Van Diemen’s Land and Norfolk Island Interest Group 1986-1999

(and its rebirth on Website in 2005)

In 1985 I became interested in Norfolk Island while doing my stepfather’s family history I discovered that he was the great grandson of James Jordan, Queen 1791 (3^rd fleet) and Mary Butler, Lady Juliana 1790 (2nd fleet). James had arrived in the Tamar River on the Minstrel in 1813) (James Jordan Last Journey Norfolk Island to Norfolk Plains 1813) After completing the research I found I could not let go and so began an interest in those who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land from Norfolk Island between 1807-1813.

The passenger’s list for those who had arrived on the Lady Nelson I, II, III, Porpoise, Estramina, City of Edinburgh, and the Minstrel was almost unreadable and would take hours every time I tried to find a name. In the end I began to write the names out, this took about 6 months and when I had finished I asked Thelma McKay to check it for me. This was my first attempt at putting a book together and printing it, (Bruce Woods did most of setting out and printing) but it was well worth the effort and I still use it myself. (Norfolk Island Embarkations to Van Diemen’s Land 1807-1813)

During this time I had met a number of people who were descendants, at the then Tasmanian Genealogical Society and decided to have one day a month at my flat to discuss and talk about the Norfolk Islanders.

During this time I began a list of names relating to those who had arrived between 1808-1813 and those who were descendants. In the next ten years I recorded 200 members and many, many names of the Norfolk Islanders.

I also started to record stories I found and printed them in small books. Some of the members were encouraged to write down their findings and they too were printed. Over this period there were over 50 books printed. We also had a Newsletter from 1990 till 1997.

About this time I began taking the group on excursions, first by cars and later by bus. To me this was a wonderful way of discovering where the Norfolk Islanders settled. We had great fun and at first did three excursions a year. I also produced a book about the places we were going to on the day. Over these years I watched our committee’s children up as many of them brought them to the meetings with them. As I recall we had the same committee for the life of the group.

After fourteen excursions I decided to call it a day, as I was becoming more involved in the Lady Nelson and after taking my bus group on a all day sail on the Lady Nelson, realized that they were not as keen on sailing as I was. They still have not forgiven me for this.

I closed down the VDL & NI group in 1999 but still keep in touch with many of the members and help them and others who are interested, as often as I can.

Since closing down the group I have been busy on the Lady Nelson recording the places she visited where she sailed before bringing the first group of Norfolk Islanders to Hobart in 1808. Books were also written about the Lady Nelson and her voyages.

This has been very exciting as I had written the profiles of those who came on the first two ships the Lady Nelson and the Porpoise (with the help of my co-worker Thelma McKay) and not long after it was published heard that a replica of the Lady Nelson was to be built at the River Derwent. (Exiled Three Times Over)

To be able to watch the ship taking shape was very exciting and in late 1987 she was launched from Ray Kemp’s ship-yard. I did not dream that in a few years I would become a member of her crew and sail to many places over rough and smooth seas for the next ten years. And what is more wonderful I still do, not as the purser anymore but as her historian. How lucky can a person be who did not see a ship or the sea until she was 7 years old.

I have made some wonderful friends since I started on this historical adventure and hope to add more as we continue together on this project.

If you would like to add your ancestors that came from Norfolk Island to Van Diemen’s Land between 1808-1813 send their details to me by email schafferi@optusnet.com.au in the format of: -Name, Spouse Ship and Contact - name and email.

I will be organising excursions in 2008 on the Lady Nelson to celebrate the arrival of the ships that sailed from Norfolk Island to Hobart Town between January and October 1808, bringing over 500 passengers. Descendants of the Norfolk Islanders will have the opportunity to take part in these re-enactments.

I hope that by revisiting the work I started over 20 years ago, those who came to our shores over 200 years ago will continue to take their place in our history.

Irene Schaffer

Settlers who came to VDL from Norfolk Island 1807-1813

NAME	SPOUSE	SHIP	CONTACT
ANSTER, Mary	William Stanley	Lady Nelson 1808	Hayley Poynton
BAKER, Samuel		Minstrel 1813	Gwyneth Daniel
BELLETTE, Jacob	Ann Harper	City of Edinburgh 1808	Alison Wilson
BRUCE, Elizabeth	Francis Flexmore	City of Edinburgh 1808	Rose Martin
BRUCE, Elizabeth	Francis Flexmore	City of Edinburgh 1808	Marion Kelso
BURROWS, Richard	Elizabeth Cole	City of Edinburgh 1808	Alison Louttit
CAVENAUGH, Mary	Edward Kimberley	City of Edinburgh 1808	Judi Hurst
CHAFFEY, Thomas	Maria Israel	Porpoise 1808	Sonia Hickman
CHAFFEY, Thomas	Maria Israel	Porpoise 1808	Irene Defina **
CHRISTMAS, Mary	Thomas Restell Crowder	Porpoise 1808	Ann Belmont
CLAYTON, William	Sarah Sunderland	Minstrel 1813	Tas Browning
COLE, Elizabeth	Richard Burrows	City of Edinburgh 1808	Alison Louttit
CROWDER, Thomas Restell	Mary Christmas	Porpoise 1808	Ann Belmont
FLEXMORE, Francis	Elizabeth Bruce	City of Edinburgh 1808	Marion Kelso
FLEXMORE, Francis	Elizabeth Bruce	City of Edinburgh 1808	Doreen McFarland
FREE, Samuel	Elizabeth Smith	Porpoise 1808	Louise Leslie
FREE, Samuel	Elizabeth Smith	Porpoise 1808	Marion Kelso
FREE, Samuel	Elizabeth Smith	Porpoise 1808	Lee Chamber
FREE, Sarah	George Munday	Porpoise 1808	Wynnette Ford
GARTH, Edward	Susanna Gough	Porpoise 1808	Alison Wilson
GOODWIN, Andrew	Lydia Munro	Porpoise	Margaret Nichols
GOUGH, Susanna	Edward Garth	Porpoise 1808	Alison Wilson
HAMBLY, William	Mary Springham	Porpoise 1808	Sarah Peacock
HAMBLY, William	Mary Springham	Porpose 1808	Rose Martin
HARPER, Ann	Joseph Bellette	City of Edinburgh 1808	Alison Wilson
HIGGINS, Mary	James Triffitt	City of Edinburgh 1808	Joan Birtles
HOPWOOD, George	Ann Sherburd	City of Edinburgh 1808	Margaret Nichols
HOWARD, Ann	Thomas Lucas	City of Edinburgh 1808	Judi Hurst
ISRAEL, Maria	Thomas Chaffey	Porpoise 1808	Irene Defina **
ISRAEL, Maria	Thomas Chaffey	Porpoise 1808	Sonia Hickman
JORDAN, James	Mary Butler	Minstrel 1813	Irene Schaffer
JORDAN, James	Mary Butler	Minstrel 1813	Christopher Riley
JORDAN, Thomas	Abigail Hanlon	Minstrel 1813	Irene Schaffer
KIMBERLEY, Edward	Mary Cavenaugh	City of Edinburgh 1808	Judi Hurst
LUCAS, Thomas	Ann Howard	City of Edinburgh 1808	Judi Hurst
MCCLOUD, John	Mary Potter	City of Edinburgh 1808	Marion Kelso
MORTIMER, Susannah	Thomas O’Brien	City of Edinburgh 1808	Gwyneth Daniel
MUNRO, Lydia	Andrew Goodwin	Porpoise	Margaret Nichols
O’BRIEN, Thomas	Susannah Mortimer	City of Edinburgh 1808	Gwyneth Daniel
PILLENGER, James	Elizabeth Wood	City of Edinburgh 1808	Marion Kelso
PILLENGER, James	Elizabeth Wood	City of Edinburgh 1808	Louise Rainbow
PRESNELL, William	Ann Fowler	City of Edinburgh 1808	Trudy Cowley
SHERBURD, William	Esther Thornton	City of Edinburgh 1808	Trudy Cowley
SHERBURD, William	Esther Thornton	City of Edinburgh 1808	Margaret Nichols
SPRINGHAM, Mary	William Hambly	Porpoise 1808	Sarah Peacock
STANLEY, William	Mary Anster	Lady Nelson 1808	Hayley Poynton
SUNDERLAND, Sarah	William Clayton	Minstrel 1813	Tas Browning
SYDES, Richard	Ann White	Lady Nelson 1813	Chris Woods
TRIFFITT, James	Mary Higgins	City of Edinburgh	Joan Birtles
WESTLAKE, Edward	Ann Wood	City of Edinburgh 1808	Marion Kelso
WESTLAKE, Edward	Ann Wood	City of Edinburgh 1808	Louise Rainbow
WHITE, Ann	Richard Sydes	Lady Nelson 1813	Chris Woods

** Please email me for a postal address