In England, mid-Victorian propaganda was encouraging the poor to emigrate to a better life in the colonies.
Each new word of gold strikes from the land down under with daily newspaper reports spurred the frenzy on as people from all walks of life, as well as numerous European emigrants, thronged to Liverpool to book passage aboard emigrant ships, bound for Melbourne, Victoria, and New South Wales. They all dreamed of a better life with fewer of the hardships. The British government encouraged this large-scale exodus for this would relieve over population problems at home while creating a colonial empire abroad and encourage trade. Many citizens were most eager to strike out for the gold fields, or to find other well-paying work in Australia.

The arrival in the port of Melbourne, Australia, of the SS Marco Polo, the fastest and most modern sailing ship afloat at that time, caused quite a stir, owning the laurels as the fastest ship of the Australian Gold Rush fleet, and the newspapers of the day played it up as such. As well as assisted immigrants the ship carried paying passengers.
It was a three-masted medium clipper ship built of wood by James Smith at Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, in 1851, for his own use.
In June 1852, it was bought by James Baines, Liverpool, for the Black Ball Line of Australia Packets and rebuilt to be used in the passenger trade. After a record breaking 72 day trip since departing Liverpool, England, the ship berthed in Port Philip Bay, Melbourne, Australian on 6th November 1854.

"The Marco Polo Suite", written by Scottish born Jim Stewart, is a complement of music composed about the Marco Polo, which makes it the only ship in the world to ever have a complete album of music written about it.
The hauntingly beautiful music you are listening to is "Anthem for the Wind and Water" from The Marco Polo Suite, which had it's world premiere in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, in 1992.
"Essentially it's not only a story about a ship. but a drama about human beings facing unknown destinations," ....... Jim Stewart.




Aboard this ship as a paying passenger was John Gordon from Plumpton, Cumbria, England,

Cumbria lies in the north west of England in the vicinity of Hadrian's Wall. Hadrian, the Roman Emperor,visited Britain in 122 AD, and ordered a wall to be built between the Solway Firth in the West and the River Tyne in the east "to separate Romans from Barbarians" ie., the Scots. Many parts of that wall are still there.

John Gordon was born at Lazenby, Cumberland England, on July 18th 1830, the first child of Jane Gordon, born 24th May 1811, Hutton in the Forrest, Cumberland, older daughter of Robert & Frances (Armstrong) Gordon - no father's name was entered on John's baptism entry.

A letter we have states that an entry in "...........The account book of the Plumpton Wall Overseers of the Poor reveals that John's father was Joseph Topping, and that Jane, and later her father, Robert, received 1 shilling & 8 pence per week from the overseers to support her son. In the 1835 accounts a Thomas Brown received 5 shllings and six pence for apprehending Joseph Topping, for not keeping up his bastardy payments...." .

Joseph Topping was born 7 Jan 1802, at Heskett in the Forrest, Cumberland, the son of Joseph Topping and Mary (Ritson) Topping . He later married Jane Armstrong born 16 Nov 1806, of Wigton, Cumbria, the daughter of Andrew Armstrong & Ann (Stagg) Armstrong.
Having accepted this account as the only proof of parentage available, we decided that it was correct, and proceeded along those lines.
In regards to Cumbria & Cumberland - Cumbria covers the counties of Cumberland and Westmoreland, so depending how it was written at the specific time, I have followed those entries.


In 1832, on 25th February, John's mother Jane, married William Lowthian, baptised 27th April, 1794, son of Margaret Lowthian ( 1774 - 26.12.1820).
Cumbrian businesses in the 1829 directory lists a Margaret Lowthian as the proprietor of the 'Blue Belle', a public house before 1820.
John Gordon was consequently brought up as William's own son and was known as John Lowthian - using his stepfather's surname - this was discovered in the 1851 census of the area. I surmise that this is why Lilith Lowthian wrote that the family thought John was William Lowthian's biological son.
All of the sons of William & Jane were keen wrestlers and John (Gordon) Lowthian won a Royal Doulton "Jug" which is now on show in the museum at Carlisle, according to Lilith Lowthian. Cumbrian style wrestling is still very popular today & contestants travel the length of the country to compete.
Later apprenticed to his stepfather, John became a stonemason & builder.

Jane & William had several children, and John ( Gordon ) Lowthian had other siblings, but this time with the surname of Lowthian.

Click the "Lowthian's and Toppings" button for the lines of John ( Gordon ) Lowthian's half brothers and sisters, and family photographs....

Adjust sound here.....