Jacob Hunt married Eliza Martin of Gloucestershire on the 5th June 1855 and 7 days later Jacob and Eliza, accompanied by Jacob’s brother James, boarded the ship “Gilmore” at Southampton and departed for Australia.  What a moment in their lives! I have often wondered how they felt when they said their good byes.  On the one hand they must have felt sadness in their hearts knowing they would never again see their families or their homeland, on the other hand they had no idea what lay ahead in the new colony or what path their lives would take.  It was one big adventure when they sailed out of Southampton and said farewell to England forever.  Thus ending their lives in the beautiful country side in Wiltshire to sail across a great body of water and begin life afresh  in a new land and totally different climatic conditions and environment.

As the ship set sail they were not to know what a turbulant journey lay ahead.  The Gilmore, like other sailing ships of the era, had little space on board for such a long journey which was extremely turbulent with rough seas which caused extensive damage to the Gilmore and must have been very frightening for all on board.  I imagine tending the stud bulls must have been a very difficult task indeed.

It was hello to Australia when Sydney Heads came into view and would have been a welcome sight and a great relief for all those weary passengers on board.  The Gilmore anchored at Sydney Cove on the 18th October 1855.
 

 SYDNEY TO NEW ENGLAND