the same.

20th. A fine day alls well fair wind.

21st. Fair wind but raining heavy swell roling. Salt junk for the first time, years salted by the taste of it. I am going to have all night in bed tonight what a lark.

Oct. 22nd. Thunder & lighting first thing this morning with hail storm since its cleared up and has been a fine day with a fair wind the sea is much carmer (calmer). We had salt pack and pea soup for the time today and for a wonder it was very good and I have saved some soup for supper. I have been on day duty today so have a night in it is a beautiful moon light night.

23rd. Head wind with heavy rain all day in the morning we passed a large iceberg it look beautiful it is now evening and it is blowing and rain hard we have had a game of cards and a read and now to bed 11 p.m.

24th. Hardly any winds a nice fine day.

25th. Very wet day with light head wind we went slow through the water.

26th. Sunday at last although it 'as been a far shorter week than last, it is a beautiful day light fair wind and sea carmer you would not know you was on board a steamship only for the engines going. duff day again being on day duty I have little to do today but to relieve others trim lamps etc.

27th. A beautiful day light fair wind going slow.

28th. Dull day with fair wind.

29th. Wet morning but fair wind.

30th. Fine day and fair wind.

31st. Another fine day and good fair wind.

Nov. 1st. Dull day with head wind passed a American ship.

Nov. 2nd A good strong fair wind to ships in sight 10:30 just stoke (spoke?) to one she is the barque Dunnadale of Liverpool homeward bound. 11:30 Second barque is the Eudora of Hailafax (Halifax), Nova Scotia still another ship in sight a head of us she did not come near us so we don't know any think about her we have gone better today than ever we went by me we should pass the Horn early tomorrow morning this is Sunday again. Engines been going very slow all the week they are affraid of the coal.

Nov. 3rd. A fine day with light fair wind nearly carme pass the island of Diago Bamarey at 11:30 a.m. we had a good view of them being quite clear all so passed the Island of Tierera Delfuegl (Tierra del Fuego) at 4 p.m. Pass Cape Horn at 7:30 p.m. every think quite clean we have now left the Pacific ocean and now we are in the Atlantic ocean.

Nov. 4th. A fine morning winds we are now in full view of Statin Island I is isskabeta by Port. I have been blacksmithing all day today, blacksmithing aboard ship is a treat no tools but a hammer and chisal, but I got on fine, we passed several ships first thing this morning.

Nov. 5th. A fine day with light head winds being the 5th grog was served out and we had a good display of fire works it is now quite a carme evening.

Nov. 6th. A strong starboard wind. No sea going fairly well, this evening I have been stocking darning [I say darn them] it is out of my line it is the first I have heaver (ever) done in my life I keep my self going in puting botton (button) on. I can manage that job but darn stocking makes my neck acke (ache).

Nov. 7th. This is the day next month I recken we shall be home we have had a head wind one of the friging engines is knock up and we work to 12 at night to get her from together.

Nov. 8th. Still head winds going slow. We have worked alday at the engine and 'as got her going at 7:30 p.m. she is going right again so far it is rather cold consider where we are.

Nov. 9th. We have still ahead wind with thick small rain so thick the piped to blew the fog horn so it 'as been a wet miserable Sunday again it is now evening the wind 'as change and we have a fair wind my it continue we have been singing hymes all the evening it is still very cold.

Nov. 10th. Very thick weather with head wind and a good strong wind at that. I have to start the watch on the engine again from 11 till 4 night and day.

Nov. 11th. Still the same saught of weather a yesterday.

Nov. 12th. Still that thick dull weather with head winds the water and weather is geting warm I am to start the 12 to 6 watch.

Nov. 13th. Still that strong head wind with rain I had my hair cut to night.

Nov. 14th. And still we have that strong head wind and we are onley going 8¼ miles an hour we shall be a month of Sunday's at this rate. We shall never get home at the date I reckon on, it is now a beautiful clear night.

Nov. 15th. Still we have the head winds although it is very hot this being the hotest day we have had, their is one thing the wind helps to cool us, the engines starts on longer hours today.

Nov. 16th. Sunday Pudding day again. The watch is altered again. I am on the 2 till eight watch. Their is some flying fish abaout. We passed into the Tropice last evening the 16 evening we are now off the Island of Trinidada it has been a fine day with the same cool breeze, several tell me I am looking fatter in the face. and that I have picked up well. Well I think I am if the glass is true.

Nov. 17th. Still head winds we crossed the sun to day as the sun is traveling south and we are going North so now we are running from the sun instead of to it, it is grand weather considering where we are although it is hot enough.

Nov. 18th. Head wind I have been drinking lime juice cooled on ice and well I know it for it a give me the grippe.

Nov. 19th. I have beening running all night and had to go to the captain. I have been bad all day Mr Ashford the 3rd did my watch for me this afternoon every one is very good but how I wish I was home with my Gertie. (Note that this is three years before he met Gertrude Hayward)

Nov. 20th. I am a bit better but want somethink nice I and feading on arroroot and beaf tea, dinner time I am coming on fine I will try and go on duty at two o'clock I can take it earley we have a S. beam wind.

Nov. 21st. S. beam wind I am geting right again a little week I run the forward engine from 12 to 6 it is  beautiful moonlight evening with nice cool wind.

Nov. 22nd. Still the nice cool beam wind may it keep the same for another week we crossed the line at 7:30 p.m. this evening.

Nov. 23rd. Sunday again a light beam wind very warm day I will sleep on deck to night as it is a beautiful we have been Psalms singing this evening.

Nov. 24th. Very close day heavey showers of rain it 'has been the hotest day we have had my closes (clothes) is ringing wet I must change, all the fireman 'as been some day, with onley their thin pants on didn't they enjoy the rain to stand in, their was a ship in sight this morning.

Nov. 25th. Head wind I had a bad night of it last night I expect after the very hot day brought on a bilious attack so I feel very weak today and it very hot a night sleep will pick me up I hope.

Nov. 26th. A light head wind I feel much better this morning the engines have been running long hours of late as the water was so hot the heat of the (day?) commence to go down, today it is 79. It was 83 yesterday this is good news for us is the down tendency. 

Nov. 27th. A light cool head wind.

Nov. 28th. Everythink about the same I have been putting 2 patches on the behind of my pants another change in the watch I am now on the 4 till ten watch.

Nov. 29th. Head winds we crossed early this morning the 22 degree north we are now out of the tropics.

Nov. 30th. Sunday head wind we just passed the first steamer out wards bound at 9 a.m. evening past Tenerriff, Las Palmas in sight.

Dec. 1st. Anchored at Las Palmas a 3:30 a.m. left again at 45 past nine. Las Palmas is a queer looking place white houses with flat roof the brown boots surround the ships with thing for sale but they have to keep off till the Doctor 'as pass us all we all had to look over the side of the ship for him to look at.

Dec. 2nd. Light fair wind till noon and after a strong wind sprung up on the port bow the sea is getting rough and the ship roling.

Dec. 3rd. Strong port bow wind it has been blowing all night with rain and lighting the sea is rough the ship is roling very much pea soup day and all well.

Dec. 4th. Strong bow winds the ship 'as been piching and rolling terable al nigh I could get no sleep owing to the engine racing. Their 'as been several ship about.

Dec. 5th. Head wind the sea 'as gone down a little but we are going very slow not much over half speed through the water.

Dec. 6th. Fair beam wind ship roling very much we entered the Bay of Biskay this after noon.

Dec. 7th. Sunday a good fair wind sea a bit rough the ship roling a lot we have seen several ships today.

Dec. 8th. Monday strong head wind all night and day we left the Bay about 9 a.m. the wind is gone down a little now dinner time, we have sighted a good few ships we had the first sight of old England last night although I smelt it last night it was so cold.

Dec. 9th. We are in the chanel some were (where) but I can't get to know for it is very thick small rain but we cannot se the land. Evening we can se the light of a lot of towns we got out pilot about 12 p.m. of (off) Dungeness a fine night.

Dec. 10th. Wednesday 10 we are run on a snad bar at 6 a.m. which took an hour to get of and we was lucky to get off and there we met a thick fog of (off) Sheerness and hear stuck for two day at the mouth of the Thames. Their is about 50 vessals about her such a ringing of bells and blowing of horns we were nearly rundown this morning by a 4 mast steamer.

Dec. 11th. Thursday 11 as thick as ever and freezing it is, not hard to tell we are at the Thames 3 p.m. it 'as cleared up for a little and what a scatter of steamers all try to get along we only got to the Chapton light and on it came as thick as ever.

Dec. 12th. Friday 12 Fog as thick as can be and freezing hard and it is cold. Shuch a ringing of bells nothink can move.

With that the diary ends, albeit that page 14 of the 22 pages it covered in the original diary contained the address of Gertrude's's sister. The entry reads: "Miss Florence Hayward, Hackney Road, Peasenhall, Suffolk."

Other entries include a bland list of his watch times for December (supposedly) 1880.