Joseph and Ellen Crothers: The voyage
1. Joseph and Ellen: Family Background
2. Joseph and Ellen Crothers: In England
3. The Voyage
4. In Tasmania
5. Joseph’s Police Career
6. Life at Pontville
7. Joseph's Estate
The Crothers’ voyage to Tasmania was made possible by the new regulations governing immigration introduced in Hobart in January 1854:
- bounty to be paid to applicants who were to pay 3 pounds for an adult immigrant and 5 pounds for a family.
- they received a Bounty Ticket which was sent to an agent in the UK who would select the immigrants.
- upon the immigrant’s arrival the Immigration Agent would certify he was bona fide; he would present the Bounty Ticket to Treasury and the passage money would be paid (20 pounds per adult at this time.)
- the Immigration Agent had to be satisfied that the immigrant would remain in the colony or would pay back the passage money if he left.
The Indian Queen sailed from Liverpool on 18 September 1855. It arrived in Hobart, via Melbourne, on 22 January 1856.
The Crothers family was listed on the ship’s Descriptive List of Immigrants:
| Age | Religion | Able to read and write | Native Place | Occupation | |
| Joseph | 30 (sic) | C of E | Yes | Tyrone | Farm labourer |
| Ellen | 34 | C of E | yes | Tyrone | Housekeeper |
| John | 7 | C of E | No | Liverpool | ---- |
| Henry | 1 | C of E | -- | Liverpool | ---- |
The Immigration to Victoria, Index to Inward Passenger Lists, British Ports shows the Indian Queen arriving in Melbourne in January 1856 with Jos (35), Ellen (34), John (7) and Mary (1). The writing of Henry on the Descriptive List of Immigrants could be taken as being Mary, so it's evident a mistake was made. A Mr. William Williams was named as the person responsible for the assisted passages. Joseph and Ellen signed, along with other passengers, the following declaration: We the undersigned do hereby declare that we have no complaints to make as to our treatment on board the Indian Queen during her voyage from Liverpool to Hobart Town.
