MATHEWS SHIPPING

[ibella]

I am trying to track my Mathews ancestors. They arrived on the "Dirigo" in 1854. What I need to know is did people coming to Australia have to fill out forms or register and can I access these records. On the shipping it states they were from Lancaster but Thomas and Eliza Mathews are such common names I need to narrow it down somehow. Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks for looking at this.:)

[KarenT]

Extensive details are recorded on Assisted Passengers but not on Unassisted where they have paid their own way. I can't recall just now with SA records but I see with your passengers there is no index number so I'd say there isn't anything further on shipping details other than what's listed in the passenger lists on Thomas, Elizabeth and their children's ages.

http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/dirigo1854.htm

Have you looked through the Biographical Index of South Australians 1836 - 1885; it's an excellent resource.

(Yes, Elizabeth Mathews is a common name .. I have one too!)

[Melissa Jones]

I would try and find Thomas, Elizabeth, Thomas Jr, George and William on the 1851 English census of Lancashire. While the names are common, you have their ages in 1854 (which will give an approximate date of birth) so it shouldn't be too difficult to narrow down the field.

[ibella]

Thank you both so much for your help. This family is actually the one that I thought would be easiest to find.......how wrong I can be:)