Overview
Nineteenth century ships took three classes of passenger, and your class determined how much luggage you could take.
Cabin class passengers paid large sums of money for their passages. As well as receiving plenty of luggage space in the ship’s hold, they had big private cabins to live in during the voyage where they could house further personal possessions: tables, chairs, musical instruments, and more. They tried to bring with them as many home comforts as possible – pets, livestock, sometimes even prefabricated houses. Basically, they wanted to transplant their own small patch of Britain onto New Zealand soil.
One wealthy family who immigrated to New Zealand, the MacKays, actually commissioned the English artist William Allsworth to paint them on the shores of Scotland surrounded by all their luggage. This fascinating work, The Emigrants , is now owned by Te Papa.
Intermediate class passengers paid a little less than those in cabin class. They slept in a smaller cabin, and could not take quite as much luggage.
However, most passengers on immigrant ships to New Zealand were steerage class. Generally they had had their passages paid, or at least subsidised, by the New Zealand Company or the British Colonial Office. The catch was they had to put up with very little space or privacy on board. Whole families often slept in a single, dingy corner with two bunks, one on top of the other. The main pieces of their luggage were stored down in the hold, and in their bunk space they did not have room for much more than a canvas bag containing clothing and washing necessities.
Steerage passengers cooked and ate in a communal area which had a long table and benches either side. Hanging on the ceiling were rows of hooks where they could hang their own lamps, bags, pots, mugs and provisions.
Before they set sail, steerage passengers were given detailed lists of the luggage they would need on the voyage . The New Zealand Company’s charter regulations (1841) stipulated:
‘Provisions, Cooking Utensils, Mattrasses [sic] and Bolsters, will be found by the Company; but Blankets, Sheets and Coverlets are not supplied, and of these the Emigrants must provide a sufficient stock for themselves and their Families. They must also bring their own Towels, Soap, Knives and Forks, Tin or Pewter Plates, Spoons, and Drinking Mugs. The Emigrants will be allowed to retain the Mattrasses and Bolsters on arrival in the Colony, if they conduct themselves well during the Voyage.’ (1)
All passengers also had to bring mattresses that conformed to specified dimensions: men six feet by twenty inches; women five foot by eighteen inches; married couples six foot by three foot; children according to size.
On the subject of clothing, the New Zealand Company Charter regulations stated:
‘The Emigrants must bring their own Clothing, which will be inspected at the Port by an Officer of the Company; and all parties are particularly desired to observe that they will not be permitted to embark, unless they provide themselves with a sufficient supply for their health during the Voyage.’ (2)
Women had to have six shifts, two flannel petticoats, six pairs of stockings, two pairs of shoes, and two strong gowns. Men were told to take six shirts, six pairs of stockings, two pairs of shoes, and two complete suits.
Those who had some warning of the hardships on board, often tried to fill their boxes with extra clothing, cakes, cheese, jam, delicacies, and cordials, as well as mementos of people and places. However, many steerage class passengers arrived at the dock with no more than a small bag, while others did not have even that – they were simply too poor to afford it.
References
(1) Tyler, Warwick. (1971). The New Zealand Company. New Zealand’s Heritage: the making of a nation 1:12. p 335.
(2) Tyler. (1971). p 335.
Text originally published in Tai Awatea, Te Papa's onfloor multimedia database (1998).