My MASTERS family originated in parishes around the Pilton area of Somerset, UK. and in September 1840 they boarded a ship bound for Australia and arrived on the 19th Jan 1841.


The longer than normal journey had a profound affect on this family, So much so that they would probably have questioned their decision to sail, had they done the right thing?. My guess would be that James would forever question his decision after he lost his wife and a new baby on the voyage out to Australia.
The ship's contractors had scrimpt on the supplies needed for the journey forcing the Captain to dock at Cape Town. With this type of problem being a regular event with some ship owners, it meant providors of ship's stores were low in stocks.
In the case of the "ALFRED" stocks were so low that it took three weeks to purchase enough for the rest of the journey.
That delay also placed James's wife Maria at a far greater risk, she was due to give birth about two weeks afer arriving in Sydney.
Now that they had been delayed three weeks Maria gave birth not long before arriving in Sydney, sadly both Maria and a new baby boy died and mother and son were buried at sea.

The other passengers were very supportive and a collection was raised on board and presented to the family when they docked
A broken hearted father and five childen, although not strangers to infant death, and this latest birth being the eleventh child born to James & Maria it was also the sixth child they had buried..
The surviving five children ranged from a girl of eleven years of age and four boys aged from nearly nine down to fifteen months and they had to start a new life in a new country without their mother.
Luckily Maria's brother James HACKETT was a resident in the Penrith District after being transported out as a convict. He arrived in 1826 and had served his sentence and been granted land for his farm he then married in 1838. In all probability James & his wife Mary Ann would assist James with his children until he remarried in 1843 to an Irish Convict woman Mary JOHNSON. That is another story waiting tobe told.


The family first settled at South Creek or what is now known as St Mary's in the Penith, NSW. area which was lumped under the name of the Hawkesbury District in those early years.
Each of the children eventually married and raised families of their own. The Children & their spouses are;

Elizabth 1830-1904; married convict Samuel PROCTOR 1809- 1885.

WILLIAM 1832-1909 married Sarah BEECROFT 1837-1865, married [2] Fanny THOMPSON nee ANDREWS b 1836-1919

James Stephen 1839-1924 married Sarah Ann BRIDGE 1843-1920

Aaron 1838-1895 married Elizabeth MIZEN 1846-1913

Francis 1839-1906 married Mary BEACROFT 1841-1882, married [2] Mary CAMERON b ?-?
.
If you have any connection to these names, or even think you may have, please contact me.

Regards
Geoff Masters.