Built as a three masted wooden passenger- cargo vessel by Curling, Young & Co, Limehouse near London for Somes & Co. of London. When T.Colyer became the owner I could not find but Lloyds Registry of 1846 gives him as owner.
Launched as JOSEPH SOMES.
Tonnage 774 register tons, dim. 125.2 x 30.2 x 23ft
Built of teak and oak, ship rigged, later converted in a barque
1845 Completed.
She made two voyages with convicts to Australia, the first was I think her maiden voyage when she sailed from London on 18 December 1845 under command of Captain Geo. Thompson in 125 days with 250 convicts to Van Diemen’s Land, arrived there 19 May 1846.
Her second voyage was again from London on 02 June 1847 under command of Thompson with on board 249 convicts, during the voyage one died, she arrived Van Diemen’s Land 02 June 1847, the convicts were not landed there, but she headed for Port Phillip were the convicts were landed.
She made regular voyages between the U.K and India and Australia with cargo and passengers.
15 December 1856 she left London for Melbourne under command of Captain C.T. Elmstone with 23 passengers and cargo. Total value of ship and cargo was estimated to be £80,000. She was still owned by T. Colyer.
25 February 1857 the captain and some crew went ashore for water and additional supplies. As they were returning, the JOSEPH SOMES got on fire, on board were also 252 barrels gunpowder, there was a change that she was blowing up. Crew and passengers jettisoned so quick as possible the barrels with gunpowder, but before they had thrown overboard all barrels the fire reached that part of the cargo, all people left hurriedly in the boats. After a night at sea they landed on shore where the islanders cared for them until the ship NIMROD from London called the island on 6 March and took all crew and passengers on board. After 14 days they landed at the Cape of Good Hope, where they were supplied with clothing and food. The passengers boarded thereafter the CHEAPSIDE and continued the voyage to Australia.
Tristan da Cunha 1985 60p sgMS389, scott?
Source: Migrant Ships for South Australia 1836-1850 by Ronald Parsons. The convict Ships 1788-1868 by Charles Bateson. Lloyds Registry. Log Book vol14 page 236. The Australian Run by Loney & Stone.