In researching this book, the author discovered that another vessel, the barque "Asia", a much smaller ship than "JAVA", at 525 tons, had, in a voyage that lasted from March 4th, 1839 to 16th July 1839, a very similar loss of children. There were 139 adult emigrants on board with 97 children as well as about 12 Cabin passengers. Twenty three children died at sea. Food and medical supplies were in short supply as well as there being an epidemic of measles on board. The ship's surgeon, Dr George Mayo, kept a diary and it does seem he was kept busy with measles, pneumonia, typhus, dropsy, scarlet fever. His diary is available in the Mortlock Library and portions of it are quoted in "My Mother Said", by Betty Reddin.

Ronald Gibbs, a South Australian historian, mentioned in his "A History of South Australia " that, in a voyage lasting from October 4th 1852- January 19th 1853, a large ship, the "Shackamaxon", carrying 696 emigrants, had arrived with 65 people (57 children, 8 adults )having perished.

Another JAVA!

The author had brought to his attention the sad coincidence of another emigrant ship with the name "JAVA" that had a very similar loss of lives on a voyage to Port Jackson in 1853. I believe that this ship was in fact a German registered vessel which was smaller than the English "JAVA", being 968 tons against the 1175 tons of the English ship. This ship, which sailed from Hamburg and a had a German captain, then, after picking up Government passengers from Gravesend on the 21st November 1852 with over 500 passengers, had lost 32 young children and two adults by the time it had reached the Cape Province on the 25th February 1853.

By the time it reached Port Jackson on the 24th April 1853, this death toll had reached 45 children and 15 adults. As with the other ship, "JAVA", an inquiry was held and the verdict was that the passengers suffered "chronic diarrhea" but no blame was placed on the Captain, Surgeon Superintendent or others, so again we find the passengers had no recourse in justice.
A very sad diary was kept by a passenger, Henry Knight who had the misfortune to lose his son Henry and daughter Susan on the voyage due to chronic diarrhea and nearly lost another son Charles. Henry's diary is sad to read:

"Charles expressed to me that he was sorry he left Penshurst as there were plenty of nice things to eat. Here there is nothing for me to eat. Poor little fellow, he could take but little now, if he had it. Dear child he is getting very weak, trouble to speak. I was obliged to go to a private place in the ship to give vent to my feelings, seeing to that I was deceived by the Commissioners at the nourishment for children."

Another quote from the same diary is equally as emotional:

'I hope when the Commissioners send out another ship with emigrants they will send out a proper portion of nourishment. A proper Superintendent one that has humanity about him. These expressions are hurtful to the feelings especially to the Mothers who are weeping over their dying Children, for such is the case on Board this vessel."

The expressions that Henry referred to are such as he quoted when a fellow passenger Mr. Agur (?) asked the Doctor for a little porter "...the reply was I will see you damned first".

It seems that even 13 years after the earlier voyage to Australia of a ship called "JAVA", lessons had not been learnt about supplying food and care to emigrant passengers.

Chapters: Contents • Introduction • The ship JAVA • Migration to South Australia • JAVA leaves London • Crossing the line • Arrival in South Australia • Medical board of enquiry • Other ships had great loss of children's lives • JAVA after 1840 • Appendices • Timeline