POISONED IN 1848
ON THE "WILLIAM MONEY"

MOST family historians are familiar with the treasures to be found in GRG 35/48 Immigrant Ships' Papers. For the uninitiated, the Ships' Papers consist of the documents of contract between the Colonization Commissioners (in London) and shipowners for the conveyance of assisted emigrants to South Australia. Often to be found amongst the Ships' Papers are the Surgeon Superintendent's Report on the voyage and the conduct of the emigrants. Not so well known is the fact that similar documents are to be found amongst the Colonial Secretary's Office Correspondence (GRG 24/1 and GRG 24/6).
This is particularly the case when some event occurred during the voyage (such as the unfortunate death by misadventure described below), which resulted in further action being taken by the Colonial authorities once land was reached.

Plymouth passenger died by misadventure The Rayner family sailed from London on May 4th 1848 with Captain J. M. Buckley in command. They arrived in Adelaide on August 27, 1848, mourning the loss of a wife and mother.

John Walpole, Secretary Emigration, to Colonial Secretary, 15th September, 1848
"... The ship will sail from Plymouth with a full compliment of Passengers according to the List which will accompany this letter. The persons named in the margin being ineligible for a free passage but related to those who are proceeding at the public expense have been allowed on payment of their passage to accompany their relatives. The amount received on this account will be carried to the credit of the Colony. A C Kemball, Esq has been appointed Surgeon Superintendent of this vessel. This being his third voyage in the service of the Commissioners he will be entitled to receive the increased rate of 12'/- a head on each Emigrant landed alive if he shall have discharged his duties to the satisfaction of the Governor. The gratuities to be paid in the Colony to the Cook's Assistant & Hospital Assistant (if one be appointed) & to the Officers of the Ship are at the same rate as heretofore..." [GRG 24/6/1849/15] Arthur C Kemball, Surgeon Superintendent William Money to the Colonial Secretary, 3rd January 1849
" Sir: I have the honor to report to you the arrival of the Ship William Money - 105 days from Plymouth - with Emigrants under my charge, & send you a return of the numbers embarked, as also of the births and deaths on the voyage - at the same time I forward you my journal, which under peculiar circumstances I deem it advisable at once to put you in possession of - and beg the favor of your acknowledgement of the same, and of the packet accompanying it - It becomes my painful duty to inform you of events which have occurred to tender the latter period of the voyage particularly distressing. "On the 21st ultimo Sarah, wife of William Rayner died from the effects of chloride of zinc, administered to her in error by the matron - further details of this lamentable case will be found in my journal and the documents I send you - The occurrence has been the most painful to me, the family of the deceased having on various occasions given me much displeasure, and been a source of disturbance on board. I shall be ready to put you in possession of additional facts, required..."
[GRG 24/6/1849/14]

An enquiry into the cause of the death of Sarah Rayner held on board the ship William Money "... Sarah Mountstephens stated that she has been acting as Matron during the present voyage - has been in the constant habit of giving medicines to the sick, and to the deceased, also to Mrs Lanyon and others - On Thursday the 21st at about 12 Noon she did do - the deceased took her mixture but Mrs Lanyon did not as she was at dinner - About 10 `clock the doctor came to her and asked whether she had given deceased the same medicine as usual, said she had done so, went to deceased who appeared to be very ill - The doctor then sent her to Mrs Lanyon to see whether she had taken her medicine found she had not taken it upon the Doctor examining it found that it was Chloride of Zinc instead Quinine and Gentian - Has been in the habit of keeping the medicine in partitions on the lockers in the hospital and took a bottle from the same place of the same shape and appearance as the one containing deceased and from that bottle gave the mixture immediately the Doctor sent her with an euretic which she gave deceased and the Doctor continued to pay every attention to deceased - The deceased health was generally very weak but did not think her dangerously ill. The doctor has always paid deceased very great attention during her illness..."
[GRG 24/6/1849/115]

 THE FATAL DRAUGHT. Plymouth passenger prescribed pharmaceutical poison. Port Adelaide, 1879. GRG24/27/9

William Rayner to Sir Henry E F Young, 14 th January 1849
"Sir: As a British subject I am induced to address myself to your Excellency as Governor of the Colony begging your attention to the enclosed statement and taking such steps that you may deem necessary for a stout investigation into the unfortunate circumstances. I have but just come on shore from the William Money in which ship I said sailed from England with my Wife and 5 Daughters. During which voyage my Wife unfortunately lost her Life from Poison being administered instead of Medicine on Thursday December 21st. The next day Captain Buckley sent for me into his Cabin to inform me he intended to institute an enquiry into the melancholy occurance. But as it was merely a preliminary step to a future investigation when we arrived at Adelaide he had sent for me to beg I would not enter into any subject but the immediate cause of deceased's death nor enter into any remark, or complaints of her general treatment as I should have every opportunity of doing so on shore. I promised him I would not if the Doctor kept within the same bounds. Upon my leaving the Captain to return through the Cuddy to my surprise I found about 18 or 20 persons there assembled during my absence. I not having received the least intimation that the proceedings were to be so prompt. During such enquiry it appearing to me that Doctor Kemball was going beyond the rule said down by Captain Buckley. I requested the attendance of 2 or 3 of my witnesses' in the interim of their arrival Captain Buckley said I was breaking the promise made to him in his Cabin that I would not enter into the subject any further..." [GRG 24/6/1849/115]

"... Again Doctor Kemball wishes to make it appear that the deceased was in a shatter'd broken state of health stating that the Poison accelerated her death thereby implying that she was in a dying state previous which assertion I most emphatically deny and intend proving by evidence. That she suffered from Sea Sickness and its attendant debility cannot be unusual having for the first time in her life been on board a Ship but not more so if so much as some their who were on board but from that the Doctor admits himself she was partially recovered. The first cause of her eventual illness which ended unfortunately in her death was the constant irritation of her nervous system, arising from the unjust and constant persecution of her Children on board the Ship.
On the 10 th November, 3 days after the insulting treatment ourselves and Children had publicly received at the Doctors hands upon the Quarter Deck she became very ill declar'd she could not bear up against such continued persecution and consequent loss of peace of mind repeatedly saying she was sure the Doctor would be the death of her before she reach'd Adelaide. The deceased did not go on deck again until the 10th when she unfortunately caught a slight cold a few days after which the Doctor sent for me saying he had just heard my wife was unwell asking if I had sent for anything for her. I replied I had not, as it was not Medicine but support and a quiet mind she required he said he had no fresh meat on board to give her... ... Sunday the 17 th not on deck Monday the 10 th much better on deck for several hours Tuesday 19 th again on deck for several hours 20 th again on deck being much better 21 st still improving in the morn and proposing to go on deck after taking a Cup of Coffee which I was upon deck warming during which she took the fatal draught..." [GRG 24/6/1849/115]
Reference: South Australian Archives - April 2000