“Notable South Australians
by George E. Loyau
Captain Alexander Jamieson who was associated with Port Adelaide for upwards of sixteen years, and died there from accident on August 3, 1868, in his 80th year, was born in Aberdeenshire in 1788, and took his first command of a vessel in 1808. He was for upwards of forty-five years a captain of ships to various parts of the world, and brought many thousands of passengers to this and the neighbouring colonies. His first voyage to South Australia was made in the immigrant ship "Trusty," in 1838, and he returned soon after with his family in the schooner "Rosebud," and settled down at the Port. He was a sociable, kind man, and regarded as an authority on nautical matters; his long experience as a shipmaster causing him to be considered as one eminently qualified to give an opinion respecting them.”
This is the headstone for Capt. Alexander Jamieson: -
It reads:
“In Memory of Capt. Alexander Jamieson who departed this life August 2nd 1868 aged 80 – God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life”
It is located in the old Alberton cemetery (Pioneer Park) which is part of St. Patrick's Reserve. This is a photo of the site, with Capt. Jamieson’s headstone in the foreground: -
As mentioned above, Capt. Jamieson died in 1868, aged 80.
According to this plaque, the Alberton cemetery grounds were converted in to a recreation park in 1994: -
Only these few headstones were retained in the park as a reminder of its past use as a cemetery: -
I’m told that Capt. Jamieson had a number of wives during his life. According to https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Jamieson-796 , he had three wives in just over 26 years: -
“Captain Alexander James Jamieson
Born about 22 Apr 1789 (1788) in Aberdeen, Scotland
Son of Alexander James Jamieson and Margaret (Daniel) Jamieson
[sibling(s) unknown]
(1) Husband of Jane (Findlater) Jamieson — married 6 Aug 1826 in Gamrie, Banffshire, Scotland
(2) Husband of Mary (Wilson) Jamieson — married 26 Sep 1833 in St. Dunstan's Church, Stepney, London, England
(3) Husband of Helen (Aiken/Aitken) Jamieson — married 25 Aug 1842 (to 1868) in London, England
Descendants
Father of Alexander Andrew Jamieson, John Pirrie Jamieson, Mary Ann Jamieson, Evaline Augusta Jamieson, Albert James Jamieson, Helen Aiken/Aitken, Jamieson, Euphremia Jamieson, Jane Jamieson, Mary Jean Jamieson, Charles Jamieson, Colin Brodie Jamieson, Catherine Jamieson, Rose Emily Jamieson, Emily (Jamieson) Gunion, Alice Maud Jamieson and Henry William Jamieson
Died …. 2 Aug 1868 at about age 79 (80) in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia"
Captain Alexander Jamieson had been the master of a ship called Mary (1829-1833). According to https://redcoat-settlerswa.com/ships/mary-1832-33/ “The ship Mary was built at Ipswich in 1811. ….. When launched at Ipswich on 8th May 1811, our ship Mary was 361 tons and depending when and where in the records one finds her, the tonnage rated as high as 370. Initially she was armed with 12 guns and by 1815 carried four nine-pound guns and eight 12-pound cannonades (continuously firing guns). Although the ‘golden age’ of piracy was over on routes between Britain and America, the Indian Ocean and the China Sea remained home to many pirates and early 19th century merchantmen such as Mary were often prey.
“Mary had a varied career. She was built for service in the East India Company from 1811 to 1813. Her maiden voyage was from Portsmouth to Port Jackson, NSW arriving in May 1812 with stores, via Rio de Janeiro. She left NSW in August 1812 bound for Calcutta and by a circuitous route arrived back in London in August 1813.
Mary first appears in Lloyd’s Register with master Lauchlan [Laughlin] and her original owner M. Boyd. She was surveyed with an A1 classification but had not been surveyed again since her launch (left). After more years of trading, she undertook five convict voyages.
….. The Ship’s Owner
Mary had a number of owners during her convict transportation era; ….. Sailing on 7th July 1828, Mary probably made her first trading voyage with Wigram & Co. to Van Diemen’s Land with ship’s master Shuttleworth. By 1829 Jamieson was her regular master to Van Diemen’s Land. But by the date of Mary‘s fourth convict voyage, Wigram had relinquished ownership, with Jamieson continuing to sail her – but this time to New South Wales with a new owner.
Green & Co. was the owner of Mary, the first convict ship to transport 21st Regiment soldiers to New South Wales in 1832. Green & Co. was almost certainly the Bristol Company started by John Green, shipbuilder, at his Wapping Yard, Bristol alongside the River Frome. This company both built and owned ships – including ownership of convict ship Lady Raffles.
….. Mary was one of 21 convict ships arriving in New South Wales from British ports in 1833. The 21st Regiment troops were convict guards on ten of these ships arriving convoy-like, assembling in NSW. Within two weeks of arrival, these same men sailed on Norval for Launceston, Van Diemen’s Land.
….. The Master for this voyage (1832-3) was Captain Alexander Jamieson and the Surgeon Superintendent William C Watt R.N.
The Ship’s Voyage
06 Aug 1832 21st guards embarked on Mary at Deptford.
04 Sep 1832 Departed Chatham, London with 170 convicts on board.
05 Jan 1833 Arrived Port Jackson, New South Wales.
Passage 123 days. Disembarked 168/169? convicts.
16 Jan 1833 Departed Port Jackson, NSW on Norval.
30 Jan 1833 Arrived Launceston, Van Diemen’s Land (after a near miss).
….. Scurvy was rampant on the voyage and was responsible for serious disagreements between Watt and the ship’s master, Alexander Jamieson, regarding its treatment.
The Ship’s Demise - Currently unknown. Lloyds Register no longer listed Mary after 1841.”
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