S.S. Bann, Greenock to Sydney, March June 1884

I have transcribed a diary kept by a pbuttenger on the above Clipper (the last full-sail unmotorised migrant ship to Sydney)

The diary also contains each day's noon Lat-Long reading, plus general life & conditions on board. I was curious if anyone would be interested to have this put on a Website?

Note, I also have a full pbuttanger listing in case anyone may have had an ancester on this ship.

An excerpt:

At noon today we were in Lat 46-8 N, Long 15-56 W, Miles 241 since yesterday at noon.

Thursday 27th March

We rose this morning as soon as daylight came in. I did not stop fifteen minutes she rolled very heavy all night and the wind was whistling very strong. In the morning yet the heavy wave that struck her last night has washed away the married women's W C which was standing amidships & also washed loose a lifeboat & damaged it, it is not fit to be used and two hen cases with fowls in them 4 sheep and several young piges found a watery grave. One of the sailors got himself severely bruised a sea washed him against the poop deck did look like it was rough last night all the ropes was strayed about the deck on top of each other & pieces of wood. It took the sailors most of the day to put the ropes in their place.

At 11 am a single man Thomas Hart preached a sermon on the deck and another married man held service in the afternoon. There was grate debates up till late amongst the single men about religion.

At noon today we were in Lat 32-19 N, Long 20-36 W, Course S 22 W, 245 miles

Monday 31st March

This was a fine morning & a gentle breaze blowing. We hade a nice shower of rain after breakfast. Then the sun came out very hott. Every one that had there boxes marked & wanted got them up on deck today to get any cloths out they wanted and then they were put down in the hold. It was a very bussy day with us.

We were in Lat 29-28 N, Long 22-87, Course S 27 W, 193 miles

Tuesday April 1st

This is a nice day but not mutch wind the carpenter finished the reparing of the cross jack yard & it was histed up into its proper place so that let us get two more sails up.

At noon we were in Lat 27-44 N, Long 22-18 W, Course S, 104 miles.

We had our beds on deck today getting aired. One young mans blankets blew overboard & he took some other ones & there was grate ructions up till 12 midnight.

-- johnf