The Brig Susan

Laurence Ryder's petition to the Lieutenant Governor, No.3285 of May 3, 1847 stated in it's first paragraph that the three signatories, Piercy, Ryder and Guest, arrived in St. Andrews " about May 2 1832.

There were two papers published in St.Andrews at that time, the St. Andrews Herald and the St. Andrews Courant. Copies of neither of these papers could be found covering early May 1832, references to reports originating in them were carried in The Royal Gasette (Fredericton) and The New Brunswick Courier (Saint John). Unfortunately the shipping arrivals and departures at St. Andrews were not among these reports. There is however one report of interest that covers the arrival of the Brig Susan on Tuesday May 1, 1832 from Dublin suspected of carrying Cholera..

First a bit of background:

Royal Gazette May 16, 1832

Great numbers from different parts of the United Kingdom were preparing to embark for America . The greater portion of them to Canada from which the passage to the United States is short and easy... To this has the long period of Tory misrule brought old England

Reading Mercury, March 27th 1832

The Cholera

London April 5 Remaining at last report 295 new cases 47 dead 30 recovered 27 remaining 125 Total cases since the commencement 2127 total deaths 1127.

Glasgow April 3 Remaining at last report 28 New cases 18 deaths 8 recovered 6 remaining 12 Total cases 665 deaths 334 cures 289.

Cholera in Dublin It is still doubtful whether any cases of cholera have occurred in Dublin. Total cases in the U.K. 9496 deaths 3582

Ship Register PANB MC39 St. Andrews 1824-1833 F7377

No One Port St.Andrews New Brunswick 17th January 1832

Name Susan Berthen One Hundred Seventy Three 04/94 tons Philip Johnston, Master

Built at St.Martins within province in 1831 as appears by the certificate

of O.Bradshaw the builder dated 9 june 1831

Joseph Clarke Surveying Officer

One deck two masts Length sixty eight feet six inches

Depth in the hold twelve feet three inches

Brig rigged with a standing bowsprit square sterned carvel built

Admeasured aground

Wid for tonnage 64 feet 6 inches

Subscribing owners

John Wilson merchant fourty eight 48

Philip johnston sixteen 16

sixty four 64

both of St.Andrews in the County of Charlotte and Province of New Brunswick

Cancelled

Property partially transferred

De Nova No 21/1832

Now for the Newspaper reports:

The New Brunswick Courier

Saint John N.B. Saturday May 12, 1832

St Andrews May 10 - The Cholera - We wish to guard our readers against being seized with a panic from the idea that the Cholera has foundit's way into this province although we must admit that something resemblingit has reached these shores. We will state the facts on which our readers may place the utmost reliance. The Brig Susan, Captain Philip Johnson, of this port, arrived here on Tuesday last from Dublin,(Referring to the calendar for 1832 this article was written on Wednesday May 10th. If they had been referring to May 9th they would have said yesterday, co Tuesday last must refer to May 1, 1832) after a passage of 31 days; she had on board when she sailed 123 passengers several of whom died on the passage - some after a week's indisposition some at a shorter period. The chief affliction was pain in the bowels looseness &c. Upwards of fifty had purging and recovered. Few of the crew escaped. - the passengers were nearly in absolute want of food potatoes excepted, and their water had become bad and scarce. Thenwho canwonder at disease appearing under such circumstances. The brig is only 180 tons register measure. The Physician(Dr.Thompson ) in closing his report on the state of the passengers and crew says-"I believe with proper measure being immediately taken eight or ten days will put all right" Every precautionary measure has been taken by the Magistrates that was in their power.-,the vessel has been supplied with everything necessary for the health and comfort of the unfortunate passengers.medical aid has been furnished and she has been ordered to Little Hardwood Island to perform Quarrantine. For our own part we feel no uneasiness respecting consequences provided all inters\course for a time with the vessel is prevented and vigorous measures for that purpose have been adopted. Herald.

Much alarm and anxiety prevailed in this town and neighbourhood on Tuesday in consequence of a rumour that a disorder resembling the Cholera Morbus was on board the Brig Susan arrived that day from Dublin; but confidence is again restored by the report of Dr.Thompson the visiting physician who informs us that although the disease has been of a voilent character and fatal in some cases he found after his second visit that it was easily removed by cleanliness as the three persons who were very ill on the arrival of the vessel were getting much better on Wednesday. - Courant, May 11

The New Brunswick Courier Saturday May 19, 1832

The Brig Susan The following report from the physicians to examine the passengers and crew of this vessel on Wednesday last at the request of the Magistrates of St.Andrews completely sets at rest the erronious report of the Cholera having prccded on boardthat vessel.

"We have visited the brig Susan and her late passengers in compliance with your order and in continuance of our former report which we now reiterate in all it's material parts, beg leave to all, - That we found no new cases of disease of any kind whatever and therefore urgently recommend that the passengers landed on the island should be discharged therefrom without delay."

While it is not possible to say absolutely that Piercy, Ryder and Guest arrived on May 1, 1832 on board the vessel Susan it is almost certain that they did. It might be reasonable to attempt to check the Dublin Port Reports for Late March early April 1832 for the activities of the Brig "Susan".

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