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Voyage of the Berhampore
George and Catherine Auckram with three children, George Henry aged 5, John aged 4, and Elizabeth aged 1. Sailed from Tilbury docks, London, on 7 March 1849, arrived at Auckland, New Zealand on 16 June 1849.
George and his family had to make their own way from Wandsworth to Tilbury, Essex, on the river Thames, arriving early March 1849 and boarding the "Berhampore." On the passenger list George's surname was miss-spelt again. This time the spelling was "Auckram," a spelling that, on the whole, was to be used for George and Catherine and carried on by their children and descendants to this day.
The "Berhampore" was the seventh transport to be fitted out for the task of conveying Fencibles to New Zealand, sailing from Tilbury docks on the 7 March 1849, with eighty Fencibles, sixty-seven women and 101 children. Their quarters on board were small and cramped. There were no cabins or dormitories. Each family was expected to squeeze into an area of ten feet square with just a blanket hung around their space for privacy.
The "Berhampore" ship was under the command of Captain T. B. Smith. The route the ship took was to cross the Bay of Biscay with its rough conditions, causing many of the passengers to be seasick. Dr Carr was the ship Surgeon; his hospital assistant was Alexander Bonner. They also had help from Nurse Esther Riley. The �Berhampore� sailed south along the African coast, making use of the Northeast trade winds. During this part of the voyage through the tropics the emigrants experienced wonderful sunrises and sunsets. The days were hot and life on board was relatively pleasant. On reaching the Cape the passengers experienced the wrath of the climatic conditions with the roaring forties, high winds that set the sailing ships racing across the high seas. Fresh food was exhausted and dry biscuits and less appetising food was now being consumed. The families cooked their food in a tiny galley with provisions supplied by the ship. Washing was done in salt water and this had to be done frequently as the families were only allowed a few possessions with them due to lack of storage space, the bulk of their belongings were in the hold in storage with limited accessibility throughout the voyage.
There were a lot of children on board. Captain Smith was a man of great kindness and foresight, as he had arranged delicacies for the nursing mothers, as well as toys, concerts and entertainment for the children during the voyage. On the �Berhampore� Catherine Holland was paid as schoolmistress and matron. For adult entertainment, those that played in the fife and drum band provided music for dancing and singing on the poop deck when the weather was pleasant and calm. On the inclement days when they had to stay below decks, there was card playing, and the harmonica to provide a tune to while away the hours.
Sailing on for day after day the journey would seem to be never ending. The Southern Cross constellation seen in the sky for the first time brought new hope and excitement to the families on board. The Berhampore made no stops on its voyage to New Zealand. After three months at sea land was sighted, the North Cape of New Zealand, a rugged bush-clad coastline. An overwhelming sense of excitement must have spread through the families on board the �Berhampore.�
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