Transcribed and submitted to TheShipsList by Robert Janmaat, Adelaide, from a variety of sources, cited below.
Return to SA Passenger Lists,1847-1886 see also SA German Lists

ship Utopia, 949 tons, Captain Stewart, from London 18th October, Plymouth 6th November 1863, arrived at Port Adelaide, South Australia 8th February 1864

The South Australian Advertiser, Tuesday 9th February1864 pp. 2 & 3

Monday 8th February:— Utopia, ship, 949 tons, Stewart , master, from London October 18th, via Plymouth November 6th. G.P. Harris, agent.
Passengers—Dr. F.E. West (Surgeon-Superintendent)in the cabin ; and 324 Government emigrants in the steerage:—

. . . . — 2nd ship from England to S.A. with government passengers for 1864 ; —4— births and —1— death on the passage ; Dr. Frederick E. West, surgeon-superintendent.

The Passenger List indicates the class of Emigrants, so in the list below, I have combined those lists, but have made notations alongside the family name, thus, General Emigrants = GE and Assisted Passage = AP and Remittance Emigrants = RE and Colonial Nominees = CN. — Robert

Miscellaneous Shipping

The Utopia is from London and Plymouth with Government immigrants, and has made a very good passage of 94 days. She took in cargo in London and sailed on October 18, from which time six days elapsed before anchoring in Plymouth Sound. Having received her emigrants on board, she sailed on November 6, and crossed the equator on December 1, in long. 29° W. On December 30 rounded Cape of Good Hope, and passed between the islands of St. Paul's and Amsterdam on January 14. While in sight of St. Paul's the vessel was becalmed for 12 hours, during which time a large school of whales played round the vessel, blowing in all directions ; indeed, Captain Stewart asserts that during his long sea service he had never an opportunity of seeing so many monsters of the deep at one time. On February 7 passed Cape Borda Lighthouse at 3 p.m., and hoisted ensign and number in expectation of a reply, but no attention was paid to the signal. On arrival she was boarded by the pilot, and came to anchor outside, and it is doubtful whether or not she will proceed into harbour during these springs, as she is drawing over 18 feet aft, but it is probable some trimming may reduce her to 17 in which case she will moor in harbour during the week. In the meantime Dr. Duncan having visited the ship, the immigrants are free to land.

ARRIVAL OF THE EMIGRANT SHIP UTOPIA.

The Utopia is one of the Black Ball Line of Packets, and though not the beau ideal of a clipper, it would be difficult to select a vessel much better adapted for she has been so frequently engaged, that she has the reputation of being a most comfortable ship. On deck the space is ample for every requirement, while a full poop obviates the necessity for intermixture of sexes, that being devoted exclusively to the single females. The 'tween decks are lofty in comparison with some ships, and throughout the general order and state of the fittings reflect credit on the people in some degree, and speaks highly of the efficiency of the Surgeon- superintendent's routine, which has had such a salutary effect, that the voyage is unmarked by any serious disturbance of importance. From their general appearance, we should judge the immigrants are selected with care, and both Captain Stewart and Dr. West bear testimony to their good conduct and willingness to conform to the rules and regulations, while a glance at the following classification will show how fair a proportion of skilled labour is included in the industrial list:— Agricultural laborers 36, brickmakers 3, laborers 45, carpenters 7, bonnetmaker 1, domestic servants 19, housemaids 9, general servants 19, confectioners 3, dairymaid 1, smiths 5, baker 1, grocer 1, ploughmen 11, shopman 1, plasterers 2, coachsmith 1, butcher 1, cooper 1, brewer 1, gunsmith 1, gardeners 3, masons 3, sawyer 1, miners 5, wheelwright 1, shoemakers 3, porter 1, carver 1, painter 1, mining engineer 1, machinist 1, female farm servants 3, seamstress 1, laundrymaid 1, schoolmistress 1, nurse maids 3, cooks 2, matron 1. The national selection is as follows:—English 198, Irish 18, Scotch 108— total 324 — Summarised as married—males 46, females 46 ; single—males 109, females 73 ; children —males 14, females 23, infants 11. Such an increase to the population will be of service should the immigrants be equal to the standard, and as a large number have arrived on assisted passage certificates, doubtless the friends will soon relieve the ship of a great portion of her living cargo. It is gratifying to notice that the sanitary state of the vessel not only on arrival but during the voyage has been most excellent, no fatality having occurred, and but a very trifling amount of sickness manifested itself, which has been of short duration. Although it would be presumptuous to affirm that this arose from the Surgeon's experience alone, yet in a great measure it must be attributed to the superior knowledge and method of treatment adopted as the result of superintending for seven voyages. The vessel is furnished with Dr. Normanby's distilling apparatus, which, strange to say, has proved quite an exception to the general rule ; for, instead of giving entire satisfaction, its labours have been far below the average, though the quality of the water distilled is quite equal to former machines. Some have arrived here in immigrant ships which produce 500 gallons per day, but the one in question has been limited to 10 gallons per hour. This fact does not in the least detract from the excellent invention, but is due to some temporary derangement in its minor details, which, however, could not be remedied on board.

Wooden ship Utopia was built in 1853, by James Johnston, at Saint John, New Brunswick. The vessel was purchased by Baines & Mackay (Black Ball Line of packets) in 1857.

GRG 35/48/2 Crown lands and Immigrant ships papers Surgeon Superintendent report. " Deaths on the voyage"
Name	Age	Date of Death	Cause of Death	Where buried
Williams, female	1 hour	January 12th, 1864	Premature birth, 6 months	at sea

Surgeon Superintendent Report "Births on Board"
Name of Mother		Date of Birth	Sex of Infant
McMahon, Anne		Novermber 14th, 1863	female
Quin, Bridget		November 30th, 1863	female
Harris, Maria		December 22nd, 1863	male
Williams, Caroline		January 12th, 1864	female

note: where maiden name of wife is indicated, it has been included in the given name column within ( ) ; the passenger list comprises three sections arranged alphabetically, i families, ii single men, iii single women & children ; transcriber notes

Sources: State Library South Australia, official passenger lists, mainly of immigrants arriving in South Australia under United Kingdom assisted passage schemes, 1847-1886 GRG 35/48a (formerly ACC 313); Sydney Shipping Gazette; South Australian Register; The South Australian Government Gazette; GRG 35/48/2 Crown lands and Immigrant ships papers; Biographical index SA 1836-1885 (the B-index column indicates individuals who may be found in that index, with corresponding reference ; FreeBMD ; UK census'

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