Mary Ann Tooley

Mary Ann sailed to New Zealand with her parents Sarah and William Ely on the ship "Lady Jocelyn". They left London on 3 November 1874 and arrived in Lyttleton on 21 January 1875.

Her father is listed on the passenger list as a Shepherd, he was 31 years old, her mother Sarah was 34 years old, and Mary Ann was 13 years old. There were no other children in the family.

The family are recorded as living in the Pareora district not far from the port town of Timaru.

Two years after arriving in New Zealand when she is 15 years old Mary Ann marries her husband William Tooley aged 30 years.

The LADY JOCELYN sailed from London on the 3 November, 1874 and arrived at Lyttelton on the 21 January, 1875. The ship was under the command of Captain Geo. Jenkins.

Transcribed from the Press, 22 January 1875, Page 2:

THE ARRIVAL OF THE LADY JOCELYN. This fine ship was signaled early yesterday morning, but no number was up till past noon, and there was a doubt as to whether it was that vessel or not. Immediately it was ascertained it was the Lady Jocelyn the s.s. Gazelle was sent for, and the health officers, agents, Captain Petherbridge, Custom house officer, reporters, and friends of those on board went off. On arrival at the ship, which was anchored nearly at the mouth of the harbor, it was found that there was no infectious disease on board with the exception of the whooping-cough, and the vessel was speedily passed. The Lady Jocelyn has made the best trip this season, having performed the passage in 79 days. She left Plymouth on November 3rd, and brings no less than 577 persons to our shores. This is her second trip to these shores. There were nineteen deaths during the passage, but the general health was excellent. The Surgeon-superintendent, Mr. H. Pearde, appeared to be a general favourite. Captain Jenkins is no stranger to our shores, and was heartily welcomed. In the single men's compartment there were 122 men and boys, two-thirds of which are agricultural laborers. There are about forty Irish, a few Scotch, and the rest are English. The constables were W. Parker and H. Quarterman, and we hear from the health officers that they have never visited any ship in which the single men's compartment was so thoroughly clean. The married couples' compartment was also in excellent order. There were no less than eighty-one families, and we were here introduced to Mr. Thomas Osborne, a delegate from the Agricultural Laborers' Union, who is empowered to send back a report as to the capabilities of the province. He told us that 222 souls belonging to the union were on board, being composed entirely of agricultural laborers and their families. The constables were Messrs Lyde and Wall. Mr. Osborne was appointed chief constable, but suffered so much from sea sickness that he had to resign. A mechanic named Jos Harrop was appointed schoolmaster during the passage, and appears to have gained general good will. This compartment, and, in fact, the whole ship, was admirably ventilated. Gangways ran between the bunks and the ship's side which looked like the streets of a town. A new feature was the use of Mr. Johnson's berths, which fold up, forming seats during the day, and we hear from the doctor that in all the twenty-five berths that have been tried as an experiment, there has not been a single case of illness. The single girls’ compartment was in beautiful order. The matron, Miss Martha Dysart, seems to have been a very good one; she was assisted by a Miss Parks. There were eighty-two girls, but many of them were very young, and had their parents on board. The matron gave the girls very good characters: there were about twenty Irish, the rest English, and with a few exceptions they are domestic servants. As usual, a lot of materials for making up into clothes had been sent on board, and these were given to the girls who had worked them yesterday. The constables were named Lily, Dorothy, and Newell, and they attended well to their duties. The girls had good fun, dancing, singing, &c, &c during the passage. Throughout the ship the doctor was highly praised, as were Captain Jenkins, the chief officer, Mr. Bassett; the second, Mr. Morris, formerly of the Crusader; the third, Mr. Borman, and the purser, Mr. Allan, and nearly all these are old familiar faces here. The schoolmaster had an average attendance of 85 during the voyage. There was a large condenser on board, capable of making 780 gallons per diem, and the engineer told us it had worked well. Whilst we were on board a presentation was made to Dr Pearde of a testimonial, bearing 283 signatures. Mr. Osborne in presenting it highly complimented Dr Pearde on his conduct during the voyage, and very hearty cheers were given for that gentleman. The doctor returned thanks. Amateur theatricals were indulged in by some of the saloon passengers, "Betsy Baker," Whitebait at Greenwich." and several other farces, being performed by a dramatic company consisting of Miss Leach, Mrs. Pilditch. Messrs J. and R. Buchanan, Saunders, Innes, and Dr Pearde, and we hear it is their intention to perform for some charitable object in Lyttelton. Two concerts were given by the immigrants, and there were two Rifle Corps, an Athletic Club, and a band, formed during voyage. The doctor was assisted by John McDonald, to whom he gives great praise. Dr Pearde applied for and procured from the Royal Society, instruments for meteorological observationsThe following is the captain's report:—Left London 28th October, and Plymouth 3rd November. Was off the Lizard at noon of the 4th. from which we took our departure. On November 11th, in the latitude of Madeira, when we picked up the N.E. trades, and passed the Cape de Verde on the thirteenth day out. Crossed the Equator 25th November, in long. 26 40 W. Had moderate S.E. trades, and lost them in 14 S. Then had a week of calms, followed by favorable winds, and reached the meridian of the Cape of Good Hope 22nd December, in latitude 40 20 S. From thence had fine strong westerly winds, which carried us down to the Snares, and passed them at noon of the 17th inst. Had favorable winds up the coast to the Nuggets, and were off them at 6 a.m. of the 18th, from thence had light winds and variables till we anchored inside the Heads at noon of the 21st. We left Plymouth with 655 souls on board viz., 554 emigrants, 38 saloon passengers, and 63 of a crew. During the passage we had 4 births, 19 deaths—viz, 1 an adult, and 18 children.