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

ship William Prowse, 602 tons, Captain Williams, from Plymouth 25th May 1854, arrived at Port Adelaide, South Australia 19th August 1854

South Australian Register Monday 21st August 1854
Saturday, August 19th :- the ship William Prowse, 602 tons, Williams, Master, from Plymouth May 25th 1854.
— 18th ship from England to S.A. with government passengers for 1854 ; 2 births and 3 deaths on the passage ; C. French Esq., surgeon-superintendent.

ship William Prowse
The above named emigrant ship arrived on Saturday (April 19) after smart passage, the distance from Plymouth to Kangaroo Island having been accomplished in 79 days. The emigrants 268 in number (entirely English and chiefly miners), arrived in excellent health and high spirits. They are loud in their praises of Captain Williams and C.French Esq., Surgeon Superintendent and the good feeling seems to be reciprocal ; for both gentlemen speak of the emigrants in strong commendation , elicted by their orderly behaviour and general propriety of conduct during the voyage. Two births have occurred and three deaths, namely a female adult who was suffering from internal inflammation, an other who died from consumption, and a infant. The Following is the official classification:- Married couples 80 = 160 Single Men, 7 Single Women, 38 Male children above 1 and under 14 years of age 22 Female children above 1 and under 14 years of age 32 Male children under 1 year, 5 Female children under 1 year, 5 Births, 2 total = 271 Deaths, 3 Total Arrived = 263 Fifteen cases of measles and Numerous cases of dysentery among the children are mentioned by the Surgeon-Superintendent; and the circumstance that only one death occurred among the children must be deemed presumptive evidence of the professional skill and attention.
The Government emigrant ship William Prowse has made a good passage, having left Plymouth May 25th. Although bringing 265 emigrants, she has no cargo for South Australia. Her cargo consists entirely of rails and chairs for the madras Railway Company. She will therefore sail for Madras as soon as she has landed her emigrants.
Four seamen, from whom the handcuffs had been slipped when about to take a boat under the guidance of their captain for the William Prowse, lying at the lightship, fled from him, and, though the police and captain gave chase, two succeeded in outrunning them. The two who were captured, were at once taken on board, and their more nimble mates are now free colonists, the captain having renounced all further claim to them rather than incur any delay in port.— Adelaide Times, September 11th.
Arrived on the 19th August, after a passage of eighty seven days, bringing to the province 268 souls. This vessel came out in very excellent order, and the Surgeon-Superintendent performed his duty most efficiently. A new system of berthing the people was adopted in this ship, which seems to me most excellent, and which the Surgeon-Superintendent found to be practically very useful. The berths were arranged round the ships of the ship as in the old system, but the half of each berth is movable upon a hinge so as to allow a clear space during the day between the berths and the sides of the ship, when the one half is fastened up. This enables the port holes to be opened at all hours of the day, so that both light and ventilation are obtained, while the whole space in the centre of the between decks is available, as in the old system. I highly approve of this system, especially in ships of small size ; for, in such ships, the system of berthing amidships is attended by the discomfort of dividing the space allotted to the tables and messing into two compartments, which, except in very large ships, is decidedly inconvenient. There was, in the William Prowse a want of sufficient strength about the hinges, which were fastened with nails instead of screws, and the wood to which they were fixed was not sufficiently strong ; but this is a mere matter of detail. The Surgeon-Superintendent recommends that, in future emigrant ships, the poop should be divided off; one half being set apart and divided into hospital, bathroom, bread room and store-room ; the door of the latter to open on the main deck. He recommends this to obviate the necessity of serving out the provisions between decks, which, he says, causes great confusion, and interferes with the cleaning of the ship on the days set apart for that purpose. The emigrants by this vessel were of a very eligible class and found ready employment.
The South Australian Government Gazette 1866 p. 86
Name	Age	Date of Death	Cause of Death	Where buried
Brett, Mercy	24	July 02	Diarrhoea	at sea
Wherman, Jane (Whenam)	28	July 16	Gangrene	at sea
Glanville, Richard	inf	July 22	Diarrhoea	at sea

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 in italics

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 (formely ACC 313); Sydney Shipping Gazette; South Australian Register; The South Australian Government Gazette; Biographical index SA 1836-1885 (the B-index column indicates individuals who may be found in that index, with corresponding reference number for further research)

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