The Clontarf (Ship)
Encyclopedia
The Clontarf was an immigration clipper
ship which sailed from England
to New Zealand
between 1858-1860 on commission for the Canterbury Provincial Government. Sailing under the flag of Willis, Gann and Co, its first voyage sailed from Plymouth
20 September 1858 and after a journey of 105 days arrived at Lyttelton
on the 5th January 1859 with 412 immigrants. With one successful run complete it returned to England to collect its next passengers. On the 30th of November 1859 The Clontarf Left London
with 430 souls on-board. This voyage met with unforgiving bad weather, and a rampant plague of measles
, whooping cough and tropical diseases swept mercilessly through the ship. It arrived at Lyttelton
after 105 days with many fatalities. On a normal voyage for any other immigration ship of that time it was expected that up to five people may die from frailty, accident or birth at sea. On the second voyage of the Clontarf 41 souls perished.
Among the dead were five adults but it was the large amount of children death that was to give Clontarf her infamy. 36 children died on-board.
Due to her reputation immigrants chose not to sail on her again and she was officially dismissed of her duties of ferrying immigrants to New Zealand
in 1861.
Clipper
A clipper was a very fast sailing ship of the 19th century that had three or more masts and a square rig. They were generally narrow for their length, could carry limited bulk freight, small by later 19th century standards, and had a large total sail area...
ship which sailed from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
between 1858-1860 on commission for the Canterbury Provincial Government. Sailing under the flag of Willis, Gann and Co, its first voyage sailed from Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
20 September 1858 and after a journey of 105 days arrived at Lyttelton
Lyttelton
-Places:* Lyttelton, New Zealand, a town in New Zealand* Lyttelton, a town in Gauteng Province, South Africa* Leyton Cricket Ground , a cricket ground in Leyton, London-People:...
on the 5th January 1859 with 412 immigrants. With one successful run complete it returned to England to collect its next passengers. On the 30th of November 1859 The Clontarf Left London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
with 430 souls on-board. This voyage met with unforgiving bad weather, and a rampant plague of measles
Measles
Measles, also known as rubeola or morbilli, is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus, specifically a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. Morbilliviruses, like other paramyxoviruses, are enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses...
, whooping cough and tropical diseases swept mercilessly through the ship. It arrived at Lyttelton
Lyttelton
-Places:* Lyttelton, New Zealand, a town in New Zealand* Lyttelton, a town in Gauteng Province, South Africa* Leyton Cricket Ground , a cricket ground in Leyton, London-People:...
after 105 days with many fatalities. On a normal voyage for any other immigration ship of that time it was expected that up to five people may die from frailty, accident or birth at sea. On the second voyage of the Clontarf 41 souls perished.
Among the dead were five adults but it was the large amount of children death that was to give Clontarf her infamy. 36 children died on-board.
Due to her reputation immigrants chose not to sail on her again and she was officially dismissed of her duties of ferrying immigrants to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in 1861.