Description

Extended Data

Location notes

Selected location near the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, though have not pinpointed the exact dock that the James Pattison departed from.

Date notes

We do not have a record of the ship departure date, however in a letter dated 5 May 1834 Bussell refers to 'those dear hearts who have thought and prayed for us in all their positions for the last 84 days and nights', suggesting that she departed England on 10 February. [5]

Biographical information

Frances Louisa Bussell (née Yates) was born in England in 1782. She married Reverend William Marchant Bussell and had nine children: John Garrett, Charles, Joseph Vernon, Alfred Pickmore, Lenox, Frances Louisa (Fanny), Elizabeth (Bessie) Capel and Mary. Reverend William Marchant Bussell died in 1820. The following decade Frances Louisa and seven of her children left England and became prominent colonists in the southwest of WA. [13] Bussell left for WA in early 1834 with her eldest daughter Mary. [6] In a letter written to her sisters while anchored at Table Bay, Cape Town, on 5 May, she refers to 'those dear hearts who have thought and prayed for us in all their positions for the last 84 days and nights', suggesting that she departed England on 10 February. She said of the journey: 'We are in health and spirits and have heard favourable accounts of our dear Augustine. The voyage has been tedious for the impatient but remarkably propitious. Not one passenger would we wish away we have had no storms and very few annoyances or “fikes” as some of our scotch friends term.' [5]

Links to slavery

Attitudes around race

Attitudes around labour

Images

Images notes

References

[1] https://slwa.wa.gov.au/pdf/mn/bussell/Bussell_Frances_Louisa__Senior_.pdf [2] State Library of WA, ACC 3893A/23 [3] State Library of WA, ACC 3893A/24 [4] State Library of WA, ACC 337A/317 [5] State Library of WA, ACC 3893A/21 [6] https://slwa.wa.gov.au/pdf/mn/bussell/Bussell_Mary_Yates.pdf [7] The Bicentennial Dictionary of Western Australians, 'Frances Louisa BUSSELL' [8] https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/641393?searchTerm=%22james%20pattison%22 [9] https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/641354?searchTerm=%22james%20pattison%22 [10] https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/641315?searchTerm=%22james%20pattison%22%20bussell` [11] State Library of WA, ACC 337A/310 [12] http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/fad84854-fc8e-4f95-8e72-dc2a0e7e770d [13] Cattle Chosen, London: Oxford University Press, 1926 [14] http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/PrintSingleRecord/eea003bd-81eb-4f71-b38f-fd030d9d9532 [15] https://www.amrshire.wa.gov.au/library/file/6%20Region/WalkingTrails/augbsnHeritageTrail.pdf [16] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-17/wonnerup-minninup-massacre-the-ghosts-are-not-silent/100458938 [17] Warren Bert Kimberly, History of West Australia, 1897