J.P. Ridley
The first official immigrant ship to the northern part of the colony of New South Wales under the auspices of the Colonial Emigration Society was the Artemisia, Master Captain J. Ridley, 1st class certificate, which arrived on 13 December 1848 carrying 240 migrants.
The Artemisia was rigged as a bark sheated in felt and yellow metal in 1848. Tonnage: 492 tons using old measurements and 558 tons using new measurements. Construction: 1847 in Sunderland. Owners: A. Ridley Port of registry.
The Moreton Bay Courier featured the story prominently:
The arrival of the first immigrant vessel direct from England is an important event in the annals of Morton Bay - an epoch to be often reverted to by the future historians of the northern colony.
This ship brought tradesmen and manual labourers from Ireland and Scotland. On board were the Crawleys from Armagh, the McCoys from Fermanagh and Tyrone. Mary Smith from Dublin, James Colligan from Tyrone, Robert Reynolds from King's County, and James Wright from Monaghan.
British Banner, August 22, 1849
London, United Kingdom
THE AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL COMPANY (Incorporated by Royal Charter, 1824) will despatch, from the East India Docks, for their Colony of PORT STEPHENS, on the 31st August, last shipping-day 29th August, the new Ship ARTEMISIA, A 1, 12 years. 558 tons register.
An experienced Surgeon has been appointed to the ship, and a Surveyor in the employment of the Company, of twenty years' experience as a colonist, will accompany the first band of emigrants.
Applications for land in lots of fifty acres and upwards, by which purchasers will be entitled to a free passage, must be made at the Company's Offices, 12, King's Arms-yard, Moorgate street.
Parties not purchasing land of the Company desirous of proceeding to Port Stephens or Sydney, may be accommodated on application to Hall Brothers, 2, Riches-court, Lime-street; or to T. B. Mallett, 4, Castle-court, Blrchin-lane.
N.B. Easy access to view the ship in the East India Docks is afforded by the Bliackwall Railway, the trains for which leave every twenty minutes from London-street, Fenchurch-street.
For Freight or Passage, apply to Hall Brothers, 2, Richescourt, Lime-street; or to T. B. Mallett, 4, Castle-court, Birchinlane.
Bv order of the Court,
GEORGE ENGSTROM, Secretary,
Newcastle Shipping, January 10, 1850
NEWCASTLE SHIPPING
The Artemisia, Captain J.P. Ridley, arrived here this afternoon from Port Stephens, where she discharged a quantity of goods and immigrants for the A.A. Company. She has ten families on board, to be employed as miners in the A.A. Company's service, at the coal mines here. There is a large quantity of iron and other machinery--for the railroad in progress between Newcastle and the new shaft.
Daily Alta California, July 1851
FOR SYDNEY, TOUCHING AT HONOLULU--
The well known clipper barque Artemisia, 600 tons register, J.P. Ridley, commander to sail on Wednesday 9th inst.
For freight or passage, apply to the captain on board, between Broadway and Pacific wharves, or to Capt. Pattison, Rose Shipping Office, Pacific wharf.
This ship carries a surgeon.
Wanted to purchase, good gold dust. Apply to Capt. Ridley.
