Z506/3/14/1

letter John Field to his father ( and Marainne) 6 Christie's Cottages, Victoria Street, North Melbourne.

17 April 1870

From: 1870 To: 1870

Octavius has told him that you have not received a note since we arrived. At a loss to imagine how it happened as wrote a long letter about 2 months after arriving. Emily has also written. Arrived January 4 [18]67 making the passage in 90 days. Very good considering they lost their bowsprit a little south of the line, which was temporarily repaired. Emily and all the children were very sick from Bay of Biscay to past the line, then all the children had diarrhoea, and fever which continued throughout the voyage. Very rough voyage – all passengers had often to assist at the pumps. Terrific gale on Christmas day, all cabins flooded. Were several days among the icebergs. Upon landing took a miserable house for 9s a week and were nearly devoured by myriad of fleas,,mosquitos and flies. Then moved to Emerald Hill, one mile from Melbourne, then to another part of Emerald Hill and then to present abode – a 3 room cottage, with a view of the sea at a rent of 8s per week. Have been here 2 years and are likely to remain. All their effects were spoilt by sea water (for the Anglo Saxon was like a sieve in rough weather). Sold them to a gun maker in job lots. Clothes also saturated. If could have foreseen events would have purchased a polishing lathe 'which would have enabled me At once to have procured a living for us all'. No work for gunmaker 'there being no gentleman's preserves'. Was a little volunteer work and an occasional repair. Bought and sold fruit, oysters, potatoes, pies and peas. When facing starvation was directed to saw sharpening which has followed ever since, so gun-making has turned out an advantage. Hopes to get a polishing lathe which will give employment to 2 oldest boys when not at school. Octavius called a few weeks ago. Shortly after arriving called on Marianne, who has a large family. Emily is in delicate health. Everything went wrong for first 12 months and 'I drank occasionally too much'. Have had a baby, a boy who only lived 11 months and died of diarrhoea and convulsions due to excessive summer heat. Doctor is owed nearly£3. Whole of children go to school. Enjoy tolerable health but do not grow very fast. Would like to have sons working at home 'for it is really dreadful to witness the depravity of the Colonial Boy'. Thanks father for helping them to come out 'if we had remained in England I think our prospects would have been much worse'. Is a total abstainer and attends chapel regularly.

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Field, John,
Field, Octavius,
Field, Emily

family correspondence, Australia Melbourne, emigration, gunmaker, Baptist chapels